Synthesis and characterization of novel dinuclear copper(I) complexes. Dimerization of [CuL(PPh3)2] (L = methyl 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioate)

We report the synthesis of new copper(I) complexes 6a-e from methyl 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioate ligands. These complexes were characterized by IR and 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The expected O,S-coordination mode was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction studies of 6b and 6e. The unexpected dimerization of 6b-e leads to the formation of four novel dinuclear copper(I) compounds (7b-e). The dinuclear complex structure was fully established by the X-ray diffraction analysis of 7a, in which the presence of a Cu-Cu interaction was observed.     

Effect of structure in benzaldehyde oximes on the formation of aldehydes and nitriles under photoinduced electron-transfer conditions

The mechanistic aspects of the photosensitized reactions of a series of benzaldehyde oximes (1a-o) were studied by steady-state (product studies) and laser flash photolysis methods. Nanosecond laser flash photolysis studies have shown that the reaction of the oxime with triplet chloranil (3CA) proceeds via an electron-transfer mechanism provided the free energy for electron transfer (DeltaG(ET)) is favorable; typically, the oxidation potential of the oxime should be below 2.0 V. Substituted benzaldehyde oximes with oxidation potentials greater than 2.0 V quench 3CA at rates that are independent of the substituent and the oxidation potential. The most likely mechanism under these conditions is a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism as this reaction should be dependent on the O-H bond strength only, which is virtually the same for all oximes. Product studies have shown that aldoximes react to give both the corresponding aldehyde and the nitrile. The important intermediate in the aldehyde pathway is the iminoxyl radical, which is formed via an electron transfer-proton transfer (ET-PT) sequence (for oximes with low oxidation potentials) or via a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) pathway (for oximes with larger oxidation potentials). The nitriles are proposed to result from intermediate iminoyl radicals, which can be formed via direct hydrogen atom abstraction or via an electron-transfer-proton-transfer sequence. The experimental data seems to support the direct hydrogen atom abstraction as evidenced by the break in linearity in the plot of the quenching rates against the oxidation potential, which suggests a change in mechanism. The nitrile product is favored when electron-accepting substituents are present on the benzene ring of the benzaldehyde oximes or when the hydroxyl hydrogen atom is unavailable for abstraction. The latter is the case in pyridine-2-carboxaldoxime (2), where a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed. Other molecules that form weaker intramolecular hydrogen bonds such as 2-furaldehyde oxime (3) and thiophene-2-carboxaldoxime (4) tend to yield increasing amounts of aldehyde.     

ESI-MS study on the aldol reaction catalyzed by L-proline

The aldol reaction catalyzed by L-proline has been monitored and the accepted mechanism confirmed by intercepting and characterizing, for the first time, all the proposed intermediates by ESI-MS/MS.     

Optical properties of Au-Ag nanoboxes studied by single nanoparticle spectroscopy

The optical properties of two Au-Ag nanobox samples with average edge lengths of 44 and 58 nm and wall thicknesses of 6 and 8 nm, respectively, have been studied by single particle spectroscopy. The measurements gave an average line width of Gamma = 306 +/- 7 meV with a standard deviation of sigma = 30 meV for the 44-nm boxes, and Gamma = 350 +/- 9 meV with sigma = 35 meV for the 58-nm boxes. These line widths are much broader than those of gold nanorods with comparable resonance energies. The increased broadening is attributed to a combination of surface scattering of electrons, as well as increased radiation damping for the nanoboxes. Discrete dipole approximation calculations have been performed with and without surface scattering of electrons to compare with the experimental spectra. The calculations confirm that both electron-surface scattering and radiation damping are important effects in this system.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of highly functionalized spirocyclic pyrans

Highly functionalized spirocyclic pyrans can be obtained through the Achmatowicz rearrangement of furyl carbinols by taking advantage of the different rates of reaction for epoxidation and nucleophilic addition. Through this methodology, spirocyclic units of various ring sizes can be selectively generated with complete stereocontrol.     

WYE‐120318, a ring contraction product of methylnaltrexone,and structure revision of coniothyrione

A contracted ring degradation product, WYE‐120318 (compound 2), was discovered during the development phase for methylnaltrexone bromide (compound 1) drug substance. The compound was isolated by high‐performance liquid chromatography fractionation, and its structure was determined by spectroscopic data analyses. WYE‐120318 is formed from methylnaltrexone through a benzyl‐benzilic acid type rearrangement reaction to yield an α‐hydroxy‐cyclopentanecarboxylic acid substructure. The proposed structure and the formation mechanism are confirmed by the synthesis of WYE‐120318 from methylnaltrexone (compound 1). A similar benzyl‐benzilic acid type rearrangement reaction can be envisioned as the biological origin of remisporine A (compound 3), a naturally occurring cyclopentadienyl compound that autocatalytically dimerizes to remisporine B (compound 4). The structure of remisporine A was deduced from its dimer 4. Coniothyione (compound 5) can be considered as the first example of a stable natural product bearing the remisporine A skeleton. However, the regiochemistry of the chlorosubstitution in the coniothyrione structure needs to be revised to compound 6 on the basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance data and biogenesis analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tunable BODIPY derivatives amenable to ‘click’ and peptide chemistry

Novel azido- and amino-functionalised fluorescent probes based on the BODIPY framework have been developed. The probes can be easily and cheaply synthesised, exhibit the highly desirable BODIPY fluorescent properties, and are amenable to ‘click’ and peptide chemistry methodologies. These probes provide a stable and readily available tool amenable for the visualisation of both solution and solid supported events.     

Calibration of CN and CR-39 track detectors for measurements of fast deuterons and nitrogen ions

The paper reports on the analysis of responses of CN-type films and CR39-plastic nuclear track detectors (NTDs) to fast deutrons and nitrogen ions emitted from high-current Plasma-Focus (PF) facilities, as operated at SINS and INFIP. In order to separate the deutrons and nitrogen ions of different energy, the use was made of a Thomson-type mass-spectrometer adapted to measurements within dense plasma streams. Deutron and ion parabolaen were registered the CN-80 and CN-LR115 films as well as with the CR39 plastic NTDs, which were undergone routine etching procedures. On the basisof known characteristics of the spectrometer applied energy- and mass-scales for the obtained ion paraboale were determined. Using an optical microscope, a detailed analysis of track dimensions was performed in chosen points along the registered parabolae, and the calibration diagrams (i.e. a track diameter for the chosen ion energy and different etching times) were determined. Results of the calibration procedure, after comparing with other calibration data obtained with conventional particle accelerators, may be applicable for measurements of fast deutrons (i.g., in nuclear fusion experiments) and energetic nitrogen ions (i.g., in some plasma- and ion-facilities used for technological applications).     

Interactions in the aqueous phase and adsorption at the air–water interface of caseinoglycomacropeptide (GMP) and β-lactoglobulin mixed systems

The aim of this work was to study the interactions and adsorption of caseinoglycomacropeptide (GMP) and GMP:β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) mixed system in the aqueous phase and at the air–water interface. The existence of associative interactions between GMP and β-lg in the aqueous phase was investigated by dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorometry and native PAGE-electrophoresis. The surface pressure isotherm and the static and dynamic surface pressure were determined by tensiometry and surface dilatational properties. The results showed that GMP presented higher surface activity than β-lg at a concentration of 4% wt but β-lg showed higher film forming ability. In the mixed systems β-lg dominated the static and dynamic surface pressure and the rheological properties of interfacial films suggesting that β-lg hinders GMP adsorption because, in simple competition, GMP should dominate because of its higher surface activity. The surface predominance of β-lg can be attributed to binding of GMP to β-lg in the aqueous phase that prevents GMP adsorption on its own.