Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Disorders: Clearing the Air.

Mast cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cell precursors and are essential to the genesis and manifestations of the allergic response. Activation of these cells by allergens leads to degranulation and elaboration of inflammatory mediators, responsible for regulating the acute dramatic inflammatory response seen. Mast cells have also been incriminated in such diverse disorders as malignancy, arthritis, coronary artery disease, and osteoporosis. There has been a recent explosion in our understanding of the mast cell and the associated clinical conditions that affect this cell type. Some mast cell disorders are associated with specific genetic mutations (such as the D816V gain-of-function mutation) with resultant clonal disease. Such disorders include cutaneous mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis (SM), its variants (indolent/ISM, smoldering/SSM, aggressive systemic mastocytosis/ASM) and clonal (or monoclonal) mast cell activation disorders or syndromes (CMCAS/MMAS). Besides clonal mast cell activations disorders/CMCAS (also referred to as monoclonal mast cell activation syndromes/MMAS), mast cell activation can also occur secondary to allergic, inflammatory, or paraneoplastic disease. Some disorders are idiopathic as their molecular pathogenesis and evolution are unclear. A genetic disorder, referred to as hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) has also been described recently. This condition has been shown to be associated with increased severity of allergic and anaphylactic reactions and may interact variably with primary and secondary mast cell disease, resulting in complex combined disorders. The role of this review is to clarify the classification of mast cell disorders, point to molecular aspects of mast cell signaling, elucidate underlying genetic defects, and provide approaches to targeted therapies that may benefit such patients.

Mechanisms Governing Anaphylaxis: Inflammatory Cells, Mediators, Endothelial Gap Junctions and Beyond.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, acute, life-threatening multisystem allergic reaction resulting from the release of a plethora of mediators from mast cells culminating in serious respiratory, cardiovascular and mucocutaneous manifestations that can be fatal. Medications, foods, latex, exercise, hormones (progesterone), and clonal mast cell disorders may be responsible. More recently, novel syndromes such as delayed reactions to red meat and hereditary alpha tryptasemia have been described. Anaphylaxis manifests as sudden onset urticaria, pruritus, flushing, erythema, angioedema (lips, tongue, airways, periphery), myocardial dysfunction (hypovolemia, distributive or mixed shock and arrhythmias), rhinitis, wheezing and stridor. Vomiting, diarrhea, scrotal edema, uterine cramps, vaginal bleeding, urinary incontinence, dizziness, seizures, confusion, and syncope may occur. The traditional (or classical) pathway is mediated via T cells, Th2 cytokines (such as IL-4 and 5), B cell production of IgE and subsequent crosslinking of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils by IgE-antigen complexes, culminating in mast cell and basophil degranulation. Degranulation results in the release of preformed mediators (histamine, heparin, tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase, cathepsin G and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and of de novo synthesized ones such as lipid mediators (cysteinyl leukotrienes), platelet activating factor (PAF), cytokines and growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Of these, histamine, tryptase, cathepsin G, TNF-α, LTC4, PAF and VEGF can increase vascular permeability. Recent data suggest that mast cell-derived histamine and PAF can activate nitric oxide production from endothelium and set into motion a signaling cascade that leads to dilatation of blood vessels and dysfunction of the endothelial barrier. The latter, characterized by the opening of adherens junctions, leads to increased capillary permeability and fluid extravasation. These changes contribute to airway edema, hypovolemia, and distributive shock, with potentially fatal consequences. In this review, besides mechanisms (endotypes) underlying IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, we also provide a brief overview of IgG-, complement-, contact system-, cytokine- and mast cell-mediated reactions that can result in phenotypes resembling IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Such classifications can lead the way to precision medicine approaches to the management of this complex disease.

Switchable water: microfluidic investigation of liquid-liquid phase separation mediated by carbon dioxide.

Increase in the ionic strength of water that is mediated by the reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with nitrogenous bases is a promising approach toward phase separation in mixtures of water with organic solvents and potentially water purification. Conventional macroscale studies of this complicated process are challenging, due to its occurrence via several consecutive and concurrent steps, mass transfer limitation, and lack of control over gas-liquid interfaces. We report a new microfluidic strategy for fundamental studies of liquid-liquid phase separation mediated by CO2 as well as screening of the efficiency of nitrogenous agents. A single set of microfluidic experiments provided qualitative and quantitative information on the kinetics and completeness of water-tetrahydrofuran phase separation, the minimum amount of CO2 required to complete phase separation, the total CO2 uptake, and the rate of CO2 consumption by the liquid mixture. The efficiency of tertiary diamines with different lengths of alkyl chain was examined in a time- and labor-efficient manner and characterized with the proposed efficiency parameter. A wealth of information obtained using the MF methodology can facilitate the development of new additives for switchable solvents in green chemistry applications.

Imine hydrogenation by alkylaluminum catalysts.

Di-isobutylaluminum hydride and tri-iso-butylaluminum (DIBAL 1, TIBAL 2) are shown to be efficient hydrogenation catalysts for a variety of imines at 100 °C and 100 atm of H2, operating via a hydroalumination/hydrogenolysis mechanism.

Metal-free catalytic hydrogenation of polar substrates by frustrated Lewis pairs.

In 2006, our group reported the first metal-free systems that reversibly activate hydrogen. This finding was extended to the discovery of "frustrated Lewis pair" (FLP) catalysts for hydrogenation. It is this catalysis that is the focal point of this article. The development and applications of such FLP hydrogenation catalysts are reviewed, and some previously unpublished data are reported. The scope of the substrates is expanded. Optimal conditions and functional group tolerance are considered and applied to targets of potential commercial significance. Recent developments in asymmetric FLP hydrogenations are also reviewed. The future of FLP hydrogenation catalysts is considered.

Metal-free reductions of N-heterocycles via Lewis acid catalyzed hydrogenation.

N-Heterocycles form weak adducts with B(C(6)F(5))(3) that exist in equilibrium with the corresponding FLP; nonetheless, these heterocycles are reduced in the presence of a catalytic amount of the borane B(C(6)F(5))(3) and H(2).

Frustrated Lewis pairs derived from N-heterocyclic carbenes and Lewis acids.

The chemistry of frustrated Lewis pairs derived from N-heterocyclic carbenes and a number of Lewis acids has been probed. The combination of 1,3-bis[2,6-(di-iso-propyl)phenyl]-1,3-imidazol-2-ylidene (IDipp) (1) with B(C6F5)3 was shown to give the classical Lewis acid-base adduct (IDipp)B(C6F5)3 (2) which was unreactive. In contrast, the combination 1,3-di-tert-butyl-1,3-imidazol-2-ylidene (3) with B(C6F5)3 proved to form a frustrated Lewis pair, and reacts with H2 to give the salt [ItBuH][HB(C6F5)3] (4) in high yield. In a similar fashion, addition of (3) to a series of amine-borane adducts including H3NB(C6F5)3 (5), PhH2NB(C6F5)3 (6) and PhH2NB(C6F5)3 (7) led to deprotonation and formation of imidazolium amido-borate salts [ItBuH][H2NB(C6F5)3] (8), [ItBuH][PhHNB(C6F5)3] (9) and [ItBuH][Ph2NB(C6F5)3] (10). Similar reactions of the amine-borane adducts EtNH2B(C6F5)3 (11) tBuNH2B(C6F5)3 (12) and Et2NHB(C6F5)3 (13) gave the amidoboranes EtHNB(C6F5)2 (14) tBuHNB(C6F5)2 (15) and Et2NB(C6F5)2 (16) respectively, with liberation of C6F5H and an equivalent of unreacted carbene. Mechanistically these reactions are thought to proceed through transient imidazolium salts similar to (8)-(10). In addition, the combination of carbene (3) and the cation [CPh3]+ in frustrated Lewis pair chemistry has been probed. Reaction of this combination at room temperature results in the immediate formation of [C3H2N2tBu2(C6H5)CPh2][B(C6F5)4] (17) stemming from carbene attack at a para-carbon of one of the phenyl rings of trityl. Addition of carbene to the benzyl amine adduct of [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] results in the formation of [ItBuH][B(C6F5)4] (18) and the secondary amine Ph3CNHCH2Ph (19), thus providing the first example of an all carbon-based frustrated Lewis pair. Crystallographic data for (2), (4), (9) and (13) are reported.

Solid-state and solution structures of hetero-aggregates formed between nBuLi and NCN pincer aryl lithium.

The reaction of NCNLi pincers (NCN = [2,6-(R(2)NCH(2))(2)C(6)H(3)](-), R = Me (), Et ()) with various equivalents of nBuLi in non-polar solvent results in the generation of novel mixed alkyl-aryl organolithium hetero-aggregates. The identification (variable temperature (1)H, (13)C, (7)Li and 2D NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography) of multiple, equilibrating mixed-aggregates that form in these reactions has been achieved. Fluxional processes in the parent [NCNLi](2) dimeric homo-aggregates were re-evaluated and Li-N bond rupture was found to be in operation, a prerequisite towards further aggregation chemistry. The crystallized aggregates, with the formula (2).[nBuLi](2) or (2).[nBuLi](2), shows one amine arm from each NCNLi fragment stabilizing a [nBuLi](2) dimer. The core of the aggregates exhibit a roughly cubic Li(4)C(4) configuration with each aryl carbanion eta(3) coordinated to Li(3) triangular faces. Dissolution of microcrystalline powders of (2).[nBuLi](2) or (2).[nBuLi](2) regenerates the observed equilibria. Based on the NMR data, the remaining mixed aggregates are proposed to have the formula .[nBuLi](3) and .[nBuLi](3), respectively; the solution structure is again based on a Li(4)C(4) cluster. The relative concentration of the constituents in these equilibria was found to vary depending on the steric size of the amine groups. In the case of , the predominant species is the (2).[nBuLi](2) aggregate while for , the dimer (2) is favoured.

Lewis acid-catalyzed hydrogenation: B(C6F5)3-mediated reduction of imines and nitriles with H2.

The Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3) has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the direct hydrogenation of imines and the reductive ring-opening of aziridines with H(2) under mild conditions; addition of a bulky phosphine allows for the reduction of protected nitriles.

Organic transformations on sigma-aryl organometallic complexes.

This work reviews recent developments in the field of organic transformations on sigma-aryl organometallic complexes. The general notion that M--C sigma bonds are kinetically labile, highly reactive, and incompatible with typical reaction conditions met in organic synthesis has limited the use of these synthetic strategies thus far. However, organic transformations on metal-bound sigma-aryl fragments are being used more and more by chemists in both industry and academia. In this Review, emphasis is put on the synthetic methods applied in this field up to now. The simplicity and generally good yields of these methods are very attractive for the construction of functionalized organometallic building blocks that are potentially useful as photochemical molecular devices, biosensors and -conjugates, or molecular switches. Thus, this Review has been tailored for a broader audience with the aim of encouraging the application of these strategies.

Tuning Lewis acidity using the reactivity of "frustrated Lewis pairs": facile formation of phosphine-boranes and cationic phosphonium-boranes.

The concept of "frustrated Lewis pairs" involves donor and acceptor sites in which steric congestion precludes Lewis acid-base adduct formation. In the case of sterically demanding phosphines and boranes, this lack of self-quenching prompts nucleophilic attack at a carbon para to B followed by fluoride transfer affording zwitterionic phosphonium borates [R(3)P(C(6)F(4))BF(C(6)F(5))(2)] and [R(2)PH(C(6)F(4))BF(C(6)F(5))(2)]. These can be easily transformed into the cationic phosphonium-boranes [R(3)P(C(6)F(4))B(C(6)F(5))(2)](+) and [R(2)PH(C(6)F(4))B(C(6)F(5))(2)](+) or into the neutral phosphino-boranes R(2)P(C(6)F(4))B(C(6)F(5))(2). This new reactivity provides a modular route to a family of boranes in which the steric features about the Lewis acidic center remains constant and yet the variation in substitution provides a facile avenue for the tuning of the Lewis acidity. Employing the Gutmann-Beckett and Childs methods for determining Lewis acid strength, it is demonstrated that the cationic boranes are much more Lewis acidic than B(C(6)F(5))(3), while the acidity of the phosphine-boranes is diminished.

Hydroxy- and mercaptopyridine pincer platinum and palladium complexes generated by silver-free halide abstraction.

A silver-free route has been employed for the synthesis of a number of Pd and Pt complexes supported by an NCN "pincer" ligand (NCN = [2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H3]-) via halide abstraction. This was achieved by the use of o-, m-, and p-hydroxypyridines or o- and p-mercaptopyridines in basic ethanol solutions. The acidic OH or SH protons are removed to generate the formally anionic ligands. X-ray crystal structure determination of these complexes shows that the bonding of the substituted pyridine ligands occurs exclusively through the pyridine N for hydroxypyridines and exclusively through the thiol S in mercaptopyridines. In the hydroxypyridine case, the ortho and para isomers tautomerize to generate pyridone structures with a covalent M-N bond, whereas the m-hydroxypyridine complex, which is unable to tautomerize, is found to still be bound through the pyridine N but in a zwitterionic structure. The mercaptopyridine complexes are the first reported examples of pincer-ligated Pd and Pt thiolate species. The pyridine ligands can be quantitatively exchanged for chloride by reaction with excess NH4Cl, a potentially useful chemical switch for ligation/decomplexation of this ligand type.

Insertion of acrylonitrile into palladium methyl bonds in neutral and anionic Pd(II) complexes.

The reactions of a series of Pd(II) methyl compounds of general formula LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), where L is a bulky phenoxydiazene or phenoxyaldimine ligand with the polar olefin acrylonitrile (AN), are reported. The compounds react with an excess of AN to give the products of 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond, yielding dimers and/or trimers which feature bridging alpha-cyano groups. The reactions were studied by low temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy, revealing an initial formation of compounds featuring N-bound AN, which isomerized to an (unobserved) pi-bound species that rapidly underwent 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond. Intermediate oligomeric complexes retaining a Pd-Me function were observed at low [AN] in these reactions. Under pseudo first-order conditions, k(obs) values of 8.5 x 10(-5) to 2.68 x 10(-3) M(-1) (-22 degrees C to 10 degrees C, 100 equiv of AN) and activation parameters of DeltaH++ = 14.4(5) kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS++ = -19(5) eu were obtained in one case. Comparison of the overall rates of insertion between two LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), differing in the overall charge on the supporting ligand L, showed that the complex bearing a negatively charged ligand reacts with AN twice as fast as one with no anionic charge. The rates of insertion in both of these complexes are significantly faster than reported rates for analogous reactions in cationic Pd(II) derivatives, indicating that increasing the negative charge on the complex enhances the rate of AN insertion. These results provide fundamental mechanistic insights into a crucial reaction for incorporation of polar comonomers into alpha olefins via a coordination polymerization mechanism.

Synthesis and Characterization of Verdazyl Radicals Bearing Pyridine or Pyrimidine Substituents: A New Family of Chelating Spin-Bearing Ligands.

The syntheses and characterization of two new 1,5-dimethyl-6-oxoverdazyl radicals bearing 2-pyridine and 4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidine rings as substituents are described. The radical precursors, the corresponding 1,2,4,5-tetrazanes, were prepared by condensation of the bis(1-methylhydrazide) of carbonic acid with the appropriate aromatic aldehyde. Oxidation of 3-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidyl)-1,5-dimethyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazane 6-oxide (7) with sodium periodate afforded 1,5-dimethyl-3-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidyl)-6-oxoverdazyl (4), which could be isolated and stored without decomposition. In contrast, attempts to oxidize the analogous 3-(2-pyridyl)-1,5-dimethyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazane 6-oxide (6) with periodate produced the 1,5-dimethyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-6-oxoverdazyl (3) which could not be isolated. However, oxidation of this tetrazane with benzoquinone produced the pyridylverdazyl 3 as a 1:1 complex with hydroquinone. This complex is indefinitely stable in the solid state and provides a means of long-term storage of the pyridylverdazyl. The electronic properties of both radicals have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and MNDO calculations. The radicals have a wide electrochemical window of stability (>1.8 V), and the EPR and computational studies indicate a large spin density residing on N2 and N4.