An Improved Method for γ-Carboxylation of β-Diketones. Synthesis of 4-Alkyl-3,5-Dioxohexanoic Acids and 5-Alkyl Derivatives of Triacetic Acid Lactone

γ-Carboxylation of β-diketones, 1, can be improved using samples containing 100% of ketoenol tautomers, 3, prepared by mild hydrolysis of the corresponding copper(II) complexes 2. Cyclization of the so formed 4-alkyl-3,5-dioxohexanoic acids, 4, affords 5-alkyl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrones, 5.     

An ALE finite element method for a coupled Stefan problem and Navier–Stokes equations with free capillary surface

In this article, an ALE finite element method to simulate the partial melting of a workpiece of metal is presented. The model includes the heat transport in both the solid and liquid part, fluid flow in the liquid phase by the Navier–Stokes equations, tracking of the melt interface solid/liquid by the Stefan condition, treatment of the capillary boundary accounting for surface tension effects and a radiative boundary condition. We show that an accurate treatment of the moving boundaries is crucial to resolve their respective influences on the flow field and thus on the overall energy transport correctly. This is achieved by a mesh‐moving method, which explicitly tracks the phase boundary and makes it possible to use a sharp interface model without singularities in the boundary conditions at the triple junction. A numerical example describing the welding of a thin‐steel wire end by a laser, where all aforementioned effects have to be taken into account, proves the effectiveness of the approach.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of environmental noise and its effect on neonates in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

A method for analyzing the influence of noise on newborns is proposed. The method consists of defining three different types of time interval (quiet, noisy and nursing) and, for each period, environmental noise levels, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation is continuously measured. The statistical analysis of the influence of the equivalent noise level, rather than instantaneous noise level, on the behavior of the physiological variables is carried out. Great influence of noise is found by using this method, which is also easily translatable to other intensive care units as actual noise conditions are used in the investigation. Moreover, episodes of Bradycardia, Hypoxia and Hypertension are easily related to simultaneous direct nursing activity or a short but high enough noise event, suggesting that both sustained noisy environment and isolated peak noises lead to the alteration of the physiological variables.     

pH‐Dependent Chloride Transport by Pseudopeptidic Cages for the Selective Killing of Cancer Cells in Acidic Microenvironments

Acidic microenvironments in solid tumors are a hallmark of cancer. Inspired by that, we designed a family of pseudopeptidic cage‐like anionophores displaying pH‐dependent activity. When protonated, they efficiently bind chloride anions. They also transport chloride through lipid bilayers, with their anionophoric properties improving at acidic pH, suggesting an H⁺/Cl^? symport mechanism. NMR studies in DPC micelles demonstrate that the cages bind chloride within the lipid phase. The chloride affinity and the chloride‐exchange rate with the aqueous bulk solution are improved when the pH is lowered. This increases cytotoxicity towards lung adenocarcinoma cells at the pH of the microenvironment of a solid tumor. These properties depend on the nature of the amino‐acid side chains of the cages, which modulate their lipophilicity and interactions with the cell membrane. This paves the way towards using pH as a parameter to control the selectivity of cytotoxic ionophores as anticancer drugs.     

Cyclobutane-based peptides/terpyridine conjugates: Their use in metal catalysis and as functional organogelators

Two new conjugates, hcptpyDP and hcptpyTP, of a terpyridine derivative incorporating artificial peptide moieties, have been synthesized and their use in the preparation of metal catalysts and organogelators has been investigated. Ru(II) complexes derived from these ligands showed electrochemical behavior and activity as catalysts in the epoxidation of olefins similar to that of Beller's catalyst. As organogelators, these conjugates were able to gelate a variety of solvents, from toluene to methanol, with satisfactory mgc (minimum gelation concentration) values. The presence of 4′-(4-carboxy)phenylterpyridine (hcptpy) moiety allows tuning the gelling properties and also influences the supramolecular self-assembling mode to produce chiral aggregates with respect to parent peptides DP and TP. In the case of the conjugates, π?π interactions provided by the aromatic moieties cooperate with inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between NH and CO in the amide groups. Further properties of peptide/terpyridine conjugates are under investigation in view of future applications.     

Functional Fe–Pd nanomaterials synthesized by template-assisted methods

In this work, we highlight our recent progress in the synthesis and characterization of functional nanomaterials based on Fe–Pd ferromagnetic alloys by means of template-assisted deposition techniques employing highly ordered nanoporous alumina membranes, such as ordered arrays of nanowires and antidots thin films. Special attention is paid on their basic magnetic properties, such as coercivity, remanence and magnetic anisotropy, and their dependence on the microstructure and morphological parameters of the ordered arrays.     

SULPHENE INTERMEDIATES IN THE SYNTHESIS OF POLY(P-BENZENE-SULPHONAMIDES) AND POLY(P-BENZENE SULPHONATES)

Abstract

Various sulfides are easily oxidized selectively to the corresponding sulfoxides in quantitative yields by iodosylarene (ArIO) catalyzed by metalloporphyrin (TPPM(III)Cl (M [dbnd] Fe, Mn)). The oxidation system is demonstrated to be a possible model for monooxygenase in the study of the stereochemistry of these sulfoxides. Metalloporphyrin-iodosylarene can initially equilibrate with the oxometalloporphyrin (TPPM(V)=O·Cl) formed in situ. The initial process may involve one-electron transfer from the sulfide to the intermediate oxometalloporphyrin followed by coupling of two resulting charged products, and/or nucleophilic attack of sulfide on oxometalloporphyrin oxygen. The overall reactions are depicted by paths with different electron demands from the results of Hammett plots.     

Identification and functional characterization of a novel α-conotoxin (EIIA) from Conus ermineus

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are one of the most important families in the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily due to their involvement in primordial brain functions and in several neurodegenerative pathologies. The discovery of new ligands which can bind with high affinity and selectivity to nAChR subtypes is of prime interest in order to study these receptors and to potentially discover new drugs for treating various pathologies. Predatory cone snails of the genus Conus hunt their prey using venoms containing a large number of small, highly structured peptides called conotoxins. Conotoxins are classified in different structural families and target a large panel of receptors and ion channels. Interestingly, nAChRs represent the only subgroup for which Conus has developed seven distinct families of conotoxins. Conus venoms have thus received much attention as they could represent a potential source of selective ligands of nAChR subtypes. We describe the mass spectrometric-based approaches which led to the discovery of a novel α-conotoxin targeting muscular nAChR from the venom of Conus ermineus. The presence of several posttranslational modifications complicated the N-terminal sequencing. To discriminate between the different possible sequences, analogs with variable N-terminus were synthesized and fragmented by MS/MS. Understanding the fragmentation pathways in the low m/z range appeared crucial to determine the right sequence. The biological activity of this novel α-conotoxin (α-EIIA) that belongs to the unusual α4/4 subfamily was determined by binding experiments. The results revealed not only its selectivity for the muscular nAChR, but also a clear discrimination between the two binding sites described for this receptor.