Chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of cispentacin

Based on the lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution of the silyloxyalcohol (1RS,2SR)-5 by transesterification with vinyl acetate in the presence of lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia a synthesis of both enantiomers of the β-amino acid cispentacin (1R,2S)-1 and (1S,2R)-1 using simple functional group interconversions is described.     

The rhodium complex of a tris(bipyridine) ligand—Its electrochemical behaviour and function as mediator for the regeneration of NADH from NAD+

The tris-bipyridine ligand3a and its stoichiometric Rh³⁺ complex have been prepared. Cyclovoltammograms of the complex at pH 7.4 using a glassy carbon disk electrode reveal a strong reduction peak at –620 mV and two weak reduction peaks at more negative voltage. The reduction potential of the new complex is shifted by 300 mV to more positive values as compared to [Rh(bipy)₃]³⁺. There is no reversible reoxidation peak of the Rh(I) complex formed due to the decomplexation of one of the three bipyridine units in the course of the transition Rh(III)Rh(I). The Rh(III) complex of3a was also studied with respect to its function as a possible redox mediator for the electrochemical regeneration of NADH from NAD⁺. The preparative electrolysis of the Rh³⁺ complex of3a in the presence of NAD⁺ yields a selective formation of NADH, whereas NAD dimers were not detected. On the other hand, a significant acceleration of this reaction compared to [Rh(bipy)₃]³⁺ was not observed.     

POTENTIATION OF MEROCYANINE 540-MEDIATED PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY BY SALICYLATE and RELATED DRUGS

Abstract— Simultaneous exposure to merocyanine 540 (MC540) and light of a suitable wavelength kills leukemia, lymphoma and neuroblastoma cells but is relatively well tolerated by normal pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. This differential phototoxic effect has been exploited in preclinical models and a phase I clinical trial for the extracorporeal purging of autologous bone marrow grafts. Salicylate is known to potentiate the MC540-mediated photokilling of tumor cells. Assuming that salicylate induces a change in the plasma membrane of tumor cells (but not normal hematopoietic stem cells) that enhances the binding of dye molecules it has been suggested that salicylate may provide a simple and effective means of improving the therapeutic index of MC540-mediated photodynamic therapy. We report here on a direct test of this hypothesis in a murine model of bone marrow transplantation as well as in clonal cultures of normal murine hematopoietic progenitor cells. In both systems, salicylate enhanced the MC540-sensitized photoinactivation of leukemia cells and normal bone marrow cells to a similar extent and thus failed to improve the therapeutic index of MC540 significantly. On the basis of a series of dye-binding studies, we offer an alternative explanation for the potentiating effect of salicylate. Rather than invoking a salicylate-induced change in the plasma membrane of tumor cells, we propose that salicylate displaces dye molecules from serum albumin, thereby enhancing the concentration of free (active) dye available for binding to tumor as well as normal hematopoietic stem cells.     

Controlled anodic generation of the catalyst in kinetic continuous flow analysis

Controlled anodic dissolution of copper in a separate generator cell yields well-defined concentrations of catalyst, depending on the voltage applied. This adjustable generation of copper catalyst makes it possible to determine iron over a wide range of concentration (10–1500 μg Fe³⁺ ml^-1) via the iron(III)—thiosulphate reaction. By the copper(II)-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide—hydroquinone reaction, EDTA can be determined as an inhibitor (0.5–5 μg ml^-1) and cadmium(II) as a reactivator (1–10 μg ml^-1). As zinc(II) forms complexes with 2,2'-bipyridine, which activates copper in this reaction, it can be determined (5–50 μg Zn²⁺ ml^-1) by measuring the decrease in activation. The electrogeneration of silver ion as a catalyst is also described. The sulphanilic acid—peroxodisulphate reaction is catalyzed by silver(I), which is again activated by 2,2'-bipyridine. Zinc(II) can be determined (0.29–2.9 mg Zn²⁺ ml^-1) by the same principle as in the copper(II)-catalyzed reaction.     

Bildung siliciumorganischer Verbindungen. LVI. Reaktionen Si- und C-chlorierter 1,3,5-Trisilapentane mit CH3MgCl

Formation of Organosilicon Compounds. LVI. Reactions of Si- and C-Chlorinated 1,3,5-Trisilapentanes with CH₃MgCl (Cl₃Si? CCl₂)₂SiCl₂ (1) reacts with an excess of meMgCl (me = CH₃) forming me₃Si? C?C? Sime₃ (2), Sime₄, H₂C?C(Sime₃)[CH(Sime₃)₂] (3) as main products and (me₃Si)₂C? CH(Sime₃) and as by-products. The cleavage reaction of (1) to (2) and (3) does not occur when the meMgCl-concentration is lowered. The reaction is started by the formation of a GRIGNARD reagent at a CCl-group in compound (1). Cl₃Si? CCl₂? SiCl₂? CH₂? SiCl₃ forms with ; me₃Si? CCl₂? SiCl₂? CHCl? SiCl₃ forms (me₃Si)₂C?CH(Sime₃). A reaction sequence is given.     

Bildung und Reaktionen P-funktioneller Phosphane

Formation and Reaction of P-functional Phosphanes The reaction of (me₃Si)₂PLi · 2 THF a (me = CH₃) with PCl₃ b at ?78°C via the intermediate (me₃Si)₂P? PCl₂ 1 yields [(me₃Si)₂P]₂PCl 2 and [(me₃Si)₂P]₂P? P(Sime₃)₂ 3 . By addition of me₃CLi c to the reaction mixture of a and b (molar ratio a:b:c (molar ratio a:b:c = 1:1:1) at ?60°C, 2 is formed as a main product, which reacts on to yield [(me₃Si)₂P]₂PH 4 (white crystals, mp = 73°C). By reactions of a:b:c in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 the cyclotetraphosphane (me₃C)₃ (me₃Si)P₄ 7 is accessible, and the additional formation of (me₃Si)₂PLi · 2 THF, (me₃Si)₃P and Li₃P₇ · 3 THF 13 was detected. Warming (me₃Si)₂P? PCl(Cme₃) 5 to 20°C produces cis- and trans-cyclotetraphosphanes (me₃Si)₂(me₃C)₂P₄. By running the reaction of a and b at ?78°C and adding me₃CLi only after 24 h, additionally to (me₃Si)₂P? PH Cme₃) and (me₃Si)₃P also (me₃Si)₂P? P(Cme₃)? P(Cme₃)? P (Sime₃)₂ is obtained, which is formed by metallation of (me₃Si)₂P? PCl(Cme₃) with me₃CLi and by further reaction of the intermediate (me₃Si)₂P? PLi(Cme₃) with (me₃Si)₂P? PCl(Cme₃). The reaction of (me₃Si₃)P with PCl₃ at ?78°C only yields (me₃Si)₂P? PCl₂ 1 and me₃SiCl. On addition of me₃CLi (?78°C, molar ratio = 1:1:1) preferrably 2 and (me₃Si)₂P? PCl(Cme₃) are formed, whereas after warming the mixture to 20°C, 4 and (me₃Si)₂P? PH(Cme₃) are found to be the main products. These reactions are induced by the cleavage of 1 by means of me₃CLi, and by the formation of (me₃Si)₂PLi and me₃C? PCl₂.     

Investigation of the electrocatalytic oxidation of formate and ethanol at platinum black under microbial fuel cell conditions

In this communication, we discuss the electro-oxidation of the fermentation products formate and ethanol at platinum black modified electrodes under microbial fuel cell conditions, i.e., at neutral pH, room temperature, and in microbial culture solutions. The electrocatalytic oxidation was studied using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and potentiostatic coulometry. Current densities up to 6 mA cm⁻² at 0.2 V oxidation potential and 97% coulombic efficiency were observed for the electro-oxidation of 100 mM solutions of formate in pH 7 buffer solution. Electrode deactivation could be successfully prevented using an oxidative potential reactivation procedure. Polymer coating, however, fully stopped the formate oxidation. As expected, the electro-oxidation of ethanol was less efficient—with a limiting current density being 600 μA cm⁻².Dedicated to Professor Dr. Alan M. Bond on the occasion of this 60th birthday.     

Engineering entangled photon pairs with metal–organic frameworks

The discovery and design of new materials with competitive optical frequency conversion efficiencies can accelerate the development of scalable photonic quantum technologies. Metal–organic framework (MOF) crystals without inversion symmetry have shown potential for these applications, given their nonlinear optical properties and the combinatorial number of possibilities for MOF self-assembly. In order to accelerate the discovery of MOF materials for quantum optical technologies, scalable computational assessment tools are needed. We develop a multi-scale methodology to study the wavefunction of entangled photon pairs generated by selected non-centrosymmetric MOF crystals via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Starting from an optimized crystal structure, we predict the shape of the G⁽²⁾ intensity correlation function for coincidence detection of the entangled pairs, produced under conditions of collinear type-I phase matching. The effective nonlinearities and photon pair correlation times obtained are comparable to those available with inorganic crystal standards. Our work thus provides fundamental insights into the structure–property relationships for entangled photon generation with metal–organic frameworks, paving the way for the automated discovery of molecular materials for optical quantum technology.

The discovery and design of new materials with competitive optical frequency conversion efficiencies can accelerate the development of scalable photonic quantum technologies.     

Synthese und Eigenschaften teilsilylierter Tri- und Tetraphosphane. Reaktionen lithiierter Diphosphane mit Chlorphosphanen

Synthesis and Properties of Partially Silylated Tri- and Tetraphosphanes. Reaction of Lithiated Diphosphanes with Chlorophosphanes The reactions of Li(Me₃Si)P? P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃) 1 , Li(Me₃Si)P? P(CMe₃)₂ 2 , and Li(Me₃C)P? P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃) 3 with the chlorophosphanes P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃)Cl, P(CMe₃)₂Cl, or P(CMe₃)Cl₂ generate the triphosphanes [(Me₃C)(Me₃Si)P]₂P(SiMe₃) 4 , (Me₃C)(Me₃Si)P? P(SiMe₃)? P(CMe₃)₂ 6 , [(Me₃C)₂P]₂P(SiMe₃) 7 , and (Me₃C)(Me₃Si)P? P(SiMe₃)? P(CMe₃)Cl 8 . The triphosphane (Me₃C)₂P? P(SiMe₃)? P(SiMe₃)₂ 5 is not obtainable as easily. The access to 5 starts by reacting PCl₃ with P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃)₂, forming (Me₃C)₂ P? PCl₂, which then with LiP(SiMe₃)₂ gives (Me₃C)₂ P? P(Cl)? P(SiMe₃)₂ 11 . Treating 11 with LiCMe₃ generates (Me₃C)₂P? P(H)? P(SiMe₃)₂ 16 , which can be lithiated by LiBu to give (Me₃C)₂P? P(Li)? P(SiMe₃)₂ 13 and after reacting with Me₃SiCl, finally yields 5 . 8 is stable at ?70°C and undergoes cyclization to P₃(SiMe₃)(CMe₃)₂ in the course of warming to ambient temperature, while Me₃SiCl is split off. 7 , reacting with MeOH, forms [(Me₃C)₂P]₂PH. (Me₃C)₂P? P(Li)? P(SiMe₃)₂ 18 , which can be obtained by the reaction of 5 with LiBu, decomposes forming (Me₃C)₂P? P(Li)(SiMe₃), P(SiMe₃)₃, and LiP(SiMe₃)₂, in contrast to either (Me₃C)₂P? P(Li)? P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃) 19 or [(Me₃C)₂P]₂PLi, which are stable in ether solutions. The Li phosphides 1 , 2 , and 3 with BrH₂C? CH₂Br form the n-tetraphosphanes (Me₃C)(Me₃Si)P? [P(SiMe₃)]₂? P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃) 23 , (Me₃C)₂P? [P(SiMe₃)]₂? P(CMe₃)₂ 24 , and (Me₃C)(Me₃Si)P? [P(CMe₃)]₂? P(SiMe₃)(CMe₃) 25 , respectively. Li(Me₃Si)P? P(SiMe₃)₂, likewise, generates (Me₃Si)₂P? [P(SiMe₃)]₂? P(SiMe₃)₂ 26 . Just as the n-triphosphanes 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 , the n-tetraphosphanes 23 , 24 , and 25 can be isolated as crystalline compounds. 23 , treated with LiBu, does nor form any stable n-tetraphosphides, whereas 24 yields (Me₃C)₂P? P(Li)? P(SiMe₃)? P(CMe₃)₂, that is stable in ethers. With MeOH, 24 , forms crystals of (Me₃C)₂P? P(H)? P(SiMe₃)? P(CMe₃)₂.