Aromaticity of borazine, which has been subject of controversial discussions, is addressed. Beside a short review on aromaticity of borazine we report a detailed analysis of two molecular fields, the induced magnetic field (B ind ) and the electron localization function (ELF). The induced magnetic field of borazine shows a long-range shielding cone perpendicular to the molecular plane, as in benzene, but lower in magnitude. Contrary to benzene, borazine shows two weakly paratropic regions, one of them inside the ring, and the second one enveloping the boron atoms. It is necessary to separate r and p contributions to identify whether borazine exhibits p-aromatic character comparable to benzene. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) isolines show that the r electrons are much stronger localized than p electrons, their local paramagnetic contributions generate a short-range response and a paratropic (deshielding) region in the ring center (similar to an anti-aromatic response). Three regions can be identified as chemically meaningful domains exhibiting an internally strong electron delocalization (ELF = 0.823). Borazine may be described as a p aromatic compound, but it is not a globally aromatic species, as the electronic system is not as delocalized as in benzene.

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Molecular imaging receives increased attention for selecting patients who will benefit from targeted anticancer therapies. Neo-ALTTO (Neoadjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation) enrolled 455 women with invasive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and compared rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant lapatinib, trastuzumab, and their combination. Each anti-HER2 therapy was given alone for 6 wk, followed by 12 wk of the same therapy plus weekly paclitaxel. The early metabolic effects of the anti-HER2 therapies on the primary tumors and their predictive values for pCR were assessed in a subset of patients. Methods: Eighty-six patients underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT at baseline and weeks 2 and 6 of anti-HER2 treatment. An imaging core laboratory provided central validation, and 2 independent reviewers, masked to assigned treatment arm and clinical outcomes, performed consensus 18 F-FDG PET/CT readings. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) reductions from baseline were used to measure metabolic response. Results: Seventy-seven of the 86 enrolled patients presented an evaluable baseline 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan; of these, 68 and 66 were evaluable at weeks 2 and 6, respectively. Metabolic responses in the primary tumors were evident after 2 wk of targeted therapy and correlated highly with metabolic responses at week 6 (R 2 5 0.81). pCRs were associated with greater SUVmax reductions at both time points. Mean SUVmax reductions for pCR and non-pCR, respectively, were 54.3% versus 32.8% at week 2 (P 5 0.02) and 61.5% versus 34.1% at week 6 (P 5 0.02). 18 F-FDG PET/CT metabolic response rates at weeks 2 and 6 were 71.6% and 60%, respectively using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria; pCR rates were twice as high for 18 F-FDG PET/CT responders than nonresponders (week 2: 42% vs. 21%, P 5 0.12; week 6: 44% vs. 19%, P 5 0.05). Conclusion:Early metabolic assessment using 18 F-FDG PET/CT can identify patients with an increased likelihood of pCR after neoadjuvant trastuzumab, lapatinib, or their combination when given with chemotherapy.

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CdS nanoparticles (NP), 22 Å, have been synthesized from cadmium 2-ethylhexanoate in DMSO as a uniformly sized dispersion. After ripening, CdS exhibits a sharp excitonic emission peak at 402 nm, while in freshly prepared dispersions a broad trapped emission at 510 nm dominates. By using one-and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, the conformation of the stabilizer adsorbed to the NP has been determined. The long hexyl chain of 2-ethylhexanoate ions spreads over the surface of NP, whereas the short ethyl end is primarily surrounded by DMSO. Surface modification of CdS with nucleophiles such as 4,4-bipyridine, thiophene, trimethylamine, and thiomolybdate anion results in a partial replacement of the stabilizer and reorientation of the hexyl chain away from the surface. The difference in the degree of replacement and/or conformational changes of 2-ethylhexanoate ion depends on the electron donor activity of the modifier.

In this work, we analyze the geometry and electronic structure of the [X(n)M(3)](n-2) species (M = Be, Mg, and Ca; X = Li, Na, and K; n = 0, 1, and 2), with special emphasis on the electron delocalization properties and aromaticity of the cyclo-[M(3)](2-) unit. The cyclo-[M(3)](2-) ring is held together through a three-center two-electron bond of sigma-character. Interestingly, the interaction of these small clusters with alkali metals stabilizes the cyclo-[M(3)](2-) ring and leads to a change from sigma-aromaticity in the bound state of the cyclo-[M(3)](2-) to pi-aromaticity in the XM(3) (-) and X(2)M(3) metallic clusters. Our results also show that the aromaticity of the cyclo-[M(3)](2-) unit in the X(2)M(3) metallic clusters depends on the nature of X and M. Moreover, we explored the possibility for tuning the aromaticity by simply moving X perpendicularly to the center of the M(3) ring. The Na(2)Mg(3), Li(2)Mg(3), and X(2)Ca(3) clusters undergo drastic aromaticity alterations when changing the distance from X to the center of the M(3) ring, whereas X(2)Be(3) and K(2)Mg(3) keep its aromaticity relatively constant along this process.