Heterohexanuclear (Cu3Fe3) Complexes of Substituted Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN) Ligands: Twofold BF4− Association in the Solid and Stepwise Oxidation (3e) or Reduction (2e) to Spectroelectrochemically Characterized Species

New tris(ferrocenylcopper) compounds [(μ₃‐dqp){Cu(dppf)}₃][X]₃ (dppf=1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphinoferrocene), dqp=hexamethyl‐, hexachloro‐ or un‐substituted diquinoxalino[2,3‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine=hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN), X^?=BF₄^? or PF₆^?) undergo at least two different, reversible one‐electron reductions and three very closely spaced one‐electron oxidations. While the latter are attributed to the stepwise ferrocene→ferrocenium conversions, the first electron addition occurs in the ligand bridge to yield EPR detectable radical complexes. X‐band EPR measurements at 9.5 GHz showed a partially resolved hyperfine structure, while high‐frequency EPR measurements at 95 or 115 GHz revealed a small but variable axial g tensor anisotropy. All reversible steps were investigated by optically transparent thin‐layer electrode (OTTLE) spectroelectrochemistry (UV/Vis/NIR regions), revealing very low energy transitions for the reduced forms in agreement with the frontier MO arrangement. A crystal structure of the compound with unsubstituted dqp shows notable deviation from the trigonal symmetry and the close association of two tetrafluoroborate anions with the complex trication along the quasi‐trigonal axis to yield [(μ₃‐dqp){Cu(dppf)}₃(BF₄)₂]BF₄.     

Molecular complexity from aromatics. Cycloaddition of cyclohexa-2,4-dienones, sigmatropic 1,2-acyl shift and ring-closing metathesis: a new, efficient, and stereoselective synthesis of (±)-hirsutic acid C and medium ring carbocycles

A new, stereoselective formal synthesis of hirsutic acid and medium ring carbocyclic systems from salicyl alcohol is described. Cycloaddition between electron deficient partners such as cyclohexa-2,4-dienone and methylmethacrylate, triplet sensitized 1,2-acyl shift and ring-closing metathesis are the key features of our approach.     

Titanium superoxide: a heterogeneous catalyst for anti-Markovnikov aminobromination of olefins

A new facile procedure for the aminobromination of olefins in high yields has been described using p-toluene sulfonamide (p-TsNH₂) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as nitrogen and bromine sources, respectively, and titanium superoxide as a truly heterogeneous catalyst. The formation of anti-Markovnikov product exclusively in all the cases studied possibly proceeding through a free radical reaction pathway is remarkable.     

Living carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene with styrene

The carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) and styrene (St), initiated by 2‐chloro‐2,4,4‐trimethylpentane/TiCl₄ in 60/40 (v/v) methyl chloride/hexane at ?90 °C, was investigated. At a low total concentration (0.5 mol/L), slow initiation and rapid monomer conversion were observed. At a high total comonomer concentration (3 mol/L), living conditions (a linear semilogarithmic rate and M_n–conversion plots) were found, provided that the St concentration was above a critical value ([St]₀ ～ 0.6 mol/L). The breadth of the molecular weight distribution decreased with increasing IB concentration in the feed, reaching M_w/M_n ～ 1.1. St homopolymerization was also living at a high total concentration, yielding polystyrene with M_n = 82,000 g/mol, the highest molecular weight ever achieved in carbocationic St polymerization. An analysis of this system by both the traditional gravimetric–NMR copolymer composition method and FTIR demonstrated penultimate effects. IB enrichment was found in the copolymers at all feed compositions, with very little drift at a high total concentration and above the critical St concentration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1778–1787, 2007     

Preclassification of Broadband and Sparse Infrared Data by Multiplicative Signal Correction Approach

Preclassification of raw infrared spectra has often been neglected in scientific literature. Separating spectra of low spectral quality, due to low signal-to-noise ratio, presence of artifacts, and low analyte presence, is crucial for accurate model development. Furthermore, it is very important for sparse data, where it becomes challenging to visually inspect spectra of different natures. Hence, a preclassification approach to separate infrared spectra for sparse data is needed. In this study, we propose a preclassification approach based on Multiplicative Signal Correction (MSC). The MSC approach was applied on human and the bovine knee cartilage broadband Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra and on a sparse data subset comprising of only seven wavelengths. The goal of the preclassification was to separate spectra with analyte-rich signals (i.e., cartilage) from spectra with analyte-poor (and high-matrix) signals (i.e., water). The human datasets 1 and 2 contained 814 and 815 spectra, while the bovine dataset contained 396 spectra. A pure water spectrum was used as a reference spectrum in the MSC approach. A threshold for the root mean square error (RMSE) was used to separate cartilage from water spectra for broadband and the sparse spectral data. Additionally, standard noise-to-ratio and principle component analysis were applied on broadband spectra. The fully automated MSC preclassification approach, using water as reference spectrum, performed as well as the manual visual inspection. Moreover, it enabled not only separation of cartilage from water spectra in broadband spectral datasets, but also in sparse datasets where manual visual inspection cannot be applied.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Rhizophora apiculata and Studies on Their Wound Healing,Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory,and Cytotoxic Activity

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently gained interest in the medical field because of their biological features. The present study aimed at screening Rhizophora apiculata secondary metabolites, quantifying their flavonoids and total phenolics content, green synthesis and characterization of R. apiculata silver nanoparticles. In addition, an assessment of in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of R. apiculata and its synthesized AgNPs was carried out. The powdered plant material (leaves) was subjected to Soxhlet extraction to obtain R. apiculata aqueous extract. The R. apiculata extract was used as a reducing agent in synthesizing AgNPs from silver nitrate. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, particle size analyzer and zeta potential. Further aqueous leaf extract of R. apiculata and AgNPs was subjected for in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and cytotoxic activity against A375 (Skin cancer), A549 (Lung cancer), and KB-3-1 (Oral cancer) cell lines. All experiments were repeated three times (n = 3), and the results were given as the mean ± SEM. The flavonoids and total phenolics content in R. apiculata extract were 44.18 ± 0.086 mg/g of quercetin and 53.24 ± 0.028 mg/g of gallic acid, respectively. SEM analysis revealed R. apiculata AgNPs with diameters ranging from 35 to 100 nm. XRD confirmed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. The cytotoxicity cell viability assay revealed that the AgNPs were less toxic (IC₅₀ 105.5 µg/mL) compared to the R. apiculata extract (IC₅₀ 47.47 µg/mL) against the non-cancerous fibroblast L929 cell line. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity tests revealed that AgNPs had significantly more activity than the plant extract. The AgNPs inhibited protein denaturation by a mean percentage of 71.65%, which was equivalent to the standard anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac (94.24%). The AgNPs showed considerable cytotoxic effect, and the percentage of cell viability against skin cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer cell lines was 31.84%, 56.09% and 22.59%, respectively. R. apiculata AgNPs demonstrated stronger cell migration and percentage of wound closure (82.79%) compared to the plant extract (75.23%). The overall results revealed that R. apiculata AgNPs exhibited potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and cytotoxic properties. In future, R. apiculata should be further explored to unmask its therapeutic potential and the mechanistic pathways of AgNPs should be studied in detail in in vivo animal models.     

Identification and Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Natural Compounds as Potential Myostatin Inhibitors: An In Silico Approach

Myostatin (MSTN), a negative regulator of muscle mass, is reported to be increased in conditions linked with muscle atrophy, sarcopenia, and other muscle-related diseases. Most pharmacologic approaches that treat muscle disorders are ineffective, emphasizing the emergence of MSTN inhibition. In this study, we used computational screening to uncover natural small bioactive inhibitors from the Traditional Chinese Medicine database (~38,000 compounds) for the MSTN protein. Potential ligands were screened, based on binding affinity (150), physicochemical (53) and ADMET properties (17). We found two hits (ZINC85592908 and ZINC85511481) with high binding affinity and specificity, and their binding patterns with MSTN protein. In addition, molecular dynamic simulations were run on each complex to better understand the interaction mechanism of MSTN with the control (curcumin) and the hit compounds (ZINC85592908 and ZINC85511481). We determined that the hits bind to the active pocket site (Helix region) and trigger conformational changes in the MSTN protein. Since the stability of the ZINC85592908 compound was greater than the MSTN control, we believe that ZINC85592908 has therapeutic potential against the MSTN protein and may hinder downstream singling by inhibiting the MSTN protein and increasing myogenesis in the skeletal muscle tissues.     

Synthesis,crystal, and molecular structure of coordination polymers constructed by self-assembly of NiN<Subscript>4</Subscript> cores with 2,2′-iminodibenzoate and nitroprusside ions

Two coordination compounds of compositions [Ni(L¹)(idba)(H₂O)]·1.5 H₂O (1) and [Ni(L²)Fe(CN)₅NO]·C₂H₅OH (2) where L¹ is N, N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, L² is 2,12-dimethyl-3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),2,11,13,15-pentaene, and idba^2? is 2,2′-iminodibenzoate have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (No. 14) with a=9.810(2) Å, b=10.230(2) Å, c=25.350(5) Å, V=2543.6(9) Å³, Z=4, and R=0.0727. The nickel atom is six-coordinated by four N atoms of amine and two O atoms of water and idba^2?. The molecular packing of the complex comprises of an infinite one-dimensional layered network in which the molecules in the crystal are held together by a system of hydrogen bonding. Complex 2, however, crystallizes in the space group C2/c (No. 15) of the monoclinic system with a=19.7990(4) Å, b=14.9440(3) Å, c=19.8800(3) Å, V=5115.90(17) Å³, Z=4, and R=0.0540. The Ni ion in compound 2 has a slightly distorted octahedral arrangement of the N₄ donor atoms of primary ligand L² and two N-donor atoms of the secondary nitroprusside ligand. The structure of 2 displays an extended one-dimensional network formed by linear [—Ni—NC—Fe—CN—] units. A cyclic voltammetric study shows that compound 1 undergoes a quasireversible oxidation attributable to Ni²⁺ → Ni³⁺ in the range 300–420 mV vs SCE.     

Amperometric proton selective sensors utilizing ion transfer reactions across a microhole liquid/gel interface

A new cost-effective amperometric proton selective sensor utilizing a single microhole interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) is developed. The sensing methodology is based on measuring currents associated with proton transfer across the interface assisted by a proton selective ionophore. The ellipse shaped micro-interface was first fabricated by simple mechanical punching with a sharp needle on a thin PVC film (12 μm thick) commercially available as a food wrapping material. The microhole was then filled up with a gellified polyvinylchloride (PVC)-2-nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE) to create a single microhole liquid/liquid interface. Direct ion transfer reactions across the polarized interface serving as ion sensing platforms were studied using cyclic voltammetry. In order to enhance the selectivity of proton sensing, a proton selective ionophore, octadecyl isonicotinate (ETH1778), was incorporated into the organic gel layer and their electrochemical sensing characteristics were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse stripping voltammetry. As an example, we employed the proton selective sensor for the determination of glucose concentrations. The detection scheme involves two steps: (i) protons are first generated by the oxidation of glucose with glucose oxidase in the aqueous phase; and (ii) the current associated with the proton transfer across the interface is then measured for correlating the concentration of glucose.