[NH4][(CH3)2NH2]2[Ta(C2O4)4]·2H2O: the first (oxalato)tantalate(V) complex structurally characterized

Abstract  The compound [NH₄][(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂[Ta(C₂O₄)₄]·2H₂O has been synthesized and characterized by elemental and TG/DTA analyses, IR spectroscopy and by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The structure comprises the [Ta(C₂O₄)₄]³⁻ anion, NH₄ ⁺ and [(CH₃)₂NH₂]⁺ cations and crystallization water molecules. The Ta atom is octacoordinated by oxygen atoms from four bidentate oxalate groups forming a coordination polyhedron close to the triangular dodecahedron. The charge-assisted hydrogen bonds from both cations connect the [Ta(C₂O₄)₄]³⁻ anions into a three-dimensional framework. Graphical Abstract  The synthesis and properties of [NH₄][(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂[Ta(C₂O₄)₄]·2H₂O, the first structurally characterized compound with the tetra(oxalato)tantalate(V) anion, is reported.      

Identification of shikonin and its ester derivatives from the roots of Echium italicum L.

Nine shikonin pigments: shikonin (S), acetylshikonin (AS), propionylshikonin (PS), isobutyrylshikonin (IBS), tiglylshikonin (TS), 3,3-dimethylacrylshikonin (DAS), angelylshikonin (ANS), 2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin (MBS) and isovalerylshikonin (IVS) were identified in the root epidermis of Echium italicum L. for the first time. A new thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for the separation of enantiomers alkannin and shikonin proved only shikonin after saponification of the root extract, and was afterwards esterified with the corresponding acyl chloride to acquire seven standard compounds (all except ANS). The developed isocratic high-peformance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods with VIS and mass spectrometry (MS) detection, allowed for the first time simultaneous separation of all nine compounds with similar structures including positional and geometric isomers in a short time. Structures of the main five compounds (AS, IBS, ANS, MBS, IVS) isolated from the extract by a new semi-preparative HPLC on C18 have additionally been confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, which were reported for AS and MBS for the first time.     

Structure and Spectroscopic Characteristics of N,N′-bis(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylmethylidene)2,6-pyridinediamine

The Schiff base N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylmethylidene)-2,6-pyridinediamine has been synthesized and characterized in the solid state and in solution using X-ray analysis, IR, UV/Vis, and NMR spectroscopy. Crystal data: C₂₁H₁₉N₃O₄, M _r = 377.39, orthorhombic, space group Pnc2, a = 4.9288(8), b = 8.8873(19), c = 20.870(5) Å, V = 914.19(20) ų, Z = 2, R = 0.0387, R _w = 0.0530, 1845 independent reflections, 778 with I > 2(I). There are two intramolecular hydrogen bonds O—H-N between the hydroxyl and imino groups of 2.622(3) Å. The enolimine form is found in the solid state and is also the predominant tautomeric form in solution. Comparison of the title compound with the structurally related N,N-bis(salicylidene)-2,6-pyridinediamine and N,N-bis(salicylidene)-2,3-pyridinediamine is given.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic 1-(10-alkyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)ethanols and their butanoates

The synthesis of both enantiomers of 1-(10-alkyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)ethanols and their butanoates by enantiomer-selective acylation of racemic alcohols with the lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (L-AK) or/and by methanolysis of the corresponding racemic esters with lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaL-B) is described. The absolute configuration of the enantiomerically pure enantiomers was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Quantification of malondialdehyde by HPLC‐FL – application to various biological samples

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is stabile product of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and therefore MDA is frequently used as a biomarker of LPO. To determine MDA level in various biological samples (human plasma, fish liver tissue and cells in culture), we used an HPLC method with fluorescent detection based on 2‐thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. The method was validated by the use of spiked pooled plasma samples. In tested concentration range (0.15–3.0 µmol/L) the method was linear (R² = 0.9963), the between‐day variability (coefficient of variations, CVs) was between 4.7 and 7.6%, the within‐day variability CVs was between 2.6 and 6.4% and recovery was between 91.2 and 107.6%. The level of MDA in human plasma (healthy male, non‐smokers, 46.3 ± 4.7 years; N = 38) was 2.2 ± 1.4 µmol/L; that in liver tissue of common carp (Cyprinus carpio; N = 12) was 0.02 ± 0.004 µmol/g tissue, and in cultured cells (human laryngeal carcinoma cells; N = 10) it was 0.18 ± 0.02 nmol/mg proteins. The HPLC‐FL method is rapid, accurate and reliable to follow the extent of LPO in various biological samples, particularly in samples in which a low level of MDA is expected, such as cells in culture. Owing to the rapid analytical process and run time, it can be used for routine analysis of MDA in clinical laboratory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic Study of Cadmium Chloride in Aqueous Mixtures of 2-Butanol from Potential Difference Measurements

The standard molal potential differences (E_m∘) have been determined for the cell: CdHg_x(two phase) | CdCl₂(m), H₂O(1 − w), 2-butanol (w) | AgCl(s) | Ag(s) in aqueous mixtures of low mass fraction of 2-butanol (w_2-butanol = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) by using the literature data for the stability constants of the chlorocadmium complexes and the present potentiometric data for this cell at five temperatures from (293.15 to 313.15) K and at 10 molalities of CdCl₂ from (0.002 to 0.02) mol-kg⁻¹. The resulting values of E∘_m have been used to calculate the standard thermodynamic quantities (Δ_rG^∘, Δ_rH^∘, and Δ_rS^∘) for the cell reaction, the stoichiometric mean molal activity coefficients (γ_±) of CdCl₂, and the standard thermodynamic functions for CdCl₂ transfer (Δ_t G∘, Δ_t H∘, and Δ_t S∘) from water to the examined aqueous mixtures of 2-butanol. The values obtained have been compared with the analogous literature data for aqueous mixtures of 2-butanone; standard thermodynamic quantities for transfer of CdCl₂ and HBr from water to mixtures containing the same mass fraction of 2-butanol have also been compared. For both electrolytes, these quantities show analogous trends with the alcohol content. This transfer process is nonspontaneous and endothermic. Enthalpy and entropy are evidently influenced by structural changes.     

Structural analysis and biomedical potential of novel salicyloyloxy estrane derivatives synthesized by microwave irradiation

New estrane salicyloyloxy or D-homo derivatives were synthesized under microwave (MW) or conventional heating from estrane precursors and methyl salicylate. The MW technique provides advantages regarding product yield and reaction time, and represents a more environmentally friendly approach than conventional heating. Considering the biomedical potential of estrane compounds, we evaluated the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of synthesized estrane derivatives in a series of in vitro tests, as well as their 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ⁵ → Δ⁴ isomerase (3βHSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1, 2 and 3 (17βHSD1, 17βHSD2 and 17βHSD3) inhibition potentials. In DPPH tests, 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17β-yl salicylate displayed antioxidant potential, while all compounds exhibited OH radical neutralization activity. 3-Oxoestr-4-en-17β-yl salicylate showed strong cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, while 17-oxoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-3-yl salicylate, estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-diyl 3-benzoate 17-salicylate and 3-benzyloxy-17-salicyloyloxy-16,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-16-nitrile showed the strongest inhibition of PC-3 prostate cancer cell growth. 3-Hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17β-yl salicylate was the best inhibitor of 17βHSD2, suggesting potential use in treating pathological conditions associated with estrogen depletion. For 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17β-yl salicylate and 3-oxoestr-4-en-17β-yl salicylate, X-ray crystal structure analysis and molecular energy optimization were performed to define their conformations and energy minima. Very good overlap in the region of the steroidal nucleus was observed for the molecular structures of each analyzed molecule in the crystalline state and after energy optimization, while conformer analysis indicates conformational flexibility in the form of rotation around the C17···O2 bond. Structural geometry analysis for these compounds shows that the region of ring A in steroids, and especially the C3 atom functional group, is important structural features concerning antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 cells.

     

Coordination modes of 3-hydroxypicolinic acid: Synthesis and structural characterization of polymeric mercury(II) complexes

Novel mercury(II) compounds of 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (HpicOH; IUPAC name: 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized. HgCl(picOH) (1) and HgBr₂(HpicOH) (2) were obtained as reaction products from the reaction of the corresponding mercury(II) halide with HpicOH, irrespective of the molar ratio of the reactants. From the reaction of HpicOH and mercury(II) acetate, Hg(picOH)₂ (3) was obtained, while mercury(II) nitrate monohydrate gave the 1/1 solvate with water Hg(picOH)₂ · H₂O (3a). Infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data were analyzed for complexes 1, 2 and 3. X-ray crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 revealed their polymeric nature and different coordination modes of HpicOH. In 1 the deprotonated picolinic acid is N,O-chelating and bridging, while in 2 HpicOH is a O-monodentate weakly bound ligand. Compound 1 consists of HgCl(picOH) moieties with two linear covalent bonds, Hg–N 2.143(4) and Hg–Cl 2.298(1) Å, and four additional Hg?O contacts (2.460(3)–2.904(3) Å) in which both oxygen atoms from the carboxylic group are bridging and involved in coordination to three neighboring mercury atoms, thus forming infinite layers. The coordination of mercury is 2 + 4. 2 consists of {HgBr₂(HpicOH)} moieties, which are linked into chains by means of mercury to bromine secondary long range interactions. The coordination sphere of mercury can be described as irregular 2 + 3 formed by two covalently bonded bromine atoms (Hg–Br 2.277(1) and 2.366(1) Å), two bridging bromine atoms (Hg?Br 3.309(1) and 3.247(1) Å) and by the HpicOH ligand attached to mercury in the zwitterionic form via the carboxylic oxygen atom (Hg?O 2.602(7) Å).