A self-assembled tetrapeptide that acts as a “turn-on” fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ ion

The tetrapeptide (Bz-$\mathrm{\Delta }$Phe(p-NPh₂)-l-DOPA(protected)-l-Phe-l-Phe-OMe was designed to incorporate seven phenyl rings so that it’s conformation, self-assembly and application in Hg²⁺ ions sensing could be studied. Peptide molecules adopted an overlapping β-turn of type III/III conformation in crystals. The peptide showed a highly selective turn-on response towards mercuric ion over other metal ions with a 10-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity. This intensity change coupled with the selectivity of the peptide towards mercury allowed us to demonstrate simple colorimetric dip sensing of Hg²⁺ ions. The technique provides a highly selective and effective way to detect Hg²⁺ ions. The peptide also self-assembled into nanospheres with diameter ranges from 100 to 500?nm. Mercuric ion coordination enabled these peptide nanospheres to aggregate into well-defined nanoparticles. The enhanced fluorescence upon Hg²⁺ addition demonstrates that peptide scaffolds can be exploited in the development of different selective sensors.     

Mn/Cu catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid to nitriles: Direct synthesis of arylketones

A direct and efficient synthesis of arylketones via arylboronic acid addition to nitriles in presence of inexpensive Mn/Cu catalytic system is reported. The use of non-precious Mn and Cu salts has been found to be highly advantageous both in terms of accessibility as well as cost effectiveness. A series of arylboronic acids as well as nitriles were used to synthesize a variety of symmetrical and unsymmetrical arylketones. Based on the literature studies, the reaction mechanism is anticipated to go through an aryl radical intermediate which reacted with the copper activated nitrile to give the desired arylketones after the hydrolysis of the imine intermediate.     

Metal and Non-metal Based Catalysts for Oxidation of Organic Compounds

The oxidation of organic compounds is of extreme importance in synthetic chemistry. The catalysts provide high selectivity towards the oxidation products employing with the oxidants. This review is not intended to give a complete survey of all oxidation catalysis reactions by different catalysts but rather to give a summary of some important catalytic oxidation reactions by different metal and non-metal based catalysts.     

A novel one-pot method for the preparation of pyrazoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of diazo compounds generated in situ

A convenient one-pot procedure for the preparation of pyrazoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazo compounds generated in situ has been developed. Diazo compounds derived from aldehydes were reacted with terminal alkynes to furnish regioselectively 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles. Furthermore, the reaction of N-vinylimidazole and diazo compounds derived from aldehydes gave exclusively 3-substituted pyrazoles in a one-pot process.     

The complexity of catalysis: origins of enantio- and diastereocontrol in sulfur ylide mediated epoxidation reactions

The reaction of chiral sulfur ylides with aldehydes and ketones has emerged as a useful asymmetric process for the synthesis of epoxides. Processes employing either catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of sulfides have been developed. Although a large number of chiral sulfur ylides have been tested in the epoxidation process, only a few have delivered high diastereo- and enantio- selectivity. This review examines the factors that influence stereocontrol (steric hindrance of the sulfide, ylide conformation, ylide face selectivity, reversibility of betaine formation, solvent, and metal salts). This analysis leads to the conclusion that high reversibility in betaine formation leads to high diastereoselectivity but low enantioselectivity, and non-reversible betaine formation leads to low diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity (provided that other criteria are met). To achieve both high diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity simultaneously, requires non-reversible formation of the anti-betaine and reversible formation of the syn-betaine. Thus, factors that influence the degree of reversibility in betaine formation are critically important since with subtle changes in reaction conditions (solvent, temperature, metal ions) both high enantio- and diastereoselectivity can often be achieved.     

Quantum chemical investigation on the influence of amino substitution on proton affinity of oxazolidin-2-one

The scenarios of preferred protonation sites and the absolute gas-phase proton affinities of C5- and N4-amino derivatives of oxazolidinone (OXA) molecules possessing two oxygen and two nitrogen atoms, are studied to investigate the effect of substitution of amino group on geometry, electronic structure, and proton affinities of these molecules. The natural bond orbital analysis is invoked to obtain the second-order delocalization energies, occupations of lone pairs, charge distribution, and bond orders to rationalize the obtained results. Our findings reveal a strong nucleophilicity of O1 site in C5-amino and N4-amino-substituted OXA isomers just as in un-substituted OXA. The substituent nitrogen in N4-amino-substituted OXA has comparable electrophilicity to O1 site while lesser than acyl oxygen and higher than nitrogen of OXA ring in C5-amino-substituted OXA. The PA values of C5- and N4-amino-substituted OXA isomers span in the range 172.06–205.77 kcal mol^?1 (at CBS-Q). The PA values for the potential sites increase in the range 1.96–27.08 kcal mol^?1 as a result of the amino substitution at C5 and N4 in orientation (b) while exceptionally they decrease by 0.57–2.95 kcal mol^?1 as a result of the amino substitution at N4 in orientation (a). The results for the order of PA values of potential sites have been supported by molecular electrostatic potential maps. Our findings indicate that the factors such as geometrical rearrangements, variations in atomic charge densities and electron delocalization, effect of substituent, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and electronic changes direct the relative stabilities and proton affinities of N, C5-substituted amino OXA isomers.     

Palladium catalysed cyclisation-carbonylation of enynes to give cyclic gamma,delta-unsaturated acids

In the presence of acetic acid, trifurylphosphine and CO (2 atm), palladium catalyses the conversion of a range of enynes to cyclic delta,gamma-unsaturated carboxylic acids in good yield.     

Synthetic routes to seven and higher membered S-heterocycles by use of metal and nonmetal catalyzed reactions

Nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur containing heterocycles have a wide range of biological activities. Metal and nonmetal catalysts are used in organic reactions with high activity. New strategies have been developed for the preparation of heterocycles in the last decades. The metal and nonmetal catalyzed synthesis of heterocycles is becoming an important and highly rewarding protocol in organic synthesis. In this review article, the synthesis of seven and higher-membered S-heterocycles is presented with the application of metal and nonmetal catalysts for the period from 1968 to 2018.     

Synthesis of Three‐Membered and Four‐Membered Heterocycles with the Assistance of Photochemical Reactions

Some transformations are not possible with ground‐state reactions even in the presence of a catalyst; hence, they are performed under photochemical conditions. Electron transfer occurred even with the photochemical excitement of one molecule where redox reaction is not possible at the ground state. The side products were obtained from ground‐state reactions. For C─C bond formation during photochemical reactions, there was no requirement of any chemical activation of the substrates. Therefore, these reactions are presented here for the synthesis of three‐membered and four‐membered heterocycles in the context of sustainable processes.     

Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of 4‐Aryloxyquinazoline Derivatives as Potential Cytotoxic Agents

In the present study, novel 4‐aryloxyquinazoline derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro cytotoxicity on human cancer cell lines at 10 μM. Some of the synthesized compounds displayed moderate to significant and selective cytotoxic activity against various leukemia, melanoma, ovarian, breast, and colon cancer cell lines. (E)‐3‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐(quinazolin‐4‐yloxy)phenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 9b ) was the most potent compound among all with an average growth inhibition of 70% against leukemia cancer cell lines. The compound also produced strong inhibition (75%) of colon cancer cell lines with 42.58% lethality of HCT‐116 cell line.