Structural and biological investigation of ferrocene-substituted 3-methylidene-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones

The Knoevenagel condensation of 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one with ferrocene carboxaldehyde afforded an approximate 2:1 mixture of the geometrical isomers (E)- and (Z)-3-ferrocenylmethylidene-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one respectively in an overall 67% yield; the air and solution-stable isomers were readily separated by preparative thin layer chromatography and their structures were unequivocally elucidated in solution, by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and in the solid phase, by X-ray crystallography; both isomers of displayed in vitro toxicity against B16 melanoma and Vero cell lines in the micromolar range and inhibited the kinase VEGFR-2 with IC(50) values of ca. 200 nM.

Synthesis of a 1,4-benzodiazepine containing palladacycle with in vitro anticancer and cathepsin B activity

The reaction of the five-membered C,N-palladacycle [(L)PdCl](2), where LH = 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one, with 1,2-ethanebis(diphenylphosphine), dppe, leads to the formation of the bridged palladacycle. [Pd(2)L(2)(mu-dppe)Cl(2)] 3, which was characterised in solution by (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. Complex 3 was tested in vitro against a number of cell lines. For example, it inhibited K562 leukaemia cells with an IC(50) value of 4.3 microM (1 h exposure) and displayed cathepsin B inhibitory action with an IC(50) value of 3 microM.

Metaphors and metamorphoses: narratives of identity during times of crisis

The narrative of transformative crisis appears in both autobiographical and fictional accounts of individual lives; it typically involves a difficult or traumatic episode and a period of self-questioning out of which a person emerges more able and more emotionally mature than before (Booker, 2005; Erikson, 1968; Tedeschi and Calhoun, 1995). The present study used interviews to elicit 22 narratives about crises experienced between the ages of 25 and 40, and about any developmental transformation and change that surrounded these crises. Analysis revealed a common four-phase process to the crisis episodes, common metaphors and recurrent descriptions of identity metamorphosis, ie. of ‘becoming a new person’. Comparison of these findings with theory on fictional plots shows a clear parallel between the four-phase process of crisis found in the current study and the ‘rebirth’ plot described by Booker (2005). The theoretical significance of these findings and interpretations is discussed.

A case study of pre-midlife crisis: an extraordinary transformational episode in an ordinary life

This case study explored a single in-depth narrative of an episode of crisis. The participant, an English Jewish man in his late thirties (Guy), was selected using a ‘random purposeful’ design from a sample who had previously participated in a study on the experience of crisis in pre-midlife adulthood. From a subgroup of participants chosen for giving full accounts of both inner and outer dimensions of crisis, the individual was selected randomly. Data collection comprised two interviews followed by an email discussion. The crisis occurred in Guy’s late thirties, just before the midlife transition, and so can be considered a ‘pre-midlife’ crisis. It subsumed the period surrounding leaving a high-profile banking career and a dysfunctional marriage, and the ensuing attempts to rebuild life after this difficult and emotional period. Qualitative analysis found four trajectories of personal transformation over the course of the episode: Firstly there was a shift away from the use of a conventional persona to a more spontaneous and ‘authentic’ expression of self; secondly there was a move away from materialistic values toward relational values; thirdly a developing capacity to reflect on himself and his actions; fourthly an emerging feminine component of his personality. The case study portrays an extraordinary event in the life of an ordinary man approaching middle age. It illustrates the transformative nature of crisis in ordinary lives, the dramatic nature of narrative surrounding crisis, and also illustrates existing theory about the nature of adult crises.

On "fitting in": the effects of social context and gender on big 5 trait expression.

[This is a summary of an Oral Presentation] The study explored the expression of Big 5 personality traits in three different social contexts (with parents friends and work colleagues) to test the prediction that personality is socially variable due to the motivation to ‘fit in’. The questionnaire-based method produced results that support this hypothesis; all Big 5 traits were significantly variable across contexts with Conscientiousness the least variable and Extraversion possessiveness. The results indicated that females reported being more distressed than males and older respondents reported being less distressed then younger respondents. The findings from this study contribute to the literature on online infidelity in terms of understanding differences in the way it is perceived.

Synthesis and enzymatic evaluation of the guanosine analogue 2-amino-6-mercapto-7-methylpurine ribonucleoside (MESG): insights into the phosphorolysis reaction mechanism based on the blueprint transition state: SN1 or SN2?

A modified experimental procedure for the synthesis of MESG (2-amino-6-mercapto-7-methylpurine ribonucleoside) 1 has been successfully performed and its full characterization is presented. High resolution ESI(+)-MSMS indicates both the nucleoside bond cleavage as the main fragmentation in the gas phase and a possible SN1 mechanism. Ab initio transition state calculations based on the blue print transition state support this mechanistic rationale and discard an alternative SN2 mechanism. Assays using purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) enzyme (human and M. tuberculosis sources) indicate its efficiency in the phosphorolysis of MESG and allow the quantitative determination of inorganic phosphate in real time assay.

Excellent correlation between cathepsin B inhibition and cytotoxicity for a series of palladacycles

The reaction of the five- or six-membered C,N or C,S-palladacycles [(L)PdCl](2) with PTA (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) led to the monomeric complexes [(L)Pd(PTA)Cl] 6a, 6b and 7 where LH= N,N-dimethyl-1-phenylmethanamine, benzyl(methyl)sulfane or 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-one respectively. Dimeric complexes have also been synthesised: [Pd(2)L(2)(mu-dppe)Cl(2)], where LH = 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-one (1a), (R)- or (S)-3-isopropyl-1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-one (1b, 1c), [Pd(2)L(2)(mu-dppf)Cl(2)], where L= 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-one (4a) or (R)-3-isopropyl-1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-one (4b), respectively, and dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene. The complexes were characterised in solution, by (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and single crystals of complexes 6b and 7 were studied in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The palladacycles were evaluated for in vitro activity as cytotoxic agents on A2780/S cells and also as cathepsin B inhibitors, an enzyme implicated in a number of cancer related events.

Seven 3-methylidene-1H-indol-2(3H)-ones related to the multiple-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib

The solid-state structures of a series of seven substituted 3-methylidene-1H-indol-2(3H)-one derivatives have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and are compared in detail. Six of the structures {(3Z)-3-(1H-pyrrol-2- ylmethylidene)-1H-indol-2(3H)-one, C13H10N2O, (2a); (3Z)-3-( 2-thienylmethylidene)-1H-indol-2(3H)-one, C13H9NOS, (2b); (3E)-3-(2-furylmethylidene)-1H-indol-2(3H)-one monohydrate, C13H9NO2 center dot H2O, (3a); 3-(1-methylethylidene)-1H-indol- 2(3H)-one, C11H11NO, (4a); 3-cyclohexylidene-1H-indol- 2(3H)-one, C14H15NO, (4c); and spiro[1,3-dioxane-2,3'-indolin]- 2'-one, C11H11NO3, (5)} display, as expected, intermolecular hydrogen bonding (N-H center dot center dot center dot O=C) between the 1H-indol-2(3H)-one units. However, methyl 3-(1-methylethylidene)- 2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-1-carboxylate, C13H13NO3, (4b), a carbamate analogue of (4a) lacking an N-H bond, displays no intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The structure of (4a) contains three molecules in the asymmetric unit, while (4b) and (4c) both contain two independent molecules.

C-H activations on a 1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one template

Air stable benzodiazepine containing palladacycles were synthesized by a C-H activation reaction and studied by mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. Catalytic C-H functionalizations of 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one with diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate led to a mixture, which included the starting material and the expected product 1-methyl-5-(2'-biphenyl)-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Achiral, selective CCK2 receptor antagonists based on a 1,3,5-benzotriazepine-2,4-dione template

Novel, achiral 1H-1,3,5-benzotriazepine-2,4(3H,5H)-diones have been prepared and structurally characterized. These compounds are potent CCK2 receptor antagonists that display a high degree of selectivity over CCK1 receptors.

Microwave mediated reduction of heterocycle and fluorine containing nitroaromatics with Mo(CO)(6) and DBU

Heterocycle containing nitroaromatics were reduced by Mo(CO)(6) and DBU in EtOH under microwave irradiation within 15 min. Under the same conditions, 4-fluoronitrobenzene was reduced to 4-fluoroaniline, whereas 2-chloro-1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene afforded a mixture of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline and 3-chloro-4-ethoxyaniline. The extent of the competing SNAr/reduction process could be influenced by the nature of the solvent, with t-BuOH the inert solvent of choice. The latter was used as solvent for SNAr/reductions of 2-chloro-1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene with S-nucleophiles to yield 3-chloro-4-mercaptoanilines. Crown Copyright (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

C-H activations via palladacycles

Summary: This chapter contains sections titled: * Introduction: CC Bond Formation via Cyclopalladation Reactions * Stoichiometric CH Activation Chemistry * Catalytic Chemistry * Arylations * Direct CH CH Coupling Reactions * Alkylations * Other Reactions * Conclusion * References