Palladium supported on structured and nonstructured carbon: a consideration of Pd particle size and the nature of reactive hydrogen

This study sets out a comprehensive characterization of bulk Pd and Pd (ca. 8% w/w) supported on activated carbon (AC), graphite and graphitic nanofibers (GNF). Catalyst activation has been examined by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) analysis and the activated catalysts analyzed in terms of BET area, TEM, H2 chemisorption/TPD, and XRD measurements. While H2 chemisorption and TEM delivered the same sequence of increasing (surface area weighted) average Pd particle sizes, a significant difference (by up to a factor of 3) in the values obtained from both techniques has been recorded and is attributed to an unwarranted (but widely adopted) assumption of an exclusive H2/Pd adsorption stoichiometry=1/2. It is demonstrated that TEM analysis provides a valid mean particle size once it is established that the associated standard deviation is small and insensitive to additional particle counting. XRD line broadening yielded an essentially equivalent Pd size (20-25 nm) for each supported catalyst. The nature of the hydrogen associated with the supported catalysts has been probed and is shown to comprise of chemisorbed (on Pd), spillover (on the carbon support), and hydride (associated with Pd) species. Physical mixtures of bulk Pd + support (AC, graphite, and GNF) were also considered in order to assess hydrogen spillover by H2 TPD analysis. Generation of spillover hydrogen at room temperature is established where temperatures in excess of 740 K are required for effective desorption from the supported Pd catalysts, i.e., 280 K higher than that required for the desorption of chemisorbed hydrogen. Pd hydride formation (at room temperature) is shown to be reversible with decomposition occurring at ca. 380 K. Taking the hydrodechlorination of chlorobenzene as a test reaction, the capability of Pd hydride to promote a hydrogen scission of C-Cl in the absence of an external supply of H2 is demonstrated with a consequent consumption of the hydride. This catalytic response was entirely recoverable once the Pd hydride was replenished during a subsequent reactivation step.     

Solid-phase synthesis of chlorofusin analogues

We report an efficient and versatile solid-phase synthesis through which two series of chlorofusin analogues, one bearing varying chromophores and the other with various amino acid substitutions in the cyclic peptide, were synthesized. These peptides were prepared using a strategy involving side-chain immobilization, on-resin cyclization, and postcyclization modification. The success of these syntheses demonstrates the broad utility of the method. Both series of analogues were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the p53/MDM2 interaction but were shown to be inactive in the concentration range tested. This suggests that the full chromophore structure may be required for activity.     

Metal‐Mediated Production of Isocyanates,R3ENCO from Dinitrogen,Carbon Dioxide,and R3ECl

A highly efficient and versatile chemical cycle has been developed for the production of isocyanates through the molecular fixation of N₂, CO₂ and R₃ECl (E=C, Si, and Ge). Key steps include a ‘one‐pot’ photolytic N? N bond cleavage of a Group 6 dinuclear dinitrogen complex with in situ trapping by R₃ECl to provide a metal terminal imido complex that can engage in simultaneous nitrene‐group transfer and oxygen‐atom transfer to generate an intermediate metal terminal oxo complex with release of the isocyanate product. Reaction of the oxo complex with additional equivalents of R₃ECl regenerates a metal dichloride that is the precursor for dinuclear dinitrogen starting material.     

Topological variations of the PDP ligand and its prospects in molybdenum(0) dearomatization agents

The compounds fac-(κ(3)-PDP)Mo(CO)(3) {1; PDP = 2-[[2-(1-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]methyl]pyridine}, [(cis-β-PDP)Mo(NO)(CO)]PF(6) ([cis-β-3]PF(6)), [(cis-α-PDP)Mo(NO)(CO)]PF(6) ([cis-α-3]PF(6)), [(cis-α-PDP)Mo(NO)Br]PF(6) ([4]PF(6)), [(trans-PDP)Cu](BF(4))(2)·CH(3)CN ([5](BF(4))(2)·CH(3)CN), and [(trans-PDP)Cu](OSO(2)CF(3))(2) ([5](OSO(2)CF(3))(2)) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These are the first reported complexes of PDP on metal centers other than iron(II). The observed configurations indicate a broader range of accessible PDP topologies than has been reported. The {(cis-α-PDP)Mo(NO)}(+) fragment is found to be less π-basic than the dearomatizing {Tp(MeIm)Mo(NO)} fragment [Tp = hydridotris(1-pyrazolyl)borato; MeIm = 1-methylimidazole].     

Proton transfer events in GFP

Proton transfer is one of the most important elementary processes in biology. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) serves as an important model system to elucidate the mechanistic details of this reaction, because in GFP proton transfer can be induced by light absorption. Illumination initiates proton transfer through a 'proton-wire', formed by the chromophore (the proton donor), water molecule W22, Ser205 and Glu222 (the acceptor), on a picosecond time scale. To obtain a more refined view of this process, we have used a combined approach of time resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy and visible pump-dump-probe spectroscopy to resolve with atomic resolution how and how fast protons move through this wire. Our results indicate that absorption of light by GFP induces in 3 ps (10 ps in D(2)O) a shift of the equilibrium positions of all protons in the H-bonded network, leading to a partial protonation of Glu222 and to a so-called low barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB) for the chromophore's proton, giving rise to dual emission at 475 and 508 nm. This state is followed by a repositioning of the protons on the wire in 10 ps (80 ps in D(2)O), ultimately forming the fully deprotonated chromophore and protonated Glu222.     

Design, synthesis and characterisation of guanosine-based amphiphiles

A small library of sugar-modified guanosine derivatives has been prepared, starting from a common intermediate, fully protected on the nucleobase. Insertion of myristoyl chains and of diverse hydrophilic groups, such as an oligoethylene glycol, an amino acid or a disaccharide chain, connected through in vivo reversible ester linkages, or of a charged functional group provided different examples of amphiphilic guanosine analogues, named G1-G7 herein. All of the sugar-modified derivatives were positive in the potassium picrate test, showing an ability to form G-tetrads. CD spectra demonstrated that, as dilute solutions in CHCl(3), distinctive G-quadruplex systems may be formed, with spatial organisations dependent upon the structural modifications. Two compounds, G1 and G2, proved to be good low-molecular-weight organogelators in polar organic solvents, such as methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile. Ion transportation experiments through phospholipid bilayers were carried out to evaluate their ability to mediate H(+) transportation, with G5 showing the highest activity within the investigated series. Moreover, G3 and G5 exhibited a significant cytotoxic profile against human MCF-7 cancer cells in in vitro bioassays.     

Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. and Tropaeolum majus L.: Phytochemical Profile,In Vitro Anti-Denaturation Effects and Lipase Inhibitory Activity of Two Ornamental Plants Traditionally Used as Herbal Remedies

Ornamental plants often gain relevance not only for their decorative use, but also as a source of phytochemicals with interesting healing properties. Herein, spontaneous Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. and Tropaeolum majus L., mainly used as ornamental species but also traditionally consumed and used in popular medicine, were investigated. The aerial parts were extracted with methanol trough maceration, and resultant crude extracts were partitioned using solvents with increasing polarity. As previous studies mostly dealt with the phenolic content of these species, the phytochemical investigation mainly focused on nonpolar constituents, detected with GC-MS. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was also verified, and HPTLC analyses were performed. In order to explore the potential antiarthritic and anti-obesity properties, extracts and their fractions were evaluated for their anti-denaturation effects, with the use of the BSA assay, and for their ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase. The antioxidant properties and the inhibitory activity on the NO production were verified, as well. Almost all the extracts and fractions demonstrated good inhibitory effects on NO production. The n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions from T. majus, as well as the n-hexane fraction from C. ruber, were effective in protecting the protein from heat-induced denaturation (IC₅₀ = 154.0 ± 1.9, 270.8 ± 2.3 and 450.1 ± 15.5 μg/mL, respectively). The dichloromethane fractions from both raw extracts were also effective in inhibiting pancreatic lipase, with IC₅₀ values equal to 2.23 ± 0.02 mg/mL (for C. ruber sample), and 2.05 ± 0.02 mg/mL (T. majus). Obtained results support the traditional use of these species for their beneficial health properties and suggest that investigated plant species could be potential sources of novel antiarthritic and anti-obesity agents.     

Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer: A Simple Strategy for an Efficient Visible Light-Induced Photoclick Reaction

Photoclick reactions combine the advantages offered by light-driven processes and classical click chemistry and have found applications ranging from surface functionalization, polymer conjugation, photo-crosslinking, and protein labeling. Despite these advances, the dependency of most of the photoclick reactions on UV light poses a severe obstacle for their general implementation, as this light can be absorbed by other molecules in the system resulting in their degradation or unwanted reactivity. However, the development of a simple and efficient system to achieve bathochromically shifted photoclick transformations remains challenging. Here, we introduce triplet-triplet energy transfer as a fast and selective way to enable visible light-induced photoclick reactions. Specifically, we show that 9,10-phenanthrenequinones ( PQ s) can efficiently react with electron-rich alkenes ( ERA s) in the presence of a catalytic amount (as little as 5 mol %) of photosensitizers. The photocycloaddition reaction can be achieved under green (530 nm) or orange (590 nm) light irradiation, representing a bathochromic shift of over 100 nm as compared to the classical PQ-ERA s system. Furthermore, by combining appropriate reactants, we establish an orthogonal, blue and green light-induced photoclick reaction system in which the product distribution can be precisely controlled by the choice of the color of light.     

Dihydroazulene-Azobenzene-Dihydroazulene Triad Photoswitches

Photoswitch triads comprising two dihydroazulene (DHA) units in conjugation with a central trans-azobenzene (AZB) unit were prepared in stepwise protocols starting from meta- and para-disubstituted azobenzenes. The para-connected triad had significantly altered optical properties and lacked the photoactivity of the separate photochromes. In contrast, for the meta-connected triad, all three photochromes could be photoisomerized to generate an isomer with two vinylheptafulvene (VHF) units and a cis-azobenzene unit. Ultrafast spectroscopy of the photoisomerizations revealed a fast DHA-to-VHF photoisomerization and a slower trans-to-cis AZB photoisomerization. This meta triad underwent thermal VHF-to-DHA back-conversion with a similar rate of all VHFs, independent of the identity of the neighboring units, and in parallel thermal cis-to-trans AZB conversion. The experimental observations were supported by computation (excitation spectra and orbital analysis of the transitions).     

Development of CDK4/6 Inhibitors: A Five Years Update

The inhibition of cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 plays a role in aromatase inhibitor resistant metastatic breast cancer. Three dual CDK4/6 inhibitors have been approved for the breast cancer treatment that, in combination with the endocrine therapy, dramatically improved the survival outcomes both in first and later line settings. The developments of the last five years in the search for new selective CDK4/6 inhibitors with increased selectivity, treatment efficacy, and reduced adverse effects are reviewed, considering the small-molecule inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) approaches, mainly pointing at structure-activity relationships, selectivity against different kinases and antiproliferative activity.