Boron clusters
Although the boron hydrides have been known to science for over a century, their complex cluster structures, such as the 12-vertex icosahedron B12H12, were elucidated decades later. It was calculated that this closed icosahedral species would need to be stabilized by a doubly negative charge. This was experimentally verified, only years later, when Hawthorne and Pitochelli isolated salts of B12H122–. Soon afterwards …
Synthetic strategies
The Department of Syntheses at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences has historically focused on boron cluster chemistry. We continue this legacy and strive to bring modern tools and the latest techniques to this area of chemistry. Our group focuses mainly on carboranes and metallacarboranes. The first step is always a precisely targeted cluster activation either on carbon or boron. The next step …
Boron clusters in medicinal chemistry
Probably the most famous application of BC in medicine is the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). This radio-therapeutic method is based on tumor-specific delivery of a drug with a high 10B nucleus content followed by a bombardment of the cells containing this drug with low-energy neutrons. Neutron bombardment results in the formation of an excited 11B* nucleus which splits into high-energy 7Li nucleus and α-particles …
Antimicrobial resistence
antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics) is a very serious global problem that has arisen due to the misuse and overuse of drugs in modern medicine, veterinary medicine, and food production. It is estimated that around 5 million people die annually due to drug resistance.[1] The…
Mitochondrial uncouplers
Mitochondrial uncouplers are small molecules that are capable of transporting protons from the mitochondrial inner membrane back to the matrix independent of ATP Synthase, the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi. Therefore, MUs can indirectly lower ATP generation from excessive nutrient intake. In other words, MUs can increase nutrient oxidation and inefficient energy production in form …
Boron clusters as ligands
In recent years, the pharmaceutical use of metal-based compounds has attracted tremendous attention due to their unique biological potential. Specifically, a large spectrum of biological functionalities that do not occur naturally now become available and provide a broader range of capabilities. Such examples include luminescence, MRI, and PET, among others. When metal ions are combined with inorganic or organic ligands …