Anthraquinone Molecule Research Articles

Efficient unsymmetric disulfide formation by molecular-scale tailoring of ortho-polyquinone-based polymer photocatalyst

Disulfide bonds, especially unsymmetric disulfide bonds, have important applications in bioactivity and drug molecules, but the synthesis of unsymmetric disulfide bonds remains challenging due to efficiency and selectivity issues. Herein, this work utilizes anthraquinone (AQ) and cyclictriphosphonononitrile through a nucleophilic substitution reaction to synthesize an organic polymer (ANTH-AMI) that incorporates an ortho-polyquinone (o-polyquinone) redox center. The anthraquinone molecule functions as a redox center, capable of accepting photoinduced electrons and subsequently transferring them to initiate an electron-coupled hydrogenation reaction (AQ to AQH). Moreover, the proximity of the o-polyquinone redox sites facilitates the catalysis of unsymmetric disulfide bond formation. Consequently, the ANTH-AMI photocatalysts demonstrate exceptional yields (up to 82 %), substrate versatility, cycling stability, and scalable preparation in promoting unsymmetric coupling reactions of thiol. This work offers a solution for designing organic polymer photocatalysts with adjacent multiple redox centers for cross-coupling reactions.

Alizarin as a potential protector of proteins against damage caused by hydroperoxyl radical

Alizarin is a natural anthraquinone molecule with moderate antioxidative capacity. Some earlier investigations indicated that it can inhibit osteosarcoma and breast carcinoma cell proliferation by inhibiting of phosphorylation process of ERK protein (extracellular signal-regulated kinases). Several mechanisms of deactivation of one of the most reactive oxygen species, hydroperoxyl radical, by alizarin are estimated: hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA), radical adduct formation (RAF), and single electron transfer (SET). The plausibility of those mechanisms is estimated using density functional theory. The obtained results indicated HAA as the only thermodynamically plausible mechanism. For that purpose, two possible mechanistic pathways for hydrogen atom abstraction are studied in detail: hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). Water and benzene are used as models of solvents with opposite polarity. To examine the difference between HAT and PCET is used kinetical approach based on the Transition state theory (TST) and determined rate constants (k). Important data used for a distinction between HAT and PCET mechanisms are obtained by applying the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), and by the analysis of single occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs) in transition states for two examined mechanisms. The molecular docking analysis and molecular dynamic are used to predict the most probable positions of binding of alizarin to the sequence of ApoB-100 protein, a protein component of plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL). It is found that alizarin links the nitrated polypeptide forming the π-π interactions with the amino acids Phenylalanine and Nitrotyrosine. The ability of alizarin to scavenge hydroperoxyl radical when it is in a sandwich structure between the polypeptide and radical species, as the operative reaction mechanism, is not significantly changed concerning its antioxidant capacity in the absence of polypeptide. Therefore, alizarin can protect the polypeptide from harmful hydroperoxyl radical attack, positioning itself between the polypeptide chain and the reactive oxygen species.

Anthraquinone-2-Sulfonate as a Microbial Photosensitizer and Capacitor Drives Solar-to-N2O Production with a Quantum Efficiency of Almost Unity.

Semiartificial photosynthesis shows great potential in solar energy conversion and environmental application. However, the rate-limiting step of photoelectron transfer at the biomaterial interface results in an unsatisfactory quantum yield (QY, typically lower than 3%). Here, an anthraquinone molecule, which has dual roles of microbial photosensitizer and capacitor, was demonstrated to negotiate the interface photoelectron transfer via decoupling the photochemical reaction with a microbial dark reaction. In a model system, anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS)-photosensitized Thiobacillus denitrificans, a maximum QY of solar-to-nitrous oxide (N2O) of 96.2% was achieved, which is the highest among the semiartificial photosynthesis systems. Moreover, the conversion of nitrate into N2O was almost 100%, indicating the excellent selectivity in nitrate reduction. The capacitive property of AQS resulted in 82-89% of photoelectrons released at dark and enhanced 5.6-9.4 times the conversion of solar-to-N2O. Kinetics investigation revealed a zero-order- and first-order- reaction kinetics of N2O production in the dark (reductive AQS-mediated electron transfer) and under light (direct photoelectron transfer), respectively. This work is the first study to demonstrate the role of AQS in photosensitizing a microorganism and provides a simple and highly selective approach to produce N2O from nitrate-polluted wastewater and a strategy for the efficient conversion of solar-to-chemical by a semiartificial photosynthesis system.

Crystal Structure, Topology, DFT and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of a Novel Charge Transfer Complex (L3) of Anthraquinone and 4-{[(anthracen-9-yl)meth-yl] amino}-benzoic Acid (L2) Exhibiting Photocatalytic Properties: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach.

Here, we report a facile route to the synthesizing of a new donor–acceptor complex, L3, using 4-{[(anthracen-9-yl)meth-yl] amino}-benzoic acid, L2, as donor moiety with anthraquinone as an acceptor moiety. The formation of donor–acceptor complex L3 was facilitated via H-bonding and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed the synthesized donor–acceptor complex L3 crystal belongs to the triclinic system possessing the P-1 space group. The complex L3 was also characterized by other spectral techniques, viz., FTIR and UV absorption spectroscopy, which confirmed the formation of new bonds between donor L2 moiety and acceptor anthraquinone molecule. The crystallinity and thermal stability of the newly synthesized complex L3 was confirmed by powdered XRD and TGA analysis and theoretical studies; Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to define the type of interactions occurring in the complex L3. Interestingly, theoretical results were successfully corroborated with experimental results of FTIR and UV absorption. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed for HOMO to LUMO; the energy gap (∆E) was calculated to be 3.6463 eV. The complex L3 was employed as a photocatalyst for the degradation of MB dye and was found to be quite efficient. The results showed MB dye degraded about 90% in 200 min and followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic with rate constant k = 0.0111 min−1 and R2 = 0.9596. Additionally, molecular docking reveals that the lowest binding energy was −10.8 Kcal/mol which indicates that the L3 complex may be further studied for its biological applications.

Aggregation-Induced Fluorogens in Bio-Detection, Tumor Imaging, and Therapy: A Review

Aggregation-Induced Fluorogens in Bio-Detection, Tumor Imaging, and Therapy: A Review

On the mechanism of tumor cell entry of aloe-emodin, a natural compound endowed with anticancer activity.

Aloe‐emodin (1,8‐dihydroxy‐3‐[hydroxymethyl]‐anthraquinone), AE, is one of the active constituents of a number of plant species used in traditional medicine. We have previously identified, for the first time, AE as a new antitumor agent and shown that its selective in vitro and in vivo killing of neuroblastoma cells was promoted by a cell‐specific drug uptake process. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the cell entry of AE has remained elusive as yet. In this report, we show that AE enters tumor cells via two of the five somatostatin receptors: SSTR2 and SSTR5. This observation was suggested by gene silencing, receptor competition, imaging and molecular modeling experiments. Furthermore, SSTR2 was expressed in all surgical neuroblastoma specimens we analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The above findings have strong implications for the clinical adoption of this natural anthraquinone molecule as an antitumor agent.

DFT calculations of the IR and Raman spectra of anthraquinone dyes and lakes

AbstractThe IR and Raman spectra of alizarin, purpurin, kermesic acid, and carminic acid have been computed performing density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory. The computational approach adopted has been validated on the basis of a series of calculations with different level of theory on the anthraquinone molecule, the common moiety of these dyes. The computed vibrational frequencies have been adopted as a guideline to propose the vibrational assignment of the dyes and to obtain useful information on the Raman spectra of their aluminum complexes.

A New Immunosuppressive Molecule Emodin Induces both CD4+FoxP3+ and CD8+CD122+ Regulatory T Cells and Suppresses Murine Allograft Rejection.

Due to vigorous alloimmunity, an allograft is usually rejected without any conventional immunosuppressive treatment. However, continuous global immunosuppression may cause severe side effects, including tumors and infections. Mounting evidence has shown that cyclosporine (CsA), a common immunosuppressant used in clinic, impedes allograft tolerance by dampening regulatory T cells (Tregs), although it inhibits allograft rejection at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to seek an alternative immunosuppressive drug that spares Tregs with high efficiency in suppression but low toxicity. In this study, we investigated the capacity of emodin, an anthraquinone molecule originally extracted from certain natural plants, to prolong transplant survival in a mouse model and explored the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its action. We found that emodin significantly extended skin allograft survival and hindered CD3+ T cell infiltration in the allograft, accompanied by an increase in CD4+Foxp3+ and CD8+CD122+ Treg frequencies and numbers but a reduction in effector CD8+CD44highCD62Llow T cells in recipient mice. Emodin also inhibited effector CD8+ T cells proliferation in vivo. However, CD4+CD25+, but not CD8+CD122+, Tregs derived from emodin-treated recipients were more potent in suppression of allograft rejection than those isolated from control recipients, suggesting that emodin also enhances the suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Interestingly, depleting CD25+ Tregs largely reversed skin allograft survival prolonged by emodin while depleting CD122+ Tregs only partially abrogated the same allograft survival. Furthermore, we found that emodin hindered dendritic cell (DC) maturation and reduced alloantibody production posttransplantation. Finally, we demonstrated that emodin inhibited in vitro proliferation of T cells and blocked their mTOR signaling as well. Therefore, emodin may be a novel mTOR inhibitor that suppresses alloimmunity by inducing both CD4+FoxP3+ and CD8+CD122+ Tregs, suppressing alloantibody production, and hindering DC maturation. Thus, emodin is a newly emerging immunosuppressant and could be utilized in clinical transplantation in the future.

Redox control of magnetic transport properties of a single anthraquinone molecule with different contacted geometries

Controlling magnetic transport through a single molecule remains one of the most fundamental challenges of spin electronics. Here, we investigate the effects of the redox reaction on the magnetic transport properties of a single anthraquinone (AQ) molecule connected to zigzag graphene nanoribbon electrodes by using the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism with density functional theory. Two kinds of contacted types, isomeric AQ-14 and AQ-15, are considered in this work. The results show the excellent spin-filtering with 100% spin filtering efficiency can be found in AQ-14 molecular device. Redox reaction on the molecule doesn't affect its spin filtering behavior. After the contacted type changing, the spin-filtering behavior is only found in AQ-15 molecular device at the reduced state. When the molecule is oxidized, the α-spin current of the device is reduced dramatically leading to the absence of the spin-filtering behavior. More importantly, the on-off of the α-spin electronic conductance of AQ-15 induced by redox reaction can allow it be designed as a spin current switching.

A Synthetic Study towards the Marmycins and Analogues

A methodological study towards the total synthesis of marmycin A/B is described exploiting a commercial anthraquinone molecule as model compound. The challenging synthetic pathway uncovers a copper-catalysed Ullmann cross-coupling to attach the sugar backbone by means of C–N bond formation and, finally, an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts C–C glycosylation to successfully afford the core structure of marmycin A. This methodology has been successfully applied to the genuine anthraquinone moiety leading to the natural product and simpler structural analogues.

A Hybrid Quantum Mechanical Approach: Intimate Details of Electron Transfer between Type-I CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots and an Anthraquinone Molecule.

We report a hybrid computational approach to calculate electron transfer between a type-I CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dot (QD) with a varying shell thickness and the functionalized anthraquinone (AQ) molecule. This novel approach combines the traditional electron/hole confinement theory in the effective mass approximation for the QD and molecular orbital theory for the AQ molecule. In the present study, the QD's electron and hole envelope wave functions are solutions of the effective-mass Schrödinger equation, and the AQ wave function is obtained at the density functional level. Electron-transfer rate calculations are based on Marcus's theory with the coupling strength computed according to an one-electron orbital perturbation model. We show that in a heptane solution, the LUMO of AQ and the 1Se electron orbital of QD are involved in the charge separation (CS) process. The charge recombination (CR) process, on the other hand, occurs from the singly occupied molecular orbital of the AQ radical (which corresponds to the LUMO in AQ) to a trapped hole state of the QD within the band gap. The calculations support previously reported interpretations of the role of the ZnS shell as a hindrance in the CS and CR process.

Adsorption and reduction reactions of anthraquinone derivatives on gold electrodes studied with electrochemical surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Electrochemical surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC‐SERS), combined with cyclic voltammetry, and the density functional theoretical (DFT) method were used to investigate self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) adsorption and reduction processes. Here, we choose the system of interest, being thiolacetyl‐terminated 2‐phenylene ethynylene‐substituted anthraquinone molecule (2‐AQ) on gold electrodes in buffered aqueous and aprotic solutions. In the buffered aqueous solution, the results of cyclic voltammetry and EC‐SERS measurements, as well as DFT calculations, indicate that the adsorbed molecules pass through a two‐electron two‐proton reduction reaction with cathodic polarization. In particular, the latter two methods confirmed the structural changes of SAMs during the process of redox reaction, 2‐AQ + 2e + 2H+ → 2‐AQH2, where 2‐AQ and 2‐AQH2 are the oxidized and reduced forms, respectively. In aprotic solutions (acetonitile), a stepwise reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of the results of EC‐SERS and DFT calculations. The first reduction peak should be a half reaction process 2‐AQ + e → 2‐AQ−, where 2‐AQ− is a single electron reduced form. Compared with that of 2‐AQ SAMs in the buffered aqueous solution, the results of EC‐SERS and DFT calculations in aprotic solution suggested that the solvent effect significantly influences the redox process of 2‐AQ in electrochemical interfaces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rhein: A potential biological therapeutic drug for intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is regarded as an important cause of low back pain, which continues to be a common disability. IDD is thought to involve sequential changes of intervertebral disc that lead to the reduction of disc cells and the extracellular matrix. In addition, inflammation is crucially involved in IDD. Currently, there is urgent need to develop biological therapies for IDD that can both relieve symptoms and directly reverse the process of degeneration. Rhein (RH) is an anthraquinone molecule with the abilities of enhancing the synthesis of matrix components and inhibiting inflammatory response. Recently, the metabolic precursor of RH called diacerein has been demonstrated to have significant effects on pain relief and function improvement in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Given the occurrence of matrix degeneration and involvement of inflammation in IDD, we propose that RH might be a promising biological therapeutic drug for IDD due to its bioactivities. In addition, we hypothesize that the underlying mechanisms might be that RH has the ability to diminish interleukin-1 (IL-1) induced apoptosis and inhibit IL-1 induced secretion of MMPs and aggrecanases.

Effects of temperature reduction on monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle capacitance

The electrochemistry of monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle (MPC) solutions at reduced temperatures was studied using differential pulse voltammetry. Different tetrabutylammonium electrolytes in CH2Cl2 were compared in the analysis of the hexanethiolate-protected gold nanoparticles (C6-MPCs). In agreement with Gouy–Chapman–Stern (GCS) theory, the double-layer capacitance (CMPC )o f the C6-MPCs increased with decreasing solution temperature. Separate electron transfers in redox-modified MPCs were observed in this work. Electron transfer to and from the MPC gold core was observed simultaneously with the electron transfer of the attached anthraquinone molecules. The resulting double-layer capacitance of the anthraquinone-modified nanoparticles (AQ-MPCs) was determined at various temperatures. There was less correlation between temperature and capacitance in the AQ-MPCs. AQ-MPCs were synthesized with the anthraquinone molecule at two different chain lengths from the gold core surface. The shorter-chain AQ-MPC exhibited better resolved electron transfer peaks from the gold core, while the voltammetry of the longer-chain AQ-MPC had better resolved anthraquinone peaks. Additionally, this was the first observation of quantized double-layer (QDL) charging events from a non-ethanol-soluble (NES) fraction of MPCs that have been functionalized. � 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectral analysis of the DNA targeting bisalkylaminoanthraquinone DRAQ5 in intact living cells

We report on the potential DNA binding modes and spectral characteristics of the cell-permeant far red fluorescent DNA dye, DRAQ5, in solution and bound within intact cells. Our aim was to determine the constraints for its use in flow cytometry and bioimaging. Solution characteristics and quantum yields were determined by spectroscopy. DRAQ5 binding to nuclear DNA was analyzed using fluorescence quenching of Hoechst 33342 dye, emission profiling by flow cytometry, and spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy of the complex DRAQ5 emission spectrum. Cell cycle profiling utilized an EGFP-cyclin B1 reporter as an independent marker of cell age. Molecular modeling was used to explore the modes of DNA binding. DRAQ5 showed a low quantum yield in solution and a spectral shift upon DNA binding, but no significant fluorescence enhancement. DRAQ5 caused a reduction in the fluorescence intensity of Hoechst 33342 in live cells prelabeled with the UV excitable dye, consistent with molecular modeling that suggests AT preference and an engagement of the minor groove. In vivo spectral analysis of DRAQ5 demonstrated shifts to longer wavelengths upon binding with DNA. Analysis of spectral windows of the dual emission peaks at 681 and 707 nm in cells showed that cell cycle compartment recognition was independent of the far red-near IR emission wavelengths monitored. The study provides new clues to modes of DNA binding of the modified anthraquinone molecule in vivo, and its AT base-pair selectivity. The combination of low quantum yield but high DNA affinity explains the favorable signal-to-noise profile of DRAQ5-nuclear fluorescence. The robust nature of cell cycle reporting using DRAQ5, even when restricted spectral windows are selected, facilitates the analysis of encroaching spectral emissions from other fluorescent reporters, including GFP-tagged proteins.

Rare cell isolation using antibodies covalently linked to slides: application to fetal cells in maternal blood.

We describe here a new type of method for isolation of rare cell populations in biological fluids. The method is based on the anthraquinone technology for covalent binding of molecules to a polymer surface. An anthraquinone molecule conjugated via a linker to an electrophilic group (AQ Immobilizer trade mark reagent, Exiqon A/S) is covalently bound to a polymer surface by UV irradiation. The electrophilic group of this AQ reagent can covalently bind a specific antibody directed against a specific cell marker. Applying a cell sample to the functional surface, the cells having the specific cell marker on the cell surface will bind to the antibody on the functional surface. Using this technique, even extremely small cell populations may be isolated. We succeeded in isolating fetal cells from maternal blood samples in the first trimester for chromosome defects genetic diagnosis.

Analyses of the Molecular Mechanism of Adriamycin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

The molecular basis of the adriamycin(AQ)-dependent development of cardiotoxicity is still far from being clear. In contrast to our incomplete understanding of the organ-specific mechanism mitochondria are unequivocally accepted as the locus where the molecular disorder is triggered. A growing number of reports intimate the establishment of unbalanced oxygen activation through heart mitochondria in the presence of anthraquinones. In fact, in contrast to liver mitochondria, isolated heart mitochondria have been unequivocally shown to shuttle single electrons to AQ, giving rise to O 2 ̇− formation by autoxidizing AQ ̇ semiquinones. Earlier we have demonstrated the involvement of the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase in this deleterious electron deviation from the respiratory chain. This enzyme that is associated with complex I of the respiratory chain catalyzes the oxidation of cytosolic NADH. AQ activation through isolated heart mitochondria was reported to require the external addition of NADH, suggesting a flux of reducing equivalents from NADH to AQ in the cytosol. Unlike heart mitochondria, intact liver mitochondria, which are lacking this NADH-related pathway of reducing equivalents from the cytosol to the respiratory chain, cannot be made to activate AQ to semiquinones by NADH or any other substrate of respiration. It appears, therefore, that the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase of heart mitochondria exerts a key function in the myocardial toxicogenesis of anthraquinones via oxygen activation through semireduced AQ. Assessing the toxicological significance of the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase in AQ-related heart injury requires analysis of reaction products and their impact on vital bioenergetic functions, such as energy gain from the oxidation of respiratory substrates. We have applied ESR technique to analyze the identity and possible interactions of radical species emerging from NADH-respiring heart mitochondria in the presence of AQ. The following metabolic steps occur causing depression of energy metabolism in the cardiac tissue. After one-electron transfer to the parent hydrophilic anthraquinone molecule destabilization of the radical formed causes cleavage of the sugar residue. Accumulation of the lipophilic aglycone metabolite in the inner mitochondrial membrane diverts electrons from the regular pathway to electron acceptors out of sequence such as H 2O 2. HO ̇ radicals are formed and affect the functional integrity of energy-linked respiration. The key and possibly initiating role of the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase of cardiac mitochondria in this reaction pathway provides a rationale to explain the selective cardiotoxic potency of the cytostatic anthraquinone glycosides.

Photofragmentation in linked donor-acceptor molecules. Intramolecular single electron transfer induced cleavage of a 1,2-diamine

Two intramolecular donor-acceptor molecules which fragment by a single electron transfer initiated cation radical carbon-carbon bond cleavage have been synthesized and their photoreactivity studied. The intramolecular [open quotes]diads[close quotes] consist of a 1,2-diamine linked via an ester bond to either an anthraquinone or a 9,10-dicyanoanthracene electron-acceptor chromophore. As the covalent linkage between the donor and acceptor chromophores prevents solvent separation of the photogenerated radical ion pair, these systems provide a [open quotes]clock[close quotes] to examine directly competition between fragmentation and back electron transfer. The linked anthraquinone molecule fragments efficiently, with quantum yields approaching 80%, despite the inability of the photoproduced radical ions to separate. These high yields may be attributed to a slow, spin-forbidden back electron transfer and a rapid fragmentation. In contrast, the quantum yields for the dicyanoanthracene diad (reactive singlet) are markedly lower, less than 0.001 in benzene. The reactivity of comparable intermolecular donor-acceptor combinations is also reported. 54 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

Relation between the activation energy of the electrical conduction in organic semiconductors and their first excited singlet state energies

An examination of the darkconductivity of seven substituted anthraquinones show that these compounds are high resistance semiconductors. There is a significant increase in the conductivity of the compounds by the introduction of polar groups to the anthraquinone molecule. There exists a correspondence between the thermal activation energy of the darkconductivity (ΔE D) and the energy of the first excited singlet state (1 E). The search for a correlation between the thermal activation energy of the darkconductivity and the energy of the triplet state (3 E) was unsuccessful.

Control of the redox activity of anthraquinone through an appended nickel(II)-cyclam side chain. A two-site three-electron redox system

The conjugate system 1 has been prepared through reaction of 2-chloromethylanthraquinone with a five-fold excess of cyclam in chloroform at room temperature. Reaction of 1 with NiX 2·6H 2O (XCl, ClO 4) gave the corresponding Ni( 1)X 2 complexes, in which the metal centre has been incorporated by the tetraaza-macrocyclic subunit. The redox behaviour of the nickel(II) complexes has been investigated in a CH 2Cl 2 solution of 0.1 M Bu 4NX, by voltammetric techniques. Two-phase reduction of the quinone subunit of the Ni( 1)X 2 complex in CH 2Cl 2 by aqueous Cr II takes place at a rate much higher than that observed for the simple anthraquinone molecule, but the reduced conjugate system partitions between CH 2Cl 2 and water.