Ternary copper complexes for photocleavage of DNA by red light: direct evidence for sulfur-to-copper charge transfer and d-d band involvement

A new class of ternary copper(II) complexes of formulation [Cu(L(n)B](ClO(4)) (1-4), where HL(n) is a NSO-donor Schiff base (HL(1), HL(2)) and B is a NN-donor heterocyclic base viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), are prepared, structurally characterized, and their DNA binding and photocleavage activities studied in the presence of red light. Ternary complex [Cu(L(3))(phen)](ClO(4)) (5) containing an ONO-donor Schiff base and a binary complex [Cu(L(2))(2)] (6) are also prepared and structurally characterized for mechanistic investigations of the DNA cleavage reactions. While 1-4 have a square pyramidal (4 + 1) CuN(3)OS coordination geometry with the Schiff base bonded at the equatorial sites, 5 has a square pyramidal (4 + 1) geometry with CuN(3)O(2) coordination with the alcoholic oxygen at the axial site, and 6 has a square planar trans-CuN(2)O(2) geometry. Binding of the complexes 1-4 to calf thymus DNA shows the relative order: phen > dmp. Mechanistic investigations using distamycin reveal minor groove binding for the complexes. The phen complexes containing the Schiff base with a thiomethyl or thiophenyl moiety show red light induced photocleavage. The dmp complexes are essentially photonuclease inactive. Complexes 5 and 6 are cleavage inactive under similar photolytic conditions. A 10 microM solution of 1 displays a 72% cleavage of SC DNA (0.5 microg) on an exposure of 30 min using a 603 nm Nd:YAG pulsed laser (60 mJ/P) in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2). Significant cleavage of 1 is also observed at 694 nm using a Ruby laser. Complex 1 is cleavage inactive under argon or nitrogen atmosphere. It shows a more enhanced cleavage in pure oxygen than in air. Enhancement of cleavage in D(2)O and inhibition with sodium azide addition indicate the possibility of the formation of singlet oxygen as a reactive intermediate leading to DNA cleavage. The d-d band excitation with red light shows significant enhancement of cleavage yield. The results indicate that the phen ligand is necessary for DNA binding of the complex. Both the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band and copper d-d band excitations helped the DNA cleavage. While the absorption of a red photon induces a metal d-d transition, excitation at shorter visible wavelengths leads to the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band excitation at the initial step of photocleavage. The excitation energy is subsequently transferred to ground state oxygen molecules to produce singlet oxygen that cleaves the DNA.     

Optimization of culture parameters for production of podophyllotoxin in suspension culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

The root explants of the germinated seedlings of Podophyllum hexandrum were grown in MS medium supplemented with indole acetic acid (IAA) (2 mg/L) and activated charcoal (0.5%), and healthy callus culture was obtained after incubation for 3 wk at 20°C. The cultivation of plant cells in shake flask was associated with problems such as clumping of cells and browning of media, which were solved by the addition of pectinase and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The effect of major media components and carbon source was studied on the growth and podophyllotoxin production in suspension culture. It was found that glucose was a better carbon source than sucrose and that NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio (total nitrogen concentration of 60 mM) and PO₄ ³⁻ did not have much effect on the growth and product formation. The relative effect of culture parameters (inoculum level, pH, IAA, glucose, NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio, and PO₄ ³⁻) on the overall growth and product response of the plant cell suspension culture was further investigated by Plackett-Burman design. This indicated that inoculum level, glucose, IAA, and pH had significant effects on growth and production of podophyllotoxin. To identify the exact optimum concentrations of these parameters on culture growth and podophyllotoxin production, central composite design experiments were formulated. The overall response equations with respect to growth and podophyllotoxin production as a function of these culture parameters were developed and used to determine the optimum concentrations of these parameters, which were pH 6.0, 1.25 mg/L of IAA, 72 g/L of glucose, and inoculum level of 8 g/L.     

A route for bulk separation of semiconducting from metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes

Substantial separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) according to type (metallic versus semiconducting) has been achieved for HiPco and laser-ablated SWNTs. We presently argue that stable dispersions of SWNTs with octadecylamine (ODA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) originate from the physisorption and organization of ODA along the SWNT sidewalls in addition to the originally proposed zwitterion model. Furthermore, the reported affinity of amine groups for semiconducting SWNTs, as opposed to their metallic counterparts, contributes additional stability to the physisorbed ODA. This provides a venue for the selective precipitation of metallic SWNTs upon increasing dispersion concentration, as indicated by Raman investigations.     

Biyclo[2.2.1]heptane as cyclopentane precursor. Part 4 Stereocontrolled syhthesis of a potential intermediate to chromophycane dolastane and clavularane

The regio– and stereoselective synthesis of the keto-esters 20 and 22 are described, the latter being a potential intermediate to several diterpenes. The key steps involve the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between the benzocycloheptenone 5 and cyclopentadiene followed by a regioselective functionalisation of the adduct 6. A remarkable reversal of regioselectivity was observed during oxymercuration of the unsymmetric double bond in 6 and its reduced product 11 leading to 8 and 12 which were subsequently transformed to 20 and 22 respectively.     

A new route to obtain shape-controlled gold nanoparticles from Au(III)-beta-diketonates

Ligands with a beta-diketone skeleton have been employed for the first time as reductant to produce ligand stabilized gold nanoparticles of different shapes from aqueous HAuCl(4) solution. Evolution of stable gold nanoparticles follows first order (k approximately equal to 10(-2) min(-1)) kinetics with respect to Au(0) concentration. Growth of particles of different shapes (spherical or triangular or hexagonal) goes hand in hand under the influence of different beta-diketones, which have excellent capping and reducing properties. Chlorine insertion was observed to take place in the beta-diketone skeleton.     

Au nanoparticles and polyaniline coated resin beads for simultaneous catalytic oxidation of glucose and colorimetric detection of the product

In this letter, we report the synthesis of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polyaniline (PANI) on the same cation-exchange resin beads and demonstrate their use in catalyzing the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid by Au NPs and simultaneously in detecting the formation of the acid by the color change of PANI. The synthesis was carried out by exchanging the cations of the resins with HAuCl4 and anilinuium chloride and then reducing the metal ions by NaBH4 to produce Au NPs followed by polymerization of aniline using H2O2. The green emeraldine salt form of PANI thus obtained was treated with NaOH to be converted to blue emeraldine base before use. The deposition of Au NPs was confirmed by a change in color of the bead, visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic measurements. On the other hand, the presence of PANI was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The formation of gluconic acid from glucose was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. We could detect the presence of glucose of a minimum 1.0 mM concentration in water, using the present method. Our experimental observations demonstrate the possibility of the incorporation of multifunctional components on the surfaces of resins for carrying out a chemical reaction as well as detection of the product.     

Molecular and absolute crystal structure of pindolol-1-(1H-indol-4-yloxy)-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol: A specific beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist with partial agonist activity

The crystal and molecular structure of pindolol, 1-(1H indol-4-yloxy)-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol, has been determined by direct methods. Crystals are tetragonal, ,a=b=15.809(4),c=11.246(2) Å,Z=8,D _c=1.174 mg m^–3. The finalR-factor for 2271 reflections withI>2(I) is 0.038. Refinement by full-matrix least-squares on F² also enabled the absolute configuration of the structure to be established. The molecule is essentially planar, including much of the side-chain which is stabilized by the existence of two intramolecular H-bonds, between the ethyl oxygen and OH group, and between the OH and side-chain amide groups, respectively. The crystal structure is formed by three intermolecular hydrogen bonds including two side-chain-side-chain interactions, between ethyl oxygen to amide and OH to amide, and an interaction between the side-chain OH to indole NH.     

Dispersion of the Г 6 (1) -Г 6 (2) Nd crystal field excitation in Nd2CuO4

We performed inelastic neutron scattering experiments to determine the dispersion of the Г ₆ ⁽¹⁾ -Г ₆ ⁽²⁾ crystal field excitation in Nd₂CuO₄. Our results can be very well described within the random phase approximation model. This allows a direct determination of the exchange coupling constants between the Nd ions. The superexchange interactions mediated by the oxygen and copper-oxygen layers are determined to be significantly stronger than the in-plane exchange between the Nd ions.     

Rapid dissolution procedure for base-metals-bearing complex materials for quality control assessment

A less labour-intensive method, involving a mixture of 1.0 g MnO₂ + 20 mL HCl (11), is proposed for decomposing seven ores and six metallurgical products for accurate and precise estimation of copper, lead, zinc, cobalt and nickel for quality control assessment. Twentyone international reference materials were also analysed. Results of regression analyses are presented and intermethod comparison studies reveal that the probability of results being different compared with a reference method was less than 1%. Sample decomposition is straightforward and the method has been found to be very simple, rapid and easily adaptable, as it involves no separation of the analyte from the matrix elements.