A continuum description for cholesteric and nematic twist-bend phases based on symmetry considerations

ABSTRACT

The recently discovered twist-bend nematic phase, N_tb, is a non-uniform equilibrium nematic phase that presents a spontaneous bend with a precession of the nematic director, n, on a conical helix with a tilt angle θ and helical pitch P. The stability of the N_tb phase has been recently demonstrated from the elastic point of view by extending the Frank elastic energy density of the nematic phase to include the symmetry element of the helical axis, t. In the present article, we investigate the influence of an external bulk field (magnetic or electric) on the N_tb phase. Using symmetry arguments we derive the expression for the flexoelectric polarisation in twist-bend nematic phases. We show that, besides the standard contribution related to the spatial variation of the nematic director, two new contributions connected with the existence of the helical axis appear. In the ground state, where the nematic deformation is a pure heliconical deformation, the new contribution vanishes identically, and the total flexoelectric polarisation is perpendicular to the nematic director. Furthermore, as an example, we study the role of an external magnetic field applied parallel to the helical axis for a material with positive magnetic susceptibility anisotropy. We show that the field modifies the range of values of the coupling parameter between the director and the helical axis, thus shifting the interval of values for which this coupling results in the N_tb phase.     

Synthesis of phospholipids on a glyceric acid scaffold: design and preparation of phospholipase A2 specific substrates

Synthesis of a new series of phospholipid analogues to serve as activity-based probes of secretory phospholipase A₂ enzymes is reported. The synthesis is based upon (1) preparation of long-chain esters and amides of glyceric acid, followed by (2) regioselective derivatization of the diol function of the molecule to achieve phosphorylation at the primary hydroxyl group, and to introduce the incipient sn-2-ester group of the target compounds. The sequence has been shown to allow incorporation of fluorescent, paramagnetic, and redox-active reporter groups, leading to phospholipid analogues applicable to detect and measure enzyme activity, to develop highly specific, real-time spectroscopic assay of phospholipase A₂ enzymes, as well as to track the metabolic fate of the hydrolysis products. The synthetic method has a great deal of flexibility to open the way to the design and synthesis of activity-probes for other phospholipid metabolizing enzymes as well.     

A new synthesis of lysophosphatidylcholines and related derivatives. Use of p-toluenesulfonate for hydroxyl group protection

A new stereoselective synthesis of lysophosphatidylcholines is reported. The synthesis is based upon (1) the use of 3-p-toluenesulfonyl-sn-glycerol to provide the stereocenter for construction of the optically active lysophospholipid molecule, (2) tetrahydropyranylation of the secondary alcohol function to achieve orthogonal protection of the sn-2- and sn-3-glycerol positions, and (3) elaboration of the phosphodiester headgroup using a 2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane/trimethylamine sequence. In the course of developing the synthesis it has been discovered that methoxyacetate displacement of the sn-3-p-toluenesulfonate yields a reactive methoxyacetyl ester, which in turn can be selectively cleaved with methanol/tert-butylamine, while the ester group at the sn-1-position remains unaffected. The sequence has been shown to be suitable for preparation of spectroscopically labeled lysophosphatidylcholines. One of these compounds was readily converted to a double-labeled mixed-chain phosphatidylcholine applicable for real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay of lipolytic enzymes. In addition, the work led to new synthetic strategies based on chemoselective manipulation of the tosyl group in the presence of other base-labile groups such as FMOC derivatives that are often used for the protection of amino and hydroxyl groups in syntheses.     

A rapid and efficient method for migration-free acylation of lysophospholipids: synthesis of phosphatidylcholines with sn-2-chain-terminal reporter groups

A rapid and efficient method for migration-free acylation of lysophosphatidylcholines has been developed using ultrasound for agitation of the reaction mixture and glass beads for increasing the surface in the reaction vessel. The products were obtained in good yields and short reaction times. The method has been applied for the preparation of a variety of substituted phospholipid substrates.     

Novel green strategy to improve the hydrophobicity of cellulose nanocrystals and the interfacial elasticity of Pickering emulsions

The development of Pickering emulsions as ecologically correct stabilized with bio-based material by substituting synthetic petroleum-derived tensoactives assumed a very attractive level, representing the current guideline of the global market for homecare industry, food and beverage applications. In this wor, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a hierarchically advanced biomaterial, were produced to stabilize innovative emulsions formulated with western soapberry Sapindus saponaria L. oil (SO). Besides, green surfactants (triterpene saponins extracted from S. saponaria L. pericarp; SAP) were also investigated to stabilize the oil/water interface. The synergistic combination between cellulose nanowhiskers and the bioactive glycosides has never been reported in the literature. Dynamic interfacial tensions of SAP and SO were firstly investigated, and their capacity to form a plastic membrane at oil/water interface was revealed. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to study the influence of the binary systems (CNC:SAP) on the stability of emulsified systems, such as size and zeta potential. In addition, a new calculation was proposed to determine the coverage of the oil droplets formed by the mixture of cellulose crystallites and natural surfactants. The optimal nanoemulsion composition was determined to be 60 w/w (%) of water, 23.905 w/w % of SO, 5 w/w % of CNC and 8.095 w/w% of SAP to produce of smallest droplet (165.1 nm) combined with higher zeta potential module (?46.7 mV). Results highlight the potential of Sapindus saponins and cellulose nanowhiskers for efficient producing label-friendly nanoemulsions applicable for drug, cosmeceutical or edible delivery systems.

Graphical abstract

     

Synthesis and characterisation of saturated and unsaturated triruthenium clusters containing electronically symmetrical and asymmetrical alkynes

The synthesis and characterisation of μ₃-η²-alkynyl triruthenium clusters, [Ru₃(μ₃-η²-R¹-4-C₆H₄CCR²)(μ-dppm)(μ-CO)(CO)₇] (1, saturated), [Ru₃(μ₃-η²-R¹-4-C₆H₄CCR²)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇] (2, unsaturated) and [Ru₃(μ₃-η²-R¹-4-C₆H₄CCR²)(μ-dppm)(PPh₃)(CO)₇] (3, saturated) containing symmetrical and asymmetrical alkynes in which R¹ and R² are electron donor or electron withdrawing groups in the para position of the aromatic ring(s) or R² is ferrocenyl, are reported. Clusters 1 were obtained from the reactions of [PPN][Ru₃(μ-Cl)(CO)₁₀] with R¹-4-C₆H₄CCR² and dppm. Clusters 1 were successfully decarbonylated to give unsturated clusters 2, with the exception of the FcCCC₆H₄-4-NO₂ containing cluster, which is stable. Novel adducts 3 were obtained in high yields by addition of PPh₃ to unsaturated clusters 2. Clusters 1-3 were characterised by analytical and spectroscopic data, and structures were proposed on the basis of systematic ³¹P NMR studies and correlations with X-ray structural data of related compounds available in the literature. Saturated compounds 1 contain a CO and a dppm ligands bridging the same edge, which is also parallel to the μ₃-η²-alkyne, as opposed to the structure previously proposed for the PhCCPh and other derivatives, and established by X-ray crystallography for the PhCCCCPh cluster derivative, in which the dppm ligand bridges a different edge. Unsaturated compounds 2 exhibit the same structure established for the PhCCPh derivative in the solid state, with the alkyne bonded in the μ₃-η²-mode perpendicular to the Ru₂ edge supported by the dppm ligand. Because the dppm phosphorus chemical shifts were sensitive to the alkyne electronic asymmetry, it was possible to show that clusters containing electronically asymmetrical alkynes exist in two inseparable isomeric forms, which differ with respect to the alkyne orientation. Similarly to their osmium analogues, saturated compounds 3 exist as inseparable mixtures of isomers that differ with respect to the position of the bridging CO and dppm ligands, and in the cases of asymmetrical alkyne derivatives, also with respect to the orientation of the alkyne. This work has established, therefore, that μ-CO and dppm ligand positions respective to the μ₃-η²-alkyne in saturated clusters 1 and 3 are sensitive both to the nature of the coordinated alkyne and to the presence of a PPh₃ in place of a CO ligand on the metal frame.     

A new approach to phospholipid synthesis using tetrahydropyranyl glycerol: rapid access to phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylcholine, including mixed-chain glycerophospholipid derivatives

A new synthesis of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylcholine is reported, relying on the preparation of 3-tetrahydropyranyl-sn-glycerol as the key intermediate for sequential introduction of the primary and secondary acyl functions to produce chiral diglycerides that are phosphorylated to obtain the target phospholipid compounds.     

A new approach to the synthesis of lysophospholipids: preparation of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine from p-nitrophenyl glycerate

A new stereospecific synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine is reported. The sequence relies on p-nitrophenyl-d-glycerate as a chiral synthon, including chemoselective reduction of the active ester function without affecting other carboxylic ester groups present in the molecule.     

Lanthanide(III) complexes that contain a self-immolative arm: potential enzyme responsive contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

Enzyme-responsive MRI-contrast agents containing a "self-immolative" benzylcarbamate moiety that links the MRI-reporter lanthanide complex to a specific enzyme substrate have been developed. The enzymatic cleavage initiates an electronic cascade reaction that leads to a structural change in the Ln(III) complex, with a concomitant response in its MRI-contrast-enhancing properties. We synthesized and investigated a series of Gd(3+) and Yb(3+) complexes, including those bearing a self-immolative arm and a sugar unit as selective substrates for β-galactosidase; we synthesized complex LnL(1), its NH(2) amine derivatives formed after enzymatic cleavage, LnL(2), and two model compounds, LnL(3) and LnL(4). All of the Gd(3+) complexes synthesized have a single inner-sphere water molecule. The relaxivity change upon enzymatic cleavage is limited (3.68 vs. 3.15 mM(-1) s(-1) for complexes GdL(1) and GdL(2), respectively; 37 °C, 60 MHz), which prevents application of this system as an enzyme-responsive T(1) relaxation agent. Variable-temperature (17)O NMR spectroscopy and (1)H NMRD (nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion) analysis were used to assess the parameters that determine proton relaxivity for the Gd(3+) complexes, including the water-exchange rate (k(ex)(298), varies in the range 1.5-3.9×10(6) s(-1)). Following the enzymatic reaction, the chelates contain an exocyclic amine that is not protonated at physiological pH, as deduced from pH-potentiometric measurements (log K(H)=5.12(±0.01) and 5.99(±0.01) for GdL(2) and GdL(3), respectively). The Yb(3+) analogues show a PARACEST effect after enzymatic cleavage that can be exploited for the specific detection of enzymatic activity. The proton-exchange rates were determined at various pH values for the amine derivatives by using the dependency of the CEST effect on concentration, saturation time, and saturation power. A concentration-independent analysis of the saturation-power-dependency data was also applied. All these different methods showed that the exchange rate of the amine protons of the Yb(III) complexes decreases with increasing pH value (for YbL(3), k(ex)=1300 s(-1) at pH 8.4 vs. 6000 s(-1) at pH 6.4), thereby resulting in a diminution of the observed CEST effect.