Synthesis, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies of N3 functionalized Re(CO)3 thymidine complexes.

Nucleoside-derived drugs play an important role in the treatment of cancer. Here, we present the synthesis and characterization of an intriguing series of N3 conjugated Re(CO)(3) thymidine complexes. The complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and their cytotoxicity was assessed against A549 cells.

Application of London-type dispersion corrections to the solid-state density functional theory simulation of the terahertz spectra of crystalline pharmaceuticals.

The effects of applying an empirical dispersion correction to solid-state density functional theory methods were evaluated in the simulation of the crystal structure and low-frequency (10 to 90 cm(-1)) terahertz spectrum of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen. The naproxen molecular crystal is bound largely by weak London force interactions, as well as by more prominent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, and thus serves as a good model for the assessment of the pair-wise dispersion correction term in systems influenced by intermolecular interactions of various strengths. Modifications to the dispersion parameters were tested in both fully optimized unit cell dimensions and those determined by X-ray crystallography, with subsequent simulations of the THz spectrum being performed.

Understanding the terahertz spectra of crystalline pharmaceuticals: terahertz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory study of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen and (RS)-ibuprofen.

The potential applications of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in the analysis of pharmaceutical products in their crystalline state have prompted the need for a more thorough understanding of the fundamental vibrational motions contributing to the THz spectra. The detection of variations in crystal structure and the reliable assignment of observed THz absorption features can be aided by the use of solid-state density functional theory (DFT). In this study, solid-state DFT with periodic boundary conditions was used to simulate the crystalline structure and assign the experimental THz spectra (10-90 cm(-1)) of the enantiomerically pure and racemic forms of the common pharmaceutical compound ibuprofen.

Investigating the anharmonicity of lattice vibrations in water-containing molecular crystals through the terahertz spectroscopy of L-serine monohydrate.

The influence of cocrystallized H(2)O molecules on the terahertz (THz) spectra and corresponding computational treatment of hydrated molecular crystals was investigated in the study of protonated and deuterium-substituted l-serine.H(2)O. The THz spectra of both solids have been measured in the range of 10 to 90 cm(-1), with simulations of the crystalline structure and THz vibrational modes performed using solid-state density functional theory.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and insight into the mode of action of Re(CO)3 thymidine complexes.

Nucleoside analogues are extensively used in the treatment of cancer and viral diseases. The antiproliferative properties of organorhenium(I) complexes, however, have been scarcely explored to date. Herein we present the syntheses, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of Re(I)(CO)(3) core complexes of thymidine and uridine.

Highly volatile alkaline earth metal fluoroalkoxides.

The synthetic strategies, structural comparison, and thermal gravimetric analyses for a novel family of alkaline earth metal perfluoro-tert-butoxides (PFTB) are presented. The isolated complexes follow the general formula, [Ae(PFTB)(2)(d)(x)]; (1a, Ae = Mg, d = THF, x = 2; 1b, Ae = Ca, d = THF, x = 4; 1c, Ae = Sr, d = THF, x = 4; 1d, Ae = Ba, d = THF, x = 4; 2a, Ae = Mg, d = DME, x = 1; 2b, Ae = Ca, d = DME, x = 2; 2c, Ae = Sr, d = DME, x = 2; 2d, Ae = Ba, d = DME, x = 3; 3a, Ae = Mg, d = diglyme, x = 1; 3b, Ae = Ca, d = diglyme, x = 2; 3c, Ae = Sr, d = diglyme, x = 2; 3d, Ae = Ba, d = diglyme, x = 2; THF = tetrahydrofuran, DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) where the crystallographically characterized compounds display either a cis or trans conformations in octahedral or pseudo-octahedral environments. Alkane elimination (Mg), direct metalation via ammonia activation (Ca, Sr, Ba), and transamination (Ca, Sr, Ba) methods yielded the target compounds in moderate to good yields.

Effect of waters of crystallization on terahertz spectra: anhydrous oxalic acid and its dihydrate.

Oxalic acid and oxalic acid dihydrate were studied using terahertz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory (DFT) in the spectral range 10-100 cm(-1). The size of the oxalic acid molecule and its limited internal degrees of freedom make it ideal for evaluating the performance of computational methods for the structural and dynamical simulation of strongly hydrogen-bonded solids. Calculations of the solid-state structures and terahertz spectra of oxalic acid and oxalic acid dihydrate were performed using the hybrid B3LYP and B3PW91 and the nonhybrid BLYP and PW91 density functionals employing the 6-311G(2d,2p) basis set.

Synthesis and stabilization-advances in organoalkaline earth metal chemistry.

The last decade has seen an impressive growth in alkaline earth metal chemistry, with applications ranging from synthetic organic and polymer chemistry to materials science. As a consequence, alkaline earth metal chemistry has made a leap from obscurity into the spotlight of modern organometallic chemistry. Much of this rapid development was made possible by the establishment of novel synthetic procedures that allowed facile access to the target compounds, as many conventional synthetic routes posed and continue to pose significant limitations.

The vibrational spectrum of parabanic acid by inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy and simulation by solid-state DFT.

The incoherent inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of parabanic acid was measured and simulated using solid-state density functional theory (DFT). This molecule was previously the subject of low-temperature X-ray and neutron diffraction studies. While the simulated spectra from several density functionals account for relative intensities and factor group splitting regardless of functional choice, the hydrogen-bending vibrational energies for the out-of-plane modes are poorly described by all methods.

Discrimination of chiral solids: a terahertz spectroscopic investigation of L- and DL-serine.

The terahertz (THz, far-infrared) spectra of enantiomerically pure and racemic crystalline serine were investigated using time-domain THz spectroscopy and solid-state density functional theory (DFT) in the spectral range of 10-90 cm(-1). The experimental THz spectra of L- and DL-serine at 78 K appear quite similar despite the significant differences in arrangement of the molecules in their crystal structures. Structural analyses of the two systems and calculation of the vibrational modes and intensities were performed using DFT with periodic boundary conditions employing the B3LYP and PW91 density functionals with the 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311G(d,p) basis sets.

When VSEPR fails: experimental and theoretical investigations of the behavior of alkaline-earth-metal acetylides.

The synthesis, structural, and spectral characterization as well as a theoretical study of a family of alkaline-earth-metal acetylides provides insights into synthetic access and the structural and bonding characteristics of this group of highly reactive compounds. Based on our earlier communication that reported unusual geometry for a family of triphenylsilyl-substituted alkaline-earth-metal acetylides, we herein present our studies on an expanded family of target derivatives, providing experimental and theoretical data to offer new insights into the intensively debated theme of structural chemistry in heavy alkaline-earth-metal chemistry.

Inelastic neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopic investigation of L-alanine alaninium nitrate, a homologue of a ferroelectric material.

The 2 : 1 amino acid salt of L-alanine with nitric acid was crystallized and the vibrational spectrum measured at 25 K by incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy. The spectrum was simulated using solid-state density functional theory based on a new 90 K structure determination. A feature observed at approximately 450 cm(-1) in the INS spectrum of L-alanine alaninium nitrate is noticeably absent in the calculation.

Developments in heterobimetallic s-block systems: synthesis and structural survey of molecular M/Ae (M=Li, Na, K, Cs; Ae=Ca, Sr) aryloxo complexes.

A series of novel heterobimetallic group 1/strontium and group 1/calcium aryloxo complexes having the composition [MAe(Odpp)3] [Ae=Sr and M=Na (1), K (2, 3), Cs (4); Ae=Ca and M=Na (5), K (6), Cs (7)] or [M2Ae(Odpp)4] [M=Li and Ae=Sr (9), Ca (10)] have been prepared using 2,6-diphenylphenol (HOdpp) as the ligand. Through the use of solid-state direct metalation, these compounds were obtained either directly from the reaction vessel or after workup in toluene. The Lewis base adduct [KCa(Odpp)3(thf)] (8) was obtained by treatment of [KCa(Odpp)3] (6) with tetrahydrofuran (thf).

A unique heterobimetallic benzyl calciate--an organometallic mixed-metal species involving a heavy alkaline-earth metal.

A co-complexation reaction utilizing homometallic benzylcalcium and benzyllithium affords a rare example of a heterobimetallic benzyl calciate.

Lithium aryloxo magnesiates: an examination of ligand size and donor effects.

The combination of equimolar amounts of LiOAr and Mg(OAr)2 (OAr=aryloxide) in polar media afforded several lithium aryloxomagnesiates. Factors influencing the structural chemistry of the compounds, such as the degree of ligand bulk, type of Lewis base donors, and crystallization solvent, are examined. Structural characterization reveals a discrete, solvent-separated species, [Li(thf)4][Mg(BHT)3].

Addition of alkynes to aldehydes and activated ketones catalyzed by rhodium-phosphine complexes.

A mixture of 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl and dicarbonylacetonato rhodium(I) provides an effective catalyst system for the addition of alkynes to aldehydes and activated ketones. In contrast to the more common zinc-catalyzed processes, enolizable 1,2-dicarbonyls are excellent substrates for these rhodium-catalyzed additions. This reaction allows for the formation of propargylic alcohols under mild conditions, tolerating many functional groups (such as carboxylic acids) that are incompatible with other methods.

Alkali metal diphenylmethanides: synthetic, computational and structural studies.

In search of new synthetic precursors for the preparation of alkaline earth organometallic compounds, we investigated the application of a powerful desilylation reaction to cleanly afford a variety of contact and charge-separated alkali metal derivatives without the difficulties commonly encountered in other methods. The resulting diphenylmethanides display both contact molecules and separated ion pairs. Analysis of the structural data demonstrates that simple electrostatic models are insufficient for predicting and explaining the solid-state structures of these complexes.

Tandem oxidation/halogenation of aryl allylic alcohols under Moffatt-Swern conditions.

Aryl allylic alcohols are converted to halogenated unsaturated ketones or allylic halides using excess Moffatt-Swern reagent. Electron-poor aromatic rings favor formation of the halogenated ketone, while electron-donating substituents in the ortho or para positions favor formation of the allylic halide. The oxidation/halogenation reaction performs well with both oxalyl chloride and oxalyl bromide, providing access to the corresponding chlorides or bromides, respectively.

New structural features in heavy alkaline earth-metal chemistry--molecular heterobimetallic group 1, Ba complexes.

The preparation of heterobimetallic complexes consisting of alkali and heavy alkaline earth metals remains a challenge due to limited available synthetic strategies. Here we present a new class of group 1, Ba compounds of the type [M(n){Ba(Odpp)(2+n)}] (M=Na(n=1) (1), K(n=1) (2), Cs(n=1) (3), Li(n=2) (4); HOdpp=2,6-diphenylphenol) and the Lewis base adducts [Li(2)(thf)(2){Ba(Odpp)(4)}]PhMe (5) and [K{Ba(Odpp)(3)(diglyme)}] (6) (diglyme=[bis(2-methoxy)ethyl ether]) as the first representatives of heterobimetallic group 1, Ba species of low nuclearity. The compounds display a significant degree of metal-arene interaction, believed to be a key factor in stabilizing these highly reactive species.

Synthetic, structural, and theoretical investigations of alkali metal germanium hydrides--contact molecules and separated ions.

The preparation of a series of crown ether ligated alkali metal (M=K, Rb, Cs) germyl derivatives M(crown ether)nGeH3 through the hydrolysis of the respective tris(trimethylsilyl)germanides is reported. Depending on the alkali metal and the crown ether diameter, the hydrides display either contact molecules or separated ions in the solid state, providing a unique structural insight into the geometry of the obscure GeH3- ion. Germyl derivatives displaying M--Ge bonds in the solid state are of the general formula [M([18]crown-6)(thf)GeH3] with M=K (1) and M=Rb (4).

Inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of Cs2[B12H12]: reproduction of its solid-state vibrational spectrum by periodic DFT.

The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum of polycrystalline Cs2[B12H12] is assigned through 1200 cm(-1) on the basis of aqueous and solid-state Raman/IR measurements and normal mode analyses from solid-state density functional theory. The Cs+ cations are responsible for frequency shifts of the internal cage vibrational modes and I(h) cage mode splittings due to the crystal T(h) site symmetry. These changes to the [B12H12]2- molecular modes make isolated-molecule calculations inadequate for use in complete assignments.

Solid-state modeling of the terahertz spectrum of the high explosive HMX.

The experimental solid-state terahertz (THz) spectrum (3-120 cm(-1)) of the beta-crystal form of the high explosive octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) has been analyzed using solid-state density functional theory calculations. Various density functionals (both generalized gradient approximation and local density approximation) are compared in terms of their abilities to reproduce the experimentally observed solid-state structure and low-frequency vibrational motions. Good-to-excellent agreement between solid-state theory and experiment can be achieved in the THz region where isolated-molecule calculations fail to reproduce the observed spectral features, demonstrating a clear limitation of using isolated-molecule calculations for the assignment of THz frequency motions in molecular solids.

Palladium-catalyzed addition of alkynes to cyclopropenes.

The palladium catalyzed coupling of alkynes and cyclopropenes provides a powerful method for the synthesis of alkynylcyclopropanes, proceeding under mild conditions in the presence of many functional groups (such as esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and alcohols).

Rhodium-catalyzed addition of alkynes to activated ketones and aldehydes.

[reaction: see text] The rhodium-catalyzed addition of alkynes to 1,2-diketones, 1,2-ketoesters, and aldehydes provides a method for the synthesis of tertiary alkynyl alcohols under mild conditions. The reaction tolerates many functional groups (such as carboxylic acids) that are incompatible with other methods. The alkyne addition reaction proceeds best using bulky phosphine ligands such as 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl.