Modular bis(oxazoline) ligands for palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation: unprecedented conformational behaviour of a bis(oxazoline) palladium eta3-1,3-diphenylallyl complex

New families of enantiopure bis(oxazolines) with 4,5-trans (5 a-g) or 4,5-cis (6 c) stereochemistry at the individual rings have been prepared in high yield. Their eta(3)-allyl palladium complexes (8 a-g, 9 c and 10) have been used as catalytic precursors in allylic alkylation reactions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %) for the trans oxazoline derivatives, while Pd/6 c system was inactive. NMR studies on palladium eta(3)-1,3-diphenylallyl intermediates (11 a, c and e) showed the presence of syn/syn- and syn/anti-allyl isomers in solution; this resembles the first example of eta(3)-eta(1)-eta(3) isomerism in Pd allylic complexes containing bis(oxazolines) derived from malonic acid.     

Conjugates of Iron-Transporting N-Hydroxylactams with Ciprofloxacin

Screening of a library of novel N-hydroxylactams amenable by the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction identified four lead compounds that facilitated ⁵⁵Fe transport into P. aeruginosa cells (one of these synthetic siderophores was found to be as efficient at promoting iron uptake as the natural siderophores pyoverdine, pyochelin or enterobactin). Conjugates of the four lead siderophores with ciprofloxacin were tested for antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa POA1 (wild type) and the ∆pvdF∆pchA mutant strain. The antibacterial activity was found to be pronounced against the ∆pvdF∆pchA mutant strain grown in CAA medium but not for the POA1 strain. This may be indicative of these compounds being ‘Trojan horse’ antibiotics. Further scrutiny of the mechanism of the antibacterial action of the newly developed conjugates is warranted.     

Stabilizing effect of cholesterol on the state of β2-adrenergic receptor with a broken ionic lock: a molecular dynamics study

A molecular dynamics simulation of the β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) embedded in a hydrated lipid bilayer showed that the state with a broken ionic lock (salt bridge) between the arginine residue Arg131 and the glutamic acid residue Glu268 is stabilized in the presence of cholesterol molecules. This should be considered as a transient state to the active state of the receptor.     

The New Data for the Reaction of Arylenedioxy Trihalogenophosphoranes with Alkyl- and Arylacetylenes

The new data concerning the reaction between substituted arylenedioxy trihalogenophosphoranes and monoalkyl- or arylacetylenes are summarized. The reaction leads to formation of six-membered heterocycles-2-oxo-4-R-benzo[ e ]-1,2-oxaphosphorin-3-enes. The substituent effects in the phosphorane and acetylene molecules on the ipso -substitution and halogenation regiochemistry are discussed. The ipso -substitution of tert -butyl group on chlorine and the exchange of bromine on chlorine and iodine on hydrogen have been observed, along with formation of benzophosphorines. The interaction of tetrachloro- ortho -benzoquinone with phosphorus trichloride and arylacetylenes is proposed as a new modification of the reaction leading to the formation of benzo[ e ]-1,2-oxaphosphorines. The structures of some benzo[ e ]-1,2-oxaphosphorines are determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

On Estimation of Temperature Uncertainty Using the Second Order Adjoint Problem

The uncertainty of temperature prediction from the heat flux error is estimated using first and second order adjoint equations. The adjoint codes developed for the inverse heat transfer problems provide the uncertainty estimation for the corresponding forward problems. Numerical tests corroborate the feasibility of fast uncertainty estimation using Hessian maximum eigenvalue obtained via second order adjoint equations.     

The mechanism of metal corrosion passivation

The main regularities of variations in the thermodynamic properties of components of cubic vanadium carbide, depending on the composition in the region of homogeneity, are investigated experimentally. It is believed that these regularities are inherent only to metal oxides. This serves as the basis for the concept that passivation during the corrosion of metals occurs due to the formation of surface metal oxide whose composition corresponds to the maximum concentration of oxygen in the region of homogeneity. The thermodynamic stimulus of corrosion is in this case reduced to almost zero.     

Complexation of lanthanide cations with ampicillin

The complexation of Ln³⁺ ions with ampicillin anions (Amp^?) in an aqueous solution at 25°C has been studied by pH titration on the background of 0.1 M KNO₃. Ln(OH)Amp⁺ complexes are formed in neutral and weakly alkaline media. The logarithm of β increases nonlinearly along the lanthanide series from 9.02 ± 0.06 for Ce(OH)Amp⁺ to 10.25 ± 0.09 for Lu(OH)Amp⁺. The structure of the Lu(OH)Amp⁺ complex was simulated by the PM6 semiempirical quantum-chemical method and the MOPAC 2009 software; the results of which impliy the formation of a chelate complex via bidentate coordination of Amp^? through the oxygen atoms of the carboxylate and β-lactam groups and the inclusion of up to five water molecules into the coordination sphere of Lu(III).