Strategy for the synthesis of polymeric supports with hydrazone linkers for solid-phase alkylation of ketones and aldehydes

A new approach to polymeric supports useful for the immobilization of aldehydes and ketones via hydrazone linkers is reported. The new strategy gives supports with better properties and is effective for the synthesis of all supports previously used for the alkylation of ketones anchored as hydrazones. In contrast to other approaches, the new strategy also provided a polymer with an economical C2 spacer linker. The supports were used for immobilization of ketones 3-pentanone, acetone, N-benzylpiperidone, and aldehydes hexanal and 3-phenylpropanal in the form of their hydrazones. The polymer-supported hydrazones were subjected to alpha-alkylation (LDA/RX) followed by acidic, reductive, or oxidative cleavage/workup procedures to provide alpha-alkylated aldehydes or ketones as well as corresponding primary amines, alcohols, nitriles or acids.     

Concentration Dependence of Anti- and Pro-Oxidant Activity of Polyphenols as Evaluated with a Light-Emitting Fe2+-Egta-H2O2 System

Hydroxyl radical (^•OH) scavenging and the regeneration of Fe²⁺ may inhibit or enhance peroxidative damage induced by a Fenton system, respectively. Plant polyphenols reveal the afore-mentioned activities, and their cumulative net effect may determine anti- or pro-oxidant actions. We investigated the influence of 17 phenolics on ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) from a modified Fenton system (92.6 µmol/L Fe²⁺, 185.2 µmol/L EGTA (ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl-ether)-N,N,N′,N,-tetraacetic acid) and 2.6 mmol/L H₂O₂ pH = 7.4). A total of 8 compounds inhibited (antioxidant effect), and 5 enhanced (pro-oxidant effect) UPE at all studied concentrations (5 to 50 µmol/L). A total of 4 compounds altered their activity from pro- to antioxidant (or vice versa) along with increasing concentrations. A total of 3 the most active of those (ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside; mean UPE enhancement by 63%, 5% and 445% at 5 µmol/L; mean UPE inhibition by 28%, 94% and 24% at 50 µmol/L, respectively) contained catechol or methoxyphenol structures that are associated with effective ^•OH scavenging and Fe²⁺ regeneration. Most likely, these structures can determine the bidirectional, concentration-dependent activity of some phenolics under stable in vitro conditions. This is because the concentrations of the studied compounds are close to those occurring in human fluids, and this phenomenon should be considered in the case of dietary supplementation with isolated phenolics.     

Highly Chemoselective Synthesis of Indolizidine Lactams by SmI2‐Induced Umpolung of the Amide Bond via Aminoketyl Radicals: Efficient Entry to Alkaloid Scaffolds

Samarium(II) iodide enables a wide range of highly chemoselective umpolung radical transformations proceeding by electron transfer to carbonyl groups; however, cyclizations of important nitrogen‐containing precursors have proven limited due to their prohibitive redox potential. Herein, we report the first reductive cyclizations of unactivated cyclic imides onto N‐tethered olefins using SmI₂/H₂O. This new umpolung protocol leads to the rapid synthesis of nitrogen‐containing heterocycles that are of particular significance as precursors to pharmaceutical pharmacophores and numerous classes of alkaloids. The reaction conditions tolerate a wide range of functional groups. Excellent chemoselectivity is observed in the cyclization over amide and ester functional groups. Such unconventional reactivity has important implications for the design and optimization of new bond‐forming reactions by umpolung radical processes. The reaction advances the SmI₂ cyclization platform to the challenging unactivated N‐tethered acyl‐type radical precursors to access nitrogen‐containing architectures.     

A new platinum–bromine cyclohexanediamine complex from the family of cancer cytostatics

Another new substance from the family of Pt‐based coordination complexes with potential use in cancer chemotherapy has been synthesized, crystallized and structurally characterized. In this compound {systematic name cis‐dibromido[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine‐κ²N,N′]platinum(II)}, cis‐[PtBr₂(C₆H₁₄N₂)], there are two molecules with very similar conformations in the asymmetric unit. The component species interact by way of N—H...Br and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds to give two‐dimensional networks which lie parallel to the (100) plane.     

Functionalised, photostable, fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles of narrow size-distribution

Fluorescent nanoparticles continue to be of wide interest, as they have many advantages over single fluorescent molecules for biological imaging and sensing applications, such as increased fluorescence intensity and reduced photobleaching. In the following work, styrene was copolymerised with a newly synthesised, fluorescein-based, vinylic crosslinking monomer, by emulsion polymerisation, to create a series of different sized fluorescent nanoparticles (35-100 nm), each of narrow size-distribution. The particles were found to be highly fluorescent and with lower photobleaching compared to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), offering an attractive alternative. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra were recorded, being similar to fluorescein, but with interesting variation in the excitation spectra. The particles also have a wide range of potential uses, such as examining particle uptake activity of a macrophage cell line, also demonstrated. The nanoparticles were coated with albumin to provide functionality for potential conjugation to biological targeting agents.     

Mass separator for radioactive isotopes

A new isotope separator has been designed, constructed, and put into routine operation for separation of ¹³³Xe providing a major advancement and significant cost reduction in preparation of this radioactive isotope. The design features and advantages are discussed that expedite high purity separation of relatively small quantities of this isotope. These advantages could be easily used to expedite separation of other shorter-lived radioactive isotopes.     

Discontinuous alkylation of diphenylamine with nonene for maximum catalyst utilization

This study examines the alkylation of diphenylamine (DPA) with nonene (NON) in a liquid phase catalyzed by acid-treated clay-based catalysts from commercial suppliers (Fulcat 22B, Nobelin MM, and Jeltar 300). Alkylations were conducted to achieve the highest possible selectivity of diisononyldiphenylamine (DNDPA), low selectivity of monoisononyldiphenylamine, and a maximum triisononyldiphenylamine yield of 4%. This study also examines the reaction conditions to selectively form dialkylated diphenylamine from DPA and NON in a batch reactor. Repeated use of the catalyst during the alkylation of DPA with NON was also investigated. Catalyst deactivation takes place during the alkylation of each batch and intensifies with repeated catalyst use, resulting in low DNDPA selectivity. The regenerated catalyst was sufficiently active only until the regeneration of the first and second batches. After the third batch, the catalyst’s selectivity for DNDPA was very low, and its reuse in the alkylation of DPA with NON was not efficient. Therefore, to achieve the maximum length of catalyst activity, the fresh catalyst was gradually added to the used catalyst from a previous batch, thus maintaining a high activity of eight batches. The reduction in catalyst activity was probably caused by the irreversible adsorption of substances on the surface, a loss of microporous structure, and a loss of surface acidity. DPA or alkylated products are adsorbed on the surface oxygen of the catalyst through nitrogen and form nitro formations. The fresh and regenerated catalysts were characterized by their surface area, surface acidity, pore size distribution, and pore volume.