Syntheses of diaza-18-crown-6 ligands containing two units each of 4-hydroxyazobenzene,benzimidazole, uracil,anthraquinone, or ferrocene groups

Six new diaza-18-crown-6 ligands each containing two aromatic side arms with responsive functions were prepared. Diaza-18-crown-6 containing two 4-hydroxyazobenzene ( 3 ) or two 4 -hydroxy- 4′ -(dimethyl-amino)azobenzene ( 4 ) substituents were prepared via a one-pot Mannich reaction. Diaza-18-crown-6 containing two benzimidazole ( 5 ), two uracil ( 6 ) or two 9,10-anthraquinone ( 7 ) substituents were prepared by treating the diazacrown with the appropriate chloromethyl-containing compound. Reductive amination using sodium triacetoxyborohydride, diaza-18-crown-6 and ferrocenecarboxaldehyde was used to prepare bisferrocene-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 ( 8 ). Interactions of compounds 3 , 5 , and 6 with Na⁺, K⁺, Ba²⁺, Ag⁺, and Cu²⁺ were evaluated by a calorimetric titration technique at 25° in methanol. All three ligands form more stable complexes with Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ ( 5 forms a precipitate with Ag⁺) than with Na⁺ and K⁺. Ligand 5 also forms a highly stable complex with Ba²⁺.     

Crystal Structures of Cs+-Crown Ether Complexes Containing Polynuclear Mercury Iodide Anions

Reactions of CsI and HgI₂ with benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and 15-crown-5 (15C5) in an ethanol-acetone mixture produced [Cs(B15C5)₂]₂[Hg₂I₆] (1) and {[Cs(15C5)]₂[Hg₂I₆]}_n (2), respectively. The structures of the two complexes are quite different. Molar ratios of Cs⁺ : crown ether are 1 : 2 in 1 and 1 : 1 in 2. Complex 1 consists of two Cs(B15C5) ₂ ⁺ cations and a Hg₂I ₆ ^2- anion. Cs⁺ lies between the two crown-5 ligands, resulting in a sandwich-type cation. Cationic Cs(B15C5) ₂ ⁺ and anionic Hg₂I ₆ ^2- are linked together by electrostatic interactions and the complex 1 is an ion pair compound. Complex 2 consists of infinite [Cs(15C5)]₂[Hg₂I₆] units. Each structural unit contains two Cs(15C5)⁺ cations and a Hg₂I ₆ ^2- anion. Cs⁺ is coordinated by five oxygen atoms of 15C5, three iodine atoms of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- , and an iodine atom of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- in an adjacent structural unit. The interactions between the Cs⁺ of Cs(15C5)⁺ and an I^– in Hg₂I ₆ ^2- from adjacent structural units polymerize the complex 2, resulting in a one-dimensional network structure. The anions of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- in both complexes are similar. The two mercury atoms are linked through two bridging iodine atoms and each mercury is also coordinated by two terminal iodines. Crystal data for 1: space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 12.253(4), b = 20.945(7), c = 16.110(6) Å, = 111.0(1)°, V = 3860 ų, Z = 4, R = 0.082 (R _w = 0.089). Crystal data for 2: space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 12.157(4), b = 8.546(4), c = 20.666(6) Å, = 91.54(3)°, V = 2146 ų, Z = 4, R = 0.034 (R _w = 0.048).     

The Remarkable Structure of Lithium Cyanide/Isocyanide

Electron correlation corrections have a considerable influence on the relative stabilities of lithium isocyanide ( 1 ), lithium cyanide ( 2 ), and the bridged form, 3 . While Hartree-Fock theory finds 1 to be most stable and 3 not to be a minimum, MP2/6-31G* optimization indicates 3 to be the global minimum. At higher levels employing full fourth-order Møller-Plesset theory and a quadruply split valence and polarized basis set (MP4STDQ/6-311+G*), 2 is only about 2 kcal/mol less stable than 1 and 3 , which are indicated to have nearly the same energy. LiNC thus is similar to C(Na)N and C(K)N, both of which are known to prefer T-shaped (bridged) structures in the gas phase. However, to an even greater extent than formerly realized, rotation of the lithium cation around the cyanide anion nucleus should be practically free. ΔH (LiCN) = 32.8 kcal/mol is estimated from the calculated lithium cation affinity of 151.2 kcal/mol. In addition, we find at the MP4SDTQ/6-31+G*//MP2/6-31G* level that the bridged form of NaCN is favored by 2–3 kcal/mol over the corresponding linear forms, which have nearly the same energy.     

Proton-ionizable crown compounds. 4. New macrocyclic polyether ligands containing a triazole subcyclic unit

A series of macrocyclic polyether (crown) ligands containing the proton-ionizable s-triazole subcyclic unit were prepared by reacting the 1-THP blocked 3,5-bis(chloromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole with various oligoethylene glycols. The starting bis(chloromethyl)triazole is a vessicant and must be used with caution. Triazolo-18-crown-6 ( 5 ) formed stable complexes with barium, strontium, copper and benzylammonium cations but not with potassium or lithium. The crystal structure of 5 showed the triazole proton to be on nitrogen 3 which is outside the macroring cavity.     

Development of a systems analysis approach for resolving the structure of biodegrading soil systems

An experimental and mathematical method is developed for the microbial systems analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading mixed cultures in PAH-contaminated “town gas” soil systems. Frequency response is the primary experimental and data analysis tool used to probe the structure of these complicated systems. The objective is to provide a fundamental protocol for evaluating the performance of specific mixed microbial cultures on specific soil systems by elucidating the salient system variables and their interactions. Two well-described reactor systems, a constant volume stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a plug flow differential volume reactor, are used in order to remove performance effects that are related to reactor type as opposed to system structure. These two reactor systems are well-defined systems that can be described mathematically and represent the two extremes of one potentially important system variable, macroscopic mass transfer. The experimental and mathematical structure of the protocol is described, experimental data is presented, and data analysis is demonstrated for the stripping, sorption, and biodegradation of napththalene.     

Functionalized di- and tetrathia-crowns and their use to quantitatively separate and recover gold(III), palladium(II), silver(I) and mercury(II) Ions

Two new dithia-crowns containing a hydroxy group and 1,4,7,10-tetrathia-18-crown-6 containing an allyl-oxymethyl substituent were prepared in good yields. Two of these crowns were covalently attached to silica gel. The silica gel-bound thia-crowns were used to separate gold( III ), palladium( II ), silver( I ) and mercury( II ) ions from an aqueous 0.1 M nitric acid solution which also contained 1.0 M ferric chloride.     

Characterization of the diradical *NSNSC-CNSSN* and [NSNSC-CNSSN][MF6]n (n=1, 2). The first observation of an excited triplet state in dimers of 7pi -CNSSN* radicals

Preparation and full characterization of the main-group diradical *NSNSC-CNSSN*, 8, the MF6- salt (As, Sb) of radical cation +NSNSC-CNSSN*, 8*+, and the AsF6- salt of the dication +NSNSC-CNSSN+, 82+, are presented. 8, a=6.717 (4), b=11.701(2), c=8.269(3) A, alpha=gamma=90, beta=106.69(3) degrees, monoclinic, space group P21/n, Z=4, T=203 K; 8SbF6, a=6.523(2), b=7.780(2), c=12.012(4) A, alpha=91.994(4), beta=96.716(4), gamma=09.177(4) degrees, triclinic, space group P, Z=2, T=198 K; 8[AsF6]2, a=12.7919(14), b=9.5760(11), c=18.532(2) A, alpha=gamma=90, beta=104.034(2) degrees, monoclinic, space group Pn, Z=6, T=198 K. Preparation of 8MF6 was carried out via a reduction of [CNSNS]2[MF6]2 (M=As, Sb) with either ferrocene or a SbPh3-NBu4Cl mixture. In the solid state, diamagnetic 8SbF6 contains centrosymmetric dimers [8*+]2 linked via two-electron four-centered pi*-pi* interactions with a thermally excited triplet state as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). This is the first observation of a triplet excited state for a 7pi 1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl radical dimer. The singlet-triplet gap of the [-CNSSN*]2 radical pair was -1800+/-100 cm(-1) (-22+/-1 kJ/mol) with the ZFS components |D|=0.0267(6) cm(-1) and |E|=0.0012(1) cm(-1), corresponding to an in situ dimerization energy of ca. -11 kJ/mol. Cyclic voltammetry measurements of 8[AsF6]2 showed two reversible waves associated with a stepwise reduction of the two isomeric rings [E1/2 (+2/+1)=1.03 V; E1/2 (+1/0)=0.47 V, respectively]. 8MF6 (M=As, Sb) was further reduced to afford the mixed main-group diradical 8, containing two isomeric radical rings. In solution, 8 is thermodynamically unstable with respect to *NSSNC-CNSSN*, but is isolable in the solid state because of its low solubility in SO2. Likewise, 8SbF6, 8 is dimeric, with pi*-pi* interactions between different isomeric rings, and consequently diamagnetic; however, a slight increase in paramagnetism was observed upon grinding [from C=6.5(3)x10(-4) emu.K/mol and temperature-independent paramagnetism (TIP)=1.3(1)x10(-4) emu/mol to C=3.2(1)x10(-3) emu.K/mol and TIP=9.0(1)x10(-4) emu/mol], accompanied by an increase in the lattice-defect S=1/2 sites [from 0.087(1) to 0.43(1)%]. Computational analysis using the multiconfigurational approach [CASSCF(6,6)/6-31G*] indicated that the two-electron multicentered pi*-pi* bonds in [8*+]2 and [8]2 have substantial diradical characters, implying that their ground states are diradicaloid in nature. Our results suggest that the electronic structure of organic-radical ion pairs, for example, [TTF*+]2, [TCNE*-]2, [TCNQ*-]2, [DDQ*-]2, and related pi dimers, can be described in a similar way.     

Dual aromatase-sulfatase inhibitors based on the anastrozole template: synthesis, in vitro SAR, molecular modelling and in vivo activity

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel Dual Aromatase-Sulfatase Inhibitors (DASIs) are described. It is postulated that dual inhibition of the aromatase and steroid sulfatase enzymes, both responsible for the biosynthesis of oestrogens, will be beneficial in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The compounds are based upon the Anastrozole aromatase inhibitor template which, while maintaining the haem ligating triazole moiety crucial for enzyme inhibition, was modified to include a phenol sulfamate ester motif, the pharmacophore for potent irreversible steroid sulfatase inhibition. Adaption of a synthetic route to Anastrozole was accomplished via selective radical bromination and substitution reactions to furnish a series of inhibitory aromatase pharmacophores. Linking these fragments to the phenol sulfamate ester moiety employed S(N)2, Heck and Mitsunobu reactions with phenolic precursors, from where the completed DASIs were achieved via sulfamoylation. In vitro, the lead compound, 11, had a high degree of potency against aromatase (IC(50) 3.5 nM), comparable with that of Anastrozole (IC(50) 1.5 nM) whereas, only moderate activity against steroid sulfatase was found. However, in vivo, 11 surprisingly exhibited potent dual inhibition. Compound 11 was modelled into the active site of a homology model of human aromatase and the X-ray crystal structure of steroid sulfatase.     

Dual aromatase-sulfatase inhibitors based on the anastrozole template: synthesis, in vitro SAR, molecular modelling and in vivo activity

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel Dual Aromatase-Sulfatase Inhibitors (DASIs) are described. It is postulated that dual inhibition of the aromatase and steroid sulfatase enzymes, both responsible for the biosynthesis of oestrogens, will be beneficial in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The compounds are based upon the Anastrozole aromatase inhibitor template which, while maintaining the haem ligating triazole moiety crucial for enzyme inhibition, was modified to include a phenol sulfamate ester motif, the pharmacophore for potent irreversible steroid sulfatase inhibition. Adaption of a synthetic route to Anastrozole was accomplished via selective radical bromination and substitution reactions to furnish a series of aromatase inhibitory pharmacophores. Linking these fragments to the phenol sulfamate ester moiety employed SN2, Heck and Mitsunobu reactions with phenolic precursors, from where the completed DASIs were achieved via sulfamoylation. In vitro, the lead compound, 11, had a high degree of potency against aromatase (IC50 3.5 nM), comparable with that of Anastrozole (IC50 1.5 nM) whereas, only moderate activity against steroid sulfatase was found. However, in vivo, 11 surprisingly exhibited potent dual inhibition.Compound 11 was modelled into the active site of a homology model of human aromatase and the X-ray crystal structure of steroid sulfatase.