Stereospecific cyclodehydration of 1,4-sulfanylalcohols to thiolanes: mechanistic insights

A series of thiolanes were prepared by cyclodehydration of sulfanylalcohols in the presence of catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid or by using K10 clay. The sulfur heterocycles were synthesised in good to excellent yields using either a conventional Dean-Stark method or microwave irradiation under solvent-free conditions. The reaction could be performed regio- and stereoselectively and its mechanism was investigated by means of enantio- and diastereomerically enriched substrates. In contrast to previous studies, our results are consistent with an intramolecular S_N2-type mechanism as a general pathway.     

Theoretical study of oligomeric alumatranes present in the chemistry of materials from micro to mesoporous molecular sieves and alumina composites

Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory have been carried out to investigate molecular precursors based on alumatranes which are one of the components with silatranes for the preparation of mesoporous aluminosilicate materials. In the same way, some oligomeric alumatranes of this study take part in chemical syntheses related to materials such as zeolites and alumina composite. Gas phase and solution equilibrium geometries of the alumatrane precursors were fully optimized at B3LYP level, modeling solvent effects using a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF). From these optimized geometries, calculations of the ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁷Al NMR chemical shifts at GIAO/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory have also been performed. This study has shown that the assumed conformations of the alumatrane precursors that have been derived from a previous work on a FAB-MASS analysis (Fast Atomic Bombardment Mass Spectroscopy) are confirmed by DFT calculations. All the conformations of alumatranes show that there would have transannular Al–N bond. Oligomeric alumatranes are composed of one or more two-membered Al₂O₂ rings where tricoordinated oxygen would be present. A good agreement between the experimental NMR data and the theoretical study on the chemical shifts of nucleus as ¹³C, ¹H and ²⁷Al from full geometry optimizations of the alumatrane precursors seems to corroborate the presence of the alumatrane precursors in the “atrane route”.     

Determination of gas-phase acidities of dimethylphenols: Combined experimental and theoretical study

The gas-phase acidities of the six dimethylphenol isomers were determined experimentally, by using the kinetic method, and theoretically, through quantum chemistry calculations. The experimental values, relative to the gas-phase acidity of phenol, are (in kJ mol⁻¹): −1.76 ± 0.76 (2,3-Me₂C₆H₃OH), 1.78 ± 0.29 (2,4-Me₂C₆H₃OH), 0.83 ± 0.58 (2,5-Me₂C₆H₃OH), −4.39 ± 0.89 (2,6-Me₂C₆H₃OH), 5.38 ± 1.08 (3,4-Me₂C₆H₃OH), and 1.88 ± 0.08 (3,5-Me₂C₆H₃OH). This trend was discussed by considering the substituent effects on the thermodynamic stabilities both of the parent phenols and the corresponding phenoxide ions. The above acidity data, the literature values for 2-, 3-, and 4-methylphenol, and the substituent effects analysis allowed to develop a simple empirical method to estimate the acidity of any methyl-substituted phenol.     

Adsorption of the first row of transition metals on the perfect and defective MgO(1 0 0) surface

We present DFT calculations for adsorption of the first row of transition metal atoms on a MgO(1 0 0) surface and on a surface exhibiting defects. Some atoms exhibit a high adsorption energy on the defect (e.g. Co, Ni and Cu), but others (Ca, Sc) rather adsorb on a clean surface and another set is indifferent to the presence of defect. The adsorption becomes energetically unfavorable when the σ anti-bonding orbitals become populated; this is worse on a defective surface than on a terrace. The π back-donation to the surface contributes to favor the adsorption on the center.     

Recent developments in ambient ionization techniques for analytical mass spectrometry

Ambient ionization techniques enable the interrogation of a variety of samples in their native state by mass spectrometry, and are rapidly advancing all fields where screening for the presence of various analytes in a broadband and/or high-throughput fashion is desirable. This Highlight article provides an introduction to the field, and showcases the different ionization approaches reported since 2004, with an emphasis on the most recent developments.     

In Situ Functionalized Polymers for siRNA Delivery

A new method is reported herein for screening the biological activity of functional polymers across a consistent degree of polymerization and in situ, that is, under aqueous conditions and without purification/isolation of candidate polymers. In brief, the chemical functionality of a poly(acryloyl hydrazide) scaffold was activated under aqueous conditions using readily available aldehydes to obtain amphiphilic polymers. The transport activity of the resulting polymers can be evaluated in situ using model membranes and living cells without the need for tedious isolation and purification steps. This technology allowed the rapid identification of a supramolecular polymeric vector with excellent efficiency and reproducibility for the delivery of siRNA into human cells (HeLa‐EGFP). The reported method constitutes a blueprint for the high‐throughput screening and future discovery of new polymeric functional materials with important biological applications.     

Dressings Loaded with Cyclodextrin–Hamamelitannin Complexes Increase Staphylococcus aureus Susceptibility Toward Antibiotics Both in Single as well as in Mixed Biofilm Communities

Bacteria reside within biofilms at the infection site, making them extremely difficult to eradicate with conventional wound care products. Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) systems to regulate biofilm formation, and QS inhibitors (QSIs) have been proposed as promising antibiofilm agents. Despite this, few antimicrobial therapies that interfere with QS exist. Nontoxic hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin‐functionalized cellulose gauzes releasing a burst of the antibiotic vancomycin and the QSI hamamelitannin are developed, followed by a sustained release of both. The gauzes affect QS and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro model of chronic wound infection and can be considered as candidates to be used to prevent wound infection as well as treat infected wounds.

     

Ag Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite‐modified Glassy Carbon Electrode as Electrochemical Interface for Catechol Sensing

The electrochemical sensing of catechol (CC) on a glassy carbon electrode modified with the ionothermal assisted synthesis of Ag doped TiO₂ a nanoparticle has been successfully demonstrated for the first time.Ag doped TiO₂ nanoparticles composite modified glassy carbon electrode exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity towards oxidation of catechol than glassy carbon electrode itself. The modified electrode also exhibits high selectivity towards this analyte in the presence of some of the metal ions and some of the biological compounds. Linear ranges and the limit of detections with the above electrode are 1–15 µM and 0.0249 µM respectively. The optimized protocol has been utilized for monitoring the catechol in some of the natural samples like apple juice and green tea and in industrial effluents.