Synthesis,crystal structure,magnetic property and DNA cleavage activity of a new terephthalate-bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex

A new terephthalate-bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography: [Cu₄(L)₂(tp)(dmf)₂] (1) (H₃L = 1,3-bis(salicylideneamino)propan-2-ol, tp = terephthalate and dmf = N,N′-dimethylformamide). The dinucleating pentadentate character of the ligand (H₃L) and the desired pair-of-dimers arrangement, through the incorporation of the bridging terephthalate moiety, is clearly evident from the structure of 1. The copper atoms are coordinated in a slightly distorted square pyramidal arrangement within each dinucleating half of the complex and are bridged mono-atomically by the secondary alkoxo oxygen of the ligand and di-atomically by the terephthalate moiety. The apical position is occupied by the oxygen atom of the dmf. The structure of 1 reveals a short intramolecular Cu–Cu separation (ca. 3.1 Å), in combination with long intramolecular copper separations (ca. 11 Å). The variable temperature-dependent susceptibility measurement (2–300 K) of 1 reveals a dominant ferromagnetic coupling, 2J = 18.70 cm⁻¹. Complex 1 binds to double-stranded CT (calf-thymus) DNA giving a K_app value of 1.25 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ and displays efficient cleavage of supercoiled pUC19 DNA in the presence of H₂O₂ following a hydroxyl radical pathway.     

Observation of “de Vries-like” properties in bent-core molecules

“de Vries” liquid crystals, defined by a maximum layer shrinkage of ≤1% from the smectic A to C phase transition, are an integral component of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) displays. Bona fide de Vries materials described in the literature are primarily perfluorinated, polysiloxane and polysilane-terminated rod-like (or calamitic) LCs. Herein, for the first time, we report a series of newly designed achiral unsymmetrical bent-core molecules with terminal alkoxy chains exhibiting similar properties to “de Vries” LCs. The new molecular structure is based on the systematic distribution of four phenyl rings attached via ester and imine linkers having 3-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid as the central core with a bent angle of 147°. Detailed microscopic investigations in differently aligned (planar as well as homeotropic) cells along with SAXS/WAXS studies revealed that the materials exhibited a SmA–SmC phase sequence along with the appearance of the nematic phase at higher temperatures. SAXS measurements divulged the layer spacings (d-spacings) and hence, the layer shrinkage was calculated ranging from 0.19% to 0.68% just below the SmA–SmC transition. The variation of the calculated molecular tilt angle (α) derived from the temperature-dependent SAXS data, followed the power law with exponent values 0.29 ± 0.01 and 0.25 ± 0.01 for compounds 1/10 and 1/12, respectively. The experimental values obtained were very close to the theoretically predicted values for the materials with de Vries-like properties. The analysis of temperature-dependent birefringence studies based on the prediction of the Landau theory, showed a dip across the SmA–SmC phase transition typical of compounds exhibiting the de Vries characteristics. The collective results obtained suggest “de Vries” SmA as a probable model for this bent-core system which may find applications in displays.

A simple molecular design of unsymmetrical bent-core molecules exhibiting low layer shrinkage and a dip in the birefringence at the SmA–SmC phase transition, typical characteristics of “de Vries” liquid crystals.     

Orbital analysis of bonding in diarylhalonium salts and relevance to periodic trends in structure and reactivity

Diarylhalonium compounds provide new opportunities as reagents and catalysts in the field of organic synthesis. The three center, four electron (3c–4e) bond is a center piece of their reactivity, but structural variation among the diarylhaloniums, and in comparison with other λ³-iodanes, indicates that the model needs refinement for broader applicability. We use a combination of Density Functional Theory (DFT), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) Theory, and X-ray structure data to correlate bonding and structure for a λ³-iodane and a series of diarylchloronium, bromonium, and iodonium salts, and their isoelectronic diarylchalcogen counterparts. This analysis reveals that the s-orbital on the central halogen atom plays a greater role in the 3c–4e bond than previously considered. Finally, we show that our revised bonding model and associated structures account for both kinetic and thermodynamic reactivity for both acyclic phenyl(mesityl)halonium and cyclic dibenzohalolium salts.

A revised bonding model for diarylhalonium salts, that involves partial s-orbital contribution, provides new insight into periodic trends in structure and reactivity.     

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cycloisomerization of Arylalkynes

The first example of an enantioselective carbocyclization of an alkyne-containing substrate catalyzed by chiral Brønsted acids was achieved. The use of the 2-hydroxynaphthyl substituent on the alkyne as a directing group constituted the key parameter enabling both efficient regioselective protonation of the carbon–carbon triple bond and chiral induction. The key cationic intermediate could be depicted either as a cationic vinylidene ortho-quinone methide or a stabilized vinyl cation. Atropoisomeric phenanthrenes derivatives were produced in high yields and good enantioselectivities under mild, metal-free reaction conditions in the presence of chiral N-triflylphosphoramide catalysts. The carbenic nature of the cationic intermediate was also exploited to describe an example of alkyne/alkane cycloisomerization.     

Determination of low atomic number elements at trace levels in uranium matrix using vacuum chamber total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Determinations of low atomic number elements Na, Mg and Al present at trace concentrations in uranium matrix were made by vacuum chamber total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for the first time. For this purpose, synthetic samples of uranium with known amounts of these low atomic number elements were prepared by mixing different volumes of their solutions with U solution of high purity. The concentrations of these elements in the samples were in the range of 100–300 μg/g with respect to uranium and 10–20 μg/mL in the solutions. Major matrix uranium was separated by solvent extraction with 30% solution of tri-n-butyl phosphate in dodecane. After the solvent extraction, aqueous phase containing trace elements was mixed with Sc internal standard and the samples were analyzed by vacuum chamber total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer having a Cr Kα excitation source. The total reflection X-ray fluorescence results obtained, after blank corrections, indicated an average deviation of 14% from the calculated concentrations of these low atomic number elements on the basis of their preparation. However, the total reflection X-ray fluorescence determined concentration of Mg was exceptionally lower than the calculated concentration in two samples. These studies have shown that vacuum chamber total reflection X-ray fluorescence is a promising technique for the determination of low atomic number elements in uranium matrix after its separation.     

Multiphonon probe in ZnS quantum dots

Raman spectroscopic studies have been performed for ZnS nanoclusters in this study. Cluster size dependent multiphonon properties are reported in detail. A flurry of zone boundary phonons is demonstrated in the scattering process. A strong deformation potential (DP) dominated Raman spectra are reported for cubic ZnS nanocluster of diameter with ∼2.2 nm in size below the quantum confinement. Transverse optic (TO) mode in the multiphonon process shows only even order overtones for 2.2 nm cluster, suggesting the dominance of a two‐phonon process and its integral multiples. The possibility of surface oxidation in the smallest cluster is ruled out as a plausible explanation for the observed even order TO modes which resemble the higher order modes of ZnO. A wave vector‐independence of electron–phonon interaction in quantum dots leads to strong dependence on DP‐related phenomenon. A large DP value for the second‐order process in ZnS than that with respect to the first‐order process is made responsible for the observed phenomenon. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a PDMS‐based microchip electrophoresis device for continuous online in vivo monitoring of microdialysis samples

A PDMS‐based microfluidic system for online coupling of microdialysis sampling to microchip electrophoresis with fluorescence detection for in vivo analysis of amino acid neurotransmitters using naphthalene‐2,3‐dicarboxaldehyde and sodium cyanide as the derivatization reagents is described. Fabricating chips from PDMS rather than glass was found to be simpler and more reproducible, especially for chips with complex designs. The microchip incorporated a 20‐cm serpentine channel in which sample plugs were introduced using a “simple” injection scheme; this made fluid handling and injection on‐chip easier for the online system compared with gated or valve‐based injection. The microchip was evaluated offline for the analysis of amino acid standards and rat brain microdialysis samples. Next, precolumn derivatization was incorporated into the chip and in vivo online microdialysis‐microchip electrophoresis studies were performed. The system was employed for the continuous monitoring of amino acid neurotransmitters in the extracellular fluid of the brain of an anesthetized rat. Fluorescein was dosed intravenously and monitored simultaneously online as a marker of in vivo blood–brain barrier permeability. The microdialysis‐microchip electrophoresis system described here will be employed in the future for simultaneous monitoring of changes in blood–brain barrier permeability and levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in the rat stroke model.     

Synthesis of RAFT-Mediated Amphiphilic Graft Copolymeric Micelle Using Dextran and Poly (Oleic Acid) toward Oral Delivery of Nifedipine

A novel, pH-responsive supramolecular graft copolymeric micelle, composed of dextran and poly (oleic acid), has been synthesized through reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization with controlled M_n and narrow polydispersity. The structural properties of the copolymer have been studied using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectral analyses. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) has been determined fluorometrically and conductometrically. The copolymer shows pH responsive micellar stability, which has been confirmed using DLS study. Dextran-g-OA copolymer demonstrates spherical morphology at CMC, while rod-like assembly has been evidenced beyond CMC that is probably because of the structural alteration of copolymeric chains at higher copolymer concentration. Dextran-g-OA is noncytotoxic toward MG-63 cells. As the self-assemble nature of copolymer micelle promotes the oral administration of hydrophobic drugs, nifedipine (NFD, a hydrophobic drug) has been used as model drug that has been encapsulated substantially into the core of the micelle. The copolymer releases the loaded NFD at a much slower rate in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and relatively faster in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) with a cumulative release of ~95% within 24 h, suggesting an ideal candidate as nifedipine carrier. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2354–2363