Kinetics and mechanism of the anilinolyses of aryl dimethyl, methyl phenyl and diphenyl phosphinates

The reactions of Z-aryl dimethyl (1), methyl phenyl (2), and diphenyl (3) phosphinates with X-anilines in dimethyl sulfoxide at 60.0 °C are studied kinetically. Kinetic results yield the primary normal deuterium kinetic isotope effects (DKIEs) involving deuterated aniline (XC(6)H(4)ND(2)) nucleophiles, k(H)/k(D) = 1.03-1.17, 1.15-1.29, and 1.24-1.51, and the cross-interaction constants (CICs), ρ(XZ) = 0.37, 0.34, and 0.65 for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The steric effects of the ligands (R(1) and R(2)) on reaction rates play a role, but are relatively much smaller compared to other phosphinate systems. A stepwise mechanism with a rate-limiting leaving group expulsion from the intermediate is proposed on the basis of the CICs positive signs. The dominant frontside nucleophilic attack through a hydrogen-bonded, four-center-type transition state is proposed on the basis of primary normal DKIEs and large magnitudes of the CICs for 2 and 3, while both frontside and backside attack are proposed on the basis of relatively small primary normal DKIEs for 1.     

Differentiation of human labia minora dermis-derived fibroblasts into insulin-producing cells

Recent evidence has suggested that human skin fibroblasts may represent a novel source of therapeutic stem cells. In this study, we report a 3-stage method to induce the differentiation of skin fibroblasts into insulin- producing cells (IPCs). In stage 1, we establish the isolation, expansion and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from human labia minora dermis- derived fibroblasts (hLMDFs) (stage 1: MSC expansion). hLMDFs express the typical mesenchymal stem cell marker proteins and can differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes or muscle cells. In stage 2, DMEM/F12 serum-free medium with ITS mix (insulin, transferrin, and selenite) is used to induce differentiation of hLMDFs into endoderm-like cells, as determined by the expression of the endoderm markers Sox17, Foxa2, and PDX1 (stage 2: mesenchymal-endoderm transition). In stage 3, cells in the mesenchymal- endoderm transition stage are treated with nicotinamide in order to further differentiate into self-assembled, 3-dimensional islet cell-like clusters that express multiple genes related to pancreatic β-cell development and function (stage 3: IPC). We also found that the transplantation of IPCs can normalize blood glucose levels and rescue glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin- induced diabetic mice. These results indicate that hLMDFs have the capacity to differentiate into functionally competent IPCs and represent a potential cell-based treatment for diabetes mellitus.     

Effect of o-methyl group on rate, mechanism, and resonance contribution: aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl X-substituted 2-methylbenzoates

Second-order rate constants have been determined spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 4-nitrophenyl X-substituted 2-methylbenzoates (2a-e) and Y-substituted phenyl 2-methylbenzoates (3a-e) with alicyclic secondary amines in 80 mol % H(2)O/20 mol % DMSO at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The o-methyl group in the benzoyl moiety of 2a-e retards the reaction rate but does not influence the reaction mechanism. The Hammett plots for the reactions of 2a-e are nonlinear, while the corresponding Yukawa-Tsuno plots are linear with large r values (1.06-1.70). The linear Yukawa-Tsuno plots suggest that stabilization of the ground-state through resonance interaction between the electron donating substituent X and the carbonyl group is responsible for the nonlinear Hammett plots, while the large r values imply that the ground-state resonance interaction is significant. The reactions of 2a-e resulted in smaller rho(X) values but larger r values than the corresponding reactions of 4-nitrophenyl X-substituted benzoates (1a-e). The small rho(X) value for the reactions of 2a-e (e.g., rho(X) = 0.22) is suggested to be responsible for the large r value (e.g., r = 1.70). The reactions of 3a-e with piperidine are proposed to proceed in a stepwise manner with a change in the rate-determining step on the basis of the curved Br?nsted-type plot obtained. Microscopic rate constants associated with the reactions of 3a-e are also consistent with the proposed mechanism.     

Non-enzymatic electrochemical CuO nanoflowers sensor for hydrogen peroxide detection

The electrocatalytic activity of a CuO flower-like nanostructured electrode was investigated in terms of its application to enzyme-less amperometric H₂O₂ sensors. The CuO nanoflowers film was directly formed by chemical oxidation of copper foil under hydrothermal condition and then used as active electrode material of non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors for H₂O₂ detection under alkaline conditions. The sensitivity of the sensor with CuO nanoflowers electrode was 88.4 μA/mM cm² with a linear response in the range from 4.25 × 10⁻⁵ to 4 × 10⁻² M and a detection limit of 0.167 μM (S/N = 3). Excellent electrocatalytic activity, large surface-to-volume ratio and efficient electron transport property of CuO nanoflowers electrode have enabled stable and highly sensitive performance for the non-enzymatic H₂O₂ sensor.     

Determination of Dialkyltin Compounds in Poly(Vinyl Chloride) by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the analysis of dialkyltin compounds in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. The PVC sample was first dissolved in tetrahydrofuran. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was then added to convert the dissolved dialkyltin stabilizers into the chloride forms, followed by extraction with hexane. The extracted dialkyltin chlorides were preconcentrated and were finally separated by HPLC. Separation was performed using a C₁₈ column and an eluent of aqueous methanol containing 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as the completing agent. Photometric detection of the dialkyltin-oxine complexes was carried out at 380 mm. Under optimum experimental conditions, the detection limits for dimethyltin, dibutyltin and dioctyltin are 1.7 ng, 2.1 ng and 2.9 ng (all as tin), respectively. Residual dialkyltin stabilizers in several commercially available PVC products were successfully analyzed via this method.     

Spectroscopic Study of the Na2 2Σg State by cw Perturbation-Facilitated Optical-Optical Double-Resonance Spectroscopy

The Na₂(3sσ_g)(4sσ_g) 2³Σ⁺_g state of Na₂ has been observed and studied by cw perturbation-facilitated optical-optical double-resonance (PFOODR) spectroscopy for the first time. A single-mode dye laser and a Ti-sapphire laser served as the pump and the probe lasers, respectively. A total of 543 PFOODR excitation signals have been assigned to the 2³Σ⁺_g ← b³Π_1u transitions. Absolute vibrational numbering was determined by counting nodes in the 2³Σ⁺_g → a³Σ⁺_u bound-free spectra. Spectroscopic constants and the corresponding RKR potential energy curve are presented in this vsork. The values of T_e, R_e, and D_e, are found to be 25 551.237(49) cm⁻¹, 3.53463(35) Å, and 6211.5(1) cm⁻¹ respectively.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Reversible Fluorescence Switching in a Crystalline Donor–Acceptor Mixture Film: Mixed Stack Charge‐Transfer Emission versus Segregated Stack Monomer Emission

We report on a molecularly tailored 1:1 donor–acceptor (D‐A) charge‐transfer (CT) cocrystal that manifests strongly red‐shifted CT luminescence characteristics, as well as noteworthy reconfigurable self‐assembling behaviors. A loosely packed molecular organization is obtained as a consequence of the noncentrosymmetric chemical structure of molecule A1 , which gives rise to considerable free volume and weak intermolecular interactions. The stacking features of the CT complex result in an external stimuli‐responsive molecular stacking reorganization between the mixed and demixed phases of the D‐A pair. Accordingly, high‐contrast fluorescence switching (red?blue) is realized on the basis of the strong alternation of the electronic properties between the mixed and demixed phases. A combination of structural, spectroscopic, and computational studies reveal the underlying mechanism of this stimuli‐responsive behavior.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of aryl ethyl chloro and chlorothio phosphates with anilines

The reactions of ethyl Y-phenyl chloro (1) and chlorothio (2) phosphates with X-anilines in acetonitrile at 55.0 degrees C are studied kinetically and theoretically. Kinetic results yield the primary kinetic isotope effects (k(H)/k(D) = 1.07-1.80 and 1.06-1.27 for 1 and 2, respectively) with deuterated aniline (XC(6)H(4)ND(2)) nucleophiles, and the cross-interaction constants rho(XY) = -0.60 and -0.28 for and , respectively. A concerted mechanism involving a partial frontside attack through a hydrogen-bonded, four-center-type transition state is proposed. The large rho(X) (rho(nuc) = -3.1 to -3.4) and beta(X) (beta(nuc) = 1.1-1.2) values seem to be characteristic of the anilinolysis of phosphates and thiophosphates with the Cl leaving group. Because of the relatively large size of the aniline nucleophile, the degree of steric hindrance could be the decisive factor that determines the direction of the nucleophilic attack to the phosphate and thiophosphate substrates with the relatively small-sized Cl leaving group.     

Determination of Butyltins in Sea Water by Gas Chromatography with Flame Photometric Detection

Use of a gas chromatograph with a flame-photometric detector (GC-FPD) is described to determine butyltin compounds in sea water. The butyltins in an acidified water sample (pH 3.0) are first complexed with tropolone, followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a tropolone-treated C₁₈ cartridge. HCI at a small concentration is then added to the concentrated SPE eluate before GC analysis. This procedure is simple and off-column derivatization of analytes is not required. The organotins, viz. mono-, di- and tributyltin, are separated as their respective chlorides on a capillary column (HP-1) and are detected with a flame-photometric detector and an interference filter at 610 nm. Recoveries of the three butyltin species are quantitative (> 90%). Based on a sea water sample 200-mL, the detection limits for mono-, di- and tributyltin are 6,4 and 3 ng tin L^?1, respectively. This method is applied to analysis of trace butyltins in various samples of sea water.