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The title compound, 3-(diphenylamino)-4-ethoxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione (6), was prepared by reaction of diphenylamine (2) with diethyl squarate (DES; 5) as part of our ongoing studies on monosquarate-amides. Following purification and recrystallisation, the product was isolated as a green crystalline solid. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods, including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS, and was unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This work provides access to a previously unreported diphenylamino-substituted squaric acid derivative.

1,4-Dimethoxy-2,3-dinitrobenzene (1) reduction using sodium hydrosulfite resulted in 3,6-dimethoxybenzene-1,2-diamine (2) and 3,6-dimethoxy-2-nitroaniline (3) in 24% and 59% yields, respectively. Nitroaniline 3 was acetylated with acetyl chloride to give N-(3,6-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acetamide (4) in a 65% yield and with acetic anhydride to give N-acetyl-N-(3,6-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acetamide (5) in 78% yield. Novel compounds 4 and 5 were characterized by FT-IR, 1H and 13C-NMR, and HRMS. The X-ray crystal structure of acetamide 4 is also presented.

Diaryldithiocarbamate complexes, [Fe(S2CNAr2)3], have been prepared and their structure, reactivity, and thermal degradation to afford iron sulfide nanomaterials have been investigated. The addition of three equivalents of LiS2CNAr2 to FeCl2·4H2O in water-air affords dark red [Fe(S2CNAr2)3] in high yields. All show magnetic measurements consistent with a predominantly high-spin electronic arrangement at room temperature. The molecular structure of [FeS2C(N-p-MeOC6H4)23] reveals the expected distorted octahedral geometry, but Fe-S distances are more consistent with a low-spin electronic configuration, likely a result of the low temperature (120 K) of the data collection. The thermal stability of [FeS2C(N-p-MeC6H4)23] has been investigated. TGA shows that it begins to decompose at a significantly lower temperature (ca. 160 °C) than previously observed for [Fe(S2CNEt2)3], and this is further lowered (to ca. 100 °C) in oleylamine. The decomposition of [FeS2C(N-p-MeC6H4)23] in oleylamine, via either a heat-up or hot injection process, affords nanoparticles of Fe3S4 (greigite), while in contrast, dry heating at 450 °C affords FeS (troilite) as large agglomerates.

While many [FeFe]-hydrogenase biomimetics are effective proton-reduction catalysts, few are active for H2 oxidation, and examples containing both a pendant amine group, able to act as a proton relay, and a second redox center, both essential features of the enzymes, are rare. Here we report the preparation and oxidation chemistry of two ferrocene-functionalized amino-diphosphines (PCNCP), (CH2PR2)2NCH2Fc (R = Ph (1), Cy (2)), and their ethylenedithiolate (edt) diiron complexes, [Fe2(CO)4(μ-edt)κ2-(R2PCH2)2NCH2Fc] (R = Ph (3), Cy (4)). Their crystallographic characterization shows that PCNCP occupies an apical–basal position. CV responses are slightly R-dependent, showing for 3 and 4 in three separate oxidative processes assigned to successive one-electron oxidation of the diiron core (quasireversible), appended Fc (reversible), and the amine–diiron moiety (irreversible), as confirmed by IR and UV–Vis spectroelectrochemical studies supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) calculations. The first oxidation results in a structural rearrangement of the Fe(PNP)(CO) unit and the formation of a semi-bridging carbonyl. Slow protonation of 3 with HBF4∙Et2O affords the corresponding N-protonated cation in acetone, whilst μ-hydride products dominate for both 3 and 4 in CD2Cl2. A preliminary H2 oxidation study was carried out with 3, and while there was some evidence of activity, it was much lower than reported for alkyl-functionalized PCNPC diiron derivatives.

The prospect of eradicating malaria continues to be challenging in the face of increasing parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs so that novel antimalarials active against asexual, sexual, and liver-stage malaria parasites are urgently needed. In addition, new antimalarials need to be affordable and available to those most in need and, bearing in mind climate change, should ideally be sustainable. The West African climbing shrub Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is used traditionally for the treatment of malaria; its principal alkaloid, cryptolepine (1), has been shown to have antimalarial properties, and the synthetic analogue 2,7-dibromocryptolepine (2) is of interest as a lead toward new antimalarial agents. Cryptolepine (1) was isolated using a two-step Soxhlet extraction of C. sanguinolenta roots, followed by crystallization (yield 0.8% calculated as a base with respect to the dried roots). Semi-synthetic 7-bromo- (3), 7, 9-dibromo- (4), 7-iodo- (5), and 7, 9-dibromocryptolepine (6) were obtained in excellent yields by reaction of 1 with N-bromo- or N-iodosuccinimide in trifluoroacetic acid as a solvent. All compounds were active against Plasmodia in vitro, but 6 showed the most selective profile with respect to Hep G2 cells: P. falciparum (chloroquine-resistant strain K1), IC50 = 0.25 µM, SI = 113; late stage, gametocytes, IC50 = 2.2 µM, SI = 13; liver stage, P. berghei sporozoites IC50 = 6.13 µM, SI = 4.6. Compounds 3–6 were also active against the emerging zoonotic species P. knowlesi with 5 being the most potent (IC50 = 0.11 µM). In addition, 3–6 potently inhibited T. brucei in vitro at nM concentrations and good selectivity with 6 again being the most selective (IC50 = 59 nM, SI = 478). These compounds were also cytotoxic to wild-type ovarian cancer cells as well as adriamycin-resistant and, except for 5, cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. In an acute oral toxicity test in mice, 3–6 did not exhibit toxic effects at doses of up to 100 mg/kg/dose × 3 consecutive days. This study demonstrates that C. sanguinolenta may be utilized as a sustainable source of novel compounds that may lead to the development of novel agents for the treatment of malaria, African trypanosomiasis, and cancer.

Cristobalite, a crystalline form of silica, is shown to be formed within an amorphous titanosilicate, at previously unknown conditions. Mesoporous titanosilicate microspheres (MTSM) were synthesized as efficient catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of crystals in this predominantly amorphous material, after calcination at 750 °C. When calcined at 800 °C, the crystals were identified via PXRD as predominantly cristobalite, which possibly marks its first observation in titanosilicates at such a low temperature, without adding any alkali metals during synthesis. Catalytic experiments conducted with MTSM materials calcined at temperatures varying from 650 to 950 °C, reveal that the amount of cristobalite formed increases with temperature, and that it has a significant impact on the pore structure, and, remarkably, correlates with the catalytic activity of titanosilicates.

AbstractThe compound under study 7CBB consists of two biphenyl moieties A–B and C–D linked by a carboxylate group. Ring A terminates in a 4-cyano group and C–D is linked to the terminal alkyl chain. A previously reported room temperature determination of the crystal structure employing MoKα X-radiation was thought to contain serious errors in describing the alkyl chain as being disordered. The X-ray structure factors were not deposited with this published structure and as a consequence two new X-ray data sets have been collected: (1) using MoKα radiation at room temperature 295 K (a repeat of the previous study) and (2) using CuKα radiation at 150 K in an attempt, which proved successful, to improve the overall quality of the structure determination. The corrected MoKα structure and the CuKα structure both reported here have enabled the previous errors to be identified, concluding that there is no disorder in the alkyl chain. The alkyl chain in the MoKα structure at 295 K was found to have anisotropic thermal factors slightly exaggerated with respect to the remainder of the structure. However, this effect is not observed in the CuKα structure at 150 K, all anisotropic thermal factors including those in the alkyl chain being reduced to cover a much smaller overall range of values. Consequently, it can be concluded that the effect observed in the alkyl chain at 295 K is merely one of a thermal nature, not one of disorder. There are no unusual bond lengths or angles present. The biphenyl moieties are planar within 0.035 Å and 0.020 Å respectively. The dihedral angles of all ring pairs have been calculated. Calculation of intermolecular distances between molecules related by a centre of symmetry reveals the existence of a number of van-der Waals interactions. The H-bonding motif typical of crystal structures of cyanobiphenyl compounds is observed. The molecular packing mode corresponds to that of a precursor of the smectic phase.Graphic Abstract The alkyl chain thermal ellipsoids for 7CBB (a) the Mo RT structure are noticeably exaggerated compared to those for the remainder of the structure, an effect which is not present in (b) the Cu LT structure (Drawn with Ortep/Raster (Barnes in J Appl Cryst 30:568, 1997; Merritt and Bacon in Methods Enzymol 277:505–524, 1997)). It may be concluded therefore that in the Mo RT structure this is a thermal effect and cannot be explained in terms of static disorder.

The single crystal X-ray structure of the novel steroid derivative, 6E-hydroximino-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (C19H25NO3) (code name RB-499), possessing antiproliferative activity against various cell lines is presented. The analysis produced the following results: chemical formula C19H25NO3; Mr = 315.40; crystals are orthorhombic space group P212121 with Z = 4 molecules per unit cell with a = 6.2609(2), b = 12.5711(4), c = 20.0517(4) Å,Vc = 1578.18(7) Å3, crystal density Dc = 1.327 g/cm³. Structure determination was performed by direct methods, Fourier and full-matrix least-squares refinement. Hydrogens were located in the electron density and refined in position with isotropic thermal parameters. The final R-index was 0.0324 for 3140 reflections with I > 2σ and 308 parameters. The Absolute Structure Parameter − 0.07(5) confirms the correct allocation of the absolute configuration. The presence of the double bond C=O at position 3 in Ring A has caused a distortion from the usual chair conformation and created an unusual distorted sofa conformation folded across an approximate m-plane through C(1)–C(4). Ring B is a distorted chair, its conformation being influenced by the presence of the C(6)=N(6)–O(6)H group in position 6. Ring C is a symmetrical chair. Ring D exhibits both a distorted mirror symmetry conformation [influenced by the C(17)=O(17) group] and a distorted twofold conformation. DFT calculations indicated some degree of flexibility in rings A, C and D with ring A showing the greatest variation in torsion angles. The crystal packing is governed by H-bonds involving O(3), O(6) and O(17). DFT calculations of bond distances and angles, optimized at the B3LYP/6–31++G(d,p) level, were in good agreement with the X-ray structure.Graphical Abstract[Images not available. See PDF.]Ring A conformations: (a) Experimental and (b) Calculated. The differences in torsion angle values indicate a degree of flexibility in the ring. The ring conformations are shown in Figures (ii) and (iv) respectively (drawn with BIOVIA [12]. Regions A1 and A2 are approximately planar in both, being planar within 0.048 Å and 0.105 Å respectively.

High-throughput continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis has been used as a rapid and efficient synthetic route to produce a range of crystalline nanopowders in the Ce-Zn oxide binary system. High-resolution powder X-ray diffraction data were obtained for both as-prepared and heat-treated (850°C for 10 h in air) samples using the new robotic beamline I11, located at Diamond Light Source. The influence of the sample composition on the crystal structure and on the optical and physical properties was studied. All the nanomaterials were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and elemental analysis (via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). Initially, for 'as-prepared' Ce1−xZnxOy, a phase-pure cerium oxide (fluorite) structure was obtained for nominal values of x=0.1 and 0.2. Biphasic mixtures were obtained for nominal values of x in the range of 0.3-0.9 (inclusive). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the phase-pure nano-CeO2 (x=0) consisted of ca 3.7 nm well-defined nanoparticles. The nanomaterials produced herein generally had high surface areas (greater than 150 m2 g−1) and possessed combinations of particle properties (e.g. bandgap, crystallinity, size, etc.) that were unobtainable or difficult to achieve by other more conventional synthetic methods.

Diaryldithiocarbamate complexes, [Fe(S[sub.2]CNAr[sub.2])[sub.3]], have been prepared and their structure, reactivity, and thermal degradation to afford iron sulfide nanomaterials have been investigated. The addition of three equivalents of LiS[sub.2]CNAr[sub.2] to FeCl[sub.2]·4H[sub.2]O in water-air affords dark red [Fe(S[sub.2]CNAr[sub.2])[sub.3]] in high yields. All show magnetic measurements consistent with a predominantly high-spin electronic arrangement at room temperature. The molecular structure of [FeS[sub.2]C(N-p-MeOC[sub.6]H[sub.4])[sub.2][sub.3]] reveals the expected distorted octahedral geometry, but Fe-S distances are more consistent with a low-spin electronic configuration, likely a result of the low temperature (120 K) of the data collection. The thermal stability of [FeS[sub.2]C(N-p-MeC[sub.6]H[sub.4])[sub.2][sub.3]] has been investigated. TGA shows that it begins to decompose at a significantly lower temperature (ca. 160 °C) than previously observed for [Fe(S[sub.2]CNEt[sub.2])[sub.3]], and this is further lowered (to ca. 100 °C) in oleylamine. The decomposition of [FeS[sub.2]C(N-p-MeC[sub.6]H[sub.4])[sub.2][sub.3]] in oleylamine, via either a heat-up or hot injection process, affords nanoparticles of Fe[sub.3]S[sub.4] (greigite), while in contrast, dry heating at 450 °C affords FeS (troilite) as large agglomerates.