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The novel heteronuclear complexes [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-pyrazine)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L1-Zn) and [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-4,4′-bipyridyl)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L2-Zn) (where terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, L1 = pyrazine, L2 = 4,4′-bipyridyl) were synthesized and characterized. The pK_a values were determined, and based on them it was established that the π-acceptor ability of the pyrazine bridging ligand is more affective on lower pK_a values. The kinetic measurements of the substitution reactions with biologically relevant ligands, such as guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) and glutathione (GSH), were studied at pH 7.4. The reactions were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The order of reactivity of the investigated biomolecules for the first reaction is 5′-GMP > 5′-IMP > GSH, while for the second is 5′-IMP > GSH. Pt-L1-Zn complex is more reactive than Pt-L2-Zn. The cytotoxic activity of heteronuclear Pt-L1-Zn and Pt-L2-Zn complexes was determined on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) and human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Both complexes significantly reduced cell viability on tested cell lines and exerted significant cytotoxic effects, with better effect on HCT-116 cells than cisplatin, especially after 72 hr (IC₅₀ < 0.52 μM). The Pt-L2-Zn complex showed higher activity against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) than cisplatin after 72 hr. The higher reactivity toward DNA constituent and significant cytotoxic activity may be attributed to the different geometry, Lewis acidity of different metal centers, as well as, to choice of bridging ligands.     

A Disulfide Intercalator Toolbox for the Site‐Directed Modification of Polypeptides

A disulfide intercalator toolbox was developed for site‐specific attachment of a broad variety of functional groups to proteins or peptides under mild, physiological conditions. The peptide hormone somatostatin (SST) served as model compound for intercalation into the available disulfide functionalization schemes starting from the intercalator or the reactive SST precursor before or after bioconjugation. A tetrazole–SST derivative was obtained that undergoes photoinduced cycloaddition in mammalian cells, which was monitored by live‐cell imaging.     

Iodine(III)‐Catalyzed Rearrangements of Imides: A Versatile Route to α,α‐Dialkylated α‐Hydroxy Carboxylamides

A tertiary hydroxy group α to a carboxyl moiety comprises a key structural motif in many bioactive substances. With the herein presented metal‐free rearrangement of imides triggered by hypervalent λ³‐iodane, an easy and selective way to gain access to such a compound class, namely α,α‐disubstituted‐α‐hydroxy carboxylamides, was established. Their additional methylene bromide side chain constitutes a useful handle for rapid diversification, as demonstrated by a series of further functionalizations. Moreover, the in situ formation of an iodine(III) species under the reaction conditions was proven. Our findings clearly corroborate that hypervalent λ³‐benziodoxolones are involved in these organocatalytic reactions.     

Nonlinear frequency response analysis: a recent review and perspectives

The nonlinear frequency response analysis (NFRA) can be seen as an extension of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. NFRA gives a full and detailed representation of the system response and can establish a connection between model parameters and the experimentally observed phenomena. In this article, different theoretical NFRA approaches and the most recent application examples are discussed. A simple electrochemical example is used to showcase the benefits and disadvantages of analyzing the system response by using different approaches. In addition, it was shown how to extract experimental harmonic values and analyze them.     

A simple adsorptive chronopotentiometric stripping method for determination of vitamin B 1 in pharmaceutical products

A new electroanalytical method for vitamin B1 determination, based on adsorptive chronopotentiometric stripping analysis and non-specific adsorption onto mercury film electrode, was developed and validated. Stripping chronopotentiograms showed a single well-defined oxidation wave corresponding to vitamin B1 at about − 0.43 V in citrate buffer pH 6.0. The most important experimental factors affecting the monitored electroanalytical response of vitamin B1 were investigated and optimised. Under the optimal experimental conditions, linear response of vitamin B1 was obtained in the concentration range of 5–50 mg dm−3, with the achieved limit of detection of 1.64 mg dm−3, and the limit of quantitation of 4.97 mg dm−3. A mean recovery of 97.1% and relative standard deviations of 3.75% were achieved. The developed electrochemical procedure was successfully applied for the determination of vitamin B1 in pharmaceutical products. The results of the proposed method were in good agreement with those obtained by parallel HPLC analyses, confirming an accuracy of the developed method.     

Synthesis of Indolophanes by Photochemical Macrocyclization

Herein, we report the synthetically practical, short, and general access to novel indolophane architectures by means of a photochemical C?H activation process—the Witkop cyclization. These highly strained scaffolds were obtained by photoinduced ring closure and feature atropisomerism as well as aromatic ring current effects, which both have been investigated. The prevailing regioselectivity of theWitkop cyclization reaction was completely reversed by the presence of a quaternary carbon center, exerting a strong Thorpe–Ingold effect on the system for which experimental‐evidence is provided.     

Toll number of the Cartesian and the lexicographic product of graphs

Toll convexity is a variation of the so-called interval convexity. A tolled walk $T$ between two non-adjacent vertices $u$ and $v$ in a graph $G$ is a walk, in which $u$ is adjacent only to the second vertex of $T$ and $v$ is adjacent only to the second-to-last vertex of $T$. A toll interval between $u,v\in V\left(G\right)$ is a set $T_G(u,v)=\{x\in V\left(G\right):x\text{ lies on a tolled walk between }u\text{ and }v\}$. A set $S?V\left(G\right)$ is toll convex, if $T_G(u,v)?S$ for all $u,v\in S$. A toll closure of a set $S?V\left(G\right)$ is the union of toll intervals between all pairs of vertices from $S$. The size of a smallest set $S$ whose toll closure is the whole vertex set is called a toll number of a graph $G$, $tn\left(G\right)$. The first part of the paper reinvestigates the characterization of convex sets in the Cartesian product of two graphs. It is proved that the toll number of the Cartesian product of two graphs equals 2. In the second part, the toll number of the lexicographic product of two graphs is studied. It is shown that if $H$ is not isomorphic to a complete graph, $tn(G°H)\le 3?tn\left(G\right)$. We give some necessary and sufficient conditions for $tn(G°H)=3?tn\left(G\right)$. Moreover, if $G$ has at least two extreme vertices, a complete characterization is given. Furthermore, graphs with $tn(G°H)=2$ are characterized. Finally, the formula for $tn(G°H)$ is given — it is described in terms of the so-called toll-dominating triples or, if $H$ is complete, toll-dominating pairs.