Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer aluminum complexes as catalysts for ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

New aluminum alkyl complexes, supported by o‐phenylene‐derived phosphido diphosphine pro‐ligands [Ph‐PPP]‐H and [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H ([Ph‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine; [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diisopropylphosphinophenyl)phosphine) are reported. Compounds [Ph‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 1 ), [ⁱPr‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 2 ), and [Ph‐PPP]AlⁱBu₂ ( 3 ) have been synthesized by reaction of the pro‐ligand with the appropriate trialkyl aluminum precursor and have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solution NMR data and theoretical calculations suggest for all complexes trigonal bipyramidal structures with C_2v symmetry in which the phosphido diphosphine ligand acts as a κ³ coordinated ligand. All complexes promote the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, L‐ and rac‐lactide. Polyesters with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities are obtained. Upon addition of isopropanol, efficient binary catalytic systems for the immortal ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic esters are produced. Preliminary investigations show the ability of these complexes to promote copolymerization of l ‐lactide and ?‐caprolactone to achieve copolymers whose microstructures are depending on the structure of the catalyst. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 49–60     

Evolved Gas Analysis‐Mass Spectrometry to Identify the Earliest Organic Binder in Aegean Style Wall Paintings

An organic binder was identified in the painted fragments from the Canaanite palace of Tel Kabri, Israel. Recently dated to the late 18th century B.C.E. by ¹⁴C, Tel Kabri is the most ancient of the Eastern Mediterranean sites in which Aegean style paintings have been found. The application of pigments was suspected to be using an organic binding medium, particularly for the Egyptian Blue pigment. Samples of blue paint were examined using evolved gas analysis‐mass spectrometry (EGA‐MS) in order to overcome the analytical challenges imposed by highly degraded aged proteinaceous materials. Egg was identified as the binder based on the presence of hexadecanonitrile and octadecanonitrile, confirming the use of a secco painting technique. Lysozyme C from Gallus gallus was detected by proteomics analysis, confirming the presence of egg. To our knowledge, this is the earliest use of egg as a binder in Aegean style wall paintings.     

Synthesis of potential HIV integrase inhibitors inspired by natural polyphenol structures

Drawing inspiration from the structural features of some natural polyphenols, the synthesis of two different model compounds as potential inhibitors of HIV integrase (IN) has been described. The former was characterised by a diketo acid (DKA) bioisostere, such as a β-hydroxycarbonyl moiety, between two fragments containing aromatic groups, while in the latter an epoxide linked two polyoxygenated aromatic residues. The moieties present in the structures are thought to function by chelating divalent metal ions on the enzyme catalytic site. Overall, 10 compounds were prepared and some of that submitted to molecular modelling studies (to investigate their interactions with the active site of IN), to metal titration studies (to detect their chelating capability) and to biological assays.     

Lignans and secoiridoid glycosides from the stem barks of Jasminum tortuosum

This paper reports on the first phytochemical analysis ever performed on Jasminum tortuosum Willd. This analysis, mainly carried out by means of column chromatography separation, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, led to the isolation and the identification of four compounds, namely the lignans ginkgool (1) and olivil-4′-O-β-glucopyranoside (2) and the secoiridoids oleoside dimethyl ester (3) and oleoside 11-methyl ester (4). The presence of these compounds is significant from a chemotaxonomic point of view, confirming the correct botanical classification of the species and, from a phytochemical standpoint, may suggest its possible use in the ethno-medicinal field.     

Capillary electrophoresis of complex natural polysaccharides

Complex natural polysaccharides, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), are a class of ubiquitous macromolecules that exhibit a wide range of biological functions and participate and regulate multiple cellular events and (patho)physiological processes. They are generally present either as free chains (hyaluronic acid and bacterial acidic polysaccharides) or as side chains of proteoglycans (PGs; chondroitin/dermatan sulfate, heparin/heparan sulfate, and keratan sulfate) and are most often found in cell membranes and in the extracellular matrix. The recent emergence of modern analytical tools for their study has produced a virtual explosion in the field of glycomics. CE, due to its high resolving power and sensitivity, has been useful in the analysis of intact GAGs and GAG-derived oligosaccharides and disaccharides affording concentration and structural characterization data essential for understanding the biological functions of GAGs. In this review, novel off-line and on-line CE-MS and MS/MS methods for screening of GAG-derived oligosaccharides and disaccharides will be discussed.     

Fast and reliable theoretical determination of pKa* for photoacids

In this Letter a fast and reliable computational protocol for the calculation of pKa* of photoacids is presented. The results obtained for several coumarins indicate that, beyond the obtained numerical accuracy, it is indeed possible to develop a reliable computational procedure for pKa* calculation by combining, in a judicious way, a reliable model for the excited states (TD-DFT) with a fast solvent model (PCM). The characteristics of the different components of the model will allow for routine applications to medium and large chemical systems, so that the proposed protocol could nicely integrate experimental analyses.     

Claisen rearrangement induced by low-energy collision of ESI-generated, protonated benzyloxy indoles

The Claisen rearrangement is a well-known process occurring in condensed phase. In the gas-phase protonated allyl phenyl ethers, propargyl phenyl ethers, and N-allyl aniline produced by positive ion chemical ionization undergo Claisen rearrangement. This reaction has been observed even in the case of odd-electron molecular ions. Phenyl allenyl ether molecular ions actually undergo Claisen rearrangement, producing intense [M - CO](+*) ions. In this investigation, the behavior of protonated benzyloxy indole and some of its derivatives, obtained in electrospray conditions, is described. Low-energy MS/MS experiments carried out on [M + H](+) species show CO loss and an unexpected water loss: both can be justified only by the occurrence of Claisen rearrangement. Deuterium labeling experiments confirm this mechanism. The influence of different substituents in the indole moiety is discussed.     

Effect of Pt particle size and distribution on photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution by p-Si photocathodes

In this work, we investigate the effect of the average size and density of Pt clusters on silicon on the photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen. The metallization of Si is performed via electroless deposition from aqueous HF solutions and from water-in-oil microemulsions. The first method enables control of the average diameter and density of Pt clusters by properly changing the deposition parameters like HF concentration and immersion times. However, on one hand, size dispersion is relatively wide and particles agglomeration may occur with this deposition technique. On the other hand, Pt islands with smaller dimensions at the nanoscale as well as with a narrower size distribution are deposited from reversed micellar solutions. Photoelectrochemical experiments show that the effect of Pt morphology on photoconversion efficiency strongly depends on light intensity. At low power of illumination (10 mW/cm2), Pt islands with a mean diameter of 100 nm and a density of 15 particles/microm2, which can be obtained via electroless deposition from a HF-based solution, provide the best photoelectrochemical performance. Nevertheless, this configuration of Pt clusters yields an abrupt collapse of photoconversion efficiency from 31% to 11.8% when the light power is increased up to 100 mW/cm2. At this light intensity, Pt islands with a mean size and density of approximately 40 nm and 75 particles/microm2, respectively, obtained via the microemulsion method, allow photoconversion efficiency as high as 20% to be achieved.     

Parallel synthesis of an amide library based on the 6,8-dioxa-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold by direct aminolysis of methyl esters

An efficient synthesis of unsubstituted and substituted amides based on the 6,8-dioxa-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold is described. The reaction, carried out at 60 degrees C in the absence of solvent, is characterized by its mildness and ease of workup. A library of amides, was synthesized by combination of methyl esters 1-6 with various amines. In addition, the microwave-assisted automated synthesis of the library was compared with the above conventional parallel synthesis. Microwave synthesis significantly decreased the reaction time from hours to minutes.