Synthesis and study of N,N‐disubstituted 4‐[(4‐aminophenyl)diazenyl]benzylidene‐4′‐alkylanilines

A series of N,N‐disubstituted‐4‐[(4‐aminophenyl)diazenyl]benzylidene‐4′‐alkylanilines (azo dyes) were synthesized from the reaction of the corresponding benzaldehyde with alkylanilines. These azo dyes exhibit nematic and SmC phases on heating. Their order parameter, photo‐stability and miscibility were studied by investigation of a representative sample.     

Erratum to: Determination of metal ion content of beverages and estimation of target hazard quotients: a comparative study

This is a correction to the following paper: Hague T, Petroczi A, Andrews PR, Barker J, Naughton DP: Determination of metal ion content of beverages and estimation of target hazard quotients: a comparative study. Chem Central J 2008, 2:13.     

Characterization of Novel Aminobenzylcantharidinimides and Related Imides by Proton NMR Spectra and Their Effects on NO Induction

Various acidic anhydrides including cantharidin were converted into corresponding aminobenzylcantharidinimide 3a and analogous imides 3b～k (at the ortho, meta, and para positions) with 35%～87% yields by reacting with aminobenzylamines and triethylamine. The two methyl side chains of cantharidinimides 3ao , 3am , and 3ap, and related imides had more than two chiral centers; the lone pair of electrons of nitrogen displayed a different chemical shift and coupling constant in H‐NMR spectra when the amino group of benzylamine was in the ortho position. These cantharidinimides had parent aniline, pyridine, and naphthalene plane structures, and the primary amine nucleophilicity and basicity might reflect the inductive electron’s negative effect on chemical shifts. We prepared cantharidinimides by heating the reactants cantharidin 1a , aliphatic and aromatic acid anhydrides, primary benzylic amines, and aniline derivatives to ca. 200 °C with 3 mL of dry toluene, and 1～2 mL of triethylamine in high‐pressure sealed tubes (Buchi glasuster 0032) to produce cantharidinimides and their analogues in good yields. The para‐aminobenzylic imides showed greater inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by NO synthase (NOS) than did ortho‐ and meta‐aminobenzylic imides. Compound 3fp , para‐aminobenzylic norbonane‐imide, had the most potent effect on inducible NOS among the tested compounds and showed 35% inhibition.     

Growth behavior of CuPc films by physical vapor deposition

Various Cu‐phthalocyanine (CuPc) films were grown from physical vapor deposition on top of indium‐tin‐oxide glass substrates by controlling substrate temperature (T_sub), source temperature (T_sou), and growth time. From side‐view SEM pictures, the growth rates for these CuPc films are estimated and can be categorized into three regions. From the Arrhenius plot of growth rate versus 1/T_sub, the activation energy E_A can be obtained. As T_sou = 390 °C, for region (A) with T_sub < 140 °C, the growth of CuPc films is dominated by the adhesion process with E_A = 810 meV. For region (B) with 140 °C < T_sub < 320 °C, the growth is then limited by the steric character associated with the organic molecular solids with E_A = 740 meV. For region (C) with T_sub > 320 °C, the re‐evaporation of the CuPc adhered molecules from the interface becomes dominant. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

CD69 acts downstream of interferon-alpha/beta to inhibit S1P1 and lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs

Naive lymphocytes continually enter and exit lymphoid organs in a recirculation process that is essential for immune surveillance. During immune responses, the egress process can be shut down transiently. When this occurs locally it increases lymphocyte numbers in the responding lymphoid organ; when it occurs systemically it can lead to immunosuppression as a result of the depletion of recirculating lymphocytes. Several mediators of the innate immune system are known to cause shutdown, including interferon alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) and tumour necrosis factor, but the mechanism has been unclear. Here we show that treatment with the IFN-alpha/beta inducer polyinosine polycytidylic acid (hereafter 'poly(I:C)') inhibited egress by a mechanism that was partly lymphocyte-intrinsic. The transmembrane C-type lectin CD69 was rapidly induced and CD69-/- cells were poorly retained in lymphoid tissues after treatment with poly(I:C) or infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Lymphocyte egress requires sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1), and IFN-alpha/beta was found to inhibit lymphocyte responsiveness to S1P. By contrast, CD69-/- cells retained S1P1 function after exposure to IFN-alpha/beta. In coexpression experiments, CD69 inhibited S1P1 chemotactic function and led to downmodulation of S1P1. In a reporter assay, S1P1 crosslinking led to co-crosslinking and activation of a CD69-CD3zeta chimaera. CD69 co-immunoprecipitated with S1P1 but not the related receptor, S1P3. These observations indicate that CD69 forms a complex with and negatively regulates S1P1 and that it functions downstream of IFN-alpha/beta, and possibly other activating stimuli, to promote lymphocyte retention in lymphoid organs.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of Cyclohepta[b]indoles,Benzo[6,7]Cyclohepta[1,2‐b]Indoles,Indeno[1,2‐b]Indoles,and Benzo[a]Carbazoles

Synthesis and biological evaluation of various tricyclic and tetracyclic indoles are described. A number of these compounds possess in vitro activity against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HONE‐1) and gastric adenocarcinoma (NUGC‐3) cell lines.     

Determination of metal ion content of beverages and estimation of target hazard quotients: a comparative study

Background  

Considerable research has been directed towards the roles of metal ions in nutrition with metal ion toxicity attracting particular attention. The aim of this study is to measure the levels of metal ions found in selected beverages (red wine, stout and apple juice) and to determine their potential detrimental effects via calculation of the Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for 250 mL daily consumption.