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The first enantioselective alkylation of 5‐aminopyrazoles is described with good results. The organocatalytic alkylation of 5‐aminopyrazoles have been accomplished using benzoxathiazine 2,2‐dioxides as electrophiles and a bifunctional squaramide organocatalyst.

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[EN] A highly enantioselective addition of hydroxyquinolines to isatin-derived ketimines has been realized using a quinine-derived thiourea organocatalyst. The reaction affords chiral 3-amino-2-oxindoles bearing a quinoline moiety with a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 98%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%). Moreover, we can extend this methodology for the enantioselective functionalization of 5-hydroxyisoquinoline. This methodology represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first enantioselective addition of hydroxyquinolines to imines., Financial support from the MINECO (Gobierno de Espana; CTQ2013-47494-P) is gratefully acknowledged. C.V. thanks MINECO for a JdC contract and M.M-M. thanks Universitat de Valencia for a pre-doctoral grant.

A catalytic highly enantioselective aza-Reformatsky reaction with cyclic aldimines and ketimines for the synthesis of chiral b-amino esters with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities is reported.Areadily available diaryl prolinol is used as a chiral ligand, ZnMe2 as a zinc source and ethyl iodoacetate as reagent in the presence of air atmosphere. The reaction with cyclic ketimines generates a quaternary stereocenter with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. Furthermore, five-membered N-sulfonyl ketimines were used as electrophiles with good enantiomeric excesses, under the optimized reaction conditions. Moreover, several chemical transformations were performed with the chiral b-amino esters., Financial support from the MINECO (Gobierno de Espana; CTQ2013-47494-P). L.D.M. thanks the Generalitat Valenciana for a predoctoral grant. C.V. thanks MINECO for a JdC contract. Access to NMR, MS and X-ray facilities from the Servei central de suport a la investigacio experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

The highly stable nitrosyl iron(II) mononuclear complex [Fe(bztpen)(NO)](PF6)(2) (bztpen=N-benzyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays an S=1/2 S=3/2 spin crossover (SCO) behavior (T-1/2=370 K, Delta H= 12.48 kJmol(-1), Delta S=33 JK(-1) mol(-1)) stemming from strong magnetic coupling between the NO radical (S=1/2) and thermally interconverted (S=0 S=2) ferrous spin states. The crystal structure of this robust complex has been investigated in the temperature range 120-420 K affording a detailed picture of how the electronic distribution of the t(2g)-e(g) orbitals modulates the structure of the {FeNO}(7) bond, providing valuable magneto-structural and spectroscopic correlations and DFT analysis., The research reported here was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and FEDER funds (CTQ2013-46275-P, CTQ2015-64579-C3-1-P, and Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu MDM-2015-0538) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2012/049). L.P.L. thanks the Generalitat Valenciana and the Universidad de Valencia for a predoctoral fellowship. J.C. and E.R. thank the Generalitat de Catalunya for a Beatriu de Pinos grant and an ICREA Academia award, respectively.

[EN] The unprecedented bimetallic 2D coordination polymer {Fe[(Hg(SCN)3)2](4,4’-bipy)2}n exhibits a thermal high-spin (HS)$low-spin (LS) staircase-like conversion characterized by a multi-step dependence of the HS molar fraction gHS. Between the fully HS (gHS = 1) and LS (gHS = 0) phases, two steps associated with different ordering appear in terms of spin-state concentration waves (SSCW). On the gHS 0.5 step, a periodic SSCW forms with a HS-LS-HS-LS sequence. On the gHS 0.34 step, the 4D superspace crystallography structural refinement reveals an aperiodic SSCW, with a HS-LS sequence incommensurate with the molecular lattice. The formation of these different long-range spatially ordered structures of LS and HS states during the multi-step spin-crossover is discussed within the framework of “DevilÏs staircase”-type transitions. Spatially modulated phases are known in various types of materials but are uniquely related to molecular HS/LS bistability in this case., This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO), FEDER (CTQ2013-46275-P), Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu MDM-2015-0538, the Generalitat Valenciana through PROMETEO/2012/049. L.P.L. and F.J.V.M. thank the Universidad de Valencia and a MINECO for a predoctoral (FPI) grant. D.Z. thanks the Natural Science Foundation of China and China Scholarship Council. This work was supported by the Institut Universitaire de France, the National Research Agency (ANR-13-BS04-0002), Rennes Metropole and CNRS (Post-Doc funding of E.T.). E.C. and J.A.R. would like to thank G. Chastanet for meditations on the Devil's staircase.

A quinine-derived thiourea catalysed the enantioselective addition of 4-substituted pyrazolones to isatin-derived ketimines, providing a variety of aminooxindole-pyrazolone adducts containing congested vicinal tetrasubstituted stereocentres with excellent outcomes (up to 98% yield, >20:1 dr and 98% ee)., Financial support from the MINECO (Gobierno de Espana and FEDER (EU)) (CTQ2013-47949-P) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ISIC2012/001) is gratefully acknowledged. C. V. thanks MINECO for JdC contract. Access to NMR, MS and X-ray facilities from the Servei central de support a la investigacio experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

A new enantioselective route to spiro[piperidine-3,3′-oxindoles] from isatin ketimines is described. The aza-Henry reaction of N-Boc-isatin ketimines with methyl 4-nitrobutyrate in the presence of a Ph2BOX-CuBr2 complex provided the corresponding nitro amino esters with good diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee). The aza-Henry adducts were transformed into spiro[piperidine-3,3′-oxindoles] after reduction of the nitro group to oxime, and cleavage of the N-Boc group and lactamisation.

[Fe(tvp)(2)(NCS)(2)] (1) (tvp=trans-(4,4-vinylenedipyridine)) consists of two independent perpendicular stacks of mutually interpenetrated two-dimensional grids. This uncommon supramolecular conformation defines square-sectional nanochannels (diagonal approximate to 2.2nm) in which inclusion molecules are located. The guest-loaded framework 1@guest displays complete thermal spin-crossover (SCO) behavior with the characteristic temperature T-1/2 dependent on the guest molecule, whereas the guest-free species 1 is paramagnetic whatever the temperature. For the benzene-guest derivatives, the characteristic SCO temperature T-1/2 decreases as the Hammet sigma(p) parameter increases. In general, the 1@guest series shows large entropy variations associated with the SCO and conformational changes of the interpenetrated grids that leads to a crystallographic-phase transition when the guest is benzonitrile or acetonitrile/H2O., The research reported herein was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and FEDER funds (CTQ2013-46275-P; MAT2012-34740), the Basque Government (project IT-779-13), and Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2012/049). T.R.M. thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) for a predoctoral grant (FPI.). L.P.-L. thanks the Generalitat Valenciana for a predoctoral fellowship in the frame of the project PROMETEO/2012/049.

A very efficient synthesis of 5-chalcogenyl-1,3-oxazin-2-ones has been accomplished by the chalcogen-mediated yne–carbamate cyclisation of chiral, non-racemic N-Cbz-protected propargylic amines using PhXY (X = Se, S, Te; Y = Br or Cl) as electrophile sources. The reactions gave good-to-excellent yields for a wide range of substrates. In all cases the reaction was totally regioselective, occurring by a 6-endo-dig process regardless of the nature of the reagent and of the substituents in the starting material. This methodology permits the formation of the 1,3-oxazin-2-one moiety as well as the simultaneous installation of a chalcogen functionality onto the heterocyclic ring. The experimental results have been rationalised by theoretical studies at the B3LYP/6-311G* level of theory.

A new enantioselective catalyst for the conjugate addition of terminal alkynes has been developed. Terminal alkynes react with 3-alkoxycarbonylcoumarins in the presence of diethylzinc and bis(hydroxyamide) ligands to give chiral non-racemic dihydrocoumarins substituted with an alkynyl group on the C-4 position with good yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 95%., Financial support from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Gobierno de Espana) and FEDER (European Union) (CTQ2009-13083) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP2012-212 and ISIC2012/001) is gratefully acknowledged. A. S.-M. thanks the MEC for a pre-doctoral grant (FPI).

A highly enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of unprotected indoles with (E)-1-aryl-4-benzyloxybut-2-en-1-ones catalyzed by a new chiral [Hf{(R)-3,3′-Br2-BINOL}(OtBu)2]2 complex has been developed to functionalize the C-3 position of the indole nucleus with a side chain bearing a 1,4-difunctionalized moiety and a benzylic stereogenic center. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). The usefulness of this approach was illustrated with the synthesis of a tryptophol derivative.

Financial support (Grant CTQ2013-47494-P) from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO-Gobierno de Espana). A.S.M. thanks the MINECO for a predoctoral grant (FPI program). Access to NMR and MS facilities from the Servei Central de Suport a la Investigacio Experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

Financial support from the MINECO (Gobierno de Espana and FEDER (EU)) (CTQ2013-47949-P) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ISIC2012/001) is gratefully acknowledged. C. V. thanks MINECO for JdC contract. Access to NMR, MS and X-ray facilities from the Servei central de support a la investigacio experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

An efficient one-pot asymmetric synthesis of pyrazoles bearing a chiral quaternary stereocenter has been developed. Quinine-derived thiourea catalyzed the enantioselective addition of pyrazolones to isatin-derived ketimines, providing the corresponding acetylated pyrazoles after in situ treatment with Ac2 O/Et3 N. The corresponding pyrazoles were afforded in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

The stereodivergent synthesis of N-tosyl α,β-dehydroamino esters via a Mukaiyama–Michael addition is reported. The reaction of silylketene acetals with N-tosylimines derived from β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters in dichloromethane provided the corresponding (Z)-α,β-dehydroamino esters while the (E)-isomers were obtained when the reaction was carried out in the presence of 10 mol% copper(II) triflate.

A new enantioselective route to spiro[piperidine-3,3′-oxindoles] from isatin ketimines is described. The aza-Henry reaction of N-Boc-isatin ketimines with methyl 4-nitrobutyrate in the presence of a Ph2BOX-CuBr2 complex provided the corresponding nitro amino esters with good diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee). The aza-Henry adducts were transformed into spiro[piperidine-3,3′-oxindoles] after reduction of the nitro group to oxime, and cleavage of the N-Boc group and lactamisation.

Financial support from the MINECO [Gobierno de Espana and FEDER (EU)] (CTQ2013-47949-P) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ISIC2012/001) is gratefully acknowledged. M.M.-M. thanks the Universitat de Valencia for a predoctoral grant. C. V. thanks MINECO for JdC contract. Access to NMR and MS facilities from the Servei central de support a la investigacio experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

Complex [Fe III (bztpen)(OCH 3 )](PF 6 ) 2 (1) crystallizes as the major yellow-brown product from spontaneous oxidation of its corresponding iron(II) counterpart in methanol solution. Magnetic measurements and EPR spectra demonstrate that 1 undergoes a poorly cooperative 6 A 1 ↔ 2 T 2 spin conversion in the temperature range 300-50 K, with characteristic thermodynamic parameters ΔH = 6.15 kJ mol -1 , ΔS = 39.88 J K -1 mol -1 , and T 1/2 = 154 K. The crystal structure of 1 has been investigated at 100 and 293 K.

Twelve coordination polymers with formula {Fe(3-Xpy)(2)[M(II)(CN)(4)]} (M(II): Ni, Pd, Pt; X: F, Cl, Br, I; py: pyridine) have been synthesised, and their crystal structures have been determined by single-crystal or powder X-ray analysis. All of the fluoro and iodo compounds, as well as the chloro derivative in which M(II) is Pt, crystallise in the monoclinic C2/m space group, whereas the rest of the chloro and all of the bromo derivatives crystallise in the orthorhombic Pnc2 space group. In all cases, the iron(II) atom resides in a pseudo-octahedral [FeN(6)] coordination core, with similar bond lengths and angles in the various derivatives. The major difference between the two kinds of structure arises from the stacking of consecutive two-dimensional {Fe(3-Xpy)(2)[M(II)(CN)(4)]}(infinity) layers, which allows different dispositions of the X atoms. The fluoro and chloro derivatives undergo cooperative spin crossover (SCO) with significant hysteretic behaviour, whereas the rest are paramagnetic. The thermal hysteresis, if X is F, shifts toward room temperature without changing the cooperativity as the pressure increases in the interval 10(5) Pa-0.5 GPa. At ambient pressure, the SCO phenomenon has been structurally characterised at different significant temperatures, and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters were obtained from DSC calorimetric measurements. Compound {Fe(3-Clpy)(2)[Pd(CN)(4)]} represents a new example of a "re-entrant" two-step spin transition by showing the Pnma space group in the intermediate phase (IP) and the Pnc2 space group in the low-spin (LS) and high-spin (HS) phases.

A new ttf (tetrathiofulvalene) ligand containing an amidopyridine moiety was synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical study of the 4-tetrathiofulvalenylcarboxamidopyridine (ttf–adpy) ligand showed two reversible oxidation processes at EI′1/2 = 0.08 V/Fc+–Fc and EII′1/2 = 0.26 V/Fc+–Fc. The crystal structure of [(ttf–adpyH)2Pt(CN)4] (1) was solved at 293 K, where 1 displays the triclinic space group P. The ttf–adpyH+ molecule is planar, and the bond lengths within the ttf core are in the usual range for neutral ttf moieties. The ttf–adpyH+ molecules and the [Pt(CN)4]2– anions organize in a three-dimensional network by means of hydrogen bonds and short S···S contacts. In the network, the ttf–adpy molecules order following the pattern -D-A-D-A- (D = donor, pyridine; A = acceptor, ttf moieties). Reaction of the Fe(BF4)2·6H2O salt, ttf–adpy ligand and the [M(CN)4]2– coordinating counterions led to the 2D Hofmann-like polymers {Fe(ttf–adpy)2[M(CN)4]}·nH2O [M = NiII; n = 1.5 (2), 0 (5); PdII; n = 2 (3), 0 (6); PtIIn = 2 (4), 0 (7)]. A 2D structure for 2–7 was proposed on the basis of analytical data. Compounds 2–4 present a complete thermally induced two-step spin transition. It is observed in the temperature interval from 100 to 200 K for 2; whereas for 3 and 4 it occurred in the interval of 200–250 K. The spin-transition properties of 2–4 were found to be strongly dependent on the water content, as nonhydrated materials 5–7 are paramagnetic in the studied temperature range (5–350 K). The thermodynamic parameters associated with the spin transition estimated from DSCmeasurements are: ΔH1 = 5.7 kJ mol–1 (3), 6.2 kJ mol–1 (4),ΔH2 = 6.5 kJ mol–1 (3), 7.2 kJ mol–1 (4) and ΔS1 = 24 J K–1 mol–1 (3), 26.6 J K–1 mol–1 (4), ΔS2 = 30.4 J K–1 mol–1 (3) and32.8 J K–1 mol–1(4).(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

A general catalytic inverse electron demand hetero-Diels Alder reaction for 2-alkenoylpyridine N-oxides is presented. 2-Alkenoylpyridine N-oxides react very efficiently with alkenes in the presence of bisoxazolidine-copper(II) [BOX-Cu(II)] complexes to give chiral dihydropyrans bearing a pyridine ring at the 6-position with very high yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. These heterodienes exhibited higher reactivity and enantioselectivity than the corresponding non-oxidized 2-alkenoylpyridines.

An organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Friedel–Crafts addition of 2-naphthols to benzoxathiazine 2,2-dioxides is described using a quinine-derived bifunctional catalyst. The method allows the use of a wide range of aromatic compounds as nucleophiles, including 1-naphthol and sesamol, and benzoxathiazines 2,2-dioxides, expanding the existing state of the art enantioselective synthesis of aminomethylnaphthol derivatives.

A quinine-derived thiourea organocatalyst promoted the highly enantioselective addition of naphthols and activated phenols to ketimines derived from isatins. The reaction afforded chiral 3-amino-2-oxindoles with a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). To the best of our knowledge, this transformation is the first highly enantioselective addition of naphthols to ketimines.

The conjugate diynylation of α,β-saturated trifluoromethyl ketones is carried out at low catalytic loading (2.5 mol% for aryl substituents) of a copper(I)—MeO-BIPHEP complex, triethylamine and a terminal 1,3-diyne.

A series of 5-chalcogenyl-1,3-oxazin-2-ones are synthesized by 6-endo-dig cyclization of chiral N-Cbz-protected propargylic amines.

An organocatalytic enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of a series of substituted 1- naphthol derivatives and activated phenols with ethyl trifluoropyruvate, catalyzed by a quinine-derived squaramide, is presented. Good yields and high to excellent enantioselectivities of the Friedel– Crafts alkylation products were obtained., Financial support from the MINECO [Gobierno de Espana and FEDER (EU)] (CTQ2013-47949-P) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ISIC2012/001) is gratefully acknowledged. M.M.-M. thanks the Universitat de Valencia for a predoctoral grant. C. V. thanks MINECO for JdC contract. Access to NMR and MS facilities from the Servei central de support a la investigacio experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledged.

Oral administration of sodium tungstate to adult male streptozotocin-diabetic rats for 3 months normalized serum levels of glucose, insulin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. These effects were accompanied by an increase in reproductive performance, which was related to a strong improvement in Leydig cell function markers, such as the recovery of the number of Leydig cells and serum testosterone levels. Moreover, this in vivo recovery was related to a concomitant increase in the cell expression of insulin receptors. Tungstate treatment did not modify Leydig cell function in healthy rats. Furthermore, the addition of tungstate or insulin to the mTLC-1 cell line from Leydig cell origin increased the phosphorylation states of MAP-kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3. Our results indicate that tungstate treatment in diabetic rats leads to a recovery of reproductive performance by increasing the number of Leydig cells. This increase contributes to the recovery of their functionality, thereby improving the overall function of these cells. We propose that this improvement is caused by the combined effect of the tungstate-induced normalization of insulin glucose and luteinizing hormone serum levels and a direct action of the effector on Leydig cells through modulation of at least MAP-kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3 activities.

The synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of [Fe(bpe)4(H2O)2](TCNQ)2 (1) are reported. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic P space group, a = 13.481(5), b = 14.887(3), c = 16.663(4) A, α = 101.048(18), β = 112.84(2), γ = 90.92(2)°, V = 3009.6(14) A3, Z = 2. The iron atom defines a compressed octahedron with the equatorial positions occupied by the bpe molecules which act as monodentate ligands and the two axial positions occupied by water molecules. The TCNQ− radical counterions are uncoordinated and interact by pairs defining (TCNQ)22− units strongly coupled antiferromagnetically. The iron(II) atoms are in the high spin state and its magnetic behaviour indicates the occurrence of zero-field splitting of the S = 2 ground state.

The dinuclear iron(II) complex {[Fe(CH3bipy)(NCS)2]2bpym} has been synthesised and its crystal structure determined at 293 K. The magnetic properties display intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling at 1 bar (J = −4.2 cm−1), and the onset of a pressure-induced spin conversion is observed at 11 kbar. Magnetic field Mossbauer measurements have been carried out at 4.2 K, and indicate that the HS species correspond to [HS-HS] pairs. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of melatonin on cholestatic oxidative stress under constant light exposure. Cholestasis was induced by double ligature and section of the extra-hepatic bile duct. Melatonin was injected i.p.(1000 microg kg(-1) day(-1)). Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase and transferase were determined in liver. After bile-duct obstruction and under constant light exposure, an increase in malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) and a slight decrease in reduced glutathione were seen. Enzyme activity, with the exception of glutathione reductase, had significantly diminished. After melatonin administration, malondialdehyde fell (p < 0.001), whereas there was an increase in reduced glutathione (p < 0.0001) compared with untreated controls. Constant light exposure was associated with an increase in hepatic oxidative stress. Treatment with melatonin decreased lipid peroxide synthesis, and permitted a recovery of both reduced glutathione and scavenger enzyme activity.

In the present research, we studied the effect of the administration of melatonin or S-adenosyl-L-methionine (S-AMe) on oxidative stress and hepatic cholestasis produced by double ligature of the extra-hepatic biliary duct (LBD) in adult male Wistar rats. Hepatic oxidative stress was evaluated by the changes in the amount of lipid peroxides and by the reduced glutathione content (GSH) in lysates of erythrocytes and homogenates of hepatic tissue. The severity of the cholestasis and hepatic injury were determined by the changes in the plasma enzyme activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP), g-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT), and levels of albumin, total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB). Either melatonin or S-AMe were administered daily 3 days before LBD, and for 10 days after biliary obstruction. LDB caused highly significant increases in plasma enzyme activities and in bilirubin and lipid peroxides levels in erythrocytes and hepatic tissue. At the same time, this procedure produced a notable decrease in the GSH pools in these biological media. Both melatonin and S-AMe administration were effective as antioxidants and hepatoprotective substances, although the protective effects of melatonin were superior; it prevented the GSH decrease and reduced significantly the increases in enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation products produced by biliary ligature. S-AMe did not modify the increased GGT activity nor did it decrease greatly the TB levels (43% melatonin vs. 14% S-AMe). However, S-AMe was effective in preventing the loss of GSH in erythrocytes and hepatic tissue, as was melatonin. The obtained data permit the following conclusions. First, the LDB models cause marked hepatic oxidative stress. Second, the participation of free radicals of oxygen in the pathogenecity and severity of cholestasis produced by the acute obstruction of the extra-hepatic biliary duct is likely. Third, the results confirm the function of S-AMe as an antioxidant and hepatoprotector. Finally, melatonin is far more potent and provides superior protection as compared to S-AMe. Considering the decrease in oxidative stress and the intensity of cholestasis, these findings have interesting clinical implications for melatonin as a possible therapeutic agent in biliary cholestasis and parenchymatous liver injury.

The direct asymmetric Henry reaction with prochiral ketones, leading to tertiary nitroaldols, is an elusive reaction so far limited to a reduced number of reactive substrates such as trifluoromethyl ketones or α-keto carbonyl compounds. Expanding the scope of this important reaction, the direct asymmetric addition of nitromethane to 2-acylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by a BOX-Cu(II) complex to give the corresponding pyridine-derived tertiary nitroaldols having a quaternary stereogenic center with variable yields and good enantioselectivity, is described.

The halocyclization reaction of chiral propargylic amines (I) proceeds with complete regioselectivity, taking place through a 6-endo-dig process regardless of the nature of the halogen and of the substituents in the starting material.

The synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of three clathrate derivatives of the spin-crossover porous coordination polymer {Fe(pyrazine)[Pt(CN)(4)]} (1) with five-membered aromatic molecules furan, pyrrole, and thiophene is reported. The three derivatives have a cooperative spin-crossover transition with hysteresis loops 14-29 K wide and average critical temperatures T-c=201 K (1.fur), 167 K (1.pyr), and 114.6 K (1.thio) well below that of the parent compound 1 (T-c=295 K), confirming stabilization of the HS state. The transition is complete and takes place in two steps for 1.fur, while 1.pyr and 1.thio show 50% spin transition. For 1.fur the transformation between the HS and IS (middle of the plateau) phases occurs concomitantly with a crystallographic phase transition between the tetragonal space groups P4/mmm and I4/mmm, respectively. The latter space group is retained in the subsequent transformation involving the IS and the LS phases. 1.pyr and 1.thio display the tetragonal P4/mmm and orthorhombic Fmmm space groups, respectively, in both HS and IM phases. Periodic calculations using density functional methods for 1.fur, 1.pyr, 1.thio, and previously reported derivatives 1.CS2, 1.I, 1.bz(benzene), and 1.pz(pyrazine) have been carried out to investigate the electronic structure and nature of the host-guest interactions as well as their relationship with the changes in the LS-HS transition temperatures of 1.Guest. Geometry-optimized lattice parameters and bond distances in the empty host 1 and 1.Guest clathrates are in general agreement with the X-ray diffraction data. The concordance between the theoretical results and the experimental data also comprises the guest molecule orientation inside the host and intermolecular distances. Furthermore, a general correlation between experimental T-c and calculated LS-HS electronic energy gap was observed. Finally, specific host-guest interactions were studied through interaction energy calculations and crystal orbital displacement (COD) curve analysis., The research reported herein was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MICINN) and FEDER funds (CTQ2013-46275-P and CTQ2011-23862-C02-01), Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR-1459) and Generalitat Valenciana through PROMETEO/2012/049. D. A. thanks Conicyt-Chile for a predoctoral fellowship. Z.A.C. thanks the Spanish M.E.C.D. for a predoctoral FPU fellowship. M.O. thanks a Grant-In-Aid for Science Research for Innovative Areas "Coordination Programming (Area 2107, No. 22108512)" and for Scientific Research Program (A) (No. 23245014) from MEXT, Japan. The authors thankfully acknowledge the computer resources, technical expertise, and assistance provided by the Barcelona Supercomputer Center.

[EN] The new bimetallic nickel(II) compound (PPh4)4[Ni2(2)]·6H2O (3), where H8[2] stands for N,N',N'',N'''-1,2,4,5-benzene-tetrayltetrakis(oxamic acid), has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 3 consists of [Ni2(n4:n4-2)]4- anions, tetraphenylphosphonium cations, and water molecules. Facile one-electron oxidation of the square-planar diamagnetic dinickel(II) complex [Ni2(n4:n4-2)]4- generates the metallo-radical species [Ni2(n4:n4-2·+)]3- with characteristic intra-ligand ¿cation radical transitions in the visible region (475-550 nm) as well as a typical quasi-isotropic EPR signal at g ¿ 2.0., This work was supported by the CNRS (France) and the DGICYT (Spain) through project PB9421002. B. Cervera thanks the Conselleria de Educació i Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) for a grant.

Pressure effect studies on the spin crossover behaviour of the mononuclear compounds {Fe[H2B(pz)2]2(bipy)}(1) and {Fe[H2B(pz)2]2(phen)}(2) have been performed in the range of 105 Pa–1.02 GPa at variable temperatures (100–310 K). Continuous spin transitions and displacement of its characteristic temperature has been observed for 1 with increasing pressure. Meanwhile the response of 2 under applied pressures is quite unexpected, and can only be understood in terms of a crystallographic phase transition or change in the bulk modulus of the compound. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

Aerial parts of Centaurea paui afforded, in addition to several known sesquiterpene lactones, the two new elemanolides 2–4, the new elemane derivative 5 as well as the five new heliangolides 14–18. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially high-field NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the heliangolide 12 previously isolated from this plant, has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction.

The synthesis and the crystal structures of the complexes [Cu(LI)2](ClO4) (1) and [Cu(LI)(CH3CN)2(ClO4)2] (2) are reported. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with the unit cell dimensions a = 13.169(4), b = 12.289(3), c = 14.732(3) A, β = 109.03(2)° and Z = 4. Copper(I) is coordinated to four N atoms of the two 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione (LI) ligands with a two-fold axis passing between the ligands. The copper(II) compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbn21 with unit cell dimensions of a = 7.498(5), b = 23.492(7), c = 12.363(4) A and Z = 4. Copper(II) coordination can be described as a distorted octahedron with the N donor atoms of one LI ligand and of two molecules of CH3CN occupying the equatorial positions completed by two oxygen atoms of the two perchlorate molecules in the axial positions.

Terminal alkynes (II) react with coumarins (I) in the presence of diethylzinc and chiral bis(hydroxyamide) ligands to give enantiopure dihydrocoumarins (III) substituted with an alkynyl group in C(4) position in good enantioselectivities.

A highly enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of unprotected indoles with (E)-1-aryl-4-benzyloxybut-2-en-1-ones catalyzed by a new chiral [Hf{(R)-3,3′-Br2-BINOL}(OtBu)2]2 complex has been developed to functionalize the C-3 position of the indole nucleus with a side chain bearing a 1,4-difunctionalized moiety and a benzylic stereogenic center. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). The usefulness of this approach was illustrated with the synthesis of a tryptophol derivative.

A [La(OTf)3] complex with a new pyBOX ligand bearing a bulky 1-naphthylmethyl substituent at the 4′-position of the oxazoline ring catalyzes the conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to a broad range of (E)-2-azachalcones, providing the expected nitro-Michael products with good yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 87 %. The optical purity of the products can be increased by a single crystallization. A plausible stereochemical model to account for the observed stereochemistry has been proposed.

Pine nuts are the seeds of Pinus pinea. There are few reported cases of allergy to pine nut. We describe two young girls with anaphylaxis caused by small amounts of pine nuts. Specific IgE to pine nut was demonstrated by skin prick tests and RAST but no IgE to other nuts and pine pollen was detected. The patients had IgE against a pine nut protein band with apparent molecular weights of approximately 17 kDa that could be considered as the main allergen. Our patients were monosensitized to pine nut and the 17-kDa protein could be correlated with the severe clinical symptoms.

The reaction is catalyzed best by the chiral BOX catalyst and the addition of 4A molecular sieves is crucial.