Benzo-fused Tri[8]annulenes as Molecular Models of Cubic Graphite

Cyclotrimerization of 9,10‐dibromo‐9,10‐dihydrodibenzo[3,4:7,8]cycloocta[1,2‐l]phenanthrene with potassium tert‐butoxide in the presence of a transition‐metal catalyst afforded two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon stereoisomers consisting of three cyclooctatetraene (COT) moieties connected via a central benzene ring. Both isomeric tri[8]annulenes were obtained selectively through the choice of the catalyst: The α,α,α‐form (Ru catalyst) displayed a threefold symmetrywith the COT subunits forming the side walls of a (chiral) molecular cup. In the thermodynamically more stable α,α,β‐isomer (Pd catalyst), one of the three boat‐shaped COTs was flipped over and faced the opposite molecular hemisphere with respect to the central benzene ring as evidenced by crystal structure analysis. Both title compounds are small segments of “cubic graphite”, an elusive carbon allotrope

Wall Microstructures of High Aspect Ratio Enabled by Near‐Field Electrospinning

Near-field electrospinning (NFES) holds the potential to develop into a versatile additive nanomanufacturing platform. However, the impact of a variety of processing variables remains unresolved.Herein, the effect of solvents used to prepare suitable solutions for 3D microstructuring by electrospinning is studied. 3D straight walls of stacked fibers are fabricated using a layer-by-layer fiber deposition approach. The effect of the choice of substrate material is also explored. The results show that a high vapor pressure, and a low dielectric constant of the solvent, as well as a high substrate conductivity facilitate improved stacking of fiber layers. Utilizing these conditions, 3D stacked walls of polyethylene oxide are fabricated, and a maximum aspect ratio of 191.7 ± 52.6, while using a chromium/gold substrate and dichloromethane/methanol as the solvent is achieved

Three unique coordination geometries involving 1,2-dimethoxy-4,5-bis(2-pyridylethynyl)benzene

Reaction of the new ligand 1,2-dimethoxy-4,5-bis(2-pyridylethynyl) benzene with different metal centers under similar reaction conditions led to three distinct structure formation processes: molecular ring closure, dimerization, and polymer formation

Quinoidal Azaacenes: 99 % Diradical Character

Quinoidal azaacenes with almost pure diradical character (y=0.95 to y=0.99) were synthesized. All compounds exhibit paramagnetic behavior investigated by EPR and NMR spectroscopy, and SQUID measurements, revealing thermally populated triplet states with an extremely low-energy gap ΔEST′ of 0.58 to 1.0 kcal mol−1. The species are persistent in solution (half-life≈14–21 h) and in the solid state they are stable for weeks

Epitope tagging of endogenous genes in diverse human cell lines

Epitope tagging is a powerful and commonly used approach for studying the physical properties of proteins and their functions and localization in eukaryotic cells. In the case of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it has been possible to exploit the high efficiency of homologous recombination to tag proteins by modifying their endogenous genes, making it possible to tag virtually every endogenous gene and perform genome-wide proteomics experiments. However, due to the relative inefficiency of homologous recombination in cultured human cells, epitope-tagging approaches have been limited to ectopically expressed transgenes, with the attendant limitations of their nonphysiological transcriptional regulation and levels of expression. To overcome this limitation, a modification and extension of adeno-associated virus-mediated human somatic cell gene targeting technology is described that makes it possible to simply and easily create an endogenous epitope tag in the same way that it is possible to knock out a gene. Using this approach, we have created and validated human cell lines with epitope-tagged alleles of two cancer-related genes in a variety of untransformed and transformed human cell lines. This straightforward approach makes it possible to study the physical and biological properties of endogenous proteins in human cells without the need for specialized antibodies for individual proteins of interest

Deoxyribonucleic Acid as a Universal Electrolyte for Bio-Friendly Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells [in press]

In the search for bio and eco‐friendly light sources, light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are promising candidates for the implementation of biomaterials in their device architecture thanks to their low fabrication complexity and wide range of potential technological applications. In this work, the use of the DNA derivative DNA‐cetyltrimethylammonium (DNA‐CTMA) is introduced as the ion‐solvating component of the solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) in the active layer of solution‐processed LECs. The focus is particularly on the investigation of its electrochemical and ionic conductivity properties demonstrating its suitability for device fabrication and correlation with thin film morphology. Furthermore, upon blending with the commercially available emissive polymer Super Yellow, the structure property relationship between the microstructure and the ionic conductivity is investigated and yields an optimized LEC performance. The large electrochemical stability window of DNA‐CTMA enables a stable device performance for a variety of emitters covering the complete visible spectral range, thus highlighting the universal character of this naturally sourced SPE

Synthesis and Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship of Imidazotetrazine Prodrugs with Activity Independent of O6-Methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase, DNA Mismatch Repair and p53.

The antitumor prodrug Temozolomide is compromised by its dependence for activity on DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and the repair of the chemosensitive DNA lesion, O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG), by O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.63, MGMT). Tumor response is also dependent on wild-type p53. Novel 3-(2-anilinoethyl)-substituted imidazotetrazines are reported that have activity independent of MGMT, MMR and p53. This is achieved through a switch of mechanism so that bioactivity derives from imidazotetrazine-generated arylaziridinium ions that principally modify guanine-N7 sites on DNA. Mono- and bi-functional analogs are reported and a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study identified the p-tolyl-substituted bi-functional congener as optimized for potency, MGMT-independence and MMR-independence. NCI60 data show the tumor cell response is distinct from other imidazotetrazines and DNA-guanine-N7 active agents such as nitrogen mustards and cisplatin. The new imidazotetrazine compounds are promising agents for further development and their improved in vitro activity validates the principles on which they were designed