A new calix[4]arene based nucleobase for cation recognition

A novel calix[4]arene linked nucleobase molecular receptor bearing two adenine moieties has been synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, NMR and ESI–MS analyses. The synthesized receptor can recognize biologically important Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions through 1:1 binding stoichiometry. The evaluation of binding constants suggests that adenine alone, in an appropriate supramolecular network, can exhibit efficient binding for Zn²⁺ ions without the presence of any phosphate or sugar unit.     

Bismuth nanowires for potential applications in nanoscale electronics technology.

Nanowires of bismuth with diameters ranging from 10 to 200 nm and lengths of 50 microm have been synthesized by a pressure injection method. Nanostructural and chemical compositional studies using environmental and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with electron stimulated energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy have revealed essentially single crystal nanowires. The high resolution studies have shown that the nanowires contain amorphous Bi-oxide layers of a few nanometers on the surface. In situ environmental high resolution transmission electron microscopy (environmental-HRTEM) studies at the atomic level, in controlled hydrogen and other reducing gas environments at high temperatures demonstrate that gas reduction can be successfully applied to remove th oxide nanolayers and to maintain the dimensional and structural uniformity of the nanowires, which is key to attaining low electrical contact resistance.     

Synthesis and evaluation of novel tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene enones and cinnamates for protection from ultraviolet radiation

A series of novel calix[4]arene enones (5-7) and cinnamates (12-14) have been synthesized and evaluated for ensuring protection from ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Spectroscopic analyses has revealed that compound 6 absorbs ultraviolet radiations between 280 and 350 nm with an absorption maximum at 312 nm. Its molar absorption coefficient (ε) (>5 × 10(4)M(-1)cm(-1)) and bandwidth are larger than those for the commercially used sun protectants (oxybenzone (OB), 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (OMC) and avobenzone). The in vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measurement revealed an SPF of 5.2 at 2% concentration of 6 in home made emulsion formulations while combination of 2% each of 6 and OMC gave an SPF of 8.8. Lower sun protection seems to be compensated by significant protection from more harmful UVA radiations (UVA/UVB absorbance ratio of 0.62).     

Determination of absolute configurations from vibrational raman optical activity: (trans)-2,3-dimethylthiirane

Experimental and theoretical vibrational Raman optical activity (VROA) spectra of (2R,3R)-2,3-dimethylthiirane in the 200-1500 cm(-1) region are presented. The level of agreement obtained for the observed and predicted VROA signs suggests that the absolute configurations of chiral molecules can be determined confidently using VROA.     

Synthesis of new aryl substituted furan-2(5H)-ones using the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

A series of novel 5-arylidenefuran-2(5H)-ones and 5-arylidene-4-arylfuran-2(5H)-ones were synthesized via the Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of fimbrolide derivatives 5-(bromomethylene)furan-2(5H)-one and 4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)furan-2(5H)-one, respectively. A regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction on 4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)furan-2(5H)-one allowed the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted 5-arylidene-4-arylfuran-2(5H)-ones. The crystal structure of the intermediate 5-arylidene-4-bromofuran-2(5H)-one revealed interesting Br?O halogen bonding.     

Synthesis of dipyrrolo[2,3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones

Acylation reactions of 4,6-dimethoxyindoles with glyoxyloyl chlorides were achieved by the use of graphite powder in 1,2-dichloroethane at reflux. The products were monoketones as a result of decarbonylation, rather than the expected 1,2-diketones. Treatment of these monoketones with base led to their cyclisation and elimination of methanol to afford the novel dipyrrolo[2.3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Furoindoles: Biological Evaluation as SAHA Enhancer against Neuroblastoma and Breast Cancer Cells

The dihydropyranoindole structures were previously identified as promising scaffolds for improving the anti-cancer activity of histone deacetylase inhibitors. This work describes the synthesis of related furoindoles and their ability to synergize with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) against neuroblastoma and breast cancer cells. The nucleophilic substitution of hydroxyindole methyl esters with α-haloketones yielded the corresponding arylether ketones, which were subsequently cyclized to tricyclic and tetracyclic furoindoles. The furoindoles showed promising individual cytotoxic efficiency against breast cancer cells, as well as decent SAHA enhancement against cancer cells in select cases. Interestingly, the best IC₅₀ value was obtained with the non-cyclized intermediate.     

Heuristic charge assignment for deconvolution of electrospray ionization mass spectra

We propose a new algorithm for deconvolution of electrospray ionization mass spectra based on direct assignment of charge to the measured signal at each mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). We investigate two heuristics for charge assignment: the entropy-based heuristic is adapted from a deconvolution algorithm by Reinhold and Reinhold;10 the multiplicative-correlation heuristic is adapted from the multiplicative-correlation deconvolution algorithm of Hagen and Monnig.6 The entropy-based heuristic is insensitive to overestimates of z(max), the maximum ion charge. We test the deconvolution algorithm on two single-component samples: the measured spectrum of human beta-endorphin has two prominent and one very weak line whereas myoglobin has a well-developed quasi-gaussian envelope of 17 peaks. In both cases, the deconvolution algorithm gives a clean deconvoluted spectrum with one dominant peak and very few artefacts. The relative heights of the peaks due to the parent molecules in the deconvoluted spectrum of a mixture of two peptides, which are expected to ionize with equal efficiency, give an accurate measure of their relative concentration in the sample.     

The use of pencil lead as a matrix and calibrant for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation

Pencil lead is shown to be an effective matrix and calibrant in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Various groups of analytes, including peptides, polymers and actinide metals, can be readily ionised using MALDI when deposited onto a pencil lead matrix. The matrix is seen to have advantages in sample preparation relating to its hydrophobic properties and almost complete suppression of the matrix during analysis. Using pencil lead as a matrix is a quick and convenient method of qualitative analysis and has been shown to be quantitative for the isotope ratio analysis of actinide metals.