Thionin-sensitized intrazeolite photooxygenation of trisubstituted alkenes: substituent effects on the regioselectivity as probed through isotopic labeling

The regioselectivity for the intrazeolite photooxygenation of several trisubstituted alkenes with geminal dimethyl groups was examined. The length of the alkyl chain at the lone position was varied, and as end groups, the phenyl or the cyclohexyl functionalities were chosen. The general trend for all alkenes is a significant increase of the reactivity at the twin position compared to the photooxygenation in solution. For the cyclohexyl-substituted alkenes, it was found that the regioselectivity is nearly independent of the alkyl chain length. However, for the phenyl-substituted alkenes, the ene reactivity of the allylic methylene hydrogen atoms at the lone position and the twix/twin regioselectivity depend significantly on the distance of the phenyl group from the double bond. These trends are discussed in terms of cation-pi interactions and conformational effects. Intramolecular and intermolecular isotope effects in the intrazeolite photooxygenation of deuterium-labeled alkenes suggest that a perepoxide-type intermediate is formed in the rate-determining step. Type I photooxygenation that involves reaction of the radical cations of the alkenes with superoxide ion are unlikely.     

Selectivity of Chemical Conversions: Do Light‐Driven Photoelectrocatalytic Processes Hold Special Promise?

One of the great challenges in chemistry is the development of innovative catalytic processes. In this context, significant opportunities are currently opening up for technologies based on electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis, as these can drive various valuable catalytic redox transformations under very mild conditions. However, many catalytic processes lead to various different products of different value, and the technological attractiveness of catalytic processes depends to a large extent on their selectivity towards a specific desired product. In this Viewpoint, I propose and explore the idea that, due to the distinct features of interfacial energetics at illuminated semiconductors, light‐driven photoelectrocatalytic processes at well‐designed semiconductors represent a particularly attractive platform for the development of highly efficient systems for selective catalytic conversions. The investigations of selectivity and synthetic aspects of photoelectrocatalysis should gain momentum, especially as they also promise commercially viable applications on a more immediate time scale as compared to, for example, the light‐driven production of hydrogen.     

Structural analogues of quinoline alkaloids: Straightforward route to [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]quinolines with antibacterial properties

Compounds bearing [1,3]dioxolo-quinoline scaffolds have been found in quinoline-based natural products; the only exception is the [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]quinoline moiety with a rare occurrence in both natural and synthetic derivatives. In this article, we report the preparation of diversely substituted and functionalized [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]quinolines using [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]quinoline-4-carbaldehyde (DQC) as the common intermediate. DQC was synthesized on a large scale from anthranilic acid and chloroacetone as the starting materials, with the rearrangement of acetonyl-anthranilate as the key step. The developed method allows for the simple preparation of [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]quinolines with various C2 substituents on the quinoline scaffold. Additionally, the synthetic route was successfully applied to the preparation of 3-hydroxyquinoline-4(1H)-ones. The target compounds were tested against representative Gram-positive/negative bacteria, and two derivatives exhibited submicromolar minimum inhibitory concentrations against Micrococcus luteus.     

Influence of substituents on selectivity and efficiency of chiral separations of anions containing single nido-7,8-dicarbaundecaborane cluster with alpha-cyclodextrin

In background electrolyte (BGE) with the optimal methanol concentration of 30% (v/v), the ion with -NCS group bonded to a cluster boron atom exhibits the strongest interaction with alpha-cyclodextrin and the highest separation selectivity. Interaction of ions with alkyl or thioalkyl group weakens with the increasing substituent size. The ion with phenyl group exhibits the weakest interaction. Bonding of a group to boron atom weakens the ion interaction with alpha-cyclodextrin. Second substituent further weakens the interaction with alpha-cyclodextrin. Separation efficiency is lower at the presence of alpha-cyclodextrin than at its absence. This separation efficiency loss, amounts up to 90%.     

Electrokinetic partial filling technique as a powerful tool for enantiomeric separation of DL-lactic acid by CE with contactless conductivity detection

A modified partial filling method for chiral separation of DL-lactic acid as the model chiral compound with vancomycin chloride as the chiral selector was developed by CE with contactless conductivity detection. Electrokinetic partial filling technique (EK-PFT) was used as an alternative method to the conventional hydrodynamic partial filling method. EK-PFT, in contrast to the hydrodynamic partial filling technique, allowed the removal of the chloride counterions from the chiral selector which otherwise led to poor sensitivity in conductivity detection. The baseline separation of DL-lactic acid as the model analyte was achieved in 5 min in a polyacrylamide-coated capillary. The best resolution was achieved by electrokinetic partial filling of vancomycin cations from the injection solution containing 5 mmol/L oxalate L-histidinium at pH 4.5 with 10 mmol/L vancomycin chloride. Computer simulation was used to explain the observed phenomena in the boundary between the inject vial and the capillary during the EK-PFT of vancomycin cations.     

Chiral separability of hydrophobic boron cluster anions with native cyclodextrins in water-methanol background electrolytes

Cluster anions of boron are built up on three-center two-electron bonds in contrast to naturally occurring compounds and their synthetic analogs. Methanol works as a solvent and as a competing agent, which advantageously adjusts reasonable strength of their interaction with native CDs in water-organic BGE. The highest methanol concentration preserving chiral discrimination of atropoisomers of individual anions is approximately 35, 55 and 75% v/v for alpha-, beta- and gamma-CD, respectively. alpha-CD separates anionic 7, 8-nido-dicarbaundecaborate clusters with small exo-skeletal substituents. beta-CD separates anions of all four tested structural types. The efficiency of separation of a compound with alpha- or beta-CD is always markedly lower than the separation efficiency at the absence of a CD in BGE. The efficiency of separation of a compound with beta-CD is always lower than the efficiency of separation of the compound with alpha-CD. gamma-CD was proved to be unsuitable as a chiral selector because in BGEs with gamma-CD, effective mobilities of analytes as well as their differences continuously decrease. The decrease was ascribed to the decomposition of the gamma-CD. The assessment of analytical prospect of alpha- and beta-CDs as chiral selectors for chiral separations of boron cluster anions requires knowledge of stability of individual CDs at the conditions of analyses and recognition of the chance to eliminate low separation efficiency.     

Visible-light photocurrent response of TiO2-polyheptazine hybrids: evidence for interfacial charge-transfer absorption

We investigated photoelectrodes based on TiO(2)-polyheptazine hybrid materials. Since both TiO(2) and polyheptazine are extremely chemically stable, these materials are highly promising candidates for fabrication of photoanodes for water photooxidation. The properties of the hybrids were experimentally determined by a careful analysis of optical absorption spectra, luminescence properties and photoelectrochemical measurements, and corroborated by quantum chemical calculations. We provide for the first time clear experimental evidence for the formation of an interfacial charge-transfer complex between polyheptazine (donor) and TiO(2) (acceptor), which is responsible for a significant red shift of absorption and photocurrent response of the hybrid as compared to both of the single components. The direct optical charge transfer from the HOMO of polyheptazine to the conduction band edge of TiO(2) gives rise to an absorption band centered at 2.3 eV (540 nm). The estimated potential of photogenerated holes (+1.7 V vs. NHE, pH 7) allows for photooxidation of water (+0.82 V vs. NHE, pH 7) as evidenced by visible light-driven (λ > 420 nm) evolution of dioxygen on hybrid electrodes modified with IrO(2) nanoparticles as a co-catalyst. The quantum-chemical simulations demonstrate that the TiO(2)-polyheptazine interface is a complex and flexible system energetically favorable for proton-transfer processes required for water oxidation. Apart from water splitting, this type of hybrid materials may also find further applications in a broader research area of solar energy conversion and photo-responsive devices.     

The study of properties of HPLC determination of polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles

The study of the separation of polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs) by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with an octadecyl stationary phase is presented. The retention behaviour of a mixture of PANHs was studied under different chromatographic conditions. A mixture of phosphate buffer/acetonitrile was used as mobile phase in isocratic and gradient modes. The effect of different pH mobile phase in the range from 2.5 to 6.5 has been investigated to describe retention changes of PANHs as a function of their acid/base properties. Different concentrations of phosphate buffer as a component of the mobile phase were used to study the effect of ionic strength. Very good RP-HPLC separation of 24 PANHs and 16 EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was obtained without a pre-separation step in a test mixture and the extract of a real soil sample. Limits of detection of PANHs obtained by two detection techniques, ultraviolet-diode array detection (UV-DAD) and fluorescence detector (FD), are compared. The proposed method is tested with a real soil sample.     

High-Throughput Fluorescent Assay for Inhibitor Screening of Proteases from RNA Viruses

Spanish flu, polio epidemics, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are the most profound examples of severe widespread diseases caused by RNA viruses. The coronavirus pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) demands affordable and reliable assays for testing antivirals. To test inhibitors of viral proteases, we have developed an inexpensive high-throughput assay based on fluorescent energy transfer (FRET). We assayed an array of inhibitors for papain-like protease from SARS-CoV-2 and validated it on protease from the tick-borne encephalitis virus to emphasize its versatility. The reaction progress is monitored as loss of FRET signal of the substrate. This robust and reproducible assay can be used for testing the inhibitors in 96- or 384-well plates.