Biologically active compounds through catalysis: efficient synthesis of N-(heteroarylcarbonyl)-N'-(arylalkyl)piperazines

A practical route for the synthesis of new biologically active 5-HT(2 A) receptor antagonists has been developed. In only three catalytic steps, this class of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds can be synthesized efficiently with high diversity. As the initial step, an anti-Markovnikov addition of amines to styrenes provides an easy route to N-(arylalkyl)piperazines, which constitute the core structure of the active molecules. Here, base-catalyzed hydroamination reactions of styrenes with benzylated piperazine proceeded in high yield even at room temperature. After catalytic debenzylation, the free amines were successfully carbonylated with different aromatic and heteroaromatic halides and carbon monoxide to yield the desired compounds in good to excellent yields. The two key reactions, base-catalyzed hydroamination of styrenes and palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of haloarenes/heterocycles, showed tolerance towards various functional groups, thereby demonstrating the potential to synthesize a wide variety of new derivatives of this promising class of pharmaceuticals.     

Kinetic determination of selenium, based on inhibition of the Pd(II)-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and hypophosphite

A new kinetic method for determination of selenium is based on its inhibitory effect on the Pd(II)-catalysed reaction between Pyronine G and hypophosphite. Under the optimum experimental conditions (6 x 10(-5)M Pyronine G, 0.4M hypophosphite, 0.4 mug/ml Pd(II), pH 2.8, temperature 22.0 +/- 0.2 degrees ), Se can be determined in the concentration range 0.033-0.50 mug/ml. The method suffers from numerous interferences and is thus limited in application. It has been applied to the determination of selenium in spring waters and pharmaceutical preparations.     

Studies of surface properties of Na- and La-montmorillonites

This paper presents possible applications of thermal analysis, sorptometry and porosimetry to study physico-chemical properties of Na- and La-montmorillonite samples, especially for determination of total surface heterogeneity. The quasi-isothermal thermogravimetric (Q-TG) mass loss and its first derivative (Q-DTG) curves with respect to temperature and time obtained during programmed liquid thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions have been used to study adsorbed layers and heterogeneous properties of the Na- and La-montmorillonites. Calculations of the desorption energy distribution functions by analytical procedure using mass loss Q-TG and differential mass loss Q-DTG curves of thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions of polar and non-polar liquid vapours preadsorbed on a material surface are presented. Parameters relating to porosity of samples were determined by sorptometry, mercury porosimetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From nitrogen sorption isotherms from sorptometry and porosimetry methods, the fractal dimensions of montmorillonites have been calculated. Moreover, a new approach is proposed to calculate fractal dimensions of materials obtained from Q-TG curve; this is compared with values obtained by the above methods. The total heterogeneous properties (energy distribution function and pore-size distribution functions) of samples studied were estimated. The radius and pore volume of the tested samples calculated on the basis of thermogravimetry, sorptometry and porosimetry techniques were compared and good correlations obtained.     

Determination of lead in wines by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

The optimization of lead hydride generation in aqueous ethanolic media and the influence on its generation of the wine components, both white and red, have been studied. These interferences were overcome by careful control of the parameters affecting hydride generation and the procedure was applied to the determination of Pb in wines. The method is fast, accurate and sensitive and can be used to quantify 24 ppb of Pb in wines.     

Lewis acid deprotection of silyl-protected oligonucleotides and base-sensitive oligonucleotide analogues

Oligonucleotides protected with N-(trimethylsilylethoxycarbonyl) (Teoc) and P-(trimethylsilylethanol) (Tse) groups were synthesized and deprotected by a single ZnBr₂ treatment. Teoc group stabilized dA against depurination. This strategy was applied to the synthesis of base-sensitive oligonucleotide prodrugs bearing S-acetyl-2-thioethyl (Sate) phosphotriesters.     

On eigenvalue calculations for radiative transfer models that include polarization effects

Several representations of the dispersion matrix (z) basic to analytical solutions for a theory of radiative transfer that includes the effects of polarization are reported, and a method for computing the zeros of det (z) is discussed. Numerical results are given for several specific models.

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Zusammenfassung Verschiedene Darstellungen der Dispersionsmatrix (z), welche grundlegende Bedeutung für die analytischen Lösungen der Theorie der Strahlungsübertragung mit Polarisation hat, werden angegeben. Eine Methode zur Berechnung der Nullstellen von det (z) wird diskutiert. Es werden numerische Ergebnisse für verschiedene Modelle angegeben.

     

Azametallacycles from Ag(I)- or Cu(II)-promoted coupling reactions of dialkylcyanamides with oximes at Pt(II)

The dialkylcyanamide complexes cis-[PtCl(NCNR(2))(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)] 1 and cis-[Pt(NCNR(2))(2)(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 2 (R = Me or Et) have been prepared by treatment of a CH(2)Cl(2) solution of cis-[PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] with the appropriate dialkylcyanamide and one or two equivalents of Ag[BF(4)], respectively. Compounds 2 can also be obtained from 1 by a similar procedure. Their reaction with oximes, HON=CR'R' ' (R'R' ' = Me(2) or C(4)H(8)), in CH(2)Cl(2) and in the presence of Ag[BF(4)] or Cu(CH(3)COO)(2), leads to the novel type of azametallacycles cis-[Pt(NH=C(ON=CR'R")-NR2)(PPh3)2][BF4]2 4 upon an unprecedented coupling of the organocyanamides with oximes, in a process that proceeds via the mixed oxime-organocyanamide species cis-[Pt(NCNR(2))(HON=CR'R' ')(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 3, and is catalyzed by either Ag(+) or Cu(2+) which activate the ligating organocyanamide by Lewis acid addition to the amide group. In contrast, in the organonitrile complexes cis-[Pt(NCR)(2)(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 5 (R = C(6)H(4)OMe-4 or Et), obtained in a similar way as 2 (but by using NCR instead of the cyanamide), the ligating NCR is not activated by the Lewis acid and does not couple with the oximes. The spectroscopic properties of those complexes are reported along with the molecular structures of 2b (R = Et), 4a1 (R = Me, R'R' ' = Me(2)), and 4b1 (R = Et, R'R' ' = Me(2)), as established by X-ray crystallography which indicates that in the former complex the amide-N-atoms are trigonal planar, whereas in the latter (4a1 and 4b1) the five-membered rings are planar with a localized N=C double bond (imine group derived from the cyanamide) and the exocyclic amide and alkylidene groups (in 4b1) are involved in two intramolecular H-bonds to the oxygen atom of the ring.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the dinuclear complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)-propionato-O,O′]bis(aqua)dicopper(II)}

Structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic data of a new dinuclear copper(II) complex with (±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionic acid are reported. The complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionato-O,O′]-bis(aqua)dicopper(II)} crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 14.149(1) ?, b = 7.495(1) ?, c = 19.827(1) ?, β = 90.62(1) and Z = 4. X-ray diffraction data show that the two copper(II) ions are held together through four carboxylate bridges, coordinated as equatorial ligands in square pyramidal geometry. The coordination sphere around each copper ion is completed by two water molecules as axial ligands. Thermogravimetric data are consistent with such results. The ligand has an “L” type shape due to the angle formed by the β-carbon of the propionic chain and the linked p-methoxyphenoxy group. This conformation contributes to the occurrence of a peculiar structure of the complex. The complex retains its dinuclear nature when dissolved in acetonitrile, but it decomposes into the corresponding mononuclear species if dissolved in ethanol, according to the EPR measurements. Further, cyclic voltammograms of the complex in acetonitrile show that the dinuclear species maintains the same structure, in agreement with the EPR data in this solvent. The voltammogram shows two irreversible reduction waves at E _pc = −0.73 and −1.04 V vs. Ag/AgCl assigned to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu° redox couples, respectively, and two successive oxidation waves at E _pa =− 0.01 and +1.41 V vs. Ag/AgCl, assigned to the Cu°/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox couples, respectively, in addition to the oxidation waves of the carboxylate ligand.