Access to Sulfur-Containing Bisheterocycles through Base-Promoted Consecutive Tandem Cyclization/Sulfenylation with Elemental Sulfur.

A convenient and efficient tandem cyclization/sulfenylation of o-alkynyl-phenols/-anilines/enaminones for the synthesis of diverse sulfur-containing bisheterocycles has been developed using stable, odorless, and easy-to-handle elemental S8 as a building block under green chemistry conditions. Notably, a one-step simple base-mediated organic transformation affords a benzofuran (indole or chromone) ring and two C-S bonds. Attractive features of this methodology include the absence of a metal catalyst, mild conditions, good functional group tolerance, and valuable product structures.

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of imidazopyridines with azoles.

An effective palladium-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of imidazopyridines with azoles using air as the oxidant has been developed. This protocol provides a straightforward and operationally simple method for the synthesis of 3-azolyl-imidazopyridines in moderate to good yields and with good functional group tolerance. The biological evaluation revealed that the newly synthesized compounds 3e and 3h exhibit significant in vitro antiproliferative activities against human-derived lung cancer cell lines compared with the positive control, 5-fluorouracil.

Copper-catalyzed chalcogenation of imidazoheterocycles with sulfur/selenium powder and coumarinyl triflates.

An efficient and convenient copper-catalyzed chalcogenation of imidazoheterocycles with sulfur/selenium powder and coumarinyl triflates has been described. This procedure provides a wide range of structurally diverse coumarinylthio-/coumarinylseleno-substituted imidazoheterocycles in good yields and with good functional group tolerance. Biological evaluation showed that the newly synthesized compound 6d possesses significant in vitro antiproliferative activities against human-derived esophageal, breast, stomach, and prostate cancer cell lines compared with the positive control, 5-fluorouracil.

Clinical significance of the expression of EGFR signaling pathway-related proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is an important pathway that is not only involved in the determination of cellular development, but also has significant roles in tumor development and progression. The study aims to examine the expression of EGFR signaling pathway-related proteins (EGFR, c-Fos, and c-erb-B2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and to investigate their relationships with clinical significance. Sixty esophageal squamous carcinoma specimens obtained by fiber esophagoscope were subjected to two-step immunohistochemistry to test the expression of EGFR, c-Fos, and c-erb-B2. EGFR expression was observed in 73.3% of tumors (44/60); positive EGFR expression was significantly correlated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis (P < 0.05). c-Fos expression was found in 85% (51/60) of tumors, and its expression was significantly related to tumor depth and TNM staging (P < 0.05). c-erb-B2 expression was 75% (45/60) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) specimens, and positive-erb-B2 expression had a significant association with the depth of tumor invasion (P < 0.05). c-Fos expression was significantly and positively correlated with c-erb-B2 (P < 0.05). Overexpression of EGFR, c-Fos, and c-erb-B2 was associated with tumor progression and development. EGFR and c-Fos expression can predict the tumor stage. c-Fos and c-erb-B2 expression can be used to determine the depth of tumor invasion and can also act as a combined prognostic indicator in ESCC.

Iron-catalyzed ß-hydroxymethylative carbonylation of styrene under photo-irradiation.

This study describes an iron-catalyzed divergent oxidation of styrene into ß-hydroxylmethylketone and ketone under photo-irradiation. This divergence is ascribed to the use of styrene with various substituents. More importantly, methanol is oxidized into formaldehyde in the reaction and serves as a C1 synthon. Mechanism investigations show that the reaction is initiated by oxidative SET to transfer styrene into the cation radical. The reaction pathway undergoes HAT and ß-hydride elimination as well as a concerted cyclization. Particularly, several drug-like molecules, such as melperone analogue, lenperone analogue, and haloperidol analogue, are synthesized. In addition, this method is also applicable to the synthesis of natural product (R)-atomoxetine.

Catalyst and additive-free oxidative dual C-H sulfenylation of imidazoheterocycles with elemental sulfur using DMSO as a solvent and an oxidant.

Dual C-H sulfenylation was used to obtain 3-vulcanized imidazoheterocycles using odorless elemental sulfur under catalyst- and additive-free conditions. C-H activation of both imidazoheterocycles and arylamines/arenols/indoles was realized by a practical protocol in which DMSO served as both a solvent and an internal oxidant.

A novel ratiometric and reversible fluorescence probe with a large Stokes shift for Cu2+ based on a new clamp-on unit.

A novel ratiometric and reversible chemosensor 4-((2-(Benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)ethynyl)-N,N-diethylaniline (BT-1) based on ortho-arylethynyl benzothiazole with large Stokes shift (Δλ≈190 nm) was designed and synthesized to recognize Cu2+. Copper ion induces a remarkable fluorescence enhancement and causes formation of a BT-1-Cu complex. The clamp-on coordination mode of BT-1 to Cu2+ was demonstrated using Job's plot, mass spectrum (MS) and DFT calculations. The calculations also indicate that Cu2+ was chelated to BT-1 through N and alkyne instead of S and alkyne. The probe could quantify Cu2+ with the detection limit of 3.2 × 10-9 M. The in vitro imaging results indicated that the probe BT-1 was membrane-permeable and could be applied into the recognition of Cu2+ ions in living cells.

Lesson from Nature: Biomimetic Self-Assembling Phthalocyanines for High-Efficient Photothermal Therapy within the Biological Transparent Window.

Development of a facile but high-efficient small organic molecule-based photothermal therapy (PTT) in the in vivo transparent window (800-900 nm) has been regarded as a minimally invasive and most promising strategy for potential clinical cancer treatment. Phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules with remarkable photophysical and photochemical properties as well as high extinction coefficients in the near-infrared region are highly desirable for PTT, but as far satisfying single-component Pc-based PTT within the in vivo transparent window (800-900 nm) has very rarely been reported. Herein, inspired by the self-assembly algorithm of natural bacteriochlorophylls c, d, and e, biomimetic self-assembling tetrahexanoyl Pc Bio-ZnPc with outstanding light-harvesting capacity was demonstrated to exhibit excellent PTT efficacy evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo results, within the biological transparent window.

Determination of Eleven Organophosphorus Pesticide Residues in Textiles by Using HPLC-HRMS.

The overuse of organophosphorus pesticides on cotton production is a big concern in China today. Therefore, developing methods for the rapid screening and confirming of pesticide residues in textiles has become a top public health security priority. Here, a method was established for the rapid screening and quantifying of 11 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides (ethoprophos, coumaphos, profenofos, diazinon, ethion, parathion, phosalone, quinalphos, dicrotophos, azinphos methyl, and tribuphos) in textiles by high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). Rapid screening and quantifying could be completed by using software of Peakview and MultiQuant. Samples were extracted by the method of modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) and analyzed in the positive mode with MS detection. The results showed that the limits of detection were between 0.1 and 5.0 ng g-1, with correlation coefficients above 0.9990. The recoveries were in the range of 70.3 - 109.8%, with relative standard deviations from 5.1 to 16.4%. This method is accurate and simple, which can be used in the rapid screening and quantitative analysis of 11 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides in textiles.

[A case-control study on the risk factors in postoperative cognitive dysfunction induced by patient self-controlled intravenous analgesia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) induced by patient self-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). METHODS: A case-control study included 103 patients with POCD(P group), assessed by Mini-Mental-State test and 103 cognitive normal controls (NP group). The cases and controls were matched for age, gender,history of operation and PCIA volume dose. The relationship between POCD and various factors was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Spss 11.5 of statistical software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Data from univariate analysis showed that the history of cerebral trauma, education level and VAS score had significant differences between P group and NP group. Multivariate analysis conformed that the history of cerebral trauma, VAS score and education level were significantly related to POCD induced by PCIA and their ORs (95% CI) were 4.261 (1.344-13.508), 2.364 (1.209-4.624), 0.312 (0.170-0.573) respectively. CONCLUSION: Patient's history of cerebral trauma and low VAS score were independent risk factors of POCD induced by PCIA and high education level seemed to be a protective factor.