A three-component coupling process based on vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS(AR))-alkylation reactions: an approach to indoprofen and derivatives.

The intermediate anion derived from the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) of hydrogen reacts with a series of alkyl halides to generate the corresponding alpha-alkylated conventional VNS product in a one-pot process. This one-pot VNS-alkylation reaction offers a convenient route to a range alpha-substituted nitrobenzyl phosphine oxides, sulfones, and esters via a three-component coupling reaction. Reactions of alpha-chloroethyl phenyl sulfone (14) and ethyl 2-chloropropionate (16) with nitrobenzene followed by subsequent addition of an alkylating agent give a series of sulfones and esters bearing an alpha-aryl quaternary center. The VNS-alkylation protocol has been applied to the synthesis of derivatives of Indoprofen from nitrobenzene using readily available inexpensive starting materials. Indoprofen itself was prepared using the conventional VNS reaction in four steps and 24% overall yield from nitrobenzene.     

ACUTE SKIN RESPONSE IN ALBINO MICE FOLLOWING PORPHYRIN PHOTOSENSITIZATION UNDER OXIC AND ANOXIC CONDITIONS

Abstract Acute normal skin toxicity induced by porphyrin photosensitization has been examined using albino mice. Oxic and anoxic (clamped) skin was exposed to red light (630 nm) 24 h following administration of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) or Photofrin II (the active component of HpD). Experiments were also performed to determine the effect of sodium pentobarbital anesthesia on HpD and Photofrin II photosensitization of normal skin. Results from this study demonstrated that comparable levels of acute skin damage were induced by HpD and Photofrin II under oxic conditions but neither porphyrin produced any apparent phototoxicity under anoxic conditions. In addition, the level of skin damage induced by porphyrin photosensitization was not affected by sodium pentobarbital anesthesia.     

Altered mechanisms of reactions of phosphate esters bridging a dinuclear metal center

Kinetic isotope effects in the nucleophile and leaving group were obtained for the reaction of p-nitrophenyl phosphate monoester coordinated to a dinuclear Co(III) complex. The metal complex of the p-nitrophenyl phosphate monoester was found to hydrolyze by a single-step concerted mechanism, with significant nucleophilic participation in the transition state. By contrast, the hydrolysis of uncomplexed p-nitrophenyl phosphate occurs by a very loose transition state with little bond formation to the nucleophile. Previously, the metal complex of the diester methyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate was found to hydrolyze via a two-step addition-elimination mechanism, in contrast to the concerted hydrolysis mechanism followed by uncomplexed diesters with the p-nitrophenolate leaving group. These results show that coordination to a metal complex can significantly alter the mechanism of phosphoryl transfer.     

High-energy (neodymium) laser pyrolysis of U.S. coals

As part of a study exploring conditions that influence coal pyrolysis, the effects of neodymium laser heating upon five different rank coals have been studied. Gaseous products from neodymium-laser pyrolysis of all coal types can be explained by condensation reactions during the cooling of high-temperature systems. The use of neutral or reducing atmospheres (helium, hydrogen or deuterium at two atmospheres) does not significantly alter the product distributions, although some deuteration of products was observed. High-speed photography was used to determine the dynamics of the laser interactions.     

A gas chromatographic determination of residues of eleven insecticides and two metabolites on olive tree leaves

A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed and statistically validated for the simultaneous determination of residues of pyrethroid, endosulfan, and organophosphorus insecticides and some of their metabolites on olive tree leaves. Pesticide residues were extracted by static extraction with acetone-dichloromethane. After evaporation of the extract to dryness and redissolution in acetone, the organophosphorus insecticides were determined by GC with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Another portion of the extract, after solvent change to acetonitrile, was cleaned up on an Alumina-N cartridge and analyzed for insecticides sensitive to electron-capture detection (ECD), i.e., pyrethroids and endosulfan and its metabolite. Recoveries of the organophosphorus insecticides ranged from 80.7 to 93.3% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of < or = 7.2%; recoveries of the ECD-sensitive insecticides ranged from 71.6 to 89.5% with RSDs of < or = 11.6%. The method was used to analyze 26 samples of olive tree leaves from organic olive groves all over Greece, and the results confirmed the viability of the method for routine analysis. Residues of fenthion and fenthion sulfoxide were found in one and 3 samples, respectively, and their identities were confirmed by GC with mass spectrometry.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of nacre-like nanostructured composites with antimicrobial properties

In a recent report, we have presented the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of a biomimetic nanostructured composite from Na(+)-montmorillonite clay nanosheets and poly(diallylmethylammonium chloride) (Tang, Z.; Kotov, N.; Magonov, S.; Ozturk, B. Nat. Mater. 2003, 2, 413). The structure, deformation mechanism, and mechanical properties of the material are very similar to those of natural nacre and lamellar bones. This fact prompts further investigation of these composites as potential bone implants. LBL assembly affords preparation of multifunctional composites, and here we demonstrate that not only mechanical strength, but also antibacterial activity, can be introduced in these implantable materials by alternating clay layers with starch-stabilized silver nanoparticles. The resulting composite showed excellent structural stability with no detectable levels of silver lost over a 1 month period. Evaluation of the antibacterial properties showed almost complete growth inhibition of E. coli over an 18 h period. The amount of silver eluted from the LBL composite over a 1 month period was determined to be only 0.5-3.0 microg/L. This concentration of silver did not prevent the growth of the mammalian tissue cultures. The LBL composite has shown biocompatibility with the human osteoblast cell line.     

A simple and versatile method for the synthesis of acetals from aldehydes and ketones using bismuth triflate

Acetals are obtained in good yields by treatment of aldehydes and ketones with trialkyl orthoformate and the corresponding alcohol in the presence of 0.1 mol % Bi(OTf)3.4H2O. A simple procedure for the formation of acetals of diaryl ketones has also been developed. The conversion of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding 1,3-dioxolane using ethylene glycol is also catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3.4H2O (1 mol %). Two methods, both of which avoid the use of benzene, have been developed.     

Physicochemical measurements by the reversed-flow version of inverse gas chromatography

Since the first publication on the method, reversed-flow gas chromatography has been used to "separate" physicochemical quantities by measuring the value of one in the presence of another. The experimental arrangement consists of a small modification of a commercial gas chromatograph, so that it includes a four- or six-port gas sampling valve, and a simple cell placed inside the chromatographic oven. This cell suppresses the effects of the carrier gas flow on the physicochemical phenomena taking place in the stationary phase. These phenomena pertain to chemical kinetics, diffusion in gases, liquids and surfaces, mass transfer across gas-liquid and gas-solid boundaries, local adsorption on heterogeneous solid surfaces, etc.     

A strain-promoted [3 + 2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition for covalent modification of biomolecules in living systems

Selective chemical reactions that are orthogonal to the diverse functionality of biological systems have become important tools in the field of chemical biology. Two notable examples are the Staudinger ligation of azides and phosphines and the Cu(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azides and alkynes ("click chemistry"). The Staudinger ligation has sufficient biocompatibility for performance in living animals but suffers from phosphine oxidation and synthetic challenges. Click chemistry obviates the requirement of phosphines, but the Cu(I) catalyst is toxic to cells, thereby precluding in vivo applications. Here we present a strain-promoted [3 + 2] cycloaddition between cyclooctynes and azides that proceeds under physiological conditions without the need for a catalyst. The utility of the reaction was demonstrated by selective modification of biomolecules in vitro and on living cells, with no apparent toxicity.