Microwave solvent free regioselective 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition in the synthesis of 1,4 substituted [1,2,3]‐triazoles as amide bond isosteres

1,3 Dipolar cycloaddition of Fmoc‐amino azides and acetylenic amides produces under solvent free irradiation a mixture of 1,4 or 1,5 substituted [1,2,3]‐triazoles. The presence of copper (I) iodide, plays a central role on regioselectivity. Four Fmoc‐amino azides characterized by different steric hindrance in side chains, and three different terminal alkynes, provided only the 1,4 substituted regioisomer under thermal microwave heating. Good yields, low consumption of organic solvents and short reaction times are the main aspects of our procedure. Reactions are compared to regioselective copper (I) catalysed solution synthesis performed at room temperature.     

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) air-filled nanocapsules as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging

The aim of this study was to prepare air-filled nanocapsules intended ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) with a biodegradable polymeric shell composed of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Because of their size, current commercial UCAs are not capable of penetrating the irregular vasculature that feeds growing tumors. The new generation of UCAs should be designed on the nanoscale to enhance tumor detection, in addition, the polymeric shell in contrast with monomolecular stabilized UCAs improves the mechanical properties against ultrasound pressure and lack of stability. The preparation method of air-filled nanocapsules was based on a modification of the double-emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Air-filled nanocapsules with a mean diameter of 370 ± 96 nm were obtained. Electronic microscopies revealed spherical-shaped particles with smooth surfaces and a capsular morphology, with a shell thickness of ∼50 nm. Air-filled nanocapsules showed echogenic power in vitro, providing an enhancement of up to 15 dB at a concentration of 0.045 mg/mL at a frequency of 10 MHz. Loss of signal for air-filled nanocapsules was 2 dB after 30 min, suggesting high stability. The prepared contrast agent in this work has the potential to be used in ultrasound imaging.     

Qualitative behavior of global solutions to some nonlinear fourth order differential equations

We study global solutions to a fourth order semilinear ordinary differential equation. We determine sufficient conditions on the nonlinearity that ensure global continuation of the solutions. Furthermore, we discuss their qualitative behaviors such as oscillations and boundedness.     

Structural and magnetic properties of three novel complexes with the versatile ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

Conventional reactions of the versatile multidentate ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (HmtpO) with metallic(II) salts lead to three novel multidimensional complexes [Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·H(2)O (1), {[Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)·2HmtpO}(n) (2) and {[Co(HmtpO)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·2H(2)O}(n) (3). In each compound, the triazolopyrimidine ligand shows a different and unusual coordination mode, giving rise to structures with diverse topologies and dimensionality. Compound 1 is a monomeric complex, in which HmtpO shows both N3-monodentate and N1,O71-bidentate modes. 2 is a bidimensional framework with the ligand showing a N3,O71 bidentate-bridging mode. The structure of 3 consists of 1D chains, in which HmtpO displays a N1,N3,O71-tridentate-bridging mode. It should be noted that these coordination modes of the HmtpO ligand are unique in the case of compounds 2 and 3. On the other hand, the magnetic properties of the polynuclear complexes 2 and 3 have been studied showing weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic behaviour, respectively.     

Optimized enzymatic synthesis of hesperidin fatty acid esters in a two-phase system containing ionic liquid

Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a five-level, three-variable central composite design (CCD) was employed for modeling and optimizing the conversion yield of the enzymatic acylation of hesperidin with decanoic acid using immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) in a two-phase system containing [bmim]BF(4). The three variables studied (molar ratio of hesperidin to decanoic acid, [bmim]BF(4)/acetone ratio and lipase concentration) significantly affected the conversion yield of acylated hesperidin derivative. Verification experiments confirmed the validity of the predicted model. The lipase showed higher conversion degree in a two-phase system using [bmim]BF(4) and acetone compared to that in pure acetone. Under the optimal reaction conditions carried out in a single-step biocatalytic process when the water content was kept lower than 200 ppm, the maximum acylation yield was 53.6%.     

Activators of cylindrical proteases as antimicrobials: identification and development of small molecule activators of ClpP protease

ClpP is a cylindrical serine protease whose ability to degrade proteins is regulated by the unfoldase ATP-dependent chaperones. ClpP on its own can only degrade small peptides. Here, we used ClpP as a target in a high-throughput screen for compounds, which activate the protease and allow it to degrade larger proteins, hence, abolishing the specificity arising from the ATP-dependent chaperones. Our screen resulted in five distinct compounds, which we designate as Activators of Self-Compartmentalizing Proteases 1 to 5 (ACP1 to 5). The compounds are found to stabilize the ClpP double-ring structure. The ACP1 chemical structure was considered to have drug-like characteristics and was further optimized to give analogs with bactericidal activity. Hence, the ACPs represent classes of compounds that can activate ClpP and that can be developed as potential novel antibiotics.     

Enantioselective and regioselective indium(III)-catalyzed addition of pyrroles to isatins

The indium(III)-catalyzed enantioselective and regioselective addition of pyrroles to isatins is described. The effects of metal and solvent on the reactivity and selectivity are compared and discussed, demonstrating that the indium(III)-indapybox complex provides the most effective catalyst. A case of divergent reactivity between pyrroles and indoles is presented.     

Decay estimates for evolution equations with classical and fractional time-derivatives

Using energy methods, we prove some power-law and exponential decay estimates for classical and nonlocal evolutionary equations. The results obtained are framed into a general setting, which comprise, among the others, equations involving both standard and Caputo time-derivative, complex valued magnetic operators, fractional porous media equations and nonlocal Kirchhoff operators.Both local and fractional space diffusion are taken into account, possibly in a nonlinear setting. The different quantitative behaviours, which distinguish polynomial decays from exponential ones, depend heavily on the structure of the time-derivative involved in the equation.