Self‐doping PPV oligomers – electrochemistry and structure of the self‐doped systems

A novel class of self‐doping conjugated oligomers, E,E‐2‐(sulfoalkoxy)‐5‐alkoxy‐1,4‐bis[2‐(2,4,6‐trimethoxyphenyl) ethenyl]benzenes, is presented. The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of five such oligomers are described, and an electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry is performed to determine the anodic peak potentials. A structural study is performed on six self‐doping oligomers in which the structures and energies of the possible mono‐molecular forms of the electrically conducting doped material are described and evaluated using Hirshfeld charges and the Quantum Theory of Atoms In Molecules. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alphabet‐Inspired Design of (Hetero)Aromatic Push–Pull Chromophores

Push–pull molecules represent a unique and fascinating class of organic π‐conjugated materials. Herein, we provide a summary of their recent extraordinary design inspired by letters of the alphabet, especially focusing on H‐, L‐, T‐, V‐, X‐, and Y‐shaped molecules. Representative structures from each class were presented and their fundamental properties and prospective applications were discussed. In particular, emphasis is given to molecules recently prepared in our laboratory with T‐, X‐, and Y‐shaped arrangements based on indan‐1,3‐dione, benzene, pyridine, pyrazine, imidazole, and triphenylamine. These push–pull molecules turned out to be very efficient charge‐transfer chromophores with tunable properties suitable for second‐order nonlinear optics, two‐photon absorption, reversible pH‐induced and photochromic switching, photocatalysis, and intercalation.

     

Asymmetric synthesis of [7]helicene-like molecules

[reaction: see text] A new approach to nonracemic [7]helicene-like molecules has been developed. Stereoselective Co(I)-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization of aromatic triynes containing an asymmetric carbon atom produces [7]helicene-like scaffolds in diastereomeric ratios up to 100:0. This central-to-helical chirality transfer can be controlled by the absolute configuration at the asymmetric center and by the presence of carbon substituents.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gluconobacter</Emphasis> sp. cells for manufacturing of effective electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells

Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria exhibit a unique metabolism for quick and incomplete oxidation of a wide range of different compounds (aldoses, ketoses, mono- and poly-alcohols, etc.). Such biotransformation efficiency with simple biomass production led to the industrial applications of these bacteria in the production of several important commodities. Their respiratory activity can also be successfully studied and used in the field of bioelectrochemistry. The main aim of this review is to present various strategies to improve selectivity of assays using intact/treated cells of G. oxydans, to introduce the application of G. oxydans-based biosensors in selective monitoring of analytes during biotransformation processes and to provide information about utilizable sugars in fermentation media or in biological oxygen demand value determination. The final part of the review describes potential application of G. oxydans cells in the generation of electricity from complex fuels within microbial fuel cells by advanced direct electron transfer route between bacterial cells and electrodes.     

Low-load rotor-synchronised Hahn-echo pulse train (RS-HEPT) 1H decoupling in solid-state NMR: factors affecting MAS spin-echo dephasing times

Transverse dephasing times T(2)' in spin-echo MAS NMR using rotor-synchronised Hahn-echo pulse-train (RS-HEPT) low-load (1)H decoupling are evaluated. Experiments were performed at 300 and 600 MHz for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine and (15)NH(delta)-labelled L-histidine.HCl.H(2)O, together with SPINEVOLUTION simulations for a ten-spin system representing the crystal structure environment of the (13)CH carbon in L-alanine. For 30 kHz MAS and nu(1)((1)H) = 100 kHz at 300 MHz, a RS-HEPT T(2)' value of 17 +/- 1 ms was obtained for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine which is approximately 50% of the XiX T(2)' value of 33 +/- 2 ms. Optimum RS-HEPT decoupling performance is observed for a relative phase of alternate RS-HEPT pi-pulses, Deltaphi = phi'- phi, between 40 and 60 degrees . For experiments at 600 MHz and 30 kHz MAS with (13)CH-labelled L-alanine, the best RS-HEPT (nu(1)((1)H) = 100 kHz) T(2)' value was 3 times longer than that observed for low-power continuously applied sequences with nu(1)((1)H) < or =40 kHz, i.e. corresponding to the same average power dissipated in the probe. A marked improvement in RS-HEPT (1)H decoupling is observed for increasing MAS frequency: at 55.6 kHz MAS, a best RS-HEPT T(2)' value of 34 +/- 5 ms was recorded for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine. Much improved RS-HEPT broadband performance was also observed at 55.6 kHz MAS as compared to 30 kHz MAS.     

Implementation of an integrated glucose POCT system

In response to a change of the Belgian National Directives whereby hospital laboratories became responsible for all point-of-care testing (POCT) performed within hospital walls a standardized and automated POC glucose-testing system was implemented in our hospital. The system consists of 50 AccuCheck Inform instruments (Roche Diagnostics, Vilvoorde, Belgium), 50 docking stations, a DataCare Server, and connections to the medical laboratory information system (MOLIS, Sysmex, Barchon, Belgium) and to the hospital information system. Implementation involved many parties and extensive preparation and communication. Key issues were bar-coded patient and user identification, training, and responsibilities. One year after the hospital wide implementation of this system the quality of POC glucose testing has significantly increased, thereby improving patient safety. This study describes a stepwise change over involving the medical laboratory and with a focus on hands-on quality.Presented at the ninth conference on Quality in the Spotlight, 18–19 March 2004, Antwerp, Belgium.     

Efficient trapping of HNO by deoxymyoglobin

Nitrosyl hydride, HNO, also commonly termed nitroxyl, is a transient species that has been implicated in the biological activity of nitric oxide, NO. Herein, we report the first generation of a stable HNO-metal complex by direct trapping of free HNO. Deoxymyoglobin (Mb-Fe(II)) rapidly reacts with HNO produced from the decomposition of methylsulfonylhydroxylamine (MSHA) or Angeli's salt (AS) in aqueous solutions from pH 7 to pH 10, forming an adduct, Mb-HNO. The unique 1H NMR signal of the Fe-bound HNO at 14.8 ppm allows definitive proof of its formation. The generation of Mb-HNO and quantification of various myoglobin byproducts were accomplished by correlation of 1H NMR, UV-vis, and EPR spectroscopies. Typically, the maximum Mb-HNO yield obtained is 60-80%; competitive side reactions with byproducts as well as the further reactivity of the Mb-HNO decrease the overall yield. At pH 10, the observed rate of Mb-HNO generation by trapping HNO from MSHA is close to that for MSHA decomposition; kinetic simulations give a lower limit to the bimolecular rate of trapping as 1.4 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1). The binding of HNO to deoxymyoglobin is rapid and essentially irreversible, which suggests that the biological activity of nitroxyl may be mediated by its reactivity with ferrous heme proteins such as myoglobin and hemoglobin.     

Advances in zebrafish high content and high throughput technologies

The zebrafish has emerged as an excellent transitional screening model system between cell-based assays, which are rapid and inexpensive but have limited physiological relevance, and higher vertebrate models, which have better physiological relevance, but are more time-consuming and expensive to deploy. As vertebrates, zebrafish maintain significant evolutionary proximity to humans and have been validated as robust models for drug research, studies of mechanism and behavioral genetics. Unlike higher vertebrate models, zebrafish are well-suited to high-throughput applications owing to their high fecundity, rapid extrauterine development and transparency during organogenesis enabling in vivo labeling and imaging. Recent advances have been made in automating high content and high-throughput zebrafish screens, with the goal of developing fully automated drug screening platforms. The application and continued development of these technologies holds potential clinical significance in drug discovery and elucidating disease mechanisms.     

2-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-b]pyrroles: synthesis and reactions

The synthesis and reactions of methyl 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylate (1a) are described. Upon reaction with methyl iodide, benzyl chloride, or acetic anhydride, this compound gave N-substituted products 1b-d. By hydrolysis of compounds 1a-c, the corresponding acids 2a-c were formed, or by reaction with hydrazine-hydrate, the corresponding carbohydrazides 3a-c were formed. By heating 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenly]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid (2a) in acetic anhydride, 4-acetyl-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-b]pyrrole (4) was formed. By hydrolysis of 4, 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole (5a) was formed, and reactions with methyl iodide or benzyl chloride gave N-substituted products 5b-c. The reaction of 4 with dimethyl butynedioate gave substituted benzo[b]furan 6. Compound 3a reacted with triethyl orthoesters giving 7a-c, which afforded with phosphorus (V) sulphide the corresponding thiones 8a-c. The thiones 8a-c reacted with hydrazine hydrate to form hydrazine derivatives 9a-c. The reaction of triethyl orthoformiate with compounds 9a-c led to furo[2′,3′: 4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines 10a-c. Hydrazones 11a-c were formed from 3a-c and 5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-2-carboxaldehyde. The effect of microwave irradiation on some condensation reactions was compared with “classical” conditions. The results showed that microwave irradiation shortens the reaction time while affording comparable yields.     

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of the Labile Isomer of Y@C82 Cocrystallized with Ni(OEP): Unprecedented Dimerization of Pristine Metallofullerenes

Although the major isomers of M@C₈₂ (namely M@C_2v(9)‐C₈₂, where M is a trivalent rare‐earth metal) have been intensively investigated, the lability of the minor isomers has meant that they have been little studied. Herein, the first isolation and crystallographic characterization of the minor Y@C₈₂ isomer, unambiguously assigned as Y@C_s(6)‐C₈₂ by cocrystallization with Ni(octaethylporphyrin), is reported. Unexpectedly, a regioselective dimerization is observed in the crystalline state of Y@C_s(6)‐C₈₂. In sharp contrast, no dimerization occurs for the major isomer Y@C_2v(9)‐C₈₂ under the same conditions, indicating a cage‐symmetry‐induced dimerization process. Further experimental and theoretical results disclose that the regioselective dimer formation is a consequence of the localization of high spin density on a special cage‐carbon atom of Y@C_s(6)‐C₈₂ which is caused by the steady displacement of the Y atom inside the C_s(6)‐C₈₂ cage.