Assessment of interactions between four proteins and benzothiazole derivatives by DSC and CD

The thermal denaturation of ovalbumin, lysozyme, myoglobin and fibrinogen at different BTS concentrations have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Thermodynamic parameters: melting temperatures (T_m), calorimetric enthalpy (ΔH), van’t Hoff enthalpy (ΔH_v) were obtained for all the systems under study. Thermal denaturation of the four proteins was completely irreversible. Changes in the protein conformation due to the adsorption of BTS molecules have been monitored by using UV-CD spectra. Greater changes in α-helical contents correspond with the BTS higher concentrations. The lysozyme denaturation temperature increases at low concentrations BTS indicating that BTS acts as a structure stabilizer; meanwhile it acts as a destabilizer at higher concentrations in all the proteins studied. The major effect is observed in the case of myoglobin, the protein with the highest α-helical secondary structure (75%).     

Babassu Nanoemulsions Have Physical and Chemical Stability

Babassu is considered one of the greatest native resources in the world and its oil is used in body and hair formulations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term stability in oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions containing babassu oil prepared by emulsification phase inversion submitted to the centrifugation, thermal stress, and heating/cooling cycle tests. The formulations showed no change compared to the droplet size, polydispersity index, pH, and electrical conductivity values after thermal stress and heating/cooling cycle tests. Based on these results, the nanoemulsions obtained can be considered as promising disperse systems for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.     

Characterization and Evaluation of Electrolyte Influence on Canola Oil/Water Nano‐Emulsion

Emulsion stability is controlled by the physicochemical properties of the adsorbed layers formed on the surface of the droplets. Zeta potential and droplet size measured initially and during storage can estimate O/W emulsion stability. The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the effects of different hydrolyzable compounds employed in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations on the zeta potential and droplet size of canola O/W nano‐emulsions and, consequently, the emulsion stability. The samples containing additives demonstrated significant change in zeta potential, but in spite of that, no macroscopic instability was observed. Yet the droplet size values did not undergo significant change.     

O/W Nanoemulsion After 15 Years of Preparation: A Suitable Vehicle for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications

The application of nanoemulsions is due to have good stability, uniform spreading and enhance active penetration upon skin. Nanometer emulsions can be obtained by low-energy emulsification method. The required hydrophilic and lipophilic balance indicates the better balance of emulsifier for optimum system emulsification. Emulsion stability is evidently controlled for the properties of the adsorbed layer formed in the surface of its globules, know as potential zeta. The aim of this work was to evaluate the oil/water nanoemulsion of formulation obtained after 15 years of preparation. The results suggested that the nanoemulsion have performed stability for many years.     

Stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones derived from amino acids. Asymmetric synthesis of N-(alkoxycarbonylmethyl)-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones

Diastereoselective asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of N-(alkoxycarbonylmethyl) nitrones derived from glycine, alanine and phenylalanine have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Asymmetric induction is evaluated by either introducing a chiral group at the nitrone nitrogen atom or by using Oppolzer's sultam acrylamide. In both cases the sense of the asymmetric induction is the same, the (3R,5R)-isomer being preferentially obtained. The best results were observed with the chiral dipolarophile, which afforded an only isomer in all cases. The obtained isoxazolidines are easily transformed into the corresponding 5-substituted-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones. DFT studies are in a qualitative agreement with the observed experimental results.     

Efficient and chemoselective direct reductive amination of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by oxo–rhenium complexes containing heterocyclic ligands

This work describes the catalytic activity of 17 oxo–rhenium complexes containing heterocyclic ligands in the direct reductive amination of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with 4-chloroaniline, using phenylsilane as reducing agent. In general, all of the catalysts tested gave excellent yields of the secondary amine, although, the best result was obtained with the catalytic system PhSiH₃/ReOBr₂(Hhmpbta)(PPh₃) (2.5 mol %). This system was also applied to the synthesis of a large variety of secondary amines in good to excellent yields and tertiary amines in moderate yields, with tolerance of different functional groups.     

Proton NMR relaxation study of molecular dynamics of chromonic liquid crystal Edicol Sunset Yellow

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) relaxometry, over about five decades in Larmor frequency, and pulsed field gradient NMR were used to study the molecular dynamics in the chromonic nematic and isotropic phases of stacked molecules of the binary mixture composed by Edicol Sunset Yellow (ESY) and deuterated water. Our results evidence that in both phases collective motions are responsible for the spin-lattice relaxation dispersion in the Larmor frequency range below 1 MHz. In the nematic phase, the collective motion are attributed to columnar undulations within the stacked molecules, while, in the isotropic phase, the results are explained by local order fluctuations due to the formation of the stacks. The high frequency dispersion was explained by individual molecular motions like rotations around and perpendicular to the stack axis, and also self-diffusion.     

Silk‐Ion Jelly: a novel ion conducting polymeric material with high conductivity and excellent mechanical stability

In this work, a thin, flexible and mechanically stable polymer conducting material (Silk‐Ion Jelly) was developed though application of Ion Jelly on to silk fabrics. Ion Jelly was prepared through jellification of a room temperature ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium dicyanamide ([bmim][dca]) using gelatin and water and applied to silk fabrics using two different processes: impregnation and in‐situ. Various parameters influencing ionic conductivity such as Ion Jelly composition (ratio of [bmim][dca], water and gelatin) and incorporation as well as the type of application process were thoroughly investigated. It was observed that the Ion Jelly compositions containing lower gelatin and water ratio as well as application through in‐situ process at high temperature (200 °C) led to considerable improvement in conductivity, mainly due to increased [bmim][dca] concentration, structural flexibility and reduced silk crystallinity. Silk‐Ion Jelly prepared using optimized conditions showed excellent mechanical stability and possessed high room temperature conductivity (2.9 × 10^?3 S. cm^?1), similar to [bmim][dca], and therefore, this novel ion conducting material may find potential applications in electrochemical devices due to its eco‐friendly preparation route using biomaterials and green solvents. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The semantics of chemical education: constructivism, externalism and the language of chemistry

In this paper we present a semantic analysis of the application of didactic constructivism to chemical education. We show that the psychological basis of constructivism yield, when applied to chemistry, an internalist semantics for the chemical names. Since these names have been presented as typical examples of an externalism for kind terms, a fundamental incompatibility ensues. We study this situation, to conclude that it affects chemical education at every level. Finally, we present a preliminary analysis of this problem from the point of view of physics.     

Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Malonate Esters to α,β‐Unsaturated N‐Sulfonyl Imines: An Expeditious Route to Chiral δ‐Aminoesters and Piperidones

The asymmetric conjugate addition of malonate esters to α,β‐unsaturated N‐sulfonyl imines is catalyzed by PyBOX/La(OTf)₃ complexes in the presence of 4 Å MS. The reaction gives the corresponding E enamines bearing a stereogenic center at the allylic position with good yields and enantiomeric ratios up to 97:3. This reaction provides a synthetic entry to chiral δ‐aminoesters and piperidones.