Modifying LnHPDO3A Chelates for Improved T1 and CEST MRI Applications

The new ligand HPDO3MA [(R,R,R,R)-10-(2-hydroxypropyl)-α,α′,α′′-trimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid] was designed to combine and optimize the chemical properties of the macrocyclic ligands HPDO3A and DOTMA. The presence of the methyl groups on the acetic pendant arms of HPDO3A is expected to rigidify the structure of the ligand and favor an increase of the kinetic inertness of the Ln complexes. ¹H NMR spectra of Eu(HPDO3MA) displayed the presence of two pairs of diastereoisomers: SAP (square antiprismatic) and TSAP (twisted square antiprismatic) isomers (56 and 44 %, respectively). In addition, ¹H and ¹⁷O relaxometric NMR studies of Gd(HPDO3MA) showed approximately a 10 % increase in relaxivity and a faster water exchange rate with respect to Gd(HPDO3A). Moreover, a detailed chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) characterization of Yb(HPDO3MA) displayed a sensitivity about two times larger than that of Yb(HPDO3A) both in phantom and in cell labeling experiments. Finally, the kinetic inertness of Yb(HPDO3MA) was measured to be twice as high as that of Yb(HPDO3A), with a dissociation half-life at physiological pH of about 2500 years.     

Metallacarboranes as Photoredox Catalysts in Water

Metallacarboranes with the shape of the Greek letter θ, such as [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻, were tested, for the first time, as efficient photoredox catalysts in the oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic alcohols in water. Their efficiency is linked to their high solubility in water, their high oxidizing power (Co^4+/3+), and their absence of fluorescence on excitation, among others. In most of the studied examples, using a catalyst load of 0.4 mol % gave high yields of 90–95 % with selectivity greater than 99 %. By reducing the catalyst load to 0.01 mol %, quantitative conversion of reactants to products was achieved, in some cases with greater than 99 % yield, high catalyst efficiency reaching a turnover number of 10 000, and a higher yield with a 45 times lower concentration of catalyst. The metallacarboranes can be recovered easily by precipitation on addition of [NMe₄]Cl. A pathway for the photoredox-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols is proposed.     

An extension of the Rådström cancellation theorem to cornets

Semigroup Forum - The aim of this paper is to introduce the notion of cornets, which form a particular subclass of ordered semigroups also equipped with a multiplication by natural numbers. The...     

Facile Synthesis of Novel Selenium‐Containing Benzopyrans

4,4‐Dimethylchromeno[4,3‐d]selenadiazoles 8 with insecticide activities have been synthesized via oxidative ring closure of the corresponding semicarbazone derivatives 7 by treatment with selenium dioxide. Reaction of various alkoxy‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐benzopyrans with phenylselenyl chloride was utilized to prepare different phenylselenyl‐ and 3‐chloro precocene analogs.     

Effect of bulk density on flame resistance of rockwool in combined fire-resistant facings

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Fire protection of steel structures is playing an increasingly important role nowadays. The fire protection of steel structures can be solved with...     

Cyclodextrin complexation improves aqueous solubility of the antiepileptic drug,rufinamide: solution and solid state characterization of compound-cyclodextrin binary systems

Rufinamide (RUF) was characterized in terms of cyclodextrin (CD) complexation in order to improve its aqueous solubility. Binary systems of RUF with three CDs—β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), randomly methylated-β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD)—were characterized with a wide variety of analytical techniques. Liquid state characterization was carried out by complementary techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), capillary electrophoresis (CE), mass spectrometry (MS) and phase solubility studies. The latter revealed that the stability of the complexes decreased in the order of RAMEB?>?β-CD?>?SBE-β-CD. A_L-type diagrams were obtained in all cases, characteristic of 1:1 stoichiometry, with a maximum of over 15-fold increase in RUF solubility, when complexed with RAMEB. NMR Job plot and MS studies confirmed phase solubility results, regarding the binding stoichiometry. ¹H NMR and 2D ROESY investigations revealed the inclusion of the triazole moiety of RUF, confirmed by molecular modeling. Solid state complexation in 1:1 molar ratio was carried out by kneading method and investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Comparative dissolution studies indicated an over two-fold improvement in dissolution efficacy of the kneaded products, when compared to the pure drug. Results of the present study might pave the way for a drug formulation with improved bioavailability.