Density functional theory study of the oxidation reaction in the gas and aqueous phase of allyl methyl disulfide with hydroxyl radical

Structural Chemistry - An in silico analysis of the oxidation mechanism of allyl methyl disulfide (AMDS) by hydroxyl radical was achieved at DFT level using B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, M06-2X, and BMK...     

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymeric fibers using a single bifunctional monomer for the solid‐phase microextraction of parabens from environmental solid samples

In this study, molecularly imprinted polymer fibers for solid‐phase microextraction have been prepared with a single bifunctional monomer, N,O‐bismethacryloyl ethanolamine using the so‐called “one monomer molecularly imprinted polymers” method, replacing the conventional combination of functional monomer and cross‐linker to form high fidelity binding sites. For comparison, imprinted fibers were prepared following the conventional approach based on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross‐linker and methacrylic acid as monomer. The recognition performance of the new fibers was evaluated in the solid‐phase microextraction of parabens, and from this study it was concluded that they provided superior performance over conventionally formulated fibers. Ultimately, real‐world environmental testing on spiked solid samples was successful by the molecularly imprinted solid‐phase microextraction of samples, and the relative recoveries obtained at enrichment levels of 10 ng/g of parabens were within 78–109% for soil and 83–109% for sediments with a relative standard deviation <15% (n = 3).     

Exploring reactivity of a bis-sulfonium zirconocene-ate dimer: Synthesis of various zwitterionic phosphonium anionic zirconocene complexes

Formal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions between the bis-sulfonium zirconocene-ate dimer 1a and methylpropiolate, benzaldehyde and carbon disulfide afforded stable zwitterionic phosphonium zirconocene-ate complexes 2-4, respectively, with two orthocondensed five-membered heterocycles. X-ray crystal structure of 4 has been determined. Elemental chalcogens (S, Se, Te) gave rise also to a new variety of five-coordinate zirconium(IV) complexes (5-7) by a formal [3+1] cycloaddition reaction. In these bicyclic zirconates, sulfur is included in a five-membered ring while the second chalcogen is in a four-membered one.     

Insight into the Thermal Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Phospha[1]ferrocenophanes

A mixture of cis/trans isomers of phospha[1]ferrocenophanes equipped with one iPr group at the α position to the bridging PhP moiety was prepared. Both isomers (cis‐ 4 and trans‐ 4 ) were obtained as racemates and could be separated so that their thermal properties were investigated individually. The molecular structure of cis‐ 4 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis showing a tilt angle α=26.35(8)°. Interconversion between both isomers occurred in the melt at elevated temperatures and revealed that the trans isomer is thermodynamically more stable. Structural and thermodynamic data was complemented by DFT calculations (B3PW91/6‐311+G(d,p) and B3PW91‐D3(BJ)/6‐311+G(d,p)). Performance of thermal ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of trans‐ 4 at 230 °C gave polymers and cyclic oligomers. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of the sulfurized polymer resulted in a molecular weight of 62.5 kDa (M_w) and a polydispersity index of 1.39 (PDI). Mass spectrometric analysis of the oligomers showed the presence of cyclic species from dimers to heptamers. After sulfurization, preparative thin layer chromatography led to the separation of three isomeric dimers. Structural characterization of these dimers by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis led to the conclusion that the Fe?Cp bond breaks during the thermal ROP process. A mechanism similar to the known mechanism of the photolytic ROP of ferrocenophanes is proposed.     

THE PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT OF ROSE BENGAL ON PROTEINS OF THE MITOCHONDRIAL INNER MEMBRANE

Photodynamic action promoted by Rose Bengal was evaluated in solutions of unsaturated fatty acids or histidine, and on beef heart submitochondrial particles. Rose Bengal-promoted photooxidation of histidine was mainly due to the opening up of the imidazole ring by singlet oxygen. Photosensitization of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) resulted in oxygen consumption and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation, the extent of which was linearly related to the increasing degree of unsaturation. Photosensitization of submitochondrial particles caused oxygen consumption and TBARS production. These processes involved two different reaction components: during the first, most of the mitochondrial proteins were inactivated, the most sensitive being succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c. The values for the rate ratios of [TBARS] formation/[O2] consumption for the first and second phase were 0.36 and 1.32%, respectively, pointing to a larger contribution of lipid peroxidation during the second phase. The calculation of the rate constants for reaction of singlet oxygen with mitochondrial proteins suggests that singlet oxygen is more reactive towards proteins than to PUFA. The biological role of this selectivity is discussed in terms of the mitochondria as one of the first targets for photosensitized reactions.     

An efficient approach to homochiral indane nucleosides

A series of new chiral 6-substituted purinyl and 8-aza-purinyl carbonucleosides based on indanol were synthesized from the commercially available (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-indanol and (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol based on a well-known methodology.     

Design of a Nasal Spray Based on Cardiospermum halicacabum Extract Loaded in Phospholipid Vesicles Enriched with Gelatin or Chondroitin Sulfate

The extract of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (C. halicacabum) obtained from flower, leaf and vine was loaded into modified phospholipid vesicles aiming at obtaining sprayable, biocompatible and effective nasal spray formulations for the treatment of nasopharyngeal diseases. Penetration enhancer-containing vesicles (PEVs) and hyalurosomes were formulated, and stabilized by adding a commercial gelatin from fish (20 mg/mL) or chondroitin sulfate from catshark cartilages (Scyliorhinus canicula, 20 mg/mL). Cryo-TEM images confirmed the formation of spherical vesicles, while photon correlation spectroscopy analysis disclosed the formation of small and negatively-charged vesicles. PEVs were the smaller vesicles (~100 nm) along with gelatin-hyalurosomes (~120 nm), while chondroitin-PEVs and chondroitin-hyalurosomes were larger (~160 nm). Dispersions prepared with chondroitin sulfate were more homogeneous, as the polydispersity index was ~0.15. The in vitro analysis of the droplet size distribution, average velocity module and spray cone angle suggested a good spray-ability and deposition of formulations in the nasal cavity, as the mean diameter of the droplets was in the range recommended by the Food and Drug Administration for nasal targets. The spray plume analysis confirmed the ability of PEVs, gelatin-PEVs, hyalurosomes and gelatin-hyalurosomes to be atomized in fine droplets homogenously distributed in a full cone plume, with an angle ranging from 25 to 30°. Moreover, vesicles were highly biocompatible and capable of protecting the epithelial cells against oxidative damage, thus preventing the inflammatory state.     

Regioselective orthopalladation of (Z)-2-aryl-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones: scope, kinetico-mechanistic, and density functional theory studies of the C-H bond activation

Orthopalladated complexes derived from (Z)-2-aryl-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones have been prepared by reaction of the oxazolone with palladium acetate in acidic medium. The reaction is regioselective, only the ortho C-H bond of the arylidene ring being activated, producing a six-membered ring. The scope and reaction conditions of the orthopalladation are dependent on the acidity of the solvent. In CF(3)CO(2)H a large number of oxazolones can be metalated under mild conditions. As acidity decreases a lesser number of oxazolones can be efficiently palladated and harsher conditions must be used to achieve similar yields. The C-H bond activation in acidic medium agrees with an ambiphilic mechanism, as determined from kinetic measurements at variable temperature and pressure for different oxazolones substituted at the arylidene ring. The mechanism has been confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, where the formation of the six-membered ring is shown to be favored from both a kinetic and a thermodynamic perspective. In addition, the dependence of the reaction rate on the acidity of the medium has also been accounted for via a fine-tuning between the C-H agostic precoordination and the proton abstraction reaction in the overall process occurring on coordinatively saturated [Pd(κ(N)-oxazolone)(RCO(2)H)(3)](2+).     

Dendritic cavitands: preparation and electrochemical properties

A new series of dendrimers containing a central cavitand core with four appended Fréchet-type dendrons, linked to the core through 4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) subunits, have been synthesized, characterized and their electrochemical properties investigated using cyclic voltammetric measurements.     

Water exchange rates and mechanisms in tetrahedral [Be(H2O)4]2+ and [Li(H2O)4]+ complexes using DFT methods and cluster‐continuum models

The water exchange reactions in aquated Li⁺ and Be²⁺ ions were investigated with density functional theory calculations performed using the [Li(H₂O)₄]⁺·14H₂O and [Be(H₂O)₄]²⁺·8H₂O systems and a cluster‐continuum approach. A range of commonly used functionals predict water exchange rates several orders of magnitude lower than the experimental ones. This effect is attributed to the overstabilization of coordination number four by these functionals with respect to the five‐coordinated transition states responsible for the associative ( A ) or associative interchange ( I_a ) water exchange mechanisms. However, the M06 and M062X functionals provide results in good agreement with the experimental data: M062X/TZVP calculations yield a concerted I_a mechanism for the water exchange in [Be(H₂O)₄]²⁺·8H₂O that gives an average residence time of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of 260 μs. For [Li(H₂O)₄]⁺·14H₂O the water exchange reaction is predicted to follow an A mechanism with a residence time of inner‐sphere water molecules of 25 ps.