Total synthesis of (+)-discodermolide: an improved endgame exploiting a Still-Gennari-type olefination with a C1-C8 beta-ketophosphonate fragment

[structure: see text] An improved, third-generation, total synthesis of (+)-discodermolide, a potent microtubule-stabilizing anticancer agent of marine sponge origin, is achieved in 11.1% yield over 21 steps. Key steps include a Still-Gennari HWE olefination, performed using NaH as the base, between C1-C8 beta-ketophosphonate 7 and C9-C24 aldehyde 8, introducing the (8Z)-alkene with 10:1 selectivity, and K-Selectride reduction of the derived enone 16, installing the (7S)-configuration.     

simple and mixed ligand complexes of copper(II) with polyfunctional phenolic compounds as models of natural substances

In order to analyse metal complexation with polyfunctional phenolic compounds as ligand models of natural substances, a detailed examination is described for five simple binary complexes and three ternary mixed ligand complexes at 25°C (μ = 0.1 M NaClO₄). The ligands are tyrosine, 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene disulfonic acid, disodium salt (tiron), 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (caffeic acid), 3,4,5-trihydroxy-1 -cyclohexene-1 -carboxylic acid (shikimic acid) and 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid 3-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamate) (chlorogenic acid). The ternary systems are Cu(II)/H_qA/tiron, where H_qA is tyrosine, caffeic or chlorogenic acids. Potentiometric data were used successively to evaluate the protonation of each individual ligand, to detect simple and mixed complexes (including protonated species) and to determine their stability constants (a set of 33 values of constants with several original data is provided). The calculated distribution (speciation) of each species as a function of pH is indicated. Mixed coordination enhances the stability of complexes and the stabilization is expressed in terms of various parameters. The results emphasize that mixed ligand complex formation is essential to studies of multiple equilibria.     

Large Amplitude Torsions in Nitrotoluene Isomers Studied by Rotational Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry Calculations

Rotational spectra of ortho-nitrotoluene (2-NT) and para-nitrotoluene (4-NT) have been recorded at low and room temperatures using a supersonic jet Fourier Transform microwave (MW) spectrometer and a millimeter-wave frequency multiplier chain, respectively. Supported by quantum chemistry calculations, the spectral analysis of pure rotation lines in the vibrational ground state has allowed to characterise the rotational energy, the hyperfine structure due to the ¹⁴N nucleus and the internal rotation splittings arising from the methyl group. For 2-NT, an anisotropic internal rotation of coupled −CH₃ and −NO₂ torsional motions was identified by quantum chemistry calculations and discussed from the results of the MW analysis. The study of the internal rotation splittings in the spectra of three NT isomers allowed to characterise the internal rotation potentials of the methyl group and to compare them with other mono-substituted toluene derivatives in order to study the isomeric influence on the internal rotation barrier.     

Adsorption of barium and calcium chloride onto negatively charged alpha-Fe(2)O(3) particles

Adsorption of cations (Na(+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+)) onto negatively charged (pH 10.4) hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)) particles has been studied. The oxide material was carefully prepared in order to obtain monodisperse suspensions of well-crystallized, quasi-spherical particles (50 nm in diameter). The isoelectric point (IEP) is located at pH 8.5. Adsorption of barium ions onto oxide particles was carried out and the electrophoretic mobility was measured throughout the adsorption experiment. Comparison with calcium adsorption at full coverage reveals a higher uptake of Ba(2+). In both cases it shows also that chloride ions coadsorb with M(2) ions. Simultaneous uptake of the positive and negative ions explains why the electrophoretic mobility does not reverse to cationic migration. A theoretical study of the surface speciation has been carried out, using the MuSiC model. It reveals the presence of negative as well as positive sites on both sides of the point of zero charge (PZC) of the hematite particles, which may explain the coadsorption of Ba(2+) and Cl(-) at pH 10.4. The effective charge of the oxide particles, calculated from the electrophoretic mobility, is in very good agreement with the results found with the MuSiC modelization and the chloride/barium adsorption ratio. It also verifies the theory of ionic condensation. Calorimetric measurements gave a negative heat for the overall reaction occurring when Ba(2+)/Cl(-) ions adsorb onto hematite. Despite the fact that anions (Cl(-) and OH(-)) adsorption onto mineral oxides is an exothermic phenomenon, it is likely that barium and calcium adsorption is endothermic, denoting the formation of an inner-sphere complex as reported in the literature.     

Surfactant (bi)layers on gold nanorods

Gold nanorods in aqueous solution are generally surrounded by surfactants or capping agents. This is crucial for anisotropic growth during synthesis and for their final stability in solution. When CTAB is used, a bilayer has been evidenced from analytical methods even though no direct morphological characterization of the precise thickness and compactness has been reported. The type of surfactant layer is also relevant to understand the marked difference in further self-assembling properties of gold nanorods as experienced using 16-EO(1)-16 gemini surfactant instead of CTAB. To obtain a direct measure of the thickness of the surfactant layer on gold nanorods synthesized by the seeded growth method, we coupled TEM, SAXS, and SANS experiments for the two different cases, CTAB and gemini 16-EO(1)-16. Despite the strong residual signal from micelles in excess, it can be concluded that the thickness is imposed by the chain length of the surfactant and corresponds to a bilayer with partial interdigitation.     

Solid-supported solution-phase synthesis of 4-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-benzazepine-3-ones

Starting from Boc-o-aminomethylphenylalanine, a solution-phase parallel synthesis of 2,4-substituted 4-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-benzazepine-3-ones is described. This heterocycle has two nitrogen functions, which are differentiated and can be selectively substituted. The sources of diversity are aldehydes for the R(1) position and carboxylic acids, sulfonyl chlorides, or isocyanates for the R(2) position. High-throughput synthesis and purification of this multistep synthetic sequence was accomplished using polymer-bound reagents and scavengers and liquid-liquid extraction protocols, and a small library of compounds was prepared. Polymer-bound cyanoborohydride was found to work well for the reductive amination. Scavenging of excess of amine was performed by polymer-bound benzaldehyde, and cyclization was performed in the presence of polymer-bound coupling reagent 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC). After Boc-deprotection, the second nitrogen can be acylated using carboxylic acids, sulfonylated or converted to a urea. The acylation is again performed by polymer-bound EDC. Excellent yields and purities were obtained.     

Characterization of Collagen/Lipid Nanoparticle–Curcumin Cryostructurates for Wound Healing Applications

Curcumin‐loaded collagen cryostructurates have been devised for wound healing applications. Curcumin displays strong antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti‐inflammatory properties, while collagen is acknowledged for promoting cell adhesion, migration and differentiation. However, when curcumin is loaded directly into collagen hydrogels, it forms large molecular aggregates and clogs the matrix pores. A double‐encapsulation strategy is therefore developed by loading curcumin into lipid nanoparticles (LNP), and embedding these particles inside collagen scaffolds. The resulting collagen/LNP cryostructurates have an optimal fibrous structure with ≈100 µm average pore size for sustaining cell migration. Results show that collagen is structurally unaltered and that nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed amidst collagen fibers. Hydrogels soaked in saline buffer release about 20 to 30% of their nanoparticles content within 24 h, while achieved 100% release after 25 days. When exposed to NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, these hydrogels provide a satisfactory scaffold for cell interaction as early as 4 h after seeding, with no cytotoxic counter effect. These positive features make the collagen/lipid cryostructurates a promising material for further use in wound healing.     

Preparation of a polyacrylonitrile/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization on a stainless steel wire for solid-phase microextraction

We report on the fabrication and performances of a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber based on a stainless steel wire coated with a covalently attached polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite. This new coating is obtained by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of acrylonitrile mixed with MWCNTs. ATRP is initiated from 11-(2-bromo-2-methylpropionyloxy)-undecyl-phosphonic acid molecules grafted on the wire surface via the phosphonic acid group. The extraction performances of the fibers are assessed on different classes of compounds (polar, non-polar, aromatic, etc.) from water solutions by headspace extraction. The optimization of the parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the target compounds was studied as well as the reproducibility and the repeatability of the fiber. The fibers sustain more than 200 extractions during which they remain chemically stable and maintain good performances (detection limits lower than 2 μg/l, repeatability, etc.). Considering their robustness together with their easy and inexpensive fabrication, these fibers could constitute promising alternatives to existing products.