One‐step synthesis of aminopyrimidines from 5‐Oxo‐4H‐benzopyrans

Novel 4‐amino‐6‐aryl‐2‐phenylpyrimidine‐5‐carbonitriles have been prepared in one step procedure from the readily available 4‐aryl‐2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐7,7‐dimethyl‐5‐oxo‐4H‐benzopyrans. The mass spectroscopy study under EI conditions shows molecular peaks with high intensity corresponding to the loss of benzonitrile from the C2 position of the pyrimidine ring. Semiempirical (AMI and PM3) and ab initio HF/6–31G* calculations reveal a favored distorted geometry where the three rings are not in the same plane.     

New polythiophenes bearing electron-acceptor phthalocyanine chromophores

Two new donor-acceptor copolymers comprising a polythiophene backbone, and bearing phthalocyanine chromophores on the side chains have been prepared. Preliminary photophysical characterization of these materials by FTIR photoinduced absorption indicates that electron transfer from the polythiophene to the phthalocyanine units takes place.     

Comparison of slurry sampling and microwave-assisted digestion for calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc determination in fish tissue samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The development of a slurry sampling method for the determination of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc in fish tissue samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry is described. In comparison with microwave-assisted digestion, the proposed method is simple, requires short time and eliminates total sample dissolution before analysis. Suspension medium was optimized for each analyte to obtain quantitative recoveries from fish tissue samples without matrix interferences. Nevertheless, iron recoveries higher than 46% were not found. Treatment of samples slurried in nitric acid by microwave irradiation for 15-30 s at 75-285 W permitted to achieve efficient recoveries for calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Further improvement in the matrix effects for iron determination was accomplished by the use of an additional step of short microwave-assisted suspension treatment. However, standard addition method was required for calcium and copper determination, being necessary hydrochloric acid as suspension medium for the last one. Although copper could not be determined in the certified reference material using microwave-assisted digestion, the accuracy of the slurry sampling method was verified for all the investigated analytes. Detection limits were 22.8 ± 8.0, 0.884 ± 0.092, 5.07 ± 0.76, 35.5 ± 0.7 and 1.17 ± 0.04 μg g⁻¹ for calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc, respectively. The standard deviations obtained using slurry sampling method and microwave-assisted digestion were not significantly different, and the mean relative standard deviation of the over-all method (n = 3) of the slurry sampling method for different concentration levels was below 12%.     

Recent Advances in Electropolymerized Conducting Polymers in Amperometric Biosensors

Conducting electroactive polymers (CPs) are materials discovered just over 20 years ago which have aroused considerable interest on account of their electronic conducting properties and unique chemical and biochemical properties. Consequently, they have numerous (bio)analytical and technological applications. CPs are easily synthesized and deposited onto the conductive surface of a given substrate from monomer solutions by electrochemical polymerization with precise electrochemical control of their formation rate and thickness. Coating electrodes with CPs under mild conditions opens up enormous possibilities for the immobilization of biomolecules and bioaffinity or biorecognizing reagents, the improvement of their electrocatalytic properties, rapid electron transfer and direct communication to produce a range of analytical signals and new analytical applications. Co-immobilization of other molecules (enzymatic co-factors or charge-transfer mediators) by entrapment within electropolymerized films or by covalent binding on these films permits straightforward fabrication of reagentless biosensors. The characteristics of CPs and their uses, mainly in amperometric biosensors, are reviewed. The most recent applications and lines of research related to CP films are summarized in the different sections of the paper, and probable future trends are discussed.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of [Re2(μ:η-C24H18N4)(CO)6] containing the rtct-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)cyclobutandiyl ligand, derived from the reaction of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] and 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene

The reaction of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(CH₃CN)₂] with trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene (C₁₂H₁₀N₂) at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran affords the compounds [Re₂(μ:η³-C₁₂H₁₀N₂)(CO)₈] (1) and the oxidative addition product [Re₂(μ-H)(μ:η³-C₁₂H₉N₂)(CO)₇] (2). When the reaction is carried out at temperatures of refluxing tetrahydrofuran, besides compounds 1 and 2, the oxidative addition product [Re₂(μ-H)(μ:η⁴-C₁₂H₉N₂)(CO)₆] (3), the insertion product [Re₂(μ:η⁴-C₁₂H₁₀N₂)(CO)₈] (4) and [Re₂(μ:η⁶-C₂₄H₁₈N₄)(CO)₆] (5) are obtained. Compound 5 contains the organic ligand rtct-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)cyclobutandiyl which is derived from a [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene mediated by its coordination to the bimetallic framework. The molecular structures of 1, 2, 4 and 5 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies.     

A study of the Immune Epitope Database for some fungi species using network topological indices

In the last years, the encryption of system structure information with different network topological indices has been a very active field of research. In the present study, we assembled for the first time a complex network using data obtained from the Immune Epitope Database for fungi species, and we then considered the general topology, the node degree distribution, and the local structure of this network. We also calculated eight node centrality measures for the observed network and compared it with three theoretical models. In view of the results obtained, we may expect that the present approach can become a valuable tool to explore the complexity of this database, as well as for the storage, manipulation, comparison, and retrieval of information contained therein.     

Use of decomposition of portlandite in concrete fire as indicator of temperature progression into the material

In field structures affected by fire, the temperature progress through the material. The progression of temperature in the concrete material can be determined by simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry. Also, the analysis of the behaviour of concrete in real concrete, by different techniques, permits the corroboration of the hypothesis of cover calculation. In this study, the analysis of concrete exposed to a very severe fire is studied in order to corroborate the calculus hypothesis and to determine the progression of the temperature inside the affected structure. In this study, the potentiality of the thermal instrumental techniques is studied to determine the situation of the concrete exposed to fire. These results can be used to calculate the residual strength of the concrete structural elements. Also, other auxiliary techniques are used to have some supplementary information about the situation of the concrete exposed to fire. The results are based in concrete samples from a real fire in the Windsor Building in Madrid. The Windsor Building in Madrid was project in 1974 and built between 1975 and 1979. This building was severely damaged by a serious fire on the 12th of February 2005, which lasted approximately 12?h.     

Cytotoxic and NF-κB inhibitory sesquiterpene lactones from Piptocoma rufescens

Six new (1-6) and eight known germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, along with several known phenylpropanol coumarates and methylated flavonoids, were isolated from the leaves of Piptocoma rufescens, collected in the Dominican Republic. The new compounds were identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data, with the molecular structure of 3 being established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The absolute configurations of the sesquiterpene lactones isolated were determined from their CD and NOESY NMR spectra, together with the analysis of Mosher ester reactions. Bioassay screening results showed the majority of the sesquiterpene lactones isolated (1-13) to be highly cytotoxic toward the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line, with the most potent compound being 15-deoxygoyazensolide (10, IC(50), 0.26 μM). In addition, several of the sesquiterpene lactones exhibited NF-κB (p65) inhibitory activity.     

A new controlled release system of chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine:βcd inclusion compounds based on porous silica

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize a controlled release system based on porous silica loaded with chlorhexidine (Cx) and its inclusion compounds in β-cyclodextrin (βcd), and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity. Acetate chlorhexidine (CxA), gluconate chlorhexidine (CxG), βcd:chlorhexidine acetate 2:1 (βcd:CxA) and βcd:chlorhexidine gluconate 2:1 (βcd:CxG) were incorporated into porous silica. Drug loading was characterized by FTIR, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and BET, and was shown to be in an amorphous state and porous matrix. The kinetics release parameter of the drug was established, which showed that the Cx systems release profile followed zero order release until 400 h and Higuchi model release until 750 h, after the burst effect at the first 8 h. Chlorhexidine therapeutic range was reached near first hour for all systems. The chlorhexidine porous silica system was biologically active against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in vitro. The systems showed an efficient Cx controlled release modulated by the presence of the β-cyclodextrin and by the porous silica matrices, providing effective antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis and applications of a chiral-oxygenated 3-chloro-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran obtained under Overman rearrangement conditions

A chlorinated side product was formed under Overman rearrangement conditions from a trichloroacetimidate along with the expected allylic amide. The chlorinated product derived from a hex-2-enopyranoside was obtained in a totally stereoselective manner, and it can be a useful synthetic intermediate for chlorinated sugars. In order to improve the isolated yields of either the expected Overman rearrangement product or the chlorinated compound, we carried out a thorough study on the experimental conditions. The application of the latter for the synthesis of potential calpain inhibitors is also reported.