Spring school on magnetic properties of condensed matter

The sixth joint Stanford-Berkeley summer school on synchrotron radiation and its applications in physical science was held on August 17?22, 2008, at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). The Stanford-Berkeley summer school is jointly organized by the Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). Anders Nilsson (Stanford) and Dave Attwood (Berkeley) have been the organizers of this one-week summer school since 2001. It alternates between Stanford and Berkeley. The summer school provides lecture programs on synchrotron radiation and its broad range of scientific applications in the physical science, visits to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource and the Advanced Light Source, where the students also have the opportunity to join a beamline. The program is designed to introduce students and postdocs to the fundamental properties of synchrotron radiation and how to understand and use spectroscopic, scattering and microscopy techniques in various scientific applications. Particular emphasis is given to examples from physics, chemistry, and material science.     

LC-MS/MS identification of the principal in vitro and in vivo phase I metabolites of the novel thiosemicarbazone anti-cancer drug, Bp4eT

The iron chelator, 2-benzoylpyridine-4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Bp4eT), was identified as a lead compound of the 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone series, which were designed as potential anti-cancer agents. This ligand has been shown to possess potent anti-proliferative activity with a highly selective mechanism of action. However, further progress in the development of this compound requires data regarding its metabolism in mammals. The aim of this study was to identify the main in vitro and in vivo phase I metabolites of Bp4eT using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two metabolites were detected after incubation of this drug with rat and human liver microsomal fractions. Based on LC-MSⁿ analysis, the metabolites were demonstrated to be 2-benzoylpyridine-4-ethyl-3-semicarbazone and N ³-ethyl-N ¹-[phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylene]formamidrazone, with both resulting from the oxidation of the thiocarbonyl group. The identity of these metabolites was further shown by LC-MS/MS analysis of these latter compounds which were prepared by oxidation of Bp4eT with hydrogen peroxide and their structures confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra. Both the semicarbazone and the amidrazone metabolites were detected in plasma, urine, and feces after i.v. administration of Bp4eT to rats. In addition, another metabolite that could correspond to hydroxylated amidrazone was found in vivo. Thus, oxidative pathways play a major role in the phase I metabolism of this promising anti-tumor agent. The outcomes of this study will be further utilized for: (1) the development and validation of the analytical method for the quantification of Bp4eT and its metabolites in biological materials; (2) to design pharmacokinetic experiments; and to (3) evaluate the potential contribution of the individual metabolites to the pharmacodynamics/toxico-dynamics of this novel anti-proliferative agent.     

Synthesis,X-ray crystal structure and cation binding properties of a tetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene tetraester

Treatment ofp-t-butyltetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene with ethyl bromoacetate yields a tetraester derivative (4) whose crystal and molecular structure have been determined and whose ion binding properties have been assessed by phase transfer and stability constant measurements. Colorless transparent triclinic crystals (obtained from methoxyethanol) C₆₂H₈₄O₁₄,a = 10.347(2),b = 11.583(2),c = 13.448(3) Å, = 72.04(2), = 86.50(2)°, = 81.23(2)°, space group ,Z = 1, MoK radiation = 0.70930 Å. Refinement was carried out using 2221 reflections withI > 1.5(I). The complexation properties resemble those of calix[6]arene hexaester (6), although weaker, with a preference for the larger alkali cations. Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺; though not extracted, are more strongly complexed than alkali cations. Eu³⁺ is better complexed than Na⁺.Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82106 (22 pages) and at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, University Chemical Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 9EW, U.K.     

Phase transfer catalyzed ortho-metalation

The first examples of the application of phase transfer catalysis to orthometalation are described.     

The mechanism of the stoichiometric phase transfer carbonylation of benzyl bromide by the cobalt carbonyl anion

The kinetics of the stoichiometric phase-transfer carbonylation of benzyl bromide by the cobalt carbonyl anion have been investigated. Pseudo first order constants vary linearly with the amount of tetrabutylammonium chloride present. The effect of the solvent is partly due to its ability to extract the ion pair Bu₄N⁺Co(CO)₄^? into the organic phase. This ion pair is barely soluble in water and the amount of Co(CO)₄^? anion in the organic phase is kept constant by a simple anion exchange mechanism without migration of the tetrabutylammonium cation.     

Short asymmetric synthesis of (-)- and (+)-cis-lauthisan

The asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of cis-lauthisan (3) is achieved in only six steps from diethyl pimelate (4), the key steps being the diastereodivergent reduction of beta-ketosulfoxide 7 and the highly cis-stereoselective Et(3)SiH/TMSOTf-promoted reductive cyclization of enantiopure hydroxy sulfinyl ketones (S)-14 and (R)-14.     

Development of an LC–MS/MS method for analysis of interconvertible Z/E isomers of the novel anticancer agent, Bp4eT

This study was focused on a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method development for quantification of a novel potential anticancer agent, 2-benzoylpyridine 4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Bp4eT), in aqueous media. Solid Bp4eT was found to consist predominantly of the Z isomer, while in aqueous media, both isomers coexist. Sufficient separation of both isomers was achieved on a Synergi 4u Polar RP column with a mobile phase composed of 2 mM ammonium formate, acetonitrile, and methanol (30:63:7; v/v/v). The photo diode array analysis of both isomers demonstrated different absorption spectra which hindered UV-based quantification. However, an equal and reproducible response was found for both isomers using an MS detector, which enables the determination of the total content of Bp4eT (i.e., both E− and Z− isomeric forms) by summation of the peak areas of both isomers. 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (N4mT) was selected as the internal standard. Quantification was performed in selective reaction monitoring using the main fragments of [M+H]⁺ (240 m/z for Bp4eT and 229 m/z for N4mT). The method was validated over 20–600 ng/ml. This procedure was applied to a preformulation study to determine the proper vehicle for parenteral administration. It was found that Bp4eT was poorly soluble in aqueous media. However, the solubility can be effectively improved using pharmaceutical cosolvents. In fact, a 1:1 mixture of PEG 300/0.14 M saline markedly increased solubility and may be a useful drug formulation for intravenous administration. This investigation further accelerates development of novel anticancer thiosemicarbazones. The described methods will be useful for analogs currently under development and suffering the same analytical issue.     

Heterocyclic dithiocarbazate iron chelators: Fe coordination chemistry and biological activity

The iron coordination and biological chemistry of a series of heterocyclic dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands is reported with regard to their activity as Fe chelators for the treatment of Fe overload and also cancer. The ligands are analogous to tridentate heterocyclic hydrazone and thiosemicarbazone chelators we have studied previously which bear NNO and NNS donor sets. The dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands in this work also are NNS chelators and form stable low spin ferric and ferrous complexes and both have been isolated. In addition an unusual hydroxylated ligand derivative has been identified via an Fe-induced oxidation reaction. X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic characterisation of these complexes has been carried out and also the electrochemical properties have been investigated. All Fe complexes exhibit totally reversible Fe(III/II) couples in mixed aqueous solvents at potentials higher than found in analogous thiosemicarbazone Fe complexes. The ability of the dithiocarbazate Schiff base ligands to mobilise Fe from cells and also to prevent Fe uptake from transferrin was examined and all ligands were effective in chelating intracellular Fe relative to known controls such as the clinically important Fe chelator desferrioxamine. The Schiff base ligands derived from 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde were non-toxic to SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma (cancer) cells but those derived from the ketones 2-acetylpyridine and di-2-pyridyl ketone exhibited significant antiproliferative activity.