Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Embedded Zigzag Hydrocarbon Belts.

Despite the aesthetically appealing structures and tantalizing physical and chemical properties, zigzag hydrocarbon belts and their heteroatom-embedded analogues remain challenging synthetic targets. We report herein the synthesis of diverse O/N-doped zigzag hydrocarbon belts based on selective bridging of the fjords of resorcin[4]arene derivatives through intramolecular SN Ar and palladium-catalyzed intermolecular C-N bond formation reactions. Preorganized conformations of mono-macrocyclic, half-belt and quasi-belt compounds were revealed to facilitate cyclization reactions to construct heteroatom-linked octahydrobelt[8]arenes. The acquired products had strained square-prism-shaped belt structures in which all six-membered heterocyclic rings adopted an unusual boat conformation with equatorially configured alkyl groups. The unprecedented heteroatom-bearing belts also exhibited different photophysical and redox properties to those of octahydrobelt[8]arene analogues.

Copper-Catalyzed N,N-Diarylation of Amides for the Construction of 9,10-Dihydroacridine Structure and Applications in the Synthesis of Diverse Nitrogen-Embedded Polyacenes.

We reported herein CuI/DMEDA catalyzed N,N-diarylation reaction of amides with various di(o-bromoaryl)methanes to produce diverse 9,10-dihydroacridine derivatives. The resulting 9,10-dihydroacridine derivatives were oxidized selectively under mild conditions to afford acridine, acridinone, and acridinium derivatives. The copper-catalyzed N,N-diarylation reaction coupled with oxidative aromatization reaction enabled the facile construction of nitrogen atom-embedded tetracenes and pentacenes of different ortho-fused patterns. The luminescence properties, especially the effect of fusion pattern on fluorescence emission of acquired N-polycenes, were also demonstrated.

Effects of Jiazhu decoction in combination with cyclophosphamide on breast cancer in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiazhu decoction (JZD) in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the growth of breast cancer in mice and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of action. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups of 10 (untreated model group, JZD group, CTX group, and JZD + CTX group) and subcutaneously injected with 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells. Tumors were allowed to establish for ~7 d before initiation of treatment with CTX (100 mg/kg every week by intraperitoneal injection) and/or JZD (0.015 mL of 1.65 g/mL crude drug, administered daily by gavage). The model group received equivalent volumes of vehicle on the same schedules. Tumor volumes were measured every 3 d. Mice were sacrificed after 3 weeks of treatment, and tumors were excised and subjected to RT-qPCR and western blot analysis to evaluate expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway components ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The mean tumor volume was smaller and the growth rate was slower in the CTX and JZD + CTX groups compared with the model group (P < 0.05), and in the JZD + CTX group compared with the CTX and JZD groups (P < 0.05). Tumor growth was inhibited by 35.4% and 48.1% by CTX and JZD + CTX treatment, respectively (P < 0.001). The expression of ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 mRNA and protein in tumors was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD or JZD + CTX compared with the untreated mice (P < 0.05), and was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD + CTX compared with either JZD or CTX alone (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: JZD inhibited the growth of mouse breast cancer cells in vivo, possibly by reducing the expression of ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Combination therapy with JZD plus CTX had a more potent inhibitory effect on breast cancer growth compared with either agent alone.