Multifaceted Effects of Lycopene: A Boulevard to the Multitarget-Based Treatment for Cancer

Lycopene is a pigment belonging to the group of carotenoids and it is among the most carefully studied antioxidants found especially in fruit and vegetables. As a carotenoid, lycopene exerts beneficial effects on human health by protecting lipids, proteins, and DNA from damage by oxidation. Lycopene is a powerful oxygen inactivator in the singlet state. This is suggestive of the fact that lycopene harbors comparatively stronger antioxidant properties over other carotenoids normally present in plasma. Lycopene is also reported to hinder cancer cell proliferation. The uncontrolled, rapid division of cells is a characteristic of the metabolism of cancer cells. Evidently, lycopene causes a delay in the progression of the cell cycle, which explains its antitumor activity. Furthermore, lycopene can block cell transformation by reducing the loss of contact inhibition of cancer cells. This paper collects recent studies of scientific evidence that show the multiple beneficial properties of lycopene, which acts with different molecular and cellular mechanisms.     

Ultratrace determination of highly hydrophilic compounds by 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl chloroformate-mediated derivatization directly in water

Highly hydrophilic compounds, with multiple carboxylic, hydroxylic, or aminic groups, have been determined at ultratrace level (3–30 fmol injected) in aqueous solution by direct derivatization with 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl chloroformate, followed by n-hexane extraction and analysis by gas chromatography-electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI-MS). The products have high molecular weights, but also high volatility, making their elution from the GC column efficient. The derivatizing agent was synthesized from the corresponding alcohol and phosgene. The derivatization reaction is catalyzed by a pyridine solution of N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. At 200 °C ion-source temperature, most negative ion mass spectra showed only a weak or no molecular ion, but a controlled and interpretable fragmentation, allowing the derivatives to be easily monitored by high-mass ion chromatograms. Typical distinctive fragments are located in the m/z 500–800 mass range. Optimization of the operating conditions for the derivatization was performed. This was done in order to minimize number and intensity of peaks due to the hydrolysis of chloroformate in the total ion chromatogram. Calibration curves proved linear over two orders of magnitude concentration.     

Aziridines versus vinyl carbamates from the direct amination of electron-withdrawing group-substituted trifluoromethyl enoates

Aza-MIRC (Michael-initiated ring closure) and C-H insertion products were obtained in the reactions of trifluoromethylated olefins with different nosyloxycarbamates by changing base and solvent. Aza-Michael addition products were not isolated. The presence and the position of the trifluoromethyl group allow control of the outcome of the reactions.     

Synthesis and DNA binding properties of novel benzo[b]isoquino[2,3-h]-naphthyridines

Several benzo[b]isoquino[2,3-h]-naphthyridines have been prepared via formal hetero-Diels Alder reaction of N-aryl imines as a key step. These compounds have different side chains at C-11, and a cis or trans configuration at the C-8a,C-14a ring junction. Binding constants for the interaction with oligonucleotides and polynucleotides were determined by UV absorption and melting experiments. NMR experiments (NOE) revealed that the cis isomers, showing a slightly folded structure, preferentially bind to the minor groove of AT-rich oligomers. In contrast, the trans isomers prefer the CG-rich sequences, leading to cap-complexes with the isoquinoline moiety stacked at the top of the double helix, in agreement with the flatter shape, and with a preference for the 3'-terminals, as found for camptothecins. Models of the complexes were built up by molecular dynamics (MD) calculations, by using the inter-proton distances derived from the NOE values. Cytotoxicity assays against human Ewing sarcoma cell lines RD-ES and CAD-ES1 were performed.     

Stereoselective cyclopropanation by cyclocopolymerization of butadiene

An unprecedented cyclopropanation by cyclopolymerization reaction is presented. In particular, catalytic copolymerization processes of ethene and butadiene lead with high trans selectivity to a complete cyclocopolymerization of butadiene units. Ethene-based copolymers including cyclopropane and cyclopentane rings, which can be relevant to polyolefin applications, are obtained with high yields. Several aspects relative to the mechanism of this cyclocopolymerization reaction, including the high stereoselectivity, are discussed.     

Reactivity of a cyclic α-bromoiminium bromide towards nucleophiles

Piperidine-pyrrolidine ring contraction of 1-piperideinium bromide ( 1 ) was observed by reaction with aqueous bases, sodium methoxide, phenylhydrazine, (S)-1-phenylethylamine and sodium borohydride, whereas diazomethane addition mainly gave pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivative 8. Some stereochemical features of these reactions have been investigated. 1 gave back bromine under suitable conditions.     

Asymmetric addition of ethyl azidoformate to optically active enamines. Reversal of facial selectivity compared with (ethoxycarbonyl)nitrene

Thermal reaction of ethyl azidoformate with proline-derived optically active enamines of cyclohexanone, followed by photolysis, proceeds with opposite facial selectivity to that observed using (ethoxycarbonyl)nitrene. A tentative explanation is proposed. The absolute configuration of the main product, 2-(ethoxycarbonylamino)cyclohexanone (6), was deduced by chemical correlation.     

Convergence Analysis of an Inexact Infeasible Interior Point Method for Semidefinite Programming

In this paper we present an extension to SDP of the well known infeasible Interior Point method for linear programming of Kojima, Megiddo and Mizuno (A primal-dual infeasible-interior-point algorithm for Linear Programming, Math. Progr., 1993). The extension developed here allows the use of inexact search directions; i.e., the linear systems defining the search directions can be solved with an accuracy that increases as the solution is approached. A convergence analysis is carried out and the global convergence of the method is proved.     

Experimental evidence of above-threshold photoemission in solids

Nonlinear photoemission from a silver single crystal is investigated by femtosecond laser pulses in a perturbative regime. A clear observation of above-threshold photoemission in solids is reported for the first time. The ratio between the three-photon above-threshold and the two-photon Fermi edges is found to be 10(-4). This value constitutes the only available benchmark for theories aimed at understanding the mechanism responsible for above-threshold photoemission in solids.     

Totally stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disaccharides through Diels-Alder reactions

A nonclassical, totally stereoselective synthesis of orthogonally protected 1,3-disaccharides is reported. Enantiomerically pure beta-keto-delta-lactones, efficiently obtained from glucal and galactal, are transformed into electron-poor heterodienes and chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectively cycloadded to glycals as electron-rich dienophiles, to directly afford 2-thiodisaccharides. The reductive desulfurization of the latter smoothly gave the corresponding 2,2'-dideoxydisaccharides.