Reducing-difference infrared spectral analysis of cis- and trans-configurated lactams

The conventional (non-polarized) and linear-polarized IR-spectra of 2-pyrrolidone and laurolactam as typical representatives of lactams with cis- and trans-amide configuration, respectively, were studied by means of difference IR-spectroscopy. The application of this method to treatment of the non-polarized IR-spectra permits additional conclusions about the likely self-associates of these compounds dissolved in aprotic solvents. By means of the difference linear-dichroic IR-spectroscopy, a more precise assignment of the characteristic bands of the lactam cis- and trans-peptide forms as well as their stereo structures were accomplished. A comparative analysis with the linear-dichroic IR-spectra of epsilon-caprolactam and caprylolactam, as similar compounds, with cis- and trans-conformation, respectively, was also carried out.     

Cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of monensic acid and its biometal(II) complexes against human tumor / non-tumor cell lines

The anticancer activity of monensic acid (MonH) and its biometal(II) complexes [M(Mon)₂(H₂O)₂](M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) was evaluated against cultured human permanent cell lines established from glioblastoma multiforme (8MGBA) and cancers of the lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), uterine cervix (HeLa) and liver (HepG2). The viability and proliferation of the non-tumor human embryonic cell line Lep3 was also tested. The investigations were carried out using a thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide test, neutral red uptake cytotoxicity assay, crystal violet staining, colony forming method and double staining with acridin orange and propidium iodide. The results obtained reveal that the compounds applied at concentrations of 0.5–25 μg mL⁻¹ for 24–72 h decrease the viability and proliferation of the treated cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The metal(II) complexes studied (especially those of Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)) have been found to express stronger cytotoxic and cytostatic activities than the non-coordinated monensic acid. The non-tumor human cell line showed strong chemosensitivity towards compounds tested comparable to that of cultured human tumor cell lines.      

Ruthenafuran Complexes Supported by the Bipyridine-Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane Ligand Set: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies

Mononuclear and dinuclear Ru(II) complexes cis-[Ru(κ²-dppm)(bpy)Cl₂] (1), cis-[Ru(κ²-dppe)(bpy)Cl₂] (2) and [Ru₂(bpy)₂(μ-dpam)₂(μ-Cl)₂](Cl)₂ ([3](Cl)₂) were prepared from the reactions between cis(Cl), cis(S)-[Ru(bpy)(dmso-S)₂Cl₂] and diphosphine/diarsine ligands (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; dppm = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; dpam = 1,1-bis(diphenylarsino)methane). While methoxy-substituted ruthenafuran [Ru(bpy)(κ²-dppe)(C^O)]⁺ ([7]⁺; C^O = anionic bidentate [C(OMe)CHC(Ph)O]⁻ chelate) was obtained as the only product in the reaction between 2 and phenyl ynone HC≡C(C=O)Ph in MeOH, replacing 2 with 1 led to the formation of both methoxy-substituted ruthenafuran [Ru(bpy)(κ²-dppm)(C^O)]⁺ ([4]⁺) and phosphonium-ring-fused bicyclic ruthenafuran [Ru(bpy)(P^C^O)Cl]⁺ ([5]⁺; P^C^O = neutral tridentate [(Ph)₂PCH₂P(Ph)₂CCHC(Ph)O] chelate). All of these aforementioned metallafuran complexes were derived from Ru(II)–vinylidene intermediates. The potential applications of these metallafuran complexes as anticancer agents were evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity studies against cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cancer cell line. All the ruthenafuran complexes were found to be one order of magnitude more cytotoxic than cisplatin, which is one of the metal-based anticancer agents being widely used currently.     

Yangian symmetry in deformed WZNW models on squashed spheres

We introduce a deformation of the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model with three-dimensional squashed sphere target space. We show how with an appropriate choice of Wess-Zumino and boundary terms it is possible to construct an infinite family of conserved charges realizing an SU(2) Yangian. Finally we discuss the running of the squashing parameter under renormalization group flow.     

Catalytic Direct‐Type Addition Reactions of Alkylarenes with Imines and Alkenes

Catalytic addition reactions of very weakly acidic nonactivated alkylarenes such as toluene and its derivatives were developed by using a strongly basic mixed catalyst system under mild reaction conditions. The addition reactions with imines and alkenes proceeded smoothly under proton‐transfer conditions to afford the desired products in good to high yields, and high levels of regio‐ and stereoselectivity were achieved. It was also revealed that the asymmetric addition reaction of an alkylarene was possible.     

Lagrangian-Eulerian micromotion and wave heating in nonlinear self-excited dust-acoustic waves

We investigate particle-wave microdynamics in the large amplitude self-excited dust acoustic wave at the discrete level through direct visualization. The wave field induces dust oscillations which in turn sustain wave propagation. In the regular wave with increasing wave amplitude, dust-wave interaction with uncertain temporary crest trapping and dust-dust interaction lead to the transition from cyclic to disordered dust motion associated with the liquid to the gas transition, and anisotropic non-Gaussian heating. In the irregular wave, particle trough-trapping is also observed, and the heating is nearly Gaussian and less anisotropic.