Thermal cyclization of N-[2-(2-propenyl)-1-naphthyl] ketenimines: intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction versus [1,5] hydrogen migration. Synthesis of dibenz[b,h]acridines and benzo[h]quinolines

The thermal treatment of N-(2-propenyl)-1-naphthylamines provided the expected aza-Claisen rearranged products, 2-(2-propenyl)-1-naphthylamines and benz[g]indoles, these last derived from an intramolecular hydroamination reaction on those primary products. The 2-(2-propenyl)-1-naphthylamines were converted into their triphenylphosphazene derivatives, which by aza-Wittig reaction with disubstituted ketenes yielded N-[2-(2-propenyl)-1-naphthyl] ketenimines. The heating of these ketenimines in boiling toluene induced their cyclization either via an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, to afford dibenz[b,h]acridines, or via [1,5] hydrogen migration from the sp³ carbon atom of the propenyl substituent to the central carbon atom of the ketenimine fragment, followed by a 6π electrocyclic ring closure, to give benzo[h]quinolines.     

Metal Oxide Assisted Preparation of Core–Shell Beads with Dense Metal–Organic Framework Coatings for the Enhanced Extraction of Organic Pollutants

Dense and homogeneous metal–organic framework (MOF) coatings on functional bead surfaces are easily prepared by using intermediate sacrificial metal oxide coatings containing the metal precursor of the MOF. Polystyrene (PS) beads are coated with a ZnO layer to give ZnO@PS core–shell beads. The ZnO@PS beads are reactive in the presence of 2‐methylimidazole to transform part of the ZnO coating into a porous zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) external shell positioned above the internal ZnO precursor shell. The obtained ZIF‐8@ZnO@PS beads can be easily packed in column format for flow‐through applications, such as the solid‐phase extraction of trace priority‐listed environmental pollutants. The prepared material shows an excellent permeance to flow when packed as a column to give high enrichment factors, facile regeneration, and excellent reusability for the extraction of the pollutant bisphenol A. It also shows an outstanding performance for the simultaneous enrichment of mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, 4‐tert‐octylphenol and 4‐n‐nonylphenol), facilitating their analysis when present at very low levels (<1 μg L^?1) in drinking waters. For the extraction of the pollutant bisphenol A, the prepared ZIF‐8@ZnO@PS beads also show a superior extraction and preconcentration capacity to that of the PS beads used as precursors and the composite materials obtained by the direct growth of ZIF‐8 on the surface of the PS beads in the absence of metal oxide intermediate coatings.     

Novel Capsular Aggregates from Flexible Tripodal Triureas with Cs Symmetry

Tris(2‐ and 3‐ureidobenzyl)amines with C_s symmetry self‐assemble in solution forming mixtures of regioisomeric capsular aggregates, one of which is chiral and the other centrosymmetric. Under certain conditions, a predominance of the centrosymmetric regioisomer is found before equilibrium, that is, a mixture close to the statistical ratio of the two species is reached. In the solid state, there is a preference for the centrosymmetric capsules. Molecular models of both regioisomeric aggregates have been built and analyzed for comparison. Guests inside capsules formed by self‐assembly of desymmetrized tris(3‐ureidobenzyl)amines feel different magnetic environments, depending on whether they are inside a chiral or an achiral regioisomeric container. Of special significance are the experiments with a more flexible triurea endowed with an ureidopropylic arm, which self‐assembles with the same efficiency as the more rigid tris(ureidobenzyl)amines.     

Phosphatidylcholine‐Coated Iron Oxide Nanomicelles for In Vivo Prolonged Circulation Time with an Antibiofouling Protein Corona

We report the synthesis of micellar phosphatidylcholine‐coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a new long circulation contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Oleic acid‐coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were first prepared through thermal degradation and then encapsulated into small clusters with a phosphatidylcholine coating to obtain hydrophilic nanomicelles. A thorough characterization confirmed the chemical nature of the coating and the excellent colloidal stability of these nanomicelles in aqueous media. Magnetization and relaxivity properties proved their suitability as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and in vitro cell viability data showed low toxicity. Vascular lifetime and elimination kinetics in the liver were assessed by blood relaxometry and by in vivo MRI in rats and compared with “control” particles prepared with a polyethylene glycol derivative. These micellar particles had a lifetime in blood of more than 10 h, much longer than the control nanoparticles (≈2 h), which is remarkable considering that the coating molecule is a small biocompatible zwitterionic phospholipid. The protein corona was characterized after incubation with rat serum at different times by high‐throughput proteomics, showing a higher proportion of bound apolipoproteins and other dysopsonins for the phosphatidylcholine particles. The antibiofouling properties of this corona and its resistance to the adsorption of proteins corroborate the observed enhanced stability and prolonged systemic circulation.     

Electrochemically Generated Nanoparticles of Halogen‐Bridged Mixed‐Valence Binuclear Metal Complex Chains

Spherical nanoparticles composed of MMX chains can be made by a polymerization strategy driven by electrochemical processes. In particular, the [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I₂] (MMI₂) dimetal subunit is employed as a monomer for the formation of [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I]_n spherical nanostructures on surfaces. We have paid particular attention to elucidating the general mechanism of the deposition process on the basis of in situ electrochemical measurements. The reduction of MMI₂ to give the electrodeposition of nanostructures agrees well with formation of the reduced [MMI₂]^? species followed by a disproportionation mechanism mediated by iodide anions. The chemical composition of the particles was determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the MMI₂ polymer.     

On‐Surface Synthesis and Characterization of Triply Fused Porphyrin–Graphene Nanoribbon Hybrids

On‐surface synthesis offers a versatile approach to prepare novel carbon‐based nanostructures that cannot be obtained by conventional solution chemistry. Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have potential for a variety of applications. A key issue for their application in molecular electronics is in the fine‐tuning of their electronic properties through structural modifications, such as heteroatom doping or the incorporation of non‐benzenoid rings. In this context, the covalent fusion of GNRs and porphyrins (Pors) is a highly appealing strategy. Herein we present the selective on‐surface synthesis of a Por–GNR hybrid, which consists of two Pors connected by a short GNR segment. The atomically precise structure of the Por–GNR hybrid has been characterized by bond‐resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc‐AFM). The electronic properties have been investigated by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), in combination with DFT calculations, which reveals a low electronic gap of 0.4 eV.     

Production and Digestibility Studies of β-Galactosyl Xylitol Derivatives Using Heterogeneous Catalysts of LacA β-Galactosidase from Lactobacillus Plantarum WCFS1

The synthesis of β-galactosyl xylitol derivatives using immobilized LacA β-galactosidase from Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 is presented. These compounds have the potential to replace traditional sugars by their properties as sweetener and taking the advantages of a low digestibility. The enzyme was immobilized on different supports, obtaining immobilized preparations with different activity and stability. The immobilization on agarose-IDA-Zn-CHO in the presence of galactose allowed for the conserving of 78% of the offered activity. This preparation was 3.8 times more stable than soluble. Since the enzyme has polyhistidine tags, this support allowed the immobilization, purification and stabilization in one step. The immobilized preparation was used in synthesis obtaining two main products and a total of around 68 g/L of β-galactosyl xylitol derivatives and improving the synthesis/hydrolysis ratio by around 30% compared to that of the soluble enzyme. The catalyst was recycled 10 times, preserving an activity higher than 50%. The in vitro intestinal digestibility of the main β-galactosyl xylitol derivatives was lower than that of lactose, being around 6 and 15% for the galacto-xylitol derivatives compared to 55% of lactose after 120 min of digestion. The optimal amount immobilized constitutes a very useful tool to synthetize β-galactosyl xylitol derivatives since it can be used as a catalyst with high yield and being recycled for at least 10 more cycles.     

Generation of strong, homochiral bases by electrochemical reduction of phenazine derivatives

Electrochemical reduction of enantiomerically pure amino- and alkoxy-phenazine derivatives forms strongly basic radical anions which give asymmetric induction in the conversion of 3,4-epoxytetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide into the allylic ester with facile regeneration of the phenazine.     

Custom‐Fit Ruthenium(II) Metallopeptides: A New Twist to DNA Binding With Coordination Compounds

A new bipyridine building block has been used for the solid‐phase synthesis of dinuclear DNA‐binding ruthenium(II) metallopeptides. Detailed spectroscopic studies suggest that these compounds bind to the DNA by insertion into the DNA minor groove. Moreover, the potential of the solid‐phase peptide synthesis approach is demonstrated by the straightforward synthesis of an octaarginine derivative that shows effective cellular internalization and cytotoxicity linked with strong DNA interaction, as evidenced by steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy and AFM studies.     

Synthesis of new thieno and pyrazolo[2,1]benzothiazepine derivatives with potential antidepressant properties

In this paper we describe a series of new thieno and pyrazolo[2,1]benzothiazepine derivatives 7a‐o which were synthesized by two different methods both starting from the previously described tricyclic alcohols 1–3 . Several components of this series were effective p. o. (per os, orally) in different pharmacological tests currently employed in the evaluation of antidepressant activity.