Some structural peculiarities of formamide-water binary mixtures according to proton spin-spin relaxation data

The formamide-water system has been studied by the proton spin-spin relaxation method. The compositions of the resulting heterosolvates have been determined along with the stability constants on the mole fraction scale, and the relaxation efficiency coefficients.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by I. V. Sukhno, V. Yu. Buzko, V. T. Panyushkin, and I. A. KovalevaTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 748–750, July–August, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Conditions for the synthesis of Sb(III) fluoride complexes

Complexation of Sb(III) fluorides with alkali metal, ammonium, and thallium cations in the MF-SbF₃-H₂O systems at the molar ratios MF : SbF₃=(0.01–2) : 1 is studied by preparative chemistry, pH-metry, ₁₉F NMR, IR and X-ray powder diffraction methods. The crystals of Sb₃O₂F₅, MSb₄F₁₃, MSb₃F₁₀, MSb₂F₇, M₂Sb₃F₁₁, M₃Sb₄F₁₅, MSbF₄, M₂SbF₅ are synthesized and the factors influencing their formation are discussed. Some types of Sb(III) fluoride complexes are shown to be formed in the MX-SbF₃-H₂O systems (X = Cl^–, NO₃^–, BF₄^–, SCN^–, ClO₄^–).Translated from Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, Vol. 30, No. 12, 2004, pp. 833–837.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zemnukhova, Kovaleva, Fedorishcheva, Konshin, Davidovich.     

Structures of Bismuth(III) Complexonates in Aqueous Solutions Studied by 1H NMR Method

Aqueous solutions of bismuth(III) nitrilotriacetates BiNta · 2H₂O and M₃Bi(Nta)₂ ·nH₂O (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH₄, CN₃H₆, n = 0–4) and the K[Bi(Edta)(Tu)₂] complex (Edta^4– is the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Tu is thiocarbamide) are studied by the ¹H NMR method at room temperature in the pH interval from 2 to 11. The formation of two types of bismuth nitrilotriacetate complexes in solutions is established. They are characterized by the presence (type 1) or absence (type 2) of the Bi–N bond. Their ratio, depending on the composition and pH of the solution, is determined. The K[Bi(Edta)(Tu)₂] compound in solutions occurs as one form. The pH values at which the substance begins to decompose are determined for each compound.     

Organosilicon synthesis of isocyanates: III. Synthesis of aliphatic, carbocyclic, aromatic, and alkylaromatic isocyanatocatboxylic acid esters

A series of aminoacid esters was prepared by treating the aminoacid suspensions in ethanol with thionyl chloride. Best conversion of aminoacid esters to corresponding isocyanates was achieved in the case of aromatic and carbocyclic aminoesters by phosgeneation of their N-silyl derivatives, and in the case of aliphatic and alkylaromatic aminoesters by phosgeneation of O-silyl or N,O-bissilylurethanes on their basis. In the last case additional step of esterification of the by-products isocyanatoalkylcarboxylic acid chlorides is required after phosgeneation. Unusual generation of cynnamates and intramolecular N→O-migration of trimethylsilyl group in the solutions of silylated alkylaromatic β-aminoacid esters were found.     

Photochemical Synthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles—A Review

Nanomaterials have supported important technological advances due to their unique properties and their applicability in various fields, such as biomedicine, catalysis, environment, energy, and electronics. This has triggered a tremendous increase in their demand. In turn, materials scientists have sought facile methods to produce nanomaterials of desired features, i.e., morphology, composition, colloidal stability, and surface chemistry, as these determine the targeted application. The advent of photoprocesses has enabled the easy, fast, scalable, and cost- and energy-effective production of metallic nanoparticles of controlled properties without the use of harmful reagents or sophisticated equipment. Herein, we overview the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles via photochemical routes. We extensively discuss the effect of varying the experimental parameters, such as the pH, exposure time, and source of irradiation, the use or not of reductants and surfactants, reagents’ nature and concentration, on the outcomes of these noble nanoparticles, namely, their size, shape, and colloidal stability. The hypothetical mechanisms that govern these green processes are discussed whenever available. Finally, we mention their applications and insights for future developments.     

Resveratrol augments ER stress and the cytotoxic effects of glycolytic inhibition in neuroblastoma by downregulating Akt in a mechanism independent of SIRT1

Cancer cells typically display increased rates of aerobic glycolysis that are correlated with tumor aggressiveness and a poor prognosis. Targeting the glycolytic pathway has emerged as an attractive therapeutic route mainly because it should spare normal cells. Here, we evaluate the effects of combining the inhibition of glycolysis with application of the polyphenolic compound resveratrol (RSV) in neuroblastoma (NB) cancer cell lines. Inhibiting glycolysis with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) significantly reduced NB cell viability and was associated with increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Akt activity. Administration of 2-DG increased the expression of the ER molecular chaperones GRP78 and GRP94, the prodeath protein C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) and the phosphorylation of Akt at S473, T450 and T308. Combined treatment with both RSV and 2-DG reduced GRP78, GRP94 and Akt phosphorylation but increased CHOP and NB cell death when compared with the administration of 2-DG alone. The selective inhibition of Akt activity also decreased 2-DG-induced GRP78 and GRP94 expression and increased CHOP expression, suggesting that Akt can modulate ER stress. Protein phosphatase 1α (PP1α) was activated by RSV, as indicated by a reduction in PP1α phosphorylation at T320. Pretreatment of cells with tautomycin, a selective PP1α inhibitor, prevented the RSV-mediated decrease in Akt phosphorylation, suggesting that RSV enhances 2-DG-induced cell death by activating PP1 and downregulating Akt. The RSV-mediated inhibition of Akt in the presence of 2-DG was not prevented by the selective inhibition of SIRT1, a known target of RSV, indicating that the effects of RSV on this pathway are independent of SIRT1. We propose that RSV inhibits Akt activity by increasing PP1α activity, thereby potentiating 2-DG-induced ER stress and NB cell death.