10-Oxo-10H-5λ,10λ-thianthren-5-ylideneamine as a probe for stereochemistry in the formation and amination of fluoro-λ-sulfanenitriles

The fluorination of 10-oxo-10H-5λ⁴,10λ⁴-thianthren-5-ylideneamine (2) with Selectfluor™ affords 5-fluoro-10-oxo-5,10-dihydro-5λ⁶,10λ⁴-thianthren-5-nitrile (4). The amination of 4 with morpholine gives 5-morpholino-10-oxo-5,10-dihydro-5λ⁶,10λ⁴-thianthren-5-nitrile (5). The stereochemical course of both reactions has been studied, while the configurations of their products, cis-isomer 4 and trans-5-morpholino-10-oxo-5,10-dihydro-5λ⁶,10λ⁴-thianthren-5-nitrile (trans-5) are elucidated by the use of X-ray crystallographic analyses.     

Electron transfer of quinone self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode

Dialkyl disulfide-linked naphthoquinone, (NQ-C_n-S)₂, and anthraquinone, (AQ-C_n-S)₂, derivatives with different spacer alkyl chains (C_n: n = 2, 6, 12) were synthesized and these quinone derivatives were self-assembled on a gold electrode. The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these derivatives on a gold electrode was confirmed by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS). Electron transfer between the derivatives and the gold electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. On the cyclic voltammogram a reversible redox reaction between quinone (Q) and hydroquinone (QH₂) was clearly observed under an aqueous condition. The formal potentials for NQ and AQ derivatives were −0.48 and −0.58 V, respectively, that did not depend on the spacer length. The oxidation and reduction peak currents were strongly dependent on the spacer alkyl chain length. The redox behavior of quinone derivatives depended on the pH condition of the buffer solution. The pH dependence was in agreement with a theoretical value of E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 59pH for 2H⁺/2e⁻ process in the pH range 3–11. In the range higher than pH 11, the value was estimated with E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 30pH , which may correspond to H⁺/2e⁻ process. The tunneling barrier coefficients (β) for NQ and AQ SAMs were determined to be 0.12 and 0.73 per methylene group (CH₂), respectively. Comparison of the structures and the alkyl chain length of quinones derivatives on these electron transfers on the electrode is made.     

An approach to analysis of pigment release from microcapsules with size distribution

We have studied the release curve for microcapsules with size distribution. On the basis of an analogy to the relaxation phenomena with multiple characteristic times, we propose a stretched exponential release curve for the system with size distribution and relate the release curve to the size distribution function of the microcapsule. This method was successfully applied to the transfer of azo-pigments from inner medium of dioctyl phthalate to dispersing medium of methanol through poly(ureaurethane) microcapsule membrane.     

Improvement of pharmaceutical potential of all-trans retinoic acid with hydroxypropyl-��-cyclodextrin

2-Hydroxypropyl-??-cyclodextrin (HP-??-CyD) includes all-trans retinoic acid (RA), covering the double-bond area of RA with substituted hydroxypropyl groups on CyD ring, as proved by the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) between methylene protons on the hydroxypropyl groups and the proton on RA. The formation of an inclusion complex results in hydrophilicity and stability. The effect of RA/HP-??-CyD and that of RA without HP-??-CyD on wrinkle scores and skin elasticity during skin treatment were identical, and the cutaneous stimulus was reduced comparing with RA. The results indicated that the RA/HP-??-CyD complex should help to realize new approaches in skin rejuvenation therapy.     

1-Alkynyl- and 1-alkenyl-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines: synthesis, photophysical properties, and observation of a linear correlation between the fluorescent wavelength and Hammett substituent constants

1-Alkynyl- and 1-alkenyl-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines were synthesized. The Sonogashira coupling of 3-aryl-1-iodoimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and various terminal alkynes with Pd(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2) (10 mol %) and CuI (10 mol %) in triethylamine at 80 °C for 12 h afforded the corresponding 1-alkenyl-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines in good to excellent yields. The Mizoroki-Heck reaction of 3-aryl-1-iodoimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and various styrene derivatives proceeded smoothly with Pd(OAc)(2) (5 mol %), IMes·HCl (10 mol %), and Cs(2)CO(3) (2 equiv) in DMA at 130 °C for 20 h to give the alkenylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines in moderate to high yields. The fluorescence maxima and fluorescence quantum yields of the alkynylated products were 458-560 nm and Φ(F) = 0.08-0.26 in chloroform solution, and those of the alkenylated imidazopyridines were 479-537 nm and Φ(F) = 0.03-0.13. The absorption behaviors of the obtained alkynylated and alkenylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines showed a good fit to the values predicted by TDDFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. In addition, the alkynylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines obtained showed linear correlations between the Hammett substituent constants of the substituents on the arylalkynyl group and their fluorescence wavelengths.     

Synthesis of tri- or tetrasubstituted pyrimidine derivatives through the [5+1] annulation of enamidines with either N,N-dimethylformamide dialkyl acetals or orthoesters and their application in a ring transformation of pyrimidines to pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives

The [5+1] annulation of enamidines, which were prepared from functionalized silanes, organolithium compounds and two nitriles, with N,N-dimethylformamide dialkyl acetals as the C1 unit is described, leading to the synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted pyrimidine derivatives under catalyst- and solvent-free reaction conditions. Furthermore, the [5+1] annulation of enamidines by using orthoesters as the C1 unit is described, in which catalytic amounts of ZnBr(2) catalyze the annulation to produce polysubstituted pyrimidines under toluene or xylene reflux conditions. Moreover, the combination of a reductive ring-opening reaction with [Mo(CO)(6)] and a subsequent intramolecular cyclization with tBuOK effectively causes a skeletal transformation from the pyrimidines containing an isoxazolyl and an ethoxy substituent to form pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one frameworks in excellent yield.     

Development of pyrrole-imidazole polyamide for specific regulation of human aurora kinase-A and -B gene expression

Pyrrole-imidazole polyamide (PIP) is a nuclease-resistant novel compound that inhibits gene expression through binding to the minor groove of DNA. Human aurora kinase-A (AURKA) and -B (AURKB) are important regulators in mitosis during the cell cycle. In this study, two specific PIPs (PIP-A and PIP-B) targeting AURKA and AURKB promoter regions were designed and synthesized, and their biological effects were investigated by several in vitro assays. PIP-A and PIP-B significantly inhibited the promoter activities, mRNA expression, and protein levels of AURKA and AURKB, respectively, in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, 1:1 combination treatment with both PIPs demonstrated prominent antiproliferative synergy (CI value [ED(50)] = 0.256) to HeLa cells as a result of inducing apoptosis-mediated severe catastrophe of cell-cycle progression. The novel synthesized PIP-A and PIP-B are potent and specific gene-silencing agents for AURKA and AURKB.     

Dinuclear macrocyclic palladium complexes having pincer coordinating groups and their catalytic properties in Mizoroki-Heck reactions

An improved synthetic method of palladium(II) dinuclear macrocyclic complexes have been described. Each of the two isomers of the complexes [Pd₂LBr₂] has a macrocyclic ligand L in which two 2,6-bis(diaminomethyl)phenyl units coordinate to the Pd(II) centers with N, C, N donor atoms. Substitution of the bromo ligands of one of the isomer of the complexes with acetonitrile ligands affords a new dinuclear complex. Catalytic activities of these complexes were studied for the Mizoroki-Heck type reactions of iodobenzene and styrene. High turnover number up to 30,000 was achieved using one of the isomer of the complexes.