Unexpected ring transformation to pyrrolo[3.2-b]pyridine derivatives. Fused azolium salts. 22

2-Arylsulfanyl and 2-benzylsulfanylpyridinium N-arylimides (2) easily prepared from 3-aryltetrazolopyridinium salts (1) with aryl and benzylthiolates, respectively, reacted with various dipolarophiles yielding cycloadducts that underwent transformation to give tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridines (5, 6, and 8) in good yields. A similar rearrangement (formation of 15) was also observed in the case of parent derivatives being unsubstituted in position 2 (12). The abscence of any significant solvent effect, comparison of the sulfur and non-sulfur analogues, as well as the stereoselective nature of the observed ring transformation seem to support a sigmatropic mechanism. Structure elucidation of the products has been carried out by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and (1)H NMR experiments.     

Synthesis and catalytic activity of a fluorous-tagged TEMPO radical

A fluorous-tagged TEMPO radical has been prepared and its catalytic activity in the chemoselective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds has been investigated. The new fluorous radical proved to be an efficient, selective and easily recoverable catalyst, which can be conveniently used in standard organic solvents and then isolated and recycled by fluorous liquid-liquid extraction.     

A Maltol-Containing Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex as a Potential Anticancer Agent

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy, despite its severe side effects, is to date one of the leading strategies against cancer. Metal-based drugs present several potential advantages when compared to organic compounds and they have gained trust from the scientific community after the approval on the market of the drug cisplatin. Recently, we reported the ruthenium complex ([Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) (where DIP is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenantroline and sq is semiquinonate) with a remarkable potential as chemotherapeutic agent against cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we analyse a structurally similar compound, namely [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), carrying the flavour-enhancing agent approved by the FDA, maltol (mal). To possess an FDA approved ligand is crucial for a complex, whose mechanism of action might include ligand exchange. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), its stability in solutions and under conditions that resemble the physiological ones, and its in-depth biological investigation. Cytotoxicity tests on different cell lines in 2D model and on HeLa MultiCellular Tumour Spheroids (MCTS) demonstrated that our compound has higher activity than cisplatin, inspiring further tests. [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆) was efficiently internalised by HeLa cells through a passive transport mechanism and severely affected the mitochondrial metabolism.     

Cooperative,Reversible Self‐Assembly of Covalently Pre‐Linked Proteins into Giant Fibrous Structures

We demonstrate a simple bioconjugate polymer system that undergoes reversible self‐assembling into extended fibrous structures, reminiscent of those observed in living systems. It is comprised of green fluorescent protein (GFP) molecules linked into linear oligomeric strands through click step growth polymerization with dialkyne poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Confocal microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering revealed that such strands form high persistence length fibers, with lengths reaching tens of micrometers, and uniform, sub‐100 nm widths. We ascribe this remarkable and robust form of self‐assembly to the cooperativity arising from the known tendency of GFP molecules to dimerize through localized hydrophobic patches and from their covalent pre‐linking with flexible PEO. Dissipative particle dynamics simulations of a coarse‐grained model of the system revealed its tendency to form elongated fibrous aggregates, suggesting the general nature of this mode of self‐assembly.     

Total Syntheses of (−)-Minovincine and (−)-Aspidofractinine through a Sequence of Cascade Reactions

We report 8-step syntheses of (−)-minovincine and (−)-aspidofractinine using easily available and inexpensive reagents and catalyst. A key element of the strategy was the utilization of a sequence of cascade reactions to rapidly construct the penta- and hexacyclic frameworks. These cascade transformations included organocatalytic Michael-aldol condensation, a multistep anionic Michael-S_N2 cascade reaction, and Mannich reaction interrupted Fischer indolization. To streamline the synthetic routes, we also investigated the deliberate use of steric effect to secure various chemo- and regioselective transformations.     

Formation of a new ring system: Tetrazolo[5,1-f][1,2]azaborinin

Phenothiazinyldienes obtained from tetrazolopyridinium salts and phenothiazine derivatives were subjected to reduction by borane-dimethyl sulfide in THF. Structure elucidation of the products revealed that one of the olefinic bond underwent reduction and, furthermore, borane addition at the double bond took place to yield derivatives of tetrazolo[5,1-f][1,2]azaborinin as a new fused ring system involving a bridge-head nitrogen atom. The new products have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis, solution and solid-state NMR.     

Mild Palladium Catalyzed ortho C‐H Bond Functionalizations of Aniline Derivatives

This account collects the developments and transformations which avoid the utilization of harsh reaction conditions in the field of palladium catalyzed, ortho‐directed C?H activation of aniline derivatives from the first attempts to up‐to‐date results, including the results of our research laboratory. The discussed functionalizations performed under mild conditions include acylation, olefination, arylation, alkylation, alkoxylation reactions. Beside the optimization studies and the synthetic applications mechanistic investigations are also presented.     

On the detection of single bond ruptures in dynamic force spectroscopy by AFM

Force spectroscopy is a novel tool in physical chemistry and biophysics. This methodology is aimed at providing kinetic parameters of dissociation at a single-molecule level by rupturing molecular bonds subjected to different loading rates. One persistent problem in the implementation of this methodology is a question about the single-bond nature of the rupture events detected in experiments based on atomic force microscopy. Here we address this question by considering the probability that the nearly simultaneous rupture of two molecular bonds might appear as a single bond rupture in the experimental data, complicating the data analysis and contributing to systematic errors in the extracted kinetic parameters. An approximate analytical model predicts that such events might be common in experiments employing soft cantilever force sensors and short tethers to immobilize the interacting molecules. These findings are confirmed by a more elaborate numerical model providing valuable guidelines on performing single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments.     

Investigation of solid surfaces modified by Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers using sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monomolecular layers of alkylhydroxamic acids and alkylphosphonic acids on copper and iron substrates have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy. According to the XPS results, the structures of the hydroxamic acid and phosphonic acid Langmuir-Blodgett films are very similar: the thickness of the layer of the hydrocarbon tails is typically 1.9-2.1 nm, while the layer of headgroups is about 0.3-0.35 nm thick. The tilt angle of the carbon chains is estimated to be 20-30 degrees with respect to the sample surface normal, and the molecules are connected to the substrate via their headgroups. Analysis of the P 2p and N 1s lines indicates the presence of deprotonated headgroups. The substrate Cu 2p line includes a component which can be assigned to Cu(2+) ions in a thin Cu(OH)(2) layer. The deposition of LB layers led to significant decrease of the hydroxide-related signal, which indicates that binding of the headgroups to the surface is accompanied by the elimination of water molecules. The sum-frequency spectra also clearly indicate that well-ordered monolayers can be formed by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Since the non-resonant background from the metal substrates renders the analysis of the spectra more difficult, model system samples on glass were prepared. It was found that the alkyl chains of the adsorbed acids predominantly adopt the all-trans conformation and form an ordered structure. Upper limits for the mean tilt angle of the terminal methyl groups are approximately 10-20 degrees.