Anticancer Profile of a Series of Gold(III) (2‐phenyl)pyridine Complexes

Six phosphorescent (2‐phenyl)pyridine (ppy) gold(III) 2,4,6‐tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl (FMes) complexes were synthesized and investigated for their anticancer potential. The compounds demonstrated strong antiproliferative activity, with EC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range, along with significant accumulation in HeLa cancer cells after treatment for only 6 h (up to 119 ng gold per milligram of protein as measured by high‐resolution continuum source atomic spectroscopy). Enzyme inhibition studies showed interaction of the gold(III) complexes with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a key homeostasis‐regulation flavoprotein. TrxR was inhibited with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. Furthermore, five of the complexes displayed selectivity toward TrxR against glutathione reductase (GR, a disulfide reductase structurally related to TrxR) by up to >49‐fold. Because no major differences in bioactivity were observed across the series, [(ppy)Au(FMes)(PPh₃)OTf] (complex 4 ) was chosen for further in‐depth biological characterization. Complex 4 was also found to interact with guanosine monophosphate in ¹H NMR studies under long incubation times. Interestingly, 4 induced a significant increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, which led to late apoptotic events and cytocidal effects.     

Low-Pressure Carbonylation of Benzyl Bromide with Palladium Complexes Modified with PNS (PNS = Ph2PCH2CH2C(O)NHC(CH3)2CH2SO3Li) or P(OPh)3. Structural Identification of Palladium-Catalyst Intermediate

The catalytic activities of two palladium complexes with water soluble phosphine PNS (PNS = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂C(O)NHC(CH₃)₂CH₂SO₃Li) (I) and phosphite P(OPh)₃ (II) were tested in the carbonylation of benzyl bromide in methanol at 40–50°C and 1 atm of CO. The first catalyst, (I), was formed in situ from PdCl₂(cod) and PNS, the second one, (II), was based on the PdCl₂(P(OPh)₃)₂ complex. At the ratio of [NEt₃]:[PhCH₂Br] equal to 2.5 the yields of phenylacetic acid methyl ester were 83–86% in the carbonylation with PNS and 100% in the carbonylation with P(OPh)₃. The palladium catalyst with P(OPh)₃ produced under the same conditions 70% of phenylacetic acid methyl ester in the carbonylation of benzyl chloride and 60% of 2-methylphenylacetic acid methyl ester in the carbonylation of 1-bromoethylbenzene. The lower rate of carbonylation of 1-bromoethylbenzyl bromide in comparison to that of benzyl bromide was explained by the lower rate of the substrate oxidative addition step leading to palladium benzyl complexes. Two palladium benzyl complexes, cis-PdBr(PhCH₂)(P(OPh)₃)₂ and trans-PdBr(PhCH(Me))(P(OPh)₃)₂ have been isolated and characterized (X-ray, ³¹P and ¹H NMR).     

Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–Scandium(III)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of 2‐Arylidene‐1,3‐diketones with Hydrogen Peroxide

The catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of 2‐arylidene‐1,3‐diketones using aqueous 30% H₂O₂ as oxidant has been successfully realized by a N,N′‐dioxide–scandium(III) triflate [Sc(OTf)₃] complex, giving the corresponding products in moderate to good yields (up to 85%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) under mild reaction conditions without extra additives.

     

Tris(acetylacetonato)rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed α‐Alkylation of Ketones, β‐Alkylation of Secondary Alcohols and Alkylation of Amines with Primary Alcohols

The tris(acetylacetonato)rhodium(III) catalyst is shown to be a versatile catalyst in the presence of DABCO (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) as ligand for the α‐alkylation of ketones followed by transfer hydrogenation, for the one‐pot β‐alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols and for the alkylation of aromatic amines in the presence of an inorganic base in toluene.     

Synergistic extraction of rare earths(III) from chloride medium with mixtures of 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐benzoyl‐pyrazalone‐5 and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐2‐ethylhexylphosphonate

The synergistic effect of 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐benzoyl‐pyrazalone‐5 (HPMBP, HA) and di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐2‐ethylhexylphosphonate (DEHEHP, B) in the extraction of rare earths (RE) from chloride solutions has been investigated. Under the experimental conditions used, there was no detectable extraction when DEHEHP was used as a single extractant while the amount of RE(III) extracted by HPMBP alone was also low. But mixtures of the two extractants at a certain ratio had very high extractability for all the RE(III). For example, the synergistic enhancement coefficient was calculated to be 9.35 for Y³⁺, and taking Yb³⁺ and Y³⁺ as examples, RE³⁺ is extracted as RE(OH)A₂.B. The stoichiometry, extraction constants and thermodynamic functions such as Gibbs free energy change ΔG (?17.06 kJ mol^?1), enthalpy change ΔH (?35.08 kJ mol^?1) and entropy change ΔS (?60.47 J K^?1 mol^?1) for Y³⁺ at 298 K were determined. The separation factors (SF) for adjacent pairs of rare earths were calculated. Studies show that the binary extraction system not only enhances the extraction efficiency of RE(III) but also improves the selectivity, especially between La(III) and the other rare earth elements. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diplatinum(III) [Cl2(μ2-amidinate)4] compound derived from air oxidation of mononuclear cis-[Pt(NH3)2(amidine-κ)2] complex

The dinuclear platinum(III) complex [Pt₂Cl₂{μ₂-N(H)C(Et)N(H)}₄] (2) has been prepared by heating cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂{NHC(NH₂)Et}₂](Cl)₂ (cis-1) under aeration conditions in an EtOH/H₂O mixture at 70 °C for 2 d and it was characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), ESI⁺-MS, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and also by X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 represents the second Pt^III dimer stabilized by the amidinate ligand ever known and it has a lantern-type structure with four amidinate ligands bridging two Pt^III centers with Pt–Pt distance of 2.4809(2) Å.     

Synthesis of Nano‐γ‐Ferric Oxide by Thermolysis of the 2‐Mercapto‐5‐Methylpyridine‐N‐Oxide‐Iron(III) Complex via Factorial Design

2‐Mercapto‐5‐methylpyridine‐N‐oxide (MMPNO) and its sodium salt (NaMMPNO) were synthesized. The reaction of the latter with Fe³⁺ generates Fe(MMPNO)₃ chelate. The thermolysis of this chelate at 350 °C yielded highly pure reddish‐brown γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanocrystallites with an average particle size of 6.2 nm, a particle size range of 4.2 to 14.8 nm, and a specific surface area of 51.5 m²g^–1. The thermolysis process was optimized using the 2² fractional design. Quantitative tests and characterization of products were carried out by UV‐vis spectroscopy, XRD, LLS, SEM, TGA, BET, TEM, FT‐IR, elemental microanalysis, and classical analytical measurements.     

Preparation and characterization of Pb(Lu1/2Nb1/2)O3–Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbTiO3 ternary ferroelectric ceramics with high phase transition temperatures

To explore new relaxor‐PbTiO₃ systems for high‐power and high‐temperature electromechanical applications, a ternary ferroelectric ceramic system of Pb(Lu_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃–Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃–PbTiO₃ (PLN–PIN–PT) have been investigated. The phase structure, dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of the as‐prepared PLN–PIN–PT ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) were characterized. A high rhombohedral‐tetragonal phase transition temperature T_R‐T of 165°C and a high Curie temperature T_C of 345°C, together with a good piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ of 420 pC/N, were obtained in 0.38PLN–0.20PIN–0.42PT ceramics. Furthermore, for (0.8?x)PLN–0.2PIN–xPT ceramics, the temperature‐dependent piezoelectric coefficients, coercive fields and electric‐field‐induced strains were further studied. At 175°C, their coercive fields were found to be above 9.5 kV/cm, which is higher than that of PMN–PT and soft P5H ceramics at room temperature, indicating PLN–PIN–PT ceramics to be one of the promising candidates in piezoelectric applications under high‐driven fields. The results presented here could benefit the development of relaxor‐PbTiO₃ with enhanced phase transition temperatures and coercive fields.     

Iron(III) Chloride‐Catalyzed Tandem Aza‐Prins/Friedel–Crafts Cyclization of 2‐Arylethyl‐2,3‐butadienyl Tosylamides and Aldehydes‐An Efficient Synthesis of Benzo[f]isoquinolines

An efficient approach for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexahydrobenzo[f]isoquinolines via a tandem aza‐Prins/Friedel–Crafts cyclization from 2‐arylethyl‐2,3‐butadienyl tosylamides and aldehydes has been developed. This iron(III) chloride‐catalyzed cascade cyclization at the room temperature with different types of aldehydes, such as aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, alkyl aldehydes, and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, affords the products in moderate to excellent yields (up to 97 %). In this reaction, chlorotrimethylsilane was applied to activate the aldehydes. The cheap catalyst, the mild reaction conditions, and the broad scope of the substrates make this method highly useful.

     

High Qm values and humidity effect on the electrical properties of (K,Na)NbO3 lead‐free piezoceramics doped with B2O3–CuO mixed oxides

To greatly enhance the mechanical quality factor (Q_m) of piezoceramic materials, B₂O₃–CuO mixed oxides were added to a K_0.48Na_0.52NbO₃‐based lead‐free piezoceramic (abbreviated as BC‐KNN). The results suggest that the B₂O₃–CuO additives effectively improved the sinterability and Q_m value of the piezoceramic. An optimal Q_m value as high as 2128 was obtained, which is 35 times higher than that of pure KNN ceramic. Interestingly, we found that the Q_m value was sensitive to humidity of the surrounding environment. As the relative humidity (RH) increased from 25% RH to 78% RH, the Q_m value of the BC‐KNN ceramics decreased from 2128 to 267. We found that the dependence of the Q_m value on humidity was closely related to the instability of the relative dielectric constant (?_r). Our results show that a dense microstructure is critical for maintaining a stable high Q_m performance in a humid environment.     

Phosphate triester hydrolysis promoted by S3–zinc(II) complexes with a bridged hydroxide: The crystal structure of TtiZn–OP(O)(OC6H4-p-NO2)2, Tti = hydrotris(N-xylyl-2-thioimidazolyl)borate

The bridged μ-hydroxo dinuclear four-co-ordinated zinc(II) complex 2, derived from hydrotris(N-xylyl-2-thioimidazolyl)borate cleaves the P–O bond in tris(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate to form a mixture of a monomeric phosphate diester complex 3 and phenoxo complex 4.