Ratiometric detection of cysteine by a ferrocenyl Michael acceptor

An activated ferrocenyl enone (1) by an intramolecular hydrogen bond was utilized as a Michael acceptor type of chemodosimeter for cysteine. The probe has shown selective response toward cysteine over other natural amino acids through the Michael addition reaction of a cysteinyl thiol group to 1. When cysteine was added, the prominent color change of 1 was observed so that submillimolar concentrations of cysteine were detectable by the naked eye.     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferrocenyl bishydrazones

New ferrocenyl bishydrazones (2a–2d) have been efficiently obtained from 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde by a straightforward synthesis. The four new compounds have been fully characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C), high-resolution mass spectroscopy, and the molecular structure of compounds (2a–2d) has been elucidated by X-ray diffraction on single crystals.     

流动注射电化学发光法测定半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽

采用流动注射分析技术研究了半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽对鲁米诺微弱电化学发光的增敏行为。对影响电化学发光的各因素进行了试验和探讨 ,提出了可能的反应机理 ,并建立一种电化学发光测定半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽的新方法。半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽的浓度在 1 .0× 1 0 - 6 mol/L～ 5 .0× 1 0 - 5 mol/L和 1 .0× 1 0 - 6mol/L～ 2 .0× 1 0 - 5 mol/L之间呈良好的线性关系 ,相关系数分别为 0 .993和0 998,检出限分别为 0 .67μmol/L和 0 .72 μmol/L。对 1 .0× 1 0 - 5mol/L的半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽进行 1 1次平行测定 ,相对标准偏差分别为 4.5 %和 3.7%。     

One-step synthesis of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione derivatives using the Ugi reaction

Fully protected natural and unnatural N-acetylcysteine, dipeptide Cys-Gly, glutathione, and homoglutathione derivatives were synthesized by the Ugi four-component reaction using various benzylthio aldehydes and ketones as carbonyl building blocks. The scope and limitations of the method were investigated. Formation of imidazoline by-products in the Ugi reaction was discussed. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol was shown to be a superior reaction media than methanol in some reactions. Also, the 4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octyl derivative (OBO-ester) of isocyanoacetic acid was shown to be superior to use than ethyl isocyanoacetate as a peptide synthesis precursor in cases when higher reactivity of an isocyanide is required.     

Brdicka-type processes of cysteine and cysteine-containing peptides on silver amalgam electrodes

Silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE) was used for differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) measurements of cysteine and cysteine-containing peptides, glutathione, gamma-Glu-Cys-Gly and phytochelatin (gamma-Glu-Cys)(3)-Gly (PC3), in the presence of Co(II) ions. It had been established earlier that cysteine-containing peptides and proteins catalyze hydrogen evolution at mercury electrodes in presence of cobalt salts; these processes are known as the Brdicka reaction. DPV signals measured with the AgSAE, the surfaces of which had been modified by mercury meniscus or mercury film, were qualitatively the same as those obtained with the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). With these electrodes the number and the intensity of Brdicka signals of cysteine, glutathione and PC3 differed, making a distinction among them possible. On the other hand, with the polished silver solid amalgam electrode (the surface of which was completely free of liquid mercury) all three compounds produced only one but strikingly intense peak in the region of Brdicka reaction. Using this signal, cysteine, glutathione as well as PC3 could be determined at 10(-8)M level, representing sensitivity up to 2 orders of magnitude better than attained with the mercury-modified AgSAEs or HMDE.     

Preparation of new 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl stibine derivatives containing ether/thioether pendant arm from a quaternary ferrocenyl ammonium salt

New 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl stibines viz. containing –CH₂OR or –CH₂SR pendant arm at the ortho-position have been synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical methods. These new ferrocenylstibines were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of diphenyl[(N,N,N-trimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)iodide]stibine by different phenols and thiol viz. o-salicyldehyde, m-hydroxyacetaphenone, o-hydroxyaceta-phenone and furan-2 ylmethylthiol. Molecular structures of stibines (2), (3), (4) and (5) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Molecular structures show that none of these heterobimetallic compounds possess hypervalent interaction in the solid state. This type of interaction was found in similar compounds with CH₂NR₂ pendant arm.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new platinum ethynyl dimers and polymers with pendant ferrocenyl groups

The square-planar platinum(II) complex trans-[(Ph₂FcP)₂PtCl₂] (1) (Fc=ferrocenyl), that is a metal-containing polymer precursor, has been synthesised and its single crystal structure determined. Using 1, new ferrocene-containing platinum ethynyl dimers trans-[(Ph₂FcP)₂Pt(CCR)₂] {R=SiMe₃ (2), C₆H₅ (3) and C₆H₄-p-NO₂ (4)} and a polymer [(Ph₂FcP)₂Pt(CCC₆H₂-p-(OC₈H₁₇)₂CC)]_n (5) have been formed by the reaction of the metal precursor with the appropriate mono- and bis-ethynyl ligands. Single crystal X-ray studies of 4 have shown it to exist as two different polymorphic forms, both having trans-geometry with respect to the ferrocenyl phosphines and ethynyl ligands. GPC measurements on the polymer show a high degree of polymerisation with an average molecular weight of ca. 88?000.     

Synthesis and structures of three heterobimetallic compounds based on a new ferrocenyl pyridine ligand

The reactions of 2-PAMF with metal perchlorates [2-PAMF = (2-pyridylmethylamino)carbonylferrocene] yielded three coordination compounds, M(2-PAMF)₂(CH₃CH₂OH)₂(ClO₄)₂ (M = Co 1, Zn 2, and Cu 3), which were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 2 have similar structures with six-coordinate metals in octahedral geometries. The CuII in 3 possesses a severely distorted octahedral geometry due to Jahn–Teller distortion. Adjacent molecules in the three compounds were linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form a 1-D supramolecular chain.     

Synthesis and characterization of cholesterol-based nonsymmetric dimers terminated with ferrocenyl core

The molecular design, synthesis, and thermal behavior of cholesterol-based nonsymmetric dimers, which can also be regarded as metallomesogens, consisting of either two- or three-ring aromatic cores terminated with ferrocenyl unit are reported. The spacer length connecting the cholesterol and aromatic cores is held constant while the length of the spacer connecting ferrocene and aromatic cores has been varied. The occurrence of the enantiotropic mesomorphism in these compounds has been adjudged by optical, calorimetric, and X-ray diffraction studies. In particular these systems exhibit liquid crystal phases such as chiral nematic, twist grain boundary, and smectic A phases. Of these, the chiral nematic phase commonly occurs in all the synthesized compounds.     

Synthesis of ferrocenyl pyrazoles by the reaction of 3-ferrocenylpropynal with hydrazinium salts

Synthesis of ferrocenyl-substituted pyrazoles via the reaction between 3-ferrocenylpropynal and hydrazinium salts is described. Depending upon the substitution pattern of hydrazine derivative, the reaction affords 1-alkyl/aryl-5-ferrocenylpyrazoles and/or 1-alkyl/aryl-3-ferrocenylpyrazoles. Structures of 5-ferrocenyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, 1-benzyl-5-ferrocenyl-1H-pyrazole and 2-(3-ferrocenylpyrazol-1-yl)ethanol were identified by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and physico-analytical studies of some novel ferrocenyl Schiff base derivatives

A series of ferrocenyl Schiff base derivatives was synthesized by condensation reactions of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde and aromatic amines containing long chain alkyl groups as free ends which were characterized by their physical properties, elemental, FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectral and thermal analysis. The thermal behaviour of the synthesized compounds was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) which revealed that these compounds may exhibit mesomorphic properties. The DSC results of aromatic amines and ferrocenyl Schiff bases were compared to study the effects of structure, i.e. rigid core and terminal chain length, on the phase transition behaviour.     

A simple synthesis of ferrocenyl bis-amides by a Ugi four-component reaction

An efficient and simple synthesis of ferrocenyl bis-amides by the Ugi four-component reaction of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, carboxylic acids, isocyanides and amines in methanol at room temperature is reported.     

Synthesis and electro-spectroelectrochemistry of ferrocenyl naphthaquinones

A practical approach to ferrocenyl naphthaquinone derivatives involving thermal rearrangement of variously substituted 4-aryl-4-hydroxycyclobutenones was described. The reaction of 3-ferrocenyl-4-isopropoxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione with different aryl lithiums gave the corresponding 4-aryl-4-hydroxycyclobutenones, which were heated in p-xylene at reflux open to the air to yield ferrocenyl naphthaquinones. The redox chemistry of the ferrocenyl naphthaquinones was studied by electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical techniques in CH₂Cl₂ solution and in CH₃CN solution with water, weak and strong acidic additives. Ferrocenyl naphthaquinones displayed reversible two reduction processes involving semiquinone radical anion (Fc-snq⁻), dianion (Fc-nq²⁻) species and a one-electron oxidation process based on the ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc⁺-nq/Fc-nq) couple in CH₂Cl₂. The redox reaction mechanism of the ferrocenyl naphthaquinones in the presence of the additives proceeded via hydrogen bonding or proton-coupled electron transfer. Effects of the substituents on the reduction potentials and intramolecular charge-transfer bands of ferrocenyl naphthaquinones were also discussed.     

Quantification of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in human plasma and tobacco leaves by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A new capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed for the rapid separation and sensitive detection of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSH) after derivatization by 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazol (NBD-Cl). The derivatization and separation conditions were investigated in detail and the optimums were obtained. Under the optimum experiment conditions, linear relationships between the peak height and concentrations of the analytes in normal and second-derivative electrophoregrams were obtained (0.22-45.00 μM). The detection limits for glutathione and glutathione disulfide in normal and second-derivative electrophoregrams were 0.046 and 0.012 μM and 0.046 and 0.014 μM, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in human plasma and tobacco leaves with satisfactory results.     

One-pot three-component synthesis, structure and redox properties of ferrocenyl isoxazoles

A consecutive coupling-cycloaddition sequence of acid chlorides, terminal alkynes, and in situ generated nitrile oxides furnishes ferrocenyl substituted redox active isoxazoles in moderate to good yields. The structure was unambiguously assigned by X-ray structure analyses and the electronic structure was elucidated by computational methods. Redox potentials of all representatives are strongly effected by the electronic nature of the bridging isoxazoloyl moiety.     

Improved approaches and structures of new ferrocenyl carbene complexes of chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum

Ferrocenyllithium reacts with M(CO)₆ (M = Cr, W, Mo) in THF to give, after alkylation at oxygen, the corresponding carbene complexes 3a-c in good yield. Complexes 3a,b were characterized by X-ray analysis. These complexes react with pentylamine to give the corresponding aminocarbene complexes 7a-c and with allylamine to give, in the case of chromium and tungsten, the corresponding and expected aminonocarbene complexes 8a,b, and for molybdenum, complex 9c in which the double bond is already coordinated to the metal. 8a,b could be converted in 9a,b in excellent yield. The structure of 9a could be confirmed by an X-ray analysis. Alkylations at nitrogen could be carried on complex 9c as well as on complexes 9a,b.     

Synthesis and biological activity of ferrocenyl derivatives of the non-steroidal antiandrogens flutamide and bicalutamide

A series of ferrocenyl derivatives of the two non steroidal antiandrogens flutamide and bicalutamide have been prepared. Ferrocenyl bicalutamide complexes were initially synthesized in their racemic forms, and subsequently prepared as pure (R) and (S) enantiomers, and their structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Most of the complexes retain a modest affinity for the androgen receptor and show an antiproliferative effect on both hormone-dependent (LNCaP) and -independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cells. Ferrocenyl derivatives of bicalutamide are the most cytotoxic (IC₅₀ values on PC-3 around 15 μM); however, they are less potent than the ferrocenyl derivatives of ethynyltestosterone or nilutamide (IC₅₀ around 5 μM).     

Evaluation of bactericidal and fungicidal activity of ferrocenyl or phenyl derivatives in the diphenyl butene series

Some ferrocene compounds, such as tamoxifen derivatives hydroxyferrocifen 1 and ferrociphenol 2, show strong antiproliferative activity on hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cells. In order to evaluate their antimicrobial activity, they were tested, together with their purely organic analogs, on the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. It has been found that the compounds bearing alkylamino chains are active, and in these cases the antimicrobial activity increases for compounds bearing two amino chains. These dialkyamino compounds are equally as active as doxycycline on P. aeruginosa and S. aureus but superior to it on C. albicans. The results show that there are no general correlation between the antitumoral activity and the bactericidal and fungicidal activities of these compounds. The ferrocene derivatives and their organic analogs have similar activity on bacteria and fungus. This bactericidal and fungicidal behaviour is a novel area of activity for these entities.     

Organometallic analogues of tamoxifen: Effect of the amino side-chain replacement by a carbonyl ferrocenyl moiety in hydroxytamoxifen

Since the widely prescribed selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen encounters growing cases of resistance in long-term treatments, alternative drugs with different therapeutic scopes have to be developed. Many investigators have modified the triphenylethylene scaffold, but very few have changed its amino side chain, essential for the antiestrogenic activity. For the first time, a lipophilic and stable organometallic entity, -OCH₂CO-[(η⁵-C₅H₄)FeCp], has replaced this key functional side chain, while keeping a good affinity for the estrogen receptor and an antiproliferative activity on cancer cells (MCF-7 and PC-3). Its mechanism of action is likely to be different from the antihormonal pathway followed by hydroxytamoxifen, and from the cytotoxicity observed for the ferrocifens.