Heterocyclization of propenethioamides: A direct synthesis of 1,4-thiazepine ring systems

The heterocyclization of 3-aminopropenethioamides 1 and 2 with 2-bromoacetophenone is reported. The p-toluenesulphonic acid catalyzed reaction gives a direct route to 1,4-thiazepines 3 and 5 , while in the presence of triethylamine thiophene 4 and 1,4-thiazepin-5-one 6 are obtained.     

Structural characterization of a new lipid/DNA complex showing a selective transfection efficiency in ovarian cancer cells

We investigated, for the first time, by using Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction, the structure of a new ternary cationic liposome formulated with dioleoyl trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP), 1,2-dioleoyl-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and cholesterol (Chol) (DDC) which has been recently found to have a selective high gene transfer ability in ovarian cancer cells. Our structural results provide a further experimental support to the widely accepted statement that there is not a simple and direct correlation between structure and transfection efficiency and that the factors controlling cationic lipid/DNA (CL-DNA) complexes-mediated gene transfer depend not only on the formulations of the cationic liposomes and their thermodynamic phase, but also significantly on the cell properties. Received: 28 October 2002 / Accepted: 21 March 2003 / Published online: 15 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: a.congiu@caspur.it     

Changes in the morphology of interstellar ice analogues after hydrogen atom exposure

The morphology of water ice in the interstellar medium is still an open question. Although accretion of gaseous water could not be the only possible origin of the observed icy mantles covering dust grains in cold molecular clouds, it is well known that water accreted from the gas phase on surfaces kept at 10 K forms ice films that exhibit a very high porosity. It is also known that in the dark clouds H(2) formation occurs on the icy surface of dust grains and that part of the energy (4.48 eV) released when adsorbed atoms react to form H(2) is deposited in the ice. The experimental study described in the present work focuses on how relevant changes of the ice morphology result from atomic hydrogen exposure and subsequent recombination. Using the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) technique and a method of inversion analysis of TPD spectra, we show that there is an exponential decrease in the porosity of the amorphous water ice sample following D-atom irradiation. This decrease is inversely proportional to the thickness of the ice and has a value of ?(0) = 2 × 10(16) D-atoms cm(-2) per layer of H(2)O. We also use a model which confirms that the binding sites on the porous ice are destroyed regardless of their energy depth, and that the reduction of the porosity corresponds in fact to a reduction of the effective area. This reduction appears to be compatible with the fraction of D(2) formation energy transferred to the porous ice network. Under interstellar conditions, this effect is likely to be efficient and, together with other compaction processes, provides a good argument to believe that interstellar ice is amorphous and non-porous.     

Analysis of molecular hydrogen formation on low-temperature surfaces in temperature programmed desorption experiments

The study of the formation of molecular hydrogen on low-temperature surfaces is of interest both because it enables the exploration of elementary steps in the heterogeneous catalysis of a simple molecule and because of its applications in astrochemistry. Here, we report results of experiments of molecular hydrogen formation on amorphous silicate surfaces using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). In these experiments, beams of H and D atoms are irradiated on the surface of an amorphous silicate sample. The desorption rate of HD molecules is monitored using a mass spectrometer during a subsequent TPD run. The results are analyzed using rate equations, and the energy barriers of the processes leading to molecular hydrogen formation are obtained from the TPD data. We show that a model based on a single isotope provides the correct results for the activation energies for diffusion and desorption of H atoms. These results are used in order to evaluate the formation rate of H2 on dust grains under the actual conditions present in interstellar clouds. It is found that, under typical conditions in diffuse interstellar clouds, amorphous silicate grains are efficient catalysts of H2 formation when the grain temperatures are between 9 and 14 K. This temperature window is within the typical range of grain temperatures in diffuse clouds. It is thus concluded that amorphous silicates are good candidates to be efficient catalysts of H2 formation in diffuse clouds.     

Synthesis of new fluorinated 1,5-benzoxazepine derivatives

A simple approach to the fluorinated 1,5-benzoxazepine ring system is described. By reacting commercially accessible aminophenols 1 and the trifluoroacetylvinyl ether 2, high yields of enaminones 3 were obtained. Functionalization of methyl group of compounds 3 gave rise to dieneamines 4 that were cyclized in acidic environment to benzoxazepine derivatives 5.     

Synthesis and structure of heterocyclic compounds. 1-Amino-2,4-Disubstituted imidazoles

A synthesis of 1-aminoimidazoles by reaction between α-halogenoketones and N-acetylamidrazones is described. Structure and position of substituent groups in the synthesized aminoimidazoles were established by spectroscopical methods.     

Synthesis,structure and cytotoxic activity of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) chloride complexes with acetamidrazones

Co^II, Ni^II and Cu^II chloride complexes with acetamidrazone derivatives (L ¹ )–(L ⁸ ) have been prepared, by reacting the corresponding metal chloride with the ligand in a 1:2 ratio, and characterised by chemical analysis and physical measurements. The ligand behaviour and the geometry have been assigned on the basis of i.r. spectroscopy, electronic reflectance spectra and molar conductivity values and only, where possible, the geometry has been confirmed as octahedral by X-ray structure determination. Complexes cytotoxicity on a human cellular line of adenocarcinoma was also tested. Three of the complexes present a weak cytotoxicity in vitro.     

Propenethioamides in the synthesis of heterocyclic systems. Synthesis of pyrrole and 1,4-thiazepine derivatives

The reaction of propenethioamides 1 with bromoketones 2 and 3 led in acidic medium to the formation of 1,4-thiazepines 6 and 7 . The pyrrole derivatives 4 and 5 were obtained by reaction of 1 with 2 and 3 in basic medium.     

Reaction of N1-acylacetamidrazones with trifluoroacetylvinyl ethers. Synthesis of new 4-trifluoromethyl- and 6-trifluoromethylpyridines

The reaction between N¹-acylacetamidrazones 1 and enol ether 2 is described. Depending on the reaction conditions and on the substitution pattern of amidrazones 2-acylhydrazino-4-methyl-6-trifluoro-methylpyridines 3 and/or 2-acylhydrazino-6-methyl-4-trifluoromethylpyridines 4 were obtained.