Synthesis,crystal structure,electronic spectroscopy,electrochemistry and biological studies of carbohydrate containing ferrocene amides

A series of four new ferrocene–carbohydrate amides was prepared from pentose and hexose sugar derivatives. These include (5‐amino‐5‐deoxy‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐d ‐xylofuranose)‐1‐ferrocene carboxamide (2a), (5‐amino‐3‐O‐benzyl‐5‐deoxy‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐d ‐xylofuranose)‐1‐ferrocene carboxamide (2b), (methyl‐6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐β‐d ‐ribofuranoside)‐1‐ferrocene carboxamide (2c) derived from furanose sugars and (6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐1,2:3,4‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐d ‐galactopyranose)‐1‐ferrocene carboxamide (2d) derived from pyranose sugar. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic means and the structure of amide derived from α‐d ‐xylofuranose (2a) was determined by X‐ray crystallography. The electronic and optical properties of the compounds were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy. The UV and electrochemical studies of these compounds, performed in aqueous solutions under physiological conditions (at pH 7.4), confirmed their stability. These results indicated that the compounds were suitable for conducting biological studies. The CD spectral analysis displays the effect of sugar substituents on the compounds. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of these conjugates were investigated on different cancer cell lines and microbes respectively. The degree of inhibition varied over a broad spectrum of Gram‐ positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. In addition, the compounds also exhibited antioxidant properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical Behavior of o‐Nitrophenol at Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

A hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) was fabricated and characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods (ferrocene as a probe). The electrochemical behavior of nitrophenol (o‐NP) at the HMS modified electrode (HMSCPE) was investigated. Compared with CPE, a well‐defined reduction peak and a remarkably peak current response was observed. It is indicated that mesoporous HMS exhibited remarkable enhancement effects on the electrochemical reduction of o‐NP. The electrochemical reduction mechanism was also discussed. Consequently, a simple and sensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of o‐NP, which was used to determine o‐NP in waste water samples.     

Ferrocene–β‐Cyclodextrin Conjugates: Synthesis,Supramolecular Behavior,and Use as Electrochemical Sensors

Ferrocene with a β‐cyclodextrin unit bound to one or both cyclopentadienyl rings through the secondary face were conveniently synthesized by regiospecific copper(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of 2‐O‐propargyl‐β‐cyclodextrin to azidomethyl or bis(azidomethyl)ferrocene. The supramolecular behavior of the synthesized conjugates in both the absence and presence of bile salts (sodium cholate, deoxycholate, and chenodeoxycholate) was studied by using electrochemical methods (cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry), isothermal titration calorimetry, and NMR spectroscopy (PGSE, CPMG, and 2D‐ROESY). These techniques allowed the determination of stability constants, mode of inclusion, and diffusion coefficients for complexes formed with the neutral and, in some cases, the oxidized states of the ferrocenyl conjugates. It was found that the ferrocenyl conjugate with one β‐cyclodextrin unit forms a redox‐controllable head‐to‐head homodimer in aqueous solution. The ferrocene–bis(β‐cyclodextrin) conjugate is present in two distinguishable forms in aqueous solution, each one having a different half‐wave oxidation potential for the oxidation of the ferrocene. By contrast, only one distinguishable form for the oxidized state of the ferrocene–β‐cyclodextrin conjugate is detectable. The redox‐sensing abilities of the synthesized conjugates towards the bile salts were evaluated based on the observed guest‐induced changes in both the half‐wave potential and the current peak intensity of the electroactive moiety.     

Synthesis,X‐ray Structure of Ferrocene Bearing Bis(Zn‐cyclen) Complexes and the Selective Electrochemical Sensing of TpT

The new ligand, [Fc(cyclen)₂] ( 5 ) (Fc=ferrocene, cyclen=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane), and corresponding Zn^II complex receptor, [Fc{Zn(cyclen)(CH₃OH)}₂](ClO₄)₄ ( 1 ), consisting of a ferrocene moiety bearing one Zn^II‐cyclen complex on each cyclopentadienyl ring, have been designed and prepared through a multi‐step synthesis. Significant shifts in the ¹H NMR signals of the ferrocenyl group, cf. ferrocene and a previously reported [Fc{Zn(cyclen)}]²⁺ derivative, indicated that the two Zn^II‐cyclen units in 1 significantly affect the electronic properties of the cyclopentadienyl rings. The X‐ray crystal structure shows that the two positively charged Zn^II‐cyclen complexes are arranged in a trans like configuration, with respect to the ferrocene bridging unit, presumably to minimise electrostatic repulsion. Both 5 and 1 can be oxidized in 1:4 CH₂Cl₂/CH₃CN and Tris‐HCl aqueous buffer solution under conditions of cyclic voltammetry to give a well defined ferrocene‐centred (Fc^0/+) process. Importantly, 1 is a highly selective electrochemical sensor of thymidilyl(3′‐5′)thymidine (TpT) relative to other nucleobases and nucleotides in Tris‐HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4). The electrochemical selectivity, detected as a shift in reversible potential of the Fc^0/+ component, is postulated to result from a change in the configuration of bis(Zn^II‐cyclen) units from a trans to a cis state. This is caused by the strong 1:1 binding of the two deprotonated thymine groups in TpT to different Zn^II centres of receptor 1 . UV‐visible spectrophotometric titrations confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry for the 1 :TpT adduct and allowed the determination of the apparent formation constant of 0.89±0.10×10⁶ M ^?1 at pH 7.4.     

Electron transfer of conjugated polymeric ferrocenes

This paper describes three topics on the π‐conjugated ferrocene oligomers and polymers; the first is the dependence of intervalence‐transfer bands for mixed‐valence oligo(1,1'‐dihexylferrocenylene)s on the oxidation number and the number of ferrocene units, the second is synthesis of azo‐bridged ferrocene oligomers and a polymer and electrochemical and optical analysis of internuclear electronic interactions in their mixed‐valence states and the third is synthesis, redox behaviors and electrodeposition of oligoferrocenylene‐modified gold clusters.     

Reaktionsverhalten verschiedener Carbodiimide mit Ferrocen‐1, 1'‐dicarbonsäure

Reaction Behaviour of Several Carbodiimides with 1, 1'‐Ferrocenedicarboxylic Acid 1, 1'‐bis‐(1, 3‐dicyclohexylureidocarbonyl)‐ferrocene ( 1 ), 1, 1'‐bis‐(1, 3‐diisopropylureidocarbonyl)‐ferrocene ( 2 ) and ferrocene‐1, 1'‐bis‐N‐p‐tolylcarboxamide ( 6 ) were synthesized by melting down 1, 1'‐ferrocenedicarboxylic acid ( 7 ) together with N, N'‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), N, N'‐diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) or N, N'‐di‐p‐tolylcarbodiimide ( 8 ), respectively, without application of any solvent in a short space of time. Substance 1 , 2 , 1, 1'‐bis‐(1‐ethyl‐3‐tert‐butylureidocarbonyl)‐ferrocene ( 3 ), 1‐(1‐tert‐butyl‐3‐ethylureidocarbonyl)‐1'‐(1‐ethyl‐3‐tert‐butylureidocarbonyl)‐ferrocene ( 4 ) and 1, 1'‐bis‐(1‐tert‐butyl‐3‐ethylureidocarbonyl)‐ferrocene ( 5 ) were obtained in good yield by reacting 7 DCC, DIC, or N‐tert‐butyl‐N'‐ethylcarbodiimide ( 9 ), respectively, with in ethyl acetate for weeks. Transannular 1, 1'‐ferrocenedicarboxylic anhydride was not detectable or isolable in these reactions. All new compounds were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, IR, MS and elementar analysis. In the case of 1 a single crystal structure analysis was made.     

Etorphine‐Related Ferrocenyl‐Substituted Morphinan Alkaloids

The two diastereoisomeric ferrocenyl‐substituted orvinols 2 and 3 were prepared. The modified alkaloids are still able to interact with opioid receptors (see Table). The ferrocene moiety allows highly selective and sensitive electrochemical detection. The X‐ray crystal structure of the major isomer 2 was determined. The combination of a metallocene and a morphinan alkaloid holds promise for useful antitumor activity.     

二茂铁-噻吩和联噻吩桥连吡啶盐类化合物的合成与电化学性质

设计并合成了3个二取代和三取代的二茂铁-噻吩、二茂铁-联噻吩吡啶盐类化合物： 碘化(E,E)-N-甲基-2,4,6-三{2-[5-(2-二茂铁乙烯基)噻吩-2-基]乙烯基}吡啶盐、 碘化(E,E)-N-甲基-2,6-二{2-[5’-(2-二茂铁乙烯基)-2,2’-联噻吩-5-基]乙烯基}吡啶盐、碘化(E,E)-N-甲基-2,4,6-三{2-[5’-(2-二茂铁乙烯基)-2,2’-联噻吩-5-基]乙烯基}吡啶盐。初步研究了这些化合物的电化学性质,结果表明,该类多取代二茂铁吡啶盐具有很好的氧化-还原可逆性,是潜在的电化学分子材料。     

A Competitor-switched Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of DNA

A competitor‐switched electrochemical sensor based on a generic displacement strategy was designed for DNA detection. In this strategy, an unmodified single‐stranded DNA (cDNA) completely complementary to the target DNA served as the molecular recognition element, while a hairpin DNA (hDNA) labeled with a ferrocene (Fc) and a thiol group at its terminals served as both the competitor element and the probe. This electrochemical sensor was fabricated by self‐assembling a dsDNA onto a gold electrode surface. The dsDNA was pre‐formed through the hybridization of Fc‐labeled hDNA and cDNA with their part complementary sequences. Initially, the labeled ferrocene in the dsDNA was far from surface of the electrode, the electrochemical sensor exhibited a "switch‐off" mode due to unfavorable electron transfer of Fc label. However, in the presence of target DNA, cDNA was released from hDNA by target DNA, the hairpin‐open hDNA restored its original hairpin structure and the ferrocene approached onto the electrode surface, thus the electrochemical sensor exhibited a "switch‐on" mode accompanying with a change in the current response. The experimental results showed that as low as 4.4×10⁻¹⁰ mol/L target DNA could be distinguishingly detected, and this method had obvious advantages such as facile operation, low cost and reagentless procedure.     

Octamethyl‐1, 1′‐di(2‐pyridyl)ferrocene: A Redox‐Active Ligand with a Pronounced Selectivity for Divalent Metal Ions

Octamethyl‐1, 1′‐di(2‐pyridyl)ferrocene ( 1 ) acts as molecular electrochemical sensor for magnesium, calcium, zinc, and cadmium ions in acetonitrile solution. The new redox peak, anodically shifted by ca. 0.40 V, which appears in the cyclic voltammogram of 1 in the presence of even small amounts (10 mol %) of these ions, is unaffected by an excess of alkali metal ions. Metal complexation is accompanied by a batho‐ and hyper‐chromic shift of the band in the visible region of the UV‐Vis spectrum of 1 . A detailed study of the behaviour of 1 towards zinc chloride in acetonitrile solution has revealed that 1 is able to accommodate a maximum of two zinc ions. Oxidation of zinc‐coordinated 1 leads to partial decomplexation. The N‐methyl and N‐benzyl species 1 Me⁺, 1 Me₂²⁺, 1 Bzl⁺ and 1 Bzl₂²⁺ have been synthesized and the former two structurally investigated by X‐ray diffraction. Alkylation causes an anodic shift of the redox potential of the ferrocene nucleus, which is linearly dependent on the number of alkyl groups introduced. Octamethyl‐1, 1′‐di(2‐thiophenyl)ferrocene ( 2 ) has also been synthesized and structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry has revealed that, in contrast to 1 , 2 does not respond to the divalent metal ions studied.     

Quinoline and ferrocene conjugates: Synthesis,computational study and biological evaluations

Novel O‐alkylated quinoline and N‐alkylated 4‐quinolone derivatives attached to the ferrocene moiety through 4,1‐ ( 7a–d , 8a–d and 12a–d ) and 1,4‐disubstituted ( 9a , 9b , 10a and 10b ) 1,2,3‐triazole moiety were synthesized. The observed regioselectivity of O‐ vs. N‐alkylation was explored by the use of NMR and computational techniques. Among the N‐alkylated derivatives, the quinolone‐ferrocene conjugate 9a displayed marked activities against chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis (K562) and Burkitt lymphoma (Raji). The 6‐chloroquinolone‐ferrocene conjugate 12c , with selective inhibitory activity on Raji cells and no cytostatic effect on normal MDCK1 cells was highlighted as the most promising anticancer organometallic complex in a group of O‐alkylated quinolines.     

Application of ferrocenylimidazolium salts as catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Ferrocenylimidazolium salts with methylene and phenyl groups bridging the ferrocenyl and alkylimidazolium moieties were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Crystal structures of two new compounds are also reported. Cyclic voltammetry was used to analyze the influence of the two bridging groups or spacers on electrochemical properties of the salts relative to the shifts in the formal electrode or peak potentials (E⁰ or E_1/2) of the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple. Results from this study showed that all the salts exhibited higher electrode potentials relative to ferrocene, which is due to the electron‐withdrawing effect of the imidazolium ion on the ferrocenyl moiety. Application of the salts as catalysts in transfer hydrogenation of ketones resulted in high conversion of saturated ketones to corresponding alcohols and turnover numbers as high as 1880. The catalysts were chemoselective towards reduction of the C═C bonds of conjugated 3‐penten‐2‐one and 4‐hexen‐3‐one to yield saturated ketones, while unconjugated 5‐hexen‐2‐one was hydrogenated to an unsaturated alcohol. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A New Ferrocene‐Containing Polyamide Prepared from an Improved Synthesis of 1,1′‐Ferrocene Dicarbonyl Chloride and Ferrocene‐Based Diamine

1,1′‐Ferrocene dicarbonyl chloride was prepared by an improved and efficient conversion method from 1,1′‐ferrocene dicarboxylic acid and reacted by esterification with p‐nitrophenol, followed by reduction, to form a ferrocene‐based diamine, 1,1′‐ferrocene bis (p‐amino phenylate). The diamine was characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and subsequently condensed with 1,1′‐ferrocene dicarbonyl chloride to form a novel main chain ferrocene‐containing polyamide, poly{imino ferrocene bis (p‐amino phenylate) ferrocenyl}. Its polymeric nature was confirmed by its physical properties, elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric studies.     

Ruthenium Complexes with Dendritic Ferrocenyl Phosphanes: Synthesis,Characterization, and Application in the Catalytic Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols

An efficient system for the catalytic redox isomerization of the allylic alcohol 1‐octen‐3‐ol to 3‐octanone is presented. The homogeneous ruthenium(II) catalyst contains a monodentate phosphane ligand with a ferrocene moiety in the backbone and provides 3‐octanone in quantitative yields. The activity is increased by nearly 90 % with respect to the corresponding triphenyl phosphane ruthenium(II) complex. By grafting the catalyst at the surface of a dendrimer, the catalytic activity is further increased. By introducing different spacers between ferrocene and phosphorus, the influence on the electronic properties of the complexes is shown by evaluating the electrochemical behavior of the compounds.     

Preparation,Properties, and Reactions of Metal‐Containing Heterocycles. CX [1] Crystal Structure of 1, 1'‐Bis{[4‐(1, 10‐phenanthroline‐3‐yl‐ethynyl)‐2, 5‐dipropoxy‐phenyl]ethynyl}ferrocene

The crystal structure of 1, 1'‐bis{[4‐(1, 10‐phenanthroline‐3‐yl‐ethynyl)‐2, 5‐dipropoxy‐phenyl]ethynyl}ferrocene ( 1 ) is reported. This compound crystallizes with two chloroform solvent molecules in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 15.4253(11), b = 23.2003(10), c = 17.2630(13) Å, β = 90.866(9)° and Z = 4. Both arms of the ferrocene moiety are parallel displaced with the four nitrogen atoms pointing to the same direction.     

Synthesis,Structure and Photophysical Properties of Ferrocenyl or Mixed Sandwich Cobaltocenyl Ester Linked meso‐Tetratolylporphyrin Dyads

We report here the design and synthesis of porphyrin–metallocene dyads consisting of a metallocene [either ferrocene or mixed sandwich η⁵‐[C₅H₄(COOH)]Co(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) connected via an ester linkage at meso phenyl position of either free‐base or zinc porphyrin. All these dyad systems were characterized by various spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. A dimeric form of this molecule was observed in the X‐ray crystal structure of Zn‐TTPCo. The absorption spectra of all four dyads indicated the absence of electronic interactions between porphyrin macrocycle and metallocene in the ground state. However, interestingly, in all four dyads, fluorescence emission of the porphyrin was quenched (19–55%) as compared to their monomeric units. The quenching was more pronounced in ferrocene derivatives rather than cobaltocenyl derivatives. The emission quenching can be attributed to the excited‐state intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer from metallocene to singlet excited state of porphyrin and the electron‐transfer rates (k_ET) were established in the range 1.51 × 10⁸ to 1.11 × 10⁹ s^?1. They were found to be solvent dependent.     

A flow‐through column electrolytic cell for supercritical fluid chromatography*

A novel flow‐through column electrolytic cell was proposed as a detector to obtain current signals for supercritical fluid chromatography. The electrochemical cell consisted of two electrodes and its holder, and a working and a counter electrode were fabricated from 192 carbon strings, which were composed of 400 carbon fibers of 10 μm in diameter filled into a heat‐shrinkable tube. These electrodes were placed in the center of a holder made from polyether ether ketone blocks and they were separated by polytetrafluoroethylene membrane filters. To evaluate the sensitivity of this cell, a standard solution of ferrocene was injected into the supercritical fluid chromatography system connected to the electrolytic cell. The ferrocene was eluted through a silica gel column using a mixture of a mobile phase of supercritical CO₂ and a modifier of methanol containing ammonium acetate. The current peak area of ferrocene correlated to the ferrocene concentration in the range of 10–400 μmol/L (r  = 0.999). Moreover, the limit of detection on the column estimated from a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 was 9.8  × 10⁻¹³ mol.     

Ionic Liquids as Performance Additives for Electroenzymatic Syntheses

Electroenzymatic syntheses combine oxidoreductase‐catalysed reactions with electrochemical reactant supply. The use of ionic liquids as performance additives can contribute to overcoming existing limitations of these syntheses. Here, we report on the influence of different water‐miscible ionic liquids on critical parameters such as conductivity, biocatalyst activity and stability or substrate solubility for three typical electroenzymatic syntheses. In these investigations promising ionic liquids were identified and have been used as additives for batch electrolyses on preparative scale for the three electroenzymatic systems. It was possible to improve the space‐time‐yield for the electrochemical regeneration of NADPH by a factor of three. For an amino acid oxidase catalysed resolution of a methionine racemate with ferrocene‐mediated electrochemical regeneration of the enzyme‐bound cofactor FAD a 50 % increase in space time yield and 140 % increase in catalyst utilisation (TTN) were achieved. Furthermore, for the chloroperoxidase‐catalysed synthesis of (R)‐phenylmethylsulfoxide with electrochemical generation of the required cosubstrate H₂O₂ the space time yield and the catalyst utilisation were improved by a factor of up to 4.2 depending on the ionic liquids used.     

Voltammetric Immunoassay for the Detection of Protein Biomarkers

A strategy for a fast (ca. 20 min), specific, electrochemical immunoassay for the cardiac biomarker creatine kinase (CK) and the human cytokine interleukin 10 (IL10) has been developed in this paper. The polyaniline modified gold surface formed from electrochemical reduction of diazonium salt supplies a solid substrate to link the activated carboxylic acid groups from the antibodies, which were labelled with ferrocene. The direct electrochemistry of ferrocene allows the analysis of protein markers with good sensitivity. The creatine kinase sensor demonstrates limit of detection of 0.5 pg mL^?1 in a physiological Krebs‐Henseleit solution. The anti‐IL10 antibody retained fluorescence activity after further coupling to ferrocene and covalent immobilization on to a gold electrode, showing a linear detection range for IL‐10 from 0.001 ng mL^?1 to 50 ng mL^?1 in PBS. We attribute the high sensitivity to the well‐controlled modified surface which results in end–on antibodies that can specifically capture the antigen with ease.     

Ferrocene as a Reference Redox Couple for Aprotic Ionic Liquids

The electrochemical behavior of ferrocene has been studied in a number of room temperature ionic liquids. Diffusion‐controlled, well‐defined anodic and cathodic peaks were found for the Fc/Fc⁺ (ferrocene/ferrocenium) oxidation/reduction on the gold electrode. Ohmic resistance R between working and auxiliary electrodes was deduced from impedance measurements. Cyclic voltammograms were corrected for the base line current as well as for the ohmic drop (IR). The formal potential 1/2(E_pa+E_pc) for ferrocene reduction/oxidation in aprotic ionic liquids tested is within a relatively narrow range and may be approximated by the value of 0.527±0.018 V (against the cryptate Ag/Ag⁺222 in acetonitrile reference). Ferrocene diffusion coefficients, calculated from the peak current dependence on the sweep rate, were of the order of 10^?7 cm² s^?1.