Copper-assisted oxidation of catechols into quinone derivatives

Catechols are ubiquitous substances often acting as antioxidants, thus of importance in a variety of biological processes. The Fenton and Haber–Weiss processes are thought to transform these molecules into aggressive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a source of oxidative stress and possibly inducing degenerative diseases. Here, using model conditions (ultrahigh vacuum and single crystals), we unveil another process capable of converting catechols into ROSs, namely an intramolecular redox reaction catalysed by a Cu surface. We focus on a tri-catechol, the hexahydroxytriphenylene molecule, and show that this antioxidant is thereby transformed into a semiquinone, as an intermediate product, and then into an even stronger oxidant, a quinone, as final product. We argue that the transformations occur via two intramolecular redox reactions: since the Cu surface cannot oxidise the molecules, the starting catechol and the semiquinone forms each are, at the same time, self-oxidised and self-reduced. Thanks to these reactions, the quinone and semiquinone are able to interact with the substrate by readily accepting electrons donated by the substrate. Our combined experimental surface science and ab initio analysis highlights the key role played by metal nanoparticles in the development of degenerative diseases.

An antioxidant catechol transforms following intramolecular redox reactions into highly reactive oxygen species, a semiquinone and a quinone, on copper.     

Cyclometallation of phenylhydrazones: Synthesis, reactivity, crystal structure analysis and novel trinuclear palladium(II) cyclometallated compounds with [C, N, N′] terdentate ligands

Reaction of the ligand C₆H₅N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N) (a) with palladium(II) acetate in toluene gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complex [Pd{C₆H₄N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)}(AcO)] (1a). Reaction of 1a with sodium chloride gave the analogous chlorine compound [Pd{C₆H₄N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)}(Cl)] (3a) which could also be prepared by reaction of a with lithium tetrachloropalladate and sodium acetate in methanol for 48 h; whereas shorter reaction times afforded the non-cyclometallated complex [Pd{C₆H₅N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)}(Cl)₂] (2a). Reaction of the ligand 2-ClC₆H₄N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N) · HCl (b), with palladium(II) acetate, or with lithium tetrachloropalladate and sodium acetate, yielded the cyclometallated complex [Pd2-ClC₆H₃N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)(Cl)] (1b). Treatment of 3a and 1b with silver trifluoromethanesulphonate (triflate) and triphenylphosphine in acetone gave the mononuclear complexes [Pd{2-RC₆H_nN(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)}(PPh₃)][CF₃SO₃], (R = H, n = 4, 4a; R = Cl, n = 3, 2b) with the ligand as C,N,N′ terdentate and substitution of chlorine by triphenylphosphine. Reaction of 3a and 1b with silver triflate and the tertiary diphosphine Ph₂P(CH₂)₄PPh₂ (dppb) in a 2:1 molar ratio gave the dinuclear cyclometallated complexes [{Pd[2-RC₆H₃N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)]}₂(μ-Ph₂P(CH₂)₄PPh₂)][CF₃SO₃]₂ (R = H, 5a; R = Cl, 3b) with a μ₂-diphosphine bridging ligand. Similarly, treatment of 3a and 1b with silver triflate and the tertiary triphosphines MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃ (tripod) and (Ph₂PCH₂CH₂)₂PPh (triphos), in 3:1 molar ratio, gave the novel trinuclear complexes [{Pd[C₆H₄N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)]}₃{μ₃-MeC(CH₂Ph₂)₃}][CF₃SO₃]₃ (6a) and [{Pd[2-ClC₆H₃N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)]}₃{μ₃-(PPh₂CH₂CH₂)₂PPh}][CF₃SO₃] ₃ (4b) regioselectively, with the phosphine as a μ₃-bridging ligand. When the reaction between 3a and triphos was carried out in 1:1 molar ratio the mononuclear complex [Pd{C₆H₄N(H)NCMe(C₅H₄N)}{(PPh₂CH₂CH₂)₂PPh-P,P,P}][ClO₄] (7a) was obtained. The crystal structures of 2b, 3a and 4a have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Dry etching of InGaP and AlInP in CH4/H2/Ar

Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma etching with additional rf-biasing produces etch rates 2,500 A/min for InGaP and AlInP in CH₄/H₂/Ar. These rates are an order of magnitude or much higher than for reactive ion etching conditions (RIE) carried out in the same reactor. N₂ addition to CH₄/H₂/Ar can enhance the InGaP etch rates at low flow rates, while at higher concentrations it provides an etch-stop reaction. The InGaP and AlInP etched under ECR conditions have somewhat rougher morphologies and different stoichiometries up to 200 Å from the sur face relative to the RIE samples.     

New antiproliferative 14,15-secopregnane glycosides from Solenostemma argel

Eight new 14,15-secopregnane glycosides, namely argelosides C-J, possessing two ketal functions involved in three five-membered rings, have been isolated from the hairy seeds of Solenostemma argel. Their structures have been established by MS and NMR experiments, combined with quantum mechanical calculations of the ¹³C chemical shifts for the interpretation of the experimental data. On the basis of the obtained results, the structures of argelosides A and B have been revised. Additionally, the effect of these compounds on the VEGF-induced in Kaposi's sarcoma cell proliferation was evaluated. Results indicated that all the compounds reduced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.     

A ferrocene-based heteroditopic ligand for electrochemical sensing of cations and anions

A ferrocene-based heteroditopic receptor containing urea and crown ether units shows electrochemical responses to dihydrogenphosphate and fluoride anions. K+ cations can only be detected in the presence of dihydrogenphosphate.     

Characterization of the 310-helix in model peptides by HRMAS NMR spectroscopy

A tetra- and a hepta-homopeptide from the C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted Aib (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid) residue were covalently linked to the POEPOP resin by the fragment-condensation approach. The conformational preferences of the two model peptides were determined for the first time on a solid support by means of high-resolution magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained indicate that the Aib homopeptides adopt a regular 3(10)-helical structure even when they are covalently bound to a polymeric matrix, and thus confirm the remarkable conformational stability of the peptides rich in this amino acid. An ATR-FTIR spectroscopic investigation, performed in parallel, also confirmed that these polymer-bound peptides do indeed adopt a helical conformation. The results of this study open the possibility to exploit the peptide-resin conjugates based on C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids as helpful, structurally organized templates in molecular recognition studies or as catalysts in asymmetric synthesis.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of sulfur inversion in bis(cyclopentadienyl)-molybdenum and -tungsten complexes with dithioethers

The metallocene thioether derivatives [Cp₂M(MeSCH₂CH₂SMe)][PF₆]₂ (1, M = MO; 2, M = W), [Cp₂Mo(SCH₂CH₂SMe)][PF₆] (3) and [Cp₂M(SCH₂CH₂S)] (4, M = Mo; 5, M = W) exhibit temperature-dependent fluxional behavior in solution, owing to the pyramidal sulfur inversion process. The activation energies for this process were determined from proton band-shape analysis in the cases of 1 (54.9 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹), 2 (51.2 ± 4.6 kJ mol⁻¹) and 3 (30.0 ± 3.1 kJ mol⁻¹). Extended Hückel calculations on related model complexes suggest that local inversion at the sulfur atoms, rather that an inversion of the complete S---C---C---S chain, is responsible for the observed fluxional behaviour.     

Derivatives of M(η5-C5H5)2 (M = Mo,W) with alkenylpyridines and related ligands

Reactions of ligands 2-vinylpyridine 1, 4-vinylpyridine 2, 2-allylpyridine 3, 1-allylpyrazole 4, acrylonitrile 5 and allylcyanide 6 with the metallocene derivatives [Mo(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂H₃][PF₆] 7, [Mo(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂HI] 8, [W(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂H₃] [PF₆] 9, [Mo(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂H₂] 10, [M(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Br₂], M = Mo 11, M = W 12 are described. Reaction of 7 with 1, 8 with 1, 3 with 8 and 4 with 8 gave mixtures of metallocyle isomers resulting from coordination of the nitrogen atom to molybdenum followed by internal hydrometallation; reaction of 11 with 1 gave an olefinic π complex; reaction of either 9 or 11 with 1 gave intractable oils; reactions of 8 with 2, 11 with 5, 12 with 5, 11 with 6 and 12 with 6 yielded monosubstituted products in which the ligand is N-coordinated.     

Synthesis and Structure of K[Cd(O2N‐C6H4‐NNN‐C6H4‐NO2)3], an Anionic 1, 3‐Bis(4‐nitrophenyl)triazenido Complex of Cadmium

The reaction of cadmium acetate in methanol with 1, 3‐bis(4‐nitrophenyl)triazene in THF in the presence of KOH yields K[Cd(O₂NC₆H₄NNNC₆H₄NO₂)₃] in form of hexagonal prismatic, red crystals with the trigonal space group R3¯ and a = 12.229(2), c = 48.988(10) Å and Z = 6. In the anionic cadmium complexes, which are located along the threefold axis, the Cd atoms are coordinated in a trigonal prismatic arrangement by the atoms N(1) and N(3) of three triazenido ligands. The potassium cations are coordinated icosahedrally by oxygen atoms of each one nitro group of six neighbouring anionic complexes. The Cd‐N distances are 2.376(4) and 2.350(4) Å, and the K‐O distances are in the range of 2.833(6) to 3.365(6) Å.