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International audience; A large variety of nanoparticle-based delivery systems have become increasingly important for diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications. Yet, the numerous physical and chemical parameters that influence both the biological and colloidal properties of nanoparticles remain poorly understood. This complicates the ability to reliably produce and deliver well-defined nanocarriers which often leads to inconsistencies, conflicts in the published literature and, ultimately, poor translation to the clinics. A critical issue lies in the challenge of scaling-up nanomaterial synthesis and formulation from the lab to industrial scale while maintaining control over their diverse properties. Studying these phenomena early on in the development of a therapeutic agent often requires partnerships between the public and private sectors which are hard to establish. In this study, through the particular case of squalene-adenosine nanoparticles, we reported on the challenges encountered in the process of scaling-up nanomedicines synthesis. Here, squalene (the carrier) was functiona-lized and conjugated to adenosine (the active drug moiety) at an industrial scale in order to obtain large quantities of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles. After assessing nanoparticle batch-to-batch consistency , we demonstrated that the presence of squalene analogs resulting from industrial scale-up may influence several features such as size, surface charge, protein adsorption, cytotoxicity and crystal structure. These analogs were isolated, characterized by multiple stage mass spectrometry, and their influence on nanoparticle properties further evaluated. We showed that slight variations in the chemical profile of the nanocarrier's constitutive material can have a tremendous impact on the reproducibility of nanoparticle properties. In a context where several generics of approved nanoformulated drugs are set to enter the market in the coming years, characterizing and solving these issues is an important step in the pharmaceutical development of nanomedicines.

Toxicological Methods for Tracing Drug Abuse: Chromatographic, Spectroscopic and Biological Characterisation of Ecstasy DerivativesAnalysis often reveals variability in the composition of ecstasy pills from pure 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to mixtures of MDMA derivatives, amphetamine, and other unidentified substances. For a comprehensive toxicological analysis one needs to know all steps to MDMA synthesis which may originate impurities. The aim of this study was to synthesise and determine the chemical-physical andin vitrobiological properties of a series of MDMA derivatives.3,4-methylendioxyphenyl-2-nitropropene (MDNP) was obtained by condensation of piperonal with an excess of nitroethane in the presence of ammonium acetate. MDNP was then reduced to methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) by LiAlH3. All compounds were analysed using HPLC and spectroscopic technique [Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), or infrared (IR)] at all the steps of synthesis. In addition, we assessed the biological potentials of these compounds by measuringin vitrotheir (i) blood cell/whole blood partition coefficient, (ii) binding to plasmatic proteins (Fbp), and (iii) membrane adsorption. Chemical structure was determined with antibody fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA). This study showed the presence of solid impurities, particularly of a neurotoxic compound of Al3+in the final products. FPIA identified the aminoethane group close to the substituted benzene ring, but did not detect the two major precursors of MDMA: MDNP and piperonal. Raman spectroscopy is an attractive alternative technique to characterise ecstasy pills and it can identify stereoisomeric forms such ascis-MDNP andtrans-MDNP, which exhibit signals at 1650 cm-1and 1300 cm-1, respectively.

Analysis often reveals variability in the composition of ecstasy pills from pure 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to mixtures of MDMA derivatives, amphetamine, and other unidentifi ed substances. For a comprehensive toxicological analysis one needs to know all steps to MDMA synthesis which may originate impurities. The aim of this study was to synthesise and determine the chemical-physical and in vitro biological properties of a series of MDMA derivatives. 3,4-methylendioxyphenyl-2-nitropropene (MDNP) was obtained by condensation of piperonal with an excess of nitroethane in the presence of ammonium acetate. MDNP was then reduced to methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) by LiAlH3. All compounds were analysed using HPLC and spectroscopic technique [Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), or infrared (IR)] at all the steps of synthesis. In addition, we assessed the biological potentials of these compounds by measuring in vitro their (i) blood cell/whole blood partition coeffi cient, (ii) binding to plasmatic proteins (Fbp), and (iii) membrane adsorption. Chemical structure was determined with antibody fl uorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA). This study showed the presence of solid impurities, particularly of a neurotoxic compound of Al3+ in the fi nal products. FPIA identifi ed the aminoethane group close to the substituted benzene ring, but did not detect the two major precursors of MDMA: MDNP and piperonal. Raman spectroscopy is an attractive alternative technique to characterise ecstasy pills and it can identify stereoisomeric forms such as cis-MDNP and trans-MDNP, which exhibit signals at 1650 cm-1 and 1300 cm-1, respectively., Analize često otkriju neujednačenost sastava tableta ecstasyja od čistoga 3,4-metilendioksimetamfetamina (MDMA) do mješavina njegovih derivata, amfetamina i drugih neutvrđenih tvari. Stoga je za kvalitetnu toksikološku analizu potreban uvid u sve korake sinteze MDMA, s obzirom na to da se ondje vjerojatno kriju izvori nečistoće (prekursori, katalizatori). Cilj ovog ispitivanja bio je sintetizirati derivate MDMA te napraviti njihovu kemijsko-fi zikalnu i biološku in vitro karakterizaciju. 3,4-metilendioksifenil-2-nitropropen (MDNP) dobiven je kondenzacijom piperonala u suvišku nitroetana uz dodatak amonijeva acetata. Njegovom redukcijom s pomoću LiAlH3 dobiven je 3,4-metilendioksiamfetamin (MDA). Svi spojevi iz pojedinih koraka sinteze karakterizirani su s pomoću tekućinske kromatografi je visoke djelotvornosti (HPLC) i spektroskopskih tehnika [Ramanove spektroskopije, nuklearne magnetske rezonancije (NMR-a) te infracrvene spektroskopije (IR-a)]. Usto je ocijenjen i njihov biološki učinak in vitro mjerenjem (i) koefi cijenta raspodjele krvna stanica/puna krv, (ii) vezanja za bjelančevine u plazmi (Fbp) te (iii) adsorpcije na membranu. Kemijska je struktura utvrđena s pomoću fl uorescentnoga polarizacijskog imunokemijskog testa (FPIA). Analiza je u konačnim proizvodima utvrdila prisutnost krutih nečistoća, napose spojeva neurotoksičnog aluminija (Al3+). FPIA je prepoznao aminoetansku skupinu blizu supstituiranoga benzenskog prstena, ali ne i dva glavna prekursora za MDMA: MDNP i piperonal. Posebno je zanimljiva Ramanova spektroskopija budući da (i) pruža privlačnu alternativu za karakterizaciju sastava tableta ecstasyja te (ii) može otkriti stereoizomerne cis/trans-oblike spoja poput cis-MDNP-a odnosno trans-MDNP-a, čiji se signal vidi na 1650 cm-1 odnosno 1300 cm-1.

Azirines react with carbanions derived from α-chloro sulfones and sulfoxides, under mild conditions, to form functionalized azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes.

The first metal catalyzed route for the desulfurization of thiiranes (episulfides) is described.

Phase transfer catalyzed reaction of vinyl epoxides with carbon monoxide, methyl iodide, catalytic amounts of cobalt carbonyl and TDA-1, affords β-hydroxy acids. High regioselectivity was observed in some cases.

Carbonylation par Co(CO) 8 en des β-mercaptoacides en utilisant l'iodomethane ou l'α-bromotoluene, KOH et le benzene comme phase organique et le (PEG-400) comme agent de transfert de phase