A self-catalyzed reaction of 1,2-dibenzoyl-o-carborane with hydrosilanes - formation of new hydrofuranes

The activation of Si-H bonds is a very important transformation both in organic and inorganic chemistry. Herein we report that 1,2-dibenzoyl-o-carborane (1) reacts with Si-H bonds, yielding new hydrofurane-type products. The mechanism of this Si-H bond activation was studied both experimentally and by DFT calculations, and supposedly proceeds in an FLP-type manner.

Neuroprotection by a novel brain permeable iron chelator, VK-28, against 6-hydroxydopamine lession in rats

Significant increase in iron occurs in the substantia nigra pars compacta of Parkinsonian subjects, and in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treated rats and monkeys. This increase in iron has been attributed to its release from ferritin and is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species and the onset of oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration. Several iron chelators with hydroxyquinoline backbone were synthesized and their ability to inhibit basal as well as iron-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was examined. The neuroprotective potential of the brain permeable iron chelator, VK-28 (5-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-1-ylmethyl]-quinoline-8-ol), injected either intraventricularly (ICV) or intraperitoneally (IP), to 6-OHDA lesioned rats was investigated. VK-28 inhibited both basal and Fe/ascorbate induced mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxidation, with an IC(50) (12.7 microM) value comparable to that of the prototype iron chelator, desferal, which does not cross the blood brain barrier. At an ICV pretreatment dose as low as 1 microg, VK-28 was able to completely protect against ICV 6-OHDA (250 microg) induced striatal dopaminergic lesion, as measured by dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanilic acid (HVA) levels. IP injection of rats with VK-28 (1 and 5 mg/kg) daily for 10 and 7 days, respectively, demonstrated significant neuroprotection against ICV 6-OHDA at the higher dose, with 68% protection against loss of dopamine at 5mg/kg dosage of VK-28. The present study is the first to show neuroprotection with a brain permeable iron chelator. The latter can have implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Friedreich ataxia, aceruloplasminemia, Hallervorden Spatz syndrome) where abnormal iron accumulation in the brain is thought to be associated with the degenerative processes.

Ultralow calcium requirements of fungi facilitate use of calcium regulating agents to suppress host calcium-dependent defenses, synergizing infection by a mycoherbicide

Infection by many fungi activates a variety of calcium dependent defenses in the hosts, slowing or suppressing the attacker and limiting the efficacy of mycoherbicides. The calcium requirement for fungal growth is so low that it could only be implied based on fungi containing calcium-dependent signaling enzymes. Analytical grade media contain <2 microM calcium, and the addition of specific chelators does not affect fungal growth. Hydrophobic derivatives of the calcium-specific chelator BAPTA designed to traverse plant cuticles were synthesized in order to chelate calcium internally during fungal attack. Some chelators as well as calcium precipitating oxalate and channel blocker verapamil were applied with a weakly mycoherbicidal Colletotrichum coccodes to cotyledons of compatible Abutilon threophrasti. They suppressed calcium dependent callose biosynthesis in the weed and increased virulence but may have affected other calcium-dependent processes that facilitate virulence. The low calcium requirement of fungi, and their high affinity for calcium, allows the application of calcium-regulating agents as synergists for mycoherbicides where the weed uses calcium-dependent defenses.