Similarities and Differences in Benzene Reduction with Ca, Sr, Yb and Sm: Strong Evidence for Tetra-Anionic Benzene.

Inverse sandwich complexes of Yb and Sm stabilized by a bulky ß-diketiminate (BDI) ligand have been prepared: (BDI)Ln(η6,η6-C6H6)Ln(BDI); Ln=lanthanide. Coordinated benzene ligands can be neutral, di-anionic or, often controversially discussed, even tetra-anionic. The formal charge on benzene is correlated to assignment of the metal oxidation state which generally poses a problem. Herein, we take advantage of the structural similarities found when comparing CaII with YbII, and SrII with SmII complexes. In this work, we found an excellent overlap of the Ca/Yb inverse sandwich structures but a striking difference for the Sr/Sm pair. The much shorter Sm-N and Sm-C6H6 distances are strong evidence for a SmIII-benzene-4-SmIII assignment. This was further supported by NMR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, reactivity and comprehensive computational investigation.

Bistable Aryl Azopyrazolium Ionic Photoswitches in Water.

We report a new class of arylazopyrazolium-based ionic photoswitches (AAPIPs). These AAPIPs with different counter ions have been accessed through a modular synthetic approach in high yields. More importantly, the AAPIPs exhibit excellent reversible photoswitching and exceptional thermal stability in water. The effects of solvents, counter ions, substitutions, concentration, pH, and glutathione (GSH) have been evaluated using spectroscopic investigations. The results revealed that the bistability of studied AAPIPs is robust and near quantitative. The thermal half-life of Z isomers is extremely high in water (up to years), and it can be lowered electronically by the electron-withdrawing groups or highly basic pH.

Well-Defined Ni(0) and Ni(II) Complexes of Bicyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene (Me BICAAC): Catalytic Activity and Mechanistic Insights in Negishi Cross-Coupling Reaction.

Negishi cross-coupling reaction of organozinc compounds as nucleophiles with aryl halides has drawn immense focus for C-C bond formation reactions. In comparison to the well-established library of Pd complexes, the C-C cross-coupling of this particular approach is largely primitive with nickel-complexes. Herein, we describe the syntheses of Ni(II) complexes, [(Me BICAAC)2 NiX2 ] (X=Cl (1), Br (2), and I (3)) by employing the bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (Me BICAAC) ligand. The reduction of complexes 1-3 using KC8 afforded the two coordinate low valent, Ni(0) complex, [(Me BICAAC)2 Ni(0)] (4). Complexes 1-4 have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and their solid-state structures were also confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, complexes 1-4 have been applied in a direct and convenient method to catalyze the Negishi cross-coupling reaction of various aryl halides with 2,6-difluorophenylzinc bromide or phenylzinc bromide as the coupling partner in the presence of 3 mol % catalyst. Comparatively, among all-pristine complexes, 1 exhibit high catalytic potential to afford value-added C-C coupled products without the use of any additive. The UV-vis studies and HRMS measurements of controlled stochiometric reactions vindicate the involvement of Ni(I)-NI(III) cycle featured with a penta-coordinated Ni(III)-aryl species as the key intermediate for 1 whereas Ni(0)/Ni(II) species are potentially involved in the catalytic cycle of 4.

Structure-Property Relationship for Visible Light Bidirectional Photoswitchable Azoheteroarenes and Thermal Stability of Z-Isomers.

A modular approach has been adopted to synthesize a wide range of visible light-driven photoswitchable azoheteroarenes. In this regard, we considered ortho substitution of cyclic amines in the aryl ring and varied substitution patterns. Using detailed spectroscopic studies, we established a relationship between structure and photoswitching ability and also half-lives of the Z-isomers. Through this, we envision tunable and bidirectional longer wavelength photoswitches.

Reactions of a BICAAC with hydroboranes: propensity for Lewis adduct formation and carbene insertion into the B-H bond.

The reactivity of a bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (BICAAC) towards different boranes has been examined in the present work. The reactions with boranes BX3·SMe2 (X = H, Cl, Br), BF3·OEt2 and BCl3 yield Lewis adducts [BICAAC·BH3] (1), [BICAAC·BHCl2] (2), [BICAAC·BH2Cl] (3), [BICAAC·BF3] (4), [BICAAC·BCl3] (5) and [BICAAC·BBr3] (6) respectively, whereas more hydridic boranes, 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) and catecholborane (HBcat), enable the insertion of the carbene carbon into the B-H bond to form [BICAAC(H)-(9-BBN)] (7) and [BICAAC(H)-Bcat] (8). These complexes are the first examples of BICAAC-boron compounds and have been characterized using IR, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, HRMS spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Computational analyses were also performed to gain insight into the mechanism of B-H bond activation and adduct formation. Furthermore, the reactions of the BICAAC with boranes have been compared with the known reactions of CAACs and NHCs.

Neutral and cationic cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene mercury [cAAC-Hg(ii)] complexes: scope of hydroamination of alkynes with organomercury compounds.

This study demonstrates the first synthesis of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (cAAC) adducts of Hg(ii), [cAACMe·HgBr(µ-Br)]2 (1a) and [cAACcy·HgBr(µ-Br)]2 (1b). Adduct 1b catalyzes intermolecular hydroamination of aromatic alkynes and amines under mild conditions to afford aromatic imines. The quest to prepare an electrophilic Hg(ii) complex resulted in the synthesis of cationic [(cAACcy)2Hg(H2O)]2+2[NO3]- (3) by reacting 1b with AgNO3.

Implication of novel thiazolo-thiophene derivative (MCD-KV-10) for management of asthma.

CONTEXT: Asthma is multifaceted disease where many targets contribute towards its development and progression. Among these, adenosine receptor subtypes play a major role. OBJECTIVE: MCD-KV-10, a novel thiazolo-thiophene was designed and evaluated pre-clinically for its implication in management of asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This compound showed good affinity and selectivity towards A(2A)/A3 adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes. Furthermore, MCD-KV-10 was evaluated for in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition activity; in vivo mast cell stabilization potential and in vivo anti-asthmatic activity was done in ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation model in guinea pigs. RESULTS: The compound showed good (>57%) inhibition of lipoxygenase enzyme and also effectively protected mast cell degranulation (>63%). The compound showed good anti-asthmatic activity as inferred from the in vivo studies. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that MCD-KV-10 has an inhibitory effect on airway inflammation. CONCLUSION: Though, we have identified a potential candidate for management of asthma, further mechanistic studies are needed.

Evaluation of GABAergic Transmission Modulation as a Novel Functional Target for Management of Multiple Sclerosis: Exploring Inhibitory Effect of GABA on Glutamate-Mediated Excitotoxicity.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) where the communication ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord with each other gets impaired. Some current findings suggest the role of glutamate excitotoxicity in the development and progression of MS. An excess release of glutamate leads to the activation of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors, thus resulting in accumulation of toxic cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and cell death. However, it has been observed that gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors located in the nerve terminals activate presynaptic Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent signaling to inhibit depolarization-evoked Ca(2+) influx and glutamate release from isolated nerve terminals, which suggest a potential implication of GABAA receptor in management of MS. With this proof of concept, we tried to explore the potential of selective GABAA receptor agonists or positive allosteric modulators (diazepam and phenobarbitone sodium) and GABAA level enhancer (sodium valproate) for management of MS by screening them for their activity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model in rats and cuprizone-induced demyelination model in mice. In this study, sodium valproate was found to show the best activity in the animal models whereas phenobarbitone sodium showed moderate activity. However, diazepam was found to be ineffective.