Metal-chelating benzothiazole multifunctional compounds for the modulation and 64Cu PET imaging of Aβ aggregation

While Alzheimer''s Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, there is still a dearth of efficient therapeutic and diagnostic agents for this disorder. Reported herein are a series of new multifunctional compounds (MFCs) with appreciable affinity for amyloid aggregates that can be potentially used for both the modulation of Aβ aggregation and its toxicity, as well as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of Aβ aggregates. Firstly, among the six compounds tested HYR-16 is shown to be capable to reroute the toxic Cu-mediated Aβ oligomerization into the formation of less toxic amyloid fibrils. In addition, HYR-16 can also alleviate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by Cu²⁺ ions through Fenton-like reactions. Secondly, these MFCs can be easily converted to PET imaging agents by pre-chelation with the ⁶⁴Cu radioisotope, and the Cu complexes of HYR-4 and HYR-17 exhibit good fluorescent staining and radiolabeling of amyloid plaques both in vitro and ex vivo. Importantly, the ⁶⁴Cu-labeled HYR-17 is shown to have a significant brain uptake of up to 0.99 ± 0.04 %ID per g. Overall, by evaluating the various properties of these MFCs valuable structure–activity relationships were obtained that should aid the design of improved therapeutic and diagnostic agents for AD.

A series of multifunctional compounds and their ⁶⁴Cu complexes exhibit good affinity for Aβ aggregates and can also control Aβ toxicity.     

Aliphatic polyurethane as a matrix for pH sensors: effects of native sites and added proton carrier on electrical and potentiometric properties

The potentiometric and impedance characteristics of polymeric membranes, based on aliphatic polyurethane (Tecoflex) as a matrix, are described and interpreted by theory and experiments for H(+) and alkali metal ion-sensitive sensors. Both dummy plasticized membranes and proton carrier-loaded membranes can show pH response. The pH response of dummy membranes is due to protonated natural negative sites in the polyurethane matrix. The electrodes with added proton carrier show improved rejection of Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) responses and give useful analytical responses. Optimal performance requires control of negative site concentration by addition of lipophilic salt (e.g. tetraphenylborate derivatives). Impedance analyses show surface-rate semicircles and, depending on the bathing electrolyte solution, appearance of a diffusional Warburg impedance. In addition to these time-dependence surface region effects, changes in the bulk membrane resistance with soaking time can be well correlated with equilibrium water content of plasticized membranes.     

Molecular interactions in poly(ethylene glycol)-water mixtures at various temperatures: density and isentropic compressibility study.

The densities and sound velocities of mixtures of water with poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether, and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethylether with mean molar weights between 250 and 500 have been measured as a function of mixture composition and temperature between 10 and 40 degrees C. Isentropic compressibilities are derived from the data and are compared to those for the ethylene glycol/water system and for other organic solvent/water mixtures. Relative minima in the mixture volume to ideal volume ratio and in the dependence of the compressibility upon mixture composition are discussed in terms of the conformational variability of the chainlike oligomers, of hydrogen-bonded networks, and of water clusters between the oligomer chains.     

Thionitrosylkomplexe des Rutheniums. Die Kristallstruktur von (PPh4)2[{RuBr4(NS)}2(μ-N2S2)]

Thionitrosyl Complexes of Ruthenium. Crystal Structure of (PPh₄)₂[{RuBr₄(NS)}₂ (μ-N₂S₂)] Ruthenium trichloride reacts with trithiazyl chloride, yielding cis-RuCl₄ (NS)₂. With triphenylmethylphosphonium chloride this forms the complex [RuCl₄(NS)₂Cl]^? in which a chloride ion is bonded between the sulfur atoms in a chelate manner. With tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, RuCl₄(NS)₂ undergoes a redox reaction that affords (PPh₄)₂[{RuCl₄(NS)}₂(μ-N₂S₂)] which can be transformed to the title compound by the action of trimethylsilyl bromide. The i.r. spectra are reported. The crystal structure of (PPh₄)₂[{RuBr₄(NS)}₂(μ-N₂S₂)] · 4 CH₂X₂ (X ? Cl, Br) was determined with X-ray diffraction data (1534 observed reflexions, R = 0.085). Crystal data: monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, a = 1680.7, b = 1287.0, c = 1706.1 pm and β = 99.97°. The compound consists of tetraphenylphosphonium cations, CH₂Br₂ and CH₂Cl₂ molecules (statistically) and centrosymmetric anions [{RuBr₄(NS)}₂(μ-N₂S₂)]^2? in which the ruthenium atoms are linked via the nitrogen atoms of a planar N₂S₂ ring. In the corresponding trans-positions every Ru atom has a thionitrosyl ligand with a nearly arrangement Ru?N?S with RuN and NS bond lengths of 169 und 151 pm, respectively. Four bromine atoms complete the distorted octahedral coordination of each ruthenium atom. The bromine atoms that are coplanar with the N₂S₂ ring form rather short Br…?S contacts with a mean distance of 317 pm.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection for the trace analysis of flavour compounds in food

The practicability and potential of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-TOF-MS) for the analysis of complex flavour mixtures in food were studied. With the determination of key flavour targets in dairy samples as an example, it was demonstrated that GC x GC dramatically improves the separation. As a consequence, identification and, more importantly, quantification down to the ng/g level can be performed more reliably: background interferences largely disappear. Next to the peak table generated from the GC-TOF-MS software after data processing, the additional use of well-ordered patterns in the 2D-plane and information from second-dimension retention times can substantially help the identification of unknowns. The technique was successfully used for an evaluation of extraction techniques and the characterisation of different types of samples.     

Oligomeric rods of alkyl- and hydridogallium imides

Reaction of [RGa(NMe(2))(2)](2), where R = Me, Et, Bu, and Hx, with ammonia at 150 degrees C in an autoclave produced insoluble white powders formulated as oligomers of [RGaNH](n). The analogous reaction between NH(3) and MeGa[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) at low temperature (<25 degrees C) formed an isolable intermediate, [MeGa(mu-NH(2))N(SiMe(3))(2)](2), that was characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of the oligomers were consistent with a rodlike structure comprised of six-membered, [RGaNH](3) rings stacked perpendicular to the long axis of the rod. The method of synthesis, formula, and diffraction results suggested a structural similarity between the alkyl, [RGaNH](n)(), and the previously reported hydride, [HGaNH](n). The structural and electronic properties of rods having the general formula H(3)[(HXYH)(3)](n)H(3) (XY = GaN, GeC; n = 1-9) were investigated using density functional theory. Atomic electronegativity differences between the group 13/15 and 14/14 systems were found to play important roles in the geometrical structures of the two rods and also caused significant differences in the electronic structures. Energetically, it was found to be increasingly favorable to add additional cyclotrigallazane rings to the GaN rods, while for the GeC rods, there was a roughly constant energy cost associated with each additional ring. The electric dipole moments of the GaN rods increased substantially with length; in the GeC rods, charge separation occurred to a much smaller extent and had a polarization opposite to that found in GaN. In addition, increased dipole moments correlated with smaller electronic excitation energies, as predicted by time-dependent density functional theory. All of the powders exhibited luminescence in the visible spectrum at room temperature. Structure observed in the photoluminescence spectra of [HGaNH](n) and [MeGaNH](n) was interpreted as arising from rods of different length.     

Potentiometric selectivity coefficients of liquid ion-exchange membranes for univalent and divalent ions

Digital simulation has been used to calculate potential—activity responses and concentration-dependent selectivity coefficients for membranes bathed in mixtures of univalent and divalent ions. For an ideal, dissociated, univalent-site liquid ion-exchange membrane, more accurate computations, based on Nernst—Planck equations, were possible than have been reported previously. Simulation results were used with four suggested equations for the membrane potential (including the IUPAC recommendation) to determine which equation gives best fit and most nearly constant selectivity coefficients. When concentration profiles found by digital simulation are employed, improved response equations are given which closely describe the dependence of surface concentrations on the mobility ratio for the bi-ionic case. From these equations a closed form solution to the diffusion equation yields an explicit expression relating the bi-ionic selectivity coefficient to membrane loading, single ion partition coefficients, and ion mobilities.     

Use of a temperature programmed injector with a packed liner for direct water analysis and on-line reversed phase LC–GC

A system is described that allows the introduction of large volumes of water samples in capillary GC. Water elimination is carried out in the solvent split mode in a PTV injector with a packed liner. Two ways of separating water and analytes, i.e. evaporative and non-evaporative (solid-phase extraction), are compared. Sampling in the solid-phase extraction mode is favorable both in terms of recovery as well as with regard to sampling time. Quantitative recovery is obtained for priority pollutants ranging in volatility from dimethyl-phenol to phenanthrene. Losses occur for more volatile compounds, but even for these compounds the repeatability of the recoveries remains acceptable. With the system described here, water samples up to at least 1 ml of water can be directly analyzed. The detection limits are in the sub-ppb range.     

Low angle laser light scattering and photon correlation spectroscopy in surfactant vesicles

Using low angle laser light scattering, weight averaged molecular weights, M?_w, diffusion coefficients, and hydrodynamic radii, R_H, have been determined for completely synthetic surfactant vesicles, prepared by ultrasonic irradiation of dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride. DODAC, and dihexadecylphosphate. DHP dispersion. Both the M?_w and R_H values were found to decrease exponentially as a function of sonication time. At the limit, M?_w and R_H for DODAC vesicles are 12.6 × 10⁶ dalton and 396 Å, and those for DHP vesicles are 23 × 10⁶ dalton and 595 Å. Calculations indicate both vesicles to be prolates.     

Unequivocal synthesis of bis(2-cyanoacrylate) monomers. I. Via anthracene adducts

An unequivocal and general synthesis of bis(2-cyanoacrylate) monomers from Diels-Alder adducts of the alkyl 2-cyanoacrylates has been developed. Saponification of the anthracene adduct of either isobutyl or ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate to the anthracene/2-cyanoacrylic acid adduct, conversion of the latter to the alkali salt or acid chloride derivatives, followed by respective esterification reactions with an organic dihalide or glycol gave the bis-anthracene adduct precursors to the bis(2-cyanoacrylate) monomers. Heating the bis-adducts with excess maleic anhydride in refluxing xylene effected retrograde diene scission to the bis(2-cyanoacrylate) monomers in up to 80% overall yields. Comonomer blends of the difunctional bis(2-cyanoacrylates) with the alkyl 2-cyanoacrylates gave crosslinked polymeric adhesive compositions exhibiting higher bond strengths under both dry and wet conditions than the noncrosslinked cyanoacrylate adhesives. Potential applications of interest are as pit and fissure sealants in dentistry and for the direct bonding of orthodontic attachments.