Inclusion complexation of diclofenac with natural and modified cyclodextrins explored through phase solubility, 1H-NMR and molecular modeling studies

Guest–host interactions were examined for neutral diclofenac (Diclo) and Diclofenac sodium (Diclo sodium) with each of the cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives: α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), all in 0.05 M aqueous phosphate buffer solution adjusted to 0.2 M ionic strength with NaCl at 20 °C, and with β-CD at different pHs and temperatures. The pH solubility profiles were measured to obtain the acid–base ionization constants (pK _as) for Diclo in the presence and absence of β-CD. Phase solubility diagrams (PSDs) were also measured and analyzed through rigorous procedures to obtain estimates of the complex formation constants for Diclo/CD and Diclo sodium/CD complexation in aqueous solutions. The results indicate that both Diclo and Diclo sodium form soluble 1:1 complexes with α-, β-, and HP-β-CD. In contrast, Diclo forms soluble 1:1 Diclo/γ-CD complexes, while Diclo sodium forms 1:1 and 2:1 Diclo/γ-CD, but the 1:1 complex saturates at 5.8 mM γ-CD with a solubility product constant (pK _sp = 5.5). Therefore, though overall complex stabilities were found to follow the decreasing order: γ-CD > HP-β-CD > β-CD > α-CD, some complex precipitation problems may be faced with aqueous formulations of Diclo sodium with γ-CD, where the overall concentration of the latter exceeds 5.8 mM γ-CD. Both ¹H-NMR spectroscopic and molecular mechanical modeling (MM⁺) studies of Diclo/β-CD indicate the possible formation of soluble isomeric 1:1 complexes in water.     

Interactions of tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin with cyclodextrins and disodium phthalate in aqueous solution

In pH 7.3 buffers, the interactions of a cationic porphyrin, tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP), with cyclodextrins (CDs) and disodium phthalate (DSP) have been examined by means of absorption, fluorescence, and induced circular dichroism spectroscopy. α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD form a 1:1 inclusion complex with a TMPyP monomer, which dimerizes in solution without CD. TMPyP also forms a 1:1 organic cation–organic anion complex with DSP. The 1:1 TMPyP–DSP complex forms a ternary CD–TMPyP–DSP inclusion complex with α-, β-, and γ-CD, in which a DSP molecule is not incorporated into the CD cavity. From the fluorescence intensity change, the␣equilibrium constants have been evaluated for the formation of the inclusion complexes and the organic cation–anion complexes.     

Application of combined thermoanalytical techniques in the investigation of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Citronellol and citronellyl acetate have been entrapped with α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin (CD). Evolved gas detection and TG-MS coupling was applied to prove the actual inclusion complex formation between monoterpens and CDs. The terpene content was determined by UV-VIS specrophotometry and RP-HPLC and the effect of storage time on the terpene content was also investigated. The α- and γ-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes showed higher thermal stabilities vs. dynamic heating compared to the β-CD complexes. On the contray, the retention of guest using β-cyclodextrin even after 10 years of storage was much more pronounced. Experimental data other than 1:1 complex compositions are assumed. Molecular modeling experiments also suggested multiple complex compositions.     

Investigation of Drug Nanoparticle Formation by Co-grinding with Cyclodextrins: Studies for Indomethacin, Furosemide and Naproxen

Drugs with poor water solubility were co-ground with cyclodextrins (CDs) to create nanoparticles with improved solubility characteristics. Indomethacin (IDM), furosemide (FRM) and naproxen (NAP) were co-ground with β-CD at the molar ratio of 2:1 (CD:drug). Co-grinding of a drug with CD resulted in not only the formation of drug nanoparticles but also the solubilization of the drug by inclusion complex formation with CD in aqueous media. The nanoparticle fraction of IDM, and FRM from ground mixtures prepared with β-CD was as high as 60–70% while the solubilization fraction was less than 10%. In contrast, β-CD–NAP ground mixture showed a large fraction, 48%, for drug solubilization and only 4% for nanoparticle formation. Furosemide ground mixtures prepared with α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD showed comparatively high nanoparticle fraction while the solubilization fraction was around 10%. Both the nanoparticle fraction and the solubilization fraction were greater in the IDM–β-CD system than those in γ-CD and α-CD systems. The nanoparticle formation of NAP depended on the types of CD used as a co-grinding additive. Naproxen nanoparticles could be prepared by co-grinding NAP and α-CD, while the solubilization of NAP tended to improve when β-CD or γ-CD was used.     

Host–Guest Interactions of Risperidone with Natural and Modified Cyclodextrins: Phase Solubility, Thermodynamics and Molecular Modeling Studies

The solubility of risperidone (Risp) in aqueous buffered cyclodextrin (CD) solution was investigated for α-, β-, γ- and HP-β-CD. The effects of pH, ionic strength and temperature on complex stability were also explored. Neutral Risp tends to form higher order complexes (1:2) with both β- and HP-β-CD, but only 1:1 type complexes with α-, and γ-CD. The tendency of Risp to complex with cyclodextrins is in the order β-CD > HP-β-CD > γ-CD > α-CD. The 1:1 complex formation constant of Risp/HP-β-CD increases with increasing ionic strength in an opposite trend to the inherent solubility (S ₀) of Risp, thus indicating significant hydrophobic effect. The hydrophobic effect contributes to the extent of 72% towards neutral Risp/HP-β-CD complex stability, while specific interactions contribute only 4.7 kJ/mol. Thermodynamic studies showed that 1:1 Risp/HP-β-CD complex formation is driven by a favorable enthalpy change (ΔH ⁰=−31.2 kJ/mol, ΔS ⁰=−7 J/mol.K) while the 1:2 complex is largely driven by entropy changes (ΔH ⁰=−5.0 kJ/mol, ΔS ⁰=42 J/mol.K). Complex stability was found to vary with pH, with a higher formation constant for neutral Risp. Molecular mechanical computations using MM (atomic charges and bond dipole algorithms) and Amber force fields, which were carried out to explore possible sites of interactions between Risp and CDs and to rationalize complex stoichiometry, produced similar results concerning optimal inclusion complex geometries and stoichiometries.     

Cyclodextrins Binding to Paeonol and Two of Its Isomers in Aqueous Solution. Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and 1H NMR Investigations of Molecular Recognition

Interactions between CDs with three substituted phenols, paeonol (Pae), acetovanillone (Ace) and 2-hydroxyl-5-methoxy-acetophone (Hma), which are isomers, have been determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and ¹H NMR in aqueous solution at 298.2 K. Both the binding thermodynamics and ¹H NMR spectra show that the interaction between α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) molecule and each guest molecule is extremely weak. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the binding processes of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with the isomers are mainly entropy driven and that β-CD binds with Pae or Ace in 1:1 stoichiometry, whereas with Hma binds in 1:1 and 2:1 stoichiometries. The thermodynamic parameters also suggest that γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) binds each isomer in the same 1:1 stoichiometry. The binding processes of Pae and Hma with γ-CD are enthalpy driven whereas Ace with γ-CD is predominantly driven by entropy. The ¹H NMR spectra reveal that the three isomers were trapped into the torus cavity of the β-CD molecule from the narrow side during the binding process. Pae penetrates into the γ-CD cavity from the primary rim of the macrocycle whereas Ace does so from the secondary rim, but Hma appears not interact with the internal cavity of γ-CD at all.     

Spectroscopic investigation of Rose Bengal/cyclodextrin interactions in aqueous solution: the case of the hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrins

The interaction of Rose Bengal (RB) with hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin (HP-α-CD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) has been studied in water and in acetate buffer at pH 4.5 by UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and Induced Circular Dichroism at 298 K. Evidence of the complex formation between the RB and all HP-CDs have been obtained both in water and in buffer. Binding constants and stoichiometry of RB/HP-CD complexes in water have been determined by applying the modified Benesi-Hildebrand equation to the fluorescence measurements.     

Thermodynamic evaluation of antibacterial activity for inclusion complexes of amoxicillin with cyclodextrins

The antibacterial action of amoxicillin (AMPC) and the inclusion complexes of AMPC with α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD, respectively) to Escherichia coli B (E. coli) was evaluated by isothermal titration microcalorimetry and by petri-dish bioassay method. The effects of the compounds on produced heat during the exponential phase of the E. coli growing were measured and the growing rate constants of the cells was calculated from the power-time (p-t) curve before and after the treatment with AMPC. Results from the both methods showed that the antibacterial activity became stronger in the following order: AMPC-βCD > AMPC-γCD ≈ AMPC-αCD > AMPC only.     

Comparative Study of the Inclusion Complexation of Pizotifen and Ketotifen with Native and Modified Cyclodextrins

The interaction of two benzocycloheptanes namely, pizotifen (Pizo) and ketotifen (Keto), with cyclodextrins (CDs: α-, β-, γ-, and HP-β-CDs) has been investigated by several techniques including phase solubility, X-ray powder diffractometry, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular mechanical modeling. The effects of CD type, pH, ionic strength and temperature on complex stability were also explored. The complex formation constant (K ₁₁) values for the Pizo/CD system follows the decreasing order β-CD > γ-CD > HP-β-CD > α-CD. However, for the Keto/CD system it follows the decreasing order γ-CD > β-CD > HP-β-CD > α-CD. The tendency of Pizo and Keto to complex with β-CD is driven to the extent of 70% by the hydrophobic effect. Complex formation of Keto and Pizo was substantially driven by entropy (>100 J⋅mol⁻¹⋅K⁻¹) but slightly retarded by enthalpy (3–8 kJ⋅mol⁻¹). ¹H-NMR and MM⁺ studies indicate multimodal inclusion of the methylpiperadine, thiophene and phenyl moieties into the β-CD cavity.     

A Simulation on the Complexation of Cyclodextrins with Phospholipid Headgroups

The inclusion complexes of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin (CD) with three isolated phospholipid (PI – phosphatidylinositol; PS – phosphatidylserine; and PE – phosphatidylethanolamine) headgroups were studied using a flexible docking algorithm FDOCK based on molecular mechanics (CFF91 force filed). In the three phospholipid headgroups, PI headgroup exhibits the strongest affinity for CD, and the affinity of PS headgroup is greater than that of PE headgroup. By investigating the energy distribution and the complex structure in the inclusion procedure, it can be found that the van der Waals force is the main driving force responsible for the complexation. For the α-CD complex of PI headgroup, more than one inclusion complex should coexist due to the steric hindrance, which is reasonably consistent with the experimental results. Furthermore, analyses of the complex of PS and PE headgroup with α-CD also show that two or three possible complexes may appear in the inclusion process, and the complex structure with full inclusion is of the lowest energy and should be the most stable structure in the mixture. For β-␣and γ-CD, the energies of the most stable complexes structures for the three phospholipids headgroups were also discussed.     

Host–guest interactions between niobocene dichloride and α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins: preparation and characterization

The possible inclusion complexes of Cp₂NbCl₂ into α-, β-, and γ-CD hosts have been investigated. The existence of a true inclusion complex in the solid state was confirmed by a combination of thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, PXRD, and ¹³C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopies. The solid-state results demonstrated that α-cyclodextrin does not form inclusion complexes with Cp₂NbCl₂ whereas β- and γ-cyclodextrins do form such complexes. PXRD, NMR, and thermal analysis showed that the organometallic molecules of Cp₂NbCl₂OH are included in the cavities of β- and γ-cyclodextrins, possibly adopting a symmetrical conformation in the complex, with each glucose unit in a similar environment. In solution, ¹H NMR experiments suggest that niobocene has a shallow penetration on the β-CD leading to upfield shift on H-3 signal with a minor perturbation on the H-5 proton while for γ-CD, both H-3 and H-5 are shifted upfield substantially. This suggests that niobocene penetrates deeper into the γ-CD cavity than in the β-CD cavity, as a result of the cavity size. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Inclusion complexes of spin-labeled indoles with cyclodextrins in aqueous solutions

Guest-host complexes of β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) with two spin-labeled indole derivatives having the same molecular weights but different structures were studied by EPR spectroscopy in aqueous solutions and semiempirical quantum-chemical calculations of these systems were carried out. In the presence of CD the polarity of the NO group environment decreases and the rotational correlation time (τ) of guest molecules increases. Both indole derivatives form 1 : 1 complexes with γ-CD, the binding constants of the complexes being different more than twice. Simulation of EPR spectra made it possible to determine the indole ring orientation relative to the plane of the host molecule (at angles in the range 30–60°) and the rotational diffusion coefficients of the complexes, which corresponded to the hydrodynamic volume of one γ-CD molecule. In contrast to the complexes with γ-CD the rotational correlation times, τ, of the complexes with β-CD correspond to a hydrodynamic volume which much exceeds the volume of a single β-CD molecule. The complexes with β-CD are also characterized by more hydrophobic environment for guest molecules and absence of spin exchange with Ni²⁺ ions in the aqueous solution. There results are consistent with a dimeric structure of β-CD in the complex and with the orientation of the long axis of the guest molecule along the dimer axis. The energies and geometric parameters were calculated for all complexes by the PM3 method with a conventional set of parameters. The optimized energetically stable structures of the 1 : 1 complexes with γ-CD and of the 1 : 2 complexes with β-CD are consistent with experimental data. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1139–1147, May, 2005.     

Host–Guest Complexation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrin with Alkyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromides in Aqueous Solution

As a continuation of our previous investigation, interactions between cyclodextrin (β-CD), γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and alkyl trimethylammonium bromides in aqueous solutions have been studied with titration calorimetry and ¹H NMR at 298.15 K. The results are discussed in terms of the amphiphilic interaction of CD with surfactants and the iceberg structure formed by water molecules existing around the hydrophobic tail of surfactant molecules. The stoichiometry of the β-CD–surfactant system is 1:1 whereas that of the γ-CD–surfactant system is 1:2. The corresponding formation enthalpy (negative) of the complexes of the two systems decreases with an increase in the number of carbon atoms (n) in hydrophobic chain of surfactant molecule, C _n H_2n+1, whereas the entropy increases with the enlargement of n.     

Inclusion Complexation of Loratadine with Natural and Modified Cyclodextrins: Phase Solubility and Thermodynamic Studies

The extent and mode of solubility enhancement exerted by the cyclodextrins (α-, β-, γ-, and HP-β-CDs) on loratadine (Lort) have been experimentally measured under controlled conditions in buffered aqueous solutions. Rigorous nonlinear regression analysis of the phase solubility diagrams obtained in 0.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ phosphate buffer at pH=7.0 and 25 °C revealed the following: neutral Lort (pK _a =4.6) tends to form soluble 1:1 and 1:2 Lort/CD complexes with all four of the examined CDs, where complex stability follows the decreasing order β-CD>HP-β-CD>γ-CD>α-CD. The hydrophobic character of Lort constitutes about 66% of the driving force for complex formation whereas specific interactions contribute 11.2 kJ⋅mol⁻¹ towards the stability of the complexes. Thermodynamic studies showed that Lort/CD complex formation was favored by large enthalpic contributions but was impeded by negative entropic changes. Dissolution studies indicate that the dissolution rate of Lort from the freeze-dried Lort/β-CD complex is significantly higher than that of the corresponding physical mixture. Both DSC studies and molecular mechanical modeling of Lort/β-CD interactions were carried out to explore the possible formation of inclusion complexes.     

Preference Prediction for the Stable Inclusion Complexes between Cyclodextrins and Monocyclic Insoluble Chemicals Based on Monte Carlo Docking Simulations

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are useful functional excipients, which are being used to camouflage undesirable pharmaceutical characteristics, especially poor aqueous solubility, through the inclusion complexation process with insoluble drugs. The selection of more efficient cyclodextrin is important to improve the bioavailability of drugs. In this study, the complexing and solubilizing abilities toward poorly water-soluble monocyclic molecules of natural CDs (α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD) were investigated using Monte Carlo (MC) docking simulations studies. These theoretical results closely agree with the experimental observation of the complex stability in water of the various guests–CD complexes. Host preferences, based on the experimentally determined stability constants between host CDs and guest molecules, show excellent correlation with the calculated interaction energies of corresponding complexes. The inclusion complex with the lower MC docking interaction energy shows a higher value of stability constant than that of the other complex, and the prediction accuracy of the preferred complex for 21 host–guest pairs is 100%. This result indicates that the MC docking interaction energy could be employed as a useful parameter to select more efficient cyclodextrin as a host for the bioavailability of insoluble drugs. In this study, β-CD shows greater solubilizing efficacies toward guest molecules than those of α-CD and γ-CD, with the exception of one case due to the structure of a guest molecule containing one lipophilic cyclic moiety. The surface area change of CDs and hydrogen bonding between the host and guest also work as major factors for the formation of the stable complex.     

Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Theoretical Studies on Host-guest Interaction of Ibuprofen with <Emphasis Type="Bold">α</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Bold">β</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Bold">γ</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrin

Thermodynamic parameters for formation of the inclusion complexes of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin (α-, β- and γ-CD) with ibuprofen (BF) in Tris-HCl buffer solutions (pH=7.0) have been determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with nanowatt sensitivity, and the inclusion structures have been investigated by using ¹H-NMR spectra at 298.15 K. A theoretical study on the inclusion processes between BF and CDs has been performed with the B3LYP/6-31G*//PM3 method in order to investigate the formation mechanism of the inclusion complexes. An analysis of the thermodynamic data indicates that the stoichiometries of α-, β- and γ-CD with BF are all 1:1 and formation of the inclusion complexes α-CD⋅BF and β-CD⋅BF are driven by enthalpy and entropy, whereas formation of γ-CD⋅BF is an entropy driven process. The ¹H-NMR spectra provide clear evidence for the inclusion phenomenon, and show that the isobutyl group and aromatic ring of the guest molecule are trapped inside the cavity of the CDs. Theoretical calculations suggest that the complex formed by the BF molecule entering into the cavity of the CD molecule from the wide side is more stable than that from the narrow side.     

Study on inclusion complexes of meso-tetrakis(2-thienyl)porphyrin and Cu-meso-tetrakis(2-thienyl)porphyrin with cyclodextrins by spectroscopy method

In phosphate buffer solution of pH5.4, the interaction of meso-tetrakis(2-thienyl)porphyrin(H₂TTP) and Cu-meso-tetrakis(2-thienyl)porphyrin(Cu-TTP) with α-cyclodextrin(α-CD), β-CD, γ-CD, heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-CD(TM-β-CD) has been studied by means of UV-vis, fluorescence and ¹HNMR spectroscopy, respectively. The H₂TTP and Cu-TTP can form 1:2 inclusion complexes with TM-β-CD and 1:1 inclusion complexes with the other three cyclodextrins. In this paper, the inclusion constants (K) of H₂TTP and Cu-TTP for the formation of the inclusion complexes have been estimated from the changes of absorbance and fluorescence intensity in phosphate buffer solution. The inclusive capabilities of different kinds of cyclodextrins are compared. The result shows that the inclusion ability of α-CD with H₂TTP and Cu-TTP is the strongest among the three native CDs. The inclusion ability of modified β-CD with H₂TTP and Cu-TTP is stronger, compared to the native β-CD, which indicates that the capacity matching plays a crucial role in the inclusion procedure except for the hydrophobic effect. In addition ¹HNMR spectra supports the inclusion conformation of the TM-β-CD-Cu-TTP inclusion complex, indicating the interaction mechanism of inclusion processes.     

Interaction between cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and β-cyclodextrin: surface tension and interfacial dilational viscoelasticity studies

The interaction between cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was studied via surface tension and dilational viscoelasticity methods. The effect of sodium bromide and sodium chloride on the interaction between CTAB and β-CD were studied as well. The surface tension isotherms provided a series of parameters, including apparent critical micelle concentration (cmc*), surface tension at the cmc* (γ_cmc), stoichiometry of the complex (R), and the efficiency of adsorption (pC ₂₀ ). The addition of NaBr and NaCl decreases the cmc* of CTAB/β-CD solution. CTAB molecules enter the cavities of β-CD molecules thus formed both 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes. From the change of γ_cmc, it can be seen that the CTAB/β-CD complexes (1:1) act as short-chain alcohol, which decrease γ_cmc, but the depression of cmc* is too small to be detected. R first decreases then increases as a function of NaBr and NaCl. Compared to NaCl, NaBr increases R more efficiently. The presence of NaBr and NaCl increases pC ₂₀ of CTAB/β-CD solution. The results obtained from the dilational viscoelasticity measurements at low dilational frequencies (0.005–0.1 Hz) reveal that the dilational modulus passes through a maxium value with increasing concentration of β-CD at a given concentration of CTAB. The addition of both NaBr and NaCl decreases the dilational modulus of a given concentration CTAB/β-CD solution. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Complex Formation of Cyclodextrins with Various Thiophenes and their Polymerization in Water: Preparation of Poly-pseudo-rotaxanes containing Poly(thiophene)s

Cyclodextrins (α-CD, β-CD and 2,6-di-O-dimethyl-β-CD (DM-β-CD)) were found to form inclusion compounds with thiophenes (thiophene (T), bithiophene (2T)) in water and in crystalline states. The structures of α-CD–T, β-CD–2T, and DM-β-CD–2T inclusion complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. DM-β-CD forms a 1:1 cage type complex with 2T. In contrast, β-CD formed 2:3 (CD:guest) complexes with thiophene and α-CD formed 2:3 complexes, both of the channel type. These inclusion complexes were found to polymerize by FeCl₃ in the inclusion compounds in water. The products were formed poly-pseudo-rotaxane between cyclodextrins and poly(thiophene) characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR. The molecular weights of the poly-pseudo-rotaxanes with poly(thiophene) were determined by the MALDI-TOF mass spectra to be 3000–5000. In comparison between poly-pseudo-rotaxane (DM-β-CD–poly(thiophene)), authentic poly(thiophene) and the washed DM-β-CD–poly(thiophene) which was washed with DMF to dethread DM-β-CD, these poly-pseudo-rotaxane was characterized by Raman, UV–vis and fluorescence spectra. The maximum emission band of DM-β-CD–poly(thiophene) shifted to a shorter wavelength. The hypsochromic shift was derived from poly-pseudo-rotaxane with DM-β-CD.     

Spectroscopic investigation of β-cyclodextrin -metoprolol tartrate inclusion complexes

Aqueous-solution complexes of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with metoprolol tartrate (MET) have been analysed with ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. With ¹H NMR a [1:1] stoichiometry could be established for the β-CD-MET complex while its stability constant was determined with UV–vis spectroscopy. Powder diffraction data of a polycrystalline sample of the β-CD-MET complex show that a novel product has been formed, likely to be a β-CD-MET [1:1] inclusion complex. Also Hyperchem MM+ molecular-dynamics results suggest an inclusion complex and from ¹H NMR data it is inferred that probably the MET is docked in the CD with the formers methoxyethyl-benzene moiety in front. Mihaela Toma is Socrates/Erasmus student at UNED Madrid