MLi-2

Probing Capacity Trends in MLi2Ti6O14 Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes Using Calorimetric Studies

Due to higher packing density, lower working potential, and area specific impedance, the MLi2Ti6O14 (M = 2Na, Sr, Ba, and Pb) titanate family is a potential alternative to zero-strain Li4Ti5O12 anodes used commercially in Li-ion batteries. However, the exact lithiation mechanism in these compounds remains unclear. Despite its structural similarity, MLi2Ti6O14 behaves differently depending on charge and size of the metal ion, hosting 1.3, 2.7, 2.9, and 4.4 Li per formula unit, giving charge capacity values from 60 to 160 mAh/g in contrast to the theoretical capacity trend. However, high-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry measurements confirm strong correlation between thermodynamic stability and the observed capacity. The main factors controlling energetics are strong acid-base interactions between basic oxides MO, Li2O and acidic TiO2, size of the cation, and compressive strain. Accordingly, the energetic stability diminishes in the order Na2Li2Ti6O14 > BaLi2Ti6O14 > SrLi2Ti6O14 > PbLi2Ti6O14. This sequence is similar to that in many other oxide systems. This work exhibits that thermodynamic systematics can serve as guidelines for the choice of composition for building better batteries.

MLi-2, a Potent, Selective, and Centrally Active Compound for Exploring the Therapeutic Potential and Safety of LRRK2 Kinase Inhibition

Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common genetic cause of familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). That the most prevalent mutation, G2019S, leads to increased kinase activity has led to a concerted effort to identify LRRK2 kinase inhibitors as a potential disease-modifying therapy for PD. An internal medicinal chemistry effort identified several potent and highly selective compounds with favorable drug-like properties. Here, we characterize the pharmacological properties of cis-2,6-dimethyl-4-(6-(5-(1-methylcyclopropoxy)-1H-indazol-3-yl)pyrimidin-4-yl)morpholine (MLi-2), a structurally novel, highly potent, and selective LRRK2 kinase inhibitor with central nervous system activity. MLi-2 exhibits exceptional potency in a purified LRRK2 kinase assay in vitro (IC50 = 0.76 nM), a cellular assay monitoring dephosphorylation of LRRK2 pSer935 LRRK2 (IC50 = 1.4 nM), and a radioligand competition binding assay (IC50 = 3.4 nM). MLi-2 has greater than 295-fold selectivity for over 300 kinases in addition to a diverse panel of receptors and ion channels. Acute oral and subchronic dosing in MLi-2 mice resulted in dose-dependent central and peripheral target inhibition over a 24-hour period as measured by dephosphorylation of pSer935 LRRK2. Treatment of MitoPark mice with MLi-2 was well tolerated over a 15-week period at brain and plasma exposures >100× the in vivo plasma IC50 for LRRK2 kinase inhibition as measured by pSer935 dephosphorylation. Morphologic changes in the lung, consistent with enlarged type II pneumocytes, were observed in MLi-2-treated MitoPark mice. These data demonstrate the suitability of MLi-2 as a compound to explore LRRK2 biology in cellular and animal models.

Impact of Type II LRRK2 inhibitors on signaling and mitophagy

Much effort has been devoted to the development of selective inhibitors of the LRRK2 as a potential treatment for LRRK2 driven Parkinson's disease. In this study, we first compare the properties of Type I (GSK3357679A and MLi-2) and Type II (GZD-824, Rebastinib and Ponatinib) kinase inhibitors that bind to the closed or open conformations of the LRRK2 kinase domain, respectively. We show that Type I and Type II inhibitors suppress phosphorylation of Rab10 and Rab12, key physiological substrates of LRRK2 and also promote mitophagy, a process suppressed by LRRK2. Type II inhibitors also display higher potency towards wild-type LRRK2 compared with pathogenic mutants. Unexpectedly, we find that Type II inhibitors, in contrast with Type I compounds, fail to induce dephosphorylation of a set of well-studied LRRK2 biomarker phosphorylation sites at the N-terminal region of LRRK2, including Ser935. These findings emphasize that the biomarker phosphorylation sites on LRRK2 are likely reporting on the open vs closed conformation of LRRK2 kinase and that only inhibitors which stabilize the closed conformation induce dephosphorylation of these biomarker sites. Finally, we demonstrate that the LRRK2[A2016T] mutant which is resistant to MLi-2 Type 1 inhibitor, also induces resistance to GZD-824 and Rebastinib suggesting this mutation could be exploited to distinguish off target effects of Type II inhibitors. Our observations provide a framework of knowledge to aid with the development of more selective Type II LRRK2 inhibitors.

MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb): new cathode materials for magnesium-lithium hybrid batteries

Magnesium-lithium hybrid batteries (MLHBs) are playing an increasingly important role in energy storage systems owing to their abundant raw materials and favorable safety characteristics. Consequently, MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) compounds have been synthesized via a sol-gel method, followed by calcination. For the first time, as cathodes for MLHBs, MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) showed good electrochemical properties. For example, at 50 mA g-1, the specific capacities of MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) after 300 cycles are 75.6, 68.2 and 76.3 mA h g-1, respectively. In addition, MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) also possess outstanding rate performances. Importantly, the ion storage mechanism of MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) compounds in MLHBs was studied with PbLi2Ti6O14 as the representative. These results reveal that MLi2Ti6O14 (M = Sr, Ba, and Pb) have good electrochemical reversibility, and can be used as cathodes for MLHBs.

The first homologous series of self-assembled aryl bromo- and aryl cyanocuprates, -argentates, and -aurates; MLi(2)XAr(2) (M = Cu(I), Ag(I), Au(I); X = Br, C(triple bond)N; Ar = [C(6)H(4)CH(2)N(Et)CH(2)CH(2)NEt(2)-2]-)

Reaction of 2 molar equiv of the diamine chelated aryllithium dimers Li(2)(C(6)H(4)[CH(2)N(Et)CH(2)CH(2)NEt(2)]-2)(2) (Li(2)Ar(2)) with the appropriate metal bromide allows the synthesis of the first homologous series of monomeric group 11 bromoate complexes of type MLi(2)BrAr(2) (M = Cu (7), Ag (8), Au (9)). Both in the solid state and in solution, the bromocuprate 7 is isostructural with the bromoargentate 8. The crystal structures of 7 and 8 consist of a MLi(2) core, and each of the two aryl ligands bridges via electron-deficient bonding between the group 11 metal and one Li atom (d(C(ipso)-M) = 1.941(4) (mean) and 2.122(4) (mean) A, for 7 and 8, respectively). The bromine atom exclusively bridges between the two lithium atoms. Each of the ortho-CH(2)N(Et)CH(2)CH(2)NEt(2) moieties is N,N'-chelate bonded to one lithium (d(N-Li) = 2.195(5) and 2.182(0) (mean) A for 7 and 2.154(8) and 2.220(1) (mean) A for 8). Although the MLi(2)BrAr(2) compounds are neutral higher-order -ate species, the structure can also be regarded as consisting of a contact ion pair consisting of two ionic fragments, [Li-Br-Li](+) and [Ar(2)M](-), which are interconnected by both Li-N,N'-chelate bonding and a highly polar C(ipso)-Li interaction. On the basis of NMR and cryoscopic studies, the structural features of the bromoaurate 9 are similar to those of 7 and 8. A multinuclear NMR investigation shows that the bonding between the [Li-Br-Li] and [Ar(2)M] moieties is intermediate between ionic and neutral with an almost equally polarized C(ipso)-Li bond in 7, 8, and 9. Similar reactions between M(C(triple bond)N) and 2 molar equiv of LiAr yield the analogous 2:1 cyanoate complexes of type MLi(2)(C(triple bond)N)Ar(2) (M = Ag (10), Au (11)). Multinuclear NMR studies show that the cyanoate complexes 10 and 11 are isostructural with the bromoate complexes 7, 8, and 9. This paper illustrates that these cyanoaurates may serve as excellent model complexes to gain more insight into the structure of 2:1 cyanocuprates in solution.