1,2,4-Triazolium Ions as Flexible Scaffolds for the Construction of Polyphilic Ionic Liquid Crystals

A novel scaffold for the construction of self-organised ionic liquids and ionic liquid crystals bearing both perfluorocarbon and hydrocarbon moieties has been developed. The phase behaviour and physical properties of these materials can be tuned as a function of chain length and fluorine content and significant structural elaboration is possible, giving a highly flexible system

Crystal and molecular structure of series of triphilic ionic liquid-crystalline materials based on the 1,2,4-triazolium cation

Results from the determination of sixteen X-ray single crystal structures are reported for a series of 3-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-5-perfluoroalkyl-2,4-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolium salts with tetrafluoroborate, triflate or bistriflimide anions, in which the lengths of the alkoxy and perfluoroalkyl chains are varied systematically. On account of these cations having a hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon and ionic part, they are classified as triphilic. All of the tetrafluoroborate salts crystallised in the P21/c space group, most as acetone solvates, while for the bistriflimide salts, four different space groups were found although all contained a P21 screw axis often with additional symmetry elements. Of the triflates, two crystallised in space groups with a P21 screw axis and two in P1̄. The organisation in the crystalline state tended to reflect the triphilic nature of the materials with cations and anions associating in repeating motifs, while the rest of the space was occupied by either hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon domains with only two exceptions

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF NEW AZOLE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR FUNCTIONAL IONIC SYSTEMS

The synthesis of a series of 27 salts based on 5-(4-(alkyloxy)phenyl)-1,4-dimethyl-3-(perfluoroalkyl)-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium structures, differing in the length of the alkyl and perfluoroalkyl chains, as well as in the counter ions is reported. Some properties of this new family of salts as perspective liquid-crystalline ionic liquids (LC-ILs) are described and the influence of the varying moieties in the modulation of the properties is discussed

Intimate Female Partner Homicide Suicide. Demographic and psychopathology aspects of perpetrators and a potential not yet classified diagnostic entityAnalyses of data taken from newspapers in Italy from 2009 to 2019

Introduction. The homicide of the female partner followed by suicide of the perpetrator (Intimate Female Partner Homicide Suicide -IFPHS) has been a growing phenomenon over last years, but its psychosocial and psychopathological aspects have not been analyzed in-depth yet. Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate common psychopathological elements in different IFPHS and a specific risk profile for both the couple and the male partner, with the possibility to define a new serial mental condition not classified to date. Methods. A series of 50 cases of greater media coverage was reconstructed from the Italian newspapers in the period from 2009 to 2019 and information was collected through a pre-defined form. The characteristics of the perpetrators and the modalities through which the events occurred have been considered. Results. No definite mental disorder is present in the history of almost all cases. A more common psychological profile is found for the homicide/suicide male partner, mainly characterized by jealousy, possessiveness, mood reactivity, rage, and impulsiveness. Conclusions. It can be hypothesized that such a severe act may express a form of mental disorder not yet classified, with main features of an acute state of mixed depressive mood, emotional discontrol and aggressive impulsiveness, on a personality basis of jealousy and possessiveness, possibly reinforced by previous dependent traits of the female partner. But the methodological limitations of gathering information from the press make it neces-sary the study in depth, based on more direct and objective methodologies, of such a highly dramatic and heterogeneous phenomenon

Synthesis and mesomorphism of related series of triphilic ionic liquid crystals based on 1,2,4-triazolium cations

The synthesis, liquid crystal and conductivity properties of a series of 27 salts based on the 5-(4-(alkyloxy)phenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium cation bearing a perfluoroalkyl chain with triflate, tetrafluoroborate and bistriflimide anion are reported. The cations are regarded as triphilic on account of their three distinct regions – hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon and ionic. The mesophases were characterised by a combination of polarised optical microscopy, calorimetry and small-angle scattering experiments using both X-rays and neutrons, while thermal stability was probed using thermogravimetric analysis. The liquid crystal properties are found to be dependent on the anion and the length of the perfluorocarbon chain, which effects combine to determine aspects of the self-organisation in the mesophases. A strong dependence of conductivity on the anion is seen, which is in turn related to its charge density

Mesomorphic and electrooptical properties of viologens based on non-symmetric alkyl/polyfluoroalkyl functionalization and on an oxadiazolyl-extended bent core

Two different sets of ionic liquid crystals based on bistriflimide salts of non-symmetrically substituted polyfluorinated bipyridinium (viologens) and bent symmetrically substituted dialkyl-oxadiazolyl-bipyridinium have been synthesized, in order to study the effect on the mesomorphic and electrooptical properties of the non-symmetric functionalization (alkyl chain and fluoroalkyl chains of different lengths) on the two pyridinium rings and additionally the effect of a bent conjugated spacer among the two pyridinium units of the viologen. POM and DSC characterization show that the synthesized salts have a mesomorphic and, in some cases, polymesomorphic behaviour in a wide thermal range, also encompassing room temperature. Some of the compounds exhibit an SmA phase in addition to more ordered smectic phases at lower temperature. The presence of a fluorinated chain on one side seems to generally increase the stability of the SmA phase of the ionic liquid crystal compared to alkylated analogues of viologens. Moreover, the insertion of the bent oxadiazolyl spacer between the two pyridinium units, has a significant effect on the mesophase behaviour leading to dendritic textures recalling that of banana phases. Electrochemical characterization by cyclic voltammetry shows that the presence of a fluorinated moiety causes an easier reduction compared to typical alkyl viologens while the oxadiazolyl-bipyridinium derivatives have more negative reduction potentials. Spectroelectrochemical experiments show that in contrast to classic viologens showing a typical electrochromic band of their radical cation, the oxadiazolyl insertion between the two pyridinium moieties hampers electrochromism due to absence of resonance coupling between the N redox centers. Interestingly, electrochromism of the polyfluorinated viologens, besides being observed in solution is observed in the ionic liquid crystal smectic phase of some of the salts of this series, upon radical cation formation the spectrum exhibits a further electrochromic band in the near infrared range which is not observed in solution

Curcumin-Like Compounds as Neuroprotective Agents: Interactions with HSP60 and Amyloid Beta Peptide

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) represents a fundamental challenge for public health in the 21st century. Current AD therapies largely focus on symptomatic aspects of the clinical pathology, but they have yet to demonstrate any major impact on the disease progression [1]. The most important role of the research aimed at fighting the AD is the development of neuro-protective agents, able to interfere with the protein aggregation process whose clinical signature is represented by the plaques deposition. An important role in AD’s framework could be played by Heat shock proteins (HSPs), highly regulated proteins that mediate the proteins proper folding and promote recovery of their native conformations lost due to stress [2]. Recently, it was shown that HSP60 mediates translocation of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Amyloid Beta peptide (Aβ) to the mitochondria, leading to dysfunction of the organelle [3]. In the field of potential therapeutic approaches, curcumin, a non-toxic component of the curry spice turmeric, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-aggregation properties, is emerging as a lead-compound for the development of neuro-protective drugs [4]. Here we present our recent findings on Curcumin and Curcumin-like drugs obtained by a combination of cellular and in-vitro experiments, such as Thioflavine T fluorescence spectroscopy and Small Angle X-ray Scattering [5]. In particular, together with the synthesis of some curcumin-like compounds, we present the results about their effect on a neuronal cell model, concerning the cytotoxicity and ability to affect Hsp60 expression, as well as their influence on Aβ aggregation, provided by in vitro experiments