Skin permeation of cacalol, cacalone and 6-epi-cacalone sesquiterpenes from a nanoemulsion

The objective of the present study was to investigate the transdermal permeation of cacalol (1) and a mixture of cacalone (2) and 6-epi-cacalone (3) in comparison with diclofenac acid (4) delivered from the same characterized nanoemulsion using Franz diffusion cells (formulae I, II and III). Results show that de Kp, J, Q24, PI and P2 were higher for the acid diclofenac nanoemulsion than for the natural products nanoemulsions. As for the differences between the formulations I and II, with the natural products, Q24, the quantity extracted from skin and P2 were higher in the mixture of 2 and 3 nanoemulsion compared with the corresponding nanoemulsion of 1. In conclusion, the low permeability of the natural products nanoemulsions in comparison with that of diclofenac acid has the potential for development for drugs with local and systemic applications, respectively.     

Metal-assisted ring-closing/opening process of a chiral tetrahydroquinazoline

The ring-chain tautomerism of a 2-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline has been exploited to induce reversible changes in the aminal-imine equilibrium, as desired, by coordination of a suitable metal ion. This process was studied by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies, X-ray crystallography, and molecular modeling approach. The results obtained show that the imine H(2)L(i) undergoes a selective ring-closing reaction upon complexation with Ni(2+). As a result, complexes of the type Ni(HL(a))(2) are obtained, whose chirality arises from the chiral ligand H(2)L(a) and the helicity of the structure. Hence, helical enantiomers form the following racemates: [Δ-C(R,R)N(S,S),Λ-C(S,S)N(R,R)]-Ni(HL(a))(2)·2HOAc and [Δ,Λ-C(S,R)N(R,S)]-Ni(HL(a))(2)·4MeOH. In contrast to the situation observed for Ni(2+), the cyclic tautomer of the ligand, H(2)L(a), undergoes a selective ring-opening reaction upon complex formation with Pd(2+), ultimately yielding Pd(HL(i))(2)·MeOH, in which the open-chain imine ligand is bidentate through the N,O donor set of the quinoline residue. Density functional theory calculations were conducted to provide insight into the different behavior of both coordinated metals (Ni(2+) and Pd(2+)) and to propose a mechanism for the metal-assisted opening/closing reaction of the tetrahydroquinazoline ring.     

Stereocontrolled coupling between aldehydes and conjugated alkenals mediated by TiIII/H2O

In the presence of water, titanocene(III) complexes promote a stereoselective C-C bond-forming reaction that provides gamma-lactols by radical coupling between aldehydes and conjugated alkenals. The method is useful for both intermolecular reactions and cyclizations. The relative stereochemistry of the products can be predicted with confidence with the aid of model Ti-coordinated intermediates. The procedure can be carried out enantioselectively using chiral titanocene catalysts. [reaction: see text].     

3,7-Dimethylguanine, a new purine from a Philippine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa.

A new purine 3,7-dimethylguanine (1) has been isolated from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa, along with the known metabolites, makaluvamines A, C, K (2--4), 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (5), methyl ester of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (6), 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol (7), L-phenylalanine (8) and L-tryptophan (9). The structure of 3,7-dimethylguanine (1) was elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D (one- and two-dimensional) NMR [HMQC (heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence), gHMBC (heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity), 1H-15N gHMBC] data, mass spectroscopy data, and by comparison with 3,7-dimethylisoguanine (10).     

One-dimensional metal–organic frameworks built by coordinating 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine linker with copper nodes: CO2 adsorption properties

The reaction between 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (4-tpt) and copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetone (Cu(hfa)₂) yields two different 1D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), [(Cu(hfa)₂)₂(4-tpt)]_n ( 1 ) and [Cu(hfa)₂(4-tpt)]_n ( 2 ). The Cu:4-tpt ratio in the new MOFs is determined by the reaction medium, particularly, the solvent used. The two compounds have been fully characterized, including crystal structure elucidation. [(Cu(hfa)₂)₂(4-tpt)]_n ( 1 ), with a 2:1 Cu:4-tpt ratio, could be precipitated in either 1,1,2-trichloroethane or supercritical CO₂. In ( 1 ), 4-tpt shows a tritopic coordination mode, but only half of the Cu(hfa)₂ subunits act as a node, thus connecting two 4-tpt and giving a 1D network. The other half of Cu(hfa)₂ subunits are connected only to one pyridine and thus protrude along the chains. The later Cu(hfa)₂ fragments show a labile character and can be dissolved in diethyl ether to give the second MOF [Cu(hfa)₂(4-tpt)]_n ( 2 ), with a 1:1 Cu:4-tpt ratio. The compound ( 2 ) has also a 1D structure, with all the incorporated copper atoms acting as nodes. In this case, the packing of the chains defines accessible channels, which are perpendicular to the chain axis. After activation, N₂ adsorption/desorption measurements at 77 K confirm the microporous character of ( 2 ) with an apparent surface area of 190 m² g⁻¹. Besides, at 273 K this material clearly shows a significant adsorption of CO₂ prompted by noncoordinated nitrogen in the triazine linker.