5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid by treatment of sepiomelanin with sodium borohydride.

Mild treatment of sepiomelanin and biosynthetic eumelanins with NaBH₄ in 0.1 N NaOH leads to the isolation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid ($\text{3}$), a component of structural interest which may account for most of the degradation products of melanins so far obtained.     

Pyrolysis study of fluorinated sol-gel silica

Fluorinated silica gels at various fluorine content were prepared via sol-gel by hydrolysis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane mixtures. The gels, of nominal stoichiometry Si(CH₂CH₂CF₃)_XO_(2-X/2)(X=0.1-1), were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N₂ adsorption analysis. The thermal stability of the fluorinated samples was investigated by coupling thermogravimetric measurements with mass spectrometric and gas chromatographic analyses of the evolved gaseous species. The chemical reactions occurring in the gel matrices during heating were siloxane chain rearrangements involving condensation between residual hydroxyl and ethoxyl groups in the 100-350°C temperature range, whereas the thermal decomposition of the fluoroalkyl groups were observed at higher temperatures (450-600°C). The release of the fluoroalkyl moieties also involved C-F/Si-O bond exchanges inside the siloxane chains, with gas-phase evolution of different fluorinated silicon units. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An expedient one-pot entry to catecholestrogens and other catechol compounds via IBX-mediated phenolic oxygenation

A one-pot procedure for the preparation of catecholestrogens in over 90% yield is reported, involving oxygenation of 17β-estradiol or estrone with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) followed by reduction with methanolic NaBH₄. The procedure, which was extended to the o-hydroxylation of a number of representative phenols in good-to-high yields, expands significantly the scope of phenolic oxidation mediated by IBX.     

On the goethite to hematite phase transformation

This study deals with some microstructural and crystallographic aspects of the thermally induced transformation of goethite (α-FeOOH) into hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), occurring at about 300 °C. Powder specimens of goethite have been annealed in air at different temperatures, ranging from 200 °C up to 1,000 °C. The resulting products have been analyzed for a complete characterization of the changes brought about by the thermal treatments, using a multianalytical approach, based on: thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. At lower temperatures, the transition to hematite produces no important changes in size and shape of the original goethite grains. Recrystallization, and partial sintering, occurs only at temperatures in excess of 800 °C. The relevant evolution of pores present in both phases has been also considered, as it may provide important indications on the actual formation mechanism of hematite.     

Pyrolysis study of sol—gel derived TiO2 powders: Part III. TiO2-anatase prepared by reacting titanium(IV) isopropoxide with acetic acid

A homogeneous TiO₂ gel was obtained by hydrolysing titanium(IV) isopropoxide that was previously modified by reaction with acetic acid. The so stabilized precursor was hydrolysed under strong acidic medium (pH=0 by HCl). Dried TiO₂ powders were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, N₂ adsorption analyses, coupled thermogravimetric (TG) gas chromatographic (GC) and `mass spectrometric (MS) analyses. A semiquantitative analysis of the main evolved chemical species allowed to depict both the chemical rearrangements occurring in the TiO₂ matrix during pyrolysis and the chemical composition of the initial gel.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interaction of anthralin with cysteine: a new entry into the chemistry of biologically active anthrones.

Evidence is reported that under physiological conditions anthralin (I), an antipsoriatic drug , reacts with cysteine to give an ether-insoluble adduct which was formulated as 1,8-dihydroxy-10-(2-amino-2-carboxyethylthio)-9-anthrone (III) by model studies and unambiguous synthesis.     

Reaction of polygodial with primary amines: an alternative explanation to the antifeedant activity1

$\text{In}$$\text{vitro}$ experiments suggest that the biological activity of polygodial ($\text{1}$ is primarily related to its ability to form adducts with -NH₂ groups rather than -SH groups, as previously reported.     

Zinc-induced Structural Effects Enhance Oxygen Consumption and Superoxide Generation in Synthetic Pheomelanins on UVA/Visible Light Irradiation†

The abnormal susceptibility of red-haired individuals to UV-induced inflammation and skin cancers is commonly attributed to the marked photoreactivity of pheomelanin pigments, which would be responsible for the sustained generation of reactive oxygen species in the skin following sun exposure. The structural factors determining pheomelanin photolability remain mostly unknown. Here, we describe the effects of zinc ions, typically found at high levels in red hair, in enhancing both oxygen consumption and superoxide production in model pheomelanin pigments following irradiation with UVA and visible light. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry and EPR-spin trapping experiments with synthetic pheomelanins, prepared by oxidation of dopa and cysteine or isomeric cysteinyldopas under different conditions, indicate a higher photoreactivity of the pigments prepared in the presence of zinc ions compared with those obtained in the absence of the metal. Quantitative analysis of thiazole-containing structural markers of the synthetic pheomelanins provides evidence that the effect of zinc ions is due to modification of the formation pathway and structural features of the pigments. Overall, these results point to a hitherto unrecognized critical role of zinc ions in pheomelanogenesis, which may affect the intrinsic photoreactivity of the pigment.     

Pyrolysis study of sol-gel derived TiO2 powders: Part IV. TiO2-anatase prepared by hydrolysing titanium(IV) isopropoxide without chelating agents

An amorphous TiO₂ gel was obtained by hydrolysing titanium(IV) isopropoxide with a stoichiometric amount of water using SnCl₂ as catalyst. In these operative conditions, a TiO₂ gel matrix containing a lower fraction of organic residual was obtained with respect to samples prepared by previously modifying the titanium alkoxide precursor with chelating ligands. Dried gel powders were characterized by N₂ adsorption analyses, FT-IR and XRD measurements. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) coupled with mass spectrometric (MS) and gas chromatographic (GC) measurements were performed in order to identify the organic products released from TiO₂ gel pyrolysis. The Tg-MS semiquantitative analysis of the main evolved species allowed to describe both the chemical composition of the initial TiO₂ gel and the chemical rearrangements occurring in the matrix during heating up to its crystallisation to anatase form at 420°C.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pyrolysis study of Sol-gel derived TiO2 Powders: Part II. TiO2-anatase prepared by reacting titanium(IV) isopropoxide with oxalic acid

Homogeneous TiO₂ powders were obtained, via sol-gel method, hydrolysing titanium(IV) isopropoxide, previously reacted with oxalic acid in order to better control the gelling process. The characterization of the amorphous TiO₂ powders was carried out by using different techniques such as FT-IR, XRD and N2 adsorption analysis. Coupled thermogravimetric (TG) gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS) analyses were performed to quantify the organic content present in the titania gel and its release during pyrolysis. A detailed semiquantitative analysis of the evolved chemical species from TG-MS data allowed to describe the chemical composition of the TiO₂ gel and the chemical rearrangements occurring in matrix during pyrolysis up to its crystallization to anatase form at 530°C. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.