Month: July 2013

Vitamin B12: chemical modifications

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42,6605-6619 DOI: 10.1039/C3CS60062A, Tutorial Review Keith o Proinsias, Maciej Giedyk, Dorota Gryko Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland E-mail: dorota.gryko@icho.edu.pl Lord Alexander B. Todd wrote: “Vitamin B12turned out to be a substance of frightening complexity“. This review focuses on the chemistry of this complex molecule and its… Continue reading Vitamin B12: chemical modifications

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles: preparation, properties, functionalization and biological applications

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42,6620-6633 DOI: 10.1039/C3CS60036J, Tutorial Review Liheng Feng, Chunlei Zhu, Huanxiang Yuan, Libing Liu, Fengting Lv, Shu Wang Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P.R. China E-mail: wangshu@iccas.ac.cn This review provides an overview of the latest advancement in preparation, properties, functionalization… Continue reading Conjugated polymer nanoparticles: preparation, properties, functionalization and biological applications

Highlights from ASMC’13 – Advances in Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry – May 5-8 2013, Moscow, Russia

Med. Chem. Commun., 2013, 4,1138-1144 DOI: 10.1039/C3MD90017G, Conference Report Edmond Differding   EFMC & Differding Consulting, Route de Blocry 55, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium  E-mail: edmond@differding.com Received 14 Jun 2013, Accepted 14 Jun 2013 First published online 18 Jul 2013 ASMC’13 Moscow focused on new synthetic methodologies and aimed at expanding the drug discovery space from small to… Continue reading Highlights from ASMC’13 – Advances in Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry – May 5-8 2013, Moscow, Russia

240 boron atoms in a single molecular species

The cuboctahedron consists of copper paddle-wheel nodes and carborane–isophthalic acids Scientists in the US have made a molecular species containing the highest number of boron atoms ever recorded in a crystallographically characterised molecular species. The unique supramolecular cuboctahedron contains 240 boron atoms and was synthesised by Chad Mirkin and colleagues at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, via coordination-driven… Continue reading 240 boron atoms in a single molecular species

L-citrulline, reduces muscle fatigue

The organic compound citrulline is an α-amino acid. Its name is derived from citrullus, theLatin word for watermelon, from which it was first isolated in 1914 by Koga & Odake. It was finally identified by Wada in 1930.[2] It has the idealized formulaH2NC(O)NH(CH2)3CH(NH2)CO2H. It is a key intermediate in the urea cycle, the pathway by which mammals excrete ammonia. Although human DNA does not code for citrulline… Continue reading L-citrulline, reduces muscle fatigue

Magnetism of single molecule controlled by voltage

The molecule of about 2 nm in size is kept stable between two metal electrodes for several days. Image: Christian Grupe/KIT A team of physicists has succeeded in performing an extraordinary experiment: They demonstrated how magnetism that generally manifests itself by a force between two magnetized objects acts within a single molecule. This discovery is… Continue reading Magnetism of single molecule controlled by voltage

Synthesis of cyclic carbonates with carbon dioxide and cesium carbonate

  Cyclic carbonates are important compounds for the synthesis of biocompatible polymers and linear dialkyl carbonates, as well as solvents and electrolytes. We report here the synthesis of such compounds from easily accessible starting materials with carbon dioxide as a C1 source and caesium carbonate as the base. This new methodology is able to yield… Continue reading Synthesis of cyclic carbonates with carbon dioxide and cesium carbonate

Even bacteria use social networks

  This model shows the role of vesicles, vesicle chains and membrane tubes in M. xanthus biofilms. The scientists believe these connections help cells exchange signals and material. Image: Auer laboratory Using several imaging techniques, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists found that a common soil bacterium stays connected by a network of chain-like membranes. They… Continue reading Even bacteria use social networks

History of Cyclotides

Cyclotides are head-to-tail cyclic peptides in plants Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides of approximately 30 amino acids. They have the characteristic structural features of a head-to-tail cyclized backbone and a cystine knot arrangement of their three conserved disulfide bonds. Their unique structural features lead to exceptional stability. This and their amenability to chemical synthesis have made… Continue reading History of Cyclotides