Synthetic Talc and Talc-Like Structures: Preparation, Features and Applications.

This contribution gives a comprehensive review about the progress in preparation methods, properties and applications of the different synthetic talc types: i) crystalline nanotalc synthesized by hydrothermal treatment; ii) amorphous and/or short-range order nanotalc obtained by precipitation, and iii) organic-inorganic hybrid talc-like structures obtained through a sol-gel process or a chemical grafting. Several advantages of nanotalc such as high chemical purity, high surface area, tunable submicronic size, high thermal stability, and hydrophilic character (leading to be the first fluid mineral) are emphasized. Synthetic nanotalc applications are also considered including its use as nanofiller in composite materials, as absorbers of organic compounds, as anticorrosion coatings and as agents for cosmetic applications. Regarding their high industrial application potential, intensive research has been carried out to better understand their behavior and develop processes to produce them. To facilitate further research and development, scientific and technical challenges are discussed in this Review article.

Fast-Geomimicking using Chemistry in Supercritical Water.

Herein we introduce a powerful and fast method to produce nanominerals using a bottom up approach. The supercritical hydrothermal flow synthesis is exploited to produce model nanominerals by mimicking natural environments at high temperatures under pressure. This innovative concept is demonstrated with the talc synthesis; this represents a major technical breakthrough since it allows decreasing the mineral-synthesis time from tens of hours to tens of seconds. Through this example, we show these nanominerals exhibit new crystal-chemistry signals and new properties. This approach provides a means to reproduce the early stages of formation of minerals in different natural environments from sedimentary environments (low temperature and pressure) to hydrothermal/metamorphic environments (high temperature and high pressure).

Bismuth(III) triflate-catalyzed direct conversion of corticosteroids into highly functionalized 17-ketosteroids by cleavage of the C17-dihydroxyacetone side chain.

The use of bismuth(III) triflate as catalyst for the direct conversion of corticosteroids into highly functionalized 17-ketosteroids by cleavage of the C17-dihydroxyacetone side chain is reported. This catalytic process is very chemoselective, since functionalities of the starting corticosteroids, such as Delta(4)-3-keto, Delta(1,4)-3-keto, 11beta-hydroxyl, and 9beta,11beta-epoxide, remained intact.

Bismuth triflate-catalyzed Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement in terpenes. Application to the synthesis of the 18alpha-oleanane core and A-neo-18alpha-oleanene compounds from lupanes.

The use of bismuth(III) salts as catalysts for the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of lupane derivatives with expansion of ring E and formation of an additional O-containing ring is reported. This process has also been extended to other terpenes, such as the sesquiterpene (-)-caryophyllene oxide. When the reaction was performed with oleanonic acid, 28,13beta-lactonization occurred, without Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement. Under more vigorous reaction conditions, dehydration of the 3beta-hydroxyl group and subsequent additional Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement led to the selective synthesis of A-neo-18alpha-oleanene compounds, in very high yields.

Bismuth(III) salt-catalyzed Westphalen and "backbone" rearrangements of 5 beta,6 beta-epoxysteroids synthesis and structural elucidation of new olefinic 19-nor and 18,19-dinorsteroids.

A new process using the "ecofriendly" bismuth(III) salts as catalysts for the Westphalen and "backbone" rearrangements of 5 beta,6 beta-epoxysteroids is reported. This method is particularly sensitive to changes on solvent, temperature, stereochemistry of starting epoxysteroid, and its substituent at C17. Depending on the reaction conditions, either Westphalen-type or "backbone" rearranged products were obtained, all being 3 beta-acetoxy-6 beta-hydroxy-substituted. Several new olefinic 19-nor and 18,19-dinorsteroids were obtained and their structural elucidation was fully accomplished using 2D NMR and X-ray crystallography techniques.

Changes of the membrane lipid organization characterized by means of a new cholesterol-pyrene probe.

We synthesized 3beta-hydroxy-pregn-5-ene-21-(1-methylpyrenyl)-20-methylidene (Py-met-chol), consisting of cholesterol steroid rings connected to a pyrene group via a linker without polar atoms. This compound has interesting spectroscopic properties when probing membranes: 1), The pyrene has hypochromic properties resulting from probe self-association processes in membranes. Using liposomes of various lipid compositions, we determined the association constants of the probe (K): K(DOPC) >> K(POPC) >> K(DMPC) > K(DMPC/15 mol % Chol) > K(DMPC/30 mol % Chol). This indicates a better probe solvation in saturated than in unsaturated lipids, and this effect is enhanced as the cholesterol concentration increases. 2), The pyrene fluorophore is characterized by monomer (I(1)-I(5)) and excimer (I(E)) emission bands. In model membranes, I(1)/I(3) and I(E)/I(3) ratios revealed a correlation between the polarity of the lipid core of the membrane and the amount of cholesterol. 3), Using this probe, we monitored the first steps of the signaling pathway of the mouse delta-opioid receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor. The thickness of the membrane around this receptor is known to change after agonist binding. Fluorescence spectra of living Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing mouse delta-opioid receptor specifically revealed the agonist binding. These results indicate that Py-met-chol may be useful for screening ligands of this family of receptors.