Synthesis and novel structure-activity relationships of potent sansalvamide A derivatives

Synthesis of twelve Sansalvamide A derivatives and their SAR against colon cancer (HT-29).     

A contribution to the coordination chemistry of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(α-pyridyl)pyrazine (TPP): Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and density-functional study of {[Mo(CO)4]2(μ-TPP)}

The reaction between cis-[Mo(CO)₄(piperidine)₂] and 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(α-pyridyl)pyrazine (TPP) in the 3:1 (Mo:TPP) stoichiometric ratio afforded the organobimetallic compound {[Mo(CO)₄]₂(μ-TPP)} (1) in 89% yield. This complex has been characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, vibrational (FT-IR and FT-Raman) and electronic spectroscopy, and ¹H and ¹³C-CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. NMR data have revealed that TPP coordinates to each metal at two adjacent pyridine nitrogen atoms, according to a rare bis-bidentate chelating mode. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 in DMF has shown an irreversible metal-based oxidation at +0.77 V versus SCE. A DFT/B3LYP study of two plausible molecular structures for 1 has been carried out in vacuum using the LACV3P(d,p) and LACV3P++(d,p) basis sets. This theoretical study has pointed to the structure with the Mo(CO)₄ moieties on opposite sides with respect to the pyrazine ring (trans isomer - C_2h symmetry) as the most stable one. The vibrational frequencies of the trans structure have been calculated at the B3LYP/LACV3P(d,p) level and compared with the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 1. An excellent agreement between experimental and calculated frequencies was obtained.     

Diffusivity of asphaltene molecules by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) we measure the translational diffusion coefficient of asphaltene molecules in toluene at extremely low concentrations (0.03-3.0 mg/L): where aggregation does not occur. We find that the translational diffusion coefficient of asphaltene molecules in toluene is about 0.35 x 10(-5) cm(2)/s at room temperature. This diffusion coefficient corresponds to a hydrodynamic radius of approximately 1 nm. These data confirm previously estimated size from rotational diffusion studied using fluorescence depolarization. The implication of this concurrence is that asphaltene molecular structures are monomeric, not polymeric.     

pH dependence of the interaction between rhodamine B and the water-soluble poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)

The binding of rhodamine B (RB) to the polyanion containing aromatic groups poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) is studied by separation and spectroscopic techniques at pH between 2 and 7. Significant binding is found at pH below 5, together with a red-shift of the RB maximum of absorbance to 564 nm, and RB fluorescence quenching. The dependence of the pH is related with protonation of RB molecules. Fluorescence quenching is a consequence of a more hydrophobic environment and may occur on territorially or site-specifically bound molecules, and/or on self-aggregated molecules in a hydrophobic polymer domain. Remarkably, the basicity of RB is increased by the influence of the polymer.     

Multisyringe flow injection analysis system for automation of standard addition calibration method

In the present work, the multi-channel features of multisyringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) were exploited for the first time to implement calibration based on standard addition method (SAM). For this, standard solutions containing different concentrations of target analyte were placed in each syringe of the multisyringe and connected to a flow network where in-line mixing of sample and standard through a merging zone approach was established prior to detection of analyte. Using this strategy, artifacts reported before in SAM using flow injection analysis were avoided as the concentration of the analyte in the resulting mixture was related to the dilution of sample and added standard within the system, and the concentration of all matrix components was kept constant during all measurements. The feasibility of the proposed MSFIA system was assessed through application to potentiometric determination of chloride ion in electroplating bath and milk samples. Results obtained for samples (n = 15) were not statistically different from those provided by titrimetric procedures, with an excellent throughput (20–31 samples h^{− 1}), comprising four-level addition of chloride ion.     

Structure and mechanical properties of cellulose based scaffolds fabricated by selective laser sintering

This work presents the rapid fabrication of starch–cellulose and cellulose acetate scaffolds by selective laser sintering and the evaluation of the laser power, laser scan speed and the polymer particle size influence on the scaffold properties. The specimens were prepared using two different particle sizes and characterized by density measurements, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and a flexural test. The fine adjustment of process parameters was fundamental to warranty the processability of biodegradable cellulose based polymers by SLS. The specimens with lower particle size presented a higher degree of sintering, higher mechanical strength and a significant level of closed pores, as indicated by the density measurements and fractography analyses. The results obtained showed that is possible to fabricate scaffold structures using starch–cellulose and cellulose acetate materials by selective laser sintering.     

Methylmercury determination using a hyphenated high performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet cold vapor multipath atomic absorption spectrometry system

The present work investigates the use of a multipath cell atomic absorption mercury detector for mercury speciation analysis in a hyphenated high performance liquid chromatography assembly. The multipath absorption cell multiplies the optical path while energy losses are compensated by a very intense primary source. Zeeman-effect background correction compensates for non-specific absorption. For the separation step, the mobile phase consisted in a 0.010% m/v mercaptoethanol solution in 5% methanol (pH = 5), a C₁₈ column was used as stationary phase, and post column treatment was performed by UV irradiation (60 °C, 13 W). The eluate was then merged with 3 mol L^− 1 HCl, reduction was performed by a NaBH₄ solution, and the Hg vapor formed was separated at the gas–liquid separator and carried through a desiccant membrane to the detector. The detector was easily attached to the system, since an external gas flow to the gas–liquid separator was provided. A multivariate approach was used to optimize the procedure and peak area was used for measurement. Instrumental limits of detection of 0.05 µg L^− 1 were obtained for ionic (Hg²⁺) and HgCH₃⁺, for an injection volume of 200 µL. The multipath atomic absorption spectrometer proved to be a competitive mercury detector in hyphenated systems in relation to the most commonly used atomic fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detectors. Preliminary application studies were performed for the determination of methyl mercury in sediments.     

A Simple and Validated LC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Three Compounds in Mikania laevigata Extracts

The Mikania genus is widely known as guaco and is used to treat fever, rheumatism, influenza and respiratory diseases. This article deals with the simultaneous quantification of three commercially available phenolic markers (o-coumaric acid, coumarin and syringaldehyde) in M. laevigata extracts, through LC-PDA. The validation data show that the method is specific, accurate, precise and robust, and also indicative of the stability of guaco extract. The method was linear, over a range of 1.25–20.0 μg mL⁻¹ for o-coumaric acid, 2.5–40.0 μg mL⁻¹ for coumarin, and 0.25–4.0 μg mL⁻¹ for syringaldehyde. The range of recovery was 94.3–96.4% for all the components, at a level of 100%.

     

Electrosynthesis of polythiophene nanowires via mesoporous silica thin film templates

Early electrosynthesized polythiophene nanowires were prepared employing a mesoporous silica template, which was also electrochemically produced. A cathodic potential step was applied to a fluorine doped tin oxide conducting glass electrode in a cationic surfactant and silicate reagent medium to deposit highly ordered mesoporous silica films. To evaluate the pores order and, consequently, optimal deposition potential, the electrochemical response of the electrodes was studied using ferrocene as redox probe. The modified electrodes were used to accomplish polythiophene electrodeposits employing 0.6 mM thiophene and 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in anhydrous CH₃CN as working solution. Transmission electron microscope images of the deposits revealed the presence of polythiophene nanowires of about 6 nm in diameter arranged normal to the electrode surface. The unprecedented small size and arrangement of the obtained nanowires place this work as the first study that successfully accomplished the formation of nanoscale electrochemically synthesized conducting polymer nanowires.