Barreleneiridium(I) complexes. Crystal structures of [Ir(Me3TFB)(η6-C6H4Me2)]ClO4 and [Ir(TFB)(η5-PhNPh2)]BF4·CH2Cl2 (TFB = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene)

A new series of cationic areneiridium(I) complexes of formula [Ir(barrelene)(arene)]⁺ or [Ir(barrelene)(PhNRPh)]⁺ (R= Ph or H) have been synthesized from neutral iridium complexes of the type [IrY(barrelene)]_x (barrelene = Me₃TFB, Y = Cl or OMe (x = 2), Y = acac (x = 1); barrelene = TFB, Y = OMe (x = 2), Y = acac (x = 1)). The crystal structures of [Ir(Me₃TFB)(1,4-C₆H₄Me₂)]ClO₄ and [Ir(TFB)(PhNPh₂)]BF₄·CH₂Cl₂ have been determined by X-ray diffraction. They crystallize in the space groups Pbca and Pna2₁ respectively with lattice constants of 17.6947(11), 15.8072(10), 16.0019(11) Å and 9.8059(2), 20.8097(9), 14.3367(4) Å. Final R factors were 0.063 and 0.042 for the observed data. Both complexes show a staggered arrangement between the arene and the TFB moieties and deviation from planarity of the coordinated arene ligands. In the second complex the IrC and NC distances, the CNC angle, the type of arene puckering, and the spectroscopic data indicate a distortion of the coordinated arene towards a η⁵-coordinated iminocyclohexadienyl form.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-[α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide

The synthesis of N-[(α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (4) and its reactivity are described. Since the acetoxy is a good leaving group, 4 gives S_N processes easily.     

On the generality of a cosmological speculation based on Heisenberg's principle

In a previous work [Hernández-Bermejo, B. (1996) Heisenberg's principle: A cosmological speculation, Speculations in Science and Technology, 19, 253], it was speculated that the lack of homogeneity of the large-scale structure of the universe may be due to quantum fluctuations of space in the early universe. This was argued for a Friedmann-type universe for which both the curvature and the cosmological constant were zero. Here it is shown that the same considerations are valid for arbitrary values of the curvature and .     

A new selective cleavage of n,n-dicarbamoyl-protected amines using lithium bromide

A mild and new procedure for the selective cleavage of an alkoxycarbonyl group (Boc, CBz) in N,N-dicarbamoyl-protected amino compounds is described. The method is based on the use of lithium bromide in acetonitrile and is compatible with a large range of other functionalities present in the substrates. Compared with other reported methodologies, the procedure is particularly useful for the Cbz-selective cleavage in N,N-Ts,Cbz-diprotected amines. A rationalization of the selectivity supported by ab initio calculations is also presented.     

Direct versus resonances mediated F+OH collisions on a new 3A" potential energy surface

A theoretical study of the F(2P) + OH(2Pi) --> HF(1Sigma+) + O(3P) reactive collisions is carried out on a new global potential energy surface (PES) of the ground 3A" adiabatic electronic state. The ab initio calculations are based on multireference configuration interaction calculations, using the aug-cc-pVTZ extended basis sets of Dunning et al. A functional representation of the PES shows no nominal barrier to reaction, contrary to previous results by others. Wave packet and quasiclassical trajectory calculations have been performed for this PES to study the F + OH(v = 0,j) reactive collision. The comparison was performed at fixed and constant values of the total angular momentum from 0 to 110 and relative translational energy up to 0.8 eV. The reaction presents a dynamical barrier, essentially due to the zero-point energy for the bending vibration near the saddle point. This determines two different reaction mechanisms. At energies higher than approximately 0.125 eV the reaction is direct, while below that value it is indirect and mediated by heavy-light-heavy resonances. Such resonances, also found in the simulations of the photodetachment spectrum of the triatomic anion, manifest themselves in the quasiclassical simulations, too, where they are associated to periodic orbits.     

Analysis of conformational equilibria in aplidine using selective excitation 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics/dynamics calculations

Aplidine (dehydrodidemnin B), a natural product with potent antitumor activity currently in multicenter phase II clinical trials, exists in DMSO as a mixture of four slowly interconverting conformations in a ratio of 47:33:13:7. NMR spectroscopy shows that these arise as a consequence of cis/trans isomerization about the NMe-Leu(7)-Pro(8) and Pro(8)-Pyr amide bonds of the molecule's side chain. Two major conformations account for 47% and 33% of the total population, a ratio of 60:40 between the two. They correspond to the cis- and trans-isomers, respectively, about the Pro(8)-Pyr amide bond. Two minor conformers arise as a consequence of similar isomerism about the Pro(8)-Pyr amide bond, but in structures in which the NMe-Leu(7)-Pro(8) amide bond is cis rather than trans. These account for approximately 13% and 7% of the total population, corresponding to a ratio of 65:35 cis/trans, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the three-dimensional structures of all four conformational isomers are similar in the macrocycle and that all are essentially unchanged with respect to the macrocycle of didemnin B. Significant differences in the conformation of the molecule's side chain are, however, observed between major and minor pairs. Analysis of hydrogen-bonding patterns shows that each major conformer exhibits a beta-turn like structure and is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between a different carbonyl group of the pyruvyl unit of the molecule's side chain and the NH of the Thr(6) residue. The minor isomers have a cis-amide bond between the NMe-Leu(7) and Pro(8) residues that obliges the side chain to adopt an extended disposition where hydrogen bonding to the macrocycle is absent. These results suggest that the ability of the molecule's side chain to adopt a beta-turn-like conformation may not be a prerequisite for biological activity in the didemnins and that conformations having an extended side-chain may play a role in the biological activity of aplidine.     

Evaluation of the Use of Elicitors for the Production of Antioxidant Compounds in Liquid Cultures of Ganoderma curtisii from Costa Rica

The use of substances or conditions as elicitors can significantly increase the production of secondary metabolites. In this research, the effects of different elicitors on the production of antioxidant secondary metabolites were evaluated in a strain of Ganoderma sp. The elicitors tested were pH changes in different growth phases of the fungus (pH 3, 5.5 and 8), different concentrations of peptone as a nitrogen source (1 g/L and 10 g/L), and the addition of chemical agents to the culture medium (ethanol, growth regulators, and salts). The alkaline pH during the stationary phase and the high availability of nitrogen were effective elicitors, producing cultures with higher antioxidant activity (37.87 g/L and 43.13 g/L dry biomass) although there were no significant differences with other treatments.     

Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Using (Z)-α-Amidonitroalkenes as a Key Step to the Access to Chiral cis-3,4-Diaminopyrrolidines

The enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between imino esters and (Z)-nitroalkenes bearing a masked amino group in the β-position was studied using several chiral ligands and silver salts. The optimized reaction conditions were directly applied to the study of the scope of the reaction. The determination of the absolute configuration was evaluated using NMR experiments and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The reduction and hydrolysis of both groups was performed to generate in an excellent enantiomeric ratio the corresponding cis-2,3-diaminoprolinate.     

PET Imaging of the Neuropeptide Y System: A Systematic Review

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a vastly studied biological peptide with numerous physiological functions that activate the NPY receptor family (Y₁, Y₂, Y₄ and Y₅). Moreover, these receptors are correlated with the pathophysiology of several diseases such as feeding disorders, anxiety, metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, some types of cancers and others. In order to deepen the knowledge of NPY receptors’ functions and molecular mechanisms, neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) have been used. The development of new radiotracers for the different NPY receptors and their subsequent PET studies have led to significant insights into molecular mechanisms involving NPY receptors. This article provides a systematic review of the imaging biomarkers that have been developed as PET tracers in order to study the NPY receptor family.