Ratio-fluorescence detection of tert-butylhydroquinone based on non-conjugated polymer dots and gold nanoclusters.

A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe based on non-conjugated polymer dots (NCPDs) and gold nanocluster (AuNCs) was constructed to determine tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The probe exhibited dual emission peaks at 480 nm and 630 nm under 370 nm excitation. The fluorescence of AuNCs was quenched by TBHQ due to strong electrostatic interactions, whereas the emission of NCPDs increased.

Prevention of STAT3-related pathway in SK-N-SH cells by natural product astaxanthin.

Purpose: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common solid malignancy in children. Despite current intensive treatment, the long-term event-free survival rate is less than 50% in these patients. Thus, patients with NB urgently need more valid treatment strategies.

Oxidative carbon-carbon bond formation in the synthesis of bioactive spiro beta-lactams.

New oxidative dearomatization procedures leading to spiro beta-lactams and oxindoles were developed. By a variation of the oxidative reaction conditions, the usefulness of phenolic amides, derived from 4-aminophenol, in the synthesis of structurally different types of molecules was demonstrated.

Palladium-catalyzed sequential arylation and allylic alkylation of highly functionalized ketones: a concise synthesis of mesembrine.

An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed sequential procedure toward arylation and allylic alkylation of highly functionalized cyclohexenones was developed. This new protocol leads to useful building blocks containing a benzylic quaternary carbon in only one step. A concise total synthesis of mesembrine based on this procedure was achieved in only five steps with 22% overall yield.