Enantioselective Alkynylation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones Catalyzed by Cation‐Binding Salen Nickel Complexes

Cation‐binding salen nickel catalysts were developed for the enantioselective alkynylation of trifluoromethyl ketones in high yield (up to 99 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). The reaction proceeds with substoichiometric quantities of base (10–20 mol % KOt‐Bu) and open to air. In the case of trifluoromethyl vinyl ketones, excellent chemo‐selectivity was observed, generating 1,2‐addition products exclusively over 1,4‐addition products. UV‐vis analysis revealed the pendant oligo‐ether group of the catalyst strongly binds to the potassium cation (K⁺) with 1:1 binding stoichiometry (K_a=6.6×10⁵ m ^?1).     

Algebraic signatures of convex and non-convex codes

A convex code is a binary code generated by the pattern of intersections of a collection of open convex sets in some Euclidean space. Convex codes are relevant to neuroscience as they arise from the activity of neurons that have convex receptive fields. In this paper, we develop algebraic methods to determine if a code is convex. Specifically, we use the neural ideal of a code, which is a generalization of the Stanley–Reisner ideal. Using the neural ideal together with its standard generating set, the canonical form, we provide algebraic signatures of certain families of codes that are non-convex. We connect these signatures to the precise conditions on the arrangement of sets that prevent the codes from being convex. Finally, we also provide algebraic signatures for some families of codes that are convex, including the class of intersection-complete codes. These results allow us to detect convexity and non-convexity in a variety of situations, and point to some interesting open questions.     

Effect of Er:YAG laser energy on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the influence of Er:YAG laser energy variation to cavity preparation on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface, using SEM. Eighteen molars were used and the buccal surfaces were flattened without dentine exposure. The specimens were randomly assigned to two groups, according to the adhesive system (conventional total-etching or self-etching), and each group was divided into three subgroups (bur carbide in turbine of high rotation, Er:YAG laser 250 mJ/4 Hz and Er:YAG laser 300 mJ/4 Hz) containing six teeth each. The enamel/adhesive system interface was serially sectioned and prepared for SEM. The Er:YAG laser, in general, produced a more irregular adhesive interface than the control group. For Er:YAG laser 250 mJ there was formation of a more regular hybrid layer with good tag formation, mainly in the total-etching system. However, Er:YAG laser 300 mJ showed a more irregular interface with amorphous enamel and fused areas, for both adhesive systems. It was concluded that cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser influenced on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface and the tissual alterations were more evident when the energy was increased.     

Complexation of M–(buffer) x –(OH) y Systems Involving Divalent Ions (Cobalt or Nickel) and Zwitterionic Biological Buffers (AMPSO, DIPSO, TAPS and TAPSO) in Aqueous Solution

The complexation behavior of eight M–(buffer) _x –(OH) _y systems involving two divalent ions (cobalt and nickel) and four zwitterionic biological buffers (AMPSO, DIPSO, TAPS and TAPSO) were characterized. Complex formation was detected for all eight M–(buffer) _x –(OH) _y systems studied, but fully defined final models were obtained for only four of these systems. For systems involving cobalt or nickel with AMPSO or TAPS, a complete characterization of the systems was not possible in the studied buffer pH-range. Metal complexation was studied by glass-electrode potentiometry (GEP) and UV-Vis spectroscopy at 25.0 °C and I=0.1 mol⋅dm⁻³ KNO₃ ionic strength. For the Ni–(L) _x –(OH) _y and Co–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, with L = TAPSO or DIPSO, the proposed final models and overall stability constants were obtained by combining results from both techniques. For the Ni–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, the measured values of the stability constants are log ₁₀ β _NiL=3.0±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _NiL2=4.8±0.1 for L = TAPSO, and log ₁₀ β _NiL=2.7±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _NiL2=4.6±0.1 for L = DIPSO. For the Co–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, the overall stability constants are log ₁₀ β _CoL=2.2±0.1, log ₁₀ β _CoL2=3.6±0.2 and log ₁₀ β _CoL(OH)=7.6±0.1 for L = TAPSO, and log ₁₀ β _CoL=2.0±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _CoL(OH)=7.8±0.1 for L = DIPSO. For both buffers, the CoL(OH) species is characterized by a major structural rearrangement.     

Total synthesis of naturally occurring 5,6,7- and 5,7,8-trioxygenated coumarins

The synthesis of five naturally occurring polyoxygenated coumarins is described. It concerns two 5,6,7-trioxygenated coumarins, i.e., 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (fraxinol) 1 and 5,6,7-trimethoxycoumarin 2, and three 5,7,8-trioxygenated coumarins, i.e., 8-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (leptodactylone) 3, 5,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin 4 and 8-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (artanin) 5. Key feature of the synthetic pathway is the synthesis of suitable tetraoxygenated benzaldehydes, which are then converted to the corresponding coumarins via a Wittig reaction.     

An ATR-FTIR study of different phosphonic acids in aqueous solution

An ATR-FIR study of the vibrational spectra of 1-hydroxyethane-1,1'-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethylphosphonic acid (BHAMP) in aqueous solution is presented. The study was performed in the range of pH from 5 to 9, and bands assignments are given in the 2000-890 cm(-1) range. However, as phosphonates display bands due to the PO stretching vibration mainly in the 900-1200 cm(-1) range, the study is focused in this midinfrared region, which shows important changes as the pH changes, specially the nu(POH) at approximately 925 cm(-1) and nu(PO(3)(2-)) at approximately 970 cm(-1) vibrations. IR analyses give also evidences for the zwitterionic nature of BHAMP and NTMP in solution with a strong indication that the zwitterion in both compounds remains intact throughout the pH range investigated. The successive protonation steps with the decrease of pH were evidenced in the IR spectra of the three studied phosphonates.     

Blocked Phosphates as Photolatent Catalysts for Dynamic Photopolymer Networks

While latent catalysts are a well-established strategy for initiating and controlling the rate of polymerization reactions, their use in dynamic polymer networks is still in its infancy. The ideal latent catalyst should be thermally stable and release a highly active species in response to an external trigger. Here, we have synthesized a temperature resistant (>200 °C) organic phosphate with a photolabile o-nitrobenzyl protecting group that can be cleaved by UV light. Introduced in a visible light curable thiol-click photopolymer, the sequence-dependent λ-orthogonality of the curing and cleavage enables an efficient network formation at 451 nm, without premature release of the catalyst. Once cured, irradiation at 372 nm spatiotemporally activates the phosphate, which catalyzes transesterifications at elevated temperature. The formed catalyst has no effect on the thermal stability of the polymeric network and allows the activation of bond exchange reactions in selected domains of printed 3D objects.     

MEPS as a rapid sample preparation method to handle unstable compounds in a complex matrix: determination of AZD3409 in plasma samples utilizing MEPS-LC-MS-MS

The aim of the present investigation is to develop a simple, fast, and sensitive method for the determination of a new candidate drug, AZD3409, in rat, dog, and human plasma samples. AZD3409 is stable in aqueous solutions at low pH (< 4) but not in whole blood or in plasma. In rat plasma at 25 degrees C, more than 90% of the compound is degraded within 40 min. When 20 mg of NaF and 50 microL of protease inhibitor cocktail are added to 1.0 mL of rat blood, AZD3409 is stable for up to about 90 min. Due to the instability of AZD3409, microextraction in packed syringe (MEPS) is used as an online and fast sample-preparation method, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) for the quantitation of this compound in plasma samples. In MEPS, the sampling sorbent is 1 mg of polystyrene polymer packed in a 250-microL syringe. When the plasma sample (50-250 microL) is withdrawn through the syringe by an autosampler, the analyte is adsorbed to the solid phase. The analyte is then eluted with an organic solvent such as methanol or the LC mobile phase (20-50 microL) directly into the instrument's injector. MEPS is rapid and easy to use. The lower limit of quantitation for AZD3409 is established to be 0.024 microM. The accuracy of the quality-control samples ranged from 89% to 102%, and the precision (C.V.%) had a value of 11-16% for the plasma samples. The calibration curve in plasma is obtained in the concentration range 0.022-9.0 microM. The coefficients of determination (R2) for plasma samples were > or = 0.998 for all runs. The present method is used for the analysis of rat and dog plasma samples.     

Capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the rapid identification and quantification of almond flavonoids

A rapid negative ion ESI high-performance capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed to identify and quantify flavonoids (e.g., flavanols, flavonols, flavanones and glycosides). Fifteen standards and two varieties of almond skin extract powder (Carmel and Nonpareil) were used to demonstrate the chromatographic separation, reproducibility and accuracy of the method that employed a 150 mm x 0.3 mm ChromXP 3C18-EP-120 column. All standards eluted in less than 10 min, providing a 9-12x reduction in analysis time compared to existing methods (90-120 min). However, isomers (e.g., catechin/epicatechin and galactosides/glucosides) were not resolved and, therefore, identified and quantified collectively. RSDs for retention time and peak area reproducibility (mass spectrometry data) were <0.5% and <5.0%, respectively. Peak area reproducibility was greatly improved (from a RSD>10%) after the implementation of a low-flow metal needle in the ESI source. Quantitation by mass spectrometry also afforded a % error less than 5% for most compounds.