Metabolomics techniques applied in the investigation of phenolic acids from the agro-industrial by-product of Carapa guianensis Aubl

Processing of Carapa guianensis seeds to obtain oil on an industrial scale generates a significant amount of by-product, approximately 66% w/w, which is called cake and is a potential source of biomolecules, including simple phenolic structures. For this reason, studies were carried out on the chemical profiles of hydrolyzed extract from this agro-industrial by-product through High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product. The sample antioxidant capacity was determined by methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radicals direct sequestration. The hydrolyzed fraction showed a total of 63.47% in the relative abundance of the total of compounds, standing out: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (39.19%) and protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) (5.62%), both from hydroxybenzoic acids and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, (7.76%) hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives. In these results, the fraction rich in simple phenolic acids was obtained, attributing the prominent behavior of this matrix antioxidant activity, expressed by (IC₅₀: of 16.42 µg/mL and 6.52 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS⁺ radicals, respectively). The research demonstrated an alternative to applicability that involves sustainability from agro-industrial. These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product, generating a process capable of converting biomass into a bioproduct, consisting of bioactive compounds, in addition to adding value to the industrial chain.     

Facile preparation and properties of superhydrophobic nanocellulose membrane

Superhydrophobic nanocellulose membrane was prepared by synergistically modifying biodegradable nanocellulose with low-carbon perfluoroorganosiloxane and ethyl orthosilicate. The effects of four kinds of low-carbon perfluoroorganosiloxanes with different structures and their ratio to ethyl orthosilicate on the hydrophobic properties of nanocellulose membrane were investigated, and then FT-IR, XPS, XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, TG and contact angle goniometer were used to characterize the structure and hydrophobic properties of nanocellulose membrane before and after modification. It is found that when the molar ratio of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTMS) to ethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is 1, the modified nanocellulose membrane PFOTMS-TEOS-CNF is loaded with silica nanoparticles both inside and on its surface, and a micro-nano hierarchical rough morphology with low surface energy is constructed. At this point, the root-mean-square roughness (Rq) of nanocellulose membrane is 112 nm, and the static contact angle of water droplet is 153.5°, successfully realizing superhydrophobicity. In addition, compared to unmodified nanocellulose membrane, PFOTMS-TEOS-CNF with better thermal stability includes an additional maximum weight loss rate temperature (491.2 °C). The above advantages markedly improve the shortcomings of pristine nanocellulose, such as superhydrophilicity and insufficient thermal stability, and also broadens its high-value application in many fields.     

Three-dimensional interfacial fracture analysis of a one-dimensional hexagonal quasicrystal coating

In this paper, the three-dimensional (3D) interfacial fracture is analyzed in a one-dimensional (1D) hexagonal quasicrystal (QC) coating structure under mechanical loading. A planar interface crack with arbitrary shape is studied by a displacement discontinuity method. Fundamental solutions of interfacial concentrated displacement discontinuities are obtained by the Hankel transform technique, and the corresponding boundary integral-differential equations are constructed with the superposition principle. Green’s functions of constant interfacial displacement discontinuities within a rectangular element are derived, and a boundary element method is proposed for numerical simulation. The singularity of stresses near the crack front is investigated, and the stress intensity factors (SIFs) as well as energy release rates (ERRs) are determined. Finally, relevant influencing factors on the fracture behavior are discussed.     

Triterpenes and limonoids of Cedrela: Distribution,biosynthesis, and 1H and 13C NMR data

Cedrela genus, a member of the Meliaceae family, presents both chemical characteristics associated with and those that distinguish it from the rest of its members. The presence of triterpenes and limonoids is the characteristic of the Meliaceae family, but the class and type of these chemical constituents are distinctive for each genus. Cedrela includes cycloartane, ursane, oleanane, tirucallane, butyrospermane, and apotirucallane triterpenes, and its limonoids belongs to six class and nine types, known as class Ia-type havanensines, class Ib-type delevoyin, class II-type gedunin, class IIIb-type andirobin, class IIIg-type mexicanolide, class IVa-type evoludone, class Va-type obacunol, class V-type limonin, and class VIII. Each of these structural arrangements includes specific traits, defined by their biosynthetic origin, which can be established by means of structural elucidation techniques, particularly ¹H and ¹³C NMR, which assisted by 2D NMR techniques, allowing to deduce their structures unequivocally. The constant presence of these skeletal arrangements in Cedrela ensures that they are its chemophenetic markers and their recurrence is an important criterion for their identity. This review is a compilation of the occurrence of triterpenes and limonoids in Cedrela genus, detailing their biosynthetic association and collecting and organizing their NMR data, with the purpose of facilitating its location, analysis, and use in the phytochemical study of species from this genus.     

Elucidating structure and dynamics of crystalline α-zirconium phosphates intercalated with water and methanol by multinuclear solid-state MAS NMR: A comprehensive NMR approach

Solid-state NMR experiments on ²H, ³¹P, ¹³C, and ¹H nuclei, including ³¹P T₁, ¹H T₁, and ¹H T_1ρ measurements, as well as on the kinetics of proton-phosphorus cross-polarization have been performed to characterize the crystalline and amorphous α-zirconium phosphates, which were intercalated with D₂O and/or CD₃OD. The ¹³C{¹H} CP MAS NMR experiment performed for compound 1-CD ₃ OD (Zr (HPO₄)₂ ^. 0.2CD₃OD) with carbon cross-polarization via protons of phosphate groups has provided a prove that the methanol was intercalated into the interlayer spaces of this compound. The variable-temperature ²H solid-echo MAS NMR spectra of intercalated compounds demonstrated that the methanol molecules, in contrast to the mobile water, were immobile, keeping, however, free CD₃ rotations around the C₃-axis. It has been demonstrated that the intercalated species, D₂O and CD₃OD, do not affect the high-frequency motions of the phosphate groups. By utilizing local structural models that satisfy the constraints of the experimental data, it has been suggested that the immobile methanol molecules are located in the cavity between two neighboring layers of the zirconium phosphates. Thus, the present work illustrates the reliable criteria in a comprehensive NMR approach to structural and dynamic studies of such systems.     

19F-detected dual-optimized inverted 1JCC 1,n-ADEQUATE

Modification of the recently reported ¹⁹F-detected 1,1-ADEQUATE experiment that incorporates dual-optimization to selectively invert a wide range of ¹J_CC correlations in a 1,n-ADEQUATE experiment is reported. Parameters for the dual-optimization segment of the pulse sequence were modified to accommodate the increased size of ¹J_CC homonuclear coupling constants of poly- and perfluorinated molecules relative to protonated molecules to allow broadband inversion of the ¹J_CC correlations. The observation and utility of isotope shifts are reported for the first time for 1,1- and 1,n-ADEQUATE correlations.     

Click Chemistry on Polymer Support: Synthesis of 1-Vinyl- and 1-Allyl-1,2,3-triazoles via Selenium Linker

Polystyrene-supported 2-azidoethyl phenyl selenide and 3-azidopropyl phenyl selenide reagents have been developed and applied to the traceless solid-phase organic synthesis of 1-vinyl- and 1-allyl-1,2,3-triazoles by CuI-mediated azide–alkyne cycloadditions and subsequent cleavage from the polymer support through oxidation–elimination reaction with 30% hydrogen peroxide. The advantages of this method include straightforward operation, good yield and purity of the products, and good stability and lack of odor for the reagents.     

1D iron vanadate-reduced graphene oxide nanorod composite for efficient oxidative esterification of aldehydes

In this paper, we report a facile and one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of FeVO₄-rGO nanorod composite and its application as a heterogeneous catalyst in the oxidative esterification reaction of aldehydes using hydrogen peroxide oxidant. The nanomaterial is thoroughly characterized by different techniques, namely, XPS, FESEM, elemental mapping, XRD, Raman, HRTEM, etc. The as-prepared nanocatalyst shows good activity for the controlled base-free oxidative esterification of various aromatic aldehydes in alcohol solvents under refluxing conditions, achieving good yields of the desired esters. Furthermore, the substrate scope was explored over a wide array of substituted aromatic aldehydes with diverse electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups in the phenyl ring. The presence of heterogeneous interfaces-induced properties in the nanorod composite results in synergistic effects to provide good catalytic performance. Thus, binary transition metal oxide-reduced graphene oxide-based nanocomposite as a nanocatalyst can open doors for efficient and sustainable esterification of aromatic aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols under oxidative conditions.     

Computational design of rasagiline derivatives: Searching for enhanced antioxidant capability

A set of new rasagiline derivatives is presented. They were designed to be antioxidant compounds with the potential to be used for treating neurodegenerative disorders. They are expected to be multifunctional molecules that can help reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. The CADMA-Chem computational protocol was used to produce rasagiline derivatives and to evaluate their likeliness as oral drugs and antioxidants. Three of them were identified as the most promising ones. They are proposed to be better free radical scavengers than rasagiline. In addition, they are expected to keep the parent's molecule neuroprotective capability. Hopefully, the results presented here would promote further experimental and theoretical investigations on these compounds.