PEGylated polyplex micelles from triblock catiomers with spatially ordered layering of condensed pDNA and buffering units for enhanced intracellular gene delivery

An A-B-C type triblock copolymer, tandemly aligning two types of polycations with different pKa values in a single polymer strand, was developed for the construction of novel polyplex micelles, satisfying a high DNA condensing ability as well as a proton buffering activity directed to elevating gene transfection. The micelle might feature the distinctive three-layered structure, where an inner polyplex layer of condensed pDNA with poly(l-lysine) (pKa approximately 9.4) as the C segment is successively wrapped with an intermediate layer of poly[(3-morpholinopropyl)aspartamide] (B segment) with a comparatively low pKa of approximately 6.2, to provide a buffering effect, and an outer PEG layer (A segment) as a biocompatible palisade.     

Photo-induced dimerization of 1-naphthoxide anion: Electron transfer mechanism

Irradiation of sodium 1-naphthoxide in MeOH gave selectively 1,4-dihydro-4',8-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl 2. A similar reaction in PhH afforded the regioisomer 5, along with 6, Structural proof is presented for these hitherto unknown dimers. The reaction is completely quenched in the presence of naphthalene, a good electron scavenger. This new type of photodimerization was proved to be initiated by intermolecular electron-transfer from the excited 1-naphthoxide anion to the ground state one to give the oxidation-reduction dimers.     

Mechanism of external heavy-atom enhancement of the radiative transition rate from the π,π* triplet state

The effect of external heavy-atom perturbation is examined for each of the three spin subcomponents of the π,π^* triplet state. It is shown that the radiative decay rate from the subcomponent whose spin wavefunction is within the molecular plane is most effectively enhanced. The main perturbing singlet state is the charge-transfer state arising from the excitation of an electron from a π orbital of the molecule to the σ^* orbital of the perturber.     

Synthesis of aryltriethoxysilanes via rhodium(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl electrophiles with triethoxysilane

The general and efficient silylation of aryl halides has been developed utilizing triethoxysilane and a rhodium catalyst. The substrate scope is broad and includes ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted electron-rich and -deficient aryl iodides. In addition, the silylation of aryl bromides and fluoroalkanesulfonates proceeded in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide.     

Metal-ion-assisted hydrolysis of dipeptides involving a serine residue in a neutral aqueous solution

Dipeptides having a serine residue at the C-terminus, X-Ser, where X is an appropriate amino acid residue, were efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of ZnCl2 at pH 7.0. The rapid hydrolysis of X-Ser is due to an autocatalysis of the hydroxy group in the serine residue, and is found to be accelerated by a metal ion, in particular by ZnCl2. Roles of the metal ion in the hydrolysis of peptides involving a serine residue, in relation to the recently reported protein cleavages, are discussed.     

Sharp Morawetz estimates

We prove sharp Morawetz estimates — global in time with a singular weight in the spatial variables — for the linear wave, Klein-Gordon, and Schrödinger equations, for which we can characterise the maximisers. We also prove refined inequalities with respect to the angular integrability.     

Formal (4+1) Cycloaddition and Enantioselective Michael–Henry Cascade Reactions To Synthesize Spiro[4,5]decanes and Spirooxindole Polycycles

Spiro[4,5]decanes and polycyclic compounds bearing spiro[4,5]decane systems are important biofunctional molecules. Described are diastereoselective formal (4+1) cycloaddition reactions to afford oxindole-functionalized spiro[4,5]decanes and organocatalytic enantioselective Michael–Henry cascade reactions of the (4+1) cycloaddition products to generate spirooxindole polycyclic derivatives bearing the spiro[4,5]decane system. Spiro[4,5]decanes bearing oxindoles containing three stereogenic centers and spirooxindole polycycles having seven stereogenic centers, including two all-carbon chiral quaternary centers and one tetrasubstituted chiral carbon center, were obtained with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Applications of Clifford’s Geometric Algebra

We survey the development of Clifford’s geometric algebra and some of its engineering applications during the last 15 years. Several recently developed applications and their merits are discussed in some detail. We thus hope to clearly demonstrate the benefit of developing problem solutions in a unified framework for algebra and geometry with the widest possible scope: from quantum computing and electromagnetism to satellite navigation, from neural computing to camera geometry, image processing, robotics and beyond.     

Synthesis of oligo(spiroketal)s by polycondensation of silyl ethers derived from naturally occurring myo‐inositol with 1,4‐cyclohexanedione

Oligo(spiroketal)s (OSKs) were synthesized from myo‐inositol, a naturally occurring cyclic compound bearing six hydroxyl groups. The successful synthesis of OSKs was achieved using silyl ethers 2 derived from 1,4‐di‐O‐alkylated myo‐inositol 1 as monomers, which underwent polycondensation with 1,4‐cyclohexanedione (CHD) at 0 °C in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate as a catalyst. Because of the irreversible nature of the condensation reaction of silyl ethers with ketones, the resulting OSKs 7 had higher molecular weights than previously reported OSKs that were obtained by polycondensation of tetraols 1 with CHD, where backward hydrolysis of the ketal functions occurred. In addition, another series of OSKs, 8, were synthesized using silyl ethers 3 derived from 2,5‐di‐O‐alkylated myo‐inositol 6 , which are more symmetric monomers than silyl ethers 2 . Silyl ethers 3 underwent efficient polycondensation with CHD, whereas tetraol 6 did not, demonstrating that the derivation of such tetraols into the corresponding silyl ethers is a powerful strategy to access OSKs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2407–2414