Microporous vanadyl-arsenate with the template incorporated exhibiting sorption and catalytic properties

(C(5)H(14)N(2))[(VO)(3)(AsO(4))(HAsO(4))(2)(OH)].3H(2)O behaves as a microporous organically templated compound, with reversible adsorption and desorption of N(2) at 77 K, and as an extremely efficient catalyst that catalyzes selective sulfoxide formation from organic sulfides, under mild conditions.     

Role of the third strand in the binding of proflavine and pt-proflavine to poly(rA).2poly(rU): a thermodynamic and kinetic study

The interactions of triple strands of poly(rA).2poly(rU) with proflavine (PR) and the proflavine cis-platinum derivative [{PtCl (tmen)} 2{NC 13H 7(NCH 2CH 2) 2}] (+) (PRPt) are examined at pH 7.0, T = 25 degrees C, and 0.2 M ionic strength by spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, circular dichroism, viscosimetry, stopped-flow, and T-jump relaxation techniques. The melting experiments demonstrate that both drugs tend to destabilize the triplex structure, although the PRPt effect is more relevant. By contrast, both drugs tend to slightly stabilize the duplex structure. The viscosity and circular dichroism measurements show that, at a low dye-to-polymer ratio ( C D/ C P), the binding is intercalative, whereas at high C D/ C P values, the external binding dominates. The binding kinetics and equilibria have been investigated over the C D/ C P region, where intercalation is operative. Both drugs bind to the RNA triplex according to the excluded site model. With PR, two kinetic effects have been observed, whereas with PRPt, only one has been observed. The results are interpreted according to the reaction schemes D + S right arrow over left arrow DS I, with PRPt, and D + S right arrow over left arrow DS I right arrow over left arrow DS II, with PR. The electrostatic contribution to the formation activation energy for DS I is similar (40%) for both systems. The results suggest that DS I is a partially intercalated species. Absence of the second step with PRPt is put down to groove interaction of the Pt-containing moiety, which prevents the PR residue from further penetration through the base pairs to form the fully intercalated complex, DS II. Comparison with the binding of the same drugs to the duplex reveals that the occupation of the major groove in poly(rA).2poly(rU) by the third strand plays a critical role in the kinetic behavior.     

Effect of fluorination on the electronic structure and optical excitations of pi-conjugated molecules

Fluorination of pi-conjugated organic molecules is a strategy to obtain possible n-type conducting and air-stable materials due to the lowering of the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) by the high electronegativity of fluorine. Nevertheless, the resulting optical gaps may be widened or narrowed, depending on the molecular backbone and/or the number and position of the fluorine atoms. The authors have performed time-dependent density functional theory calculations to address the subtle influence of fluorine substitution on the absolute MO energies and the subsequent impact on the optical transitions in homologous conjugated oligomers based on thiophene and acene units.     

Imidazolate bridged Cu(II)-Cu(II) and Cu(II)-Zn(II) complexes of a terpyridinophane azamacrocycle: a solution and solid state study

The dinuclear Cu2+ and Zn2+ as well as the mixed Cu2+-Zn2+ complexes of a 5,5'-pentaazaterpyridinophane ligand (L) are able to incorporate imidazolate (Im-) as a bridging ligand. The crystal structure of [Cu(2)L(Im)(Br)(H2O)](CF(3)SO(3))(2).3H2O (1) shows one copper coordinated by the three pyridine nitrogens of the terpyridine unit, one nitrogen of the imidazolate bridge (Im-) and one bromide anion occupying the axial position of a distorted square pyramid. The second copper atom is coordinated by the remaining imidazolate nitrogen, the three secondary nitrogens at the centre of the polyamine bridge and one water molecule that occupies the axial position. Magnetic measurements have been performed in the 2.0-300.0 K temperature range. Experimental data could be satisfactorily reproduced by using an isotropic exchange model H = -JS(1)S(2) with J = -52.3 cm(-1) and g = 2.09. Potentiometric studies have provided details of the speciation and stability constants for the mixed Cu2+-L-HIm, Zn2+-L-HIm (HIm = imidazole) and Cu2+-Zn2+-L-HIm systems. The apparent stability constant obtained at pH = 9 for the addition of imidazole to the dinuclear Cu2+ complexes is one of the highest so far reported (log K = 7.5). UV-Vis spectroscopy and paramagnetic NMR data show that imidazole coordinates to the Cu2+ ions as a bridging imidazolate ligand from pH 5 to 10. Electrochemical reduction of the Cu2+-Zn2+-L complex occurs in two successive one-electron per copper ion quasi-reversible steps. The formal potential of the Cu2+-Zn2+-L/Cu+-Zn2+-L couple is close to that of SOD. The IC50 values measured at pH 7.8 by means of the nitro blue tetrazolium method show significant SOD activity for the dinuclear Cu2+ complexes (IC50 = 2.5 microM) and moderate activity for the Cu2+-Zn2+ mixed systems (IC50 = 30 microM).     

Application of a fractionary factorial design to the determination of tin in lubricating oils by continuous flow hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of wear metals and metalloids in used lubricating oils allows the prediction of equipment failure. A number of procedures to determine wear metals in lubricating oils by atomic spectrometry has been published. Industry has lately shown a special interest in the determination of tin, since its appearance at certain levels in used oils indicates severe engine wear. Therefore, a method for the determination of the total tin content in used lubricating oils by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) is described. Unused marine lubricating oils spiked with the analyte were digested in closed vessels in a microwave oven and the diluted product was used for continuous stannane generation. There are many factors that influence effective SnH₄ generation; therefore, fractionary factorial design was used to obtain an adequate sensitivity and also to stabilize the signal. Six variables were taken into account and a 2^6–2 _IV design was used with spiked samples containing 30 ng g^–1 Sn. The reproducibility, stability, calibration curve and limit of detection were established. The method was applied to different kinds of used lubricating oils. In all cases, the results were higher than those obtained in the industry by simple dilution.     

Antiproliferative and bactericidal activity of diiron and monoiron cyclopentadienyl carbonyl complexes comprising a vinyl-aminoalkylidene unit

A series of diiron complexes with two cyclopentadienyls, two carbonyls, and one bridging vinyl-aminoalkylidene as ligands, [ 3a – h ]CF₃SO₃ and [ 4a – d ]CF₃SO₃, was synthesized in 66–94% yields from diiron μ-aminocarbyne precursors. The subsequent reactions with pyrrolidine led to selective fragmentation to aminoalkylidene-ferracyclopentenone derivatives ( 5a – h and 6a – c ) in 30–84% yields. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy, and by single crystal X-ray diffraction in three cases. The stability in aqueous media relevant to biological trials, the carbon monoxide release, and the catalytic activity in NADH oxidation were evaluated for selected compounds by NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of the compounds was determined towards cancer (A2780, A2780cisR) and noncancer (HEK-293) cell lines. Moreover, the antibacterial activity was tested on Gram-positive (vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and methicillin-resistant S. aureus) and Gram-negative strains (A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa).     

Thermodynamic Analysis of Etoricoxib in Amphiprotic and Amphiprotic: Aprotic Solvent Mixtures at Several Temperatures

Journal of Solution Chemistry - The solubilities of etoricoxib (ETX), a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were determined in water–ethanol and ethanol–ethyl acetate...     

Application of Fragment‐Based Screening to the Design of Inhibitors of Escherichia coli DsbA

The thiol‐disulfide oxidoreductase enzyme DsbA catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds in the periplasm of Gram‐negative bacteria. DsbA substrates include proteins involved in bacterial virulence. In the absence of DsbA, many of these proteins do not fold correctly, which renders the bacteria avirulent. Thus DsbA is a critical mediator of virulence and inhibitors may act as antivirulence agents. Biophysical screening has been employed to identify fragments that bind to DsbA from Escherichia coli. Elaboration of one of these fragments produced compounds that inhibit DsbA activity in vitro. In cell‐based assays, the compounds inhibit bacterial motility, but have no effect on growth in liquid culture, which is consistent with selective inhibition of DsbA. Crystal structures of inhibitors bound to DsbA indicate that they bind adjacent to the active site. Together, the data suggest that DsbA may be amenable to the development of novel antibacterial compounds that act by inhibiting bacterial virulence.