Ni‐Mn‐based Heusler alloys exhibit a variety of features related to martensitic transformations and are materials that are sought to be employed in actuation applications. To be able to exploit their properties, it is necessary to understand the rich variety and subtle magnetic coupling mechanisms occurring in these alloys. We review complementary neutron polarization analysis and ferromagnetic resonance experiments and give an account on the complex magnetism of these alloys in the austenite and martensite states.

A series of phthalimide analogs were synthesized by derivatization of phthalic anhydride, a highly toxic substance, using a ''one pot'' condensation reaction to a-amino acids. All phthaloyl amino acid derivatives presented anti-oral inflammatory activity, but compounds 2e and 2g were found to possess the best activities comparable to thalidomide. Most of the compounds effectively suppressed nitric oxide production in murine cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Nphthaloyl amino acids did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity in vitro when tested against tumor cells as well as a spleen cell culture of BALB/c mice. Compounds 2a, 2g, and 2h were able to inhibit TNF-a and IL-1b production by macrophages. At the same concentration, thalidomide did not exhibit significant inhibitory activity.

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Although more complex than usually described, the anticancer action mechanism of cisplatin is based on binding to DNA. Following this line of reasoning, most the metal-based compounds discovered soon after cisplatin were designed to acting as DNA-binding agents and their pharmacological properties were thought to be correlated with this mechanism. Apart from the DNA structure, a significant number of proteins and biochemical pathways have been described as drug targets for metal-based compounds. This paper is therefore aimed at discussing the most recent findings on the medicinal chemistry of metal-based drugs. It starts illustrating the design concept behind the bioinorganic chemistry of anticancer complexes. Anticancer metallic compounds that inhibit the protein kinases are concisely discussed as a case study. The accuracy and limitations of molecular docking programs currently available to predict the binding mode of metallic complexes in molecular targets are further discussed. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of different in vitro screenings are briefly commented.