Employing digital PCR for enhanced detection of perinatal Toxoplasma gondii infection: A cross-sectional surveillance and maternal-infant outcomes study in El Salvador.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in utero, resulting in fetal chorioretinitis and other long-term neurological outcomes. If diagnosed early, pregnancy-safe chemotherapeutics can prevent vertical transmission. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute, primary infection among pregnant women remains neglected, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries.

Synthesis of Selenium Derivatives using Organic Selenocyanates as Masked Selenols: Chemical Reduction with Rongalite as a Simpler Tool to give Nucleophilic Selenides.

The chemical reduction within a family of organic selenocyanates, as masked selenols, using reducing agents, such as Rongalite, sodium dithionite, and sodium thiosulfate is investigated. Using Rongalite, the corresponding diselenides were obtained quantitatively and selectively in very good to excellent yields (51-100 %) starting from alkyl, aryl, and benzyl selenocyanates. The scope of the reaction is unaffected by the electronic nature of the substituents.

Linker-Assisted CdS-TiO Nanohybrids as Reusable Visible Light Photocatalysts for the Oxidative Hydroxylation of Arylboronic Acids.

A variety of phenols have been obtained in aqueous media with moderate to excellent chemical yields (≤100%) by using arylboronic acids and esters as substrates, a robust CdS-TiO nanohybrid as a heterogeneous photocatalyst, visible light irradiation (467 nm), and an O-saturated atmosphere. The nanohybrid was prepared through a linker-assisted methodology that uses mercapto alkanoic acids as the organic linkers. The nanohybrid showed improved photocatalytic activity in the hydroxylation of substituted arylboronic acids and phenyl boronic esters compared with that of pristine CdS quantum dots.

Photochemical C-H bond thiocyanation and selenocyanation of activated arenes, batch and continuous-flow approaches.

Herein, we report an eco-friendly photochemical oxidative C-H thiocyanation and selenocyanation of activated arenes. The reaction proceeds under Violet LED irradiation in the presence of KSO, which quickly oxidizes KSCN and KSeCN, finally producing arylthio/selenocyanates. Using this benign, atom-economic protocol, the desired chalcogenide products were obtained regioselectively, with isolated yields that range from very good to excellent.

Mechanistic Insight into the Light-Triggered CuAAC Reaction: Does Any of the Photocatalyst Go?

The attainment of transition-metal catalysis and photoredox catalysis has represented a great challenge over the last years. Herein, we have been able to merge both catalytic processes into what we have called "the light-triggered CuAAC reaction". Particularly, the CuAAC reaction reveals opposite outcomes depending on the nature of the photocatalyst (eosin Y disodium salt and riboflavin tetraacetate) and additives (DABCO, EtN, and NaN) employed.

Metal- and photocatalyst-free synthesis of 3-selenylindoles and asymmetric diarylselenides promoted by visible light.

A novel and sustainable procedure was developed for the synthesis of 3-selenylindoles employing diorganyl diselenides and indoles or electron-rich arenes as starting materials. Visible blue light was used to promote the reaction without employing transition metal complexes or organic photocatalysts as sensitizers. Additives such as strong oxidants or bases were not required.

Exploring the Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of N-(Thioalkyl)-saccharins as an Alternative Route to the Synthesis of Tricyclic Sultams.

Photocyclization of N-(thioalkyl)-saccharin was carried out to obtain different polycyclic sultams in good yields. These photoreactions were efficient under inert atmosphere and acetone triplet-sensitized conditions indicating that the triplet excited state is directly involved in the formation of annulated products. The presence of molecular oxygen changes product distribution, and only photo-oxygenation products (sulfoxides and sulfones) were found.