Metal-intercalator-mediated self-association and one-dimensional aggregation in the structure of the excised major DNA adduct of a platinum-acridine agent

The crystal structure of the excised major DNA monoadduct, [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU-S)(dGuo-N7)]3+ ("dGuo*"; en = ethane-1,2-diamine; ACRAMTU = 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea, acridinium cation; dGuo = 2'-deoxyguanosine), of a platinum-acridine cytotoxic agent is reported. The adduct dGuo*, previously identified in enzymatic digests of native DNA treated with this drug, is partially deprotonated and dimerizes through formation of a rare GG- mismatch base pair, which is sandwiched between the planar chromophores of the acridine nonleaving groups linked to platinum. NMR evidence exists that indicates that the dimeric form persists in neutral aqueous solution. The one-dimensional pi-stack produced by the dimers in the solid state is reminiscent of a coordinative-intercalative DNA binding mode.     

1H NMR studies of aerosol-OT reverse micelles with alkali and magnesium counterions: preparation and analysis of MAOTs

Simple procedures and characterization of a series of well-defined precursors are described for preparation of a unique microenvironment in nanoreactors, reverse micelles. The Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+), and Mg(2+) surfactants were prepared using liquid-liquid ion exchange using chloride and nitrate salts. The surfactants were characterized using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and a variety of other techniques. (1)H NMR spectroscopy was found to be a sensitive probe for characterization of the size of the nanoreactor as well as its water content. (1)H NMR spectra can be used for detailed characterization of reactions in confined environments when counterion effects are likely to be important. (1)H NMR spectroscopy revealed two separate peaks corresponding to water in Mg(AOT)2 samples; one peak arises from water coordinated to the Mg(2+) ion while the other peak arises from bulk water. The two water signals arise directly from the slow exchange of the water coordinated to Mg(2+) in these microemulsions with water in the water pool, and provide an opportunity to study hydration of Mg(2+). This work thus extends the potential use of MAOT microemulsions for applications such as in green chemistry.     

Facile green synthesis of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA) from diosgenin

Chromium- and MnO₂-free green synthesis of industrially important steroidal drug intermediate 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA) starting from diosgenin is reported. The reaction sequence involves three steps: acetolysis followed by acetylation, oxidation, and hydrolysis. In the first step, Ac₂O was used both as reagent and solvent in combination with a Lewis acid (AlCl₃), which led to considerable reduction of high temperature and pressure requirements of earlier processes. The oxidation step was made catalytic with the use of KMnO₄(5 mol%) in the presence of co-oxidant NaIO₄, leading to less waste generation (of chromium, MnO₂, etc.). Minimization of the temperature, pressure, time consumption, and use of nontoxic solvents makes the process very handy and simple.     

Phase Covariant Channel: Quantum Speed Limit of Evolution

The quantum speed of evolution for the phase covariant map is investigated. This involves absorption, emission, and dephasing processes. The maps under various combinations of the above processes are considered to investigate the effect of phase covariant maps on quantum speed limit time. For absorption-free phase covariant maps, combinations of dissipative and CP-(in)divisible (non)-Markovian dephasing noises are considered. The role of coherence-mixedness balance on the speed limit time is checked in the presence of both vacuum and finite temperature effects. The rate at which Holevo's information changes and the action quantum speed of evolution for specific cases of the phase covariant map are also investigated.     

Solvatochromicity of 3-hydroxy-4-(1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylethylidene)cyclohexa-2,5-dienone for screening of solvents

The quinonic compound 3-hydroxy-4-(1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylethylidene)cyclohexa-2,5-dienone (I) is synthesised by the reaction of benzil with 1,3-dihydroxybenzene in basic medium. Solution of this compound shows visibly distinct colour differences in different solvents. From the different absorption maxima of the compound in visible spectra it can be used as an excellent analytical reagent to screen different solvents.     

Eisenstein series and Ramanujan-type series for 1/π

Using certain representations for Eisenstein series, we uniformly derive several Ramanujan-type series for 1/π.     

Capturing a Pentacyclic Fragment-Based Library Derived from Perophoramidine: Their Design,Synthesis and Evaluation as Anticancer Compounds by DNA Double-Strand Breaks (DSB) and PARP-1 Inhibition

Herein we have reported the discovery of a pentacyclic building block comprised of fused indole-quinoline and piperidinone from the natural product perophoramidine as a formidable anticancer agent. The compounds were synthesized in six steps where the key steps involved a blue LED mediated intramolecular cyclopropanation of the indole intermediates and concomitant reduction of the associated aryl nitro moiety to nitroso in the molecule. Cytotoxicity screening of the compounds against an array of cancer cells that is, MCF7, HCT116 and A549 demonstrated 0.6 to 9 μM IC₅₀s by few of the compounds. γH2AX immunofluorescence assay of the two most potent molecules from the phenotypic screening with anti-γ-H2AX Alexa Fluor 488 antibody revealed extensive DNA damage of the A549 cells which indicated probable PARP inhibition (similar to Perophoramidine). Through molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation studies the binding efficiency of our compounds with poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP 1) enzyme was determined. Chemiluminescent PARP Assay with Histone-coated strips indicated that the most active compounds from the phenotypic screening induced PARP-1 inhibition with IC₅₀s of 1.3→1.5 μM.     

Longitudinal Structure Function F L of Proton from Regge Like Behaviour of Structure Function at Small-x

The evolutions of longitudinal structure function F _L from quantum chromodynamics (QCD) evolution equation in next-to-leading order at small-x is presented using the Regge like behaviour of the structure function. The proposed simple analytical expression for F _L structure function provides the t- and x-evolution equations to study the behaviour of F _L structure function at small-x. The calculated results are compared with the data of H1, ZEUS collaborations and results of Block model, Donnachie–Landshoff model. Our calculated results can be described within the framework of perturbative QCD.     

Density-functional study of two Fe4-based single-molecule magnets

We present the results of our all-electron density-functional calculations on the electronic structure and magnetic anisotropy energy of the [Fe4(OMe)6(dpm)6] and [Fe4(thme)2(dpm)6] molecular clusters, which are experimentally found to behave as single-molecule magnets. The calculated magnetic anisotropy energy barriers are 2.65 and 15.8 K, respectively, which agree with the experimental data. We also present a density-functional study on the effect of the structure distortions on the magnetic anisotropy of the [Fe(H2O)6]3+ complex. This study, together with an analysis of the projected anisotropies of each iron ion in both molecular clusters, allows us to qualitatively understand why the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) barrier of the second single-molecule magnet (SMM) is larger than the MAE of the first SMM.