Imine polymers containing chiral nanohoops in the backbone obtained through [2 + 2] cyclocondensation

A simple method for synthesis of polymers containing shape persistent imine macrocycles as nanohoops in the main chain is studied. It is based on the cyclocondensation reaction carried out in solution and room temperature of triphenylamine-based tetraaldehyde compounds with (R,R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The pristine polymer P1 bearing long alkyl groups is soluble during the synthesis but becomes insoluble after precipitation due to the strong and multiple C H/π and π-π stacking intermolecular interactions from arene–arene species and entanglement and interpenetrating of flexible alkyl groups inside of rigid macrocycle hollow. Polymer without any solubilizing groups ( P2 ) separates during the polymerization as an insoluble material. Both polymers are amorphous and have good thermal and environmental stability. They have a low surface area because discrete nanovoids introduced by macrocycles are disconnected in the amorphous polymers and non-accessible for gas adsorption. Polymers have inherent luminescent properties due to triphenylamine groups and chirality derived from (R,R)-conformation of the cyclohexane skeleton. In presence of picric acid (PA), the polymer fluorescence in solid state or suspension is strongly quenched, thus the polymers can work as efficient fluorescent probes toward nitrophenolic compounds. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2565–2573     

Antioxidant and chemical properties of Inula helenium root extracts

The objective of the paper was to investigate the chemical composition of Inula helenium roots extracts and to evaluate the antioxidant potential conferred by the chemical constituents. GC/MS and HPLC/MS techniques were used to characterize two extracts separated from Inula helenium roots by extraction with chloroform and ethyl acetate, respectively. Volatile compounds have been identified by GC from their mass spectra and retention time values, while HPLC identification of phenolic compounds was realized by comparing their retention times, UV and MS spectra with those of standards or literature data. Measurements of antioxidant activity of Inula helenium root extracts showed a variation between them, which can be correlated with the flavonoid and total phenolic contents. Both Inula helenium root extracts contain phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, dicaffeoyl quinic, hydroxibenzoic), terpenes (alantolactone) and different flavonoids (epicatechin, catechin gallate, ferulic acid-4-O-glucoside, dihydroquercetin pentosyl rutinoside, kaempherol-7-O-dipentoside, quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside). In addition, the study provides preliminary data on the anti-inflammatory activity of Inula helenium root extracts, this being evaluated using the fresh egg albumin as phlogistic agent, and aspirin as reference compound. Root extracts of I. helenium did not exert any significant anti-inflammatory effect on egg albumin-induced rat paw edema.      

Characterization of a new norfloxacin metabolite monitored during a bioequivalence study by means of mass spectrometry and quantum computation

A bioequivalence study of two formulations containing norfloxacin was used for identification and assay of the metabolite of norfloxacin in human serum samples. The bioequivalence study was based on an analytical method using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The plasmatic profile of metabolite was similar to norfloxacin for both formulations. Three plasma fractions of norfloxacin metabolite from a volunteer were isolated by liquid chromatography and investigated by atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass-spectrometry. The structure of norfloxacin metabolite (7-aminoethylenamino-6-fluoro-4-hydroxy quinoline-3-carboxylic acid) was identified taking into account also the mass spectrometry investigations achieved for norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (used as internal standard for the analytical method). A theoretical procedure based on quantum chemical calculations has been also used to explain the mass fragmentation in molecules of norfloxacin metabolite that differ from the molecule of norfloxacin.     

Polyimide surface modification by RF plasma for biocide attachment

This article has been retracted.     

Asymmetric Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Substitution of Diaryl Methanols with Thiols and Alcohols for the Synthesis of Chiral Thioethers and Ethers

An enantioselective addition of thiols and alcohols to aza‐ortho‐quinone methides, starting from diaryl methanols, was developed. The asymmetric additions occur under mild reaction conditions in the presence of chiral phosphoric acids and furnish the corresponding adducts with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.     

Effect of the manufacturing parameters on the structure of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes produced by catalytic laser-induced chemical vapor deposition

Series of self-assembled and mono-dispersed bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated ZnS/CuS nano-composites with different Zn/Cu ratios had been successfully synthesized by a combination method of the biomimetic synthesis and ion-exchange strategy under the gentle conditions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation, Fourier transform infrared spectra and zeta potential analysis demonstrated that BSA-conjugated ZnS/CuS nano-composites with well dispersity had the hierarchical structure and BSA was a key factor to control the morphology and surface electro-negativity of final products. The real-time monitoring by atomic absorption spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction revealed that the Zn/Cu ratio of nano-composites could be controlled by adjusting the ion-exchange time. In addition, the metabolic and morphological assays indicated that the metabolic proliferation and spread of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells could be inhibited by nano-composites, with the high anti-cancer activity at a low concentration (4 ppm). What were more important, Zn and Cu in nano-composites exhibited a positive cooperativity at inhibiting cancer cell functions. The microscope observation and biochemical marker analysis clearly revealed that the nano-composites-included lipid peroxidation and disintegration of membrane led to the death of PC12 cells. Summarily, the present study substantiated the potential of BSA-conjugated ZnS/CuS nano-composites as anti-cancer drug.