Synthesis and fluorescence emission of neutral and anionic di- and tetra-carboranyl compounds

A new family of photoluminescent neutral and anionic di-carboranyl and tetra-carboranyl derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. The reaction of α,α'-bis(3,5-bis(bromomethyl)phenoxy-m-xylene with 4 equiv. of the monolithium salt of 1-Ph-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11) or 1-Me-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11) gives the neutral tetracarboranyl-functionalized aryl ether derivatives closo-1 and closo-2, respectively. The addition of the monolithium salt of 1-Ph-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(11) to α,α,'-dibromo-m-xylene or 2,6-dibromomethyl-pyridine gives the corresponding di-carboranyl derivatives closo-3 and closo-4. These compounds, which contain four or two closo clusters, were degraded using the classical method, KOH in EtOH, affording the corresponding nido species, which were isolated as potassium or tetramethylammonium salts. All the compounds were characterized by IR, (1)H, (11)B and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the crystal structure of closo-3 was analysed by X-ray diffraction. The carboranyl fragments are bonded through CH(2) units to different organic moieties, and their influence on the photoluminescent properties of the final molecules has been studied. All the closo- and nido-carborane derivatives exhibit a blue emission under ultraviolet excitation at room temperature in different solvents. The fluorescence properties of these closo and nido-derivatives depend on the substituent (Ph or Me) bonded to the C(cluster), the solvent polarity, and the organic unit bearing the carborane clusters (benzene or pyridine). In the case of nido-derivatives, an important effect of the cation is also observed.     

Enthalpy and entropy of nanoparticle association from temperature-dependent cryo-TEM

Quantum dots form equilibrium structures in liquid dispersions, due to thermodynamic forces that are often hard to quantify. Analysis of these structures, visualized using cryogenic electron microscopy, yields their formation free energy. Here we show that the nanoparticle interaction free energy can be further separated into the enthalpic and entropic contributions, using the temperature dependence of the assembled structures. Monodisperse oleic acid-capped PbSe nanoparticles dispersed in decalin were used as a model system, and the temperature-dependent equilibrium structures were imaged by cryo-TEM, after quenching from different initial temperatures. The interaction enthalpy and entropy follow from van 't Hoff's exact equation for the temperature dependence of thermodynamic equilibria, now applied to associating nanoparticles. The enthalpic component gives the magnitude of the contact interaction, which is crucial information in understanding the energetics of the self-assembly of nanoparticles into ordered structures.     

Dried blood spot UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of oseltamivir and oseltamivircarboxylate—a validated assay for the clinic

The neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) is currently the first-line therapy for patients with influenza virus infection. Common analysis of the prodrug and its active metabolite oseltamivircarboxylate is determined via extraction from plasma. Compared with these assays, dried blood spot (DBS) analysis provides several advantages, including a minimum sample volume required for the measurement of drugs in whole blood. Samples can easily be obtained via a simple, non-invasive finger or heel prick. Mainly, these characteristics make DBS an ideal tool for pediatrics and to measure multiple time points such as those needed in therapeutic drug monitoring or pharmacokinetic studies. Additionally, DBS sample preparation, stability, and storage are usually most convenient. In the present work, we developed and fully validated a DBS assay for the simultaneous determination of oseltamivir and oseltamivircarboxylate concentrations in human whole blood. We demonstrate the simplicity of DBS sample preparation, and a fast, accurate and reproducible analysis using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. A thorough validation on the basis of the most recent FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation showed that the method is selective, precise, and accurate (≤15% RSD), and sensitive over the relevant clinical range of 5–1,500 ng/mL for oseltamivir and 20–1,500 ng/mL for the oseltamivircarboxylate metabolite. As a proof of concept, oseltamivir and oseltamivircarboxylate levels were determined in DBS obtained from healthy volunteers who received a single oral dose of Tamiflu®.     

Novel Cysteine Tags for the Sequencing of Non-Tryptic Disulfide Peptides of Anurans: ESI-MS Study of Fragmentation Efficiency

Mass spectrometry faces considerable difficulties in de novo sequencing of long non-tryptic peptides with S–S bonds. Long disulfide-containing peptides brevinins 1E and 2Ec from frog Rana ridibunda were reduced and alkylated with nine novel and three known derivatizing agents. Eight of the novel reagents are maleimide derivatives. Modified samples were subjected to MS/MS studies on FT-ICR and Orbitrap mass spectrometers using CAD/HCD or ECD/ETD techniques. Procedures, fragmentation patterns, and sequence coverage for two peptides modified with 12 tags are described. ECD/ETD and CAD fragmentation revealed complementary sequence information. Higher-energy collisionally activated dissociation (HCD) sufficiently enhanced y-ions formation for brevinin 1E, but not for brevinin 2Ec. Some novel tags [N-benzylmaleimide, N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)maleimide] along with known N-phenylmaleimide and iodoacetic acid showed high total sequence coverage taking into account combined ETD and HCD fragmentation. Moreover, modification of long (34 residues) brevinin 2Ec with N-benzylmaleimide or N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)maleimide yielded high sequence coverage and full C-terminal sequence determination with ECD alone.     

Characterization of a new epoxy-hydroxycarvotanacetone derivative from the leaf essential oil of Laggera pterodonta from Côte d’Ivoire

The leaf essential oil of Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Sch. Bip. ex Oliv. (Asteraceae) collected in the Eastern Côte d’Ivoire was investigated using a combination of chromatographic (GC-RI, CC, pc-GC) and spectroscopic (GC-MS, ¹³C NMR) techniques. Eighty-three components accounting for 98.0% of the whole composition were identified with 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (43.3%), sabinene (14.1%), α-humulene (9.8%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (7.2%) and germacrene D (5.2%) as major compounds. This study led to the structural elucidation of a new natural compound, (3αH,4βH,6αH,1αMe)-1,6-epoxy-3-hydroxycarvotanacetone, angelic acid ester from the leaf oil by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

DNA‐Decorated,Helically Twisted Nanoribbons: A Scaffold for the Fabrication of One‐Dimensional,Chiral, Plasmonic Nanostructures

Crafting of chiral plasmonic nanostructures is extremely important and challenging. DNA‐directed organization of nanoparticle on a chiral template is the most appealing strategy for this purpose. Herein, we report a supramolecular approach for the design of DNA‐decorated, helically twisted nanoribbons through the amphiphilicity‐driven self‐assembly of a new class of amphiphiles derived from DNA and hexaphenylbenzene (HPB). The ribbons are self‐assembled in a lamellar fashion through the hydrophobic interactions of HPB. The transfer of molecular chirality of ssDNA into the HPB core results in the bias of one of the chiral propeller conformations for HPB and induces a helical twist into the lamellar packing, and leads to the formation of DNA‐wrapped nanoribbons with M‐helicity. The potential of the ribbon to act as a reversible template for the 1D chiral organization of plasmonic nanomaterials through DNA hybridization is demonstrated.     

Diagonally Related s‐ and p‐Block Metals Join Forces: Synthesis and Characterization of Complexes with Covalent Beryllium–Aluminum Bonds

Additions of beryllium–halide bonds in the simple beryllium dihalide adducts, [BeX₂(tmeda)] (X=Br or I, tmeda=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine), across the metal center of a neutral aluminum(I) heterocycle, [:Al(^DipNacnac)] (^DipNacnac=[(DipNCMe)₂CH]^?, Dip=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl), have yielded the first examples of compounds with beryllium–aluminum bonds, [(^DipNacnac)(X)Al‐Be(X)(tmeda)]. For sake of comparison, isostructural Mg–Al and Zn–Al analogues of these complexes, viz. [(^DipNacnac)(X)Al‐M(X)(tmeda)] (M=Mg or Zn, X=I or Br) have been prepared and structurally characterized. DFT calculations reveal all compounds to have high s‐character metal–metal bonds, the polarity of which is consistent with the electronegativities of the metals involved. Preliminary reactivity studies of [(^DipNacnac)(Br)Al‐Be(Br)(tmeda)] are reported.     

Study of the effect of the ligand structure on the catalytic activity of Pd@ ligand decorated halloysite: Combination of experimental and computational studies

Taking advantage of computational chemistry, the best diamine for the synthesis of a multi‐dentate ligand from the reaction with 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propylisocyanate (TEPI) was selected. Actually, predictive Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations provided the right diamino chain, i.e. ethylenediamine, capable to sequester a palladium atom, together with the relatively polar solvent toluene, and then undergo the experiments as a selective catalytic agent. The ligand was then prepared and applied for the decoration of the halloysite (Hal) outer surface to furnish an efficient support for the immobilization of Pd nanoparticles. The resulting catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity for hydrogenation of nitroarenes. Moreover, it showed high selectivity towards nitro functional group. The study of the catalyst recyclability confirmed that the catalyst could be recycled for several reaction runs with only slight loss of the catalytic activity and Pd leaching. Hot filtration test also proved the heterogeneous nature of the catalysis.     

Synthesis,XRD, spectral (IR,UV–Vis,NMR) characterization and quantum chemical exploration of benzoimidazole‐based hydrazones: A synergistic experimental‐computational analysis

Present study advocates the joint experimental and computational studies of two potent benzoimidazole‐based hydrazones with chemical formula C₂₃H₁₈F₂N₄O ( 5a ) and C₂₅H₂₂FN₅O₃ ( 5b ). Both 5a and 5b were synthesized and resolved into their crystal structures using SC‐XRD for the assessment of bond lengths, bond angles, unit cells and space groups. The structures of 5a and 5b were chemically characterized using infrared (FT‐IR), UV–Visible, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR), EIMS and elemental analysis. DFT at M06‐2X/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory was performed to get optimized structures and countercheck the experimental findings. Overall, DFT findings show excellent concurrence with the experimental data which confirms the purity of both compounds. FMO, NBO analysis, MEP surfaces and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were explored at same level of theory. UV–Vis analysis at TDDFT/M06‐2X/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory showed that 5b is red shifted with λ_max 331.69 nm as compared to 5a with λ_max 240.25 nm. Global reactivity parameters were estimated using energy of FMOs indicated the greater harness value than the softness values of 5a and 5b . NBO analysis confirmed that the presence of non‐covalent interactions, hydrogen bonding and hyper conjugative interactions are pivotal cause for the existence of 5a and 5b in the solid‐state. NLO results of 5a and 5b were observed better than standard molecule recommended the NLO activity of said molecules for optoelectronic applications.     

Quantum-Chemical Investigation of Reaction Mechanism of 2-R-4-Oxo-5,6-Benzo-1,3,2-Dioxaphosphorinanes with Chloral and Fluoral

Abstract

Reaction of 2-R-4-oxo-5,6-benzo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes I with chloral leading to formation of seven-membered heterocycles - 1,4,2-dioxaphosphepines is characterized by the high degree of stereoselectivity. We investigated the model reactions of 2-R-4-oxo-1,3,-dioxaphosphorin-5-enes with CX₃CHO by PM3 and ab initio methods in STO-3G, 3-21G, 6-31G*, MP2/6-31G* basis set and also DFT method (B3LYP).