Studies on outer-sphere electron transfer reactions of surfactant–cobalt(III) complexes with iron(II) in liposome (dipalmitoylphosphotidylcholine) vesicles

The effect of unilamellar vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphotidylcholine (DPPC), both below and above the phase transfer region, on the second-order rate constants for outer-sphere electron transfer between Fe²⁺ and the surfactant?Ccobalt(III) complexes, cis-[Co(en)₂(C₁₂H₂₅NH₂)₂]³⁺ and cis-[Co(trien)(C₁₂H₂₅NH₂)₂]³⁺ (en?=?ethylenediamine, trien?=?triethylenetetramine, C₁₂H₂₅NH₂?=?dodecylamine) was studied by UV?CVis absorption spectroscopy. Below the phase transition temperature of DPPC, the rate decreased with increasing concentration of DPPC, while above the phase transition temperature the rate increased with increasing concentration of DPPC. It is concluded that below the phase transition temperature, there is an accumulation of surfactant?Ccobalt(III) complexes at the interior of the vesicle membrane through hydrophobic effects, and above the phase transition temperature the surfactant?Ccobalt(III) complex is released from the interior to the exterior surface of the vesicle. Through isokinetic plots, we have established that the mechanism of the reaction does not alter during the phase transition of DPPC.     

Domino cyclization-alkylation protocol for the synthesis of 2,3-functionalized indoles from o-alkynylanilines and allylic alcohols

A practical and efficient protocol for the one-pot synthesis of 2,3-substituted indoles was developed via a palladacycle catalyzed domino cyclization-alkylation reaction involving 2-alkynylanilines and allylic alcohols under mild conditions without any additives.     

Euphorbiasteroid Abrogates EGFR and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Impart Anticancer Activity

EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways play a prominent role in tumor progression in various human cancers including non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Transactivation and crosstalk between the EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways may contribute to the aggressiveness of cancers. Targeting these oncogenic pathways with small molecules is an attractive approach to counteract various types of cancers. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of euphorbiasteroid (EPBS) on the EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in NSCLC cells. EPBS induced preferential cytotoxicity toward A549 (wildtype EGFR-expressing) cells over PC-9 (mutant EGFR-expressing) cells. EPBS suppressed the expression of EGFR, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and FZD-1, and the reduction in β-catenin levels was found to be mediated through the activation of GSK-3β. EPBS reduced the phosphorylation of GSK-3β^S9 with a parallel increase in β-TrCP and phosphorylation of GSK-3β^Y216. Lithium chloride treatment increased the phosphorylation of GSK-3β^S9 and nuclear localization of β-catenin, whereas EPBS reverted these effects. Forced expression or depletion of EGFR in NSCLC cells increased or decreased the levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and FZD-1, respectively. Overall, EPBS abrogates EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways to impart its anticancer activity in NSCLC cells.     

One-pot synthesis of [2+2]-helicate-like macrocycle and 2+4-μ4-oxo tetranuclear open frame complexes: Chiroptical properties and asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthols

Synthesis of binuclear Cu(II) terminally closed [ 2+2 ]- double-stranded helicate-like macrocycles 1, 1′ , 1″ , 2 , 2′ , 2″ and 2+4- μ₄-oxo tetranuclear open frame complexes 3 , 3′ , 3″ , 4 , 4′ , 4″ are established. Adapting one-pot self-assembly technique from simple three components systems: 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine, 4-methyl-2,6-diformyl phenol and cupric salts, the helicate-like [ 2+2 ]- macrocyclic complexes 1–1″, 2–2″ and 2+4- μ₄-oxo tetranuclear complexes 3–3″ , 4–4″ were obtained by appropriately altering the reaction condition such as temperature and subcomponent ratio. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were carried out for understanding the structural geometries, intermediates involved in the diverse formation of [ 2+2 ] and 2+4 frameworks. The single crystal X-ray structures obtained for 1′ , 2 and 3 confirms the self-assembly process in line with DFT. This detailed analysis tempted us to derive a plausible mechanism for this long standing challenge in the synthesis of such macrocycles using 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (BNDA) and aromatic aldehyde. The chiroptical properties of enantiopure complexes and their catalytic applications in asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol to chiral 1,1’-Bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) achieved in good yield and ee were discussed.     

Iron(III) bis-complexes of Schiff bases of S-methyldithiocarbazates: Synthesis,structure, spectral and redox properties and cytotoxicity

A series of iron(III) bis-complexes of the type [FeL₂]X 1-4 , X = OH⁻ ( 1 ), Cl^¯ ( 3 ), and FeCl₄^¯ ( 2 , 4 ), where LH is a tridentate (N,N,S) ligands such as N′-(1-pyridin-2-ylethylidene)-hydrazinecarbodithioic acid methyl ester ( HL1 ), N′-(phenylpyridin-2-ylmethylene)-hydrazinecarbodithioic acid methyl ester ( HL2 ), N′-quinolin-2-ylmethylene-hydrazinecarbodithioic acid methyl ester ( HL3 ), or N′-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl-methylene)hydrazinecarbodithioic acid methyl ester ( HL4 ) has been isolated in moderate to good yields and completely characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity studies, and infrared and UV-visible spectral measurements. The single crystal X-ray structures of 1 , 2 and 4 revealed that two deprotonated tridentate (NNS) ligands are meridionally coordinated to constitute a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around iron(III). In acetonitrile solution, all the complexes show quasi-reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox behavior. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the ligands HL1–HL4 (IC₅₀: HL1 , 64.5; HL2 , 51.0; HL3 , 124.0; HL4 , 45.0 μM at 24 h) and complexes 1–4 (IC₅₀: 1 , 84.5; 2 , 40.0; 3 , 168.5; 4 , 50.5 μM at 24 h) towards A549 lung cancer cell lines are similar to cisplatin (69.0 μM), revealing that free ligands cause cancer cell death with potency higher than the corresponding iron(III) complexes. Also, both the ligands and the complexes cause cell death mainly through apoptotic mode, as revealed by the observation of a higher percentage of apoptotic cells in acridine orange (AO)/ ethidium bromide (EB), and Annexin V-Cy3 stained cancer cells.     

Statistical theory of hot nuclei and high spin states

The hot rotating compound systems formed in heavy ion collisions are studied using the statistical theory with a view to determine the spin and temperature dependence of nuclear shapes. Shape transitions are observed for these systems at particular spin values. The neutron and proton separation energies for heavier high spin systems have been evaluated. Results are presented for ₇₀ ¹⁷⁰ Yb and ₇₈ ¹⁹⁴ Pt.     

Investigations on temperature dependent structural evolution of NaPO3 glass

The understanding of molecular level structural information of phosphate glasses is very much essential. The unique microwave-absorbing ability of NaH₂PO₄·2H₂O was found to be very useful for preparing crystal and glassy sodium super ionic conductors (Nasicon's) as a component of batch mixtures. In this work NaPO₃ glass was prepared by both conventional melt quench and microwave heating from NaH₂PO₄·2H₂O as a starting material. The structure of NaPO₃ glass and their structural evolution upon heating through glass transition were probed by combination of complementary techniques like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and thermo-Raman spectroscopy.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of cobalt at ppb levels in high-purity aluminium

Summary A sensitive procedure for the determination of cobalt in high-purity aluminium using DPCSV through adsorptive accumulation of Co(DMG)₂ on HMDE in triethanolamine + NH₄OH buffer is described. Analysis of NBS SRM C-1257 and a reactor grade aluminium sample is reported. Prior to the determination, cobalt was separated from Al and Ni on AG-1 X8 resin in 9 mol/l HCl. The results have been cross-validated by INAA.     

Derivative activation analysis of phosphorus at ppb levels in water samples

A neutron activation analysis procedure has been developed for the indirect determination of phosphorus as orthophosphate at ppb levels, via the formation of antimonyl phosphomolybdic acid. The complex is adsorbed on Sephadex G-25 resin and the antimony is estimated through NAA, allowing the determination of phosphorus. The procedure provides an easy method to adopt for the routine determination of phosphorus at 10 ng ml^–1 levels with good precision, in water samples.     

Determination of oxygen impurity in high purity materials by charged particle activation analysis using alpha projectiles

40 MeV -particles have been used to determine oxygen impurity at ppm levels in silicon, copper, and stainless steel, through the radiochemical separation of¹⁸F from the matrix. The separation of¹⁸F has been carried out by two techniques, viz.(1) distillation of H₂SiF₆ and (2) precipitation of KBF₄ and some modification has been applied in the separation, depending on the nature of interferences from the matrix. Instrumental approach was also carried out to determine the oxygen impurity at 100 ppm in Si matrix because this approach is not possible in Cu and stainless steel samples due to matrix activity.