Sequential Pd(II)-Pd(0) catalysis for the rapid synthesis of coumarins

Electrophilic palladium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of brominated aryl propiolates produces brominated coumarins. The brominated coumarins can be diversified by reduction of the Pd(II) catalyst to Pd(0) followed by Suzuki, Sonogashira, Heck, or Hartwig-Buchwald coupling. Thus, a single loading of precatalyst can be used to conduct sequential reactions, allowing the synthesis of functionalized coumarins. Extension of this methodology toward the synthesis of coumarin libraries is discussed.     

Bimolecular homolytic substitution (S(H)2) reactions with hydrogen atoms. time-resolved electron spin resonance detection in the pulse radiolysis of alpha-(methylthio)acetamide

Pulse radiolysis of aqueous solutions of alpha-(methylthio)acetamide produced unexpectedly large quantities of acetamide radicals that were identified by time-resolved electron spin resonance (TRESR) spectroscopy. The pH dependence of the TRESR-measured radical yields, results from selective scavenging reactions, and density functional theory predictions of the reaction thermochemistry prove that bimolecular homolytic substitution, S(H)2, of the acetamide radical fragment by a H atom is the most likely formation pathway.     

Electrochemical deposition onto self-assembled monolayers: new insights into micro- and nanofabrication

Pattern transfer with high resolution is a frontier topic in the emerging field of nanotechnologies. Electrochemical molding is a possible route for nanopatterning metal, alloys and oxide surfaces with high resolution in a simple and inexpensive way. This method involves electrodeposition onto a conducting master covered by a self-assembled alkanethiolate monolayer (SAMs). This molecular film enables direct surface-relief pattern transfer from the conducting master to the inner face of the electrodeposit, and also allows an easy release of the electrodeposited film due their excellent anti-adherent properties. Replicas of the original conductive master can be also obtained by a simple two-step procedure. SAM quality and stability under electrodeposition conditions combined with the formation of smooth electrodeposits are crucial to obtain high-quality pattern transfer with sub-50 nm resolution.     

Designing dinuclear iron(II) spin crossover complexes. Structure and magnetism of dinitrile-, dicyanamido-, tricyanomethanide-, bipyrimidine- and tetrazine-bridged compounds

In order to expand the few known examples of dinuclear iron(II) compounds displaying (weak) intradinuclear exchange coupling and spin-crossover on one or both of the iron(II) centres, various dinuclear compounds have been synthesised and assessed for their spin-crossover and exchange coupling behaviour. The key aim of the work was to prepare and structurally characterise 'weakly linked' and 'covalently bridged' systems incorporating bridging ligands such as alkyldinitriles (e.g.NC(CH(2))(4)CN), bipyrimidine (bpym), dicyanamide (dca(-)), tricyanomethanide (tcm(-)), 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)tetrazine (bptz) and 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)2,5-dihydrotetrazine (H(2)bptz). The 'end groups', which complete the Fe(ii)N(6) chromophores, include tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa), di(2-pyridylethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa'), 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (pypzH), 1,10-phenanthroline (1,10-phen), tris(pyrazolyl)methane (tpm) and NCX(-)(X = S, Se). It was quite difficult to achieve the spin-crossover condition, many ligand combinations yielding high-spin/high-spin (HS-HS) Fe(II)Fe(II) spin states at all temperatures (300-2 K) with very weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J < -1 cm(-1)), two such being the crystallographically characterised [(dca)(tpm)Fe(mu(1,5)-dca)(2)Fe(tpm)(dca)], 5, and [(tpa')Fe(mu(1,5)-tcm)(2)Fe(tpa')](tcm)(2)(H(2)O)(2), 6. In contrast, a strong field was created around the Fe(II) centres in [(tpa)Fe(mu-(NC(CH(2))(4)CN))(2)Fe(tpa)](ClO(4))(4).NC(CH(2))(4)CN, 1, and the Fe-N bond distances, at 173 K, reflected this. This weakly-linked dinitrile example showed a spin-crossover beginning above 300 K. 'Half crossover' examples, yielding HS-LS states below the spin transition, similar to those noted by Real and coworkers in some mu-bpym systems, were noted for [(1,10-phen)(NCS)(2)Fe(mu-bpym)Fe(NCS)(2)(1,10-phen)], 2, [(pypzH)(NCSe)(2)Fe(mu-bpym)Fe(NCSe)(2)(pypzH)], 4, and [(tpa)Fe(mu-H(2)bptz)Fe(tpa)](ClO(4))(4), 8. Interestingly, the mu-bptz analogue, 7, remained LS-LS at all temperatures with the start of a broad spin crossover evident above 300 K. No thermal hysteresis was evident in the spin transitions of these new dinuclear crossover species indicating a lack of intra- or interdinuclear cooperativity.     

GPCRs as therapeutic targets: a view on adenosine receptors structure and functions, and molecular modeling support

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest known family of signal-transducing proteins and transmit signals for light and many extracellular regulatory molecules. GPCRs are dysfunctional or dysregulated in several human diseases and are estimated to be the targets of ～40% of the drugs used in clinical medicine today. Receptors for adenosine belong to this family, and so far four subtypes, the A₁, A_2A, A_2B, and A₃, have been recognized. The activation of adenosine receptors (ARs) is largely responsible for the variety of effects produced by adenosine throughout several organ systems. Based on the wide (and often beneficial) effects attributed to the accumulation of endogenously released adenosine, it has long been considered that regulation of ARs has considerable therapeutic potential. In this review, we focus on recent work on adenosine receptors as therapeutic targets and, in particular, on molecular modelling support to adenosine receptors targeting.     

Synthese en serie encombree. preparation de l'acide ditertiobutyl-methylacetique-tBu2 MeCCOOH et de quelques composes cetoniques derives de cette structure

The synthesis of ^tBU₂MeCCOOH, which is among the most sterically hindered known acjds is described. Only Newman's sequence via ^tBU₂CO, ^tBu₂MeCOH, ^tBu₂CCH₂, _tBu₂CHCH₂OH, ^tBu₂CHCOOH, ^tBU₂CHCOCI and ^tBu₂CCO, which has been optimized in this work by a direct access to ^tBu₂CHCOOH, permits the preparation of ^tBu₂MeCCOOH. The condensation of the corresponding chloride with a Grignard reagent yields new highly-hindered ketones ^tBu₂MeCCOR which by alkylation give more substituted structures. The limitations of each method have been studied in this work.     

DDQ induced oxidative cyclisations of 1,2-dihydronaptho[2,1-b]furans

The DDQ mediated oxidative cyclisation reactions of a series of dihydronaptho[2,1-b]furans were examined. In the presence of an acid catalyst, the reaction yielded polycyclic ethers and lactones in good to excellent yields.