Correlation between photophysical parameters and gold-gold distances in gold(I) (4-pyridyl)ethynyl complexes

The systematic analysis of the luminescence of a series of alkynyl gold derivatives with general formulas [(diphos)(AuC≡Cpy)(2)] (diphosphane =2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane or dppip (1), bis(diphenylphosphanyl)acetylene or dppa (2), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane or dppe (3) and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane or dppb, (4), has shown a straightforward correlation between the Au(I)···Au(I) distance and the emission quantum yields and decaytimes. The analysis of the decaytimes, quantum yields and thus, the corresponding calculated rate constants demonstrated the existence of a correlation between Au(I)···Au(I) distance and the radiative rate constant for the deactivation of the emissive triplet states. It was concluded that the increased emission of these compounds results from the increase in spin-orbit coupling that favors the spin forbidden transition to the singlet ground state.     

Reactions of an osmium-hexahydride complex with Cytosine, deoxycytidine, and cytidine: the importance of the minor tautomers

Complex OsH(6)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) (1) deprotonates cytosine to give molecular hydrogen and the d(4)-trihydride derivative OsH(3)(cytosinate)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) (2), which in solution exists as a mixture of isomers containing κ(2)-N1,O (2a) and κ(2)-N3,O (2b) amino-oxo and κ(2)-N3,N4 (2c) imino-oxo tautomers. The major isomer 2b associates with the minor one 2c through N-H···N and N-H···O hydrogen bonds to form [2b·2c](2) dimers, which crystallize from saturated pentane solutions of 2. Complex 1 is also able to perform the double deprotonation of cytosine (cytosinate') to afford the dinuclear derivative (P(i)Pr(3))(2)H(3)Os(cytosinate')OsH(3)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) (3), where the anion is coordinated κ(2)-N1,O and κ(2)-N3,N4 to two different OsH(3)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) metal fragments. The deprotonation of deoxycytidine and cytidine leads to OsH(3)(deoxycytidinate)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) (4) and OsH(3)(cytidinate)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) (5), respectively, containing the anion κ(2)-N3,N4 coordinated. Dimer [2b·2c](2) and dinuclear complex 3 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

In vitro fungicidal photodynamic effect of hypericin on Candida species

Hypericin is a natural photosensitizer considered for the new generation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro fungicidal effect of hypericin PDT on various Candida spp., assessing its photocytotoxicity to keratinocytes (HaCaT) and dermal fibroblasts (hNDF) to determine possible side effects. A 3 log fungicidal effect was observed at 0.5 McFarland for two Candida albicans strains, Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei with hypericin concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 40 μm, respectively, at a fluence of 18 J cm(-2) (LED lamp emitting at 602 ± 10 nm). To obtain a 6 log reduction, significantly higher hypericin concentrations and light doses were needed (C. albicans 5 μM, C. parapsilosis 320 μM and C. krusei 320 μM; light dose 37 J cm(-2)). Keratinocytes and fibroblasts can be preserved by keeping the hypericin concentration below 1 μm and the light dose below 37 J cm(-2). C. albicans appears to be suitable for treatment with hypericin PDT without significant damage to cutaneous cells.     

High-precision tracking with non-blinking quantum dots resolves nanoscale vertical displacement

Novel non-blinking quantum dots (NBQDs) were utilized in three-dimensional super-localization, high-precision tracking applications under an automated scanning-angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (SA-TIRFM). NBQDs were randomly attached to stationary microtubules along the radial axis under gliding assay conditions. By automatically scanning through a wide range of incident angles with different evanescent-field layer thicknesses, the fluorescence intensity decay curves were obtained. Fit with theoretical decay functions, the absolute vertical positions were determined with sub-10-nm localization precision. The emission intensity profile of the NBQDs attached to kinesin-propelled microtubules was used to resolve the self-rotation of gliding microtubules within a small vertical distance of ~50 nm. We demonstrate the applicability of NBQDs in high-precision fluorescence imaging experiments.     

Application of pyranoside phosphite-pyridine ligands to enantioselective metal-catalyzed allylic substitutions and conjugate 1,4-additions

A series of glucopyranoside phosphite–pyridine ligands have been applied in the metal-catalyzed allylic substitution and conjugate 1,4-addition reactions of several substrate types. We have been able to identify ligands that provided promising enantioselectivities in the Pd-catalyzed intermolecular allylic substitution of cyclic substrates (ee’s up to 86%) and desymmetrization (ee’s up to 94%) and in the Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of challenging aliphatic enones (ee’s up to 90%).     

Enantioselective synthesis of (−)-barrenazines A and B

A short enantioselective synthesis of barrenazines A and B is described. Barrenazines A and B are prepared following a common synthetic route in nine steps (19% overall yield) and eight steps (21% overall yield), respectively, from readily available 4-methoxy-3-(triisopropylsilyl)pyridine. The synthesis relies on a highly diastereoselective nucleophilic addition of a Grignard reagent to a chiral acylpyridinium salt, a radical azidation of a silyl enol ether and the assembly of the pyrazine ring by reductive dimerization of a functionalized 5-azidopiperidin-4-one.     

Studies on the chemical stability and synthetic utility of an oxazolidine linker for solid-phase chemistry

A chemical stability study on the oxazolidine linker system has been carried out using a dual-linker analytical construct within a parallel reaction scan. The study established the compatibility of the oxazolidine platform with a wide range of commonly employed synthetic reaction conditions including nucleophilic, oxidizing, and reducing conditions. The scan was further used to probe and optimize acidic conditions under which the oxazolidine could release the substrate from the solid-support and to identify reagents that could cleave while retaining other acid-labile groups. The solid-phase synthesis of a small molecular array established the utility of oxazolidine aldehyde 1 as a building block for asymmetric chemistry while exploiting the data generated by the reaction scan.