Bio-based unsaturated polyester resin from post-consumer PET.

This study explores the utilization of post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as a material in the synthesis of styrene-free unsaturated polyester (UP) resin. The process involves glycolysis of PET waste with diethylene glycol and condensation polymerization with bio-based itaconic acid. The resulting unsaturated polyester possesses reactive methylidene functions that, in contrast to commonly employed fumarates/maleates, facilitate copolymerization with non-styrene reactive diluents. To formulate the resins, methacrylates and itaconates were used for dilution, and the curing process is achieved through a redox initiation system at room temperature, followed by post-curing at elevated temperatures. The cured formulations were characterized by their glass transition temperature, determined by DMA analysis. Mechanical properties were evaluated using standardized tests in tension, flexure, and compression. Particularly promising characteristics are observed in formulations incorporating bio-based dimethyl itaconate (DMI), allowing the formulation of materials with a high ultimate flexural strength (σf,max = 161.4 MPa) and compressive yield point (σc,yield = 131.3 MPa). Furthermore, the low volatility of DMI addresses the health, safety, and ecological concerns associated with the commonly used styrene. This technology not only presents a promising avenue for sustainable UP resin for glass fiber reinforced composites but also allows upcycling PET waste.

Cyclopentadienyl Molybdenum(II) Compounds Bearing Ether and Thioether Functions in the Side Chain: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxic/Cytostatic Studies.

A series of molybdenum(II) compounds [(η5 -Cp')Mo(CO)2 (L2 )][BF4 ] (Cp'=C5 H4 (CH2 )2 SPh, C9 H6 (CH2 )2 OMe, L2= N,N-chelating ligand) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods including X-ray crystallography. The in vitro assay on human leukemia cells MOLT-4 has shown that the substitution in the π-ligand in combination with suitable N,N-chelating ligand can lead to species with cytotoxicity considerably higher than reported to cisplatin. Unusually high activity was observed for compounds bearing phenanthroline ligands [{η5 -C9 H6 (CH2 )2 OMe}Mo(CO)2 (3,4,7,8-Me4 phen)][BF4 ] (IC50 =0.7±0.3 µM) and [{η5 -C9 H6 (CH2 )2 OMe}Mo(CO)2 (4,7-Ph2 phen)][BF4 ] (IC50 values 0.8±0.4 µM).

Stabilization of propene molybdenum and tungsten half-sandwich complexes by intramolecular coordination of a thioether function.

This study reports the stabilizing effect of an intramolecularly coordinated thioether function in propene complexes of the general formula [{η5:κS-C5H4(CH2)2SR}M(CO)2(η2-C2H3Me)][BF4] (M = Mo, W; R = Et, Ph). They are formed by protonation of allyl analogues [{η5-C5H4(CH2)2SR}M(CO)2(η3-C3H5)] by tetrafluoroboric acid in non-coordinating solvents. In contrast to analogues with unsubstituted Cp ligands, these propene complexes are isolable in a pure form and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The molybdenum compounds are stable at low temperature and the propene ligand can easily be exchanged by thioethers or acetonitrile. Several representatives of the reaction products were characterized by X-ray structure analysis. The stabilization effect in tungsten complexes [{η5:κS-C5H4(CH2)2SR}W(CO)2(η2-C2H3Me)][BF4] (R = Et, Ph) was unusually high. The compounds are long-term stable at room temperature and do not undergo ligand exchange reactions even with strong chelators such as 1,10-phenanthroline. The molecular structure of the tungsten propene complex was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis on a single crystal.

Helmet Phthalocyaninato Iron Complex as a Primary Drier for Alkyd Paints.

This study describes the catalytic performance of an iron(III) complex bearing a phthalocyaninato-like ligand in two solvent-borne and two high-solid alkyd binders. Standardized mechanical tests revealed strong activity, which appeared in particular cases at concentrations about one order of magnitude lower than in the case of cobalt(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, widespread used in paint-producing industry. The effect of the iron(III) compound on autoxidation process, responsible for alkyd curing, was quantified by kinetic measurements by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and compared with several primary driers. Effect of the drier concentration on coloration of transparent coatings was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Cyclopentadienyl-Based Anticancer Drugs: Improvement of Cytotoxic Activity through Functionalisation of the π Ligand.

Cytotoxic complexes containing molybdenum are widely studied as a potential substitution for commercially used drugs that often suffer from pronounced side effects and cellular resistance. Compounds of the type [(η5 -Cp')Mo(CO)2 (N,N L)][BF4 ], where Cp is cyclopentadienyl and N,N L is a bidentate ligand, are well known for their strong anticancer activity. It is a generally accepted paradigm that the nature of the coordinated N,N L ligand has a major impact on the cytotoxicity. In this study, a series of new functionalised Cp complexes of molybdenum was synthesised from derivatised fulvenes as π-ligand precursors. Indeed, the coordination sphere's modulation by various N,N-chelating ligands afforded species active toward leukemic cell line MOLT-4 with IC50 values depending on the character of the N,N-chelator used. However, following study clearly showed that functionalisation of the Cp ring with an amine moiety considerably improved cytotoxicity. These results are of crucial importance for the future design of highly active cytotoxic drugs, as modification of cyclopentadienyl is believed to have a minor effect on biological activity.

Salt-washed graphene oxide and its cytotoxicity.

The carbon nanomaterials and congeners, e.g., graphene or graphene oxide (GO), dispose of numerous unique properties, which are not necessarily intrinsic but might be related to a content of impurities. The oxidation step of GO synthesis introduces a considerable amount of metallic species. Therefore, large-scale purification is an actual scientific challenge. Here we describe new purification technique (salt­washing), which is based on three consecutive steps: (a) aggregation of GO sheets with NaCl (b) washing of the aggregates and (c) removing of the salt to afford purified GO (swGO). The considerably improved purity of swGO was demonstrated by ICP and EPR spectroscopy. The microscopic methods (TEM with SEAD, AFM) proved that the salt-washing does not affect the morphology or concentration of defects, showing the aggregation of GO with NaCl is fully reversible. The eligibility of swGO for biomedical applications was tested using fibroblastic cell cultures. The determined IC50 values clearly show a strong correlation between the purity of samples and cytotoxicity. Although the purification decreases cytotoxicity of GO, the IC50 values are still low proving that cytotoxic effect is not only impurities-related but also an intrinsic property. These findings may represent a serious limitation for usage of GO in biomedical applications.

Enhanced cytotoxicity of indenyl molybdenum(ii) compounds bearing a thiophene function.

A series of six indenyl molybdenum compounds bearing a thiophenyl function in the side chain were prepared and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The structures of [(η5-C9H6CH2C4H3S)(η3-C3H5)Mo(CO)2] and [(η5-C9H6CH2C4H3S)Mo(CO)2(bpy)][BF4] were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds bearing N,N-chelating ligands exhibit increased cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell lines MOLT-4; up to two orders of magnitude lower IC50 values were observed compared to analogues with unsubstituted indenyl, which clearly demonstrates the strong effect of the indenyl ligand modification on the biological activity of the molybdenum(ii) compounds. The highest cytostatic potential was observed for the complex bearing 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthtoline [(η5-C9H6CH2C4H3S)Mo(CO)2(Ph2phen)][BF4] with IC50 (MOLT-4) = 0.19 ± 0.02 µM. Detailed regulation of the molecular and cellular mechanism by this derivative was investigated on the lung carcinoma cell line A549 and compared with the lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5. Rather unusual differences in the effects on tumor and non-tumor cell lines provide a unique insight into the cytostatic action of molybdenum(ii) complexes.

Propene complexes of molybdenum and tungsten stabilized by intramolecular coordination of the 1-(quinol-8-yl)indenyl ligand.

We report herein a new class of mixed propene-indenyl complexes of molybdenum and tungsten stabilized by a strong N→M intramolecular coordination. The complexes [{η5:κN-1-(C9H6N)C9H6}(η2-C3H6)M(CO)2][BF4] (M = Mo, W) were obtained in nearly quantitative yields by the protonation of the η3-allyl ligand in compounds [(η3-C3H5){η5-1-(C9H6N)C9H6}M(CO)2] (M = Mo, W). In contrast to known η2-alkene molybdenum and tungsten compounds, the species presented here are easily isolated in the solid state. The tungsten compound [{η5:κN-1-(C9H6N)C9H6}(η2-C3H6)W(CO)2][BF4] is stable at room temperature, and its structure was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of both propene complexes toward several monodentate donors was examined. In the case of dimethyl sulfide, ligand exchange takes place to afford [{η5:κN-1-(C9H6N)C9H6}M(CO)2(SMe2)][BF4] (M = Mo, W) while acetonitrile induces η5→η3 haptotropic rearrangement to give [{η3:κN-1-(C9H6N)C9H6}M(CO)2(NCMe)2][BF4] (M = Mo, W).

Vanadocene complexes bearing N,N'-chelating ligands: Synthesis, structures and in vitro cytotoxic studies on the A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell line.

Ten new vanadocene complexes bearing N,N'-chelating ligands were prepared, characterized, and their cytotoxicity toward a panel of cancer cells was measured. Structures of four vanadocene compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes containing 1,2-bis(phenylimino)acenaphthene (bian) and 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenylimino)acenaphthene (4-MeO-bian) exhibit higher cytotoxicity than those with dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) and (E)-N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)benzenamine (pyma). In light of the finding, cytotoxic mechanisms of two highly effective complexes [(η5-C5H4Me)2V(bian)][OTf]2 (3b) and [(η5-C5H4Me)2V(4-MeO-bian)][OTf]2 (4b) against human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells were investigated by following membrane leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase, Trypan Blue staining and activation of tumor protein p53 (p53). Evaluated complexes have a potent dose-dependent antiproliferative activity, causing cell cycle redistribution by the increased accumulation of cells in the G2 and S phase. In accord with the observed cell cycle deceleration, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor-interacting protein 1 (p21WAF1/Cip1), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1), Checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) and their phosphorylated forms Chk1 at serine 345 and Chk2 at threonine 68 increased. In the cells exposed to complexes, dose- and time-dependent apoptotic process is initiated by the activation of the initiator caspase 8, followed by activation of effector caspase 3/7 and phosphatidylserine externalization. Moreover, because of treatment, A549 cells activate prosurvival mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling and up-regulate antiapoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2), thereby promoting evasion of cell death. Both complexes exhibited considerably higher cytotoxic effect than the reference anticancer drug cis-platin and the cytotoxicity was more pronounced at higher treatment time.

Homolytic, Heterolytic, Mesolytic - As You Like It: Steering the Cleavage of a HC(sp3 )-C(sp3 )H Bond in Bis(1H-2,1-benzazaborole) Derivatives.

A set of (3,3')-bis(1-Ph-2-R-1H-2,1-benzazaborole) compounds, in which R=tBu (Bab-tBu)2 , R=Dipp (Bab-Dipp)2 or R=tBu and Dipp (Bab-Dipp)(Bab-tBu), was synthesized and fully characterized using 1 H, 11 B, 13 C, and 15 N NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The central HC(sp3 )-C(sp3 )H bond with restricted rotation at the junction of both 1H-2,1-benzazaborole rings displayed an intriguing reactivity. It was demonstrated that this bond is easily mesolytically cleaved using alkali metals to form the respective aromatic 1Ph-2R-1H-2,1-benzazaborolyl anions M+ (THF)n (Bab-tBu)- (M=Li, Na, K) and K+ (THF)n (Bab-Dipp)- . Furthermore, the central HC(sp3 )-C(sp3 )H bond of bis(1H-2,1-benzazaborole)s is also homolytically cleaved either by heating or photochemical means, giving corresponding 1Ph-2R-1H-2,1-benzazaborolyl radicals (Bab-tBu). and (Bab-Dipp). , which rapidly self-terminate. Nevertheless, their formation was unambiguously established by NMR analysis of the reaction mixtures containing products of the self-termination of the radicals after heating or irradiation. (Bab-Dipp). radical was also characterized using EPR spectroscopy. Importantly, it turned out that the essentially non-polarized HC(sp3 )-C(sp3 )H bond in (Bab-tBu)2 is also cleaved heterolytically with 2 equiv of MeLi, giving the mixture of Li+ (SOL)n (Bab-tBu)- (SOL=THF or Et2 O) and lithium methyl-substituted borate complex Li+ (SOL)n (Bab-tBu-Me)- in a diastereoselective fashion.

Study of antitumor effect of selected vanadium and molybdenum organometallic complexes in human leukemic T-cells.

This work describes cytotoxic effect of non-platinum metal-based compounds on the human T-leukemic cells with different p53 status (p53 wild-type MOLT-4 and p53-deficient Jurkat cells). The cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effect of the vanadium complex [(η(5)-C5H5)2V(5-NH2-phen)]OTf (V1) and molybdenum complex [(η(3)-C3H5)Mo(CO)2(phen)Cl] (Mo1) were studied using flow cytometry, spectrophotometry and Western blotting. We found that the cytotoxic effect of both tested complexes after 24 h is higher against the both examined cell lines than that of cis-platin (cis-DDP). At later investigated time intervals of 48 and 72 h, the cytotoxic effect of the cis-DDP increased but the values of the cytotoxicity of the tested V1 and Mo1 complexes remained unchanged, with the cytotoxicity of V1 comparable to that of cis-DDP. Furthermore we observed that the apoptotic process was induced by the activation of the caspases 9 (intrinsic pathway) and 8 (extrinsic pathway) in cells exposed to evaluated complexes. In case of the p53 wild-type MOLT-4 cells, the expression of the tumor-suppressor protein p53 and its form phosphorylated at the serine 15 increased after both V1 and Mo1 treatment, similar to the effect of cis-DDP.

Differences in vanadocene dichloride and cisplatin effect on MOLT-4 leukemia and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Modern chemotherapy is interested in developing new agents with high efficiency of treatment in low-dose medication strategies, lower side toxicity and stronger specificity to the tumor cells. Vanadocene dichloride (VDC) belongs to the group of the most promising metallocene antitumor agents; however, its mechanism of action and cytotoxicity profile are not fully understood. In this paper we assess cytotoxic effects of VDC in comparison to cisplatin using opposite prototype of cells; human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMCs) cells and human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (MOLT-4). Our findings showed cytotoxic effect of VDC on leukemia cells, but unfortunately on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well. VDC induces apoptosis in leukemia cells; the induction is, however, lower than that of cisplatin, and in contrary to cisplatin, VDC does not induce p53 up-regulation. Cytotoxic effect of VDC on leukemia cells is less pronounced than that of cisplatin and more pronounced in PBMCs than in MOLT-4 cells.

Acetyl-ferrocene-2-chloro-1-ferrocenyl-ethanone (1/1).

In the title co-crystal, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(7)H(6)ClO)][Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(7)H(7)O)], both substituted ferrocene mol-ecules show the expected sandwich structure. The crystal packing exhibits weak inter-molecular Cl⋯Cl contacts of 3.279 (4) Å, π-π inter-actions between the substituted Cp rings of two neighbouring 2-chloro-1-ferrocenyl-ethanone mol-ecules [centroid-centroid distance = 3.534 (3) Å], and weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds.

Vanadocene arsenate complexes: evidence of super-hyperfine coupling with (75)As.

The reaction of vanadocene dichloride with sodium arsenate gives Cp(2)V(O(2)AsO(2)H). This compound was identified on the basis of the super-hyperfine coupling observed in the solution EPR spectrum. The effect of substitution was studied on the ring-substituted and ansa-bridged compounds.

Vanadocene complexes of amino acids containing secondary amino group: the first evidence of O,O-bonded carboxylic group to vanadocene(IV) moiety.

Reaction of vanadocene dichlorides (Cp(2)VCl(2) and (eta(5)-C(5)H(4)Me)(2)VCl(2)) with amino acids containing secondary amino groups gives three types of complexes: a) compounds with N,O-bonded amino acid, b) O-bonded amino acids and c) O,O-bonded amino acid. The complexes with N,O-bonded amino acid and O-bonded amino acids were observed in the case of l-proline and N-methylglycine (NMG). Reactions with N-phenylglycine (NPG) give O,O-chelates as the sole products. All three types of the complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods. Structures of [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)Me)(2)V(O-Pro)][BPh(4)], [Cp(2)V(O-Pro)(2)][PF(6)](2), [Cp(2)V(N,O-NMG)][BPh(4)].MeOH, [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)Me)(2)V(N,O-NMG)][BPh(4)].MeOH, [Cp(2)V(O-NMG)(2)][Cl](2).2H(2)O, [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)Me)(2)V(O-NMG)(2)][Cl](2).H(2)O and [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)Me)(2)V(O,O-NPG)][BPh(4)] were determined by X-ray crystallography.

Dibromido[bis-(η-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)dimethyl-silane]zirconium(IV).

The title mol-ecule, [ZrBr(2)(C(12)H(14)Si)], possesses a crystallographically imposed twofold rotational symmetry with the rotation axis passing through the Zr and Si atoms. The Zr(IV) centre is in a distorted tetra-hedral environment defined by two Cp rings of chelating organic ligands and two Br anions. Two five-membered rings form a dihedral angle of 59.7 (2)°. Unequal Zr-C bonds [2.471 (3)-2.556 (3) Å] in the mol-ecule indicate that the inter-action of the central metal with the [(C(5)H(4))(2)SiMe(2)](2-) ligand contains noticeable η(3)-allyl and η(2)-olefin contributions.

Vanadocene(IV) dicyanide complexes: the evidence super-hyperfine coupling for compounds with 13CN ligands.

An EPR study of the vanadocene complexes (C(5)H(5))2V(CN)2 and (CH(3)C(5)H(4))2V(CN)2 was carried out. Such compounds show strong super-hyperfine coupling (|a(iso)(13C)| approximately 1.27 mT) when 13C labeled cyanide is used for their preparation. Super-hyperfine splitting was observed in the isotropic spectra of solution samples as well as in the anisotropic spectra of frozen solutions. Such studies were supplemented with structural characterization of the parent compounds. Molecular structure of the complex (CH(3)C(5)H(4))2V(CN)2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both compounds were characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy.

Investigation of vanadocene(IV) alpha-amino acid complexes: synthesis, structure, and behavior in physiological solutions, human plasma, and blood.

This work is focused on investigating the interaction of antitumor active metallocene vanadocene dichloride (Cp2VCl2) and amino acids in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Sixteen vanadocene amino acid complexes [Cp2V(aa)][X] (aa = gly, ala, val, leu, ile, phe, his, and trp; X = Cl, PF6) were prepared and characterized on the basis of spectral measurements (EPR, MS, IR, Raman). Amino acids are coordinated to the vanadocene fragment through the oxygen atom of the carboxylic group and the nitrogen of the amino group, resulting in a five-membered chelate ring. Complexes [Cp2V(val)][PF6] and [Cp2V(ile)][PF6] have been characterized by X-ray structure analyses. It was evidenced that all prepared complexes are stable in both aqueous solutions with physiological pH and in therapeutic NaCl solutions. EPR spectra of vanadocene amino acid complexes in Krebs-Ringer solution in human blood plasma and in whole blood showed that these complexes react with the hydrogen carbonate anion present forming complex Cp2V(O2CO).

An experimental and theoretical study of the Cp2VO2CO: use of 13CO3(2-) for structure investigation of d1-metallocene complexes.

EPR study has shown that the anticancer agent vanadocene dichloride (Cp2VCl2) interacts with carbonate contained in physiological solutions. Chelate complex Cp2VO2CO (|A(iso)(51V)| = 175.1 MHz, g(iso) = 1.9861) is the only paramagnetic species formed in the range about the physiological pH (5.5-11.0). The super-hyperfine coupling (|a(iso)(13C)| = 24.1 MHz) was evidenced at measurements using 13C labelled carbonate. The structure of carbonate complex was validated by comparison of observed and theoretical calculated HFC tensors (at the density functional level of theory).