Ternary copper complexes for photocleavage of DNA by red light: direct evidence for sulfur-to-copper charge transfer and d-d band involvement

A new class of ternary copper(II) complexes of formulation [Cu(L(n)B](ClO(4)) (1-4), where HL(n) is a NSO-donor Schiff base (HL(1), HL(2)) and B is a NN-donor heterocyclic base viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), are prepared, structurally characterized, and their DNA binding and photocleavage activities studied in the presence of red light. Ternary complex [Cu(L(3))(phen)](ClO(4)) (5) containing an ONO-donor Schiff base and a binary complex [Cu(L(2))(2)] (6) are also prepared and structurally characterized for mechanistic investigations of the DNA cleavage reactions. While 1-4 have a square pyramidal (4 + 1) CuN(3)OS coordination geometry with the Schiff base bonded at the equatorial sites, 5 has a square pyramidal (4 + 1) geometry with CuN(3)O(2) coordination with the alcoholic oxygen at the axial site, and 6 has a square planar trans-CuN(2)O(2) geometry. Binding of the complexes 1-4 to calf thymus DNA shows the relative order: phen > dmp. Mechanistic investigations using distamycin reveal minor groove binding for the complexes. The phen complexes containing the Schiff base with a thiomethyl or thiophenyl moiety show red light induced photocleavage. The dmp complexes are essentially photonuclease inactive. Complexes 5 and 6 are cleavage inactive under similar photolytic conditions. A 10 microM solution of 1 displays a 72% cleavage of SC DNA (0.5 microg) on an exposure of 30 min using a 603 nm Nd:YAG pulsed laser (60 mJ/P) in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2). Significant cleavage of 1 is also observed at 694 nm using a Ruby laser. Complex 1 is cleavage inactive under argon or nitrogen atmosphere. It shows a more enhanced cleavage in pure oxygen than in air. Enhancement of cleavage in D(2)O and inhibition with sodium azide addition indicate the possibility of the formation of singlet oxygen as a reactive intermediate leading to DNA cleavage. The d-d band excitation with red light shows significant enhancement of cleavage yield. The results indicate that the phen ligand is necessary for DNA binding of the complex. Both the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band and copper d-d band excitations helped the DNA cleavage. While the absorption of a red photon induces a metal d-d transition, excitation at shorter visible wavelengths leads to the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band excitation at the initial step of photocleavage. The excitation energy is subsequently transferred to ground state oxygen molecules to produce singlet oxygen that cleaves the DNA.     

Oxidations with IBX: benzyl halides to carbonyl compounds, and the one-pot conversion of olefins to 1,2-diketones

A variety of benzyl halides were converted to the corresponding aldehydes/ketones in respectable yields by IBX in DMSO at 65 °C. The bromohydrin reaction of olefins using NBS-H₂O in DMSO can be nicely adapted to IBX-mediated oxidation of benzyl halides in such a way that olefins are converted to the corresponding 1,2-diketones in good isolated yields in one-pot.     

Kinetics of Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate initiated by AIBN in the Presence of Acetophenone

The present investigation aims at estimating the retarding effect of acetophenone in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by α,α' -azobisisobutyronitrile in the temperature range of 50 to 80°C. The results are interpreted in terms of Tüdös kinetic parameter (β). The effects of varying concentrations of substrate, monomer, initiator, and salts have been investigated. A suitable reaction scheme and rate expression have been suggested on the basis of the experimental findings, and another kinetic parameter (K) to represent the reactivity of acetophenones toward the polymer radical has been obtained graphically.     

An expedient protocol for conversion of olefins to α-bromo/iodoketones using IBX and NBS/NIS

A variety of olefins have been shown to undergo conversion to the corresponding α-bromo/iodoketones when reacted with NBS/NIS and IBX in DMSO at room temperature. While the reaction is found to occur rapidly with e-rich arylolefins leading to the corresponding haloketones in 65-95% yields in 0.3-3.0 h, those containing e-withdrawing groups are found to yield diketones concomitantly, such that the latter are the exclusive products over extended duration of the reactions.     

Multi-functional architectures supported on organostannoxane scaffolds

Organostannoxane cages and aggregates of well-defined composition and structure can be prepared by the reactions of organotin oxides or organotin oxide-hydroxides with protic acids. The utility of this strategy for the preparation of dendrimer-like molecules containing a stannoxane core and a functional periphery is described.     

Gold nano-popcorn-based targeted diagnosis, nanotherapy treatment, and in situ monitoring of photothermal therapy response of prostate cancer cells using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among the American male population, and the cost of treating prostate cancer patients is about $10 billion/year in the United States. Current treatments are mostly ineffective against advanced-stage prostate cancer and are often associated with severe side effects. Driven by these factors, we report a multifunctional, nanotechnology-driven, gold nano-popcorn-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) assay for targeted sensing, nanotherapy treatment, and in situ monitoring of photothermal nanotherapy response during the therapy process. Our experimental data show that, in the presence of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, multifunctional popcorn-shaped gold nanoparticles form several hot spots and provide a significant enhancement of the Raman signal intensity by several orders of magnitude (2.5 × 10(9)). As a result, it can recognize human prostate cancer cells at the 50-cells level. Our results indicate that the localized heating that occurs during near-infrared irradiation can cause irreparable cellular damage to the prostate cancer cells. Our in situ time-dependent results demonstrate for the first time that, by monitoring SERS intensity changes, one can monitor photothermal nanotherapy response during the therapy process. Possible mechanisms and operating principles of our SERS assay are discussed. Ultimately, this nanotechnology-driven assay could have enormous potential applications in rapid, on-site targeted sensing, nanotherapy treatment, and monitoring of the nanotherapy process, which are critical to providing effective treatment of cancer.     

Observing spin polarization of individual magnetic adatoms

We have used spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy to observe the spin polarization state of individual Fe and Cr atoms adsorbed onto Co nanoislands. These magnetic adatoms exhibit stationary out-of-plane spin polarization, but have opposite sign of the exchange coupling between electron states of the adatom and the Co island surface state: Fe adatoms exhibit parallel spin polarization to the Co surface state while Cr adatoms exhibit antiparallel spin polarization. First-principles calculations predict ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic alignment of the spin moment for individual Fe and Cr adatoms on a Co film, respectively, implying negative spin polarization for Fe and Cr adatoms over the energy range of the Co surface state.     

A label-free gold-nanoparticle-based SERS assay for direct cyanide detection at the parts-per-trillion level

Cyanide is an extremely toxic lethal poison known to humankind. Developing rapid, highly sensitive, and selective detection of cyanide from water samples is extremely essential for human life safety. Driven by the need, here we report a gold-nanoparticle-based label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) system for highly toxic cyanide ion recognition in parts-per-trillion level and to examine gold-nanoparticle-cyanide interaction. We have shown that the SERS assay can be used to probe the gold nanoparticle dissociation process in the presence of cyanide ions. Our experimental data indicates that gold-nanoparticle-based SERS can detect cyanide from a water sample at the 110 ppt level with excellent discrimination against other common anions and cations. The results also show that the SERS probe can be used to detect cyanide from environmental samples.     

Iteration of certain exponential-like meromorphic functions

The dynamics of functions \(f_\lambda (z)= \lambda \frac{\mathrm{e}^{z}}{z+1}\ \text{ for }\ z\in \mathbb {C}, \lambda >0\) is studied showing that there exists \(\lambda ^* > 0\) such that the Julia set of \(f_\lambda \) is disconnected for \(0< \lambda < \lambda ^*\) whereas it is the whole Riemann sphere for \(\lambda > \lambda ^*\). Further, for \(0< \lambda < \lambda ^*\), the Julia set is a disjoint union of two topologically and dynamically distinct completely invariant subsets, one of which is totally disconnected. The union of the escaping set and the backward orbit of \(\infty \) is shown to be disconnected for \(0<\lambda < \lambda ^*\) whereas it is connected for \(\lambda > \lambda ^*\). For complex \(\lambda \), it is proved that either all multiply connected Fatou components ultimately land on an attracting or parabolic domain containing the omitted value of the function or the Julia set is connected. In the latter case, the Fatou set can be empty or consists of Siegel disks. All these possibilities are shown to occur for suitable parameters. Meromorphic functions \(E_n(z) =\mathrm{e}^{z}(1+z+\frac{z^2}{2!}+\cdots +\frac{z^n}{n!})^{-1}\), which we call exponential-like, are studied as a generalization of \(f(z)=\frac{\mathrm{e}^{z}}{z+1}\) which is nothing but \(E_1(z)\). This name is justified by showing that \(E_n\) has an omitted value 0 and there are no other finite singular value. In fact, it is shown that there is only one singularity over 0 as well as over \(\infty \) and both are direct. Non-existence of Herman rings are proved for \(\lambda E_n \).     

Thermodynamic functions of thorium–cerium mixed oxides

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Thorium–cerium mixed oxides (Th1?xCex)O2 (x?=?0.25, 0.5, 0.75) were prepared by the citrate gel combustion technique. X-ray...