Synthesis of phenanthroimidazole-based four coordinate organoboron compounds

The synthesis of N,C-coordinated organoboron compounds (B1-B4) based on phenanthroimidazole described. All the compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the compounds B1 and B3 revealed that the vicinity around the boron atom adopts tetrahedral geometry. Except compound B4, other organoboron compounds (B1-B3) does not show solvatochromism. All our newly synthesized organoboron compounds exhibited moderate to good solution state quantum yields (0.07–0.88) and moderate solid state quantum yields.     

Zeolite‐Supported One‐Pot Synthesis of Bis‐azetidinones under Microwave Irradiation

In an attempt to synthesize antibacterial agents effective against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, the efficient synthesis of novel bis‐azetidinones ( 3a–j ) has been established. Thus, cycloaddition reaction of substituted bis‐imines with chloroacetylchloride under microwave irradiation in the presence of zeolite yielded bis‐azetidinones ( 3a–j ). Structures of the synthesized compounds have been elucidated on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra). The synthesized bis‐azetidinones were screened for their antibacterial activity against five microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. They were found to exhibit good to moderate antibacterial activity.     

Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo antitumor/anticancer activity of novel O-Mannich bases of 4,6-diaryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones

A new series of [4,6 substituted diaryl-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl-oxymethyl]-amines 5a–o have been synthesized by the Mannich condensation on the respective 4,6-diaryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones 4, in basic medium using formaldehyde along with three secondary amines, viz., dimethylamine, piperidine and morpholine. The dihydropyrimidinones 4 in turn were synthesized by the cyclocondensation of chalcones 3 with urea. Alternatively, compounds 4 were also prepared directly by one-pot 3-component cyclocondensation reaction starting from acetophenone, benzaldehyde and urea. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by their spectral and analytical data. All the O-Mannich bases 5 have been evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic and antitumor activities, and based on the results, the potent compounds were selected for in vivo activity, as well. Only one compound 5m of the series has been found to be relatively more effective.     

New Helical Folds in α‐Peptides with Alternating Chirality

In α‐peptides, the 8/10 helix is theoretically predicted to be energetically unstable and has not been experimentally observed so far. Based on our earlier studies on ‘helical induction’ and ‘hybrid helices’, we have adopted the ‘end‐capping’ strategy to induce the 8/10 helix in α‐peptides by using short α/β‐peptides. Thus, α‐peptides containing a regular string of α‐amino acids with alternating chirality were end capped by α/β‐peptides with 11/9‐helical motifs at the termini. Extensive NMR spectroscopy studies of these peptides revealed the presence of a hitherto unknown 8/10‐helical pattern; the H‐bonds in the shorter pseudorings were rather weak. The approach of using short helical motifs to induce new mixed helices in α‐peptides could provide avenues for more versatile design strategies.     

Triply bridged (1,3,5) cyclophanes from cystine and lanthionine linkers—a comparison

The condensation of benzene 1,3,5-tricarbonylchloride with cystine-di-Me [H₂N-CH(COOMe)-CH₂-S-S-CH₂-CH(COOMe)-NH₂] yielded triply bridged (1,3,5) cyclophane 1, which was shown by detailed spectral studies and molecular orbital calculations to have a D₃ symmetry with conformationally identical linkers and a spherical topology. In sharp contrast, the (1,3,5) cyclophane 2 from the rarely studied lanthionine di-Me [H₂N-CH(COOMe)-CH₂-S-CH₂-CH(COOMe)-NH₂], showed only a equatorial twofold symmetry. This work highlights the special properties of the -S-S- bridge in cystine, which makes it an exceptional synthon in nature and organic synthesis.     

Low temperature thermoelectric properties of Cu intercalated TiSe2: a charge density wave material

Y₂O₃ nanoparticles and nanorods have been firstly synthesized in bulk Ti-Y films prepared by magnetron sputtering on Si (100) substrates at different temperatures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) are used to characterize the structure, morphology, and composition of the as-synthesized nanoparticles and nanorods. The mechanical properties of the sputtered films are investigated using nanoindentation techniques. The results indicate that both the nanoparticles and nanorods have a pure cubic Y₂O₃ structure resulting from the reaction of Y atoms with the residual O₂ in the vacuum chamber, and are free from defects and dislocations with uniform diameters of about 30 nm. The Y₂O₃ nanoparticles mainly distribute at the grain boundaries of the Ti matrix and the nanorods have lengths ranging from 250 nm to more than 1 μm with the growth direction parallel to the (002) plane. As the growth temperature elevates, the nanoparticles turn to be coarsening while more and longer nanorods are inclined to form. Compared with the Ti film, the TiY films have a remarkable increase in hardness, but do not exhibit expected increase in elastic modulus. Finally, the growth mechanism is also briefly discussed.     

Copper(I) iodide–catalyzed amidation of phenylboronic acids/aryl bromides using 4-dimethylaminopyridine as ligand

An efficient one-pot synthesis of N-arylbenzamide is described via reaction of phenylboronic acid/aryl bromide with benzamide in the presence of CuI (5 mol%) as catalyst, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (20 mol%) as the ligand, and Cs₂CO₃ (2 mmol) as the base. This protocol was applied to synthesize a small library of N-arylbenzamide in high yields.     

The HETTAP approach: self-assembly and metal ion sensing of dumbbell-shaped molecules and clip molecules

The pentacoordinated terpyridine-phenanthroline zinc(II) complex motif, conceived along the HETTAP concept, allows the preparation of a set of multicomponent supramolecular dumbbell and clip assemblies from various bisterpyridines. All assemblies show a notable luminescence at 350-400 nm. The formation of dumbbell [Zn2(1b)2(2b)]4+ is convincingly demonstrated from the X-ray crystal structure analysis. Both dumbbell [Zn2(1b)2(2b)]4+ and clip [Zn2(1d)(2b)]4+ allow the monitoring of Hg2+ ions due to highly selective quenching of the emission that is driven by a Zn2+ --> Hg2+ exchange process, while the more-strained clip [Zn2(1d)(2c)]4+ does not undergo such metal exchange and does not show quenching of the luminescence. Consequently, these assemblies exhibit a highly selective response due solely to supramolecular effects.