Structure and conformational isomerism of the major dimer of 2,3-naphthoquinodimethane

The major product from 2,3-naphthoquinodimethane formed by cyclisation of $\text{o}$-dipropadienylbenzene was found to be the dimer 5 containing an eight-membered ring, for which the inversion barrier was determined by dynamic ¹H NMR spectrometry, ΔG3 = 18 kcal/mole.     

Time-resolved gas-phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies of the reaction of silylene with nitric oxide

Time-resolved kinetic studies of the reaction of silylene, SiH2, generated by laser flash photolysis of phenylsilane, have been carried out to obtain rate constants for its bimolecular reaction with NO. The reaction was studied in the gas phase over the pressure range 1-100 Torr in SF6 bath gas at five temperatures in the range 299-592 K. The second-order rate constants at 10 Torr fitted the Arrhenius equation log(k/cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1)) = (-11.66 +/- 0.01) + (6.20 +/- 0.10 kJ mol(-1))/RT ln 10 The rate constants showed a variation with pressure of a factor of ca. 2 over the available range, almost independent of temperature. The data could not be fitted by RRKM calculations to a simple third body assisted association reaction alone. However, a mechanistic model with an additional (pressure independent) side channel gave a reasonable fit to the data. Ab initio calculations at the G3 level supported a mechanism in which the initial adduct, bent H2SiNO, can ring close to form cyclo-H2SiNO, which is partially collisionally stabilized. In addition, bent H2SiNO can undergo a low barrier isomerization reaction leading, via a sequence of steps, ultimately to dissociation products of which the lowest energy pair are NH2 + SiO. The rate controlling barrier for this latter pathway is only 16 kJ mol(-1) below the energy of SiH2 + NO. This is consistent with the kinetic findings. A particular outcome of this work is that, despite the pressure dependence and the effects of the secondary barrier (in the side reaction), the initial encounter of SiH2 with NO occurs at the collision rate. Thus, silylene can be as reactive with odd electron molecules as with many even electron species. Some comparisons are drawn with the reactions of CH2 + NO and SiCl2 + NO.     

N,N′‐Di­thio­bisphthal­imide–nitro­benzene (2/1): a Pn solvate with localized solvent mol­ecules ordered head‐to‐tail in channels

N,N′‐Di­thio­bisphthal­imide crystallizes from nitro­benzene solution as a solvate, 2C₁₆H₈N₂O₄S₂·C₆H₅NO₂, having space group Pn. The bisphthal­imide mol­ecules are linked by C—H?O hydrogen bonds and by aromatic π–π‐stacking interactions, forming a framework enclosing continuous channels running along the [100] direction and accounting for ca 20% of the unit‐cell volume. The nitro­benzene mol­ecules lie in these channels, ordered in a head‐to‐tail fashion and linked to the bis­phthal­imide framework by C—H?O and C—H?π(arene) hydrogen bonds.     

STUDIES OF ADHESION OF METAL PARTICLES TO SILICA PARTICLES BASED ON ZETA POTENTIAL MEASUREMENTS

The zeta-potentials of silica, copper, platinum and gold particles have been measured as a function of pH. The isoelectric points were found to be at pH 3.0, 5.8, 3.0 and 3.5, respectively. In the pH range 3.0 to 5.8 copper and silica particles are oppositely charged and accordingly the coating of silica with copper particles could be demonstrated. In the case of gold and platinum the sign of the charge is such that direct adhesion to silica particles cannot be expected and this was also demonstrated in the case of platinum.     

Arylspiroborates Derived from 4‐tert‐Butylcatechol and 3,5‐Di‐tert‐butylcatechol and Their Antimicrobial Activities

A family of arylspiroborates has been prepared by the addition of either 4‐tert‐butylcatechol or 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol to boric acid and an alkali metal hydroxide. All compounds were characterized fully using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by elemental analyses. A single crystal X‐ray diffraction was carried out on potassium (bis‐(3,5‐di‐tertbutyl[1,2‐benzenediolato(2‐)‐O,O′]borate)) ( 8 ). All compounds displayed appreciable anti‐microbial activities.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arachidonoyl glycine,an abundant endogenous lipid,potently drives directed cellular migration through GPR18, the putative abnormal cannabidiol receptor

Background  

Microglia provide continuous immune surveillance of the CNS and upon activation rapidly change phenotype to express receptors that respond to chemoattractants during CNS damage or infection. These activated microglia undergo directed migration towards affected tissue. Importantly, the molecular species of chemoattractant encountered determines if microglia respond with pro- or anti-inflammatory behaviour, yet the signaling molecules that trigger migration remain poorly understood. The endogenous cannabinoid system regulates microglial migration via CB₂ receptors and an as yet unidentified GPCR termed the 'abnormal cannabidiol' (Abn-CBD) receptor. Abn-CBD is a synthetic isomer of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) and is inactive at CB₁ or CB₂ receptors, but functions as a selective agonist at this G_i/o-coupled GPCR. N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) is an endogenous metabolite of the endocannabinoid anandamide and acts as an efficacious agonist at GPR18. Here, we investigate the relationship between NAGly, Abn-CBD, the unidentified 'Abn-CBD' receptor, GPR18, and BV-2 microglial migration.