A portable ultrahigh‐vacuum system for advanced synchrotron radiation studies of thin films and nanostructures: EuSi2 nano‐islands

A portable ultrahigh‐vacuum system optimized for in situ variable‐temperature X‐ray scattering and spectroscopy experiments at synchrotron radiation beamlines was constructed and brought into operation at the synchrotron radiation facility ANKA of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. Here the main features of the new instrument are described and its capabilities demonstrated. The surface morphology, structure and stoichiometry of EuSi₂ nano‐islands are determined by in situ grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. A size reduction of about a factor of two of the nano‐islands due to silicide decomposition and Eu desorption is observed after sample annealing at 1270 K for 30 min.     

Regioselective Hydroxylation of C12–C15 Fatty Acids with Fluorinated Substituents by Cytochrome P450 BM3

We demonstrate herein that wild‐type cytochrome P450 BM3 can recognize non‐natural substrates, such as fluorinated C₁₂–C₁₅ chain‐length fatty acids, and show better catalysis for their efficient conversion. Although the binding affinities for fluorinated substrates in the P450 BM3 pocket are marginally lower than those for non‐fluorinated substrates, spin‐shift measurements suggest that fluoro substituents at the ω‐position can facilitate rearrangement of the dynamic structure of the bulk‐water network within the hydrophobic pocket through a micro desolvation process to expel the water ligand of the heme iron that is present in the resting state. A lowering of the Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m), however, indicates that fluorinated fatty acids are indeed better substrates compared with their non‐fluorinated counterparts. An enhancement of the turnover frequencies (k_cat) for electron transfer from NADPH to the heme iron and for C? H bond oxidation by compound I (Cpd I) to yield the product suggests that the activation energies associated with going from the enzyme–substrate (ES state) to the corresponding transition state (ES^≠ state) are significantly lowered for both steps in the case of the fluorinated substrates. Delicate control of the regioselectivity by the fluorinated terminal methyl groups of the C₁₂–C₁₅ fatty acids has been noted. Despite the fact that residues Arg47/Tyr51/Ser72 exert significant control over the hydroxylation of the subterminal carbon atoms toward the hydrocarbon tail, the fluorine substituent(s) at the ω‐position affects the regioselective hydroxylation. For substrate hydroxylation, we have found that fluorinated lauric acids probably give a better structural fit for the heme pocket than fluorinated pentadecanoic acid, even though pentadecanoic acid is by far the best substrate among the reported fatty acids. Interestingly, 12‐fluorododecanoic acid, with only one fluorine atom at the terminal methyl group, exhibits a comparable turnover frequency to that of pentadecanoic acid. Thus, fluorination of the terminal methyl group introduces additional interactions of the substrate within the hydrophobic pocket, which influence the electron transfers for both dioxygen activation and the controlled oxidation of aliphatics mediated by high‐valent oxoferryl species.     

Synthesis of 3,5-diarylisoxazoles under solvent-free conditions using iodobenzene diacetate

A simple and efficient method has been developed for conversion of chalcone oximes to 3,5-diaryl isoxazoles in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. The synthesized compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR and HRMS.     

Synthesis of spirooxindoles promoted by the deep eutectic solvent,ZnCl2+urea via the pseudo four-component reaction: anticancer,antioxidant, and molecular docking studies

Abstract

Various spirooxindoles (7a–c, 8a–c, 9a–c, and 10a–c) were efficiently synthesized using deep eutectic solvent ZnCl₂+urea and well characterized using IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The biological screening results showed that the compound 9a exhibited potent anticancer activity against MCF7 and HeLa cell lines with IC₅₀ values 6.47?±?0.01 and 9.14?±?0.32?µM, respectively. The compound 7c exhibited potent activity against the HeLa cell line with IC₅₀ value 6.81?±?0.01?µM. The compound 9a exhibited a potent antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ value 7.34?±?0.17?µM. The comparative molecular docking study against the cancer proteins EGFR and HER2 revealed that the EGFR was the best target protein receptor for the target compounds. Among all the compounds, the compound 9a exhibited the least binding energy ?10.72?kcal/mol against the protein EGFR (PDB ID: 4HJO).     

Synthesis and Spectral Characterization of Related Substances of Vardenafil,an Erectile Dysfunction Drug

Abstract

Vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate (Levitra) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) enzyme. It maintains higher levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), relaxes smooth muscles, promotes penile blood flow, and enhances erectile function. During the bulk drug synthesis of vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate, six related substances (impurities), vardenafil dimer, vardenafil N-oxide, vardenafil glycene, vardenafil oxopiperazine, vardenafil oxoacetic acid, and phenyl vardenafil were identified, and these are reported herein for the first time. The present work describes the synthesis and characterization of these impurities.     

An efficient and novel one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazoles catalyzed by UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>·6H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O under heterogeneous conditions

An efficient, convenient, and novel one-pot method of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazoles synthesis using benzil, arene carbaldehydes, and ammonium acetate, catalyzed by uranyl nitrate hexahydrate [UO₂(NO₃)₂·6H₂O] supported on acidic alumina and resulting in good to excellent yields under heterogeneous conditions, is reported. Formation of a reactants-catalyst complex was confirmed by UV-VIS spectral data. Antibacterial (MIC) and antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds was also studied.     

An efficient synthesis of d-ribo-C18-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C18-phytosphingosine from d-fructose

d-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C₁₈-phytosphingosine were synthesised starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. Metal-mediated fragmentation and stereoselective reduction were used as key steps to provide the hydrophilic portion of d-ribo and l-arabino phytosphingosines. Grubbs’ cross-metathesis and hydrogenation allowed the incorporation of hydrophobic tail.     

A convenient synthesis of l-ribose from d-fructose

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of l-ribose was accomplished starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. The intermediates in the process can serve as versatile precursors for the preparation of l-nucleoside analogues.     

An unexpected migration of O-silyl group under Mitsunobu reaction conditions

A 1,4 O→O silyl migration followed by nucleophilic substitution with phthalimide was observed under Mitsunobu reaction conditions. This one step secondary alcohol protection and primary alcohol substitution with N-nucleophiles was extended to a variety of 2-hydroxyethyl trialkylsilylether derivatives. A possible mechanism has been postulated based on the pK_a values of the alcohol and nucleophile. The present one-pot silyl migration and substitution reaction might find application in the stereoselective synthesis of novel iminosugar derived anti diabetic agents.