Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

Weak C—H...Cl—Pd interactions toward conformational polymorphism in trans‐dichloridobis(triphenylphosphane)palladium(II)

A new triclinic polymorph of the title compound, [PdCl₂(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], has two independent molecules in the unit cell, with the Pd atoms located on inversion centres. One molecule has an eclipsed conformation, whereas the second molecule adopts a gauche conformation. The molecules with a gauche conformation are involved in weak intermolecular C—H...Cl—Pd interactions with symmetry‐related molecules. It is suggested that C—H...Cl—Pd interactions are mainly responsible for the existence of conformational differences, which contribute to the polymorph formation. In the crystal, there are layers of eclipsed and gauche molecules separated by normal van der Waals interactions.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes of 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones with cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines

Reaction of [RuCl(3)(dppb)H(2)O] (dppb=1,4 bis(diphenylphospine)butane) with 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4DH) and its N(4)-methyl (H2Bz4M) and N(4)-phehyl (H2Bz4Ph) derivatives gave [RuCl(dppb)(H2Bz4DH)]Cl (1), [RuCl(dppb)(H2Bz4M)]Cl (2) and [RuCl(dppb)(H2Bz4Ph)]Cl (3). The cytotoxic activity of the studied compounds was tested against the MCF-7, TK-10 and UACC-62 human tumor cell lines. The precursor [RuCl(3)(dppb)H(2)O] exhibits cytocidal activity against the tree cell lines. H2BzDH, H2Bz4M, and [RuCl(dppb)(H2Bz4M)]Cl (2) show a selective cytocidal effect against the UACC-62 cell line which makes them the most promising compounds.     

Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.     

2-Pyridinoformamide-derived thiosemicarbazones and their iron(III) complexes: Potential antineoplastic activity

The iron(III) complexes [Fe(2Am4DH)₂]Cl (1), [Fe(2Am4Me)₂]Cl (2) and [Fe(2Am4Et)₂]Cl (3) with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazone (H2Am4DH) and its N(4)-methyl (H2Am4Me) and N(4)-ethyl (H2Am4Et) derivatives were obtained and characterized by means microanalyses, infrared and EPR spectra. The electrochemical behavior of the complexes was investigated. The thiosemicarbazones and complexes (1) and (2) presented toxicity against Artemia salina at low concentrations. Since this bioassay has a good correlation with cytotoxic activity in human solid tumors, the studied compounds present potential pharmacological applications.     

Ru(II)/bisphosphine/diimine/amino acid complexes: diastereoisomerism,cytotoxicity, and inhibition of tumor cell adhesion to collagen type I

We herein report the synthesis and characterization of Ru(II)/amino acid complexes with general formula [Ru(AA-H)(dppb)(4-mebipy)](PF₆), where AA-H means the deprotonated amino acids Gly, Ala, Val, Met, Trp, Tyr, and Ser; dppb is 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and 4-mebipy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine. The complexes were characterized by ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis of [Ru(DL-Ala-H)(dppb)(4-mebipy)]⁺, suggesting the presence of diastereoisomers. The complexes exhibit IC₅₀ values against breast tumor cells (MDA-MB-231) comparable with cisplatin. In addition, the Ru(II)-based complex with tryptophan inhibited tumor cell adhesion to collagen type I. Therefore, the use of ruthenium complexes containing amino acids can be an interesting tool for development of new therapeutic agents.