Development of Potential Therapeutic Agents from Black Elderberries (the Fruits of Sambucus nigra L.).

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) is a widespread deciduous shrub, of which the fruits (elderberries) are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary supplement products. These berries have been found to show multiple bioactivities, including antidiabetic, anti-infective, antineoplastic, anti-obesity, and antioxidant activities. An elderberry extract product, Sambucol®, has also been used clinically for the treatment of viral respiratory infections. As the major components, phenolic compounds, such as simple phenolic acids, anthocyanins and other flavonoids, and tannins, show promising pharmacological effects that could account for the bioactivities observed for elderberries. Based on these components, salicylic acid and its acetate derivative, aspirin, have long been used for the treatment of different disorders. Dapagliflozin, an FDA-approved antidiabetic drug, has been developed based on the conclusions obtained from a structure-activity relationship study for a simple hydrolyzable tannin, ß-pentagalloylglucoside (ß-PGG). Thus, the present review focuses on the development of therapeutic agents from elderberries and their small-molecule secondary metabolites. It is hoped that this contribution will support future investigations on elderberries.

Vincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential.

Vincamine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid showing antioxidant activity and has been used clinically for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and insufficiencies. It has been well documented that antioxidants may contribute to cancer treatment, and thus, vincamine has been investigated recently for its potential antitumor activity. Vincamine was found to show cancer cell cytotoxicity and to modulate several important proteins involved in tumor growth, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and T-box 3 (TBX3). Several bisindole alkaloids, including vinblastine and vincristine and their synthetic derivatives, vindesine, vinflunine, and vinorelbine, have been used as clinically effective cancer chemotherapeutic agents. In the present review, the discovery and development of vincamine as a useful therapeutic agent and its antioxidant and antitumor activity are summarized, with its antioxidant-related mechanisms of anticancer potential being described. Also, discussed herein are the design of the potential vincamine-based oncolytic agents, which could contribute to the discovery of further new agents for cancer treatment.

Full Visible Spectrum and White Light Emission with a Single, Input-Tunable Organic Fluorophore.

The blue emission of M2biQ can be tuned to specific wavelengths throughout the visible region by changing the identity of the cation it interacts with. These optical properties are observed in MeCN solution and the solid state. White light is obtained in MeCN by using either the proper ratio of zinc ions or acid. Thus, M2biQ acts as a nearly universal emitter (λem = 468-690 nm) with large Stokes shifts (116-306 nm, Δν̃ = 7,042-11,823 cm-1). Full spectral profiles as well as quantum yields, lifetimes, and the crystal structures of key RGB and yellow emitters are reported. Emission wavelengths correlate with cationic radius, and TD-DFT calculations show that, for 1:1 complexes, the smaller the ion, the shorter the N-cation bond, and the greater the bathochromic emission shift.

Cationic Co(I)-Intermediates for Hydrofunctionalization Reactions: Regio- and Enantioselective Cobalt-Catalyzed 1,2-Hydroboration of 1,3-Dienes.

Much of the recent work on catalytic hydroboration of alkenes has focused on simple alkenes and styrene derivatives with few examples of reactions of 1,3-dienes, which have been reported to undergo mostly 1,4-additions to give allylic boronates. We find that reduced cobalt catalysts generated from 1,n- bis-diphenylphosphinoalkane complexes [Ph2P-(CH2) n-PPh2]CoX2; n = 1-5) or from (2-oxazolinyl)phenyldiarylphosphine complexes [(G-PHOX)CoX2] (G = 4-substituent on oxazoline ring) effect selective 1,2-, 1,4-, or 4,3-additions of pinacolborane (HBPin) to a variety of 1,3-dienes depending on the ligands chosen. Conditions have been found to optimize the 1,2-additions. The reactive catalysts can be generated from the cobalt(II)-complexes using trimethylaluminum, methyl aluminoxane, or activated zinc in the presence of sodium tetrakis[(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (NaBARF). The complex, (dppp)CoCl2, gives the best results (ratio of 1,2- to 1,4-addition >95:5) for a variety of linear terminal 1,3-dienes and 2-substituted 1,3-dienes. The [(PHOX)CoX2] (X = Cl, Br) complexes give mostly 1,4-addition with linear unsubstituted 1,3-dienes, but, surprisingly, selective 1,2-additions with 2-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted 1,3-dienes. Isolated and fully characterized (X-ray crystallography) Co(I)-complexes, (dppp)3Co2Cl2 and [( S,S)-BDPP]3Co2Cl2, do not catalyze the reaction unless activated by a Lewis acid or NaBARF, suggesting a key role for a cationic Co(I) species in the catalytic cycle. Regio- and enantioselective 1,2-hydroborations of 2-substituted 1,3-dienes are best accomplished using a catalyst prepared via activation of a chiral phosphinooxazoline-cobalt(II) complex with zinc and NaBARF. A number of common functional groups, among them, -OBn, -OTBS, -OTs, N-phthalimido- groups, are tolerated, and er's > 95:5 are obtained for several dienes including 1-alkenylcycloalk-1-enes. This operationally simple reaction expands the realm of asymmetric hydroboration to provide direct access to a number of nearly enantiopure homoallylic boronates, which are not readily accessible by current methods. The resulting boronates have been converted into the corresponding alcohols, potassium trifluororoborate salts, N-BOC amines, and aryl derivatives by C-BPin to C-aryl transformation.

Multivalent C-H⋠⋠⋠Cl/Br-C Interactions Directing the Resolution of Dynamic and Twisted Capsules.

In this work, we report a mechanism by which stereoisomeric and twisted capsules P/M-1 direct their dynamic chirality in the presence of haloalkane guests. The capsule comprises a static, but twisted, cage that is linked to a dynamic tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) lid at its top. From the results of experimental (NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography) and computational (DFT) studies, the TPA lid was shown to assume clockwise (+) and counterclockwise (-) folds with diastereomeric (but racemic) capsules M-1(+) and M-1(-) interconverting at a rapid rate (ΔG≠ 189K =9.1 kcal mol-1 ). The relative stability of the capsules was found to be a function of guest(s) residing in their interior (243/262 Å3 ) with small CH2 Cl2 (61 Å3 ) yielding roughly equal population of diastereomeric inclusion complexes. Larger guests, such as CCl4 (89 Å3 ) and CBr4 (108 Å3 ), however, formed M-1(-)⊂CX4 at the expense of M-1(+)⊂CX4 in circa 3:1 ratio. To account for the observation, theory (DFT:M06-2X/6-31+G*) and experiments (1 H NMR spectroscopy) were used to deduce that CX4 guests become localized inside the twisted cage of the capsule by forming a C-X⋅⋅⋅π halogen bond [Nc =d/(rH +rX )=0.91-0.92] with the benzene "floor" while encountering electrostatic repulsions with closer naphthalimide boundaries. At last, the TPA lid used its central methylene hydrogens to establish, within the M-1(-)⊂CX4 , three stabilizing C-H⋅⋅⋅X-C interactions with the guest. The same C-H⋅⋅⋅X-C interactions, however, became weaker (or possibly vanished) after the conformational reorganization of the lid and the formation of less stable M-1(+)⊂CX4 complex. On individual basis, C-H⋅⋅⋅X-C intermolecular contacts are weak and hardly detectable in the solution phase. In the case of capsule P/M-1, however, these contacts were multivalent and altogether strong enough to direct the host's dynamic chirality.

Stereo- and Regioselective Synthesis of Molecular Baskets.

We describe a stereoselective method for obtaining multigram quantities of molecular basket 1 syn in overall 11% yield, using inexpensive cyclopentadiene and diethyl fumarate as starting materials. First, an asymmetric synthesis of enantioenriched bromo(trimethylstannyl)alkene (-)-8 was accomplished by the stereoselective bromination of dibromonorbornene (+)-4 guided by anchimeric assistance and subsequent syn- exo-elimination of tetrabromonorbornane (-)-5a as the key steps. Subsequent Cu(I)-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of (-)-8 was optimized to give 1 syn/ anti in 85% yield and 1:1 ratio of diastereomers. Importantly, the results of our mechanistic experiments were in line with the cyclotrimerization occurring in a chain-type fashion with racemization of a Cu(I) homochiral dimeric intermediate, reducing the stereoselectivity of the transformation. Enabled by more facile access to molecular baskets of type 1 syn, a range of recognition studies can now be completed for producing novel supramolecular catalysts, organophosphorus scavengers, and nanostructured materials.

α-Pyrone and Sterol Constituents of Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum, a Fungal Associate of the Lichen Niebla homalea.

Four new metabolites, 4-epi-citreoviridin (1), auransterol (3), and two analogues (2 and 4) of paxisterol (6), together with two known metabolites (15R*,20S*)-dihydroxyepisterol (5) and (6), were isolated from cultures of the fungal associate, Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum, of the lichen Niebla homalea, endemic to California and Baja California. The structures of all compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction for the determination of the absolute configuration of 3. Compound 1 showed selective cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 breast and A2780 ovarian cells with IC50 values of 4.2 and 5.7 µM, respectively.

A Stimuli-Responsive Molecular Capsule with Switchable Dynamics, Chirality, and Encapsulation Characteristics.

In this study, we report the preparation, conformational dynamics, and recognition characteristics of novel molecular capsule 1 comprising a bowl-shaped framework conjugated to a tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) lid. With the assistance of experiment (1H NMR spectroscopy) and theory (MM and DFT) we found that C3 symmetric 1 is poorly preorganized with three pyridines at the rim adopting a propeller-like orientation and undergoing P-to- M (or vice versa) stereoisomerization (Δ G⧧ < 8 kcal/mol, VT 1H NMR). Capsule 1 binds CH4, CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl3, and CCl4 with Ka < 7 M-1. Protonation of 1 with HCl, however, gives [1·H]-Cl, with the solid-state structure showing the TPA lid being "flattened" and the +N-H---Cl hydrogen-bonded group residing outside. Importantly, the P-to- M stereoisomerization would for [1·H]-Cl occur with Δ G⧧ = 11 kcal/mol (VT 1H NMR). Less dynamic and more preorganized [1·H]-Cl binds CH4, CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl3, and CCl4 guests with a greater affinity ( Ka = 100-400 M-1) than 1. The results of our studies suggest that the complexation of increasingly larger guests takes place in an induced-fit fashion, with [1·H]-Cl (a) elongating along its vertical axis and concurrently potentially (b) twisting pyridines from P into M (and vice versa) orientation. The addition of Et3N to [1·H]-Cl⊂CH2Cl2 causes deprotonation of the capsule and the release of CH2Cl2 with the process being fully reversed after the addition of HCl. Allosteric capsule 1 with unique structural and dynamic characteristics is expected to, in the future, assist the construction of complex molecular machines and smart functional materials.

Crystal Structures and Human Leukemia Cell Apoptosis Inducible Activities of Parthenolide Analogues Isolated from Piptocoma rufescens.

The molecular structures of three parthenolide analogues, (-)-goyazensolide (1), (-)-15-deoxygoyazensolide (2), and (-)-ereglomerulide (3), isolated from the leaves of Piptocoma rufescens in a previous study were determined by X-ray analysis, and the absolute configuration of (-)-goyazensolide (1) was confirmed crystallographically using Cu Kα radiation at low temperature. Compounds 1-3, (+)-rufesolide A (4), and commercial parthenolide were found to be growth inhibitory toward MOLM-13 and EOL-1 human acute myeloid leukemia cells using PKC412 (midostaurin) as the positive control, with 1-3 being more active than parthenolide. Also, compounds 1-4 exhibited synergistic effects when tested with PKC412, but parthenolide did not show this type of activity. At a concentration lower than 2.0 µM, both 1 and 2 induced approximately 50% of the cells to become apoptotic at a late stage of the cell cycle, but no similar apoptotic effects were observed for 3, 4, or parthenolide. Leukemia cell apoptosis was induced by these compounds through the activation of caspase-3 and the inhibition of NF-κB, as indicated by immunoblotting analysis, and compounds 1 and 2 seem to be promising leads for development as potential antileukemic agents.

Catalytic Enantioselective Hetero-dimerization of Acrylates and 1,3-Dienes.

1,3-Dienes are ubiquitous and easily synthesized starting materials for organic synthesis, and alkyl acrylates are among the most abundant and cheapest feedstock carbon sources. A practical, highly enantioselective union of these two readily available precursors giving valuable, enantio-pure skipped 1,4-diene esters (with two configurationally defined double bonds) is reported. The process uses commercially available cobalt salts and chiral ligands. As illustrated by the use of 20 different substrates, including 17 prochiral 1,3-dienes and 3 acrylates, this hetero-dimerization reaction is tolerant of a number of common organic functional groups (e.g., aromatic substituents, halides, isolated mono- and di-substituted double bonds, esters, silyl ethers, and silyl enol ethers). The novel results including ligand, counterion, and solvent effects uncovered during the course of these investigations show a unique role of a possible cationic Co(I) intermediate in these reactions. The rational evolution of a mechanism-based strategy that led to the eventual successful outcome and the attendant support studies may have further implications for the expanding use of low-valent group 9 metal complexes in organic synthesis.

New Rh2(II,II) Complexes for Solar Energy Applications: Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Reactivity.

The new heteroleptic paddlewheel complexes cis-[Rh2(µ-form)2(µ-np)2][BF4]2, where form = p-ditolylformamidinate (DTolF) or p-difluorobenzylformamidinate (F-form) and np = 1,8-napthyridyine, and cis-Rh2(µ-form)2(µ-npCOO)2 (npCOO- = 1,8-naphthyridine-2-carboxylate), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes absorb strongly throughout the ultraviolet (λmax = 300 nm, ε = 20 300 M-1 cm-1) and visible regions (λmax = 640 nm ε = 3500 M-1 cm-1), making them potentially useful new dyes with panchromatic light absorption for solar energy conversion applications. Ultrafast and nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared spectroscopies were used to characterize the identity and dynamics of the excited states, where singlet and triplet Rh2/form-to-naphthyridine, metal/ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (ML-LCT) excited states were observed in all four complexes. The npCOO- complexes exhibit red-shifted absorption profiles extending into the near-IR and undergo photoinitiated electron transfer to generate reduced methyl viologen, a species that persists in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The energy of the triplet excited state of each complex was estimated from energy-transfer quenching experiments using a series of organic triplet donors (E(3ππ*) from 1.83 to 0.78 eV). The singlet reduction (+0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl) potentials, and singlet and triplet oxidation potentials (-1.1 and -0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively) were determined. Based on the excited-state lifetimes and redox properties, these complexes represent a new class of light absorbers with potential application as dyes for charge injection into semiconductor solar cells and in sensitizer-catalyst assemblies for photocatalysis that operate with irradiation from the ultraviolet to ∼800 nm.

Femtosecond Study of Dimolybdenum Paddlewheel Compounds with Amide/Thioamide Ligands: Symmetry, Electronic Structure, and Charge Distribution in the 1MLCT S1 State.

Four photophysically interesting dimolybdenum paddlewheel compounds are synthesized and characterized: I and II contain amide ligand (N,3-diphenyl-2-propynamide), and III and IV contain thioamide ligand (N,3-diphenyl-2-propynethioamide). I and III are trans-Mo2L2(O2C-TiPB)2-type compounds, and II and IV are Mo2L4-type compounds, where O2C-TiPB is 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate. I-IV display strong light absorption due to metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions from molybdenum to the amide/thioamide ligands. Charge transfer dynamics in the MLCT excited states of I-IV have been examined using femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy and femtosecond time-resolved infrared (fs-TRIR) spectroscopy. The asymmetric amide/thioamide ligands show two forms of regioarrangements in the paddlewheel compounds. Analyses of the ν(C≡C) bands in the fs-TRIR spectra of I and II show similar electron density distribution over ligands in their 1MLCT S1 states where only two amide ligands are involved and the transferred electron is mainly localized on one of them. The fs-TRIR spectra of III and IV, however, show different charge distribution patterns where the transferred electron is fully delocalized over two thioamide ligands in III and partially delocalized in IV. Fast interligand electron transfer (ILET) was recognized as the explanation for the various charge distribution patterns, and ILET was shown to be influenced by both the ligands and the ligand arrangements.

Probing Interligand Electron Transfer in the 1MLCT S1 Excited State of trans-Mo2L2L'2 Compounds: A Comparative Study of Auxiliary Ligands and Solvents.

The interligand charge dynamics of the lowest singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states (1MLCT S1 states) of a series of quadruply bonded trans-Mo2(NN)2(O2C-X)2 paddlewheel compounds are investigated, where NN is a π-accepting phenylpropiolamidinate ligand and O2C-X (X = Me, tBu, TiPB, or CF3) is an auxiliary carboxylate ligand. The compounds show strong light absorption in the visible region due to MLCT transitions from the Mo2 center to the NN ligands. The transferred electron density was followed by femtosecond time-resolved infrared (fs-TRIR) spectroscopy with vibrational reporters such as the ethynyl groups on the NN ligands. The observed fs-TRIR spectra show that these compounds have asymmetric 1MLCT S1 excited states where the transferred electron mainly resides on a single NN ligand. The presence of interligand electron transfer (ILET) is suggested to explain the shape of the ν(C≡C) bands and the influence of auxiliary ligands and solvents on the interligand electronic coupling. The ILET in the 1MLCT S1 state is shown to be sensitive to the functional groups on the auxiliary ligands while being less responsive to changes in solvents.

An Intramolecular CAr-H•••O=C Hydrogen Bond and the Configuration of Rotenoids.

Over the past half a century, the structure and configuration of the rotenoids, a group of natural products showing multiple promising bioactivities, have been established by interpretation of their NMR and electronic circular dichroism spectra and confirmed by analysis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The chemical shift of the H-6' 1H NMR resonance has been found to be an indicator of either a cis or trans C/D ring system. In the present study, four structures representing the central rings of a cis-, a trans-, a dehydro-, and an oxadehydro-rotenoid have been plotted using the Mercury program based on X-ray crystal structures reported previously, with the conformations of the C/D ring system, the local bond lengths or interatomic distances, hydrogen bond angles, and the H-6' chemical shift of these compounds presented. It is shown for the first time that a trans-fused C/D ring system of rotenoids is preferred for the formation of a potential intramolecular C6'-H6'•••O=C4 H-bond, and that such H-bonding results in the 1H NMR resonance for H-6' being shifted downfield.

Dual-cavity basket promotes encapsulation in water in an allosteric fashion.

We prepared dual-cavity basket 1 to carry six (S)-alanine residues at the entrance of its two juxtaposed cavities (289 Å(3)). With the assistance of (1)H NMR spectroscopy and calorimetry, we found that 1 could trap a single molecule of 4 (K1 = 1.45 ± 0.40 × 10(4) M(-1), ITC), akin in size (241 Å(3)) and polar characteristics to nerve agent VX (289 Å(3)). The results of density functional theory calculations (DFT, M06-2X/6-31G*) and experiments ((1)H NMR spectroscopy) suggest that the negative homotropic allosterism arises from the guest forming C-H···π contacts with all three of the aromatic walls of the occupied basket's cavity. In response, the other cavity increases its size and turns rigid to prevent the formation of the ternary complex. A smaller guest 6 (180 Å(3)), akin in size and polar characteristics to soman (186 Å(3)), was also found to bind to dual-cavity 1, although giving both binary [1⊂6] and ternary [1⊂62] complexes (K1 = 7910 M(-1) and K2 = 2374 M(-1), (1)H NMR spectroscopy). In this case, the computational and experimental ((1)H NMR spectroscopy) results suggest that only two aromatic walls of the occupied basket's cavity form C-H···π contacts with the guest to render the singly occupied host flexible enough to undergo additional structural changes necessary for receiving another guest molecule. The structural adaptivity of dual-cavity baskets of type 1 is unique and important for designing multivalent hosts capable of effectively sequestering targeted guests in an allosteric manner to give stable supramolecular polymers.

Formation mechanisms, structure, solution behavior, and reactivity of aminodiborane.

A facile synthesis of cyclic aminodiborane (NH2B2H5, ADB) from ammonia borane (NH3·BH3, AB) and THF·BH3 has made it possible to determine its important characteristics. Ammonia diborane (NH3BH2(µ-H)BH3, AaDB) and aminoborane (NH2BH2, AoB) were identified as key intermediates in the formation of ADB. Elimination of molecular hydrogen occurred from an ion pair, [H2B(NH3) (THF)](+)[BH4](-). Protic-hydridic hydrogen scrambling was proved on the basis of analysis of the molecular hydrogen products, ADB and other reagents through (2)H NMR and MS, and it was proposed that the scrambling occurred as the ion pair reversibly formed a BH5-like intermediate, [(THF)BH2NH2](η(2)-H2)BH3. Loss of molecular hydrogen from the ion pair led to the formation of AoB, most of which was trapped by BH3 to form ADB with a small amount oligomerizing to (NH2BH2)n. Theoretical calculations showed the thermodynamic feasibility of the proposed intermediates and the activation processes. The structure of the ADB·THF complex was found from X-ray single crystal analysis to be a three-dimensional array of zigzag chains of ADB and THF, maintained by hydrogen and dihydrogen bonding. Room temperature exchange of terminal and bridge hydrogens in ADB was observed in THF solution, while such exchange was not observed in diethyl ether or toluene. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm that the B-H-B bridge in ADB is stronger than that in diborane (B2H6, DB). The B-H-B bridge is opened when ADB and NaH react to form sodium aminodiboronate, Na[NH2(BH3)2]. The structure of the sodium salt as its 18-crown-6 ether adduct was determined by X-ray single crystal analysis.

Desolvation and dehydrogenation of solvated magnesium salts of dodecahydrododecaborate: relationship between structure and thermal decomposition.

Attempts to synthesize solvent-free MgB12H12 by heating various solvated forms (H2O, NH3, and CH3OH) of the salt failed because of the competition between desolvation and dehydrogenation. This competition has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Products were characterized by IR, solution- and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal or powder X-ray diffraction analysis. For hydrated salts, thermal decomposition proceeded in three stages, loss of water to form first hexahydrated then trihydrated, and finally loss of water and hydrogen to form polyhydroxylated complexes. For partially ammoniated salts, two stages of thermal decomposition were observed as ammonia and hydrogen were released with weight loss first of 14 % and then 5.5 %. Thermal decomposition of methanolated salts proceeded through a single step with a total weight loss of 32 % with the release of methanol, methane, and hydrogen. All the gaseous products of thermal decomposition were characterized by using mass spectrometry. Residual solid materials were characterized by solid-state (11)B magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis by which the molecular structures of hexahydrated and trihydrated complexes were solved. Both hydrogen and dihydrogen bonds were observed in structures of [Mg(H2O)6B12H12]⋅6 H2O and [Mg(CH3OH)6B12H12]⋅6 CH3OH, which were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural factors influencing thermal decomposition behavior are identified and discussed. The dependence of dehydrogenation on the formation of dihydrogen bonds may be an important consideration in the design of solid-state hydrogen storage materials.

Potent cytotoxic arylnaphthalene lignan lactones from Phyllanthus poilanei.

Two new (1 and 2) and four known arylnaphthalene lignan lactones (3-6) were isolated from different plant parts of Phyllanthus poilanei collected in Vietnam, with two further known analogues (7 and 8) being prepared from phyllanthusmin C (4). The structures of the new compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectroscopic data and by chemical methods, and the structure of phyllanthusmin D (1) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Several of these arylnaphthalene lignan lactones were cytotoxic toward HT-29 human colon cancer cells, with compounds 1 and 7-O-[(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)]diphyllin (7) found to be the most potent, exhibiting IC50 values of 170 and 110 nM, respectively. Compound 1 showed activity when tested in an in vivo hollow fiber assay using HT-29 cells implanted in immunodeficient NCr nu/nu mice. Mechanistic studies showed that this compound mediated its cytotoxic effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis through activation of caspase-3, but it did not inhibit DNA topoisomerase IIα activity.

Electron delocalization in the S1 and T1 metal-to-ligand charge transfer states of trans-substituted metal quadruply bonded complexes.

The singlet S(1) and triplet T(1) photoexcited states of the compounds containing MM quadruple bonds trans-M(2)(T(i)PB)(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(4)-4-CN)(2), where T(i)PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and M = Mo (I) or M = W (I(')), and trans-M(2)(O(2)CMe)(2)((N[(i) Pr ])(2)CC ≡ CC(6)H(5))(2), where M = Mo (II) and M = W (II(')), have been investigated by a variety of spectroscopic techniques including femtosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The singlet states are shown to be delocalized metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states for I and I(') but localized for II and II(') involving the cyanobenzoate or amidinate ligands, respectively. The triplet states are MoMoδδ* for both I and II but delocalized (3)MLCT for I(') and localized (3)MLCT for II('). These differences arise from consideration of the relative orbital energies of the M(2)δ or M(2)δ* and the ligand π(∗) as well as the magnitudes of orbital overlap.

(E)-3-(9-Ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(2-meth-oxy-phen-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title mol-ecule, C24H21NO2, the dihedral angle between the carbazole ring system [with a maximum deviation of 0.052 (2) Å] and the benzene ring is 38.6 (1)°. In the crystal, weak bifurcated (C-H)2⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains along [100].