Gallium metal mediated allylation of carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions

Gallium metal is effective in mediating the allylation of various carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions, with the application of sonic energy, affording the corresponding homoallylic alcohols and amines. The imines themselves were also prepared under solventless conditions in high yield, thereby establishing a two-step solvent-free synthesis of homoallylic amines. In comparison, indium metal produced a mixture of the desired homoallylic secondary amine and the bis-allylated species via an iminium ion intermediate.     

Tetrahydrometalate species VH(2)(H(2)), NbH(4), and TaH(4): matrix infrared spectra and quantum chemical calculations

Laser ablated V, Nb, and Ta atoms react with molecular hydrogen in excess neon at 4 K to give vanadium, niobium, and tantalum dihydrides that further react with H(2) to form VH(2)(H(2)), NbH(4), and TaH(4). The reaction products are identified by deuterium and deuterium hydride isotopic substitution. DFT and CCSD theoretical calculations are used to predict energies, geometries, and vibrational frequencies for these novel metal hydrides complex and molecules. The vanadium dihydride hydrogen complex, VH(2)(H(2)), is identified, while the niobium and tantalum tetrahydrides, NbH(4) and TaH(4,) with D(2d) symmetry structures are confirmed. Reactions of group 5 metal atoms with H(2) condensing in solid hydrogen gave VH(2)(H(2)) and the higher tetrahydride-hydrogen complexes NbH(4)(H(2))(4) and TaH(4)(H(2))(4).     

Systematic study of the formation of the lanthanoid cubane cluster motif mediated by steric modification of diketonate ligands

The treatment of ortho ring-functionalised 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione ligands bearing nitro (Hnpd, Hnmc), methoxy (Hmmc) or fluoro (Hfpp) groups with hydrated lanthanoid salts has provided [Er(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(H(2)O)(2)(npd)(8)] (3), [Ln(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(nmc)(8)] (Ln = Gd (4), Tb (5), Dy (6) and Er (7)), [Er(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(mmc)(8)] (8) and [Er(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(H(2)O)(2)(fpp)(8)] (9), respectively. The products were all obtained as cubane clusters in the solid state, as distinct from previous diketonato clusters, with control over motif formation attributed to the steric influence of the ortho-positioned functional groups at the cluster periphery. This work highlights a means of targeting a specific lanthanoid cluster motif by the rational modification of ligands at key locations.     

A high concentration of genistein down-regulates activin A, Smad3 and other TGF-β pathway genes in human uterine leiomyoma cells

Previously, we found that high doses of genistein show an inhibitory effect on uterine leiomyoma (UtLM) cell proliferation. In this study, using microarray analysis and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis™, we identified genes (up- or down-regulated, ≥ 1.5 fold, P ≤ 0.001), functions and signaling pathways that were altered following treatment with an inhibitory concentration of genistein (50 µg/ml) in UtLM cells. Downregulation of TGF-β signaling pathway genes, activin A, activin B, Smad3, TGF-β2 and genes related to cell cycle regulation, with the exception of the upregulation of the CDK inhibitor P15, were identified and validated by real-time RT-PCR studies. Western blot analysis further demonstrated decreased protein expression of activin A and Smad3 in genistein-treated UtLM cells. Moreover, we found that activin A stimulated the growth of UtLM cells, and the inhibitory effect of genistein was partially abrogated in the presence of activin A. Overexpression of activin A and Smad3 were found in tissue samples of leiomyoma compared to matched myometrium, supporting the contribution of activin A and Smad3 in promoting the growth of UtLM cells. Taken together, these results suggest that down-regulation of activin A and Smad3, both members of the TGF-β pathway, may offer a mechanistic explanation for the inhibitory effect of a high-dose of genistein on UtLM cells, and might be potential therapeutic targets for treatment of clinical cases of uterine leiomyomas.     

Phosphine-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition of α-aminoalkylallenic esters: facile synthesis of 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines

An array of N-tosylated α-aminoalkylallenic esters was prepared and their cyclization under the influence of nucleophilic phosphine catalysts was explored. The α-aminoalkylallenic esters were prepared through aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions or novel DABCO-mediated decarboxylative rearrangements of allenylic carbamates. Conversion of these substrates to 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines was facilitated through Ph(3)P-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition.     

Sulfonato-encapsulated bismuth(III) oxido-clusters from Bi2O3 in water under mild conditions

Treatment of Bi(2)O(3) with the acids; S-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic, 2,4,6-mesitylenesulfonic and sulfamic, under sonication at room temperature in water for 2-4 h, results in the formation and subsequent crystallisation of polynuclear bismuth oxido-clusters; [Bi(18)O(12)(OH)(12)(O(3)S-Cam)(18)(H(2)O)(2)], [Bi(38)O(45)(O(3)S-Mes)(24)(H(2)O)(14)] and [Bi(6)O(4)(OH)(4)(O(3)SNH(2))(6)].     

A competitive displacement assay with quantum dots as fluorescence resonance energy transfer donors

The unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) make them well-suited as fluorescent bioprobes for use in various biological applications. Modification of CdSe/ZnS QDs with biologically relevant molecules provides for multipotent probes that can be used for cellular labeling, bioassays, and localized optical interrogation by means of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Herein, we demonstrate the use of red-emitting streptavidin-coated QDs (QD₆₀₅) as donors in FRET to introduce a competitive displacement-based assay for the detection of oligonucleotides. Various QD–DNA bioconjugates featuring 25-mer probe sequences diagnostic of Hsp23 were prepared. The single-stranded oligonucleotide probes were hybridized to dye-labeled (Alexa Fluor 647) reporter sequences, which were provided for a FRET-sensitized emission signal due to proximity of the QD and dye. The dye-labeled sequence was designed to be partially complementary and include base-pair mismatches to facilitate displacement by a more energetically favorable, fully complementary recognition motif embedded within a 98-mer displacer sequence. Overall, this study demonstrates proof-of-concept at the nM level for competitive displacement hybridization assays in vitro by reduction of fluorescence intensity that directly correlates to the presence of oligonucleotides of interest. This work demonstrates an analytical method that could potentially be implemented for monitoring of intracellular gene expression in the future.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Bismuth(III) Aminoarenesulfonate Complexes and Their Powerful Bactericidal Activity against Helicobacter pylori

The synthesis and characterisation of nine new tris‐substituted bismuth(III) aminoarenesulfonates of the general formula [Bi(O₃S‐R^N)₃] (R^N=o‐aminophenyl 1 , m‐aminophenyl 2 , 6‐amino‐3‐methoxyphenyl 3 , p‐aminophenyl 4 , 2‐pyridyl 5 , o‐aminonaphthyl 6 , 5‐aminonaphthyl 7 , 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxynaphthyl 8 and 5‐isoquinolinyl 9 ) is described. Two synthetic strategies, using Ag₂O and [Bi(OtBu)₃], were explored and compared. The possibility to access heteroleptic bismuth(III) complexes with the new silver(I) metathesis reaction is demonstrated with the synthesis of the heteroleptic bismuth(III) aminoarenesulfonate complexes [PhBi(O₃S‐P2)₂(dmso)] 10 , [Ph₂Bi(O₃S‐P2)]_∞ 11 and [PhBi(O₃S‐P2)₂]_∞ 12 , of which the solid state structures 10 and 12 are presented (2P‐SO₃^?=2‐pyridinesulfonate). These complexes offer remarkable in‐vitro activity against three standard laboratory strains of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as demonstrated by their exceptionally low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.049 μg mL^?1 for the strains 251 and B128, which places most MIC values in the nano‐molar region. These results demonstrate the importance of the amino functionality in addition to the sulfonate group on the bactericidal properties against H. pylori.     

Synthesis,characterization, and blends of high temperature poly(arylether sulfone)s

The preparation of poly(4-oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-4,4′-biphenylene-4-sulfonylphenylene) (PBP) has been accomplished by the base mediated, polycondensation reaction between two biphenyl containing monomers. The bisphenol, 4,4′-bis[(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfonyl]biphenyl (HSB), was reacted with 4,4′-bis[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-biphenyl (CSB) in tetramethylene sulfone solvent. The highest mechanical properties and glass transition temperature was observed for polymer PBP with a reduced viscosity around 1.0 dL/g. Consequently, the current synthesis route provides polymer with higher properties than other historical preparative routes. Blends of PBP with a different poly(ether sulfone) were miscible based on the observance of a single glass transition temperature. The T_gs of the polymer blends exhibited an unusual positive deviation from the weighted linear averages of the components.     

Nitro- and fluoropolyformals. III. Copolyformals from mixtures of fluoro- and nitro-α,ω-diols

Polyformals of fluoro-, nitramine-, and C-nitrodiols show widely differing properties with respect to glass transition temperature, melting transition, and solubility. Polymers with desirable combinations of these properties, e.g., low T_g, high nitro content, and good solubility in polar solvents, were expected to result from acid-promoted copolycondensation of appropriate mixtures of diols with formaldehyde. A series of such condensations were carried out and the polymers obtained from binary mixtures of fluoro- and nitrodiols, different nitrodiols, and fluoro- or nitrodiols and carboranediols, were characterized by GPC, ¹H-NMR, and DSC analysis.