Oxo-rhenium(V) complexes with bidentate phosphine ligands: synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic potentiality in epoxidation of olefins using hydrogen peroxide activated bicarbonate as oxidant

Two oxorhenium(V) complexes with bidentate phosphine ligands were synthesized and isolated as [ReOCl3(dppm)] 1 and [ReOCl3(dppp)] 2 [where dppm = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino) methane and dppp = 1.3-bis(diphenylphosphino) propanel. Complex 2 was structurally characterized. Both the complexes were used as catalysts in the epoxidation of olefins using NaHCO3 as co-catalyst and H2O2 as terminal oxidant. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The syntheses, structures and redox properties of phosphine-gold(I) and triruthenium-carbonyl cluster derivatives of tolans

The syntheses of several ethynyl-gold(I) phosphine substituted tolans (1,2-diaryl acetylenes) of general form [Au(C=CC6H4C=CC6H4X)(PPh3)] are described [X = Me (2a), OMe (2b), CO2Me (2c), NO2 (2d), CN (2e)]. These complexes react readily with [Ru-3(CO) 10(mu-dppm)] to give the heterometallic clusters [Ru3(mu-AuPPh3)(mu-eta(1), eta(2)-C2C6H4C, CC6H4X)(CO)(7)(mu-dppm)] (3a-e). The crystallographically determined molecular structures of 2b, 2d, 2e and 3a-e are reported here, that of 2a having been described on a previous occasion. Structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies were conducted and have revealed little electronic interaction between the remote substituent and the organometallic end-caps. (C) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Proteomic analysis of arginine adducts on glyoxal-modified ribonuclease

Accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on proteins is associated with the development of diabetic complications. Although the overall extent of modification of protein by AGEs is limited, localization of these modifications at a few critical sites might have a significant effect on protein structure and function. In the present study, we describe the sites of modification of RNase by glyoxal under physiological conditions. Arg(39) and Arg(85), which are closest to the active site of the enzyme, were identified as the primary sites of formation of the glyoxal-derived dihydroxyimidazolidine and hydroimidazolone adducts. Lower amounts of modification were detected at Arg(10), while Arg(33) appeared to be unmodified. We conclude that dihydroxyimidazolidine adducts are the primary products of modification of protein by glyoxal, that Arg(39) and Arg(85) are the primary sites of modification of RNase by glyoxal, and that modification of arginine residues during Maillard reactions of proteins is a highly selective process.

Configurational preferences of two 1,2-diamine adducts of bis(1-(2-thienyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butanedionato)cobalt(II)

The preparation, the IR and ligand field spectra and the structures of the mixed-ligand addition compounds [(N,N-dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane)bis(1-(2-thienyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butanedionato)cobalt(II)], [Co(thtf)2me2en], and [(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,2-diaminoethane)bis(1-(2-thienyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butanedionato)cobalt(II)], [Co(thtf)2me4en], are reported. The structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (monoclinic, space group P21/c, Z=4 with a=10.708(6), b=19.531(6), c=13.352(6) Å, β=111.64(10)°, R1=0.0642 and wR2=0.1719 for [Co(thtf)2(me2en)] and a=12.033(6), b=15.565(6), c=15.339(6) Å, β=92.57(6)°, R1=0.0612 and wR2=0.1504 for [Co(thtf)2me4en]). The structures are distorted octahedral and the shortest cobalt–cobalt separation distances are 5.388(2) Å in [Co(thtf)2me2en] and 8.675(3) Å in [Co(thtf)2me4en]. In both compounds the diamine molecules attain the gauche conformation. The U(Z,Z) conformation of the β-dione leads to a semi-chair conformation of the β-dionato chelate rings. The relative orientation of the groups attached to the β-dionato moiety depends on the extent of stereoelectronic effects the N-substitution of the diamine entails. In [Co(thtf)2me2en] the intraligand distance separating the trifluoromethyl carbon atoms is 5.281(18) Å while in [Co(thtf)2me2en] it increases to 8.338(9) Å. The cobalt–cobalt separation distance, the orientation of the chelate rings and the extent of N-substitution seem to affect hydrogen bonding. While in [Co(thtf)2me2en] inter- and intraligand hydrogen bonding is implicated, it is totally absent in [Co(thtf)2me4en].

Anticancer activity of organotin compounds. 2. Interaction of diorganotin dihalides with nucleic acid bases and nucleosides; the synthesis of adenine, adenosine and 9-methyladenine adducts

The syntheses of the complexes formulated as SnMe2Cl2(Ad)2 (I), SnMe2Cl2(Ado)2 (II), SnMe2Cl2- (9-MeAd)2 (III) [Ad = adenine, Ado = adenosine, 9-MeAd = 9-methyladenine] as well as the more unexpected SnPhCl2(OH)(Ad)2·3H2O (IV) and SnPhCl3(Ado)2 (V) by reaction of SnMe2Cl2 or SnPh2Cl2 with the appropriate bases in methanol is described. 1H NMR studies suggest that coordination is through the N-7 position of the adenine base.

Unsaturated σ-hydrocarbyl transition-metal complexes. Part 2. Synthesis and reactions of vinylplatinum complexes and a comparison with analogous fluorovinyl and alkynyl complexes

Alkenyl (CHCH2 or CFCF2) or alkynyl (CCPh) derivatives of trimethyltin are shown to be superior to lithium or magnesium reagents for the synthesis of corresponding mono-organoplatinum(II) species by metathesis (L = SnMe3R +cis-[PtCl2L2]→trans-[PtRClL2]+ SnMe3Cl tertiary phosphine). The reactivity order for SnMe3R is R = CCPh > CFCF2 > CHCH2. This order is also found for oxidative addition of SnMe3R to Pt0 to give cis-[PtRL2(SnMe3)]. When the latter complex (R = CHCH2) reacts with X2 or MeX further oxidative addition occurs exclusively at the platinum centre. Aromatic isonitriles (R′NC)co-ordinate to the platinum and give insertion products trans-[Pt{C(CHCH2)= NR′}ClL2] on heating or carbene complexes with NBunH2. The alkynyl trans-[Pt(CCPh)ClL2] also forms 1 :1 adducts with R′NC and carbene complexes therefrom, but no insertion products. Spectroscopic data for the new complexes are presented.

Following the creation of active gold nanocatalysts from phosphine-stabilized molecular clusters

The phosphine-stabilised gold cluster [Au6(Ph2P-o-tolyl)6](NO3)2 is converted into an active nanocatalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol through low-temperature peroxide-assisted removal of the phosphines, avoiding the high-temperature calcination process. The process was monitored using in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which revealed that after a certain period of the reaction with tertiary butyl hydrogen peroxide, the phosphine ligands are removed to form nanoparticles of gold which matches with the induction period seen in the catalytic reaction. Density functional theory calculations show that the energies required to remove the ligands from the [Au6Ln]2+ increase significantly with successive removal steps, suggesting that the process does not occur at once but sequentially. The calculations also reveal that ligand removal is accompanied by dramatic re-arrangements in the topology of the cluster core.

Tagged phosphine reagents to assist reaction work-up by phase-switched scavenging using a modular flow reactor

The use of three orthogonally tagged phosphine reagents to assist chemical work-up via phase-switch scavenging in conjunction with a modular flow reactor is described. These techniques (acidic, basic and Click chemistry) are used to prepare various amides and tri-substituted guanidines from in situ generated iminophosphoranes.

The cytoprotective effect of alpha-tocopherol and daidzein against d-galactosamine-induced oxidative damage in the rat liver

We hypothesized that the hepatotoxicity that develops after the induction of oxidative stress (induced by d-galactosamine [GalN]) can be ameliorated by alpha-tocopherol (ATC) and the soy isoflavone daidzein. To test this, we ranked and assigned male Wistar rats into 6 groups, which involved pretreatment (ATC or daidzein) for 1 hour followed by treatment (GalN) for 23 hours. Histopathologic analysis showed that GalN administration induced marked necrosis (P < .001), steatosis (P < .001), both lobular and portal inflammations (P < .001), overall histopathologic score (P < .001), and activation of caspase-3 in the liver (P < .001). Immunohistochemical staining of malondialdehyde-protein adducts, a measure of oxidative stress, was increased in response to GalN (P < .001). Paradoxically, there were increases in total (P < .05) and cytosolic superoxide dismutase (P < .001) activities after GalN administration, indicative of an up-regulation of antioxidant defenses. The concentration of total protein (P < .001), albumin (P < .01), and globulin fractions (P < .001) in the plasma, as well as the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (P < .001), was significantly perturbed after GalN treatment, reflective of overall acute hepatic injury. Administration of daidzein showed a significant amelioration of the Ga1N-induced increase in malondialdehyde-protein adducts (P < .01) and cytosolic superoxide dismutase activities (P < .01) in the liver. However, all other variables were not significantly altered in response to daidzein. In response to ATC pretreatment, the total histopathologic score (P < .05), degree of necrosis (P < .05), and both lobular (P < .05) and portal (P = .05) inflammations were significantly ameliorated. To conclude, both daidzein and ATC protect the liver against oxidative damage possibly via different pathways.

Use of essential and molecular dynamics to study gamma B-crystallin unfolding after non-enzymic post-translational modifications

Essential and Molecular Dynamics (ED/MD) have been used to model the conformational changes of a protein implicated in a conformational disease-cataract, the largest cause of blindness in the world-after non-enzymic post-translational modification. Cyanate modification did not significantly alter flexibility, while the Schiff's base adduct produced a more flexible N-terminal domain, and intra-secondary structure regions, than either the cyanate adduct or the native structure. Glycation also increased linker flexibility and disrupted the charge network. A number of post-translational adducts showed structural disruption around Cys15 and increased linker flexibility; this may be important in subsequent protein aggregation. Our modelling results are in accord with experimental evidence, and show that ED/MD is a useful tool in modelling conformational changes in proteins implicated in disease processes. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Ozonides with Improved Plant Growth Regulatory Activity

The iron oxyallyl carbocation generated from 2,7-dibromocycloheptanone was induced to undergo [4 + 3] cycloaddition reactions with various furans, affording a series of 12-oxatricyclo-[4.4.1.1(2,5)]-dodec-3-en-11-one adducts. Similar methodology was used to prepare two additional cycloadducts using menthofuran and two homologous aliphatic dibromoketones. Dipolar cycloaddition of ozone to the adducts afforded the corresponding secondary ozonides (i.e., 1,2,4-trioxolanes) in variable yields. Ozonides were investigated by quantum mechanics at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level to study structural features including close contacts which may be responsible for enhancing ozonide stability. The effect of these ozonides and their corresponding precursor cycloadducts upon radicle growth of both Sorghum bicolor and Cucumis sativus was evaluated at 5.0 x 10(-4) mol L-1. The most active cycloadducts and ozonides were also evaluated against the weed species Ipomoea grandifolia and Brachiaria decumbens, and the results are discussed. Compared to ozonides previously synthesized in our laboratory, the new ozonides described herein present improved plant growth regulatory activity.

UV absorption spectra of methyl-substituted hydroxy-cyclohexadienyl radicals in the gas phase

UV absorption spectra of five methyl-substituted hydroxy-cyclohexadienyl radicals, formed by the addition of the hydroxyl radical (OH) to toluene (methyl benzene), o-, m- and p-xylene (1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-dimethyl benzene, respectively) and mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene), have been determined at 298 K, 1 atm pressure (N-2 + O-2), and the corresponding absolute absorption cross-sections measured, using laser flash photolysis and time-resolved UV absorption detection. As observed for other cyclohexadienyl-type radicals, a strong absorption band is present in the 260-340 nm spectral region, with maximum cross-sections in the range (0.9-2.2) x 10(-17) cm(2) molecule(-1). The shape of the band varies significantly from one radical to the next for the series of aromatic precursors investigated. The nature and yields of hydroxylated ring-retaining oxidation products, identified in previous studies of the OH-initiated oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, and the results of theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that one or more possible isomers of the various OH-adducts may contribute to the observed spectra. Isomers where the OH-group is ortho- (or both ortho- and ipso-) to a substituent methyl-group are likely to be the most abundant but other isomers may also be formed to a significant extent. Nonetheless, the present study provides absorption spectra of the adduct radicals formed from the gas phase addition of OH to the aromatic hydrocarbons considered, near room temperature and I atm pressure. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of multicarboxylic acid appended imidazolium ionic liquids and their application in palladium-catalyzed selective oxidation of styrene

A series of multicarboxylic acid appended imidazolium ionic liquids ( McaILs) with chloride [ Cl](-) or bromide [ Br](-) as anions have been synthesized and characterized. Deprotonation of these ionic acids gives the corresponding zwitterions. Re-protonation of the zwitterions with strong Bronsted acids gives a series of new ionic acid-adducts, many of which remained as room-temperature ionic liquids. A new catalytic system, McaIL/PdCl2 for the selective catalytic oxidation of styrene to acetophenone with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant has been attempted. In the presence of McaILs, it is found that the quantity of palladium chloride PdCl2 used can be greatly reduced while the activity ( TOF) and selectivity towards acetophenone are enhanced sharply. It is also shown that the catalytic properties of this system could be finely tuned through the molecular design of the McaILs. The best TOF value obtained so far is 146 h(-1) with 100% conversion of styrene at 93% selectivity to acetophenone. In addition, the catalytic activity has been maintained for at least ten catalytic cycles.

Synthesis of fused cyclic systems containing medium-sized rings through tandem ROM-RCM of norbornene derivatives embedded in a carbohydrate template

A general approach for the synthesis of fused cyclic systems containing medium-sized rings (7-9) has been developed. The key steps involve a diastereoface-selective Diels-Alder reaction of the dienophiles 4a-d attached to a furanosugar with cyclopentadiene and ring opening (ROM)-ring closing metathesis (RCM) of the resulting norbornene derivatives 10a-d and 11a-d. Diels-Alder reaction of the dienophiles 4a-d with cyclopentadiene in the absence of a catalyst produced 10a-d as the major product arising through addition of the diene to the unhindered Si-face. The most interesting and new aspect of the Diels-Alder reaction of these dienophiles is the accessibility of the Re-face that was blocked by the alkenyl chains under Lewis acid catalysis producing the diastereoisomers 11a-d exclusively. The reversal of facial selectivity from an uncatalyzed reaction to a catalyzed one is unprecedented. The observed stereochemical dichotomy is attributed to rotation of the enone moiety along the or bond linking the sugar moiety during formation of the chelate 13. This makes the Re-face of the enone moiety in 4a-d unhindered. Diels-Alder reaction of the carbocyclic analogue 15 under Lewis acid catalysis produced a 1: 1 mixture of the adducts 16 and 17 confirming the participation of sugar ring oxygen in chelate formation. Finally ROM-RCM of 10a-d and 11a-d with Grubbs' catalyst afforded the cis-syn-cis and cis-anti-cis bicyclo-annulated sugars 21a-d and 23a-d, respectively, containing 7-9 membered rings.

Inhibition of the formation of the neurotoxin 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine by polyphenols

The death of nigral neurons in Parkinson's disease is thought to involve the formation of the endogenous neurotoxin, 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine. In the present study, we show that the polyphenols, (+)-catechin and caffeic acid, which contain a catechol moiety, inhibit tyrosinase-induced formation of 5-S-eysteinyl-dopamine via their capacity to undergo tyro sina se-induced oxidation to yield cysteinyl-polyphenol adducts. In contrast, the inhibition afforded by the flavanone, hesperetin, was not accompanied by the formation of cysteinyl-hesperetin adducts, indicating that it may inhibit via direct interaction with tyrosinase. Whilst the stilbene resveratrol also inhibited 5-S-eysteinyl-dopamine formation, this was accompanied by the formation of dihydrobenzothiazine, a strong neurotoxin. Our data indicate that the inhibitory effects of polyphenols against 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine formation are structure-dependent and shed further light on the mechanisms by which polyphenols exert protection against neuronal injury relevant to neurodegenerative diseases. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.