NHC‐CAAC Heterodimers with Three Stable Oxidation States

The synthesis of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC) heterodimers is presented. As the free carbenes do not react together in solution, the synthetic approach involves the addition of a free NHC to a cyclic iminium salt, which results in the formation of the protonated heterodimer. Subsequent deprotonation leads to the isolation of the corresponding mixed Wanzlick dimers. One‐ and two‐electron oxidations of these triazaolefins result in the formation of stable cationic radicals and bis(cations), respectively, which have been isolated and fully characterized. Cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, spin density, and DFT calculations suggest that these heterodimers feature complementary electronic properties to tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs).     

A new anti-inflammatory β-carboline alkaloid from the hairy-root cultures of Eurycoma longifolia

One new β-carboline alkaloid 7-methoxy-(9H-β-carbolin-1-il)-(E)-1-propenoic acid (1) together with 9-methoxycanthin-6-one (2) and 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (3) were isolated from the hairy-root cultures of Eurycoma longifolia. The effects of these compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Compound 1 strongly inhibited the production of NO while 2 and 3 having weak or inactive effect. Consistently, compound 1 decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase.     

On the Hyers–Ulam stabilities of functional equations on ‐Banach spaces

The purpose of this article is to generalize the theory of stability of functional equations to the case of n‐Banach spaces. In this article, we prove the generalized Hyers–Ulam stabilities of the Cauchy functional equations, Jensen functional equations and quadratic functional equations on n‐Banach spaces.     

Virtually epimerization-free synthesis of peptide-alpha-thioesters

Under slightly basic or neutral reaction conditions peptide-alpha-thioesters are photochemically synthesized from peptide-alpha-nitroindoline precursors, either in solution, or by direct photorelease from a solid support.     

Determination of medroxyprogesterone acetate residues by CE immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection

A rapid and simple method is developed for the determination of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) by CE immunoassay with chemiluminescence (CL). This method is based on the competitive reactions between horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled MPA (MPA-HRP) and free MPA with anti-MPA antiserum. The influencing factors on the electrophoresis and CL detection were studied completely and the optimal conditions of separation and determination were obtained. The linear range was 2.0-50 nmol/L and the LOD for MPA was 0.9 nmol/L. The present method was applied to the analysis of pork tissues.     

Symmetry control of radiative decay in linear polyenes: low barriers for isomerization in the S1 state of hexadecaheptaene

The room temperature absorption and emission spectra of the 4-cis and all-trans isomers of 2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaene are almost identical, exhibiting the characteristic dual emissions S1-->S0 (21Ag- --> 11Ag-) and S2-->S0 (11Bu+ --> 11Ag-) noted in previous studies of intermediate length polyenes and carotenoids. The ratio of the S1-->S0 and S2-->S0 emission yields for the cis isomer increases by a factor of approximately 15 upon cooling to 77 K in n-pentadecane. In contrast, for the trans isomer this ratio shows a 2-fold decrease with decreasing temperature. These results suggest a low barrier for conversion between the 4-cis and all-trans isomers in the S1 state. At 77 K, the cis isomer cannot convert to the more stable all-trans isomer in the 21Ag- state, resulting in the striking increase in its S1-->S0 fluorescence. These experiments imply that the S1 states of longer polyenes have local energy minima, corresponding to a range of conformations and isomers, separated by relatively low (2-4 kcal) barriers. Steady state and time-resolved optical measurements on the S1 states in solution thus may sample a distribution of conformers and geometric isomers, even for samples represented by a single, dominant ground state structure. Complex S1 potential energy surfaces may help explain the complicated S2-->S1 relaxation kinetics of many carotenoids. The finding that fluorescence from linear polyenes is so strongly dependent on molecular symmetry requires a reevaluation of the literature on the radiative properties of all-trans polyenes and carotenoids.