Proton and metal binding by cyclen-based highly rigid cryptands

The basicity properties of the two cryptands L1 and L2, featuring, respectively, a dibenzofuran or a diphenyl ether moiety bridging the 1,7 positions of a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane macrocycle (cyclen) have been studied by means of potentiometric, UV-vis and fluorescence emission measurements. Both ligands show a high basicity in the first protonation step, the first basicity constant of L1 being too high to be measured in aqueous solution. The crystal structure of {[HL1]L1}(+) shows that the NH(2)(+) group is involved in an intramolecular hydrogen bonding network, which justifies the observed high basicity in solution. (1)H, (13)C NMR, UV-vis and fluorescence emission measurements show that, among first row divalent metal cations, both L1 and L2 selectively bind in acetonitrile Cu(II) and Zn(II), which are encapsulated within the ligand cavities. Zn(II) coordination is accompanied by a remarkable increase of the fluorescence emission of the ligands, pointing out that the molecular architecture displayed by L1 and L2 can be used to develop new OFF/ON chemosensors for this metal cation.     

Interaction between GUVs and catanionic nanocontainers: new insight into spontaneous membrane fusion

Spontaneous receptor-free membrane fusion with pure lipid systems, used as a cell membrane model, is demonstrated with easy-to-handle lactose-derived catanionic vesicles. This fusion, mediated and controlled by phospholipids, emphasizes the great value of these nanovesicles for enhanced direct cytosolic drug delivery without the shortcomings linked with endocytic pathways.     

Scoring in genetically modified organism proficiency tests based on log-transformed results

The study considers data from 2 UK-based proficiency schemes and includes data from a total of 29 rounds and 43 test materials over a period of 3 years. The results from the 2 schemes are similar and reinforce each other. The amplification process used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction determinations predicts a mixture of normal, binomial, and lognormal distributions dominated by the latter 2. As predicted, the study results consistently follow a positively skewed distribution. Log-transformation prior to calculating z-scores is effective in establishing near-symmetric distributions that are sufficiently close to normal to justify interpretation on the basis of the normal distribution.     

Pyrolysis of perhydro[1,2-c][1,3]oxazines: a green method of synthesizing 2,3-dehydropiperidine enamines

Heat pyrolysis of the oxazines formed from 2-piperidineethanol produced 2,3-dehydropiperidine enamines. The same results were observed when these oxazines were irradiated with microwaves. Various 2-substituted perhydrooxazines were synthesized by allowing 2-piperidineethanol or 2-piperidinemethanol to react with aldehydes or ketones.     

Quasi-stationary Distributions for a Class of Discrete-time Markov Chains

This paper is concerned with the circumstances under which a discrete-time absorbing Markov chain has a quasi-stationary distribution. We showed in a previous paper that a pure birth-death process with an absorbing bottom state has a quasi-stationary distribution—actually an infinite family of quasi-stationary distributions— if and only if absorption is certain and the chain is geometrically transient. If we widen the setting by allowing absorption in one step (killing) from any state, the two conditions are still necessary, but no longer sufficient. We show that the birth–death-type of behaviour prevails as long as the number of states in which killing can occur is finite. But if there are infinitely many such states, and if the chain is geometrically transient and absorption certain, then there may be 0, 1, or infinitely many quasi-stationary distributions. Examples of each type of behaviour are presented. We also survey and supplement the theory of quasi-stationary distributions for discrete-time Markov chains in general.      

Iron-catalyzed benzamide formation. Application to the synthesis of moclobemide

A convenient and user-friendly method to yield benzamides from primary and secondary amines and various benzylic alcohols in the presence of a cheap iron salt (FeCl₂·4H₂O) and tert-butylhydroperoxide (70% in water) as a stoichiometric oxidant is described. Control experiments indicated that this reaction might involve radical species. This method proved to be general, generating a family of 30 benzamides and was applied to the preparative synthesis of anti-anxiety drug moclobemide.     

Bis‐ and Tris(pyrazolyl)borate/Methane‐Stabilized PIII‐Centered Cations

We report the synthesis of [H₂B(pz)₂PR]⁺, [H₂C(pz)₂PR]⁺², [HB(pz)₃P]⁺², and [HC(pz)₃P]⁺³ (H₂B(pz)₂=bis(pyrazolyl)borate; H₂C(pz)₂=bis(pyrazolyl)methane; HB(pz)₃=tris(pyrazolyl)borate; HC(pz)₃=tris(pyrazolyl) methane; R=Ph, Cy or Et₂N) by reaction of the corresponding neutral or anionic ligands with chlorophosphines in the presence of TMSOTf. The structures of these compounds were determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis and the nature of their bonding was examined using density functional theory.     

Energy spectra considerations for synchrotron radiotherapy trials on the ID17 bio‐medical beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The aim of this study was to validate the kilovoltage X‐ray energy spectrum on the ID17 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The purpose of such validation was to provide an accurate energy spectrum as the input to a computerized treatment planning system, which will be used in synchrotron microbeam radiotherapy trials at the ESRF. Calculated and measured energy spectra on ID17 have been reported previously but recent additions and safety modifications to the beamline for veterinary trials warranted a fresh investigation. The authors used an established methodology to compare X‐ray attenuation measurements in copper sheets (referred to as half value layer measurements in the radiotherapy field) with the predictions of a theoretical model. A cylindrical ionization chamber in air was used to record the relative attenuation of the X‐ray beam intensity by increasing thicknesses of high‐purity copper sheets. The authors measured the half value layers in copper for two beamline configurations, which corresponded to differing spectral conditions. The authors obtained good agreement between the measured and predicted half value layers for the two beamline configurations. The measured first half value layer was 1.754 ± 0.035 mm Cu and 1.962 ± 0.039 mm Cu for the two spectral conditions, compared with theoretical predictions of 1.763 ± 0.039 mm Cu and 1.984 ± 0.044 mm Cu, respectively. The calculated mean energies for the two conditions were 105 keV and 110 keV and there was not a substantial difference in the calculated percentage depth dose curves in water between the different spectral conditions. The authors observed a difference between their calculated energy spectra and the spectra previously reported by other authors, particularly at energies greater than 100 keV. The validation of the beam spectrum by the copper half value layer measurements means the authors can provide an accurate spectrum as an input to a treatment planning system for the forthcoming veterinary trials of microbeam radiotherapy to spontaneous tumours in cats and dogs.