Syntheses of (2R,4'R,8'R)-alpha-tocopherol and (2R,3'E,7'E)-alpha-tocotrienol.

Reaction of trimethyl-hydroquinone with methyl vinyl ketone in acidic methanol gave rac.-2-methoxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-6-ol ( 8 ). This acetal was converted in four steps to rac.-(6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-yl)acetic acid ( 13 ). Acid 13 was readily resolved with α-methyl-benzylamine to give the (S)-enantiomer 14 . Treatment of the unwanted (2 R)-isomer with acid regenerated 13 , thus leading to an efficient use of this compound. Employing a side chain derived from phytol, 14 was converted to (2R, 4′R, 8′R)-α-tocopherol ( 1d , ‘natural’ vitamin E). A reaction sequence from 14 involving two highly stereoselective Claisen rearrangements has provided the first total synthesis of (2R,'E,7′E)-α-tocotrienol ( 2d ).     

On site visual detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyromonas gingivalis</Emphasis> related periodontitis by using a magnetic-nanobead based assay for gingipains protease biomarkers

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a pathogen causing periodontitis. A rapid assay is described for the diagnosis of periodontal infections related to P. gingivalis. The method is making use of gingipains, a group of P. gingivalis specific proteases as a detection biomarker. Magnetic-nanobeads were labeled with gingipain-specific peptide substrates and immobilized on a gold biosensing platform via gold-thiol linkage. As a result of this, the color of the gold layer turns black. Upon cleavage of the immobilized substrates by gingipains, the magnetic-nanobeads-peptide fragments were attracted by a magnet so that the golden surface color becomes visible again. This assay is highly sensitive and specific. It is capable of detecting as little as 49 CFU·mL^?1 of P. gingivalis within 30 s. Examination of periodontitis patients and healthy control saliva samples showed the potential of the assay. The simplicity and rapidity of the assay makes it an effective point-of-care device.

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Graphical abstract Schematic of the assay for the detection of P. gingivalis proteases as one of the promising biomarkers associated with periodontal diseases.

     

Syntheses and biological evaluation of vinblastine congeners

Sixty-two congeners of vinblastine (VLB), primarily with modifications of the piperidine ring in the carbomethoxycleavamine moiety of the binary alkaloid, were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against murine L1210 leukemia and RCC-2 rat colon cancer cells, and for their ability to inhibit polymerization of microtubular protein at < 10(-6) M, and for induction of spiralization of microtubular protein, and for microtubular disassembly at 10(-4) M concentrations. An ID50 range of >10(7) M concentrations was found for L1210 inhibition by these compounds, with the most active 1000x as potent as vinblastine.     

Simple Stereospecific Syntheses of (R)-2-Fluorohexanoic Acid Ethyl Ester

Simple stereospecific syntheses of 2-fluorohexanoic acid 5 were accomplished by conversion of optically pure L-(+)-norleucine to the optically pure hydroxy acid 3 via the classic diazotization reaction followed by substitution of the hydroxy functionality by the fluoro group. This was accomplished stereospecifically using DAST reagent or more practically by nucleophilic displacement of the corresponding mesyloxy group with fluoride ion.     

Hybrid polymer-CdS solar cell active layers formed by in situ growth of CdS nanoparticles

The integration of semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) into a polymeric matrix has the potential to enhance the performance of polymer-based solar cells taking advantage of the physical properties of NPs and polymers. We synthesize a new class of CdS-NPs-based active layer employing a low-cost and low temperature route compatible with large-scale device manufacturing. Our approach is based on the controlled in situ thermal decomposition of a cadmium thiolate precursor in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The casted P3HT:precursor solid foils were heated up from 200 to 300 °C to allow the precursor decomposition and the CdS-NP formation within the polymer matrix. The CdS-NP growth was controlled by varying the annealing temperature. The polymer:precursor weight ratio was also varied to investigate the effects of increasing the NP volume fraction on the solar cell performances. The optical properties were studied by using UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy at room temperature. To investigate the photocurrent response of P3HT:CdS nanocomposites, ITO/P3HT:CdS/Al solar cell devices were realized. We measured the external quantum efficiency (EQE) as a function of the wavelength. The photovoltaic response of the devices containing CdS-NPs showed a variation compared with the devices with P3HT only. By changing the annealing temperature the EQE is enhanced in the 400–600 nm spectral region. By increasing the NPs volume fraction remarkable changes in the EQE spectra were observed. The data are discussed also in relation to morphological features of the interfaces studied by Focused Ion Beam technique.