One‐Pot ‘On‐solvent’ Multicomponent Protocol for the Synthesis of Medicinally Relevant 4H‐Pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline Scaffold

‘One‐pot’ AcONa‐catalyzed transformation of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile and 4‐hydroxy‐1‐methylquinolin‐2(1H)‐one in the presence of a minimal quantity of EtOH results in fast (3 min) and efficient formation of unknown 2‐amino‐4‐(2‐hydroxyaryl)‐6‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carbonitriles in 85–98% yields, which are potential pharmaceutical agents for treating disorders responsive to the induction of apoptosis, antiproliferation, or vascular disruption. This efficient ‘on‐solvent’ approach to the 4H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline scaffold represents a novel synthetic concept for multicomponent reaction (MCR) strategy and allows to combine the synthetic virtues of conventional MCR with ecological benefits and convenience of facile ‘on‐solvent’ procedure.     

Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters in Condensed DNA

We study the formation and fluorescent properties of silver nanoclusters encapsulated in condensed DNA nanoparticles. Fluorescent globular DNA nanoparticles are formed using a dsDNA–cluster complex and polyallylamine as condensing agents. The fluorescence emission spectrum of single DNA nanoparticles is obtained using tip‐enhanced fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescent clusters in condensed DNA nanoparticles appear to be more protected against destructive damage in solution compared to clusters synthesized on a linear polymer chain. The fluorescent clusters on both dsDNA and ssDNA exhibit the same emission bands (at 590 and 680 nm) and the same formation efficiency, which suggests the same binding sites. By using density functional theory, we show that the clusters may bind to the Watson–Crick guanine–cytosine base pairs and to single DNA bases with about the same affinity.     

Molecular flexibility as a factor affecting the surface ordering of organic adsorbates on metal substrates

The effect of molecular flexibility on the surface ordering of complex organic adsorbates is explored, using alpha,omega-dihexylquaterthiophene (DH4T) and mixed DH4T|tetracene phases on Ag(111) as model systems. The structure of DH4T/Ag(111) interfaces is determined by the flexibility of the hexyl chains at either end of the quaterthiophene backbone: Above 273 K, DH4T forms a nematic liquid crystalline phase with a director close to the [112] direction of the silver substrate. At 273 K, a reversible phase transition to a long-range ordered, point-on-line coincident phase is observed. However, this ordered state is still affected substantially by the flexible nature of DH4T, which materializes in a large number of local structural defects. If traces of DH4T are coevaporated with tetracene, inclusions of a 1:1 stoichiometric DH4T|tetracene phase are found in a tetracene/Ag(111) matrix (alpha-phase). In this mixed phase, the two surface enantiomers of pro-chiral DH4T on one hand and tetracene on the other form a complex stripe structure. The mixed phase shows a higher degree of order than present at the pure DH4T/Ag(111) interface, which also lacks chiral organization. The addition of tetracene molecules as structural templates stabilizes certain conformations of DH4T and thus, by balancing its structural flexibility, allows the surface-induced chirality of DH4T to become a decisive factor in determining the structure of the mixed phase.     

Novel architectures of boron

Structural Chemistry - The review presents results of the recent studies of non-typical forms of boron derivatives, including flat hexagonal boron, boron fullerenes, supertetrahedral boron, and...     

Synthesis of the northern fragment of an epothilone D analogue from (−)-carvone

A simple and effective synthesis of the chiral thiazole-containing fragment of an epothilone D analogue from (?)-carvone is described.     

Electrocatalytic Fast and Efficient Multicomponent Approach to Medicinally Relevant (2‐Amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl) phosphonate Scaffold

‘One‐pot’ electrocatalytic transformation of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile, and triethyl phosphite in an undivided cell results in the formation of diethyl (2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonates in 88–93% substance yields and 880–930% current efficiency via complex multicomponent process. This novel electrocatalytic chain process opens an effective, fast, and convenient way to cyano‐functionalized (2‐amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonate systems which are promising compounds for biomedical applications. This efficient electrocatalytic approach to the (2‐amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonate scaffold represents novel synthetic concept for multicomponent reactions (MCR) strategy and allows to combine the synthetic virtues of conventional MCR with ecological benefits and convenience of facile electrocatalytic procedure.