Compositional and 2H NMR studies of bis(benzene)chromium composites of mesoporous vanadium-niobium mixed oxides

New mesoporous niobium oxides with 5, 10, and 15 mol% vanadium(V) doped into the walls of the structure were synthesized by the ligand-assisted templating method with an octadecylamine template. These materials were characterized by XRD, XPS, EPR, elemental analysis, and nitrogen adsorption before being treated with excess bis(benzene)chromium to give new composites with an organometallic phase in the walls. All materials were also characterized by EPR, XRD, nitrogen adsorption, XPS, SQUID magnetometry, and elemental analysis. The materials with higher percentages of vanadium absorbed more bis(benzene)chromium, because this process depends largely on the electron transfer between the organometallic and the walls of the mesostructure and vanadium(V) is a stronger oxidant than niobium(V). Conductivity studies on these materials revealed that the ratio of Cr(0) to Cr(l) in the pores was more important than the absolute Cr loading level in governing electron transport properties but that increasing the V content led to more insulating behavior regardless of the Cr concentration. Solid-state 2H NMR studies on perdeuteriobenzene analogues of these composites showed the presence of the neutral and cationic Cr species in different ratios depending on the loading. Tumbling of these species was also slow on the NMR time scale, indicating that the charge-carrying Cr species are not rapidly moving through the pore channels of the mesostructure. This suggests that the walls of the structure may play a key role in charge transfer in these composites, contrary to what was previously believed.     

Half-sandwich titanium(IV) complexes with Kläui's tripod ligand

Treatment of [Ti(O-i-Pr)(2)Cl(2)] with NaL(OEt) (L(OEt)(-) = [CpCo[P(O)(OEt)(2)](3)](-), Cp = eta(5)-C(5)H(5)) afforded [L(OEt)Ti(O-i-Pr)(2)Cl] that reacted with HCl in ether to give [L(OEt)TiCl(3)] (1). The average Ti-O and Ti-Cl distances in 1 are 1.975 and 2.293 A, respectively. Reaction of titanyl sulfate with NaL(OEt) in water followed by addition of HBF(4) afforded [L(OEt)TiF(3)] (2), the Ti-O and Ti-F distances of which are 2.020(2) and 1.792(2) A, respectively. The Zr(IV) analogue [L(OEt)ZrF(3)] (3) was prepared similarly from zirconyl nitrate, NaL(Oet), and HBF(4) in water. The Zr-O and average Zr-F distances in 3 are 2.139(2) and 1.938(2) A, respectively. Treatment of 1 with tetrachlorocatechol (H(2)Cl(4)cat) afforded [L(OEt)Ti(Cl(4)cat)Cl] (4). The average Ti-O(P), Ti-O(C), and Ti-Cl distances in 4 are 1.972, 1.926, and 2.334 A, respectively. Hydrolysis of 4 in the presence of Et(3)N yielded the mu-oxo dimer [(L(OEt))(2)Ti(2)(Cl(4)cat)(2)(mu-O)] (5). The average Ti-O(P), Ti-O(C), and Ti-O(Ti) distances in 5 are 2.027, 1.926, and 1.7977(9) A. Treatment of 1 with 1,1'-binaphthol (BINOLH(2)) in the presence of Et(3)N afforded [(L(OEt))(2)Ti(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-BINOL)] x 2BINOLH(2) (6.2BINOLH(2)). Complex 1 is capable of catalyzing ring opening of epoxides with Me(3)SiN(3) under solvent-free conditions presumably via a Ti-azide intermediate.     

Studies on tolonium chloride labeled with radioiodine

Tolonium chloride is a common reagent in the diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions. This study establishes the optimal preparation of radioiodinated tolonium chloride (RTC) and evaluate its radiochemical and biological characteristics. Instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC), ion exchange chromatography (IC), paper electrophoresis, and the effect of pH on labeling efficiency revealed the chemical characterization of RTC. Biodistribution, blood clearance, urinary excretion, toxic effect, and Lugol’s solution effect on the thyroid uptake of RTC revealed RTCs biological characteristics. The optimal labeling condition was pH = 2.96 after 15 h stirring, the labeling efficiency was 60%. After purification by IC, the radiochemical purity of RTC was 94%, and the shelf life of RTC was at least 90 days. In the biodistribution study, the liver was major target organs, approximated 6.11% of injected dose accumulate in per gram of tissue (6.11% ID/g) at 10 min after injection. The tissue-to-blood radioactivity ratio significant (p < 0.05) increased with reaction time. In liver, the tissue-to-blood radioactivity ratio was 2.2 ± 0.51 at 10 min after injection, and increased to 22.4 ± 4.52 at 120 min after injection. The blood clearance study showed a significant decrease in blood radioactivity. The radioactivity in the blood was about 2.76% of the injected dose per milliliter blood at 10 min post-injection, but decreased to 0.12% at 120 min post-injection. Lugol’s solution does not affect the thyroid uptake of RTC. Almost all the administered RTC recovered at 60 h after injection, with 79% recovered in feces and 17% recovered in urine. This study shows that RTC is non-toxic, and may be suitable as a liver imaging agent.     

Direct electrochemistry and bioelectrocatalysis of a class II non-symbiotic plant haemoglobin immobilised on screen-printed carbon electrodes

In this study, direct electron transfer (ET) has been achieved between an immobilised non-symbiotic plant haemoglobin class II from Beta vulgaris (nsBvHb2) and three different screen-printed carbon electrodes based on graphite (SPCE), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-SPCE), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT-SPCE) without the aid of any electron mediator. The nsBvHb2 modified electrodes were studied with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and also when placed in a wall-jet flow through cell for their electrocatalytic properties for reduction of H₂O₂. The immobilised nsBvHb2 displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with a formal potential (E°′) of ?33.5 mV (vs. Ag|AgCl|3 M KCl) at pH 7.4. The ET rate constant of nsBvHb2, k _s, was also determined at the surface of the three types of electrodes in phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4, and was found to be 0.50 s^?1 on SPCE, 2.78 s^?1 on MWCNT-SPCE and 4.06 s^?1 on SWCNT-SPCE, respectively. The average surface coverage of electrochemically active nsBvHb2 immobilised on the SPCEs, MWCNT-SPCEs and SWCNT-SPCEs obtained was 2.85?×?10^?10 mol cm^?2, 4.13?×?10^?10 mol cm^?2 and 5.20?×?10^?10 mol cm^?2. During the experiments the immobilised nsBvHb2 was stable and kept its electrochemical and catalytic activities. The nsBvHb2 modified electrodes also displayed an excellent response to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) with a linear detection range from 1 μM to 1000 μM on the surface of SPCEs, from 0.5 μM to 1000 μM on MWCNT-SPCEs, and from 0.1 μM to 1000 μM on SWCNT-SPCEs. The lower limit of detection was 0.8 μM, 0.4 μM and 0.1 μM at 3σ at the SPCEs, the MWCNT-SPCEs, and the SWCNT-SPCEs, respectively, and the apparent Michaelis–Menten constant, $ {\hbox{K}}_{\rm{M}}^{\rm{app}} $ , for the H₂O₂ sensors was estimated to be 0.32 mM , 0.29 mM and 0.27 mM, respectively.     

Cu(I)/bis(azaferrocene)-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of beta-lactams via couplings of alkynes with nitrones

As a consequence of the wide-ranging significance of beta-lactams (e.g., use as drugs and as chiral building blocks), a great deal of effort has been dedicated to the development of methods for their stereoselective synthesis. Although considerable progress has been achieved, nearly all of the approaches that have been described are based on the use of chiral precursors; direct catalytic enantioselective routes to beta-lactams are rare as well as limited in scope. In this communication, we establish that, using a new C2-symmetric planar-chiral bis(azaferrocene) ligand, we can generate beta-lactams with very good enantiomeric excess and cis diastereoselection via catalytic enantioselective Kinugasa reactions (couplings of alkynes with nitrones). Appealing attributes of this process include the ready availability of the starting materials, the functional-group tolerance of the reaction, and the convergency of the approach.     

A new ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer reaction: transformation of 3-benzyl but-1-ynyl ethers into 1,3-dienes and benzaldehyde

We report a ruthenium-catalyzed reaction for various 3-benzyl but-1-ynyl ethers with suitable functionalities. Treatment of these substrates with TpRu(PPh3)(CH3CN)2PF6 (8.0 mol %) catalyst in 1,2-dichloroethane (80 degrees C, 12 h) afforded functionalized 1,3-dienes and benzyl aldehyde in good yields. This process is considered to be a tandem dealkoxylation and transfer hydrogenation. Deuterium-labeling experiments reveal that the migration of different hydrogen atoms proceeds regiospecifically. A plausible mechanism is proposed on the basis of the results of isotope experiment.     

Ruthenium-vinylhelicenes: remote metal-based enhancement and redox switching of the chiroptical properties of a helicene core

Introducing metal-vinyl ruthenium moieties onto [6]helicene results in a significant enhancement of the chiroptical properties due to strong metal-ligand electronic interactions. The electro-active Ru centers allow the achievement of the first purely helicene-based redox-triggered chiroptical switches. A combination of electrochemical, spectroscopic, and theoretical techniques reveals that the helicene moiety is a noninnocent ligand bearing a significant spin density.     

Serum albumin targeted, pH-dependent magnetic resonance relaxation agents

The objective of this work was the synthesis of serum albumin targeted, Gd(III)-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents exhibiting a strong pH-dependent relaxivity. Two new complexes (Gd-glu and Gd-bbu) were synthesized based on the DO3A macrocycle modified with three carboxyalkyl substituents?α to the three ring nitrogen atoms, and a biphenylsulfonamide arm. The sulfonamide nitrogen coordinates the Gd in a pH-dependent fashion, resulting in a decrease in the hydration state, q, as pH is increased and a resultant decrease in relaxivity (r(1)). In the absence of human serum albumin (HSA), r(1) increases from 2.0 to 6.0?mM(-1) s(-1) for Gd-glu and from 2.4 to 9.0?mM(-1) s(-1) for Gd-bbu from pH?5 to 8.5 at 37?°C, 0.47?T, respectively. These complexes (0.2?mM) are bound (>98.9?%) to HSA (0.69?mM) over the pH range 5-8.5. Binding to albumin increases the rotational correlation time and results in higher relaxivity. The r(1) increased 120?% (pH?5) and 550?% (pH?8.5) for Gd-glu and 42?% (pH?5) and 260?% (pH?8.5) for Gd-bbu. The increases in r(1) at pH?5 were unexpectedly low for a putative slow tumbling q=2 complex. The Gd-bbu system was investigated further. At pH?5, it binds in a stepwise fashion to HSA with dissociation constants K(d1)=0.65, K(d2)=18, K(d3)=1360?μM. The relaxivity at each binding site was constant. Luminescence lifetime titration experiments with the Eu(III) analogue revealed that the inner-sphere water ligands are displaced when the complex binds to HSA resulting in lower than expected r(1) at pH?5. Variable pH and temperature nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) studies showed that the increased r(1) of the albumin-bound q=0 complexes is due to the presence of a nearby water molecule with a long residency time (1-2?ns). The distance between this water molecule and the Gd ion changes with pH resulting in albumin-bound pH-dependent relaxivity.     

Proteomic analysis reveals platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin as prognostic markers in severe acute respiratory syndrome

Previously, we reported that proteomic fingerprints were present in sera of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and could separate patients into subgroups with different prognoses. In the present study, we examined the prognostic values of the SARS-associated proteomic features by biostatistical analysis, and deciphered the identities of those with prognostic values. Data of 20 SARS-associated serum proteomic features and ten serological variables from 38 SARS adult patients before treatment were subjected to multivariate logistic regression. Proteomic features of m/z 6634, m/z 7769, m/z 8635, and m/z 8865 were identified as independent prognostic markers. After purification by cation-exchange chromatography and gel electrophoresis, proteomic features of m/z 7769 and m/z 8865 were found to be platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) by tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The associations of decreased serum PF4 and increased serum beta-TG levels with poor prognosis were confirmed by Western blot. Previous studies suggest that PF4 and beta-TG are involved in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a negative and positive way, respectively. Our results suggest that PF4 and beta-TG may also play similar roles in the development of ARDS in SARS patients.