Supramolecular 2D structures in [M(NCS)2(bpe)2(H2O)2] (M = Mn, Fe) systems connected by hydrogen bonds

Here we report the synthesis and characterization by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopies, and the magnetic measurements of two new compounds: [Mn(NCS)₂(bpe)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) and [Fe(NCS)₂(bpe)₂(H₂O)₂] (2) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene). Single-crystal structure analyses reveals discrete octahedral metal units that are assembled into 2D sheets through O-Hw?N(bpe) and O-Hw?S(thiocyanate) hydrogen bonds. The intermetallic M?M distances are 6.90 and 6.87 Å for 1 and 2, respectively. Supramolecular architectures are obtained by connections through H-bonds. Slight interactions are observed for compound 2.     

Directionally oriented LB films of an OPE derivative: assembly, characterization, and electrical properties

Langmuir films have been fabricated from 4-[4'-(4'-thioacetyl-phenyleneethynylene)-phenyleneethynylene]-aniline (NOPES) after cleavage of the thioacetyl protecting group. Characterization by surface pressure vs area per molecule isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy reveal the formation of a high quality monolayer at the air-water interface. One layer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were readily fabricated by the transfer of the NOPES Langmuir film onto solid substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), surface polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments conclusively demonstrate the formation of one layer LB films in which the functional group associated with binding to the substrate can be tailored by the film transfer conditions. Using LB methods this molecule could be transferred to gold samples with either the amine or thiol group attached to the gold surface. The amine group is directly attached to the gold substrate (Au-NH(2)-OPE-SH) when the substrate is initially immersed in the subphase and withdrawn during the transfer process; in contrast, monomolecular films in which the thiolate group is attached to the gold substrate (Au-S-OPE-NH(2)) are obtained when the substrate is initially out of the subphase and immersed during the transfer process. The morphology of these films was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing the formation of homogeneous layers. Film homogeneity was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, which revealed a large passivation of gold electrodes covered by NOPES monolayers. Electrical properties for both polar orientated junctions have been investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), with both orientations featuring a nonrectifying behavior.     

Supramolecular Arrays of Cationic Complexes Containing Pyrazole Ligands and Tetrafluoroborate,Trifluoromethanesulfonate, or Nitrate as Counterions. Crystal Structure of Bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐nitro‐1H‐pyrazole‐κN2)silver(1+) Nitrate ([Ag(HpzNO2)2](NO3))

The structures of [Pd(η³‐C₃H₅)(Hpz^R2)₂](BF₄) (Hpz^R2=Hpz^bp2=3,5‐bis(4‐butoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazole, 1 ; Hpz^R2=Hpz^NO2=3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐nitro‐1H‐pyrazole=Hdmnpz, 2 ) and [Ag(Hpz^R2)₂](A) (Hpz^R2=Hpz^bp2, A= , 3 ; Hpz^R2=Hpz^NO2, A= , 4 ) were comparatively analyzed to determine the factors responsible for polymeric assemblies. In all cases, the H‐bonding interactions between the pyrazole moieties and the appropriate counterion and, in particular, the orientation of the NH groups of the pyrazole ligands are determinant of one‐dimensional polymeric arrays. In this context, the new compound [Ag(Hpz^NO2)₂](NO₃) ( 5 ) was synthesized and its structure analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (Fig. 4). The Hpz^NO2 serves as N‐monodentate ligand, which coordinates to the Ag^I center through its pyrazole N‐atom giving rise to an almost linear N Ag N geometry. The planar NO counterion bridges two adjacent Ag^I centers to form a one‐dimensional zigzag‐shaped chain which is also supported by the presence of N H⋅⋅⋅O bonds between the pyrazole NH group of adjacent cationic entities and the remaining O‐atom of the bridging NO (Fig. 5). The chains are further extended to a two‐dimensional layer‐like structure through additional Ag⋅⋅⋅O interactions involving the NO₂ substituents at the pyrazole ligands (Fig. 6).     

Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Malonate Esters to α,β‐Unsaturated N‐Sulfonyl Imines: An Expeditious Route to Chiral δ‐Aminoesters and Piperidones

The asymmetric conjugate addition of malonate esters to α,β‐unsaturated N‐sulfonyl imines is catalyzed by PyBOX/La(OTf)₃ complexes in the presence of 4 Å MS. The reaction gives the corresponding E enamines bearing a stereogenic center at the allylic position with good yields and enantiomeric ratios up to 97:3. This reaction provides a synthetic entry to chiral δ‐aminoesters and piperidones.     

Highly sensitive photoelectrochemical immunosensor based on anatase/rutile TiO2 and Bi2S3 for the zero-biased detection of PSA

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A novel label-free photoelectrochemical immunosensor was developed for the determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) based on fluorine-doped tin...     

A cellular FRET-based sensor for beta-O-GlcNAc, a dynamic carbohydrate modification involved in signaling

beta-O-N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a dynamic carbohydrate modification that is involved in cell signaling and has been implicated in a variety of disease states, including Alzheimer's and type-II diabetes. Despite the importance of this modification, little is known about the spatial and temporal localization of O-GlcNAc during signaling. This is due to the lack of methods for the study of O-GlcNAc in living cell systems. Herein we report the first genetically encoded FRET-based sensor for the detection of O-GlcNAc dynamics in live mammalian cells.     

Revisiting the absolute chirality and polymorphism of (–)‐Istanbulin A

The terpenoid (?)‐Istanbulin A is a natural product isolated from Senecio filaginoides DC, one of the 270 species of Senecio (Asteraceae) which occurs in Argentina. The structure and absolute configuration of this compound [9a‐hydroxy‐3,4a,5‐trimethyl‐4a,6,7,8a,9,9a‐hexahydro‐4H,5H‐naphtho[2,3‐b]‐furan‐2,8‐dione or (4S,5R,8R,10S)‐1‐oxo‐8β‐hydroxy‐10βH‐eremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8β‐olide, C₁₅H₂₀O₄] were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. It proved to be a sesquiterpene lactone showing an eremophilanolide skeleton whose chirality is described as 4S,5R,8R,10S. Structural results were also in agreement with the one‐ and two‐dimensional (1D and 2D) NMR and HR–ESI–MS data, and other complementary spectroscopic information. In addition, (?)‐Istanbulin A is a polymorph of the previously reported form of (?)‐Istanbulin A, form I; thus, the title compound is denoted form II or polymorph II. Structural data and a literature search allowed the chirality of Istanbulin A to be revisited. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of (?)‐Istanbulin A, form II, were evaluated in order to establish a reference for future comparisons and applications related to specific crystal forms of Istanbulins.     

Amperometric sensor for nitrite using a glassy carbon electrode modified with alternating layers of iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin and cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine

The development of a highly sensitive amperometric sensor for nitrite using a glassy carbon electrode modified with alternated layers of iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin (FeT4MPyP) and cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (CoTSPc) is described. The modified electrode showed an excellent catalytic activity and stability for the nitrite oxidation decreasing the peak potentials about 200 mV toward less positive values and presenting much higher peak currents than those obtained on the bare GC electrode. A linear response range of 0.2-8.6 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 0.37 μA l μmol⁻¹ and detection limit of 0.04 μmol l⁻¹ were obtained with this sensor. The repeatability of the proposed sensor, evaluated in term of relative standard deviation, was verified to be 1.4% for 10 measurements of 0.2 μmol l⁻¹ nitrite solution. Interference caused by common ions has been investigated in simulated mixtures containing high concentration level of interfering ions and the sensor was found to be tolerant against these ions. The developed sensor was applied for the nitrite determination in water samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a comparative method described in the literature. The average recovery for these samples was 100.1 (±0.7)%.     

Development and validation of an HPLC-DAD analytical procedure for quality control of damiana (Turnera diffusa), using an antioxidant marker isolated from the plant

Damiana is a shrub used as a dietary supplement and as an additive in several foods. This report presents the first validated analytical method for QC of products made from damiana. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, the compound showing the best antioxidant activity, determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl assay in TLC, was purified and identified as 8-C-beta-[6-deoxy-2-O-(alpha-1-rhamnopyranosyl)-xylo- hexopyranos-3-uloside] (Cl50 5.56 g/mL). This is the only natural source from which this compound has been reported, and has been found in all native damiana samples analyzed. Therefore, it was used as a biomarker to develop an HPLC-diode-array detection analytical procedure using the first-order derivative of the chromatograms. Separation was achieved using an AccQ Tag C18 150 x 3.9 mm (4 microm) column, with a gradient of methanol and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water. The method was shown to be accurate, sensitive, and reproducible, providing a useful quantitative means to apply QC to damiana products.     

Thermodynamics of Solution, Interaction with Calf Thymus DNA and Anticancer Activity of?Phenylhydrazone Derivatives

The solubilities in water (W) and in 3 mol?L^?1 aqueous acetonitrile at 298.15 K of thiophene-2-, furan-2- and pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde phenylhydrazone along with their nitro and 2,4-dinitro derivatives, referred to as PCT, PCF, PCP, NPCT, NPCF, NPCP, DPCT, DPCF and DPCP, respectively, are reported. The standard Gibbs energy of transfer from W to solvent mixtures ( $\Delta G^{\mathrm{transf}}_{\mathrm{W-mix}}$ ) was estimated for each solute. The results indicate that the transfer process for all systems is a spontaneous process. Calculations under the scaled-particle theory suggest that the work of cavity creation (????G _c), which is associated with the transfer of the phenylhydrazone from W to mix, dominates the magnitude of $\mathrm {\Delta} G^{\mathrm{transf}}_{\mathrm{W-mix}}$ . UV spectroscopic measurements suggest that these compounds bind calf thymus(CT)-DNA via intercalation mode in a buffer?C3 mol?L^?1 acetonitrile solution. The binding constant (K _b) depends on the nitro-substitution on the phenyl moiety and the electronegativity of the heteroatom in the heterocyclic ring. The corresponding Gibbs energy of binding ( $\Delta G_{\mathrm{DNA-B}}^{0}$ ) of phenylhydrazone derivatives to CT-DNA shows a marked dependence with ????G _c. The anticancer activity on human breast cancer cell lines MDA-231, MDA-435 and HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line was evaluated for the compounds NPCT, NPCF, DPCT and PCT.