[M3V18O42(H2O)12(XO4)]⋅24 H2O (M=Fe,Co; X=V,S): Metal Oxide Based Framework Materials Composed of Polyoxovanadate Clusters

New framework materials composed of well-defined vanadium oxide clusters were prepared by low-temperature reactions and characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The structures of these solids contain {V₁₈O₄₂} cages linked into two interpenetrating three-dimensional networks by bridging {M(H₂O)₄} groups (M=Fe^II, Co^II; see picture).     

Using HPLC–DAD and GC–MS Analysis Isolation and Identification of Anticandida Compounds from Gui Zhen Cao Herbs (Genus Bidens): An Important Chinese Medicinal Formulation

Gui Zhen Cao is an herbal formulation that has been documented in Chinese traditional medicine as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, inflammation, and toxicity. The sources of this formulation (Bidens pilosa L., Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff, Bidens bipinnata L.) are also listed in ethnomedicinal reports all over the world. In this study, all these plants are tested for in vitro anticandida activity. A quantitative evaluation of the phytochemicals in all these plants indicated that their vegetative parts are rich in tannins, saponins, oxalates, cyanogenic glycoside and lipids; moreover, the roots have high percentages of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols. The results indicated significant anticandida activity, especially for the hexane extract of B. bipinnata leaves which inhibited C. albicans (42.54%), C. glabrata (46.98%), C. tropicalis (50.89%), C. krusei (40.56%), and C. orthopsilosis (50.24%). The extract was subjected to silica gel chromatography and 220 fractions were obtained. Purification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC–DAD) and Gas Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis led to the identification of two anticandida compounds: dehydroabietic and linoleic acid having an inhibition of 85 and 92%, respectively.     

1,6-asymmetric induction in boron-mediated aldol reactions: application to a practical total synthesis of (+)-discodermolide

By relying solely on substrate-based stereocontrol, a practical total synthesis of the microtubule-stabilizing anticancer agent (+)-discodermolide has been realized. This exploits a novel aldol bond construction with 1,6-stereoinduction from the boron enolate of (Z)-enone 3 in addition to aldehyde 2. The 1,3-diol 7 is employed as a common building block for the C(1)-C(5), C(9)-C(16), and C(17)-C(24) subunits. [reaction--see text]     

A ring walk of methylene groups in toluene radical cations. An extension of the toluene-cycloheptatriene rearrangement of aromatic radical cations. Theory and experiment

The minimum energy reaction pathway (MERP) of the toluene-cycloheptatriene radical cation rearrangement (TOL/CHT-rearrangement) has been calculated by the UHF and DFT model at the level UHF/6-311+G(3df,2p)//UHF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYp/6-31G(d), respectively, including the ring walk of the substituent by a 1,2-shift around the aromatic ring. This ring walk corresponds to interconversion of distonic ions and norcaradiene radical cations (the two intermediates of the TOL/CHT-rearrangement) by making and breaking of the external C-C bonds of the cyclopropane moiety of the intermediate norcaradiene structure. For toluene radical cation 1, UHF calculations adequately reproduce earlier results(4) and show, that the ring walk of the CH(3)-substituents requires slightly more energy than formation of the cycloheptatriene radical cation. By the DFT model, the distonic ion, which is formed initially by a 1,2-H shift from CH(3) to the benzene ring, is not stable but the transition state of an interconversion of norcaradiene radical cations along a ring walk of the CH(3) substituent. The activation energy for this ring walk exceeds that for formation of the cycloheptatriene radical cation by c. 30 kJ mol(-1). Thus, isomerization of 1 by a ring walk of the CH(3)-substituent competes with the TOL/CHT-rearrangement likely only for excited 1. The calculation was repeated for the MERPs of a TOL/CHT-rearrangement of para-xylene radical cation 5 and ethylbenzene radical cation 2, yielding basically the same results as for 1. According to the calculation, polar substituents alter significantly the relative energies of the competing routes of isomerization. For benzylcyanide 3 (X = CN), the activation energy for a ring walk of the NC-CH(2)-substituent is distinctly below that of a ring enlargement. For benzyl methyl ether 4 (X = OCH(3)), the distonic intermediate along the UHF-MERP is unusually stable. Further, the 7-methoxy-norcaradiene radical ion is unstable and corresponds to a transition state between isomeric distonic intermediates differing by a 1,2-shift of the side chain. In contrast, the 7-methoxy-norcaradiene radical ion is the only intermediate of the DFT-MERP, and the distonic ion is the transition state for a 1,2-shift of the cyclopropane ring. A ring walk of the CH(3)OCH(2)-substituent is much more favorable than formation of a 7-methoxy-cycloheptatriene radical cation in both MERPs. The findings of the theoretical calculation are substantiated by the mass spectrometric fragmentations of meta- and para-methoxymethylated 1-phenylethanols 8 and 9 and of para-methoxymethyl substituted benzyl ethyl ether 10 and benzyl n-propyl ether 11. Important fragmentation routes of metastable molecular ions of these compounds correspond to elimination of alcohols. Use of deuterated derivatives shows that the elimination occurs by a "false" ortho-effect which requires migration of a ROCH(2)-substituent around the benzene ring. Results of particular interest are obtained for the asymmetric bis-ethers 10 and 11. Here, the MIKE spectra of the molecular ions of deuterated analogs reveal a selective ring walk of the C(2)H(5)OCH(2)- and n-C(3)H(7)OCH(2)-side chain, respectively.     

Multistep solid-phase synthesis of an antibiotic and receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors using the traceless phenylhydrazide linker

The hydrazide group is an oxidatively cleavable traceless linker for solid-phase chemistry. This linker technology was used to develop a multistep solid-phase synthesis of an antibiotic that is active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Furthermore, we describe an efficient method for the traceless synthesis of 2-aminothiazoles that display dual inhibitory activity against the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR-2 and Tie-2. The synthesis method proceeds through 9 steps on the solid phase and should give access to a much larger library of 2-aminothiazoles, from which a new class of anti-angiogenesis drugs may be developed.     

Microwave‐Assisted Free Radical Polymerizations and Copolymerizations of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate

Summary: Radical homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of styrene were performed in toluene and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents using different initiators with and without microwave irradiation. Only the homopolymerization of styrene under microwave irradiation in DMF with DtBP showed significantly enhanced styrene conversion whereas other initiators resulted in no or only slight increase of styrene conversion under microwave irradiation. In any case, DMF was required to gain in styrene conversion under microwave irradiation. Significantly higher monomer conversions were observed under otherwise comparable conditions in the copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in DMF. Microwave‐induced selectivity of monomers was not observed in copolymerizations.

Yield of styrene polymerizations under varying reaction conditions initiated by DtBP.     

Tattoo pigments are cleaved by laser light-the chemical analysis in vitro provide evidence for hazardous compounds

In the western world, more than 80 million people decorate their skin with tattoos. Tattoo colorants are injected into the skin, like medical drugs. Most tattoo colorants are industrial pigments, and chemical industries have never produced them for human use but only to stain consumer goods. Up to 10% of tattooed people request removal of their tattoos because of an improved self-image or social stigmatization. In contrast to tattooing, physicians usually perform the tattoo removal. For that purpose laser light at very high intensities irradiates the skin to destroy the tattoo pigments. Based on a recent analysis of tattoo pigments, two widely used azo compounds were irradiated in suspension with laser and subsequently analyzed by using quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The high laser intensities cleaved the azo compounds, leading to an increase of decomposition products such as 2-methyl-5-nitroaniline, 2-5-dichloraniline and 4-nitro-toluene, which are toxic or even carcinogenic compounds. Moreover, the results of the chemical analysis show that the tattoo colorants already contain such compounds before laser irradiation. Because of a high number of patients undergoing laser treatment of tattoos and based on the results of our findings in vitro, it is an important goal to perform a risk assessment in humans regarding laser-induced decomposition products.