Tetrathienoanthracene and Tetrathienylbenzene Derivatives as Hole‐Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cell

The synthesis and characterization of two related families of star‐shaped thiophene‐containing hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) based on fused tetrathienoanthracene and nonfused tetrathienylbenzene cores are reported. All of them are endowed with four terminal (4,4′‐dimethoxy)diphenylamino groups that are either linked directly to the core or showed a different type of bridges (i.e., thiophene‐phenyl or phenyl rings). The novel HTMs are tested in mixed‐ion perovskite (Cs_0.1FA_0.74MA_0.13PbI_2.48Br_0.39) solar cells, and power conversion efficiencies of up to 18.8% are measured under 1 sun irradiation, comparable with the efficiency obtained for the reference cell using 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N′‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene as an HTM.     

Biphenanthrene from Stanhopea lietzei (Orchidaceae) and its chemophenetic significance within neotropical species of the Cymbidieae tribe

Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of flowering plants. In this work, the first phytochemical study of the non-flowering parts of the South American species Stanhopea lietzei (Regel) Schltr. is reported. It led to the isolation of nine compounds, including the rare dimeric compound 2,2′,7,7′-tetramethoxy-4,4′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-(1,1′)-biphenanthrene (1). This compound was tested for the first time against HeLa human cancer cells, with IC₅₀ 16.9 ± 0.9 μg/mL. Biological assays against neotropical parasites, virus and other human cancer cell lines are also reported. Finally, the relevance of biphenanthrenes, flavonoids, and C-glycosylated phenolic compounds for chemophenetics relationships within neotropical species of the Cymbidieae tribe and Oncidiinae, Maxillariinae, Cyrtopodiinae and Stanhopeinae subtribes was also discussed.     

A Forgotten Chiral Spiro Compound Revisited: 3,3'‐Dimethyl‐3H,3'H‐2,2'‐spirobi[[1,3]benzothiazole]

The title compound was obtained as a side product during dimerization‐oxidation steps of the carbene generated from N‐methylbenzothiazolium iodide. Chromatography on (S,S)‐Whelk O1 column showed on cooling a typical plateau shape chromatogram indicating an exchange between two enantiomers on the column. The thermal barrier to racemization was determined (85 kJ.mol^?1 at 10 °C) by dynamic high‐performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).The absolute configuration of the first (M) and second eluted (P) enantiomers on the (S, S)‐Whelk O1 column was established by comparing the reconstructed circular dichroism (CD) spectra from the CD detector signal and the calculated CD spectrum of the (P) enantiomer. Mass spectrometry revealed that 3,3'‐dimethyl‐3H,3'H‐2,2'‐spirobi[[1,3]benzothiazole] can be viewed as a masked thiophenate attached to a benzothiazolium framework. Chirality 27:716–721, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis,Chiroptical Properties and Density Functional Theory Calculations of 3,3’‐Biphenyl‐2,2’‐BiTropone

The synthesis of new bitropone derivatives, namely, 3,3'‐biphenyl‐2,2'‐bitropone and 7,7’‐biphenyl‐2,2'‐bitropone, are reported. Isolation of enantiomers arising from restricted rotation around the C‐C bond connecting the tropone moieties was attempted by means of chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). No separation was obtained for 7,7’‐biphenyl‐2,2'‐bitropone. For 3,3'‐biphenyl‐2,2'‐bitropone, difficulties were encountered because of the low separation factor of the peaks and the presence of a rapid racemization process. However, quantitative chiroptical data on the antipodes were obtained by linking a circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer and a UV–vis spectrophotometric detector in series to the HPLC instrument. The analysis of the CD and UV–vis spectra in terms of absolute conformations was done with the help of theoretical calculations performed at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. The most stable conformations of the 3,3'‐biphenyl‐2,2'‐bitropone in its ground state were obtained. Starting from these minimum energy conformations, it was possible to compute theoretical CD and UV absorption spectra that fit well with the experimental ones. From this comparison the absolute configuration to the antipodes was assigned. Finally, the effect of the presence of the two lateral phenyl substituents on the structure of the bitropone and hence on the CD spectrum is discussed. Chirality 25:648–655, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chiral overcrowded alkenes; asymmetric synthesis of (3S,3'S)-(M, M)-(E)-(+)-1,1',2,2',3,3',4,4'-octahydro-3,3',7,7'-tetramethyl-4, 4'-biphenanthrylidenes

An asymmetric synthesis route towards (3S,3'S)-(M,M)-(E)-(+)-1,1',2, 2',3,3',4,4'-octahydro-3,3',7,7'-tetramethyl-4,4'-biphenanthrylidene was developed using the Evans procedure as a key step. The absolute configurations of the title compound and of its parent ketone were determined by CD spectroscopy and could be correlated with the stereochemical results of the asymmetric alkylation. Furthermore, a comparison was made with the known (3R,3'R)-(P,P)-(E)-(-)-1,1',2,2', 3,3',4,4'-octahydro-3,3',7,7'-dimethyl-4,4'-biphenanthrylidene. Finally, the X-ray crystallographic analysis of (3S,3'S)-(M, M)-(E)-(+)-1,1',2,2',3,3',4,4'-octahydro-3,3',7,7'-tetramethyl-4, 4'-biphenanthrylidene is presented.     

Optical stability of gossypol

The optical stability of gossypol [1,1',6,6',7,7'-hexahydroxy-3,3'-dimetyl-5,5'-bis(1-methylethyl)-2,2'-binaphthalene-8,8'-dicarboxaldehyde], a natural product exhibiting profoundly enantiospecific antitumor and male antifertility action, was investigated by means of computational methods and thermal racemization experiments. The calculations on gossypol and several derivatives and model compounds were carried out using the MM2 force field; energies and geometries of minimum energy conformations, as well as structures along various inversion pathways, were calculated. According to the calculations, gossypol (the dialdehyde form) and its simple analogues are not thermally racemizable (energy barriers for rotational inversion above 50 kcal/mol). By contrast, the calculations suggest that the acetal tautomer of gossypol and its dehydration product (anhydrogossypol) are thermally racemizable, although the energy barriers are still relatively high (35–40 kcal/mol). Optically pure (+)-anhydrogossypol was prepared and characterized; its racemization became rapid only at high temperatures (180–200°C). When dehydration of gossypol was hindered (in aqueous solution), no racemization of gossypol was observed after prolonged heating at 90°C. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Photoluminescence,semiconductive properties and theoretical calculation of a novel bismuth biimidazole compound

A novel bismuth biimidazole compound, [(BiCl₄)‐(μ₂‐Cl)₂‐(BiCl₄)][(CH₃)₄‐2,2'‐biimidazole]₂ ( 1 ) with the (CH₃)₄‐2,2'‐biimidazole moiety generated in situ, was successfully prepared under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized using a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. Compound 1 is characteristic of an isolated structure, consisting of [(BiCl₄)‐(μ₂‐Cl)₂‐(BiCl₄)] and (CH₃)₄‐2,2'‐biimidazole moieties. Solid‐state photoluminescence measurement reveals that it shows a strong emission in the blue region. Time‐dependent density functional theory studies show that this emission is ascribed to metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer. The solid‐state diffuse reflectance spectrum reveals the existence of an optical band gap of 2.09 eV, indicating that it is a semiconductor.     

Synthetic Method for 2,2'‐Disubstituted Fluorinated Binaphthyl Derivatives and Application as Chiral Source in Design of Chiral Mono‐Phosphoric Acid Catalyst

A practical synthetic method for 2,2'‐disubstituted fluorinated binaphthyl derivatives was achieved using magnesium bis(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperamide) [Mg(TMP)₂], prepared from LiTMP (2 equiv) and MgBr₂ (1 equiv), which allows for access to a variety of fluorinated binaphthyl compounds. The utility of the fluorinated binaphthyl backbone was evaluated in F₁₀BINOL derived chiral mono‐phosphoric acid (R)‐ 19 as the chiral Brønsted acid catalyst. The catalyst (R)‐ 19 performs exceptionally well in the catalytic enantioselective imino‐ene reaction, demonstrating the potential of a fluorinated binaphthyl framework. Chirality 27:464–475, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chemical Constituents of Daphne giraldii Nitsche

In a search for structurally interesting substances from traditional Chinese medicines, eight compounds were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Daphne giraldii Nitsche. On the basis of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data, and chemical methods, their structures were determined to be 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one-8-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5-（2-oxo- 2H-1-benzopyran-7-hydroxy-8-yloxy） （compound 1）, 1-pentanone, 1-（4-hydroxyphenyl）-5-phenyl （compound 2）, octadecyl caffeate （compound 3）, （＋）syringaresinol-4,4＇-diglycoside （compound 4）, daphnetin-8-O-β-D- glucopyranoside （compound 5）, p-hydroxybenzoic acid （compound 6）, 7,7＇-dihydroxy-[6, 8＇-bi-2H-benzopyran]- 2, 2＇-dione （compound 7）, and daphnorin （compound 8）, respectively. Of the compounds isolated, compounds 1 and 2, which we named daphnolin and daphnolon, respectively, were new, and the others were obtained from this plant for the first time.     

Determination of the Enantiomeric Purity of the Antiasthmatic Drug Montelukast by Means of 1H NMR Spectroscopy

In order to define an enantioselective nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method for the antiasthmatic drug montelukast, a series of nine easily available products were evaluated as NMR chiral solvating agents (CSAs): D‐dibenzoyltartaric acid, D‐ditoluoyltartaric acid, (+)‐camphorsulfonic acid, (S)‐BINOL, (S)‐3,3’‐diphenyl‐2,2’‐binaphthyl‐1,1’‐diol, (R)‐3,3'′‐di‐9‐anthracenyl‐1,1'′‐bi‐2‐naphthol, (R)‐3,3'′‐di‐9‐phenanthrenyl‐1,1'′‐bi‐2‐naphthol, Pirkle's alcohol, and (?)‐cinchonidine. It was proved that most of the studied agents constitute diastereomeric complexes with both drug enantiomers in CD₂Cl₂ or CDCl₃ solutions, thus permitting the direct ¹H NMR detection of the unwanted S‐enantiomer, even at levels of 0.75%. (?)‐Cinchonidine was found to be the more convenient CSA in terms of NMR enantiodiscrimination power and ease of experimental requirements. The final method was validated and applied to the fast monitoring of the optical purity of montelukast “in‐process” samples, circumventing the need for tedious and slower analytical procedures like enantioselective chromatography or capillary electrophoresis. In addition, a method for the enantiopurity control of the commercial drug (montelukast sodium salt) was also established using (S)‐BINOL as NMR CSA. Chirality 25: 780–786, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Decomposition of Lipid Hydroperoxide by Choline and Ethanolamine

The leaves of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) were found to contain new compounds, 4′-hydroxy-5,5′-diisopropyl-2,2′-dimethyIbiphenyl-3,4-dione (1), 5,5′-diisopropyl-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-3,4,3′,4^/-tetraone (2), and 4,4′-dihydroxy-5,5′-disopropyl-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-3,6-dione (3a). These structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The deodorant activity of compound 1 against methyl mercaptan was more effective than that of rosmanol, carnosol and sodium copper chlorophylline.     

Novel 3‐Oxo‐ and 3,24‐Dinor‐2,4‐secooleanane‐Type Triterpenes from Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev.

Two new oleanane‐type triterpenes named ivorengenin A (=3‐oxo‐2α,19α,24‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 1 ) and ivorengenin B (=4‐oxo‐19α‐hydroxy‐3,24‐dinor‐2,4‐secoolean‐12‐ene‐2,28‐dioic acid; 2 ), together with five known compounds, arjungenin, arjunic acid, betulinic acid, sericic acid, and oleanolic acid, were isolated from the barks of Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev . (Combretaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR data, and mass spectrometry. A biogenetic pathway to the formation of these compounds from sericic acid, isolated as the major compound from this plant, was proposed. The antioxidant activities of different compounds were investigated by means of the 2,2‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, and IC₅₀ values were calculated and compared with Trolox activity. Antiproliferative activities of the isolated compounds were also evaluated against MDA‐MB‐231, PC3, HCT116, and T98G human cancer cell lines, against which the compounds showed significant cytotoxic activities.     

Toxicity of Thiophenes from Echinops transiliensis (Asteraceae) against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Larvae

Structure? activity relationships of nine thiophenes, 2,2′: 5′,2″‐terthiophene ( 1 ), 2‐chloro‐4‐[5‐(penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl]but‐3‐yn‐1‐yl acetate ( 2 ), 4‐(2,2′‐bithiophen‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yne‐1,2‐diyl diacetate ( 3 ), 4‐[5‐(penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl]but‐3‐yne‐1,2‐diyl diacetate ( 4 ), 4‐(2,2′‐bithiophen‐5‐yl)‐2‐hydroxybut‐3‐yn‐1‐yl acetate ( 5 ), 2‐hydroxy‐4‐[5‐(penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl]but‐3‐yn‐1‐yl acetate ( 6 ), 1‐hydroxy‐4‐[5‐(penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl]but‐3‐yn‐2‐yl acetate ( 7 ), 4‐(2,2′‐bithiophen‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yne‐1,2‐diol ( 8 ), and 4‐[5‐(penta‐1,3‐diyn‐1‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl]but‐3‐yne‐1,2‐diol ( 9 ), isolated from the roots of Echinops transiliensis, were studied as larvicides against Aedes aegypti. Structural differences among compounds 3, 5 , and 8 consisted in differing AcO and OH groups attached to C(3″) and C(4″), and resulted in variations in efficacy. Terthiophene 1 showed the highest activity (LC₅₀, 0.16 μg/ml) among compounds 1 – 9 , followed by bithiophene compounds 3 (LC₅₀, 4.22 μg/ml), 5 (LC₅₀, 7.45 μg/ml), and 8 (LC₅₀, 9.89 μg/ml), and monothiophene compounds 9 (LC₅₀, 12.45 μg/ml), 2 (LC₅₀, 14.71 μg/ml), 4 (LC₅₀, 17.95 μg/ml), 6 (LC₅₀, 18.55 μg/ml), and 7 (LC₅₀, 19.97 μg/ml). These data indicated that A. aegypti larvicidal activities of thiophenes increase with increasing number of thiophene rings, and the most important active site in the structure of thiophenes could be the tetrahydro‐thiophene moiety. In bithiophenes, 3, 5 , and 8 , A. aegypti larvicidal activity increased with increasing number of AcO groups attached to C(3″) or C(4″), indicating that AcO groups may play an important role in the larvicidal activity.     

Efficient Preparation of (R)‐2‐chloromandelic Acid Via a Recycle Process of Resolution

Efficient preparation of (R)‐2‐chloromandelic acid (R)-1 based on a recycle process of resolution is described. In the process, the desired (R)-1 was obtained by coordination‐mediated resolution with D‐O,O'‐di‐(p‐toluoyl)‐tartaric acid in the presence of Ca²⁺. Meanwhile, the undesired (S)-1 could be racemized in the presence of sodium hydroxide and the product was suitable for further resolution. A carbanion mechanism for the racemization of (S)-1 is proposed. Chirality 27:281–285, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evaluation of chalcones as inhibitors of glutathione S‐transferase

Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) are the superfamily of multifunctional detoxification isoenzymes and play an important role in cellular signaling. In the present study, potential inhibition effects of chalcones were tested against human GST. For this purpose, GST was purified from human erythrocytes with 5.381 EU?mg^?1 specific activity and 51.95% yield using a GSH–agarose affinity chromatographic method. The effects of chalcones on in vitro GST activity were tested at various concentrations. K_i constants of chalcones were found in the range of 7.76–41.93 μM. According to the results, 4‐fluorochalcone showed a better inhibitory effect compared with the other compounds. The inhibition mechanisms of 2'‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxychalcone and 4‐methoxychalcone were noncompetitive, whereas the inhibition mechanisms of 4'‐ hydroxychalcone, 4‐ fluorochalcone, and 4,4'‐ diflurochalcone were competitive.     

A 2-oxo-3-pyrroline dimer from Mercurialis leiocarpa

A neutral component has been isolated from Mercurialis leiocarpa and its structure determined by X-ray analysis as 3,3'-bis-(1,1'-dimethyl-2,2'-dioxo-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,5'-dihydroxy-5,5'-dimethoxycarbonyl-3-pyrroline).     

Biological Activities of Phenolics from the Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Seven phenolic compounds, 1 – 7 , including a new organic acid gallate, mucic acid 1‐ethyl 6‐methyl ester 2‐O‐gallate ( 7 ), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica L. (Euphorbiaceae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Upon evaluated for their antioxidant abilities by 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The inhibitory activities against melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells induced by α‐MSH, as well as cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines were also evaluated. All phenolic compounds, 1 – 7 , exhibited potent antioxidant abilities (DPPH: IC₅₀ 5.6 – 12.9 μm ; ABTS: 0.87 – 8.43 μm Trolox/μm ; FRAP: 1.01 – 5.79 μm Fe²⁺/μm , respectively). Besides, 5 – 7 , also exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against melanogenesis (80.7 – 86.8% melanin content), even with no or low toxicity to the cells (93.5 – 101.6% cell viability) at a high concentration of 100 μm . Compounds 1 – 3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against one or more cell lines (IC₅₀ 13.9 – 68.4%), and compound 1 with high tumor selectivity for A549 (SI 3.2).     

大叶桉叶水浸提液成分分析

为进一步明确大叶桉的化学成分,对大叶桉叶水浸提液分别用不同极性的有机溶剂石油醚、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇进行萃取,对各萃取相进行GC-MS分析。结果表明:大叶桉叶水浸提液共含有37种化合物,其中,石油醚萃取相中含有20种,主成分为草酸丁基异己酯(37.24%);乙酸乙酯萃取相中含有16种,主成分为2,2-二亚甲基双[6-(1,1-二甲基乙基-4-甲基)]-苯酚(50.05%);正丁醇萃取相中含有5种,主成分为丙基-2-甲基丁酸酯(54.57%)。在所有成分中,酯类物质居多,也有少量的烯、酮、醇、苯和烷烃。1-甲基,4-(1-甲基乙基)-1,4环己二烯、2,2-二亚甲基[6-(1,1-二甲基乙基)-4-甲基]苯酚、1-十八烯和二十烷为石油醚和乙酸乙酯的共有成分;1、2-苯二甲酸单(2-乙基己基)酯为乙酸乙酯和正丁醇的共有成分。该研究进一步明确了大叶桉的化学成分,为其在医药、化工和化感方面的应用研究奠定了基础。     

A New DNA‐Intercalative Cytotoxic Allylic Xanthone from Swertia corymbosa

Phytochemical investigation of the CHCl₃ fraction of Swertia corymbosa resulted in the isolation of a new 3‐allyl‐2,8‐dihydroxy‐1,6‐dimethoxy‐9H‐xanthen‐9‐one ( 1 ), along with four known xanthones, gentiacaulein ( 3 ), norswertianin ( 4 ), 1,3,6,8‐tetrahydroxyxanthone ( 5 ), and 1,3‐dihydroxyxanthone ( 6 ). Structure of compound 1 was elucidated with the aid of IR, UV, NMR, and MS data, and chemical transformation via new allyloxy xanthone derivative ( 2 ). Compounds 1 – 6 exhibited various levels of antioxidant and anti‐α‐glucosidase activities. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies on 1 – 6 indicated that these compounds could interact with calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) through intercalation and with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a static quenching process. Compound 1 was found to be significantly cytotoxic against human cancer cell lines HeLa, HCT116, and AGS, and weakly active against normal NIH 3T3 cell line.     

Direct Measurement of the Thermodynamics of Chiral Recognition in Bile Salt Micelles

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is shown to be a sensitive reporter of bile salt micellization and chiral recognition. Detailed ITC characterization of bile micelle formation as well as the chiral recognition capabilities of sodium cholate (NaC), deoxycholate (NaDC), and taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC) micelle systems are reported. The ΔH_demic of these bile salt micelle systems is directly observable and is strongly temperature‐dependent, allowing also for the determination of ΔCp_demic. Using the pseudo‐phase separation model, ΔG_demic and TΔS_demic were also calculated. Chirally selective guest–host binding of model racemic compounds 1,1’‐bi‐2‐napthol (BN) and 1,1’‐binaphthyl‐2,2’‐diylhydrogenphosphate (BNDHP) to bile salt micelles was then investigated. The S‐isomer was shown to bind more tightly to the bile salt micelles in all cases. A model was developed that allows for the quantitative determination of the enthalpic difference in binding affinity that corresponds to chiral selectivity, which is on the order of 1 kJ mol^‐1. Chirality 28:290–298, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.