Synthesis of halogenated monodispersed telechelic oligomers. III. Bistelomerization of allyl acetate with telogens which exhibit α, ω-di(trichloromethyled) end groups

The redox bistelomerization of allyl acetate with telogens which exhibit α, ω-di(trichloromethyled) end groups catalyzed by copper, iron salts, or a ruthenium complex led to monoadducts and telechelic oligomers. These diacetates were quantitatively changed into diols. Such compounds have been characterized by both ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. A reactivity series has been determined and shows that both end groups must be activated to obtain the expected telechelic products in satisfactory yields.     

Functionalized Conducting Polymers—Towards Intelligent Materials

Organic conjugated polymers and oligomers constitute a three-dimensional network of molecular wires, in which all monomeric units can be functionalized with various prosthetic groups. By varying the nature of these groups, specific interactions with external physical or chemical phenomena can be developed in these materials, leading to molecular devices such as sensors, transducers, memories and logic operators. Chemists have already mastered the realization of many of these functional elements, which mimic those existing in organized beings.The further assembly of these elements in multifunctionalized organic conducting polymers and oligomers will represent the next step towards intelligent materials.     

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases, GSK-3beta and CK1 by hymenialdisine, a marine sponge constituent

BACKGROUND: Over 2000 protein kinases regulate cellular functions. Screening for inhibitors of some of these kinases has already yielded some potent and selective compounds with promising potential for the treatment of human diseases. RESULTS: The marine sponge constituent hymenialdisine is a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and casein kinase 1. Hymenialdisine competes with ATP for binding to these kinases. A CDK2-hymenialdisine complex crystal structure shows that three hydrogen bonds link hymenialdisine to the Glu81 and Leu83 residues of CDK2, as observed with other inhibitors. Hymenialdisine inhibits CDK5/p35 in vivo as demonstrated by the lack of phosphorylation/down-regulation of Pak1 kinase in E18 rat cortical neurons, and also inhibits GSK-3 in vivo as shown by the inhibition of MAP-1B phosphorylation. Hymenialdisine also blocks the in vivo phosphorylation of the microtubule-binding protein tau at sites that are hyperphosphorylated by GSK-3 and CDK5/p35 in Alzheimer's disease (cross-reacting with Alzheimer's-specific AT100 antibodies). CONCLUSIONS: The natural product hymenialdisine is a new kinase inhibitor with promising potential applications for treating neurodegenerative disorders.     

Solid-state of pharmaceutical compounds

This article summarizes the different steps needed for a proper design and monitoring of the solid-state in pharmaceutical industry in order to fulfill the requirements of the guideline dealing with polymorphism of the International Conference of Harmonization. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Reaction de metathese des olefines induite photochimiquement en presence d'un complexe de metal de transition: III. Caracterisation generale de la transformation

Activated sodium hydride (NaHRONa) was treated with Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Zr, Mo, Pd, W salts to give the new complex reducing agents NaHRONaMX_n (CRA). Their reactivities were examined for reduction of 1-bromonaphthalene. In most cases, the CRA exhibited very good reducing abilities, which can be varied by changing the solvent, the alkoxide, or the temperature. Moreover, some CRA act as coupling agents for aromatic halides. Easy to prepare and handle on a preparative scale, CRA must be regarded as very promising tools for organic synthesis.     

A Boron‐Fluorinated Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligand (FTp*) and Its Mono‐ and Dinuclear Copper Complexes [Cu(FTp*)2] and [Cu2(FTp*)2]: Synthesis,Structures, and DFT Calculations

Reaction of [Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₄] ( 1 ) with [Cu(MeCN)₄][BF₄] ( 2 ) gave the mono‐ and dinuclear copper complexes [Cu₂(^FTp*)₂] ( 3 ) and [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). Both complexes contain the so‐far unprecedented boron‐fluorinated ^FTp* ligand ([FB(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃]^? with pz=pyrazolyl) originating from 1 , acting as a pyrazolyl transfer reagent, and the [BF₄]^? counter anion of 2 , serving as the source of the {BF} entity. The solid‐state structures as well as the NMR and EPR spectroscopic characteristics of the complexes were elaborated. Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) experiments revealed that 3 retains (almost entirely) its dimeric structure in benzene, whereas dimer cleavage and formation of acetonitrile adducts, presumably [Cu(^FTp*)(MeCN)], is observed in acetonitrile. The short Cu???Cu distance of 269.16 pm in the solid‐state is predicted by DFT calculations to be dictated by dispersion interactions between all atoms in the complex (the Cu?Cu dispersion contribution itself is only very small). As revealed by cyclic voltammetry studies, 3 shows an irreversible (almost quasi‐reversible at higher scan rates) oxidation process centred at E^pa=?0.23 V (E⁰_1/2=?0.27 V) (vs. Fc/Fc⁺). Oxidation reactions on a preparative scale with one equivalent of the ferrocenium salt [Fc][BF₄] (very slow reaction) or air (fast reaction) furnished blue crystals of the mononuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). As expected for a Jahn–Teller‐active system, the coordination sphere around copper(II) is strongly distorted towards a stretched octahedron, in accordance with EPR spectroscopic findings.     

Significance of data treatment and experimental setup on the determination of copper complexing parameters by anodic stripping voltammetry

Different procedures of voltammetric peak intensities determination, as well as various experimental setups were systematically tested on simulated and real experimental data in order to identify critical points in the determination of copper complexation parameters (ligand concentration and conditional stability constant) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Varieties of titration data sets (Cu_measuredvs. Cu_total) were fitted by models encompassing discrete sites distribution of one-class and two-class of binding ligands (by PROSECE software). Examination of different procedures for peak intensities determination applied on voltammograms with known preset values revealed that tangent fit (TF) routine should be avoided, as for both simulated and experimental titration data it produced an additional class of strong ligand (actually not present). Peak intensities determination by fitting of the whole voltammogram was found to be the most appropriate, as it provided most reliable complexation parameters.Tests performed on real seawater samples under different experimental conditions revealed that in addition to importance of proper peak intensities determination, an accumulation time (control of the sensitivity) and an equilibration time needed for complete complexation of added copper during titration (control of complexation kinetics) are the keypoints to obtain reliable results free of artefacts.The consequence of overestimation and underestimation of complexing parameters is supported and illustrated by the example of free copper concentrations (the most bioavailable/toxic specie) calculated for all studied cases. Errors up to 80% of underestimation of free copper concentration and almost two orders of magnitude overestimation of conditional stability constant were registered for the simulated case with two ligands.     

New amphiphilic diblock copolymers: surfactant properties and solubilization in their micelles

Several series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are investigated as macrosurfactants in comparison to reference low-molar-mass and polymeric surfactants. The various copolymers share poly(butyl acrylate) as a common hydrophobic block but are distinguished by six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) with various compositions. Dynamic light scattering experiments indicate the presence of micelles over the whole concentration range from 10(-4) to 10 g x L(-1). Accordingly, the critical micellization concentrations are very low. Still, the surface tension of aqueous solutions of block copolymers decreases slowly but continuously with increasing concentration, without exhibiting a plateau. The longer the hydrophobic block, the shorter the hydrophilic block, and the less hydrophilic the monomer of the hydrophilic block is, the lower the surface tension is. However, the effects are small, and the copolymers reduce the surface tension much less than standard low-molar-mass surfactants. Also, the copolymers foam much less and even act as anti-foaming agents in classical foaming systems composed of standard surfactants. The copolymers stabilize O/W emulsions made of methyl palmitate as equally well as standard surfactants but are less efficient for O/W emulsions made of tributyrine. However, the copolymer micelles exhibit a high solubilization power for hydrophobic dyes, probably at their core-corona interface, in dependence on the initial geometry of the micelles and the composition of the block copolymers. Whereas micelles of copolymers with strongly hydrophilic blocks are stable upon solubilization, solubilization-induced micellar growth is observed for copolymers with moderately hydrophilic blocks.