Self-assembled organometallic [12]metallacrown-3 complexes.

The reaction of [(arene)RuCl2]2 (arene = C6H6, cymene, C6H3Et3, or C6Me6) or [Cp*RhCl2]2 with 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone in the presence of Cs2CO3 gives trinuclear metallamacrocyclic complexes. The self-assembly process was shown to be completely diastereoselective, and a racemic mixture of complexes with M(R)M(R)M(R) or MsMsMs (M=Ru, Rh) configuration was obtained. Plausible mononuclear intermediates of the formula [(arene)RuCl(C5H4NO2)] (arene = cymene, C6Me6) have been isolated and characterized. A structurally related trimer was synthesized by using [(cymene)RuCl2]2 and 3-acetamido-2-pyridone instead of 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone. The macrocycles were shown to be highly potent ionophores for Na+ and/or Li+ with negligible affinities for the larger cation K+. The selectivities of the receptors depend on the pi-ligand present: whereas the (C6H6)Ru- and (cymene)Ru complexes bind both Li+ and Na+, the (C6Me6)Ru-, (C6H3Et3)Ru-, and Cp*Rh complexes bind exclusively Li+. For all receptors, the presence of alkali metal ions can be detected electrochemically: the peak potential is shifted by > 300 mV toward anionic potential upon binding. This behavior was utilized to detect Li+ and Na+ colorimetrically. Single crystal X-ray analyses have been carried out on eight complexes, four of which are bound to an alkali metal halide ion pair. Structural parameters, which affect the affinity and selectivity are discussed. A computational study on [[MX][12]crown-3] complexes (M =Li, Na; X=Cl, Br, I) was performed in order to compare relevant bond lengths and angles of the energy-minimized structures with those of the organometallic receptors.

Spectroscopic and structural studies on polyfluorophenyl tellurides and tellurium(IV) dihalides.

Bis(fluorophenyl) tellurides R2Te (R = C6F2H3 (1), CF3C6F4 (2), CF3C6F4OC6F4 (3), and C6F5 (4)) are synthesized by the facile reaction of Na2Te with bromo-fluorobenzenes, RBr. The corresponding bis(fluorophenyl)tellurium(IV) dihalides, R2TeHal2 (Hal = F, Cl, and Br) (5-16), are obtained by the oxidation of 1-4 with mild halogenating agents (XeF2, SO2Cl2, and Br2). The dihalides show temperature-dependent NMR spectra. On the basis of the 19F NMR spectra of the two series, (C6F2H3)2TeHal2 (Hal = F (5), Cl (9), and Br (13)) and R2TeCl2 (R = C6F2H3 (9), CF3C6F4 (10), CF3C6F4OC6F4 (11), and C6F5 (12)), the coalescence temperatures, T(c), and free enthalpies, DeltaG, of rotation of the TeC bonds are determined. The activation enthalpies for the dichlorides/dibromide 9-13 are in the range of 14.4-15.2 kcal mol(-1) and that for the difluoride 5 is considerably lower at 10.7 kcal mol(-1). In addition to thorough spectroscopic characterization of 1-16, the crystal structures of the monotellurides 2 and 4 as well as of the tellurium(IV) dihalides 5, 6, 9, 10, and 13 were determined. The dihalides show interesting intermolecular Te...Hal contacts, significantly shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii, leading to different networks of association.

Diastereoselective propargylations with planar chiral chromiumcarbonyl arene complex substituted propargyl cations.

The ionization of planar chiral ortho-substituted (arene)Cr(CO)(3)-substituted alpha-propargylic acetates 3 with Lewis acids results in the formation of stable (arene)Cr(CO)(3)-substituted alpha-propargyl cations 4. Subsequent additions of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and pi-carbon nucleophiles to these organometallic electrophiles give rise to the regio- and highly diastereoselective formation of propargyl derivatives 5 in good yields (44-90%; dr = 70:30 to >99:1). The relative stereochemistry of the propargyl acetates 3 and the trapping products 5 was established by several crystal structure analyses, indicating that the cationic propargylations occurred under retention of configuration at the propargylic center. Most important for the diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic trapping reaction is the configurational stability of the diastereotopic cation 4 as reflected by substituent effects. In situ ionizations according to an S(N)1-mechanism not only result in a considerable loss but also in an inversion of diastereoselectivity.

Remote C-H activation of phenyl-substituted alkenes by BH(3).THF: mechanism and applications.

[reaction: see text] The hydroboration of tetrasubstituted alkenes and, in particular, bicyclic alkenes with BH(3).THF at 50 degrees C provides, via a highly stereoselective 1,2-rearrangement and a remote C-H activation, a diol in which the relative stereochemistry of three centers has been controlled. A mechanistic study provides general rules for remote C-H activation and leads to new synthetic applications.

Malassezin--A novel agonist of the arylhydrocarbon receptor from the yeast Malassezia furfur.

The yeast Malassezia furfur converts tryptophan into several indole compounds. One of these, malassezin, was identified as 2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde (1). It was synthesized from N-Boc-indole-3-carbaldehyde in five steps with 12% overall yield. The compound easily cyclizes to indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (7) which is known to interact with the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Similarly, malassezin was found to induce cytochrome P450 as an agonist of AHR (EC50 = 1.57 microM) in rat hepatocytes.

Reaction of 2,4,6-triazido-1,3,5-triazine with triphenylphosphane. syntheses and characterization of the novel 2-triphenylphosphanimino-4-azidotetrazolo[5,1-a]-[1,3,5]triazine and 2,4,6,-tris(triphenylphosphanimino)-1,3,5-triazine.

2-Triphenylphosphanimino-4-azidotetrazolo[5,1-a]-[1,3,5]triazine (6) was obtained by reaction of 2,4,6-triazido-1,3,5-triazine (1) with 1 equiv of triphenylphosphane. Raman and X-ray data revealed that only one azide group formed a tetrazole ring system whereas the second azide group did not undergo ring closure. To investigate the equilibrium between the tetrazole isomer and the open-chain azide structure for these and related species, (31)P NMR studies were carried out. The obtained spectra displayed an equilibrium between the tetrazole and the open-chain azide isomers. 2,4,6-Tris(triphenylphosphanimino)-1,3,5-triazine (4) was prepared by treatment of 1 with 3 equiv of triphenylphosphane, and its X-ray structure is discussed. On the basis of PM3 semiempirical and density functional calculations, the reaction of 1 with triphenylphosphane was studied. The thermodynamics of different isomerization reactions and the activation barriers to cyclization were estimated.

Biomimetic catalysis with immobilised organometallic ruthenium complexes: substrate- and regioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones.

Chloro-(eta6-arene) complexes of ruthenium(II) with N-sulfonyl-1,2-ethylenediamine ligands that have one or two styrene side chains have been synthesised and characterised. The chloro ligand was substituted with a diphenylphosphinato ligand and the resulting organometallic complexes are transition state analogues for the ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation of benzophenone. Following the protocol of molecular imprinting, these complexes were copolymerised with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of a porogen. The polymers were ground and sieved, and the phosphinato ligand was substituted with a chloro ligand, thus generating a shape-selective cavity in close proximity to the catalytically active metal centre. When tested for their ability to catalyse the reduction of benzophenone, the imprinted polymers showed a significantly higher activity (up to a factor of seven) than control polymers without cavities. Out of a mixture of seven different aromatic and aliphatic ketones, benzophenone was preferentially reduced when the imprinted polymer was used. Furthermore, the specificity of the catalyst for diaryl ketones has been confirmed in a reaction with a bifunctional substrate, 4-acetyl-benzophenone; the diaryl ketone was reduced faster with the imprinted catalyst than the acetyl group. The opposite regioselectivity was observed with the control polymer. Both the activity and the selectivity of the imprinted catalysts are dependent on how the ruthenium complexes are attached to the polymer backbone. A double connection proved to give superior results.

A new antioxidative vitamin B6 analogue modulates pathophysiological cell proliferation and damage.

The new large scale synthesis of the yellow colored vitamin B6 analogue 5'-O-phosphono-pyridoxylidenerhodanine (2) (B6PR) leads to oligohydrates of its monosodium salt (4). The light-red hemiheptadecahydrate (8 1/2 hydrate) (4a) was crystallized and its three-dimensional structure determined by X-ray crystallography. Special nucleotide and protein interaction properties together with scavenging antioxidative function are combined in this simple water-soluble vitamin B6 analogues B6PR. High (mM) concentrations were untoxic to 'healthy' not affected cells and primary tissues. Complexation of ions (e.g. Ca2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+), modulation of nitric oxide synthases (NOS I-III), nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was found. Special cytoprotecting, immunomodulating, stimulating and inhibiting activities were observed in vitro, not in comparison with some natural and synthetic pyridoxines. Low B6PR suppressed proliferation, high induced selective cell death of some cancer cell lines. Low B6PR protected HIV-1-infected CD4+ HUT 78 cells against HIV-1-mediated destruction (complete inhibition of HIV-1-induced syncytia formation and cell death) and reduced p24 level. Autoreactive S100beta-specific T cells of Lewis rat, a model of multiple sclerosis, could be influenced. Oxidative damage and age, acquired and inherited disease related pathophysiological disorders can be treated by this new cytopathology-selective versatile acting B6PR.