Crystal Structure and Solid-State Packing of 4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-one and 4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazole-5-thione.

The crystal structure and solid-state packing of 4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-one and two polymorphs of 4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazole-5-thione were analyzed and compared to structural data of similar systems. These five-membered S,N-rich heterocycles are planar with considerable bond localization. All three structures demonstrate tight solid-state packing without voids which is attributed to a rich network of short intermolecular electrostatic contacts. These include Sδ+…Nδ-, Sδ+…Oδ-, Sδ+…Clδ- and Sδ+…Sδ- interactions that are well within the sum of their van der Waals radii (∑VDW). B3LYP, BLYP, M06, mPW1PW, PBE and MP2 were employed to calculate their intramolecular geometrical parameters, the Fukui condensed functions to probe their reactivity, the bond order, Bird Index and NICS(1) to establish their aromaticity.

Modulation of calcineurin activity in Aspergillus nidulans: the roles of high magnesium concentrations and of transcriptional factor CrzA.

A proper response to elevated extracellular calcium levels helps to most organisms to keep this secondary messenger under strict control, thereby preventing inadequate activation or inhibition of many regulatory activities into cells. In fungi, the calcineurin responsive zinc-finger Crz1/CrzA transcription factor transduces calcium signaling to gene expression. In Aspergillus nidulans, absence of CrzA activity leads to alkaline pH sensitivity and loss of tolerance to high levels of extracellular calcium. Disruption of calcium uptake mechanisms or the presence of high levels of Mg2+ partially suppresses this calcium-sensitive phenotype of null crzA strain. The effects of Mg2+ on CrzA phosphorylation and perturbations that reduce calcineurin phosphatase activity on CrzA demonstrate that the calcium sensitive phenotype of null crzA strain is a consequence of up-regulated calcineurin activity under calcium-induced conditions.

Redox Active Quinoidal 1,2,4-Benzotriazines.

Modifying the para-quinonimine 1,3-diphenyl-1,2,4-benzotriazin-7(1 H)-one (2a) ( E1/2-1/0 -1.20 V), by replacing the N1-phenyl by pentafluorophenyl, the C3-phenyl by trifluoromethyl, or the C7 carbonyl by ylidenemalononitrile, led to improved electron affinities as determined by cyclic voltammetry and computational studies. Combining structural changes further improved electron accepting abilities: the most electron deficient analogues ( E1/2-1/0 ∼ -0.65 V) involved combining the ylidenemalononitrile groups at C7 with the trifluoromethyl groups at C3. 1,2,5-Thiadiazolo fusion at C5-C6 did not affect the redox behavior but did enhance the UV-vis absorption profile. During the synthesis of the thiadiazolo analogues, 1,4-thiazino-fused analogues 6 were obtained in low yield, which thermally ring contract to the triazafluoranthenones 7. Compounds are fully characterized, and X-ray data are provided for selected analogues.

The Reaction of DABCO with 4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazoles: Synthesis and Chemistry of 4-[N-(2-Chloroethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-5H-1,2,3-dithiazoles.

N-(4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)anilines react with DABCO in hot PhCl to give N-{4-[N-(2-chloroethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene}anilines in high yields (70-92%). The reaction also works with 4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-one and -thione, giving the corresponding products in 85% and 76% yields, respectively. While the reaction of several (4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)methanes with DABCO failed to give {4-[N-(2-chloroethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene}methanes, these can be prepared in moderate yields via classical cycloaddition-retrocycloaddition strategies from 4-[N-(2-chloroethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-5H-1,2,3-dithiazole-5-thione. The 2-chloroethyl moiety on selected dithiazoles was also modified without cleavage of the 1,2,3-dithiazole by reaction with various nucleophiles, giving access to 4-[N-(2-substituted)piperazin-1-yl]-5H-1,2,3-dithiazoles in moderate to high yields.

Nimesulide Silver Metallodrugs, Containing the Mitochondriotropic, Triaryl Derivatives of Pnictogen; Anticancer Activity against Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Novel silver(I) metallo-drugs of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide (nim) and the mitochondriotropic triaryl derivatives of pnictogen ligands (tpE, E = P (tpp, tptp, or totp), As (tpAs), Sb (tpSb)) with the formulas {[Ag(nim) (tpp)2]DMF} (1), [Ag(nim) (tptp)2] (2), [Ag(nim) (totp)] (3), [Ag(nim) (tpAs)2] (4), and [Ag(nim) (tpSb)3] (5) ((tpp = triphenyphosphine, tptp = tri(p-tolyl)phosphine, totp = tri(o-tolyl)phosphine, tpAs = triphenylarsine, tpSb = triphenylantimony, and DMF = dimethylformamide) were synthesized and characterized by melting point, vibrational spectroscopy (mid-Fourier transform IR), (1)H NMR, UV-visible spectroscopic techniques, and X-ray crystallography. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of 1-5 against human breast adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines: MCF-7 (estrogen receptor (ER) positive) and MDA-MB-231 (ER negative) was determined. The genotoxicity on normal human fetal lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5) caused by 1-5 was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. The absence of micronucleus in MRC-5 cells confirms the in vitro non toxicity behavior of the compounds. Because of the morphology of the cells, an apoptotic pathway was concluded for the cell death. The apoptotic pathway, especially though the mitochondrion damage, was confirmed by DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, and permeabilization of the mitochondrial membrane tests. The molecular mechanism of action of 1-5 was further studied by (i) the binding affinity of 1-5 toward the calf thymus (CT) DNA, (ii) the inhibitory activity of 1-5 against lipoxygenase (an enzyme that oxidizes polyunsaturated fatty acids to leukotrienes or prostaglandins), and (iii) the catalytic activity of 1-5 on the oxidation of linoleic acid (an acid that partakes in membrane fluidity, membrane enzyme activities, etc.) to hyperoxolinoleic acid by oxygen.

The Suppression of Columnar π-Stacking in 3-Adamantyl-1-phenyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl.

3-Adamantyl-1-phenyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl (4) crystallizes as chains of radicals where the spin bearing benzotriazinyl moieties are isolated from each other. Magnetic susceptibility studies in the 5-300 K temperature region indicate that radical 4 demonstrates typical paramagnetic behavior stemming from non-interacting S = ½ spins.

Magnetic "Molecular Oligomers" Based on Decametallic Supertetrahedra: A Giant Mn49 Cuboctahedron and its Mn25Na4 Fragment.

Two nanosized Mn49 and Mn25Na4 clusters based on analogues of the high-spin (S=22) [Mn(III)6Mn(II)4(µ4-O)4](18+) supertetrahedral core are reported. Mn49 and Mn25Na4 complexes consist of eight and four decametallic supertetrahedral subunits, respectively, display high virtual symmetry (O(h)), and are unique examples of clusters based on a large number of tightly linked high nuclearity magnetic units. The complexes also have large spin ground-state values (Mn49: S=61/2; Mn25Na4: S=51/2) with the Mn49  cluster displaying single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior and being the second largest reported homometallic SMM.

A magnetostructural investigation of an abrupt spin transition for 1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl.

1-Phenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl is the first example of a hydrazyl radical that shows a reversible sharp spin transition fully completed within 5(1) K. The nominally first-order transition takes place at ca. 58(2) K and proceeds via subtle changes of intra- and interstack interactions between two similar structural phases. The low-temperature phase (5-60 K) is diamagnetic and has a singlet ground state (2Jexp = -166.8 cm(-1), gsolid = 2.0042, ρ = 0.2%) stemming from a multicenter two-electron interaction. The high-temperature phase (60-300 K) is paramagnetic as a result of noninteracting S = 1/2 spins arising from weakly bound dimers.

Structural, magnetic, and computational correlations of some imidazolo-fused 1,2,4-benzotriazinyl radicals.

1,3,7,8-Tetraphenyl-4,8-dihydro-1H-imidazolo[4,5g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl (5), 8-(4-bromophenyl)-1,3,7-triphenyl-4,8-dihydro-1H-imidazolo[4,5g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl (6), and 8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,7-triphenyl-4,8-dihydro-1H-imidazolo[4,5g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl (7) were characterized by using X-ray diffraction crystallography, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies, and DFT calculations. Radicals 5-7 pack in 1 D π stacks made of radical pairs with alternate short and long interplanar distances. The magnetic susceptibility (χ vs. T) of radicals 5 and 6 exhibit broad maxima at (50±2) and (50±4) K, respectively, and are interpreted in terms of an alternating antiferromagnetic Heisenberg linear chain model with average exchange-interaction values of J = -31.3 and -35.4 cm(-1) (gsolid = 2.0030 and 2.0028) and an alternation parameter a = 0.15 and 0.38 for 5 and 6, respectively. However, radical 7 forms 1 D columns of radical pairs with alternating distances; one of the interplanar distances is significantly longer than the other, which decreases the magnetic dimensionality and leads to discrete dimers with a ferromagnetic exchange interaction between the radicals (2J = 23.6 cm(-1) , 2zJ' = -2.8 cm(-1) , gsolid = 2.0028). Magnetic exchange-coupling interactions in 1,2,4-benzotriazinyl radicals are sensitive to the degree of slippage and inter-radical separation, and such subtle changes in structure alter the fine balance between ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions.

Synthesis of fused 1,2,4-dithiazines and 1,2,3,5-trithiazepines.

Reacting (Z)-N-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)-1H-pyrazol-5-amines 5 with Et2NH and then with concd H2SO4 gives 5H-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]dithiazine-3-carbonitriles 7 in good yields (74-85%) and 6H-pyrazolo[3,4-f][1,2,3,5]trithiazepine-4-carbonitriles 9 as minor products (0-6%). Furthermore, the 1,3-dimethylpyrazole analogue 5a was transformed into the dithiazine 7a in two discrete steps, allowing the isolation of a disulfide intermediate (Z)-2-[(diethylamino)disulfan-yl]-2-[(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)imino]acetonitrile (8a). The one-pot, two-step reaction also worked with electron-rich hydroxy- and methoxy-substituted anilines. Thermolysis of the pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]dithiazines 7 gave the ring-contracted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]thiazole-5-carbonitriles 6 (94-100%). With active sulfur, 1,3-dimethyl-5H-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]dithiazine-3-carbonitrile (7a) gave 1,3-dimethyl-6H-pyrazolo[3,4-f][1,2,3,5]trithiazepine-4-carbonitrile (9a), but on prolonged reaction times, it gave 5,7-dimethyl-5H-[1,2,3]dithiazolo[4,5-b]pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4]thiazine (13). Finally, in the absence of acid, heating a solution of (Z)-2-[(diethylamino)disulfanyl]-2-[(1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)imino]acetonitrile (8a) gave 4,6,10,12-tetramethyl-6H-pyrazolo[3,4-f]pyrazolo[3',4':4,5]pyrimido[6,1-d][1,2,3,5]trithiazepine-8,12b(10H)-dicarbonitrile (19) (67%).

Reinvestigating the reaction of 1H-pyrazol-5-amines with 4,5-dichloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium chloride: a route to pyrazolo[3,4-c]isothiazoles and pyrazolo[3,4-d]thiazoles.

The reaction of Appel salt 1 with 1H-pyrazol-5-amines 2 gives main products N-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)-1H-pyrazol-5-amines 3, and 6H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isothiazole-3-carbonitriles 5, together with several minor side products. When the pyrazoles are N-1 methylated, the product ratio 3:5 can be modified by adjusting the pH of the reaction medium: acidic conditions favor formation of the dithiazolylidenes 3, while basic conditions favor formation of pyrazolo[3,4-c]isothiazoles 5. Furthermore, thermolysis of N-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)-1H-pyrazol-5-amines 3 gives 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]thiazole-5-carbonitriles 4. Single crystal X-ray crystallography supports the structure of 4,6-dimethyl-6H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isothiazole-3-carbonitrile (5a) and helps resolve a previous incorrect structural assignment of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]thiazole-5-carbonitriles 4.

A model-driven approach to upcycling recalcitrant feedstocks in Pseudomonas putida by decoupling PHA production from nutrient limitation.

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have emerged as promising eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics since they are synthesized from renewable resources and offer exceptional properties. However, their production is limited to the stationary growth phase under nutrient-limited conditions, requiring customized strategies and costly two-phase bioprocesses. In this study, we tackle these challenges by employing a model-driven approach to reroute carbon flux and remove regulatory constraints using synthetic biology. We construct a collection of Pseudomonas putida-overproducing strains at the expense of plastics and lignin-related compounds using growth-coupling approaches. PHA production was successfully achieved during growth phase, resulting in the production of up to 46% PHA/cell dry weight while maintaining a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Our strains are additionally validated under an upcycling scenario using enzymatically hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate as a feedstock. These findings have the potential to revolutionize PHA production and address the global plastic crisis by overcoming the complexities of traditional PHA production bioprocesses.

Ethical considerations for the age of non-governmental space exploration.

Mounting ambitions and capabilities for public and private, non-government sector crewed space exploration bring with them an increasingly diverse set of space travelers, raising new and nontrivial ethical, legal, and medical policy and practice concerns which are still relatively underexplored. In this piece, we lay out several pressing issues related to ethical considerations for selecting space travelers and conducting human subject research on them, especially in the context of non-governmental and commercial/private space operations.

Reactions of tetracyanoethylene with N'-arylbenzamidines: a route to 2-phenyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinoline-9-carbonitriles.

Eight 2-phenyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinoline-9-carbonitriles 15 are prepared in four steps from N'-arylbenzamidines 11 and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in ~70-90% yields. The transformation involves the initial formation of N-aryl-N'-(1,2,2-tricyanovinyl)benzamidines 12 in 87-99% yields, which in MeCN undergo a 5-exodig cyclization to give the 2-[1-aryl-5-imino-2-phenyl-1H-imidazol-4(5H)-ylidene]malononitriles 13 in 84-92% yields, while in MeOH the (Z)-2-[2-phenyl-4-(arylimino)-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-ylidene]malononitriles 14 are formed in 85-94% yields. The imidazoles 14 can also be prepared directly from imidazoles 13 via a Dimroth rearrangement in either neat MeOH or in DCM with DBU. Subsequent thermolysis of imidazoles 14 in diphenyl ether affords 2-phenyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinoline-9-carbonitriles 15 in near quantitative yields. Mechanistic rationale is provided for all transformations.

Synthesis and properties of imidazolo-fused benzotriazinyl radicals.

1,3-Diphenylbenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-7(1H)-one, the oxidation product of 1,3-diphenyl-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-4-yl (Blatter's radical), reacts with N'-arylbenzamidines in PhMe at ca. 100 °C in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine (Hünig's base) (1 equiv.) to give N'-aryl-N-(1,7-dihydro-7-oxo-1,3-diphenylbenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-6-yl)benzimidamides in 49-95% yield. In neat AcOH heated at ca. 120 °C, N'­aryl-N-(1,7-dihydro-7-oxo-1,3-diphenylbenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-6-yl)benzimidamides cyclodehydrate to give the novel 8-substituted 1,3,7-triphenyl-4,8-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yls in 13-81% yield. During the optimization of this cyclodehydration an additional oxazole fused benzotriazinyl radical 1,3,7-triphenyl-1,4-dihydro[1,3]oxazolo[4,5-g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl was isolated as a side product and characterized. The CV and EPR data of the imidazolo- and oxazolo-fused radicals are presented as well as single crystal X-ray structures of 1,3,7-triphenyl-1,4-dihydro-[1,3]oxazolo[4,5-g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl and 1,3,7,8-tetraphenyl-4,8-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-g][1,2,4]benzotriazin-4-yl.

Heterologous constitutive production of short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas putida KT2440: the involvement of IbpA inclusion body protein.

Designing cell factories for the production of novel polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) via smart metabolic engineering is key to obtain à la carte materials with tailored physicochemical properties. To this end, we used the model medium-chain-length-PHA producing bacterium, P. putida KT2440 as a chassis, which is characterized by its metabolic versatility and stress tolerance. Different PHA biosynthetic modules were assembled in expression plasmids using the Golden gate/MoClo modular assembly technique to implement an orthogonal short-chain-lengh-PHA (scl-PHA) switch in a "deaf" PHA mutant. This was specifically constructed to override endogenous multilevel regulation of PHA synthesis in the native strain. We generated a panel of engineered approaches carrying the genes from Rhodospirillum rubrum, Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, demonstrating that diverse scl-PHAs can be constitutively produced in the chassis strain to varying yields from 23% to 84% PHA/CDW. Co-feeding assays of the most promising engineered strain harboring the PHA machinery from C. necator resulted to a panel of PHBV from 0.6% to 19% C5 monomeric incorporation. Chromosomally integrated PHA machineries with high PhaCCn synthase dosage successfully resulted in 68% PHA/CDW production. Interestingly, an inverse relationship between PhaC synthase dosage and granule size distribution was demonstrated in the heterologous host. In this vein, it is proposed the key involvement of inclusion body protein IbpA to the heterologous production of tailored PHA in P. putida KT2440.

Synthetic Control of Metabolic States in Pseudomonas putida by Tuning Polyhydroxyalkanoate Cycle.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters produced by numerous microorganisms for energy and carbon storage. Simultaneous synthesis and degradation of PHA drives a dynamic cycle linked to the central carbon metabolism, which modulates numerous and diverse bacterial processes, such as stress endurance, pathogenesis, and persistence. Here, we analyze the role of the PHA cycle in conferring robustness to the model bacterium P. putida KT2440. To assess the effect of this cycle in the cell, we began by constructing a PHA depolymerase (PhaZ) mutant strain that had its PHA cycle blocked. We then restored the flux through the cycle in the context of an engineered library of P. putida strains harboring differential levels of PhaZ. High-throughput phenotyping analyses of this collection of strains revealed significant changes in response to PHA cycle performance impacting cell number and size, PHA accumulation, and production of extracellular (R)-hydroxyalkanoic acids. To understand the metabolic changes at the system level due to PHA turnover, we contextualized these physiological data using the genome-scale metabolic model iJN1411. Model-based predictions suggest successive metabolic steady states during the growth curve and an important carbon flux rerouting driven by the activity of the PHA cycle. Overall, we demonstrate that modulating the activity of the PHA cycle gives us control over the carbon metabolism of P. putida, which in turn will give us the ability to tailor cellular mechanisms driving stress tolerance, e.g., defenses against oxidative stress, and any potential biotechnological applications. IMPORTANCE Despite large research efforts devoted to understanding the flexible metabolism of Pseudomonas beyond the role of key regulatory players, the metabolic basis powering the dynamic control of its biological fitness under disturbance conditions remains largely unknown. Among other metabolic hubs, the so-called PHA cycle, involving simultaneous synthesis and degradation of PHAs, is emerging as a pivotal metabolic trait powering metabolic robustness and resilience in this bacterial group. Here, we provide evidence suggesting that metabolic states in Pseudomonas can be anticipated, controlled, and engineered by tailoring the flux through the PHA cycle. Overall, our study suggests that the PHA cycle is a promising metabolic target toward achieving control over bacterial metabolic robustness. This is likely to open up a broad range of applications in areas as diverse as pathogenesis and biotechnology.

Engineering Native and Synthetic Pathways in Pseudomonas putida for the Production of Tailored Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Growing environmental concern sparks renewed interest in the sustainable production of (bio)materials that can replace oil-derived goods. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are isotactic polymers that play a critical role in the central metabolism of producer bacteria, as they act as dynamic reservoirs of carbon and reducing equivalents. PHAs continue to attract industrial attention as a starting point toward renewable, biodegradable, biocompatible, and versatile thermoplastic and elastomeric materials. Pseudomonas species have been known for long as efficient biopolymer producers, especially for medium-chain-length PHAs. The surge of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches in recent years offers the possibility of exploiting the untapped potential of Pseudomonas cell factories for the production of tailored PHAs. In this article, an overview of the metabolic and regulatory circuits that rule PHA accumulation in Pseudomonas putida is provided, and approaches leading to the biosynthesis of novel polymers (e.g., PHAs including nonbiological chemical elements in their structures) are discussed. The potential of novel PHAs to disrupt existing and future market segments is closer to realization than ever before. The review is concluded by pinpointing challenges that currently hinder the wide adoption of bio-based PHAs, and strategies toward programmable polymer biosynthesis from alternative substrates in engineered P. putida strains are proposed.

Magnetic properties of two new Fe(4) single-molecule magnets in the solid state and in frozen solution.

Two novel tetranuclear, star-shaped iron(III) clusters, [Fe(4)(acac)(6)(Br-mp)(2)] and [Fe(III) (4)(acac)(6)(tmp)(2)], are described. Both have S=5 ground states resulting from antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbour superexchange interactions, with J=-8.2 cm(-1) and J=-8.5 cm(-1) for 1 and 2, respectively. Energy barriers for the relaxation of the magnetisation of approximately 12 cm(-1) were derived from AC susceptibility measurements. Magnetic resonance measurements revealed a zero-field splitting parameter D=-0.34 cm(-1) for both complexes. AC susceptibility measurements in solution demonstrated that the complexes are reasonably stable in solution. Interestingly, the magnetisation relaxation slows down significantly in frozen solution, in contrast to what is generally observed for single-molecule magnets. This was shown to result from a large increase in tau(0), the prefactor in the Arrhenius equation, with the energy barrier remaining unchanged.