pH‐ and Thiol‐Responsive BODIPY‐Based Photosensitizers for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy

A diiodo distyryl boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core was conjugated to two ferrocenyl quenchers through acid‐labile ketal and/or thiol‐cleavable disulfide linkers, of which the fluorescence and photosensitizing properties were significantly quenched through a photoinduced electron‐transfer process. The two symmetrical analogues that contained either the ketal or disulfide linkers could only be activated by a single stimulus, whereas the unsymmetrical analogue was responsive to dual stimuli. Upon interaction with acid and/or dithiothreitol (DTT), these linkers were cleaved selectively. The separation of the BODIPY core and the ferrocenyl moieties restored the photoactivities of the former in phosphate buffered saline and inside the MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, rendering these compounds as potential activable photosensitizers for targeted photodynamic therapy. The dual activable analogue exhibited the greatest enhancement in intracellular fluorescence intensity in both an acidic environment (pH 5) and the presence of DTT (4 mm ). Its photocytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cells also increased by about twofold upon preincubation with 4 mm of DTT. The activation of this compound was also demonstrated in nude mice bearing a HT29 human colorectal carcinoma. A significant increase in fluorescence intensity in the tumor was observed over 9 h after intratumoral injection.     

Determination of Whiteners in Cosmetics by Microdialysis and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simple method was developed for the determination of hydrophilic whitening agents (ascorbyl glucoside, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid) in bleaching cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The samples were prepared using microdialysis and were separated within ten minutes using isocratic elution. Linear calibration was achieved for concentrations between 0.10 and 10.00 micromolar. The limits of detection were from 0.6 to 2.0 nanomolar; the recoveries were between 91.43 and 108.04 percent, and the relative standard deviation was less than 6.88 percent. This method was used to determine whitening compounds in several cosmetics with on-line microdialysis and the zero net flux method. The procedure was fast, simple, selective, and suitable for routine analysis.     

Structural,Mechanistic, Spectroscopic,and Preparative Studies on the Lewis Base Catalyzed,Enantioselective Sulfenofunctionalization of Alkenes

The full details of mechanistic investigation on enantioselective sulfenofunctionalization of alkenes under Lewis base catalysis are described. Solution spectroscopic identification of the catalytically active sulfenylating agent has been accomplished along with the spectroscopic identification of putative thiiranium ion intermediates generated in the enantiodetermining step. The structural insights gleaned from these studies informed the design of new catalyst architectures to improve enantioselectivity. In addition, structural modification of the sulfenylating agents had a significant and salutary effect on the enantioselectivity of sulfenofunctionalization which was demonstrated to be general for trans disubstituted alkenes. Whereas electronic modulation had little effect on the rate and selectivity, steric bulk on arylsulfenylphthalimides was very beneficial.     

The introduction of antibacterial drug pipemidic acid into the POM field: Syntheses, characterization and antitumor activity

Two new compounds based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and the quinolone antibacterial drug pipemidic acid (HPPA), {[Ni(PPA)₂]H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·HPPA·3H₂O (1), and {[Zn(PPA)₂]₂H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·3H₂O (2), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by routine technique. Single-crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis shows that compound 1 is constructed by Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear nickel clusters, isolated HPPA and water molecules, while compound 2 consists of Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear zinc clusters and water molecules. Due to the selection of different transition metal (TM) ions, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit different structures and antitumor activities. Compound 1 possesses 0D structure and shows no antitumor activities. However, compound 2 possesses 1D structure and exhibits higher antitumor activities than its parent compound. The results show that introduction of different TM-PPA moieties onto the polyoxoanion surface can affect not only the final structures but also their antitumor activities.     

SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL OPTICALLY ACTIVE CYCLIC PHOSPHOLIPID CONJUGATES OF TEGAFUR AND URIDINE STARTING FROM L-SERINE

Abstract

Starting from L-serine, cyclic thiophosphoramidate conjugates (2 and 3) of Tegafur and uridine were synthesized via a multiple-step procedure of esterification, cyclic phosphorylation, and sulfurization, etc. L-serinoate was N-alkylated, then cyclized with phosphorus oxychloride, and further reacted with N³-(2-hydroxyethyl) Tegafur to afford cyclic phospholipid conjugate 4. The resultants (2, 3, and 4) were successfully separated in the form of pure diastereomer by column chromatography on silica gel. Their configurations were discussed and assigned according to their NMR spectra. The asymmetric induction effects of the carbon-based chiral centre on the diastereomer preference were also observed in these two synthetic phosphorylation cyclizations. The bioassay on their antitumor activities is under investigation.     

DIHALOCARBENE ADDITION TO ARYLSUBSTTTUTED VINYL PHOSPHATES UNDER PHASE TRANSFER CATALYTIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

Dihalocarbene addition to aryl-substituted vinyl phosphates was carried out both in solid-liquid and in liquid-liquid two phase systems. The dihalocyclopropane adducts of vinyl phosphates could be obtained in better yield using dihalocarbenes generated by the latter method and no hydrolysis of the vinyl phosphate and of the adduct occurred under these circumstances. Eighteen new vinyl phosphate-dihalocarbene adducts were synthetized and characterized.     

Hydrolysis-Condensation Kinetics of Different Silane Coupling Agents

Abstract

The hydrolysis kinetics of 14 alkoxy silane coupling agents were carried out in an ethanol:water 80:20 (w/w) solution under acidic conditions and were monitored by ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. Acidic conditions were selected in order to enhance the silanol formation and to slow down the self-condensation between the resulting hydrolysed silanol groups. In situ ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy allowed the determination of the intermediate species as a function of the reaction time. Thus, the following silane coupling agents were studied: 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (MPMS), 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxy silane (MRPMS), 3-cyanopropyl triethoxy silane (CPES), triethoxy vinyl silane (VES), trimethoxy (2-phenylethyl) silane (PEMS), octyl triethoxy silane (OES), trimethoxy (7-octen-1-yl) silane (OEMS), 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane (APES), 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (APMS), 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl trimethoxy silane, (DAMS), 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethylamino]propyl trimethoxy silane (TAMS), 4-amino-3,3-dibutyl trimethoxy silane (ADBMS), trimethoxy [3-(phenylamino)propyl] silane (PAPMS), and triethoxy-3-(2-imidazolin-1-yl) propyl silane (IZPES). A parameter quantifying the grafting potentiality of each silane coupling agent towards OH-rich solid substrates (such as cellulose) was established as a function of the nature of the alkoxy groups (methoxy or ethoxy), as well as that of the fourth substituent (vinyl, aminopropyl, etc.) of the silane studied.

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