Binary mixtures based on polycaprolactone and cellulose derivatives

Pyrolytic process has a promising potential for the environmentally friendly upgrading of lignocellulosic and plastic waste. Thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were used to get information about the reactive decomposition of PCL in binary mixtures with microcrystalline cellulose (MC) or sisal fibres (SF). Preliminary thermogravimetric investigation showed that biomass is thermally degraded at lower temperatures than PCL and this process has a predominant influence on the thermal behaviour of the mixtures. Discrepancies between the experimental and predicted TG/DTG profiles were considered as a measurement of the extent of interactions occurring on co-pyrolysis. It was found that reactivity of PCL was slightly increased in PCL-SF binary mixtures. Evolution of acidic products from cellulose and hemicelluloses decomposition may promote PCL degradation in binary mixtures with SF. It seems that the co-pyrolysis process could have potential for the environmentally friendly transformation of biocomposites.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of novel N(OCH3)-linked disaccharide analogues

N(OMe)-linked disaccharide analogues, isosteric to the corresponding natural disaccharides, have been synthesized by chemoselective assembly of unprotected natural monosaccharides with methyl 6-deoxy-6-methoxyamino-alpha-D-glucopyranoside in an aqueous environment. The coupling reactions were found to be chemo- and stereoselective affording beta-(1-->6) disaccharide mimics when using Glc and GlcNAc; in the case of Gal, the beta-anomer was prevalent (beta:alpha=7:1). An iterative method for the synthesis of linear N(OMe) oligosaccharide analogues was demonstrated, based on the use of an unprotected monosaccharide building block in which an oxime functionality at C-6 is converted during the synthesis into the corresponding methoxyamino group. The conformational analysis of these compounds was carried out by using NMR spectroscopy, ab initio, molecular mechanics, and molecular dynamics methods. Optimized geometries and energies of fourteen conformers for each compound have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. Predicted conformational equilibria were compared with the results based on NMR experiments and good agreement was found. It appears that N(OMe)-linked disaccharide analogues exhibit a slightly different conformational behavior to their parent natural disaccharides.     

Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal properties of some novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole and s-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives

A novel series of 2-arylthiocarbamoylhydrazino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles III-VII was synthesized and cyclodesulfurized into the corresponding 3-arylamino-6-phenyl-s-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles VIII-XII with DCCD. Some of the products were found to be only moderately active against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.     

Second-generation mimics of ganglioside GM1 oligosaccharide: a three-dimensional view of their interactions with bacterial enterotoxins by NMR and computational methods

As a step to delineate a strategy of ligand design for cholera toxin (CT), NMR studies were performed on several mimics of the GM1 ganglioside oligosaccharide. The conformation of these analogues was investigated first in solution and then upon binding to cholera toxin by transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (TR-NOE) measurements. It was demonstrated that CT selects a conformation similar to the global minima of the free saccharides from the ensemble of presented conformations. No evidence of major conformational distortions was obtained, but one or two of the available conformers of the hydroxyacid side chain appear to be selected in the bound state. The NMR data were interpreted with the aid of computer models, generated and analyzed by using a combination of different approaches (MacroModels' MC/EM and MC/SD, Autodock, and GRID). Analysis of the NMR data supported by computational studies allowed us to interpret the experimental observations and to derive workable models of the ligand:toxin complexes. These models suggest that the higher affinity of the (R)-lactic acid derivative 3 may stem from lipophilic interactions with a hydrophobic area in the toxin binding site located in the vicinity of the sialic acid side chain binding region of the CT:GM1 complex, and formed by the side chain of Ile-58 and Lys-34. Thus, the models obtained have allowed us to make useful design suggestions for the improvement of ligand affinity.     

Rapid screening method for the determination of diethylstilbestrol in edible animal tissue by column liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A rapid and sensitive screening method for the determination of residues of diethylstilbestrol in edible animal tissue is described. The analyte was extracted from the tissue with tert.-butyl methyl ether, reextracted with 1 M sodium hydroxide and further cleaned up by solid-phase extraction with C18 cartridges. Analysis was performed by isocratic elution with a phosphate-buffered mobile phase, methanol-0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (67:33), on a Nucleosil 5-microns C18 column with electrochemical detection at +0.90 V. The average recovery of trans-diethylstilbestrol in spiked samples is 66%, with a standard deviation of 14% (n = 22) in the range 0.5-2.0 microgram/kg. The detection limit is 0.1-0.2 microgram/kg, although at this level other compounds may interfere and give rise to false positive results.     

Cluster chemistry: XXXIX. Gold—ruthenium clusters with sulphur ligands: Synthesis and structure of HRu3Au(μ3-S)(CO)9(PPh3), Ru3Au(μ3-SBut)(CO)9(PPh3) and Ru3Au2(μ3-S)(CO)9(PPh3)2

H₂Ru₃(μ₃-S)(CO)₉ is deprotonated by K[HBBu^s₃] to give cluster anions which react with [O{Au(PPh₃)}₃]⁺ or with AuCl(PPh₃)/T1⁺ to give HRu₃Au(μ₃-S)(CO)₉(PPh₃) (1) and Ru₃Au₂(μ₃-S)(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂ (3). A similar sequence with HRu₃(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉ leads to Ru₃Au(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉(PPh₃) (2) as the main product although some 1 also forms, indicating SC cleavage competes with deprotonation of HRu₃(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉ by [HBBu^s₃]^?. The X-ray crystal structures of 1, 2 and 3 are described; (1) and (2) have “butterfly” AuRu₃ cores with markedly different hinge angles of 119 and 148° respectively, while 3 has a trigonal-bipyramidal Au₂Ru₃ skeleton. All three clusters have the sulphur atom symmetrically bridging the Ru₃ triangular face.     

Trehalose-based cyclodextrin analogs: cyclotrehalans (CTs)

A new concept for the de novo synthesis of artificial glyconanocavities is presented. The use of alternating α,α′-trehalose building blocks and (thio)urea segments allows the efficient synthesis of a new family of cyclooligosaccharides, namely cyclotrehalans (CTs), featuring a convex-shaped cavity with an apolar environment. CTs are designed to exhibit molecular inclusion abilities similar to that of cyclodextrins (CDs). Contrary to CDs, CTs expose the monosaccharide β-face to the inner cavity, while the (thio)urea tethers provides some conformational adaptability. High-yielding syntheses of a series of CTs and a preliminary evaluation of their inclusion properties are reported.     

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoretic separation of basic enantiomers using octakis(2,3-O-dimethyl-6-O-sulfo)-gamma-cyclodextrin, a new, single-isomer chiral resolving agent

The enantiomers of 34 pharmaceutical weak-base analytes were separated by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis in acidic methanol background electrolytes using the sodium salt of the new, single-isomer chiral resolving agent, octakis(2,3-O-dimethyl-6-O-sulfo)-gamma-cyclodextrin (ODMS). The effective mobilities, separation selectivities and peak resolution values of the weak-base analytes were determined as a function of the ODMS concentration in the 0-40 mM range and were found to follow the theoretical predictions of the charged resolving agent migration model (CHARM model) modified for ionic strength effects. Fast, efficient separations were achieved for both comparatively small and large enantiomers.     

A family of alkynylgold(III) complexes [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2Au(III)(C triple bond CR)2] (R = Ph, tBu, Me3Si): facile and reversible comproportionation of gold(I)/gold(III) to digold(II)

The symmetric digold(II)dichloride bis(ylide) complex [Au2Cl2(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2] reacts with acetylides to form the asymmetric heterovalent gold(I)/gold(III) complexes [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2AuIII(CCR)2] [R = Ph, tBu, and SiMe3], the phenyl analogue of which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. These compounds represent the first examples of gold(III) complexes containing two acetylide ligands. [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2AuIII(CCPh)2] undergoes a reversible comproportionation reaction upon treatment with [Ag(ClO4)tht] to give the symmetric digold(II) cationic complex [Au2(tht)2(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2](ClO4)2. If this complex is treated with phenylacetylene in the presence of base, the heterovalent gold(I)/gold(III) complex is re-formed. This reversible interconversion between binuclear gold(I)/gold(III) and digold(II) bis(ylide) complexes is unprecedented.     

Identification of the main by-products of the developing agent N-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl-3-methyl-p-phenylenediamine in photographic effluents by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

N-Hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl-3-methyl-p-phenylenediamine (CD(4)) is commonly used as a developing agent in color photographic processes. The main by-products formed in developer baths used in the process were separated and identified by liquid chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry (LC/EI-MS) and liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (LC/API-MS). A number of side reactions, in addition to the main reactions involved in the developing process, were found to occur. Such side reactions involved in the formation of CD(4) by-products included oxidation, hydroxylation, sulfonation and the formation of coupling products. A reaction pathway for the degradation of CD(4) based on the nature of the by-products identified is proposed and discussed.