A Facile Oxidation of Thiols to Disulfides Catalyzed by CoSalen

Abstract

A convenient and facile catalytic oxidation of thiols to the corresponding disulfides is described using CoSalen as the catalyst and air as the oxidizing agent. This new approach provides an efficient method for the preparation of symmetrical disulfides in high yields and under mild conditions.

[Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental resource: Spectroscopic Identification of Products 3a–3l.]     

Effect of cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomer with binaphthalene crosslinkings on thermal and optical properties of a liquid crystal that show smectic A‐cholesteric phase transition

A side‐chain polysiloxane cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomer (ChLCE) with binaphthalene derivate as crosslinkings and cholesterol derivate as liquid crystalline monomers was designed and synthesized. A binaphthyl chiral dopant (CD) was synthesized as well. The chemical structures and liquid crystalline properties of the ChLCE and the CD were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, element analyses, differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy measurements. The helical twisting power of the ChLCE exhibited a turning point with changing temperature and was smaller than that of the CD. In addition, the effect of the ChLCE on phase transition temperatures and thermal‐optical properties of a liquid crystal that show smectic A (SmA)‐cholesteric (Ch) phase transition was studied. Worthily, the testing of the reflection wavelength with changing temperature suggested that the adding of the ChLCE in liquid crystals that show SmA‐Ch phase transition can expedite their SmA‐Ch transition. In addition, the network structure of the ChLCE may play a significant role in the accelerating of the transition. These properties provided theoretical and experimental foundations for applying ChLCE in thermally sensitive liquid crystal devices requiring fast response, such as thermally controllable windows, materials and displays. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas-Phase Reactivity of Peptide Thiyl (RS•), Perthiyl (RSS•), and Sulfinyl (RSO•) Radical Ions Formed from Atmospheric Pressure Ion/Radical Reactions

In this study, we demonstrated the formation of gas-phase peptide perthiyl (RSS?) and thiyl (RS?) radical ions besides sulfinyl radical (RSO?) ions from atmospheric pressure (AP) ion/radical reactions of peptides containing inter-chain disulfide bonds. The identity of perthiyl radical was verified from characteristic 65 Da (?SSH) loss in collision-induced dissociation (CID). This signature loss was further used to assess the purity of peptide perthiyl radical ions formed from AP ion/radical reactions. Ion/molecule reactions combined with CID were carried out to confirm the formation of thiyl radical. Transmission mode ion/molecule reactions in collision cell (q2) were developed as a fast means to estimate the population of peptide thiyl radical ions. The reactivity of peptide thiyl, perthiyl, and sulfinyl radical ions was evaluated based on ion/molecule reactions toward organic disulfides, allyl iodide, organic thiol, and oxygen, which followed in order of thiyl (RS?) > perthiyl (RSS?) > sulfinyl (RSO?). The gas-phase reactivity of these three types of sulfur-based radicals is consistent with literature reports from solution studies.      

Injectable Graphene Oxide/Graphene Composite Supramolecular Hydrogel for Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs

Injectable hydrogels have attracted a lot of attention in drug delivery, however, their capacity to deliver water-insoluble or hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs is limited. Here, we developed injectable graphene oxide/graphene composite supramolecular hydrogels to deliver anti-cancer drugs. Pluronic F-127 was used to stabilize graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in solution, which was mixed with α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) solution to form hydrogels. Native hydrogel was used as control. GO or RGO slightly shortened gelation time. The storage and loss moduli of the hydrogels were tracked by dynamic force measurement. The storage modulus of GO or RGO composite hydrogels was larger than that of the native hydrogel. Hydrogels were unstable in solution and eroded gradually. GO or RGO in Pluronic F-127 solution could potentially improve the solubility of the water-insoluble anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT), especially with large drug-loaded CPT amount. Drug release behaviors from solutions and hydrogels were characterized. The nanocomponents (GO or RGO) were able to bind more drug molecules either for CPT or for doxorubicin hydrochloride (DXR) in solution. Therefore, GO or RGO composite hydrogel could potentially enable better controlled and gentler drug release (for both CPT and DXR) than native hydrogel.     

Mapping of Neuropeptides in the Crustacean Stomatogastric Nervous System by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Considerable effort has been devoted to characterizing the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) with great emphasis on comprehensive analysis and mapping distribution of its diverse neuropeptide complement. Previously, immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been applied to this endeavor, yet with identification accuracy and throughput compromised. Therefore, molecular imaging methods are pursued to unequivocally determine the identity and location of the neuropeptides at a high spatial resolution. In this work, we developed a novel, multi-faceted mass spectrometric strategy combining profiling and imaging techniques to characterize and map neuropeptides from the blue crab Callinectes sapidus STNS at the network level. In total, 55 neuropeptides from 10 families were identified from the major ganglia in the C. sapidus STNS for the first time, including the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), the paired commissural ganglia (CoG), the esophageal ganglion (OG), and the connecting nerve stomatogastric nerve (stn) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) and the MS/MS capability of this technique. In addition, the locations of multiple neuropeptides were documented at a spatial resolution of 25 μm in the STG and upstream nerve using MALDI-TOF/TOF and high-mass-resolution and high-mass-accuracy MALDI-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) instrument. Furthermore, distributions of neuropeptides in the whole C. sapidus STNS were examined by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). Different isoforms from the same family were simultaneously and unambiguously mapped, facilitating the functional exploration of neuropeptides present in the crustacean STNS and exemplifying the revolutionary role of this novel platform in neuronal network studies.

Synthesis and Properties of pH-Responsive Polymers with Cadaverine Side Groups

A water-soluble monomer N¹-(4-vinylbenzyl)-pentane-1,5-diamine dihydrochloride (VBPDA) with cadaverine (1,5-pentanediamine) group was synthesized. pH-responsive polymer with cadaverine group was obtained by free radical polymerization of VBPDA using 4,4-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) (ACVA) as the initiator. The structure and molecular weight of the polymer were characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and GPC-MALLS. Aggregation behavior of the polymer in aqueous solution was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-Vis and fluorescence measurements. The experimental results show that the fluorescence intensity of the aggregates decreases and the size of the aggregates increases with increasing pH due to the continuous dehydration of the cadaverine side groups.     

Further Studies on the Anionic Copolymerization of Styrene and Glycidyl Methacrylate in Toluene

Sequential anionic copolymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was performed with the protection of argon under normal pressure, where styrene, GMA, toluene, THF, n-butyllithium and a small amount of lithium chloride (LiCl) were used as first monomer, second monomer, solvent, polar reagent, initiator and additive, respectively. Polystyrene-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers (PS-b-PGMA) with well-defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution were prepared by the copolymerization reaction of poly(styryl)lithium with GMA under certain temperatures. The copolymers were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and hydrochloric acid-dioxane argentimetric methods. The effects of additives, copolymerization temperature and THF dosage on the copolymerization were studied. No chain transfer reaction of anionic polymerization of styrene in toluene was observed. Slightly broader molecular weight distribution of PS-b-PGMA was observed with the increase the GMA repeat units. Using THF/toluene blend solvent could reduce the polydispersity index (M _w /M _n ) and dissolve the copolymer better than toluene alone. Lower temperature (< -40°C) and LiCl are required to prepare PS-b-PGMA with narrower molecular weight distribution.     

Cloning,Heterologous Expression,and Characterization of the Gene Cluster Required for Gougerotin Biosynthesis

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Highlights? The complete gougerotin biosynthetic gene cluster is cloned ? Heterologous production of gougerotin is accomplished in S. coelicolor M1146 ? Biosynthetic pathway is proposed based on bioinformatics, genetic, and chemical analyses ? Preliminary data support an uncommon enzymatic reaction for peptide bond formation     

Thermogravimetry study of the pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of macro-algae Macrocystis pyrifera residue

Macrocystis pyrifera is one important marine macro-algae, while its residues produced by industrial alginate extraction is a hot potato. To figure out whether its residue is suitable for pyrolysis for biofuel, the pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of macro-algae M. pyrifera residue was investigated using thermogravimetric method from 50 to 800 °C in an inert argon atmosphere at different heating rates of 5, 10, 20, and 30 °C min^?1. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor was calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, and Popescu methods, and the kinetic mechanism was deduced by Popescu method. The results showed that the primary devolatilization stage of M. pyrifera residue can be described by Jander function $ \left(\left[ {1 - \left( {1 - \alpha } \right)^{1/3} } \right]^{2}\right) $ . The average activation energy of M. pyrifera residue was 222.4 kJ mol^?1. The results suggested that the experimental results and kinetic parameters provided useful information for the design of pyrolytic processing system using M. pyrifera residue as feedstock.     

Influences of levofloxacin salts on the metabolism of Escherichia coli by microcalorimetry

A microcalorimetric technique was used to evaluate the influence of both Levofloxacin lactate in sodium chloride injection (drug A) and Levofloxacin hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection (drug B) on the metabolism of Escherichia coli. By means of an isothermal calorimeter and ampoule method at 37 °C, the power-time curves of E. coli growth were obtained under different conditions. The parameters such as the growth rate constant k, maximum power output P _m, time t _m corresponding to the maximum power output and inhibitory ratio I of these two drugs were obtained. The results reveal that the inhibitory abilities enhance with increasing concentrations of the two drugs. The critical growth concentration and the half-inhibitory concentration IC₅₀ were 0.15 and 0.079 μg mL^?1 (for drug A), 0.13 and 0.061 μg mL^?1 (for drug B), respectively. These results show the drug A has slightly better inhibitory effect on E. coli than that of drug B.