Enantioselective synthesis of epoxides by alpha-deprotonation--electrophile trapping of achiral epoxides

Enantioselective alpha-deprotonation of achiral epoxides 1, 21, and 26 using organolithiums in the presence of (-)-sparteine 2 and subsequent electrophile trapping gives access to enantioenriched trisubstituted epoxides 9-17, 22, 23, 27 and 28 (in up to 86% ee).     

Electrochemical Properties and ESR Characterization of Mixed Valence alpha-[XMo(3)(-)(x)()V(x)()W(9)O(40)](n)()(-) Heteropolyanions with X = P(V) and Si(IV), x = 1, 2, or 3

Electrochemical behavior of the alpha-[SiMo(3)(-)(x)()V(x)()W(9)O(40)]((4+)(x)()())(-) and alpha-[PMo(3)(-)(x)()V(x)()W(9)O(40)]((3+)(x)()())(-) anions with x = 1, 2, or 3 were studied. Electrochemical reduction of each compounds was consistent with its Mo/V ratio, reduction of vanadium and molybdenum atoms occurring in the +0.6 to -0.6 V potential range. The one-electron-reduced species were prepared by electrolysis and then characterized by ESR spectroscopy. The g and A values for V(4+)ions appeared to depend on the nature of the surrounding atoms (Mo(VI), W(VI), and V(V)). In solution at 330 K, the ESR spectrum of the protonated alpha-H[SiMoV(IV)VW(9)O(40)](6)(-) anion displayed 29 superhyperfine lines which were related to the partial localization of the electron on one vanadium nucleus. The ESR spectra at room temperature for the divanadium-substituted anions showed a strong anisotropy of the A tensor which would be related to the electron transfer along a preferential axis. An isolated V(4+) signal was not observed, even at 12 K, indicating that the electron is never firmly trapped on one single vanadium atom.     

Mass spectral behavior of some homoleptic and mixed aryldichalcogenide bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenenickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II), and bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(II) complexes

The mass spectral behavior of a number of organometallic complexes containing the Group 10 metals Ni, Pd, and Pt, together with various thiolate ligands were studied. For Pd, two main types of complexes, differing by the substituents on the phosphorus atom were studied. Types I and II were substituted with bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene ligands, respectively. The Ni complexes, except for one, and the Pd Type I complexes had no molecular radical cations (M(+.)) in their EI spectra. On the other hand, all the Pt complexes showed intense M(+.) ions in their EI spectra indicating that these complexes were more stable as radical cations than those of Ni and Pd. The FAB and MALDI spectra of all the complexes displayed intense quasi-molecular ions (MH(+)) and the fragmentations in both modes were similar. The MALDI spectra of several complexes displayed only M(+.) ions while one gave evidence of both MH(+) and M(+.) ions. Several Pd Type II complexes yielded intense M(+.) in their EI spectra.     

Electrochemistry and scanning electron microscopy of polyaniline/peroxidase-based biosensor

An amperometric biosensor was prepared by in situ deposition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme on a polyaniline (PANI)-doped platinum disk electrode. The PANI film was electrochemically deposited on the electrode at 100 mV s⁻¹/Ag-AgCl. Cyclic voltammetric characterization of the PANI film in 1 M HCl showed two distinct redox peaks, which prove that the PANI film was electroactive and exhibited fast reversible electrochemistry. The surface concentration and film thickness of the adsorbed electroactive species was estimated to be 1.85×10⁻⁷ mol cm⁻² and approximately 16 nm, respectively. HRP was electrostatically immobilized onto the surface of the PANI film, and voltammetry was used to monitor the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide under diffusion-controlled conditions. Linear responses over the concentration range 2.5×10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻³ M were observed. Spectroelectrochemistry was used to monitor the changes in UV-vis properties of HRP, before and after the catalysis of H₂O₂. The biosensor surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using PANI-doped screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) in the presence and absence of (i) peroxidase and (ii) peroxide. The SEM images showed clear modifications of the conducting film surface structure when doped with HRP, as well as the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the morphology of biosensor.     

Multi‐stage high order semi‐Lagrangian schemes for incompressible flows in Cartesian geometries

Efficient transport algorithms are essential to the numerical resolution of incompressible fluid‐flow problems. Semi‐Lagrangian methods are widely used in grid based methods to achieve this aim. The accuracy of the interpolation strategy then determines the properties of the scheme. We introduce a simple multi‐stage procedure, which can easily be used to increase the order of accuracy of a code based on multilinear interpolations. This approach is an extension of a corrective algorithm introduced by Dupont & Liu (2003, 2007). This multi‐stage procedure can be easily implemented in existing parallel codes using a domain decomposition strategy, as the communication pattern is identical to that of the multilinear scheme. We show how a combination of a forward and backward error correction can provide a third‐order accurate scheme, thus significantly reducing diffusive effects while retaining a non‐dispersive leading error term. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organo-Polyoxometalate-Based Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis

Several urea-inserted organo-polyoxometalates (POMs) derived from polyoxotungstovanadate [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₁]⁹⁻ were prepared. The insertion of the carbonyl into the polyoxometallic framework activates the urea toward Hydrogen-bond catalysis. This was shown on the Friedel-Crafts arylation of trans-β-nitrostyrene. Modelling shows that the most stable form of the organo-POMs features a cis-trans arrangement of the two N−H bonds, but that the likely catalytically active trans-trans form is accessible at room temperature. Finally, it is possible that the oxo substituents next to the vanadium atoms may help the approach of the nucleophile via H-bonding.     

Multi-Residue Analysis by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Coupling. Application to Drinking and River Waters

Abstract

The coupling between liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry with an APCI or ESI interface (in positive or negative mode) is used here for multi-residue analyses in natural waters, covering basic and neutral pesticides as well as acid pesticides. The methods developed are applied to drinking and, river waters after the samples are concentrated by liquid-liquid extraction or solid phase extraction on C18 cartridges. Comparisons are made between UV detection and mass spectrometry and between two chromatographic methods for acid substances. The quantitation limits range from 0.01 to 0.1 μg/l according to the substance.     

(Trifluoromethylselenyl)methylchalcogenyl as Emerging Fluorinated Groups: Synthesis under Photoredox Catalysis and Determination of the Lipophilicity

The synthesis of molecules bearing (trifluoromethylselenyl)methylchalcogenyl groups is described via an efficient two-step strategy based on a metal-free photoredox catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylselenolation with good yields up to 88 %, which raised to 98 % in flow chemistry conditions. The flow methods allowed also to scale up the reaction. The mechanism of this key reaction was studied. The physicochemical characterization of these emerging groups was performed by determining their Hansch–Leo lipophilicity parameters with high values up to 2.24. This reaction was also extended to perfluoroalkylselenolation with yields up to 95 %. Finally, this method was successfully applied to the functionalization of relevant bioactive molecules such as tocopherol or estrone derivatives.     

Click‐Assembled,Oxygen‐Sensing Nanoconjugates for Depth‐Resolved,Near‐Infrared Imaging in a 3 D Cancer Model

Hypoxia is an important contributing factor to the development of drug‐resistant cancer, yet few nonperturbative tools exist for studying oxygenation in tissues. While progress has been made in the development of chemical probes for optical oxygen mapping, penetration of such molecules into poorly perfused or avascular tumor regions remains problematic. A click‐assembled oxygen‐sensing (CAOS) nanoconjugate is reported and its properties demonstrated in an in vitro 3D spheroid cancer model. The synthesis relies on the sequential click‐based ligation of poly(amidoamine)‐like subunits for rapid assembly. Near‐infrared confocal phosphorescence microscopy was used to demonstrate the ability of the CAOS nanoconjugates to penetrate hundreds of micrometers into spheroids within hours and to show their sensitivity to oxygen changes throughout the nodule. This proof‐of‐concept study demonstrates a modular approach that is readily extensible to a wide variety of oxygen and cellular sensors for depth‐resolved imaging in tissue and tissue models.