Racemic 2‐isopropyl‐3‐(2‐nitrobenzyl)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one crystallizes in the space group P212121 with Z′ = 2: two different interpenetrating three‐dimensional frameworks formed by C—H...O hydrogen bonds

rac‐2‐Isopropyl‐3‐(2‐nitrobenzyl)‐1,3‐thiadiazolin‐4‐one, C₁₃H₁₆N₂O₃S, is a rare example of a racemate crystallizing in the space group P2₁2₁2₁, with one molecule each of S and R configurations, whose conformations are almost mirror images, within the asymmetric unit. The molecules of S configuration are linked by two C—H...O hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional framework, and the molecules of R configuration are linked by two further C—H...O hydrogen bonds into a different type of three‐dimensional framework; the two frameworks are linked by a fifth C—H...O hydrogen bond.     

Trace element determination in vitamin E using ICP-MS

Vitamin E supplements are either isolated from plants sources or prepared synthetically. Isolation from plants includes eight different tocopherol structures. Vitamin E synthesis includes seven different stereoisomers, which involves the use of several catalysts that may lead to trace element contamination in the vitamin. The use of ICP-MS is an ideal technique for detecting these trace elements. However, the oily nature of the samples requires the development of a sample preparation methodology. This study was done upon the request of synthetic vitamin E manufacturers to test the trace metal purity of their samples. In this work, the comparison of an acid microwave digestion and emulsion preparation is discussed. Cromium, nickel, tin and lead were found in the synthetic vitamin E analyzed and 200, 60, 9 and 45 ppb were the concentrations found respectively for these elements.Digesting the samples gives slightly lower detection limits compared to the emulsion preparation.     

Elektronentransfer und Ionenpaar-Bildung. 40. Mitteilung. Einkristall-Struktur von Bis(Natrium-1,1′-Biphenyl-2-thiolat-Diglyme): Ein Zwischenprodukt der reduktiven Ringöffnung von Dibenzothiophen

Electron Transfer and Ion Pair Formation Single Crystal Structure of Bis(sodium 1,1′-biphenyl-2-thiolate-diglyme): An Intermediate in the Reductive Ring Opening of Dibenzothiophene On Na-metal reduction of dibenzothiophene, the five-membered sulfur ring opens to form a colorless 1,1′-biphenyl-2-thiolate sodium salt, which, according to its single-crystal structure determination, is a dimer containing a four-membered, twice diglyme-solvated ring (diglyme···Na^⊕?SR)₂. Additional measurements provide the following information: cyclic voltammetry in aprotic MeCN solution shows one quasi-reversible electron transfer at E = ?2.58 V. The dibenzothiophene radical anion can be generated in aprotic THF solution at a K mirror and characterized by an 81-line ESR spectrum and its simulation. This blue species is also the first UV/VIS detectable one before the solution changes via green (due to blue + yellow color mixing) to yellow, yielding across an isosbestic point a second and diamagnetic compound. All of the above results suggest a consecutive two-electron reduction followed by an intersystem protonation, M + (e^?) → M^.? (blue) + (e^?) → (M^??, yellow?) + (H^⊕) → MH^? (colorless), to yield the crystallized and structurally characterized reaction intermediate. The diglyme-solvated sodium-salt dimer provides a basis for a quantum-chemical discussion of some facets of the most likely microscopic reduction pathway.     

Host-guest antenna materials

The focus of this review is on host-guest composites with photonic antenna properties. The material generally consists of cylindrical zeolite L crystals the channels of which are filled with dye molecules. The synthesis is based on the fact that molecules can diffuse into individual channels. This means that, under the appropriate conditions, they can also leave the zeolite by the same way. In some cases, however, it is desirable to block their way out by adding a closure molecule. Functionalization of the closure molecules allows tuning of, for example, wettability, refractive index, and chemical reactivity. The supramolecular organization of the dyes inside the channels is a first stage of organization. It allows light harvesting within a certain volume of a dye-loaded nanocrystalline zeolite and radiationless transport to both ends of the cylinder or from the ends to the center. The second stage of organization is the coupling to an external acceptor or donor stopcock fluorophore at the ends of the channels, which can trap or inject electronic excitation energy. The third stage of organization is the coupling to an external device through a stopcock molecule. The wide-ranging tunability of these highly organized materials offers fascinating new possibilities for exploring excitation-energy-transfer phenomena, and challenges for developing new photonic devices.     

Bulky Arylgallium and Indium Derivatives with Co(CO)4 and Mn(CO)5 Substituents

Further investigation of the reaction of Ar*GaCl₂ (Ar* = 2,4,6-t-Bu₃C₆H₂) with Na[Mn(CO)₅] resulted in the new compound, [Ga(Ar*){Mn(CO)₅}₂] 2 . The new indium compounds, [In(Ar*){Co(CO)₄}₂] 3 and [In(Ar*){Mn(CO)₅}₂] 4 , have been prepared by the treatment of Ar*InBr₂ with Na[Co(CO)₄] and Na[Mn(CO)₅], respectively. The structure of 3 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: space group P1 (No. 2), Z = 2, a = 8.625(1) Å, b = 10.557(2) Å, c = 17.55(2) Å, α = 88.43(1)°, β = 83.45(1)°, γ = 71.14(1)°. The X-ray crystal structure of [Ga{Mn(CO)₅}₃] is also reported: space group Pbca (No. 61), Z = 8, a = 12.83(3) Å, b = 11.753(2) Å, c = 29.662(6) Å, α = β = γ = 90°.     

2-Mercaptomethyl-thiazolidines use conserved aromatic–S interactions to achieve broad-range inhibition of metallo-β-lactamases

Infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria are a major public health threat. Carbapenems are among the most potent antimicrobial agents that are commercially available to treat MDR bacteria. Bacterial production of carbapenem-hydrolysing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) challenges their safety and efficacy, with subclass B1 MBLs hydrolysing almost all β-lactam antibiotics. MBL inhibitors would fulfil an urgent clinical need by prolonging the lifetime of these life-saving drugs. Here we report the synthesis and activity of a series of 2-mercaptomethyl-thiazolidines (MMTZs), designed to replicate MBL interactions with reaction intermediates or hydrolysis products. MMTZs are potent competitive inhibitors of B1 MBLs in vitro (e.g., K_i = 0.44 μM vs. NDM-1). Crystal structures of MMTZ complexes reveal similar binding patterns to the most clinically important B1 MBLs (NDM-1, VIM-2 and IMP-1), contrasting with previously studied thiol-based MBL inhibitors, such as bisthiazolidines (BTZs) or captopril stereoisomers, which exhibit lower, more variable potencies and multiple binding modes. MMTZ binding involves thiol coordination to the Zn(ii) site and extensive hydrophobic interactions, burying the inhibitor more deeply within the active site than d/l-captopril. Unexpectedly, MMTZ binding features a thioether–π interaction with a conserved active-site aromatic residue, consistent with their equipotent inhibition and similar binding to multiple MBLs. MMTZs penetrate multiple Enterobacterales, inhibit NDM-1 in situ, and restore carbapenem potency against clinical isolates expressing B1 MBLs. Based on their inhibitory profile and lack of eukaryotic cell toxicity, MMTZs represent a promising scaffold for MBL inhibitor development. These results also suggest sulphur–π interactions can be exploited for general ligand design in medicinal chemistry.

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are major culprits of resistance to carbapenems in bacteria. A series of thiazolidines are potent MBL inhibitors, restoring the activity of carbapenems. Metal binding and sulphur–π interactions are key to inhibition.     

Correlation between Small-Angle X-ray Scattering spectra and apparent diffusion coefficients in the study of structure and interaction of sodium taurodeoxycholate micelles

Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements were carried out on aqueous micellar solutions of the ionic biological detergent sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC). Apparent diffusion coefficients (D(app)) and SAXS spectra of NaTDC 0.1 M solutions at different ionic strengths (0.1-0.3 M NaCl) were reported. A comparative analysis of SAXS spectra and D(app) data was performed to infer information on particle structure and interaction potential. Uniform particles with a spherical, an oblate, and a prolate symmetry were used to model the micelles in the data interpretation. A hard-core interaction shell of suitable thickness and a screened Coulomb potential of the electric double layer (EDL potential) were alternatively used to represent the long-range repulsive tail of the interaction potential. The Percus Yevick and the Rescaled Mean Spherical Approximation were applied. To compare the data of the two techniques, for each sample, a D(app) was calculated from the SAXS best-fitting geometrical parameters and interparticle structure factor of the micelles. Hence, a fitting procedure involving both the scattering and D(app) data was performed. The interpretation of SAXS spectra does not allow the discrimination between the oblate and the prolate symmetries of the aggregates. On the other hand, the comparison of calculated and experimental D(app) values indicates that the prolate ellipsoid is better suited to represent the micelle shape. Moreover, the agreement between calculated and experimental D(app) values is sensitively better at the lowest NaCl concentration when the EDL potential is used. A rodlike micellar growth and a progressive screening of the electrostatic interactions is testified by the trends of best-fitting parameters as a function of the added electrolyte.     

Formation of organolithium hetero-aggregates [Li4Ar2(nBu)2] (Ar=C6H4CH(Me)NMe2-2) during the directed ortho-lithiation of [1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene

(R)-[1-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene reacts with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio in pentane to quantitatively yield a unique hetero-aggregate (2 a) containing the lithiated arene, unreacted nBuLi, and the complexed parent arene in a 1:1:1 ratio. As a model compound, [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)] (2 b) was prepared from the quantitative redistribution reaction of the parent lithiated arene Li(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2) with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio. The mono-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))] (2 c) and the bis-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))(2)] (2 d) were obtained by re-crystallization of 2 b from pentane/Et(2)O and pure Et(2)O, respectively. The single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 2 b-d show that the overall structural motifs of all three derivatives are closely related. They are all tetranuclear Li aggregates in which the four Li atoms are arranged in an almost regular tetrahedron. These structures can be described as consisting of two linked dimeric units: one Li(2)Ar(2) dimer and a hypothetical Li(2)nBu(2) dimer. The stereochemical aspects of the chiral Li(2)Ar(2) fragment are discussed. The structures as observed in the solid state are apparently retained in solution as revealed by a combination of cryoscopy and (1)H, (13)C, and (6)Li NMR spectroscopy.     

Lignin peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of nonphenolic trimeric lignin model compounds: fragmentation reactions in the intermediate radical cations

The H(2)O(2)-promoted oxidations of the two nonphenolic beta-O-aryl lignin model trimers 1 and 2, catalyzed by lignin peroxidase (LiP) at pH = 3.5, have been studied. The results have been compared with those obtained in the oxidation of 1 and 2 with the genuine one-electron oxidant potassium 12-tungstocobalt(III)ate. These models present a different substitution pattern of the three aromatic rings, and by one-electron oxidation, they form radical cations with the positive charge, which is localized in the dialkoxylated ring as also evidenced by a pulse radiolysis study. Both the oxidations with the enzymatic and with the chemical systems lead to the formation of products deriving from the cleavage of C-C and C-H bonds in a beta position with respect to the radical cation with the charge residing in the dialkoxylated ring (3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (5) and a trimeric ketone 6 in the oxidation of 1 and a dimeric aldehyde 8 and a trimeric ketone 9 in the oxidation of 2). These products are accompanied by a dimeric aldehyde 7 in the oxidation of 1 and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (10) in the oxidation of 2. The unexpected formation of these two products has been explained by suggesting that 1.+ and 2.+ can also undergo an intramolecular electron transfer leading to the radical cations 1a.+ and 2a.+ with the charge residing in a monoalkoxylated ring. The fast cleavage of a C-C bond beta to this ring, leading to 7 from 1.+ and to 10 from 2.+, is the driving force of the endoergonic electron transfer. A kinetic steady-state investigation of the LiP-catalyzed oxidation of the trimer 2, the dimeric model 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-phenoxy-1-ethanol (4), and 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol (3) has indicated that the turnover number (k(cat)) and the affinity for the enzyme decrease significantly by increasing the size of the model compound. In contrast, the three substrates exhibited a very similar reactivity toward a chemical oxidant [Co(III)W]. This suggests a size-dependent interaction of the enzyme with the substrate which may influence the efficiency of the electron transfer.