David G. Harman

Investigation of the gas phase reactivity of the 1-adamantyl radical using a distonic radical anion approach

The gas phase reactions of the bridgehead 3-carboxylato-1-adamantyl radical anion were observed with a series of neutral reagents using a modified electrospray ionisation linear ion trap mass spectrometer. This distonic radical anion was observed to undergo processes suggestive of radical reactivity including radical-radical combination reactions, substitution reactions and addition to carbon-carbon double bonds. The rate constants for reactions of the 3-carboxylato-1-adamantyl radical anion with the following reagents were measured (in units 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (18)O(2) (85 +/- 4), NO (38.4 +/- 0.4), I(2) (50 +/- 50), Br(2) (8 +/- 2), CH(3)SSCH(3) (12 +/- 2), styrene (1.20 +/- 0.03), CHCl(3) (H abstraction 0.41 +/- 0.06, Cl abstraction 0.65 +/- 0.1), CDCl(3) (D abstraction 0.035 +/- 0.01, Cl abstraction 0.723 +/- 0.005), allyl bromide (Br abstraction 0.53 +/- 0.04, allylation 0.25 +/- 0.01). Collision rates were calculated and reaction efficiencies are also reported. This study represents the first quantitative measurement of the gas phase reactivity of a bridgehead radical and suggests that distonic radical anions are good models for the study of their elusive uncharged analogues.

Direct Observation of the Gas Phase Reaction of the Cyclohexyl Radical with Dioxygen Using a Distonic Radical Ion Approach

Alkylperoxyl radicals are intermediates in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. The reactive nature of these intermediates, however, has made them elusive to direct observation and isolation. We have employed ion trap mass spectrometry to synthesize and characterize 4-carboxylatocyclohexyl radical anions (*C(6)H(10)-CO(2)(-)) and observe their reactivity in the presence of dioxygen. The resulting reaction is facile (k = 1.8 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) or 30% of calculated collision rate) and results in (i) the addition of O(2) to form stabilized 4-carboxylatocyclohexylperoxyl radical anions (*OO-C(6)H(10)-CO(2)(-)), providing the first direct observation of a cyclohexylperoxyl radical, and (ii) elimination of HO(2)* and HO* radicals consistent with recent laser-induced fluorescence studies of the reaction of neutral cyclohexyl radicals with O(2). Electronic structure calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory reveal viable pathways for the observed reactions showing that formation of the peroxyl radical is exothermic by 37 kcal mol(-1) with subsequent transition states as low as -6.6 kcal mol(-1) (formation of HO(2)*) and -9.1 kcal mol(-1) (formation of HO*) with respect to the entrance channel. The combined computational and experimental data suggest that the structures of the reaction products correspond to cyclohexenes and epoxides from HO(2)* and HO* loss, respectively, while alternative pathways leading to cyclohexanone or ring-opened isomers are not observed. Activation of the charged peroxyl radical *OO-C(6)H(10)-CO(2)(-) by collision induced dissociation also results in the loss of HO(2)* and HO* radicals confirming that these products are directly connected to the peroxyl radical intermediate.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Dextran sulfate (PEDOT: DS) - A highly processable conductive organic biopolymer

A novel water-dispersible conducting polymer analogous to poly(3,4-dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) has been chemically synthesized in a single reaction in high yield. PEDOT:DS, a new member of the polythiophene family, is composed of a complex between PEDOT and the sulfonated polysaccharide polyanion dextran sulfate. Drop-cast films of aqueous suspensions of the material display a native conductivity of up to 7 ± 1 S cm(-1), increasing to 20 ± 2 S cm(-1) after treatment with ethylene glycol and thermal annealing. Mass ratios of the precursors NaDS and EDOT were varied from 5:1 to 2:1 and a decrease in the NaDS:EDOT ratio produces tougher, less hygroscopic films of higher conductivity. Ultraviolet-visible spectroelectrochemistry yields spectra typical of PEDOT complexes. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that PEDOT:DS is electrochemically active from -1.0 to 0.8 V vs. Ag/Ag(+) in acetonitrile, with similar characteristics to PEDOT:PSS. Water dispersions of PEDOT:DS are successfully processed by drop casting, spray coating, inkjet printing and extrusion printing. Furthermore, laser etching of dried films allows the creation of patterns with excellent definition. To assess the cytotoxicity of PEDOT:DS, L-929 cells were cultured with a polymer complex concentration range of 0.002 to 0.2 g l(-1) in cell culture medium. No significant difference is found between the proliferation rates of L-929 cells exposed to PEDOT:DS and those in plain medium after 96h. However, PEDOT:PSS shows around 25% less cell growth after 4 days, even at the lowest concentration. Taken together, these results suggest PEDOT:DS has exceptional potential as an electromaterial for the biointerface.

Anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon (C. zeylanicum and C. cassia) extracts – identification of e-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxy cinnamaldehyde as the most potent bioactive compounds

Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor in many age-related diseases. In a previous study, we have shown that Sri Lankan cinnamon (C. zeylanicum) was one of the most potent anti-inflammatory foods out of 115 foods tested. However, knowledge about the exact nature of the anti-inflammatory compounds and their distribution in the two major cinnamon species used for human consumption is limited. The aim of this investigation was to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of C. zeylanicum and C. cassia and elucidate their main phytochemical compounds. When extracts were tested in LPS and IFN-γ activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, most of the anti-inflammatory activity, measured by down-regulation of nitric oxide and TNF-α production, was observed in the organic extracts. The most abundant compounds in these extracts were E-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxycinnamaldehyde. The highest concentration of E-cinnamaldehyde was found in the DCM extract of C. zeylanicum or C. cassia (31 and 34 mg g(-1) of cinnamon, respectively). When these and other constituents were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 and J774A.1 macrophages, the most potent compounds were E-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, which exhibited IC₅₀ values for NO with RAW 264.7 cells of 55 ± 9 μM (7.3 ± 1.2 μg mL(-1)) and 35 ± 9 μM (5.7 ± 1.5 μg mL(-1)), respectively; and IC₅₀ values for TNF-α of 63 ± 9 μM (8.3 ± 1.2 μg mL(-1)) and 78 ± 16 μM (12.6 ± 2.6 μg mL(-1)), respectively. If therapeutic concentrations can be achieved in target tissues, cinnamon and its components may be useful in the treatment of age-related inflammatory conditions.

A large spin-crossover [Fe 4 L 4 ] 8+ tetrahedral cage

A large discrete face-capped tetranuclear iron(II) cage, [Fe4L4](BF4)8·n(solvent), was synthesised via metal-ion directed self-assembly. The cage is formed from a rigid tritopic ligand that incorporates chelating imidazole-imine functional groups. The cage displays temperature induced spin-crossover and LIESST effects and is amongst the largest iron(II) tetrahedral cages with such properties reported. The synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of this new metallo-cage are presented.

Trapping of a tert-adamantyl peroxyl radical in the gas phase

A bridgehead adamantyl peroxyl radical has been prepared and isolated in the gas phase by the reaction of a distonic radical anion with dioxygen in a quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometer.

Cytotoxicity of a series of norcantharidin-inspired tetrahydroepoxyisoindole carboxamides

A series of 28 norcantharidin (NorC)‐inspired analogues were accessed via a robust two‐step Ugi intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) sequence. Four analogues displayed whole‐cell cytotoxicity equipotent to that of NorC and cisplatin against a number of cancer cell lines and a normal breast cell line (MCF10A). Notably, (3S,3aS,6R)‐2‐benzyl‐7‐methyl‐N‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐1‐oxo‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐3a,6‐epoxyisoindole‐3‐carboxamide (trans‐27) displayed superior whole‐cell activity against breast (MCF‐7, GI50=2.9 μm) and colon (HT29, GI50=6.4 μm) cancer cell lines relative to the control (cisplatin), which elicited respective GI50 values of 6.5 and 11.3 μm against the aforementioned cell lines. This analogue also displayed improved activity relative to NorC across the breast (MCF‐7, GI50=2.9 μm; NorC GI50=7.5 μm), ovarian (A2780, GI50=2.2 μm; NorC GI50=4.4 μm), and neuroblastoma (BE2‐C, GI50=2.2 μm; NorC GI50=3.7 μm) cancer cell lines. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) investigations demonstrated that retention of sp2 hybridized connections within the tetrahydroepoxyisoindole carboxamide scaffold is crucial, as aromatization to a phenolic functionality decreased activity, whereas removal of a single olefin bond abolished cytotoxicity. Nonetheless, with respect to the latter, use of crotonic acid as opposed 2‐butynoic acid in the Ugi‐IMDA sequence imparted a significant improvement to diastereoselectivity, with the cis/trans isomer ratio shifting from ≈1:1.2 to ≈0.5:9.5.

Light-focusing human micro-lenses generated from pluripotent stem cells model lens development and drug-induced cataract in vitro

ABSTRACT Cataracts cause vision loss and blindness by impairing the ability of the ocular lens to focus light onto the retina. Various cataract risk factors have been identified, including drug treatments, age, smoking and diabetes. However, the molecular events responsible for these different forms of cataract are ill-defined, and the advent of modern cataract surgery in the 1960s virtually eliminated access to human lenses for research. Here, we demonstrate large-scale production of light-focusing human micro-lenses from spheroidal masses of human lens epithelial cells purified from differentiating pluripotent stem cells. The purified lens cells and micro-lenses display similar morphology, cellular arrangement, mRNA expression and protein expression to human lens cells and lenses. Exposing the micro-lenses to the emergent cystic fibrosis drug Vx-770 reduces micro-lens transparency and focusing ability. These human micro-lenses provide a powerful and large-scale platform for defining molecular disease mechanisms caused by cataract risk factors, for anti-cataract drug screening and for clinically relevant toxicity assays. Highlighted Article: Using human pluripotent stem cells, robust and reliable methods are described for large-scale production of purified human lens epithelial cells, and for subsequent large-scale generation of clinically relevant, light-focusing micro-lenses.

Optimized Method to Quantify Dopamine Turnover in the Mammalian Retina

Measurement of dopamine (DA) release in the retina allows the interrogation of the complex neural circuits within this tissue. A number of previous methods have been used to quantify this neuromodulator, the most common of which is HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). However, this technique can produce significant concentration uncertainties. In this present study, we report a sensitive and accurate UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of DA and its primary metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in mouse retina. Internal standards DA-d4 and DOPAC-d5 result in standard curve linearity for DA from 0.05-100 ng/mL (LOD = 6 pg/mL) and DOPAC from 0.5-100 ng/mL (LOD = 162 pg/mL). A systematic study of tissue extraction conditions reveals that the use of formic acid (1%), in place of the more commonly used perchloric acid, combined with 0.5 mM ascorbic acid prevents significant oxidation of the analytes. When the method is applied to mouse retinae a significant increase in the DOPAC/DA ratio is observed following in vivo light stimulation. We additionally examined the effect of anesthesia on DA and DOPAC levels in the retina in vivo and find that basal dark-adapted concentrations are not affected. Light caused a similar increase in DOPAC/DA ratio but interindividual variation was significantly reduced. Together, we systematically describe the ideal conditions to accurately and reliably measure DA turnover in the mammalian retina.