Novel Mechanism of Bioluminescence: Oxidative Decarboxylation of a Moiety Adjacent to the Light Emitter of Fridericia Luciferin

A novel luciferin from a bioluminescent Siberian earthworm Fridericia heliota was recently described. In this study, the Fridericia oxyluciferin was isolated and its structure elucidated. The results provide insight into a novel bioluminescence mechanism in nature. Oxidative decarboxylation of a lysine fragment of the luciferin supplies energy for light generation, while a fluorescent CompX moiety remains intact and serves as the light emitter.     

Electrical and photoelectrical behaviour of heterojunctions based on novel oligomeric metal complexes

Naringenin‐based Schiff base ligands with 4‐aminobenzoic hydrazide were obtained as a unilateral form ( L¹ ). The ligand was oligomerized by oxidative polycondensation reaction with NaOCl as an oxidant in an aqueous alkaline medium at 90 °C to form a functional oligomer ( L² ), and its transition metal complexes such as those with Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) were prepared. The monomer and the oligomeric compounds were characterized using various techniques. Optical and electrical properties of the complexes were also investigated. All compounds showed indirect band gaps and they can be accepted as being in the semiconductor class. Organic–inorganic hybrid devices were obtained using n‐Si inorganic semiconductor and the complexes. The characteristic parameters of the devices were determined using current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage measurements in the dark. Photoelectrical properties of the devices were investigated using I–V measurements under a solar simulator with an AM1.5 global filter. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deep desulfurization by oxidation using an active ionic liquid‐supported Zr metal–organic framework as catalyst

In this study, a Zr metal–organic framework (UIO‐66) was synthesized with zirconium tetrachloride and terephthalic acid using the solvent method. Then various masses of 1‐methylimidazolium‐3‐propylsulfonate hydrosulfate (PSMIMHSO₄) were supported on the UIO‐66 as catalysts, which were used for catalytic oxidative desulfurization. Sulfur removal using 400 mg of 40% PSMIMHSO₄ supported on the UIO‐66 of greater than 94% was obtained at 313 K for 20 min with an O/S molar ratio of 7:1. The results obtained in this work could provide useful information for the design of water‐stable metal–organic frameworks with permanent porosity in applications of catalytic oxidative desulfurization. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting the Outcome of Photocyclisation Reactions: A Joint Experimental and Computational Investigation

Photochemical oxidative cyclodehydrogenation reactions are a versatile class of aromatic ring‐forming reactions. They are tolerant to functional group substitution and heteroatom inclusion, so can be used to form a diverse range of extended polyaromatic systems by fusing existing ring substituents. However, despite their undoubted synthetic utility, there are no existing models—computational or heuristic—that predict the outcome of photocyclisation reactions across all possible classes of reactants. This can be traced back to the fact that “negative” results are rarely published in the synthetic literature and the lack of a general conceptual framework for understanding how photoexcitation affects reactivity. In this work, we address both of these issues. We present experimental data for a series of aromatically substituted pyrroles and indoles, and show that quantifying induced atomic forces upon photoexcitation provides a powerful predictive model for determining whether a given reactant will photoplanarise and hence proceed to photocyclised product under appropriate reaction conditions. The propensity of a molecule to photoplanarise is related to localised changes in charge distribution around the putative forming ring upon photoexcitation. This is promoted by asymmetry in molecular structures and/or charge distributions, inclusion of heteroatoms and ethylene bridging and well‐separated or isolated photocyclisation sites.     

Multiple C−H Bond Activations in Corannulene by a Dirhenium Complex

The reaction of Re₂(CO)₈(μ-C₆H₅)(μ-H), 1 with corannulene (C₂₀H₁₀) yielded the product Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-C₂₀H₉), 2 (65 % yield) containing a Re₂ metalated corannulene ligand formed by loss of benzene from 1 and the activation of one of the CH bonds of the nonplanar corannulene molecule by an oxidative-addition to 1 . The corannulenyl ligand has adopted a bridging η²-σ+π coordination to the Re₂(CO)₈ grouping. Compound 2 reacts with a second equivalent of 1 to yield three isomeric doubly metalated corannulene products: Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-μ-η²-10,11-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 3 (35 % yield), Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-2,1-μ-η²-10,11-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 4 (12 % yield), and Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-μ-η²-11,10-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 5 (12 % yield), by a second CH activation on a second rim double bond on the corannulene molecule. The isomers differ by the relative orientations of the coordinated Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H) groupings. All new products were characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Iodine-Promoted Domino Oxidative Cyclization for the One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Fused Four-Ring Quinoxaline Fluorophores by sp3 C−H Functionalization

A method for the synthesis of novel fused four-ring quinoxaline skeleton has been described by an I₂ promoted sp³ C−H functionalization between 1,2,3,3-tetramethyl-3H-indolium iodides and 1,2-diamines. This transformation proceeds smoothly under metal- and peroxide-free conditions through a sequential iodination, oxidation, annulation and rearrangement. Moreover, 8,9-dichloro-5,12,12-trimethyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5,12-dihydroquinolino[2,3-b]quinoxaline showed good photophysical properties and was used in live cell imaging, indicating the potential value of this skeleton as a fluorophore in probes.     

Hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids as Fenton‐like catalysts for deep oxidative desulfurization of fuels

Two hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids, [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ and [C₁₆Py]₃Fe(CN)₆, were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared and mass spectroscopies and CHN analysis. They were employed as Fenton‐like catalysts in extraction and catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model oil with dibenzothiophene (DBT), benzothiophene (BT), 4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6‐DMDBT), 4‐methyldibenzothiophene (4‐MDBT) and 3‐methylbenzothiophene (3‐MBT) as substrates. Various polar solvents, such as ionic liquids, water and organic solvents, were applied to choose a suitable extractant. The results showed the removal of DBT reached 97.1% with [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ as a catalyst and 1‐n‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈mim]PF₆) as an extractant under optimal conditions. The activity of sulfur removal followed the order DBT > 3‐MBT > BT > 4‐MDBT >4,6‐DMDBT. The effect of water content on sulfur removal was investigated by adding various concentrations of H₂O₂. It was found that excess water had a positive effect on sulfur removal but the catalysts were less sensitive than [FeCl₄^?]‐based catalysts to water. The mechanism was studied using electron spin‐resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. O₂^?? may be the active oxygen species in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization process and the oxidation products of various sulfur compounds were the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based metabolomics study of rattan stems of Schisandra chinensis effects on Alzheimer's disease rats model

A UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based metabolomics method was established to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of rattan stems of S. chinensis (SCS) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Experimental AD model was induced by intra‐hippocampal Aβ_1–42 injection in rats. Cognitive function and oxidative stress condition in brain of AD rats were assessed using Morris water maze tests and antioxidant assays [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px)], respectively. UPLC‐TOF/MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to study the changes in metabolic networks in serum of rats. The results indicated that the AD model was established successfully and the inducement of Aβ_1–42 caused a decline in spatial learning and memory of rats. The injection of Aβ_1–42 in rat brains significantly elevated the level of MDA, and reduced SOD and GSH‐Px activities. In addition, SCS showed significant anti‐AD effects on model rats. A total of 30 metabolites were finally identified as potential biomarkers of AD and 14 of them had a significant recovery compared with the AD model after SCS administration. Changes in AD metabolite profiling were restored to different levels through the regulation of 13 pathways. This is first report on the use of the UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based serum metabolomics method to investigate therapeutic effects of SCS on AD, and enrich potential biomarkers and metabolic networks of AD.     

Unusual synthesis of azines and their oxidative degradation to carboxylic acid using iodobenzene diacetate

Reaction of 3-hydrazonobutan-2-one oxime with aromatic aldehydes resulted in the formation of 1,2-bis(arylidene)hydrazine commonly referred as azine as an unexpected product, instead of expected product 3-(aryl)methylenehydrazonobutan-2-one oxime, which were subsequently oxidized to corresponding aromatic acids with an ecofriendly oxidizing agent iodobenzene diacetate. Azines and carboxylic acids were characterized by IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, HMBC, and HMQC) studies.