Total syntheses of the actin-binding macrolides latrunculin A, B, C, M, S and 16-epi-latrunculin B

The latrunculins are highly selective actin-binding marine natural products and as such play an important role as probe molecules for chemical biology. A short, concise and largely catalysis-based approach to this family of bioactive macrolides is presented. Specifically, the macrocyclic skeletons of the targets were forged by ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) or enyne-yne metathesis of suitable diyne or enyne-yne precursors, respectively. This transformation was best achieved with the aid of [(tBu)(Me(2)C(6)H(3))N](3)Mo (37) as precatalyst activated in situ with CH(2)Cl(2), as previously described. This catalyst system is strictly chemoselective for the triple bond and does not affect the olefinic sites of the substrates. Moreover, the molybdenum-based catalyst turned out to be broader in scope than the Schrock alkylidyne complex [(tBuO)(3)W[triple chemical bond]CCMe(3)] (38), which afforded cycloalkyne 35 in good yield but failed in closely related cases. The required metathesis precursors were assembled in a highly convergent fashion from three building blocks derived from acetoacetate, cysteine, and (+)-citronellene. The key fragment coupling can either be performed via a titanium aldol reaction or, preferentially, by a sequence involving a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination followed by a protonation/cyclization/diastereoselective hydration cascade. Iron-catalyzed C--C-bond formations were used to prepare the basic building blocks in an efficient manner. This synthesis blueprint gave access to latrunculin B (2), its naturally occurring 16-epimer 3, as well as the even more potent actin binder latrunculin A (1) in excellent overall yields. Because of the sensitivity of the 1,3-diene motif of the latter, however, the judicious choice of protecting groups and the proper phasing of their cleavage was decisive for the success of the total synthesis. Since latrunculin A and B had previously been converted into latrunculin S, C and M, respectively, formal total syntheses of these congeners have also been achieved. Finally, a previously unknown acid-catalyzed degradation pathway of these bioactive natural products is described. The cysteine-derived ketone 18, the tetrahydropyranyl segment 31 serving as the common synthesis platform for the preparation of all naturally occurring latrunculins, as well as the somewhat strained cycloalkyne 35 formed by the RCAM reaction en route to 2 were characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of 2(1H)-pyrazinone phosphonates via an Arbuzov-type reaction

A simple and catalyst-free method for the synthesis of phosphonated 2(1H)-pyrazinones is described starting from 3,5-dichloropyrazinones. The method also works for 3-bromo- and 3-iodopyrazinones. Classical heating conditions as well as microwave-enhanced reaction conditions were tested.     

Crystal structure of olanzapine and its solvates. Part 3. Two and three-component solvates with water, ethanol, butan-2-ol and dichloromethane

Crystalline solvates of olanzapine (1), 2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno[2,3-b][1,5]benzodiazepine, have been characterized by an X-ray analysis and thermal (DSC) data. Crystallization of 1 from ethanol gives a solid containing both water and ethanol molecules; the solvate 1 · H₂O · EtOH (2:2:1) is monoclinic with the space group P2₁/c and the unit-cell volume V = 3752.8(12) Å³. Butan-2-ol forms with 1 solvate which is also a three-component phase, 1 · H₂O · BuOH, but its stoichiometry is different (1:1:1). The space group for this crystal is P2₁/c and the unit-cell volume V = 2216.5(7) Å³. Crystalline olanzapine dichloromethane solvate (2:1), 1 · CH₂Cl₂, is triclinic with the space group .The characteristic feature of all crystal structures is presence of a pair of olanzapine molecules which form dimer stabilized by multiple weak C–Hπ interactions between the N-methylpiperazine fragment and the phenyl / thiophene systems. Theoretical calculations have been performed indicating that the total C–Hπ binding energy is about 8 kcal mol⁻¹. In the crystal structure, the self-assembled olanzapine molecular dimers are arranged into parallel crystal planes. Packing of the layers proceeds in two ways in which structural motives are replicated by (i) perpendicular translation forming columns, and (ii) rotation around the twofold screw axis (parallel to the layer).     

Effects of 660‐nm and 780‐nm Laser Therapy on ST88‐14 Schwann Cells

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the comparative effects of red (660‐nm) and near‐infrared (780‐nm) low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on viability, mitochondrial activity, morphology and gene expression of growth factors on Schwann cells (SC). ST88‐14 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 with 10 mM of HEPES, 2 mM of glutamine, 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic‐antimycotic solution at 37°C in humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. Cells were detached with trypsin and centrifugated at 231 g for 5 min at 10°C, and the pellet (8 × 10⁴ cells/tube) was irradiated at the bottom of 50 ml polypropylene tube with a Twin‐Laser system (660 and 780 nm, 40 mW, 1 mW cm^?2, 3.2 and 6.4 J, 80 and 160 J cm^?2 with 80 and 160 s). After 1, 3 and 7 days, the analysis was performed. After irradiation, the SC increase mitochondrial activity, gene expression of the neural growth factors NGF and BDNF, and cell migration and increase the G2/M cells. SC showed neuronal morphology, normal F‐actin cytoskeleton organization and positive labeling for S100. PBM increased metabolic activity, mitosis and gene expression when irradiated with red and infrared LLLT. An increase in cell migration was obtained when irradiated with infrared LLLT.     

Use of INAA in the homogeneity evaluation of a bovine kidney candidate reference material

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to evaluate the between bottle homogeneity and the minimum sample intake of a bovine kidney candidate reference material. The mass fractions of ten inorganic constituents were determined, obtaining satisfactory homogeneity results for all of them. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using a one way analysis of variance and multivariate techniques were applied as complementary techniques, confirming the usefulness of these techniques for homogeneity assessment.

     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anemopsis californica</Emphasis> essential oil–β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex as antioxidant prolonged-release system

Antioxidant activity is a property of Anemopsis californica essential oil (ACO). However, ACO possesses volatile compounds that provide strong flavors and that are susceptible to degradation, complicating its application. An alternative is its encapsulation in a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) matrix. Therefore, the characterization of β-CD–ACO inclusion complexes as an antioxidant prolonged-release system was the objective of this work. The ACO yield was 8.26 mg/g of dry sample. Elemicin (EL) (68.9%) and methyleugenol (ME) (11.7%) comprised the majority compounds identified by gas chromatography (GC). The β-CD–ACO inclusion complex, with a 90:10 ratio based on the precipitation technique, exhibited best percentage of recovery, greater ACO retention, and major antioxidant capacity determined by DPPH [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl] and ABTS [2,2′-azino-bis-(3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] assays. Antioxidant activity was maintained during encapsulation. Free β-CD and β-CD:ACO presented the hysteresis phenomenon according to water sorption isotherms. A prolonged-release system was studied using different relative humidities (0, 33, 66, 96 and 100%). EL demonstrated 93.75% of release in highest relative humidity, while ME released completely. These results suggest application of the β-CD–ACO complex in systems in which it can be passively released and in controlled form, as in active food or drug packaging.     

Heat flux between parallel plates through a binary gaseous mixture over the whole range of the Knudsen number

The heat flux problem for a binary gaseous mixture confined between two parallel plates with different temperatures is studied on the basis of the McCormack kinetic model equation, which was solved by the discrete velocity method. The calculations were carried out for three mixtures of noble gases: neon–argon, helium–argon and helium–xenon. The heat flux and distributions of temperature, density and concentration were calculated for several values of rarefaction in the range from 0.01 to 40 and for three values of the concentration: 0.1,0.5$0.1,0.5$ and 0.9$0.9$. The numerical data together with an analytical solution based on the temperature jump boundary condition cover the whole range of the gas rarefaction beginning from the free-molecular regime to the hydrodynamic one. It was shown that the heat flux significantly depends on the intermolecular interaction law.     

Vibrational and electronic spectra of synthetic moolooite

The infrared and Raman spectra of synthetic moolooite, Cu(C2O4).nH2O, were recorded and analyzed on the basis of its structural characteristics and by comparison with related species. The thermogravimetric analysis of the investigated samples show that the water content n, was equal to 0.2. The electronic (reflectance) spectrum of the complex was also recorded and briefly discussed.     

Multifloquet to single electronic channel transition in the transport properties of a resistive 1D driven disordered ring

We investigate the dc response of a 1D disordered ring coupled to a reservoir and driven by a magnetic flux with a linear dependence on time. We identify two regimes: (i) A localized or large length L regime, characterized by a dc conductance, g(dc), whose probability distribution P(g(dc)) is identical to the one exhibited by a 1D wire of the same length L and disorder strength placed in a two terminal Landauer setup and (ii) a multifloquet regime for small L and weak coupling to the reservoir, which exhibits large currents and conductances that can be g(dc)>1, in spite of the fact that the ring contains spinless electrons and a single electronic transmission channel. The crossover length between the multifloquet to the single-channel transport regime Lc is controlled by the coupling to the reservoir.     

Gd‐DTPA‐Dopamine‐Bisphytanyl Amphiphile: Synthesis,Characterisation and Relaxation Parameters of the Nanoassemblies and Their Potential as MRI Contrast Agents

Here, a new amphiphilic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, a Gd^III‐chelated diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid conjugated to two branched alkyl chains via a dopamine spacer, Gd‐DTPA‐dopamine‐bisphytanyl (Gd‐DTPA‐Dop‐Phy), which is readily capable of self‐assembling into liposomal nanoassemblies upon dispersion in an aqueous solution, is reported. In vitro relaxivities of the dispersions were found to be much higher than Magnevist, a commercially available contrast agent, at 0.47 T but comparable at 9.40 T. Analysis of variable temperature ¹⁷O NMR transverse relaxation measurements revealed the water exchange of the nanoassemblies to be faster than that previously reported for paramagnetic liposomes. Molecular reorientation dynamics were probed by ¹H NMRD profiles using a classical inner and outer sphere relaxation model and a Lipari–Szabo “model‐free” approach. High payloads of Gd^III ions in the liposomal nanoassemblies made solely from the Gd‐DTPA‐Dop‐Phy amphiphiles, in combination with slow molecular reorientation and fast water exchange makes this novel amphiphile a suitable candidate to be investigated as an advanced MRI contrast agent.