Synthesis and characterization of a novel resorcinarene-based stationary phase bearing polar headgroups for use in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel silica-bonded stationary phase containing a functionalized resorcinarene selector was prepared by a straightforward synthesis. The complete modification of all resorcinic hydroxyl groups was achieved by reaction with isopropyl isocyanate. The derivatized resorcinarene selector was subsequently immobilized via the four alkenyl chains containing a terminal double bond by a free radical-induced reaction on mercaptopropyl-functionalized silica. A comprehensive characterization of the resulting bonded stationary phase was carried out by solid state NMR, IR and elemental analysis. The resulting selector is defined as a "polar headed" reversed phase since the highly ordered polar carbamate groups of the new stationary phase are located, compared to conventional polar embedded stationary phases, at a greater distance from the silica surface. Thus a new concept is introduced in the field of polar modified reversed-phase HPLC. The properties of the novel stationary phase are demonstrated by comparison with commercially available reversed phases.     

Synthesis of endoperoxides derived from cyclooctatetraenes via singlet oxygenation

Cyclooctatetraene (1) reacted with photo-generated singlet oxygen to give the endoperoxide 7,8-dioxabicyclo[4.2.2]deca-2,4,9-triene (1a), which was further transformed to the cis-diepoxide 1b by catalytic rearrangement with Co-TTP to the unsaturated cis-diol 1c and the saturated cis-diol 1d by catalytic hydrogenation, to the saturated endoperoxide 1e by reaction with diimide, and to the epoxycyclooclatetraene If by deoxygenation with dimethylphosphine. Similarly, the methoxy-, phenyl- and methyl-substituted cyclooctatetraenes 3-5, respectively, gave the corresponding endoperoxides with the substituents located at the 1-position (3a, 5a), the 2-position (5b) and the 9-position (3b, 4a). Their structures were determined on the basis of their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR data and by means of chemical transformation to the corresponding syn-diepoxides, i.e. 5,10-dioxatricyclo[7.1.0.0^4,6]deca-2,7-dienes. The formation of the endoperoxides is postulated to involve an electron transfer mechanism to give the radical cation of cyclooctatetraene and the superoxide ion. The latter couples into the homotropylium-type zwitterionic intermediate and subsequent cyclization leads to the endoperoxides.     

Cycloaddition of singlet oxygen and 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MTAD) to methoxycyclooctatetraene (MCOT)

The endoperoxides $\text{6}$ and $\text{7}$, respectively 9-methoxy- and 1-methoxy-7,8-dioxabicyclo[4.2.2]deca-2,4,7-trienes, and the urazoles $\text{8}$ and $\text{9}$, respectively 9-methoxy- and 2-methoxy-7,8-diazantricyclo[4.2.2]deca-2,4,9-trien-$\text{N}$-methyl-7,8-dicarboximide, were obtained in the cycloaddition of singlet oxygen and $\text{4}$-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MTAD) to methoxycyclooctatetraene (MCOT).     

Photochemical and Photobiological Studies of a Furonaphthopyranone as a Benzo-spaced Psoralen Analog in Cell-free and Cellular DNA

Abstract— Photobiological activities of the benzo-spaced psoralen analog furonaphthopyranone 3 have been investigated in cell-free and cellular DNA. The molecular geometry parameters of 3 suggest that it should not form interstrand crosslinks with DNA. With cell-free DNA no evidence for crosslinking but also not for monoadduct formation was obtained; rather, the unnatural furocoumarin 3 induces oxidative DNA modifications under near-UVA irradiation. The enzymatic assay of the photosensitized damage in cell-free PM2 DNA revealed the significant formation of lesions sensitive to formamidopyrimidine DNA glyco-sylase (Fpg protein). In the photooxidation of calf thymus DNA by the furonaphthopyranone 3, 0.29±0.02% 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) was observed. With 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo), the guanidine-releasing photooxidation products oxazolone and oxoimidazolidine were formed predominately, while 8-oxodGuo and 4-HO-8-oxodGuo were obtained in minor amounts. The lack of a significant D₂O effect in the photooxidation of DNA and dGuo reveals that singlet oxygen (type II process) plays a minor role; control experiments with tert -butanol and mannitol confirm the absence of hydroxyl radicals as oxidizing species. The furonaphthopyranone 3 (E_red= -1.93±0.03V) should act in its singlet-excited state as electron acceptor for the photooxidation of dGuo (δG_ET ca – kcal/mol), which corroborates photoinduced electron transfer (type I) as a major DNA-oxidizing mechanism. A comet assay in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) AS52 cells demonstrated that the psoralen analog 3 damages cellular DNA upon near-UVA irradiation; however, no photosensitized mutagenicity was observed in CHO AS52 cell cultures     

Nanofluidic osmotic power generators – advanced nanoporous membranes and nanochannels for blue energy harvesting

The increase of energy demand added to the concern for environmental pollution linked to energy generation based on the combustion of fossil fuels has motivated the study and development of new sustainable ways for energy harvesting. Among the different alternatives, the opportunity to generate energy by exploiting the osmotic pressure difference between water sources of different salinities has attracted considerable attention. It is well-known that this objective can be accomplished by employing ion-selective dense membranes. However, so far, the current state of this technology has shown limited performance which hinders its real application. In this context, advanced nanostructured membranes (nanoporous membranes) with high ion flux and selectivity enabling the enhancement of the output power are perceived as a promising strategy to overcome the existing barriers in this technology. While the utilization of nanoporous membranes for osmotic power generation is a relatively new field and therefore, its application for large-scale production is still uncertain, there have been major developments at the laboratory scale in recent years that demonstrate its huge potential. In this review, we introduce a comprehensive analysis of the main fundamental concepts behind osmotic energy generation and how the utilization of nanoporous membranes with tailored ion transport can be a key to the development of high-efficiency blue energy harvesting systems. Also, the document discusses experimental issues related to the different ways to fabricate this new generation of membranes and the different experimental set-ups for the energy-conversion measurements. We highlight the importance of optimizing the experimental variables through the detailed analysis of the influence on the energy capability of geometrical features related to the nanoporous membranes, surface charge density, concentration gradient, temperature, building block integration, and others. Finally, we summarize some representative studies in up-scaled membranes and discuss the main challenges and perspectives of this emerging field.

Advanced nanostructured membranes with high ion flux and selectivity bring new opportunities for generating clean energy by exploiting the osmotic pressure difference between water sources of different salinities.     

Architecture of the rings of 5-arylidenerhodanine derivatives versus P-gp inhibition

5-Arylidene derivatives of rhodanine show various biological activities. The new crystal structures of five derivatives investigated towards ABCB1 efflux pump modulation are reported, namely, 2-[5-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylmethylidene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl)acetic acid dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate, C₁₈H₁₃NO₃S₂·C₂H₆OS ( 1 ), 4-[5-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylmethylidene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl)butanoic acid, C₂₀H₁₇NO₃S₂ ( 2 ), 5-[4-(benzyloxy)benzylidene]-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one, C₁₇H₁₃NO₂S₂ ( 3 ), 4-{5-[4-(benzyloxy)benzylidene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl}butanoic acid, C₂₁H₁₉NO₄S₂ ( 4 ), and 5-[4-(diphenylamino)benzylidene]-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one, C₂₂H₁₆N₂OS₂ ( 5 ). Compounds 1 and 3 – 5 crystallize in the triclinic space group P, while 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, where the biphenyl moiety is observed in two positions (A and B). Two molecules are present in the asymmetric unit of 5 and, for the other four compounds, there is only one molecule; moreover, 1 crystallizes with one dimethyl sulfoxide molecule. The packing of the molecules containing a carboxyl group ( 1 , 2 and 4 ) is determined by O—H…O hydrogen bonds, while in the other two compounds ( 3 and 5 ), the packing is determined by N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Additionally, induced-fit docking studies have been performed for the active compounds to investigate their putative binding mode inside the human glycoprotein P (P-gp) binding pocket.     

Nature of the Maximum Microsegregation of Binary Alloys from Peritectic Phase Systems

A value of the distribution coefficient is of a significant importance for the microsegregation phenomenon. Moreover, the nature of the microsegregation is due to a given phase system, and the Sb–30 Sn alloy has been set as an example to show the maximum microsegregation which can form during solidification of this alloy. A new relation, supplementary to the Scheil equation has been proposed.     

Effect of temperature gradient on the lamellar structure formation

The detailed definition of interplay between interface curvature and concentration field is presented. It explains an effect of horizontal component of temperature gradient on the lamellar structure formation during the steady-state eutectic growth. This definition is composed of two competitive terms connected with the heat and matter transfers, respectively. The above competition is interpreted by using the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. Finally, it is shown that the lamellar spacing depends on both the growth rate and temperature gradient for a given regular eutectic solidifying under stationary conditions. The proposed analysis is the fourth part of model developing in “Crystal Research and Technology” which is mentioned in the References.