PFGSE-NMR study of the self-diffusion of sucrose fatty acid monoesters in water

The micellization of pure monosubstituted sucrose fatty acid esters in water, namely sucrose octanoate, sucrose decanoate, sucrose laurate, sucrose dodec-5-cis-enoate, sucrose myristate, and sucrose palmitate, has been investigated by means of two NMR methods, pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR (PFGSE-NMR), giving access to the self-diffusion coefficients of free molecules and micelles in solution, and the ERETIC method (electronic reference to access in vivo concentrations) for the measurement of concentrations by external calibration of a synthetic NMR signal. The early micellar regions and, when possible, the premicellar regions were investigated. By this method, we obtained the hydrodynamic radii of micelles, displaying a linear progression in relation to the chain length and an accurate determination of critical micellar concentration (CMC) for each sucrose ester. The effect of the regiochemistry of fatty chain grafting has been investigated, showing special behavior for 1'-O-sucrose palmitate.     

Straightforward route for anchoring a glucosyl moiety onto nucleophilic species: reaction of amines and alcohols with carboxymethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside 2-O-lactone

The base-catalyzed reaction of carboxymethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside 2-O-lactone (prepared from isomaltulose) with amino acids and fatty amines under basic catalysis gave a series of new pseudoglucopeptides, nonionic amphiphiles, and polymerizable derivatives. The same reaction applied to alcohols provided the corresponding 2-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)acetyl esters with either basic or acidic catalysts.     

Synthesis of melicodenines C,D and E

A synthesis of the unusual cyclobutane-quinolinone alkaloids melicodenines C, D and E by intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition is described.     

A Multifunctional Photoswitch: 6π Electrocyclization versus ESIPT and Metalation

A terthiazole‐based molecular switch associating 6π electrocyclization, excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), and strong metal binding capability was prepared. The photochemical and photophysical properties of this molecule and of the corresponding nickel and copper complexes were thoroughly investigated by steady‐state and ultrafast absorption spectroscopy and rationalized by DFT/TDDFT calculations. The switch behaves as a biphotochrome with time‐dependent photochemical outcome and displays efficient ESIPT‐based fluorescence photoswitching. Both photochemical reactions are suppressed by nickel or copper metalation, and the main factors contributing to the quenching of the electrocyclization are discussed.     

Nonlinear effects in acousto-optic imaging

Acousto-optic (AO) imaging is a promising technique that is able to reveal optical properties in the millimeter range inside scattering media by tagging the photon paths with an ultrasonic beam. To increase both the contrast and the resolution of the AO images, we have explored the possibility of using the nonlinear response of the speckle modulation. Variation of the second-harmonic signal as the square of the ultrasonic amplitude has been found, and strong reduction of the tagged zone size has been demonstrated.     

Terpenoids from Turraeanthus species

Chemical investigation of the root bark of Turraeanthus mannii and the stem of T. longipes resulted in the isolation of two new diterpenes, 13-methyl-labda-8(17)-en-15-oic acid (1) and 13-(hydroxymethyl)-14-hydroxy-ent-labda-8(17)-en-15-oic acid (2), along with two known diterpenes, 19-hydroxy-ent-labda-8(17),13-dien-15,16-olide (3) and 19-acetoxy-ent-labda-8(17),13-dien-15,16-olide (4), and the phytosterol, stigmasterol. The structure elucidation of the new compounds has been achieved using spectroscopic techniques.     

Optical properties of new 5-(4-phenylethynyl)-substituted-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives

The synthesis and optical properties of a novel family of 5-substituted-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives are reported herein. One carbon-carbon triple-bond function was introduced using a Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. The effects on optical properties, of the substitution with electro-withdrawing or -donating substituents in the 5th position of the 1,10-phenanthroline are investigated. Experimental chemical structure-polarisability relationship is analyzed according to the Lippert-Mataga correlation and compared to a theoretical study carried out with DFT calculations. These compounds are promising candidates for a fine-tuning of the internal charge-transfers but also as potential nonlinear chromophores and ligands within multifunctional coordination complexes.     

Synthesis of linear and hyperbranched sugar‐grafted polysiloxanes using N‐hydroxysuccinimide‐activated esters

A straightforward method for the preparation of polysiloxanes grafted with carbohydrate side groups is described. Two kinds of backbones have been functionalized, namely one‐dimensional, linear polysiloxanes, and hyperbranched poly(siloxysilane)s based on cyclotetrasiloxanes. The method enables us to keep a good integrity of the polysiloxane backbone. The introduction of intermediate activated esters as side groups on the polysiloxane backbone ensures a complete homogeneity of the reaction medium during sugar grafting in dimethyl sulfoxide, and consequently an easy grafting with the unprotected amino sugar. Solubility of the resulting polysiloxanes has been tested in various solvents. The sugar‐grafted polysiloxanes are good candidates for applications such as silicone formulations, hydrophilic silicone elastomers, interactions with metallic nanoparticles, and suspension stabilization, or as starting point for the design of more complex polysiloxanes for molecular recognition. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3607–3618