Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling. Total synthesis of amphidinolide P

A coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium complex catalyzed the formation of a carbon-carbon bond between two judiciously chosen alkene and alkyne partners in good yield, and in a chemo- and regioselective fashion, despite the significant degree of unsaturation of the substrates. The resulting 1,4-diene forms the backbone of the cytotoxic marine natural product amphidinolide P. The alkene partner was rapidly assembled from (R)-glycidyl tosylate, which served as a linchpin in a one-flask, sequential three-components coupling process using vinyllithium and a vinyl cyanocuprate. The synthesis of the alkyne partner made use of an unusual anti-selective addition under chelation-control conditions of an allyltin reagent derived from tiglic acid. In addition, a remarkably E-selective E2 process using the azodicarboxylate-triphenylphosphine system is featured. Also featured is the first example of the use of a beta-lactone as a thermodynamic spring to effect macrolactonization. The oxetanone ring was thus used as a productive protecting group that increased the overall efficiency of this total synthesis. This work was also an opportunity to further probe the scope of the ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling, in particular using enynes, and studies using various functionalized substrates are described.     

One-step labelling of sphingolipids via a scrambling cross-metathesis reaction

The alkyl chain in the backbone of sphingosine derivatives can be exchanged with functionalised (labelled) side chains in a single step under cross-metathesis reaction conditions.     

Rapid Detection of AIB1 in Breast Cancer Cells Based on Aptamer-Functionalized Nanomotors

Herein, we report ultrasound-propelled graphene-oxide coated gold nanowire motors, functionalized with fluorescein-labeled DNA aptamers (FAM-AIB1-apt), for qualitative detection of overexpressed AIB1 oncoproteins in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The movement of nanomotors under the ultrasound field facilitated intracellular uptake and resulted in a faster aptamer binding with the target protein and thus faster fluorescence recovery. The propulsion behavior of the aptamer functionalized nanomotors greatly enhanced the fluorescence intensity compared to static conditions. The new aptamer@nanomotor-based strategy offers considerable potential for further development of sensing methodologies towards diagnosis of breast cancer.     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal properties and biological activity of diazine-ring containing hydrazones and their metal complexes

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - New coordination compounds have been synthesized by reacting Zn(II) and Co(II) nitrate or acetate in the presence of triethylamine with Schiff-base...     

Active Intracellular Delivery of a Cas9/sgRNA Complex Using Ultrasound‐Propelled Nanomotors

Direct and rapid intracellular delivery of a functional Cas9/sgRNA complex using ultrasound‐powered nanomotors is reported. The Cas9/sgRNA complex is loaded onto the nanomotor surface through a reversible disulfide linkage. A 5 min ultrasound treatment enables the Cas9/sgRNA‐loaded nanomotors to directly penetrate through the plasma membrane of GFP‐expressing B16F10 cells. The Cas9/sgRNA is released inside the cells to achieve highly effective GFP gene knockout. The acoustic Cas9/sgRNA‐loaded nanomotors display more than 80 % GFP knockout within 2 h of cell incubation compared to 30 % knockout using static nanowires. More impressively, the nanomotors enable highly efficient knockout with just 0.6 nm of the Cas9/sgRNA complex. This nanomotor‐based intracellular delivery method thus offers an attractive route to overcome physiological barriers for intracellular delivery of functional proteins and RNAs, thus indicating considerable promise for highly efficient therapeutic applications.     

Anion effect on the construction of copper(II) coordination polymers with the twisted ligand bis(4-pyridylthio)methane

The reaction of CuSO₄ · H₂O with 4-bpytm [4-bpytm = bis(4-pyridylthio)methane] in EtOH afforded the complex [Cu(SO₄)(4-bpytm)(H₂O)₃] · H₂O (1 · H₂O) while the reaction of 4-bpytm with Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O in EtOH afforded the complex [Cu(NO₃)₂(4-bpytm)₂] · H₂O (2 · H₂O). The reaction of 4-bpytm with Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O in EtOH/dmf under microwave irradiation afforded the pseudo-polymorph [Cu(NO₃)₂(4-bpytm)₂] · Solv (2 · Solv). Compound 1 · H₂O forms helical chains while compounds 2 · H₂O and 2 · Solv are 2D coordination polymers with a (4,4) topology based on rhombic grids in 2 · H₂O and on a parquet motif in 2 · Solv. The 3D supramolecular organization through hydrogen bonding is analyzed for the three compounds and their thermal behaviour was also investigated.     

Synthesis and self-association properties of functionalized C3-symmetric hexakis(p-substituted-phenylethynyl)triindoles

A number of differently substituted phenylethynyl triindoles has been synthesized by 6-fold Sonogashira coupling in a key step. This new series of hexaalkynyl triindoles self-associate through arene-arene interactions in solution. The electronic communication of the external substituents with the central electron-rich triindole core has been demonstrated by means of cyclic voltammetry and optical absorption. A study of the effect of the electronic character of peripheral substituents on their self-association behavior is presented in an effort to shed light on the nature of the pi-stacking interactions.     

Synthesis and reactivity of the aquation product of the antitumor complex trans-[Ru(III)Cl4(indazole)2]-

Aquation of the investigational anticancer drug trans-[Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2](-) (1, KP1019) results in the formation of mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(H2O)] (2), which was isolated in high yield (85%) and characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. Dissolution of 2 in acetone, led to its dimerization into [Ru(III)2(mu-Cl)2Cl4(Hind)4] x 2 (Me)2CO (3) in 79% yield, with release of two water molecules. Complex 2 reacts readily with nucleophilic organic molecules, viz., methanol or dimethyl sulfide, at room temperature by replacement of the aqua ligand to give mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(MeOH)] (4) and mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(Me2S)] (5) in 58 and 64% yield, respectively. By reaction of 2 with DMSO at room temperature or dimethyl sulfide at elevated temperatures trans,trans,trans-[Ru(II)Cl2(Hind)2(Me2S)2] (6) and trans,trans,trans-[Ru(II)Cl2(Hind)2(S-DMSO)2] (7) were prepared in 64 and 75% yield, respectively. Dissolution of 2 in acetonitrile or benzonitrile gave rise to mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)(HNC(Me)ind)] (8a), mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)(HNC(Ph)ind)] (8b), and trans,trans-[Ru(III)Cl2(HNC(Me)ind)2]Cl (9) in 67, 50, and 23% yield, respectively, upon metal-assisted iminoacylation of indazole, which is unprecedented for ruthenium(III). Furthermore, complex 2 reacts with the DNA-model bases 9-methyladenine (9-meade) and N6,N6-dimethyladenine (6-me2ade) to yield mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(9-meade)] (10) and mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(6-me2ade)] (11) with the purine bases bound to the Ru(III) center via N7 and N3, respectively. Complex 11 represents the first ruthenium complex in which the coordination of the purine ligand N6,N6-dimethyladenine occurs via N3. In addition, the polymer [Na(EtOAc)2Ru(III)(mu-Cl)4(Hind)2]n (12) was crystallized from ethyl acetate/diethyl ether solutions of Na[trans-Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2] x 1.5 H2O (1a). The reported complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical investigations give insight into the mechanistic details of the solvolytic behavior of complex 2. The lability of the aqua ligand in 2 suggests that this complex is a potential active species responsible for the high antitumor activity of trans-[Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2](-).     

Two-dimensional hybrid germanium zeotype formed by selective coordination of the trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane isomer to the ge atom: heterogeneous acid-base bifunctional catalyst

[C 6H 10(NH 2) 2Ge 3O 6] ICMM9 is a two-dimensional germanate in which the metallic atoms are covalently bonded to chelating diamines. Its layered structure having some similitude with that of the pyroxene mineral, presents a totally new topology with two 4-c nodes. The solvothermal synthesis reaction allows the separation in situ of the two 1,2-diaminocyclohexane isomers by selective coordination of the trans isomer to octahedral Ge atoms of the ICMM9 framework. This material behaves as an active and selective heterogeneous acid-base bifunctional catalyst.