New terpyridine-containing macrocycle for the assembly of dimeric Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes coupled by bridging hydroxide anions and pi-stacking interactions

The synthesis of the new terpyridine-containing macrocycle 2,5,8,11,14-pentaaza[15](6,6' ')cyclo(2,2':6',2' ')terpyridinophane (L) is reported. The ligand contains a pentaamine chain linking the 6,6' ' positions of a terpyridine unit. A potentiometric, (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and fluorescence emission study on the acid-base properties of L in aqueous solutions shows that the first four protonation steps occur on the polyamine chain, whereas the terpyridine nitrogens are involved in proton binding only at strongly acidic pH values. L can form both mono- and dinuclear Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) complexes in aqueous solution. The crystal structures of the Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes ([ZnLH](2)(micro-OH))(ClO(4))(5) (6) and ([CdLH](2)(micro-Br))(ClO(4))(5).4H(2)O (7) show that two mononuclear [MLH](3+) units are coupled by a bridging anion (OH(-) in 6 and Br(-) in 7) and pi-stacking interactions between the terpyridine moieties. A potentiometric and spectrophotometric study shows that in the case of Cu(II) and Zn(II) the dimeric assemblies are also formed in aqueous solution containing the ligand and the metals in a 1:1 molar ratio. Protonation of the complexes or the addition of a second metal ion leads to the disruption of the dimers due to the increased electrostatic repulsions between the two monomeric units.     

Fast diastereoselective Baylis-Hillman reaction by nitroalkenes: synthesis of di- and triene derivatives

The Baylis-Hillman reaction is performed using nitroalkenes as activated alkenes, ethyl-2-bromomethylacrylate as electrophilic acceptor and DBU as catalyst base. Nitro dienes are obtained in good yields and very short reaction times. Moreover, starting from appropriate nitroalkenes it is possible to realize one pot the synthesis of trienic systems.     

Single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones

A single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo-[1,2-c]-quinazolin-2(3H)-ones from simple carbonyl compounds, primary amines or amino acid methyl esters and 2-azido-5-nitro-benzonitrile was developed. Key intermediates were N,N′-disubstituted amidines obtained by rearrangement of 4,5-dihydrotriazoles; the new heterocyclic rings were formed by spontaneous intramolecular reaction of the amino and cyano groups which are present in the intermediates.     

Synthesis and isomerization of N-α-aza-heteroaryl-β-lactams

The [2+2] carbonylative cycloaddition of N-α-aza-heteroaryl substituted imines with allyl bromide led partially to β-lactams, which underwent isomerization to the more stable α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound. Pyrimidinone derivatives together with doubly unsaturated amides represent the remaining isolated products. The strong electron-withdrawing effect of the two α-aza-heterocycles linked to the nitrogen atom and to the C4 of the 2-azetidinone structure could give a ring expansion, through a 2-azetinone intermediate that affords the pyrimidinone compounds. The substituted amides, instead, should result from a ring-opening reaction of the β-lactam.     

Phosphine and phosphonite complexes of a Ru(II) porphyrin. 2. Photophysical and electrochemical studies

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of a series of mono- and bis-phosphine complexes of a 5,15-diphenyl-substituted ruthenium porphyrin, (MeOH)Ru(II)(CO)(DPP) 1, were investigated. The ligands used were diphenyl(phenylacetenyl)phosphine (DPAP), diethyl (phenylacetenyl)phosphonite [PAP(OEt)(2)], tris(phenylacetenyl)phosphine [(PA)(3)P], and bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene (DPPA). All complexes display two reversible one-electron oxidations at: 0.61 and 1.0 V vs SCE (1), 0.42-0.51 and 0.97-1.05 V [(PR(3))Ru(II)(CO)(DPP)], and 0.06-0.25 and 0.82-0.95 V [(PR(3))(2)Ru(II)(DPP)]. As predicted by EHMO calculations, the first oxidation is porphyrin or phosphorus centered, whereas the second one is ruthenium centered. Bulk electrolysis at the first oxidation potential yields stable monocations. Simulation of the cyclic voltammogram of (DPAP)Ru(II)(CO)(DPP) in CH(2)Cl(2) demonstrates the kinetic lability of the complex, and the association constant found (K = 1.27 x 10(6) M(-1)) is in accordance with the value determined by UV-vis titration (K = 1.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(6) M(-1)). Coordination of one phosphine ligand to Ru(II)(CO)(DPP) leads to a red shift in both the absorption and luminescence spectra. Shifts are typically 10 nm for the B- and Q-band absorptions and are not affected by the nature of the phosphorus ligand. The intense luminescence of (PR(3))Ru(II)(CO)(DPP), red-shifted by 21-28 nm compared to 1, can be attributed to originate from a (3)(pi,pi) excited state, and it exhibits lifetimes from 150 to 240 micros. In the bis-phosphine complexes (PR(3))(2)Ru(II)(DPP), the Q-band absorption is broadened and does not show any distinct peak. Judged from EHMO calculation, this could arise from a low-energy charge-transfer state involving the phosphorus ligand. The luminescence is efficiently quenched due to radiationless decay from a charge-transfer excited state, involving either the metal center or the phosphorus ligand; an unambiguous assignment could not be made.     

Reactions of hydro(pero)xy derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids/esters with nitrite ions under acidic conditions. Unusual nitrosative breakdown of methyl 13-hydro(pero)xyoctadeca-9,11-dienoate to a novel 4-nitro-2-oximinoalk-3-enal product

13(S)-hydroperoxy- and 13(S)-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acids (1a/b), 15(S)-hydroperoxy- and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosa-5,8,11,13-tetraenoic acids (2a/b), and their methyl esters reacted smoothly with NO2- in phosphate buffer at pH 3-5.5 and at 37 degrees C to afford mixtures of products. 1b methyl ester gave mainly the 9-nitro derivative 3b methyl ester (11% yield) and a peculiar breakdown product identified as the novel 4-nitro-2-oximinoalk-3-enal derivative 4 methyl ester (15% yield). By GC-MS hexanal was also detected among the products. Structures 3b and 4 methyl esters were secured by 15N NMR analysis of the products prepared from 1b methyl ester upon reaction with Na15NO2. 4 methyl ester (14% yield) was also obtained from 1a methyl ester along with the nitrated hydroperoxy derivative 3a methyl ester (10% yield). Under the same conditions, 2a/b methyl esters gave mainly the corresponding nitrated derivatives 5a/b, with no detectable breakdown products, whereas the model compound (E,E)-2,4-hexadienol (6) afforded two main nitrated derivatives identified as 7 and 8. A reaction pathway for 1a/b methyl esters was proposed involving conversion of nitronitrosooxyhydro(pero)xy intermediates which would partition between two competing routes, viz., loss of HNO2, to give 3a/b methyl esters, and a remarkably facile fission leading to 4 methyl ester and hexanal.     

α-Pyrones. II . Synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives of 4-aminobutanoic and 2-amino-2-pentenedioic acids

Ethyl 3-benzoylamino-2-oxo-6-triphenylphosphoranylidenemethyl-2H-pyran-5-carboxylate ( 1 ) reacts with 2- nitrobenzaldehydes ( 2 ) to give 6-(2-nitrostyryl)-2H-pyran-2-ones ( 3 ), as the E stereoisomers, in good yields. The reduction of compounds 3 , performed with hydrogen over Pd/C at room temperature and 1 atmosphere, leads to a mixture of 2-amino-4-tetrahydroquinolinylidene-2-pentenedioic acid derivatives 5a-d as the main products, the corresponding 3-butenoic acid derivatives 6 and a minor amount of pyrano[2,3-c]benzazocines 9a-c. At 40 atmospheres and 90°, the reduction gives 4-amino-2-tetrahydroquinolinylbutanoic acid derivatives 8a-d as the main products and their precursors 7a,b,d as the minor ones. Amines 4c,d are isolated by stopping the reduction after the uptake of 3 equivalents of hydrogen.     

On (k,n)-blocking sets which can be obtained as a union of conics

A family of conics in PG(2,q) is called saturated if any line LPG(2,q) is incident with at least one conic of the family. Then, if <(q+1)/2, the support of is a (k,n)-blocking set. It is shown that in this way one can get blocking sets whose character n is small compared to q; it is also shown that cannot be taken independent of q, but must necessarily increase as q does.     

Online monitoring of higher alcohols and esters throughout beer fermentation by commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces pastorianus yeast

Higher alcohols and esters are among the predominant classes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that influence the quality of beer. The concentrations of these compounds are determined through a specific yeast strain selection and fermentation conditions. The effect of yeast strains on the formation of higher alcohols and esters throughout fermentations (at 20°C) was investigated. Flavour-relevant esters (ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate and ethyl octanoate) and higher alcohols (isoamyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol and phenylethyl alcohol) were monitored throughout the fermentation using proton transfer reaction–time of flight–mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) coupled with an automated sampling system for continuous measurements. Compound identification was confirmed by analysis of samples using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results demonstrated the specific time points where variation in higher alcohol and ester generation between yeast strains occurred. In particular, the concentrations of isoamyl acetate, ethyl octanoate and isoamyl alcohol between yeast strains were significantly different over the first 2 days of fermentation; whereas, after Day 3, no significant differences were observed. The two Saccharomyces pastorianus strains produced comparable concentrations of the key higher alcohols and esters. However, the key higher alcohol and ester concentrations varied greatly between the two S. cerevisiae strains. The use of PTR–ToF–MS to rapidly measure multiple yeast strains provides new insights on fermentation for brewers to modify the sensory profile and optimise quality.     

Metal cation induced cubic phase in poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine aqueous dispersions

Metal cations (Mn(2+) or Ca(2+)) in aqueous dispersions of mixtures of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized DOPE (DOPE-PEG(350)) induce, above a certain amount of the PEG lipid component, a phase transition from the inverted hexagonal phase H(II) to the bicontinuous inverted cubic phase Q(224) with space group Pn3m. The process is driven by the decrease of free elastic energy due to the Gaussian curvature of the cubic phase. The structural characterization of the phase behavior over the whole explored range of DOPE-PEG/DOPE weight ratio (3-25%) is reported, focusing on the role of the metal cation in the formation of the 3D cubic lattice. This result may represent a significant progress toward a design-based approach to drug delivery.