The fate of triorganotin biocides on incorporation into hypalon paint-based marine antifouling systems:119mSn Mössbauer and 119Sn NMR studies

Incorporation of bis(tributyltin) oxide into a Hypalon paint system results in the formation of tributyltin chloride and a second organotin species, the identity of which remains uncertain. Both compounds are appreciably retained by the dried paint matrix, thereby resulting in marked reduction in the release rate of the tributyltin moiety into aqueous systems. In contrast, tributyltin acetate, tributyltin carbonate and bis(triphenyltin) oxide appear to be incorporated into the paint film in a largely unchanged state. In the case of triphenyltin chloride and triphenyltin acetate, evidence of dephenylation to form diphenyl- and monophenyl-tin compounds has been obtained.     

Acute and chronic effects of tributyltin on the Chinese rare minnow (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gobiocypris rarus</Emphasis>)

The acute (12 h) and chronic (7 or 14 d) effects of tributyltin chloride (TBT) on a new type of test fish, the Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus), have been studied. High accumulation of the pollutant in the fish muscle and obvious changes in hepatosomatic index and gonad somatic index were observed after exposure. The ultrastructural findings show a series of pathological changes existing in the exposed gill cells and hepatocytes, which demonstrates the toxicity effects of tributyltin compounds on aquatic organisms. The results clearly show that the Chinese rare minnow is a new sensitive test fish material, whose exposure system is suitable for the extensive organometallic toxicity studies.     

Search for triorganotins along the Mar del Plata (Argentina) marine coast: finding of tributyltin in egg capsules of a snail Adelomelon brasiliana (Lamarck, 1822) population showing imposex effects

Cases of imposex were clearly identified in Adelomelon brasiliana living in the Mar del Plata (Argentina) coastal area; percentages as high as 50.0% were determined among the samples studied. These were the first reported cases of ocurrence of imposex in this type of gastropod. Since this is one of the known tributyltin (TBTs) effects, and no previous reports of determination of TBTs in gastropods eggs were found, methods were developed for the speciation and quantitative determination of organotins in A. brasiliana egg capsules. Determination of organotins in samples collected in the Mar del Plata area showed contents of tributyltin chloride (TBT) as high as 400 ng l^?1 in water and 6.50 µg g^?1 in sediments of areas of intensive boat traffic. The results showed the presence of TBT in the egg capsules of A. brasiliana at three different instars (range 0.264–1.86 µg per egg). As far as we know, this is the first report of the finding of TBT in gastropod egg capsules. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of tributyltin derivatives from 4‐oxo‐4‐(arylamino)butanoic acids and their in vitro biological activity against cervical cancer cell lines

Uterine (cervix and corpus) cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in women in Mexico. Organotin carboxylated derivatives have shown high cytotoxic activity against various cell lines of human origin. We describe the synthesis of three new tri‐n‐butyltin derivatives from 4‐oxo‐4‐(arylamino)butanoic acids; their structures were confirmed using spectral data (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR and infrared), elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction. All the tri‐n‐butyltin carboxylates exhibit ¹ J (^119/117Sn–¹³C) coupling satellites in solution and lie in the range 357 to 339 Hz, suggesting a tetrahedral geometry around the tin atom. The polymeric structures of two of the derivatives and the monomeric structure of another were confirmed using X‐ray crystallography. Using succinic anhydride as raw material, five N‐substituted succinamic acid compounds were synthesized by the acylation reaction with aniline, 4‐nitroaniline, 4‐nitro‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aniline, 2‐amino‐5‐nitrothiazole and 4‐aminoantipyrine. From these compounds, five tin derivatives were prepared and their in vitro anti‐proliferative effect on HeLa, CaSki and ViBo cell lines was screened. All of the compounds showed potency against all three strains and null or low cytotoxic activity (necrotic) as well. The most potent of our derivatives as an anti‐proliferative agent against the three cell lines was tributylstannyl 4‐oxo‐4‐[(3‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐nitrophen‐1‐yl)amino]butanoate, exhibiting an IC₅₀ value of 0.43 μM against the HeLa cell line. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Life‐cycle toxicity of dibutyltin to the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) and implications of the ubiquitous tributyltin impurity in test material

Dibutyltin (DBT) is used in the plastics polymerization process as a catalyst in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products and is the primary degradation product of tributyltin (TBT), an antifoulant in marine paint. DBT and other organotin compounds make their way into the environment through antifoulants, PVC processing plants, and PVC products maintained in water and water‐handling systems. A flow‐through saltwater life‐cycle toxicity test was conducted to determine the chronic effect of DBT to the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepede), an estuarine species. Embryos were monitored through hatch, maturation, growth, and reproduction in DBT concentrations of 158, 286, 453, 887, and 1510 µg l^?1. Progeny were monitored for survival as embryos and fry/juveniles, and growth for 30 days post‐isolation. Mean length of parental generation fish was significantly reduced on day 30 at DBT concentrations ≥887 µg l^?1, setting the lowest observable effect concentration (LOEC) at 887 µg l^?1 and the no observable effect concentration (NOEC) at 453 µg l^?1. Fecundity, as egg viability, was significantly reduced at the LOEC. Survival of parental and progeny generation embryos and mean length, wet weight and dry weight of progeny generation juveniles were not significantly affected at concentrations ≤LOEC. TBT, a toxic impurity in DBT reversibly produced in DBT by the process of comproportionation, was also monitored throughout this study. Comparing measured levels of TBT in this study with levels exerting toxic effects in an earlier TBT life‐cycle study with C. variegatus suggests biological responses in this study were likely due to the TBT impurity and not to DBT alone. Results indicate that TBT impurity as low as 0.1% may have a significant influence on the perceived toxicity of DBT and that spontaneous production of TBT in DBT may be the major source of biological toxicity of DBT. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photochemical grafting of polysulfobetaine onto polyethylene and polystyrene surfaces and investigation of long‐term stability of the polysulfobetaine layer in seawater

Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS) films with hydrophilic surface were prepared by photochemical grafting of sulfobetaine‐based copolymer containing photolabile moiety, and long‐term stability of the hydrophilic nature of the surfaces in seawater was proved. The sulfobetaine‐based copolymer was prepared by copolymerization of N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(3‐(methacryloylamino)propyl)‐N‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine with 2 or 5 mol% of N‐methacryloyl‐4‐azidoaniline, and the resulted polymers were grafted onto the plasma pretreated LDPE and PS films. The contact angle measurements were used to prove the modification as well as to follow the changes in the hydrophilicity during storage at room temperature under air atmosphere as well as in seawater at 32°C. The stability of the polymer layer was confirmed also by FTIR and AFM. Polysulfobetaine‐modified LDPE and PS surfaces exhibited significantly higher long‐term hydrophilicity compared with only plasma treated LDPE and PS surfaces.     

Effect of polyethylene glycol plasticizer on long‐term antibacterial activity and the release profile of bacteriocin nisin from polylactide blends

This work describes the synergetic effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in polylactide (PLA) blends, wherein the polyether acts as both the plasticizer and functional additive, ensuring the long‐term antimicrobial activity of bacteriocin nisin. Two types of PEG with the molecular weights of 1000 and 6000 g.mol⁻¹ (20 wt.%) were used to plasticize the PLA blends. The aforementioned bacteriocin nisin, at concentrations ranging between 0.02 and 0.15 wt.% (8000‐60 000 IU.g⁻¹), was incorporated into the samples by the solvent cast technique. The effect of various PEG on the structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the PLA‐based blends were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, stress‐strain analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the samples was detected by the agar diffusion technique against Micrococcus luteus. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of the samples were tested according the ISO 22196 standard against Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes) bacterial strains. The nisin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography, the device having been equipped with a UV/vis detector. The results show that the PEG, besides its plasticizing effect, significantly enhances the release profile and sustains long‐term antibacterial activity of nisin in a PLA matrix.     

The influence of short‐chain branching on the morphology and structure of polyethylene single crystals

The influence of short‐chain branching on the formation of single crystals at constant supercooling is systematically studied in a series of metallocene catalyzed high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene samples. A strong effect of short‐chain branching on the morphology and structure of single crystals is reported. An increase of the axial ratio with short‐chain branching content, together with a characteristic curvature of the (110) crystal faces are observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this observation is reported in high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene. The curvature can be explained by a continuous increase in the step initiation—step propagation rates ratio with short‐chain branching, that is, nucleation events are favored against stem propagation by the presence of chain defects. Micro‐diffraction and WAXS results clearly indicate that all samples crystallize in the orthorhombic form. An increase of the unit cell parameter a₀ is detected, an effect that is more pronounced than in the case of single crystals with ethyl and propyl branches. The changes observed are compatible with an expanded lattice due to the presence of branches at the surface folding. A decrease in crystal thickness with branching content is observed as determined from shadow measurements by TEM. The results are in agreement with additional SAXS results performed in single crystal mats and with indirect calorimetry measurements. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1751–1762     

New Insight in Copper‐Ion Binding to Human Islet Amyloid: The Contribution of Metal‐Complex Speciation To Reveal the Polypeptide Toxicity

Type‐2 diabetes (T2D) is considered to be a potential threat on a global level. Recently, T2D has been listed as a misfolding disease, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is a molecule cosecreted in pancreatic β cells and represents the main constituent of an aggregated amyloid found in individuals affected by T2D. The trace‐element serum level is significantly influenced during the development of diabetes. In particular, the dys‐homeostasis of Cu²⁺ ions may adversely affect the course of the disease. Conflicting results have been reported on the protective role played by complex species formed by Cu²⁺ ions with hIAPP or its peptide fragments in vitro. The histidine (His) residue at position 18 represents the main binding site for the metal ion, but contrasting results have been reported on other residues involved in metal‐ion coordination, in particular those toward the N or C terminus. Sequences that encompass regions 17–29 and 14–22 were used to discriminate between the two models of the hIAPP coordination mode. Due to poor solubility in water, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives were synthesized. A peptide fragment that encompasses the 17–29 region of rat amylin (rIAPP) in which the arginine residue at position 18 was substituted by a histidine residue was also obtained to assess that the PEG moiety does not alter the peptide secondary structure. The complex species formed by Cu²⁺ ions with Ac‐PEG‐hIAPP(17–29)‐NH₂, Ac‐rIAPP(17–29)R18H‐NH₂, and Ac‐PEG‐hIAPP(14–22)‐NH₂ were studied by using potentiometric titrations coupled with spectroscopic methods (UV/Vis, circular dichroism, and EPR). The combined thermodynamic and spectroscopic approach allowed us to demonstrate that hIAPP is able to bind Cu²⁺ ions starting from the His18 imidazole nitrogen atom toward the N‐terminus domain. The stability constants of copper(II) complexes with Ac‐PEG‐hIAPP(14–22)‐NH₂ were used to simulate the different experimental conditions under which aggregate formation and oxidative stress of hIAPP has been reported. Speciation unveils: 1) the protective role played by increased amounts of Cu²⁺ ions on the hIAPP fibrillary aggregation, 2) the effect of adventitious trace amounts of Cu²⁺ ions present in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), and 3) a reducing fluorogenic probe on H₂O₂ production attributed to the polypeptide alone.     

Solvent effects on the activation parameters of the reaction between an α‐tocopherol analogue and dpph•: The role of H‐bonded complexes

The analysis of the activation parameters for the formal H‐atom transfer reaction between 2,2,5,7,8‐pentamethyl‐6‐chromanol (ChrOH) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (dpph^?) reveals that these parameters are effective probes of the actual reaction mechanism. Indeed, the A factors measured in various polar and apolar solvents are localized in three distinct domains according to whether the reaction occurs via outer‐sphere electron transfer (ET) from the anion ChrO^? or hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). For instance, A = 5.9 × 10⁵ M^?1 s^?1 and E_a = 2.5 kcal mol^?1 in cyclohexane where the reaction proceeds by HAT, whereas in methanol, ethanol, and their mixtures with water where there is a substantial ET contribution A > 10⁹ M^?1s^?1 and E_a > 7 kcal mol^?1. Interestingly, in nonhydroxylic polar solvents, A～ 10⁷ M^?1s^?1 and the E_a values reflect the H‐bond accepting ability of the solvent in agreement with the “standard” kinetic solvent effects on HAT reactions. Addition of small quantities of pyridine accelerates the reaction rates in these solvents. This suggests that the H‐bonded complex (ChrOH···Py) is able to react via intermolecular ET with dpph^?. It is known, in fact, that pyridine lowers the oxidation potential of phenols by ～0.5 V and the ΔG_ET of ChrOH + dpph^? consequently decreases by about 10 kcal mol^?1. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 524–531, 2012     

CuII‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Diaryl‐ and Aryl Heteroaryl Ketones: Application in the Enantioselective Synthesis of Orphenadrine and Neobenodine

With certain amounts of sodium tert‐butoxide and tert‐butanol as additives, catalytic amounts of an inexpensive and easy‐to‐handle copper source Cu(OAc)₂ ? H₂O, a commercially available and air‐stable non‐racemic dipyridylphosphine ligand, as well as the stoichiometric desirable hydride donor polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), formed a versatile in situ catalyst system for the enantioselective reduction of a broad spectrum of prochiral diaryl and aryl heteroarylketones in air, in high yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %). In particular, the practical viability of this process was evinced by its successful applications in the asymmetric synthesis of optically enriched potent antihistaminic drugs orphenadrine and neobenodine.     

Interplay of intrinsic, environmental, and dynamic effects in tuning the EPR parameters of nitroxides: further insights from an integrated computational approach

The role of stereoelectronic, environmental, and short-time dynamic effects in tuning the hyperfine and gyromagnetic tensors of a prototypical nitroxide spin probe has been investigated by an integrated computational approach based on extended Lagrangian molecular dynamics and discrete-continuum solvent models. Trajectories were generated in two protic solvents as well as in the gas phase for reference; structural analysis of the dynamics, and comparison with optimized solute-solvent clusters, allowed for the identification of the prevailing solute-solvent hydrogen-bonding patterns and helped to define the strategy for the computation of magnetic parameters. This was performed in a separate step, on a large number of frames, by a high-level DFT approach coupling the PBE0 hybrid functional with a tailored basis set and with proper account of specific and bulk solvent effects. Remarkable changes in solvation networks are found on going from aqueous to methanol solution, thus providing a rationalization of indirect experimentally available evidence. The computed magnetic parameters are in satisfactory agreement with the available measured values and allow for an unbiased evaluation of the role of different effects in tuning the overall EPR observables. Apart from their intrinsic interest, our results pave the route toward the development of tunable detection protocols based on specific spectroscopic signatures.     

Tribenzotriquinacenes Based on Regioselective Bis‐formylation: Optical Resolution and Absolute Configuration of Inherently Chiral Derivatives and Synthesis of the First Cyclophane‐Type Tribenzotriquinacene Dimers

Enantiomerically pure tribenzotriquinacenes (TBTQs) bearing two monofunctionalized aromatic nuclei were synthesized for the first time and their optical properties and absolute configuration determined. A remarkably regioselective bis‐formylation of the fully bridgehead methylated parent TBTQ hydrocarbon with MeOCHCl₂/TiCl₄ afforded a mixture of two C_s‐symmetrical (achiral) difunctionalized derivatives together with one C₁‐symmetrical (chiral) isomer. Reduction and subsequent column chromatography furnished the three respective benzylic TBTQ dialcohols. Optical resolution of the racemic 2,6‐bis(hydroxymethyl) derivative was achieved via the diastereomeric (R)‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol ethers and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers was determined by CD exciton model analysis. The electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and the specific rotation of the enantiomers were found to agree with the results of DFT calculations. Among the C_s‐symmetrical isomers, the “proximal” 2,11‐dialdehyde and the corresponding benzylic dialcohol were identified by 2D NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallographic analysis, respectively, and used as the starting point for the synthesis of several novel dithiametacyclophanes. These include the first “dimeric” tribenzotriquinacene‐based cyclophanes bearing the bowls of the two TBTQ units attached to each other in a syn (concave–concave) or anti (convex–concave) configuration. The usefulness of such thiacyclophanes as fluorescent chemosensors for different metal ions is also demonstrated.     

Models for potential dendritic nitric oxide donors: crystal structures of two 2‐nitroanilino precursors and nitric oxide‐release behavior of the nitrosated derivatives

Two molecular precursors to dendrimeric materials that could serve as slow and sustained NO‐releasing therapeutic agents have been synthesized and characterized. N¹,N⁴‐Bis(2‐nitrophenyl)butane‐1,4‐diamine, C₁₆H₁₈N₄O₄, (I), crystallizes in a lattice with equal populations of two molecules of different conformations, both of which possess inversion symmetry through the central C—C bond. One molecule has exclusively anti conformations along the butyl chain, while the other has a gauche conformation of the substituents on the first C—C bond. N²,N²‐Bis[2‐(2‐nitroanilino)ethyl]‐N¹‐(2‐nitrophenyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine, C₂₄H₂₇N₇O₆, (II), crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. Neighboring pairs of molecules are linked into dimers via N—H…O amine–nitro hydrogen bonds. The dimers are assembled into layers that stack in an A–B–A–B sequence such that the repeat distance in the stacking direction is over 46 Å. Molecular NO‐release agents N¹,N⁴‐bis(2‐nitrophenyl)‐N¹,N⁴‐dinitrosobutane‐1,4‐diamine, C₁₆H₁₆N₆O₆, (III), and N¹‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐N²,N²‐bis{2‐[(2‐nitrophenyl)(nitroso)amino]ethyl}‐N¹‐nitrosoethane‐1,2‐diamine, C₂₄H₂₄N₁₀O₉, (IV), were prepared via treatment of (I) and (II), respectively, with NaNO₂ and acetic acid. The release of NO from solid‐phase samples of (III) and (IV) suspended in phosphate buffer was monitored spectroscopically over a period of 21 days. Although (IV) released a greater amount of NO, as expected due to it having three NO moieties for every two in (III), the (IV):(III) ratio of the rate and extent of NO release was significantly less than 1.5:1, suggesting that some combination of electronic, chemical, and/or steric factors may be affecting the release process.     

Scorpionate‐Type Coordination in MFU‐4l Metal–Organic Frameworks: Small‐Molecule Binding and Activation upon the Thermally Activated Formation of Open Metal Sites

Postsynthetic metal and ligand exchange is a versatile approach towards functionalized MFU‐4l frameworks. Upon thermal treatment of MFU‐4l formates, coordinatively strongly unsaturated metal centers, such as zinc(II) hydride or copper(I) species, are generated selectively. Cu^I‐MFU‐4l prepared in this way was stable under ambient conditions and showed fully reversible chemisorption of small molecules, such as O₂, N₂, and H₂, with corresponding isosteric heats of adsorption of 53, 42, and 32 kJ mol^?1, respectively, as determined by gas‐sorption measurements and confirmed by DFT calculations. Moreover, Cu^I‐MFU‐4l formed stable complexes with C₂H₄ and CO. These complexes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The demonstrated hydride transfer to electrophiles and strong binding of small gas molecules suggests these novel, yet robust, metal–organic frameworks with open metal sites as promising catalytic materials comprising earth‐abundant metal elements.     

The Effect of the Active‐Site Structure on the Activity of Copper Mordenite in the Aerobic and Anaerobic Conversion of Methane into Methanol

Samples of the zeolite mordenite with different Si/Al ratios were used to synthesize materials with monomeric and oligomeric copper sites that are active in the direct conversion of methane into methanol. A comparison of two reactivation protocols with oxygen (aerobic oxidation) and water (anaerobic oxidation), respectively, revealed that such copper–oxo species possess different reactivity towards methane and water. We show for the first time that oligomeric copper species exhibit high activity under both aerobic and anaerobic activation conditions, whereas monomeric copper sites produce methanol only in aerobic processes.