Kilogram-scale synthesis of a second-generation dendrimer based on 1,3,5-triazine using green and industrially compatible methods with a single chromatographic step

A kilogram scale, divergent and iterative synthesis of a second generation, triazine dendrimer with 12 protected amines on the periphery using common laboratory equipment is reported. The route benefits from common reaction conditions, inexpensive reagents, and aqueous solvents. From the monomers, the desired product dendrimer--the last uncommitted intermediate that leads to a range of committed, generation three targets--can be obtained in 70% overall yield. Of critical importance in the execution of this divergent synthesis is the differential reactivity of chlorine atoms of trichlorotriazine. The stepwise, nucleophilic aromatic substitution of these atoms with amine nucleophiles is both the basis for the dendrimer growth as well as incorporation of solubilizing piperidine groups. Intermediates are obtained and purified through precipitation and/or extraction protocols with the exception of the final product. Isolation of the target dendrimer requires a single silica gel plug filtration. The purity of this material is assessed at >93%, a level consistent with and/or exceeding other commercially available targets.     

Anion-pi interactions as controlling elements in self-assembly reactions of Ag(I) complexes with pi-acidic aromatic rings

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) and 3,6-bis(2'-pyridyl)-1,2-pyridazine (bppn) with the AgX salts (X = [PF6]-, [AsF6]-, [SbF6]-, and [BF4]-) afford complexes of different structural motifs depending on the pi-acidity of the ligand central ring and the outer-sphere anion. The bptz reactions lead to the polymeric [[Ag(bptz)][PF6]]infinity (1) and the dinuclear compounds [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][PF6]2 (2) and [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][AsF6]2 (3), as well as the propeller-type species [Ag2(bptz)3][AsF6]2 (4) and [Ag2(bptz)3][SbF6]2 (5a and 5b). Reactions of bppn with AgX produce the grid-type structures [Ag4(bppn)4][X]4 (6-9), regardless of the anion present. In 6-9, pi-pi stacking interactions are maximized, whereas multiple and shorter (therefore stronger) anion-pi interactions between the anions and the tetrazine rings are established in 1-5b. These differences reflect the more electron-rich character of the bppn pyridazine ring as compared to the bptz tetrazine ring. The evidence gleaned from the solid-state structures was corroborated by density functional theory calculations. In the electrostatic potential maps of the free ligands, a higher positive charge is present in the bptz as compared to the bppn central ring. Furthermore, the electrostatic potential maps of 3, 4, and 5b indicate an electron density transfer from the anions to the pi-acidic rings. Conversely, upon addition of the [AsF6]- ions to the cation of 7, there is negligible change in the electron density of the central pyridazine ring, which supports the presence of weaker anion-pi interactions in the bppn as compared to the bptz complexes. From the systems studied herein, it is concluded that anion-pi interactions play an important role in the outcome of self-assembly reactions.     

Are Unsaturated Isocyanides so Different from the Corresponding Nitriles?

Simple unsaturated and cyclopropylic isocyanides are synthesized by an efficient and simple approach. These compounds with gradually increasing distance between the unsaturated moiety and the isonitrile group are studied by UV photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, and also compared to the corresponding nitriles. The first photoelectron band of the unsaturated compounds is linked to removal of an electron from the HOMO, which corresponds to CC multiple-bond ionization in antibonding interaction with the π-isocyanide bond (in the same plane) for conjugated systems, or in antibonding interaction with the pseudo-π-CH(2) group for isolated systems. For the 1-ethenyl derivatives, both cyano and isocyano groups act as a π-electron acceptor from the vinyl group, but the isocyano π system is much more strongly destabilized (ionization energies (IEs) shift to smaller values) by vinyl (3.12 eV) than the cyano π system is (2.70 eV). In comparison with the 1-ethynyl derivatives, a less pronounced destabilization (2.69 eV) of π(NC) by the ethynyl system (1.86 eV for π(CN)), and nearly the same order of magnitude of the energetic gap between the total antibonding (π(CC)-π(NC)) and the total bonding (π(CC)+π(NC)) IEs for ethenyl and ethynyl compounds are noted. The huge values of these last-named data for H(2)C=CH-NC (3.85 eV) and for HC≡C-NC (4.04 eV) reflect the strong interaction between the unsaturated carbon-carbon moiety and the isocyanide group, and thus more efficient conjugation than for the corresponding nitriles.     

Compound A Increases Cell Infiltration in Target Organs of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD) in a Mouse Model

Systemic steroids are used to treat acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) caused by allogenic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT); however, their prolonged use results in complications. Hence, new agents for treating aGVHD are required. Recently, a new compound A (CpdA), with anti-inflammatory activity and reduced side effects compared to steroids, has been identified. Here, we aimed to determine whether CpdA can improve the outcome of aGVHD when administered after transplantation in a mouse model (C57BL/6 in B6D2F1). After conditioning with 9Gy total body irradiation, mice were infused with bone marrow (BM) cells and splenocytes from either syngeneic (B6D2F1) or allogeneic (C57BL/6) donors. The animals were subsequently treated (3 days/week) with 7.5 mg/kg CpdA from day +15 to day +28; the controls received 0.9% NaCl. Thereafter, the incidence and severity of aGVHD in aGVHD target organs were analyzed. Survival and clinical scores did not differ significantly; however, CpdA-treated animals showed high cell infiltration in the target organs. In bulk mixed lymphocyte reactions, CpdA treatment reduced the cell proliferation and expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines compared to controls, whereas levels of TNF, IL-23, chemokines, and chemokine receptors increased. CpdA significantly reduced proliferation in vitro but increased T cell infiltration in target organs.     

Electrochemical Sensing of Paracetamol Using 3D Porous Laser Scribed Graphene Platform

This work presents a novel disposable electrochemical sensor for paracetamol (PCM). The sensing platform is based on graphene, manufactured via laser-scribing technology (LSG) to produce a 3D-porous structure that offers a large surface area. The analytical performances of LSG electrodes were greatly enhanced due to the high catalytic activity of graphene produced by LSG technology compared to conventional carbon electrodes. Moreover, the results showed an outstanding adsorption feature towards PCM, allowing its detection at nanomolar level from 5 nM to 100 nM through pre-concentration. The proposed sensing strategy was successfully applied for the determination of PCM in human urine samples.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Carbon Solidlike Paste Electrode Assembled Using Different Carbon Nanoparticles

Solid like carbon paste electrodes (SCPEs) are built using different carbon materials namely carbon black N110, N220, N375, N772 and acetylene black. The electrochemical behavior of these electrodes and the influence of carbon black/paraffin ratio were studied and the results were discussed and compared to other electrodes prepared with graphite, mesoporous carbon and nanopowder carbon. Cyclic voltammetry, amperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed for their electrochemical and analytical characterizations. Amperometric measurements using N110, N220, N375 SCPEs with solid paraffin, showed a linear response of benzoquinone concentration with a detection limit of 75, 32 and 171 nM respectively.     

Synthesis of Unprecedented Sulfonylated Phosphono‐exo‐Glycals Designed as Inhibitors of the Three Mycobacterial Galactofuranose Processing Enzymes

This study reports a new methodology to synthesize exo‐glycals bearing both a sulfone and a phosphonate. This synthetic strategy provides a way to generate exo‐glycals displaying two electron‐withdrawing groups and was applied to eight different carbohydrates from the furanose and pyranose series. The Z/E configurations of these tetrasubstituted enol ethers could be ascertained using NMR spectroscopic techniques. Deprotection of an exo‐glycal followed by an UMP (uridine monophosphate) coupling generated two new UDP (uridine diphosphate)‐galactofuranose analogues. These two Z/E isomers were evaluated as inhibitors of UGM, GlfT1, and GlfT2, the three mycobacterial galactofuranose processing enzymes. Molecule 46‐(E) is the first characterized inhibitor of GlfT1 reported to date and was also found to efficiently inhibit UGM in a reversible manner. Interestingly, GlfT2 showed a better affinity for the (Z) isomer. The three enzymes studied in the present work are not only interesting because, mechanistically, they are still the topic of intense investigations, but also because they constitute very important targets for the development of novel antimycobacterial agents.     

Computational study of sulfur atom-transfer reactions from thiiranes to ER3 (E = As, P; R = CH3, Ph)

Computational estimates have been made for the P=S and As=S bond strengths in triphenylphosphine sulfide and triphenylarsine sulfide, on the basis of G3 calculations for the methyl analogues and isodesmic-exchange reactions. Also, with the performance of the G3 method level for related compounds taken into consideration, the best estimates are 82 and 68 kcal/mol, respectively. While the value for triphenylarsine sulfide is within 2 kcal/mol of the single experimental estimate, that for triphenylphosphine sulfide is lower by 6 kcal/mol. (Capps, K. B.; Wixmerten, B.; Bauer, A.; Hoff, C. D. Inorg. Chem. 1998, 37, 2861-2864.) Despite virtually identical electronegativities of P and As, it is found that there is greater charge separation in the P=S bond. It is found that S atom transfer from thiiranes to arsines is exothermic.     

Debenzylative Cycloetherification: An Overlooked Key Strategy for Complex Tetrahydrofuran Synthesis

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a major structural feature found in many synthetic and natural products displaying a variety of biological properties. This review summarizes the main synthetic approaches that have been developed to construct tetrahydrofuran moieties involving debenzylative cycloetherification reactions (DBCE). Interestingly, this reaction is regio‐ and stereoselective without the requirement of a selective protection/deprotection strategy. Many applications of this process have been reported, including carbafuranoside synthesis, regioselective deprotection of the benzyl group positioned γ to an alkene, and total synthesis of natural products. The stereochemical outcome and the mechanism of these interesting transformations are also discussed.     

Well-behaved asymptotical convex-concave functions

Recently Auslender & Crouzeix introduced a well-behaved asymptotical notion for convex functions. The aim of this work is to extend this notion to the saddle case