Evaluation of SARs for the prediction of skin irritation/corrosion potential–structural inclusion rules in the BfR decision support system†

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has developed a Decision Support System (DSS) to assess certain hazardous properties of pure chemicals, including skin and eye irritation/corrosion. The BfR–DSS is a rule-based system that could be used for the regulatory classification of chemicals in the European Union. The system is based on the combined use of two predictive approaches: exclusion rules based on physicochemical cut-off values to identify chemicals that do not exhibit a certain hazard (e.g., skin irritation/corrosion), and inclusion rules based on structural alerts to identify chemicals that do show a particular toxic potential. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the structural inclusion rules implemented in the BfR–DSS for the prediction of skin irritation and corrosion. The following assessments were performed: (a) a confirmation of the structural rules by rederiving them from the original training set (1358 substances), and (b) an external validation by using a test set of 200 chemicals not used in the derivation of the rules. It was found as a result that the test data set did not match the training set relative to the inclusion of structural alerts associated with skin irritation/corrosion, albeit some skin irritants were in the test set.     

Interaction between tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril with α-furaldehyde-isonicotinyl-hydrazone hydrochloride

Interaction between tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6], host) and the hydrochloride salt of α-furaldehyde-isonicotinyl-hydrazone hydrochloride (FIHH⁺, guest) was investigated using X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods. X-ray crystallography showed that the π–π stacking effect and hydrogen bonding resulted in the formation of a dumbbell-shaped supramolecule which contained two FIHH⁺@TMeQ[6] host–guest inclusion complexes. The host–guest interaction provided identifiable changes in the vibrational frequencies in the IR spectra. ¹H NMR spectral analysis established a similar interaction model and revealed that TMeQ[6] preferred to include the furan moiety over the pyridine moiety of the FIHH⁺ guest molecule. Absorption spectrophotometric analysis suggested that the host and guest interact in a ratio of 1:1 with a stability constant K _s = (3.52 ± 0.74) × 10⁶ l mol^? 1.pH titration confirmed that the host–guest interaction led to a clear change in the protonation constant of the title guest. Quantum chemical calculations were used to determine the possible mechanism of formation of the dumbbell-shaped complex.     

The use of a polymer inclusion membrane in a paper-based sensor for the selective determination of Cu(II)

A disposable paper-based sensor (PBS) is described for the determination of Cu(II) in natural and waste waters at approximately 2 cents per measurement. The device makes use of a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) to provide the selectivity for Cu(II). The PIM consists of 40 wt% di(2-ethlyhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the carrier, 10 wt% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a plasticizer, 49.5 wt% poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as the base polymer and 0.5 wt% (m m⁻¹) 1-(2′-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as the colourimetric reagent. High selectivity under mildly acidic conditions (HCl, pH 2.0) is achieved for Cu(II) in the presence of frequently encountered metal ions in natural and waste waters such as Fe(III), Al(III), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), and Ni(II).     

Spectroscopic characterisation of the inclusion complexes between the antifungal drugs naftifine and terbinafine and cyclodextrins

The complexation of naftifine (NF) and terbinafine (TB) with cyclodextrins (CDs) has been investigated by UV/visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ROESY techniques and also ESI-MS. Both drugs form 1:1 inclusion complexes with all the CDs tested except with α-CD, as deduced from the Benesi–Hildebrand plots and confirmed by ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy (Job plot method). The K ₁₁ values for NF decrease in the order β-CD > methylated β-CD > 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD >γ-CD. The determination of the enthalpy and entropy provides information about the main driving forces in the process. The stability constants of the complexes NF–β-CD, TB–β-CD and TB–γ-CD determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy are in agreement with the values obtained by UV. For TB–β-CD, the value is higher, due to the fact that the length of the TB aliphatic chain allows a deeper inclusion of the naphthalene group inside the corresponding β-CD molecule, according to the 2D ROESY experiments.     

1H-NMR Study on Inclusion Modes of 2-Chloronaphthalene and α-Cyclodextrin in D2

Abstract

With a 1:1 and a 2:1 host-guest stoichiometry, α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) forms inclusion complexes with 2-chloronaphthalene. From simulations concerning observed chemical-shift differences (Δδ_obs) of proton signals of 2-chloronaphthalene, intrinsic Δδ values are estimated for all the guest protons in the 1:1 and 2:1 inclusion complexes. The intrinsic Δδ values indicate that α-CD first binds to a part of a naphthalene ring bearing a C1 atom to form the 1:1 inclusion complex. In the 1:1 and 2:1 inclusion complexes, the symmetry axes of α-CD are tilted approximately 30° relative to a naphthalene longitudinal axis. In the 2:1 inclusion complex, the association through hydrogen bonding most likely occurs between two α-CD molecules whose symmetry axes are laterally shifted.     

Study of the complexation of 5,17-bis-(N-tolyliminomethyl)-25,27-dipropoxycalix[4]arene with pyridine carboxylic acids by RP HPLC and molecular modelling

Host–guest complexation process of 5,17-bis-(N-tolyliminomethyl)-25,27-dipropoxycalix[4]arene with pyridine carboxylic acids by RP HPLC method (mobile phase – MeCN/H₂O, 86/14 by volume, LiChrosorb RP 18, UV detector, λ = 254 nm) had been studied. The binding constants and Gibbs free energies of the complexes 5,17-bis(N-tolyliminomethyl)-25,27-dipropoxycalix[4]arene with the pyridine carboxylic acids are within 584 to 1914 M^? 1 and ? 15.76 to ? 18.69 kJ/mol, respectively. It was shown by the molecular modelling that the complexes are stabilised by hydrogen bonds between carboxylic groups of the acids and nitrogen atoms of imino groups at the upper rim or oxygen atoms of the hydroxyl groups at the lower rim of the macrocycle. Linear dependence of the binding constants from the acid lipophilicity log P indicates the role of solvophobic interactions during the complexation process.     

Inclusion Compounds Formation of Poly(azomethine ether)s and β‐Cyclodextrin

In this study, two poly(azomethine ether)s were synthesized and they can form inclusion compounds (ICs) with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) have been utilized to observe the formation of polymer‐CD‐ICs. The differentiation in their FTIR spectra may indicate the formation of the inclusion compounds between poly(azomethine ether)s and β‐CD. Compared the ¹H‐NMR of polymer‐CD‐ICs with β‐CD, proton signals belonging to both β‐CD and poly(azomethine ether)s can be found in the spectrum. The chemical shift of the protons H‐3, H‐5 has changed after the formation of inclusion compounds, which is perhaps due to the interaction of these protons with polymers. TGA scans showed the much higher decomposition temperatures observed for two polymer‐CD‐ICs may imply that polymer chains included inside the β‐CD's cavity can greatly improve β‐CD's stabilities. The X‐ray diffraction patterns were confirmed to be the new crystal structures.     

Temperature/Light Dual‐Responsive Inclusion Complexes of α‐Cyclodextrins and Azobenzene‐Containing Polymers

Three kinds of photoresponsive copolymers with azobenzene side chains were synthesized by radical polymerization of N‐4‐phenylazophenylacrylamide (PAPA) with N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), N,N‐diethylacrylamide (DEAM) or N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAM) respectively. Their structures were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Their reversible photoresponses were studied with or without α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD), which showed that both the copolymers and their inclusion complexes with α‐CD underwent rapid photoisomerization. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymers and their inclusion complexes with α‐CD were investigated by cloud point measurement, which showed that the LCST of three kinds of copolymers increased largely after adding α‐CD. After UV irradiation on the solutions of copolymers and their inclusion complexes, the LCST of the copolymers increased slightly with the absence of α‐CD, while decreased largely with the presence of α‐CD. Furthermore, the LCST reverted to its originality after visible light irradiation. This change of LCST could be reversibly controlled by UV and visible light irradiation alternately. In particular, in the copolymer of PAPA and DMAM, the reversible water solubility of the inclusion complexes could be triggered by alternating UV and visible light irradiation.     

Macroscopic recognition of iodide by polymer appended calix[4]amidocrown resin

ABSTRACT

The current study reveals the synthesis of polymer appended Calix[4]amidocrown-5 with specific binding affinity for iodide at ppm-level. The low detection limits are observed via UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The time-dependent solution and solid-state ¹²⁷I NMR studies with 18.8 and 19 ppm shifts, indicate a strong sensing nature of resin towards iodide ion. A significant reduction in surface area and pore volume with higher thermostability of resin after iodide uptake indicated iodide inclusion in the amidocrown cavity. The mechanism of iodide sensing may be governed by noncovalent interactions of NH and OH protons present in amidocrown and phenyl ring as observed in terms of emission enhancement in fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding affinity and stoichiometric determinations are determined by Benesi-Hildebrand and Jobs plots, respectively.