Homonuclear chalcogen–chalcogen bond interactions in complexes pairing YO3 and YHX molecules (Y = S,Se; X = H,Cl, Br,CCH, NC,OH, OCH3): Influence of substitution and cooperativity

MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ calculations are performed on complexes of YO₃ (Y = S, Se) with a series of electron‐donating chalcogen bases YHX (X = H, Cl, Br, CCH, NC, OH, OCH₃). These complexes are formed through the interaction of a positive electrostatic potential region (π‐hole) on the YO₃ molecule with the negative region in YHX. Interaction energies of the binary O₃Y???YHX complexes are in the range of ?4.37 to ?12.09 kcal/mol. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules and the natural bond orbital analysis were applied to characterize the nature of interactions. It was found that the formation and stability of these binary complexes are ruled mainly by electrostatic effects, although the electron charge transfer from YHX to YO₃ unit also seems to play an important role. In addition, mutual influence between the Y???N and Y???Y interactions is studied in the ternary HCN???O₃Y???YHX complexes. The results indicate that the formation of a Y???N interaction tends to weaken Y???Y bond in the ternary systems. Although the Y???Y interaction is weaker than the Y???N one, however, both types of interactions seem to compete with each other in the HCN???O₃Y???YHX complexes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A cellular uptake and cytotoxicity properties study of gallic acid-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles on Caco-2 cells

In this study, the effects of intracellular delivery of various concentrations of gallic acid (GA) as a semistable antioxidant, gallic acid-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs-GA), and cellular uptake of nanoparticles into Caco-2 cells were investigated. MSNs were synthesized and loaded with GA, then characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The cytotoxicity of MSNs and MSNs-GA at low and high concentrations were studied by means of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and flow cytometry. MSNs did not show significant toxicity in various concentrations (0–500 μg/ml) on Caco-2 cells. For MSNs-GA, cell viability was reduced as a function of incubation time and different concentrations of nanoparticles. The in vitro GA release from MSNs-GA exhibited the same antitumor properties as free GA on Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometry results confirmed those obtained using MTT assay. TEM and fluorescent microscopy confirmed the internalization of MSNs by Caco-2 cells through nonspecific cellular uptake. MSNs can easily internalize into Caco-2 cells without deleterious effects on cell viability. The cell viability of Caco-2 cells was affected during MSNs-GA uptake. MSNs could be designed as suitable nanocarriers for antioxidants delivery.     

A mechanistic insight into caspase-7 inhibition by BIR1-2 domains of XIAP and cIAP1

Previous studies failed to demonstrate any role for the BIR1 domain of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) in inhibition of executioner caspases. In this study, XIAP-BIR1-2 and c-IAP1-BIR1-2 domains have been used to investigate the role of BIR1 in the inhibition of caspase-7. Kinetic analysis confirmed that caspase-7 was inhibited in an uncompetitive manner at lower concentrations of XIAP-BIR1-2, whereas the inhibition was switched to the mixed type mode at higher concentrations of the inhibitor. In contrast, cIAP1-BIR1-2 inhibited caspase-7 in a mixed type mode at all examined concentrations. These data suggest that the presence of BIR1 is essential for inhibition of caspase-7 by cIAP1. Far-UV CD and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments showed that despite similar secondary structures, XIAP-BIR1-2 and cIAP1-BIR1-2 have different biophysical properties. BIR1-2 domain of XIAP was found to be more flexible than cIAP1, which may be the reason behind differences in their kinetic properties.     

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/K<Subscript>2</Subscript>S: a simple and scale-up method for the direct synthesis of symmetrical disulfides from aryl halides

A simple, one-pot, efficient and novel protocol has been developed for direct synthesis of symmetrical organic disulfides by domino reaction of aryl halides and K₂S in the presence of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as a readily available, highly efficient and recyclable catalyst. A variety of diaryl disulfides can be obtained in good-to-excellent yields up to 98%.     

Stable structures of oxocarbons and pseudooxocarbons of group VI

Density functional theory has been used to study the geometries, electronic structure and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the oxocarbons and the pseudooxocarbons of group VI. The ability of the maximum hardness principle for predicting the stable structures of oxocarbons and pseudooxocarbons of group VI is tested by analyzing the results of these calculations. To obtain the stable structure, the geometrical parameters and stability of molecules are compared and analyzed. Bond orders of candidate molecules are calculated by using natural bond orbital analysis. Except selenium derivatives, atoms in molecule calculations prove being useful for studying the nature of carbon heteroatom bond. Chemical hardness is also reported. This study reveals that (1) DFT gives very similar geometries and energies to ab-initio methods and (2) the maximum hardness principle (MHP) is not verified for some of these structures. Data for C₆Se₆, which are new, are presented in this work.     

Novel method for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles using alumina supported ammonium fluoride under solvent‐free condition

Alumina supported ammonium fluoride was found as an efficient reagent for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐oxadi‐azoles of amidoximes under solvent free conditions using microwave irradiation. This method is a one‐pot, easy, rapid, and high‐yielding reaction for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐oxadiazole derivatives from amidoximes and acyl chlorides. Reaction of amidoximes with acylchlorides in the presence of alumina without ammonium fluoride gave only the corresponding O‐acylamidoximes as major product.     

A novel copper-catalyzed,one-pot synthesis of symmetric organic disulfides from alkyl and aryl halides: potassium 5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiolate as a novel sulfur transfer reagent

A new method is reported for the synthesis of symmetric diaryl and dialkyl disulfides from aryl and alkyl halides in the presence of copper using potassium 5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiolate as the base, ligand, and sulfur-transfer reagent.     

A Route to Lipid ALC-0315: a Key Component of a COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine

This paper describes a synthesis of ALC-0315 by a sequence that more than doubles the overall yield relative to the published one, and that employs much cleaner reactions, thereby facilitating purifications to a considerable extent