A family of 13 tetranuclear zinc(II)-lanthanide(III) complexes of a [3+3] Schiff-base macrocycle derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene

A family of thirteen tetranuclear heterometallic zinc(II)-lanthanide(III) complexes of the hexa-imine macrocycle (L(Pr))(6-), with general formula Zn(II)(3)Ln(III)(L(Pr))(NO(3))(3)·xsolvents (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm or Yb), were prepared in a one-pot synthesis using a 3:1:3:3 reaction of zinc(II) acetate, the appropriate lanthanide(III) nitrate, the dialdehyde 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene (H(2)L(1)) and 1,3-diaminopropane. A hexanuclear homometallic zinc(II) macrocyclic complex [Zn(6)(L(Pr))(OAc)(5)(OH)(H(2)O)]·3H(2)O was obtained using a 2:0:1:1 ratio of the same reagents. A control experiment using a 1:0:1:1 ratio failed to generate the lanthanide-free [Zn(3)(L(Pr))] macrocyclic complex. The reaction of H(2)L(1) and zinc(II) acetate in a 1:1 ratio yielded the pentanuclear homometallic complex of the dialdehyde H(2)L(1), [Zn(5)(L(1))(5)(H(2)O)(6)]·3H(2)O. An X-ray crystal structure determination revealed [Zn(3)(II)Pr(III)(L(Pr))(NO(3))(2)(DMF)(3)](NO(3))·0.9DMF has the large ten-coordinate lanthanide(III) ion bound in the central O(6) site with two bidentate nitrate anions completing the O(10) coordination sphere. The three square pyramidal zinc(II) ions are in the outer N(2)O(2) sites with a fifth donor from DMF. Measurement of the magnetic properties of [Zn(II)(3)Dy(III)(L(Pr))(NO(3))(3)(MeOH)(3)]·4H(2)O with a weak external dc field showed that it has a frequency-dependent out-of-phase component of ac susceptibility, indicative of slow relaxation of the magnetization (SMM behaviour). Likewise, the Er and Yb analogues are field-induced SMMs; the latter is only the second example of a Yb-based SMM. The neodymium, ytterbium and erbium complexes are luminescent in the solid phase, but only the ytterbium and neodymium complexes show strong lanthanide-centred luminescence in DMF solution.     

Synthesis of the tricyclic core of labiatin A and australin A

A concise synthesis of the tricyclic core of the marine diterpene natural products labiatin A and australin A has been accomplished. The key ring-forming transformation is a cascade reaction comprising generation of a copper carbenoid from a diazo ketone, intramolecular reaction of the carbenoid with a cyclic ether, and rearrangement of the resulting free oxonium ylide or its metal-bound equivalent with ring expansion of the original cyclic ether.     

Total synthesis of (+)-ent-cyclizidine: absolute configurational confirmation of antibiotic M146791

The first total synthesis of the enantiomer of the indolizidine alkaloid, cyclizidine, was accomplished from readily available d-serine as the starting chiron. The relevant key reactions involve the stereocontrolled construction of the indolizidine ring system with the required functionality and further elaboration to install the cyclopropyl dienyl side chain. With this total synthesis, the absolute configuration of the natural product based on a redetermination of its X-ray structure has been confirmed.     

Two flavors of PEPPSI-IPr: activation and diffusion control in a single NHC-ligated Pd catalyst?

Abnormal reactivity has been observed in Negishi, Suzuki-Miyaura, and Kumada-Tamao-Corriu cross-couplings in which PEPPSI-IPr (where PEPPSI stands for pyridine enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization, and initiation and IPr refers to the NHC ligand) is employed, implicating the presence of two distinct Pd(0) species in the catalytic cycle. Polybrominated arenes and organometallic reagents react selectively to give the product of exhaustive polysubstitution regardless of the initial reaction stoichiometry. Competition experiments suggest that, after an initial activation controlled oxidative addition, reductive elimination produces an ultrareactive Pd(0) species which consumes all remaining C-Br bonds in the molecule under diffusion control.     

Formal synthesis of leustroducsin B via Reformatsky/Claisen condensation of silyl glyoxylates

A formal synthesis of leustroducsin B has been completed. The synthesis relies upon a recently developed Reformatsky/Claisen condensation of silyl glyoxylates and enantioenriched β-lactones that establishes two of the molecule's three core stereocenters and permits further elaboration to an intermediate in Imanishi's synthesis via reliable chemistry (Prasad reduction, asymmetric pentenylation, Mitsunobu inversion).     

Synthesis of near-IR fluorescent oxazine dyes with esterase-labile sulfonate esters

Near-IR oxazine dyes are reported that contain sulfonate esters which are rapidly cleaved by esterase activity to unmask highly polar anionic sulfonates. Strategies for the synthesis of these dyes included the development of milder dye condensation conditions with improved functional compatibility and the use of an alkyl halide that allows for the introduction of esterase-labile sulfonates without the need for sulfonation of the target molecule.     

18O assisted analysis of a γ,δ-epoxyketone cyclization: synthesis of the C16-C28 fragment of ammocidin D

The C16-C28 fragment common to the cytotoxic macrolide ammocidin D has been prepared by a stereospecific 5-exo closure of a γ,δ-epoxyketone followed by a rearrangement to a pyran acetal. The reaction pathway was traced by (18)O labeling of the keto carbonyl and observation of (18)O induced (13)C shifts in the pyran acetal product. NMR data of the synthetic C16-C28 fragment compared favorably to the natural product providing support of the assigned stereochemistry.     

A photocurable hydrogel/elastomer composite scaffold with bi-continuous morphology for cell encapsulation

A photocurable two-phase scaffold with a bi-continuous morphology was designed and characterized for the repair of load bearing soft tissues. An N-methacrylate glycol chitosan (MGC) hydrogel phase was used to distribute the cells and enable cell growth once crosslinked. The second phase, an elastomerprepared from a star-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) triacrylate, was used to enhance the mechanical properties. Chondrocytes were photocrosslinked within the bi-continuous scaffolds and proliferated, increased metabolic activity and accumulated extracellular matrix over a 14 d culture period. Also during this time no significant material degradation was observed.