Metal‐Triflate‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Polycyclic Tertiary Alcohols by Cyclization of γ‐Allenic Ketones

It has been established that bismuth(III) triflate catalyzes the cyclization of γ‐allenic ketones under mild reaction conditions. This reaction allows the selective formation of polycyclic tertiary alcohols from cyclic ketone derivatives. The resulting dienols can engage in stereoselective cycloadditions to efficiently afford complex polycyclic systems.     

Chemical Behaviour of a Prototype Boryl(phosphino)carbene

We recently disclosed the synthesis of a novel “push–pull” boryl(phosphino)carbene. To determine the influence of this substitution pattern on the chemical behaviour, a study into the reactivity of the prototype ( 1 ) of this new family of B(sp²)‐substituted phosphinocarbenes was undertaken. Carbene 1 exhibits one of the most common intramolecular rearrangements of singlet carbenes, involving a 1,2‐mesityl shift, and typical [2+1] cycloaddition reactions with electron‐poor acrylonitrile. A pronounced α,β‐ambiphilic character was also shown by the reaction of 1 with benzaldehyde, leading to phosphorylalkene 4 . Due to its specific electronic properties, carbene 1 also exhibits unprecedented reactivity with chloroacrylonitrile, enabling the formation of bicyclo[1.1.0]phosphetanium salt 6 and borylcyclopropene 9 , which have been fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography.     

Affinity Polymers Tailored for the Protein A Binding Site of Immunoglobulin G Proteins

Rational design in combination with a screening process was used to develop affinity polymers for a specific binding site on the surface of immunoglobulin G (IgG) proteins. The concept starts with the identification of critical amino acid residues on the protein interface and their topological arrangement. Appropriate binding monomers were subsequently synthesized. Together with a sugar monomer (2–5 equiv) for water solubility and a dansyl monomer (0.5 equiv) as a fluorescent label, they were subjected in aqueous solution to linear radical copolymerization in various compositions (e.g., azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), homogeneous water/DMF mixtures). After ultrafiltration and lyophilization, colorless dry water‐soluble powders were obtained. NMR spectroscopic and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) characterization indicated molecular weights between 30 and 500 kD and confirmed retention of monomer composition as well as the absence of monomers. In a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screen of the polymer libraries (20–50 members), few copolymers qualified as strong and selective binders for the protein A binding site on the Fc fragment of the antibody. Their monomer composition precisely reflected the critical amino acids found at the interface. The simple combination of a charged and a nonpolar binding monomer sufficed for selective submicromolar IgG recognition by the synthetic polymer. Affinities were confirmed by fluorescence titrations; they increased with decreasing salt load but remained largely unaltered at lowered pH. Other proteins, including those of similar size and isoelectric point (pI), were bound 10–1000 times less tightly. This example indicates that interaction domains in other proteins may also be targeted by synthetic polymers if their comonomer composition reflects the nature and arrangement of amino acid residues on the protein surface.     

A Deadly Organometallic Luminescent Probe: Anticancer Activity of a ReI Bisquinoline Complex

The photophysical properties of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br (L ‐N₃=2‐azido‐N,N‐bis[(quinolin‐2‐yl)methyl]ethanamine), which could not be localized in cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy, have been revisited in order to evaluate its use as a luminescent probe in a biological environment. The Re^I complex displays concentration‐dependent residual fluorescence besides the expected phosphorescence, and the nature of the emitting excited states have been evaluated by DFT and time‐dependent (TD) DFT methods. The results show that fluorescence occurs from a ¹LC/MLCT state, whereas phosphorescence mainly stems from a ³LC state, in contrast to previous assignments. We found that our luminescent probe, [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br, exhibits an interesting cytotoxic activity in the low micromolar range in various cancer cell lines. Several biochemical assays were performed to unveil the cytotoxic mechanism of the organometallic Re^I bisquinoline complex. [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br was found to be stable in human plasma indicating that [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br itself and not a decomposition product is responsible for the observed cytotoxicity. Addition of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br to MCF‐7 breast cancer cells grown on a biosensor chip micro‐bioreactor immediately led to reduced cellular respiration and increased glycolysis, indicating a large shift in cellular metabolism and inhibition of mitochondrial activity. Further analysis of respiration of isolated mitochondria clearly showed that mitochondrial respiratory activity was a direct target of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br and involved two modes of action, namely increased respiration at lower concentrations, potentially through increased proton transport through the inner mitochondrial membrane, and efficient blocking of respiration at higher concentrations. Thus, we believe that the direct targeting of mitochondria in cells by [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br is responsible for the anticancer activity.     

BODIPY‐Bridged Push–Pull Chromophores for Nonlinear Optical Applications

A set of linear and dissymmetric BODIPY‐bridged push–pull dyes are synthesized. The electron‐donating substituents are anisole and dialkylanilino groups. The strongly electron‐accepting moiety, a 1,1,4,4‐tetracyanobuta‐1,3‐diene (TCBD) group, is obtained by insertion of an electron‐rich ethyne into tetracyanoethylene. A nonlinear push–pull system is developed with a donor at the 5‐position of the BODIPY core and the acceptor at the 2‐position. All dyes are fully characterized and their electrochemical, linear and nonlinear optical properties are discussed. The linear optical properties of dialkylamino compounds show strong solvatochromic behavior and undergo drastic changes upon protonation. The strong push–pull systems are non‐fluorescent and the TCBD‐BODIPY dyes show diverse photochemistry and electrochemistry, with several reversible reduction waves for the tetracyanobutadiene moiety. The hyperpolarizability μβ of selected compounds is evaluated using the electric‐field‐induced second‐harmonic generation technique. Two of the TCBD‐BODIPY dyes show particularly high μβ (1.907 μm) values of 2050×10^?48 and 5900×10^?48 esu. In addition, one of these dyes shows a high NLO contrast upon protonation–deprotonation of the donor residue.     

Analysis of a New Variational Model to Restore Point-Like and Curve-Like Singularities in Imaging

The paper is concerned with the analysis of a new variational model to restore point-like and curve-like singularities in biological images. To this aim we investigate the variational properties of a suitable energy which governs these pathologies. Finally in order to realize numerical experiments we minimize, in the discrete setting, a regularized version of this functional by fast descent gradient scheme.     

Advances on the Determination of the Astatine Pourbaix Diagram: Predomination of AtO(OH)2− over At− in Basic Conditions

It is generally assumed that astatide (At^?) is the predominant astatine species in basic aqueous media. This assumption is questioned in non‐complexing and non‐reductive aqueous solutions by means of high‐pressure anion‐exchange chromatography. Contrary to what is usually believed, astatide is found to be a minor species at pH=11. A different species, which also bears a single negative charge, becomes predominant when the pH is increased beyond 7. Using competition experiments, an equilibrium constant value of 10^?6.9 has been determined for the formation of this species from AtO(OH) with the exchange of one proton. The identification of this species, AtO(OH)₂^?, is achieved through relativistic quantum mechanical calculations, which rule out the significant formation of the AtO₂^? species, while leading to a hydrolysis constant of AtO(OH) in excellent agreement with experiment when the AtO(OH)₂^? species is considered. Beyond the completion of the Pourbaix diagram of astatine, this new information is of interest for the development of ²¹¹At radiolabeling protocols.