Activation of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane by Os3(CO)12 to form amidino [(MeN)2CH] cluster complexes

Reaction of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane [(MeNCH₂)₃] with Os₃(CO)₁₂ in refluxing toluene results in C-H and C-N bond activation of the (MeNCH₂)₃ ligand to afford three amidino cluster complexes (μ-H)Os₃(CO)₁₀[μ,η²-CH(NMe)₂] (1), (μ-H)Os₃(CO)₉[μ₃,η²-CH(NMe)₂] (2), and Os₂(CO)₆[μ,η²-CH(NMe)₂]₂ (3). The controlled experiments show that thermolysis of 1 yields 2, and heating 2 in the presence of (MeNCH₂)₃ ligand produces 3. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 have been determined by an X-ray diffraction study.     

Arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis is independent of stress-responsive signaling pathways but sensitive to inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in HepG2 cells

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) has been found to be remarkably effective in the treatment of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Although evidences for the proapoptotic activity of As(2)O(3) have been suggested in leukemic and other solid cancer cells, the nature of intracellular mechanisms is far from clear. In the present study, we investigated As(2)O(3) affect on the stress-responsive signaling pathways and pretreatment with antioxidants using HepG2 cells. When treated with micromolar concentrations of As(2)O(3), HepG2 cells became highly apoptotic paralleled with activation of caspase-3 and members of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) but not p38 MAP kinase. However, inhibition of each kinase activity failed to inhibit apoptosis by As(2)O(3). Addition of n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) effectively protected cells from apoptosis and significantly lowered As(2)O(3)-induced activation of caspase-3. However, neither NAC nor DPI was able to effect ERK or JNK activation induced by As(2)O(3). Guanidinoethyldisulfide dihydrochloride (GED) and 2-ethyl-2-thiopseudourea (ETU), known inhibitors of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), also suppressed the apoptotic activity of As(2)O(3). These results suggest that As2O3 induces caspase-mediated apoptosis involving a mechanism generating oxidative stress. However, activation of some stress-responsive signaling pathways by As(2)O(3) may not be the major determinant in the course of apoptotic processes.     

New Acetylcholinesterase‐Inhibitory Pregnane Glycosides of Cynanchum atratum Roots

Three new pregnane glycosides, cynatroside A ( 1 ), cynatroside B ( 2 ), and cynatroside C ( 3 ), isolated from the roots of Cynanchum atratum (Asclepiadaceae), were characterized as 7β‐{[O‐α‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐digitoxopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐oleandropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐6α‐hydroxy‐4b‐ methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 1 ), 7β‐{[O‐β‐D ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐diginopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐cymaropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐2,6α‐dihydroxy‐4b‐methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 2 ), and 7β‐{[O‐α‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐digitoxopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐2,6α‐dihydroxy‐4b‐methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 3 ), respectively. In addition, ten known constituents were identified, i.e., cynascyroside D ( 4 ), glaucoside C ( 5 ), glaucoside D ( 6 ), atratoside A ( 7 ), 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone ( 8 ), 4‐hydroxyacetophenone ( 9 ), syringic acid ( 10 ), azelaic acid ( 11 ), suberic acid ( 12 ), and succinic acid ( 13 ). Among these compounds, 1 – 4 significantly inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity.     

Spectroscopic characterization and preparation of low molecular,water‐soluble chitosan with free‐amine group by novel method

Low molecular, water‐soluble chitosan (LMWSC) with a free amine group was prepared by the novel salts‐removal method described in this study. A weight‐average molecular weight and degree of deacetylation (DDA) of LMWSC were determined by viscometry and Kina titration, resulting in 18,579 Da and 93% DDA, respectively. In the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra the absorption band by the carboxyl group derived from lactic acid and the impurities formed in the enzymatic process disappeared or were significantly lower than that of the control chitosan. Also, from the ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra the empirical value for the area ratio of the proton and carbon corresponds nearly to its theoretical values. The matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrum identified the difference in the two adjacent peaks as 161. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3796–3803, 2002     

Coupling and Cyclization of Sydnone Compounds

Cyclization were occurred via the coupling reactions of some mercuric chloride derivatives of sydnone with LiPdCl₃-CuCl₂. A unique six-membered ring, 3,3′-ethylene-4,4′-bissydnone, was obtained by the cyclization reation of 1,2-di[3-(4-chloromercuric)sydnonyl]ethane. However, the seven-membered 3,3′-trimethylene-4,4′-bissydnone and 1,3-di[3-(4-chloro)sydnonyl]-propane were obtained from the corresponding mercuric chlroide of sydnone. Onyl substitution reaction took place when 4,4′-di[3-(4-chloromercuric)sydnonyl]biphenyl, 4,4′-di[3-(4-chloromercuric)sydnonyl]benzene, di(p-[3-(4-chloromercuric)sydnonyl]-phenyl}methane and, di(p-[3-(4-chloromercuric)sydnonyl]phenyl]ether were treated using the same process.     

Preliminary investigation of the application of on-line membrane extraction of trifluoroacetic acid as an aid to improvement of negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry data

We have recently investigated the biodegradation of a number of acidic aromatic compounds that give excellent chromatography using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) based HPLC methods. Unfortunately HPLC methods using TFA are not usually compatible with detection by negative ion mass spectrometry as TFA suppresses ionisation of the analyte during the electrospray process. We present a preliminary investigation of the use of an anion-exchange micro-membrane suppressor to remove TFA on-line post column with the aim of improvement of mass spectral data using an aromatic acid as an example, Thus LC-MS using a TFA based HPLC method with negative ion mass spectral detection is shown to be possible with good sensitivity.     

Highly efficient Heck reactions of aryl bromides with n-butyl acrylate mediated by a palladium/phosphine-imidazolium salt system

[reaction: see text] A new phosphine-imidazolium salt, L.HBr (1, L = (1-ethylenediphenylphosphino-3-(mesityl))imidazol-2-ylidene), has been prepared. A combination of 0.5 mol % of Pd(dba)(2) and 0.5 mol % of L.HBr in the presence of 2 equiv of Cs(2)CO(3) as base has proven to be highly efficient in the Heck coupling reactions of aryl bromides (from electron-deficient to electron-rich aryl bromides) with n-butyl acrylate.     

Determination of triphenyltin hydroxide derivatives by capillary GC and tin-selective FPD

A new method for the determination of triphenyltin hydroxide using capillary column gas chromatography with a tin-selective flame photometric detector has been developed. Triphenyltin hydroxide and its potential metabolites are converted to methyl derivatives and separated on glass capillary columns coated with OV-101. Derivatization of triphenyltin hydroxide, triphenyltin chloride, diphenyltin dichloride, phenyltin trichloride, and bis-triphenyltin oxide is nearly quantitative with a minimum of redistribution products. The selectivity of the flame photometric detector is cearly demonstrated by the comparison of chromatographic profiles obtained from using both the flame photometric and flame ionization detectors. The use of this chromatographic system in the analysis of triphenyltin hydroxide in a fortified water sample demonstrates the potential use of this system in organotin residue chemistry.     

Immobilization of antibody fragment for immunosensor application based on surface plasmon resonance

Biosurface fabrication using the Fab′ fragment of immunoglobulin (IgG) was carried out by self-assembly (SA) technique. The pepsin-digested monoclonal antibody (Mab) against bovine insulin containing the F(ab′)₂ fragment and residual proteins was separated using affinity chromatography and dialysis. To prevent the nonspecific binding of F(ab′)₂ onto gold (Au) substrate, the native disulfide bridge was reduced using dithiothreitol (DTT) to convert F(ab′)₂ into Fab′, which made the immobilization to be carried out via the native thiol (–SH) group. The fabricated biosurface using SA technique showed the formation of stable thin film through AFM topography. Through the concentration change of DTT and Fab′, the absorption characteristics against the Au surface were investigated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with the flow cell. The amount of immobilized antibody fragment and the antigen binding capacity were regulated with respect to the reduction state and concentration of F(ab′)₂. Based on the biosurface of the fabricated Fab′, the insulin-detection was carried out by the measurement of SPR. The proposed antibody surface could successfully detect the bovine insulin at the concentration from 100 ng/mL to 10 μg/mL.     

Heavy hydrides: H2Te ultraviolet photochemistry

The room-temperature ultraviolet absorption spectrum of H2Te has been recorded. Unlike other group-6 hydrides, it displays a long-wavelength tail that extends to 400 nm. Dissociation dynamics have been examined at photolysis wavelengths of 266 nm (which lies in the main absorption feature) and 355 nm (which lies in the long-wavelength tail) by using high-n Rydberg time-of-flight spectroscopy to obtain center-of-mass translational energy distributions for the channels that yield H atoms. Photodissociation at 355 nm yields TeH(2Pi1/2) selectively relative to the TeH(2Pi3/2) ground state. This is attributed to the role of the 3A' state, which has a shallow well at large R(H-TeH) and correlates to H+TeH(2Pi1/2). Note that the 2Pi1/2 state is analogous to the 2P1/2 spin-orbit excited state of atomic iodine, which is isoelectronic with TeH. The 3A' state is crossed at large R only by 2A", with which it does not interact. The character of 3A' at large R is influenced by a strong spin-orbit interaction in the TeH product. Namely, 2Pi1/2 has a higher degree of spherical symmetry than does 2Pi3/2 (recall that I(2P1/2) is spherically symmetric), and consequently 2Pi1/2 is not inclined to form either strongly bonding or antibonding orbitals with the H atom. The 3A'<--X transition dipole moment dominates in the long-wavelength region and increases with R. Structure observed in the absorption spectrum in the 380-400 nm region is attributed to vibrations on 3A'. The main absorption feature that is peaked at approximately 240 nm might arise from several excited surfaces. On the basis of the high degree of laboratory system spatial anisotropy of the fragments from 266 nm photolysis, as well as high-level theoretical studies, the main contribution is believed to be due to the 4A" surface. The 4A"<--X transition dipole moment dominates in the Franck-Condon region, and its polarization is in accord with the experimental observations. An extensive secondary photolysis (i.e., of nascent TeH) is observed at 266 and 355 nm, and the corresponding spectral features are assigned. Analyses of the c.m. translational energy distributions yield bond dissociation energies D0. For H2Te and TeH, these are 65.0+/-0.1 and 63.8+/-0.4 kcalmol, respectively, in good agreement with predictions that use high-level relativistic theory.