Representation of Fallacies against Homosexuality

Cinema fulfills, in some occasions, an argumentative role: in one hand it reflectsreality and states of beliefs of large social groups in a specific moment; on the other hand, it provides tools to the spectator in order to consolidate or criticize those beliefs. In this article, I have analyzed how cinema is able to carry out both tasks spreading and denouncing arguments supported in prejudices around homosexuality: I use as a point of departure, the analysis of the movie “But…I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999).In which it can be noticed how movie complies with this double role: It shows the vision that a large part of society has of homosexuality and how this vision is supported in arguments without any support (although they are psychologicallypersuasive): what in logics is denominated “fallacies.”El cine cumple, en ocasiones, una función argumentativa: por un lado refleja la realidad y los estados de creencias de amplios grupos sociales en un momento determinado; por otro, brinda al espectador herramientas para consolidar o criticar esas creencias. En este trabajo analizo cómo el cine es capaz de llevar a cabo ambas tareas propagando y denunciando argumentos apoyados en prejuicios en torno a la homosexualidad. Utilizo como punto de partida el análisis de la película “But… I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999), en la que se puede ver cómo el cine cumple con esta doble función: nos muestra la visión que de la homosexualidad tiene una gran mayoría de la sociedad, pero también cómo esa visión se sustenta en argumentos carentes de solidez (aunque psicológicamente persuasivos): loque en lógica se denominan “falacias”

La representación de las falacias contra la homosexualidad

Cinema fulfills, in some occasions, an argumentative role: in one hand it reflectsreality and states of beliefs of large social groups in a specific moment; on the other hand, it provides tools to the spectator in order to consolidate or criticize those beliefs. In this article, I have analyzed how cinema is able to carry out both tasks spreading and denouncing arguments supported in prejudices around homosexuality: I use as a point of departure, the analysis of the movie “But…I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999).In which it can be noticed how movie complies with this double role: It shows the vision that a large part of society has of homosexuality and how this vision is supported in arguments without any support (although they are psychologicallypersuasive): what in logics is denominated “fallacies.”El cine cumple, en ocasiones, una función argumentativa: por un lado refleja la realidad y los estados de creencias de amplios grupos sociales en un momento determinado; por otro, brinda al espectador herramientas para consolidar o criticar esas creencias. En este trabajo analizo cómo el cine es capaz de llevar a cabo ambas tareas propagando y denunciando argumentos apoyados en prejuicios en torno a la homosexualidad. Utilizo como punto de partida el análisis de la película “But… I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999), en la que se puede ver cómo el cine cumple con esta doble función: nos muestra la visión que de la homosexualidad tiene una gran mayoría de la sociedad, pero también cómo esa visión se sustenta en argumentos carentes de solidez (aunque psicológicamente persuasivos): loque en lógica se denominan “falacias”

La representación de las falacias contra la homosexualidad

Cinema fulfills, in some occasions, an argumentative role: in one hand it reflectsreality and states of beliefs of large social groups in a specific moment; on the other hand, it provides tools to the spectator in order to consolidate or criticize those beliefs. In this article, I have analyzed how cinema is able to carry out both tasks spreading and denouncing arguments supported in prejudices around homosexuality: I use as a point of departure, the analysis of the movie “But…I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999).In which it can be noticed how movie complies with this double role: It shows the vision that a large part of society has of homosexuality and how this vision is supported in arguments without any support (although they are psychologicallypersuasive): what in logics is denominated “fallacies.”El cine cumple, en ocasiones, una función argumentativa: por un lado refleja la realidad y los estados de creencias de amplios grupos sociales en un momento determinado; por otro, brinda al espectador herramientas para consolidar o criticar esas creencias. En este trabajo analizo cómo el cine es capaz de llevar a cabo ambas tareas propagando y denunciando argumentos apoyados en prejuicios en torno a la homosexualidad. Utilizo como punto de partida el análisis de la película “But… I´m a Cheerleader” (Babbitt, 1999), en la que se puede ver cómo el cine cumple con esta doble función: nos muestra la visión que de la homosexualidad tiene una gran mayoría de la sociedad, pero también cómo esa visión se sustenta en argumentos carentes de solidez (aunque psicológicamente persuasivos): loque en lógica se denominan “falacias”

Highly Efficient Catalysis of Retro-Claisen Reactions: From a Quinone Derivative to Functionalized Imidazolium Salts

A new and efficient method for the preparation of several imidazolium salts containing an ester group in the C4 position of the aromatic ring through a retro-Claisen reaction pathway between a quinone derivative and several alcohols is described. This new organic transformation proceeds in the absence of a catalyst, but it is greatly catalyzed by different Lewis acids, especially with AgOAc at a very low catalyst loading and in very short reaction times. The process takes place by the nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl groups by the alcohol functionality, thus promoting a double C-C bond cleavage and C-H and C-O bond formation. This reaction represents the first example of this type between a quinone derivative and alcohols. A new and efficient method for the preparation of several imidazolium salts containing an ester group in the C4 position of the aromatic ring through a retro-Claisen reaction pathway is described. This new organic transformation takes place by the nucleophilic attack of an alcohol functionality over the carbonyl groups, thus promoting a double C-C bond activation (see scheme; Mes=mesityl)

Synthesis of Dipyridylaminoperylenediimide–Metal Complexes and Their Cytotoxicity Studies

A new family of perylenediimide (PDI) silver and copper complexes has been successfully synthesized by reacting ortho- and bay-substituted (dipyrid-2′,2″-ylamino)perylenediimide ligands with metal phosphine fragments. The coordination of the metal center did not reveal a significant effect on the photophysical properties, which are mainly due to the PDI ligands, and in some cases quenching of the luminescence was observed. The antiproliferative effect of the free perylenediimide ligands and the metalloPDI complexes against the cervix cancer cell line HeLa was determined by MTT assay. The free perylenediimide ligands exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity, but the coordination of silver or copper to the dypyridylamino fragment greatly enhanced the activity, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two fragments. In attempts to elucidate the cellular biodistribution of the PDIs and the complexes, a colocalization experiment using specific dyes for the lysosomes or mitochondria as internal standards revealed a major internalization inside the cell for the metal complexes, as well as a partial mitochondrial localization

Cytotoxicity and biodistribution studies of luminescent Au(i) and Ag(i) N-heterocyclic carbenes. Searching for new biological targets

A range of fluorescent and biologically compatible gold(i)-N-heterocyclic carbenes bearing acridine as a wingtip group and either a 2-mercaptopyridine or a tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside as an ancillary ligand has been synthesised. Their luminescence, cytotoxicity and biodistribution have been investigated together with those of analogous gold(i) and silver(i) chloride- and bis-NHC complexes. All complexes displayed emissions based on IL transitions centred on the acridine moiety. The cytotoxic activity measured in lung, A549, and pancreatic, MiaPaca2, carcinoma cell lines revealed a general cytotoxicity pattern (thiolate > biscarbene > chloride derivatives) and flow cytometry assays pointed towards apoptosis as the cell death mechanism. Moreover, fluorescence cell microscopy disclosed an unusual biodistribution behavior, being mainly localised in lysosomes and to a lesser extent in the nucleus. Preliminary DNA interaction experiments suggested the metal fragment and not the acridine moiety as responsible for such biodistribution, which widen the scope for new biological targets

Sulfonamide-derived Dithiocarbamate Gold(i) complexes induce the apoptosis of colon cancer cells by the activation of Caspase 3 and redox imbalance

Two new families of dithiocarbamate gold(I) complexes derived from benzenesulfonamide with phosphine or carbene as ancillary ligands have been synthesized and characterized. In the screening of their in vitro activity on human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2), we found that the more lipophilic complexes—those with the phosphine PPh3—exhibited the highest anticancer activity whilst also displaying significant cancer cell selectivity. Au(S2CNHSO2C6H5)(PPh3)] (1) and Au(S2CNHSO2-p-Me-C6H4)(IMePropargyl)] (8) produce cell death, probably by intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial membrane potential modification) and caspase 3 activation, causing cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase with p53 activation. Besides this, both complexes might act as multi-target anticancer drugs, as they inhibit the activity of the enzymes thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and carbonic anhydrase (CA IX) with the alteration of the redox balance, and show a pro-oxidant effect

Synthesis, Photochemical, and Redox Properties of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Pincer Complexes Incorporating a 2,2′:6′,2″-Terpyridine Ligand Framework

Reaction of [Au(C6F5)(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) leads to complex [Au(C6F5)(η1-terpy)] (1). The chemical oxidation of complex (1) with 2 equiv of [N(C6H4Br-4)3](PF6) or using electrosynthetic techniques affords the Au(III) complex [Au(C6F5)(η3-terpy)](PF6)2 (2). The X-ray diffraction study of complex 2 reveals that the terpyridine acts as tridentate chelate ligand, which leads to a slightly distorted square-planar geometry. Complex 1 displays fluorescence in the solid state at 77 K due to a metal (gold) to ligand (terpy) charge transfer transition, whereas complex 2 displays fluorescence in acetonitrile due to excimer or exciplex formation. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations match the experimental absorption spectra of the synthesized complexes. In order to further probe the frontier orbitals of both complexes and study their redox behavior, each compound was separately characterized using cyclic voltammetry. The bulk electrolysis of a solution of complex 1 was analyzed by spectroscopic methods confirming the electrochemical synthesis of complex 2

Sintesis de compuestos de oro con ligandos carbeno N-acíclicos y N-Heterocíclicos: Estudio de sus propiedades catalíticas y biológicas

El capítulo 1 es un breve resumen de la historia del oro en medicina desde la antigüedad hasta hoy en día, en él además se explican las propiedades físico-químicas que hacen del oro un metal tan singular y se introduce su papel fundamental en la química organometálica. Además, realizamos un recorrido por algunas de las principales aplicaciones del oro(I), tanto biológicas como catalíticas; se introduce el uso del oro en medicina y los posibles mecanismos de acción de los complejos metálicos usados actualmente en terapia y, posteriormente, se desarrolla el papel que juegan el oro(I) y oro(III) en catálisis homogénea y catálisis asimétrica. A lo largo del capítulo 2 se describe la síntesis de diversos carbeno complejos N-acíclicos de oro(I). Con estos se han estudiado los procesos multicomponente (MCR), debido a su importancia en el desarrollo de nuevos fármacos, así como a su eficiencia atómica. Dichos complejos catalizan la formación de diferentes propargilaminas, que constituyen unidades de construcción muy versátiles para la síntesis de precursores de fármacos, a través de una reacción de acoplamiento A3; así como la síntesis de diversas indolicinas, uno de los esqueletos heterocíclicos N-fusionados más importantes que se encuentran en una variedad de compuestos biológicos activos. Por otro lado, en ese mismo capítulo se desarrolla la síntesis de biscarbenos y complejos tiolato basados en bases púricas y pirimidínicas del ADN y derivados de azucares, que presentan una buena internalización y distribución celular; estudiándose la actividad citotóxica y selectividad de todos estos carbenos NAC-oro(I) así como el tipo de muerte celular inducido.En el capítulo 3, con la intención de sintetizar nuevos complejos que presenten una mayor actividad a menores concentraciones, minimizando así los efectos secundarios no deseados, se recoge la síntesis de diversos carbenos N-heterocíclicos de plata(I) y oro(I) con ligandos fosfonio y tiolato. Además, se realizaron estudios de actividad citotóxica frente a diferentes líneas celulares, obteniéndose interesantes resultados. Por último, se recoge también la preparación de compuestos de oro con ligandos NHC sustituidos por grupos triazol, obtenidos mediante reacciones clic. ABSTRACT Chapter 1 is a brief summary of the history of gold in medicine from ancient times until today. It also explains the physical-chemical properties that make gold such a unique metal and introduces its fundamental role in organometallic chemistry. In addition, we made a summary of some of the main applications of gold(I), in medicine and catalysis. The use of gold in medicine and the possible mechanisms of action of the metal complexes currently used in therapy are introduced and subsequently the role played by gold(I) and gold(III) in homogeneous catalysis and asymmetric catalysis is developed. In chapter 2, the synthesis of various N-acyclic gold(I) carbenes is developed. Multicomponent processes (MCR), which have high importance in the development of new drugs mainly by their atomic efficiency have been tested with gold(I) NAC complexes. These complexes catalyze the formation of different propargylamines, which constitute very versatile building blocks for the synthesis of drug precursors, through an A3 coupling reaction; as well as the synthesis of various indolizines, one of the most important N-fused heterocyclic skeletons found in a variety of active biological compounds. In the same chapter the synthesis of biscarbenes and thiolate complexes based on DNA and pyrimidine bases of sugar derivatives has been carried out. These derivatives have a good internalization and cellular distribution. The cytotoxic activity and selectivity of all these NAC-gold (I) carbenes as well as the type of cell death induced have been studied. In Chapter 3 the synthesis of various silver(I) and gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes, bearing phosphonium and thiolate fragments, are described. The intention is the synthesis of new complexes with higher activity at lower concentrations, thus minimizing unwanted side-effects. In addition, cytotoxic activity studies were conducted against different cell lines, obtaining very interesting results. Finally, the preparation of gold compounds with NHC ligands substituted by triazole groups, obtained by clicking reactions, is also collected.<br /