Cyclopropenium Nanoparticles and Gene Transfection in Cells

Non-viral vectors for the transfection of genetic material are at the frontier of medical science. In this article, we introduce for the first time, cyclopropenium-containing nanoparticles as a cationic carrier for gene transfection, as an alternative to the common quaternary ammonium transfection agents. Cyclopropenium-based cationic nanoparticles were prepared by crosslinking poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) with tetrachlorocyclopropene. These nanoparticles were electrostatically complexed with plasmid DNA into nanoparticles (~50 nm). Their cellular uptake into F929 mouse fibroblast cells, and their eventual expression in vitro have been described. Transfection is enhanced relative to PEI with minimal toxicity. These cyclopropenium nanoparticles possess efficient gene transfection capabilities with minimal cytotoxicity, which makes them novel and promising candidates for gene therapy.

Microwave-assisted methylation of dihydroxybenzene derivatives with dimethyl carbonate

Dihydroxybenzene derivatives were methylated with dimethyl carbonate to generate useful synthetic intermediates for wide range of applications.

Bidentate and tridentate heterocyclic azo compounds having long alkyl chains as coating reagents for ion chromatography of manganese, zinc, and cadmium ions

Bidentate and tridentate heterocyclic azo compounds with and without a long alkyl chain were prepared and examined for cation exchange chromatography of manganese, zinc, and cadmium; these ions could not be separated by reversed phase HPLC following precolumn derivatization with heterocyclic azo compounds owing to the dissociation of the complexes. The newly prepared azo compounds having a long alkyl chain favorably orientate in the reversed-phase stationary phase such that the coordinating parts of the ligand may make contact with metal ions in the mobile phase. Bidentate ligands showed sharp peaks but almost no resolution of manganese and cadmium. A tridentate ligand strongly retained all the three metal ions, which could be separated within 10 min by a competing ligand and by optimizing the pH.

The Selective Reaction of Aryl Halides with KOH: Synthesis of Phenols, Aromatic Ethers, and Benzofurans

The direct and selective synthesis of phenols from aryl/heteroaryl halides and KOH has been achieved through the use of highly active monophosphine-based catalysts derived from Pd(2)dba(3) and ligands L1 or L2 and the biphasic solvent system 1,4-dioxane/H(2)O. We have also demonstrated a one-pot method of phenol formation/alkylation for the preparation of alkyl aryl ethers from aryl halides. In many instances, this protocol overcomes limitations in existing Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of aliphatic alcohols with aryl halides. Finally, we demonstrate that substituted benzofurans can be prepared efficiently via a Pd-catalyzed phenol formation/cyclization protocol starting from 2-chloroaryl alkynes.