Quantification of the pore size distribution (porosity profiles) in microfiltration membranes by SEM,TEM and computer image analysis

Transport properties of membranes are closely related to morphological properties like surface porosity and variation of their inner pore structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are powerful tools to characterise the microscopical pore structure of membranes in a qualitative manner. In order to provide more quantitative data of surface and cross-sectional pores computer image analysis can be used. Parameters like ‘porous area fraction’ and ‘mean free path length’ have been selected to describe the pore distribution within porosity profiles in order to consider the effect that the pores within the cross-section are connected to each other.     

Isolation and structural analysis of novel conformational isomers of the m-xylylene-bridged calix[6]arenes: the ‘partial cone’ and ‘inverted cone’ isomers

In the benzylation of a m-xylylene-bridged calix[6]arene tetrol, the first example of the ‘partial cone’ isomer of a calix[6]arene was obtained in addition to the corresponding cone and 1,2,3-alternate isomers, and its structure was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The synthesis and crystal structure of the ‘inverted cone’ isomer as well as its thermal conversion to the ‘normal cone’ isomer are also described.     

Ethynylation of pyrroles with 1-acyl-2-bromoacetylenes on alumina: a formal ‘inverse Sonogashira coupling’

Pyrroles are cross-coupled with 1-acyl-2-bromoacetylenes on the surface of Al₂O₃ at room temperature under solvent-free conditions to afford 2-(acylethynyl)pyrroles with 100% regioselectivity and in good yields, thus representing the first example of a palladium-, copper-, base-, and solvent-free (‘green’) ethynylation of pyrroles, which can be considered a formal ‘inverse Sonogashira coupling’. Given the interest in functionalized pyrroles and acetylenes, this new facile and environmentally friendly cross-coupling should be of significant interest for the role of acylhaloacetylenes in pyrrole and acetylene chemistry.     

BODIPY based ‘click on’ fluorogenic dyes: application in live cell imaging

The design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of new BODIPY-based fluorogenic ‘click on’ dyes are reported. CuAAC reaction of non-fluorescent BODIPY azide with a series of non-fluorescent alkyne molecules resulted in fluorescent triazoles which displayed up to 532-fold enhancement of fluorescence in the red region. Imaging studies confirmed the general trend of cell permeability and a cholesterol linked derivative exhibited selective localization into intracellular membranes.     

Synthesis of 9-oxa-noradamantane derivative, an aesthetically pleasing ‘oxa-basket’

A simple protocol for the synthesis of an aesthetically pleasing ‘oxa-basket’ (5-methoxy-2,8,13-trioxapentacyclo[7.2.1.1.^5,120.^4,110^6,10]tridecane-3,7-dione), possessing 9-oxa-noradamantane core, is described. The readily available diquinane based dichloro bis-γ-lactone precursor upon treatment with MeSO₃H furnished dichloro ‘oxa-basket’ which was dechlorinated using TBTH/AIBN to obtain the title compound. The key role of the chlorines was demonstrated by replacement with hydrogen or allyl substituents which redirects the cascade to simple hydrolysis products.     

A practical synthesis of carbamates using an ‘in-situ’ generated polymer-supported chloroformate

A versatile method for the synthesis of carbamates from an ‘in-situ’ generated polymer-supported chloroformate resin is presented. BTC (bis-trichloromethyl carbonate) is used as phosgene equivalent to afford a supported chloroformate, which, by sequential ‘one-pot’ reaction with a variety of alcohols and amines, furnishes the corresponding carbamates in high yields and purities.     

A solvent-controlled highly efficient Pd-C catalyzed hydrogenolysis of benzaldehydes to methylbenzenes via a novel ‘acetal pathway’

Pd-C catalyzed hydrogenolysis of benzaldehydes to methylbenzenes has been described to proceed via a ‘benzenemethanol pathway’. In this article, a novel ‘acetal pathway’ was first revealed by a systematic study when lower alcohols were used as solvents and a solvent-controlled highly efficient procedure was established.     

Synthesis of a ‘twisted’ transition-state analogue of biotin

A facile, racemic synthesis of a ‘twisted’ transition-state analogue of biotin is described. A key reaction is the electronically assisted ring-closure of the sulfur containing ring by displacement of an in situ generated mesylate by a suitably positioned 4-methoxybenzyl sulfide. The crystal structure of tricyclic compound 6 shows the AB ring system to indeed be twisted. The ‘twist’ was introduced to examine the possible involvement of sulfur participation in biotin biochemistry.     

The ‘fully protected backbone’ approach as a versatile tool for a new solid-phase PNA synthesis strategy

The ‘fully protected backbone’ (FPB) strategy has been efficiently adapted to the solid-phase synthesis of homothymine, homocytosine and ‘mixed’ pyrimidine PNAs. This versatile and simple method avoids the preparation of PNA monomers and relies on easy available starting materials, highly efficient backbone elongations and effective nucleobase units condensations.     

‘O-Acyl isopeptide method’: racemization-free segment condensation in solid phase peptide synthesis

We disclosed a novel ‘racemization-free segment condensation’ based on the ‘O-acyl isopeptide method’ in which an N-segment including C-terminal O-acyl isopeptide structure with urethane-protected Ser/Thr residue was employed for the segment condensation, suggesting that the use of this method contributes to the effective convergent synthesis of long peptides/proteins.     

‘O-Acyl isopeptide method’ for the efficient synthesis of difficult sequence-containing peptides: use of ‘O-acyl isodipeptide unit’

A novel ‘O-acyl isodipeptide unit’, Boc-Thr(Fmoc-Val)-OH 5 has been successfully used for the efficient synthesis of a difficult sequence-containing pentapeptide based on the ‘O-acyl isopeptide method’, in which racemization-inducible esterification could be omitted, suggesting that the use of O-acyl isodipeptide units allows the application of this method to fully automated protocols for the synthesis of long peptides or proteins.     

Unprecedented dual reactivity of anhydrous potassium hydroxide in cascade cyclopropannelation/Haller-Bauer-scission/Grob-fragmentation reactions

We report an unprecedented type of reactivity of ‘anhydrous potassium hydroxide’ (‘APH’) in which it plays, over a large variety of related educts, sequentially the role of base and nucleophile. Some insight into the structure of reactive species as well as comparative reactivity of related reagents prepared by fusion of commercially available potassium hydroxide or by adding stoichiometric amount of water to potassium hydride is provided.     

Electrochemically induced dethreading of a 2-pseudorotaxane based on the 1,2-bis(4,4′-pyridinium)ethane/24-crown-8 ether motif

Reversible electrochemical regulation of dethreading and rethreading of a 2-pseudorotaxane complex composed of a dibenzo-24-crown-8 ‘wheel’ noncovalently bound to the ethyl bridge of a bis-viologen ‘axle’ is demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry.     

N-Dansyl-carbazoloquinone; a chemical and electrochemical fluorescent switch

A new ‘push-pull’ molecule having an efficient fluorophore (dansyl) in electronic communication with an active redox quencher (phenyl-carbazoloquinone) through an NH-bridge was designed and synthesized. This all-organic molecule is suggested as a highly reversible ‘on/off’ molecular switching system. Chemical and electrochemical inter-conversion between the quinone acceptor and the dansyl donor were demonstrated via UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry and fluorescence measurements.     

Heptakis-6-(5-methylene-thioureido-5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-β-cyclodextrin: synthesis and metal complexation study

A new heptapode heptakis-6-(5-methylene-thioureido-5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-β-cyclodextrin was prepared and its complexation properties towards metal cations were investigated. Substituting the urea functions by the corresponding thioureas promoted the inversion of the metal coordination selectivity. Preliminary results showed the heptapode unable to complex lanthanides but authorise selective complexation of ‘soft’ and ‘borderline’ metal cations.     

Pre-analytical method for NMR-based grape metabolic fingerprinting and chemometrics

Although metabolomics aims at profiling all the metabolites in organisms, data quality is quite dependent on the pre-analytical methods employed. In order to evaluate current methods, different pre-analytical methods were compared and used for the metabolic profiling of grapevine as a model plant. Five grape cultivars from Portugal in combination with chemometrics were analyzed in this study. A common extraction method with deuterated water and methanol was found effective in the case of amino acids, organic acids, and sugars. For secondary metabolites like phenolics, solid phase extraction with C-18 cartridges showed good results. Principal component analysis, in combination with NMR spectroscopy, was applied and showed clear distinction among the cultivars. Primary metabolites such as choline, sucrose, and leucine were found discriminating for ‘Alvarinho’, while elevated levels of alanine, valine, and acetate were found in ‘Arinto’ (white varieties). Among the red cultivars, higher signals for citrate and GABA in ‘Touriga Nacional’, succinate and fumarate in ‘Aragonês’, and malate, ascorbate, fructose and glucose in ‘Trincadeira’, were observed. Based on the phenolic profile, ‘Arinto’ was found with higher levels of phenolics as compared to ‘Alvarinho’. ‘Trincadeira’ showed lowest phenolics content while higher levels of flavonoids and phenylpropanoids were found in ‘Aragonês’ and ‘Touriga Nacional’, respectively. It is shown that the metabolite composition of the extract is highly affected by the extraction procedure and this consideration has to be taken in account for metabolomics studies.     

Synthesis of (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)acetates based on a ‘cyclization/hydrogenation/enzymatic kinetic resolution’ strategy

A variety of (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)acetates and (pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetates have been prepared by hydrogenation of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans and 2-alkylidenepyrrolidines, which are readily available by cyclization reactions of 1,3-dicarbonyl dianions (‘free dianions’) or 1,3-bis-silyl enol ethers (‘masked dianions’) with 1,2-dielectrophiles. The enzymatic kinetic resolution of (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)acetates with recombinant esterase Est56 proceeded with excellent enantioselectivities (E>100).     

NF-31 color test uncovers ‘hidden’ alcohol functionalities in PEG-based resins for solid phase peptide synthesis

Recently developed PEG-based resins have been shown to markedly improve the quality of the synthesis in case of the so-called ‘difficult’ peptide sequences. Difficult coupling reactions further require sensitive color tests for amines in the assessment of the completeness of coupling. We here describe how the use of PEG-based resins in combination with one of the more sensitive color tests in SPPS can lead to severe misinterpretation and unnecessary delays during solid phase peptide synthesis due to the presence of ‘non-declared’ free hydroxyl functionalities in aminomethyl-PEG-based resins.     

DNA and RNA binding properties of an arginine-based ‘Extended Chiral Box’ Peptide Nucleic Acid

Lys-based ‘chiral box’ Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs with three adjacent 2D-Lys-based chiral monomers) have shown unsurpassed specificity in DNA recognition. In this Letter, the binding performances of arginine-based chiral PNAs were evaluated for PNAs containing in the middle part of the strand either a 2D,5L-Arg monomer or three adjacent 2D-; 2D,5L-; 5L-Arg monomers (‘Extended Chiral Box’), a combination never studied before. The binding performances of the PNAs were studied by evaluating the melting temperatures of fullmatch and mismatch PNA-DNA and PNA-RNA hybrids and by studying their structure by circular dichroism (CD). The data indicated that the arginine side chains inserted in the PNA structure are perfectly equivalent to lysine side chains as far as oligonucleotide recognition is concerned. The insertion of an ‘Extended Chiral Box’ into PNA differently influences the binding properties to DNA and RNA: the additional side chains had no observable effect on binding affinity and selectivity toward DNA, whereas, seemed to slightly disturb the binding affinity to RNA but at the same time highly enhancing the recognition selectivity.