Photoinduced Aerobic Iodoarene‐Catalyzed Spirocyclization of N‐Oxy‐amides to N‐Fused Spirolactams**

Iodoarene catalysis is a powerful methodology that usually requires an excess of oxidant, or of redox mediator if the terminal oxidant is dioxygen, to generate the key hypervalent iodine intermediate to proceed efficiently. We report that, using the spiro‐cyclization of amides as a benchmark reaction, aerobic iodoarene catalysis can be enabled by relying on a pyrylium photocatalyst under blue light irradiation. This unprecedented dual organocatalytic system allows the use of low catalytic loading of both catalysts under very mild operating conditions.     

Copolymeric nano/microgels of N-isopropylacrylamide and carboxyalkyl methacrylamides: Effect of methylene chains and the ionization state of the weak acids on size and sensitivity to pH and temperature

ABSTRACT

We prepared nano/microgels by precipitation copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), and one of three different carboxyalkyl methacrylamides [methacryloylamido hexanoic acid (M₅), 8-methacryloylamido octanoic acid (M₇), and 11-methacryloylamido undecanoic acid (M₁₀)], either in the acid forms or as carboxylates (potassium salts). The hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) of the nano/microgels prepared with the carboxylates was smaller (≈100 nm for M₁₀ copolymers), compared to the size of homopolymeric NIPAAm microgels prepared by dispersion polymerization (around 600 nm), indicating that the carboxylates act as surfactants reducing the size of the seeds during the polymerization process. These materials presented a swollen-shrunken transition temperature (T _tr) similar to the T _tr of the homopolymeric NIPAAm microgels, without pH sensitivity. On the other hand, the copolymeric microgels prepared from the acid form of the comonomers have a similar or bigger size than NIPAAm microgels. For these copolymers, the T _tr can be tuned by the type and proportion of acid comonomer used and present pH sensitivity. This is important for biomedical applications such as positive temperature control release. Polyelectrolyte titration demonstrates that the nano/microgels prepared with the carboxylates behave as hard spheres, while the microgels prepared with the weak acid behave as porous materials.     

Solubility and Stability of Some Pharmaceuticals in Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents-Based Formulations

Some medicines are poorly soluble in water. For tube feeding and parenteral administration, liquid formulations are required. The discovery of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) opened the way to potential applications for liquid drug formulations. NADES consists of a mixture of two or more simple natural products such as sugars, amino acids, organic acids, choline/betaine, and poly-alcohols in certain molar ratios. A series of NADES with a water content of 0–30% (w/w) was screened for the ability to solubilize (in a stable way) some poorly water-soluble pharmaceuticals at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. The results showed that NADES selectively dissolved the tested drugs. Some mixtures of choline-based NADES, acid-neutral or sugars-based NADES could dissolve chloral hydrate (dissociated in water), ranitidine·HCl (polymorphism), and methylphenidate (water insoluble), at a concentration of up to 250 mg/mL, the highest concentration tested. Whereas a mixture of lactic-acid–propyleneglycol could dissolve spironolacton and trimethoprim at a concentration up to 50 and 100 mg/mL, respectively. The results showed that NADES are promising solvents for formulation of poorly water-soluble medicines for the development of parenteral and tube feeding administration of non-water-soluble medicines. The chemical stability and bioavailability of these drug in NADES needs further studies.     

On the Rational Drug Design for Hypertension through NMR Spectroscopy

Antagonists of the AT1receptor (AT1R) are beneficial molecules that can prevent the peptide hormone angiotensin II from binding and activating the specific receptor causing hypertension in pathological states. This review article summarizes the multifaced applications of solid and liquid state high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in antihypertensive commercial drugs that act as AT1R antagonists. The 3D architecture of these compounds is explored through 2D NOESY spectroscopy and their interactions with micelles and lipid bilayers are described using solid state ¹³CP/MAS, ³¹P and ²H static solid state NMR spectroscopy. Due to their hydrophobic character, AT1R antagonists do not exert their optimum profile on the AT1R. Therefore, various vehicles are explored so as to effectively deliver these molecules to the site of action and to enhance their pharmaceutical efficacy. Cyclodextrins and polymers comprise successful examples of effective drug delivery vehicles, widely used for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs to the active site of the receptor. High resolution NMR spectroscopy provides valuable information on the physical-chemical forces that govern these drug:vehicle interactions, knowledge required to get a deeper understanding on the stability of the formed complexes and therefore the appropriateness and usefulness of the drug delivery system. In addition, it provides valuable information on the rational design towards the synthesis of more stable and efficient drug formulations.     

Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of a Newly Designed Nutraceutical Self-Nanoemulsifying Self-Nanosuspension for Protection and Treatment of Cisplatin Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats

The incorporation of cisplatin (CP) as a cytotoxic antineoplastic agent in most chemotherapeutic protocols is a challenge due to its toxic effect on testicular tissues. Natural compounds present a promising trend in research, so a new nutraceutical formulation (NCF) was designed to diminish CP spermatotoxicity. A combination of three nutraceutical materials, 250 mg Spirulina platensis powder (SP), 25 mg Tribulus terrestris L. extract (TT), and 100 mg fish oil (FO) were formulated in self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension (SNESNS). SP was loaded into the optimized self-nanoemulsifying system (30% FO, 50% span 80/cremophor EL and 20% isopropanol) and mixed with TT aqueous solution to form SNESNS. For the SP, phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of valuable amounts of fatty acids (FAs), amino acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size analysis confirmed the formation of nanoemulsion-based nanosuspension upon dilution. Method validation of the phytochemical constituents in NCF has been developed. Furthermore, NCF was biologically evaluated on male Wistar rats and revealed the improvement of spermatozoa, histopathological features, and biochemical markers over the CP and each ingredient group. Our findings suggest the potential of NCF with SNESNS as a delivery system against CP-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.     

A macroscopic model for an intermediate state between type‐I and type‐II superconductivity

A vectorial nonlocal and nonlinear parabolic problem on a bounded domain for an intermediate state between type‐I and type‐II superconductivity is proposed. The domain is for instance a multiband superconductor that combines the characteristics of both types. The nonlocal term is represented by a (space) convolution with a singular kernel arising in Eringen's model. The nonlinearity is coming from the power law relation by Rhyner. The well‐posedness of the problem is discussed under low regularity assumptions and the error estimate for a semi‐implicit time‐discrete scheme based on backward Euler approximation is established. In the proofs, the monotonicity methods and the Minty–Browder argument are used. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1551–1567, 2015     

Multi-way dual Cheeger constants and spectral bounds of graphs

We introduce a set of multi-way dual Cheeger constants and prove universal higher-order dual Cheeger inequalities for eigenvalues of normalized Laplace operators on weighted finite graphs. Our proof proposes a new spectral clustering phenomenon deduced from metrics on real projective spaces. We further extend those results to a general reversible Markov operator and find applications in characterizing its essential spectrum.     

Dual Catalysis with Copper and Rhenium for Trifluoromethylation of Propargylic Alcohols: Efficient Synthesis of α‐Trifluoromethylated Enones

Trifluoromethylation of propargylic alcohols to provide (Z)‐α‐trifluoromethylated enones and β‐unsubstituted α‐trifluoromethylated enones proceeded with high yield and selectivity in the presence of CuI/Re₂O₇. The Z isomer was formed under kinetic control, though it is less stable than the E isomer in terms of steric repulsion.     

Metal‐Free Triplet Phosphors with High Emission Efficiency and High Tunability

Design of highly efficient phosphorescent emitters based on metal‐ and heavy atom‐free boron compounds has been demonstrated by taking advantage of the singlet fission process. The combination of a suitable molecular scaffold and appropriate electronic nature of the substituents has been utilized to tailor the phosphorescence emission properties in solution, neat solid, and in doped PMMA thin films.     

Enantioselective Preparation of Arenes with β‐Stereogenic Centers: Confronting the 1,1‐Disubstituted Olefin Problem Using CuH/Pd Cooperative Catalysis

Arenes with β‐stereogenic centers are important substructures in pharmaceuticals and natural products. We have developed an asymmetric anti‐Markovnikov hydroarylation of 1,1‐disubstituted olefins by dual palladium and copper hydride catalysis as a convenient and general approach to access these substructures. This efficient one‐step process addresses several limitations of the traditional stepwise approaches. The use of cesium benzoate as a base and a common phosphine ligand for both the Cu‐ and Pd‐catalyzed processes were important discoveries that allow these challenging olefin substrates to be efficiently transformed. A variety of aryl bromide coupling partners, including numerous heterocycles, were coupled with 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes to generate arenes with β‐stereogenic centers.