Rates of intra- and intermolecular electron transfers in hydrogenase deduced from steady-state activity measurements

Electrons are transferred over long distances along chains of FeS clusters in hydrogenases, mitochondrial complexes, and many other respiratory enzymes. It is usually presumed that electron transfer is fast in these systems, despite the fact that there has been no direct measurement of rates of FeS-to-FeS electron transfer in any respiratory enzyme. In this context, we propose and apply to NiFe hydrogenase an original strategy that consists of quantitatively interpreting the variations of steady-state activity that result from changing the nature of the FeS clusters which connect the active site to the redox partner, and/or the nature of the redox partner. Rates of intra- and intermolecular electron transfer are deduced from such large data sets. The mutation-induced variations of electron transfer rates cannot be explained by changes in intercenter distances and reduction potentials. This establishes that FeS-to-FeS rate constants are extremely sensitive to the nature and coordination of the centers.     

Synthesis of New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazol,Thiadiazole, 1,2,4‐Triazole,and Arylidene Hydrazide Derivatives of 4‐Oxo‐1,4‐dihydroquinoline with Antimicrobial Evaluation

A series of substituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazole, 1,2,4‐triazole, and 1,3,4‐thiadiazole derivatives of the substituted 3‐carboethoxy‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxoquinoline have been synthesized through the reaction of the key intermediate thiosemicarbazide derivatives with different reagents. N′‐Arylidene‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydroquinoline‐3‐carbohydrazides were also synthesized through the condensation reaction of the corresponding hydrazides with the appropriate aldehydes. Antimicrobial activity of some of the synthesized compounds was evaluated.     

Synthesis of 1,4‐Diaryl‐piperazine‐2,5‐diones: New Behavior of N,N‐Dimethylformamide Dimethyl Acetal (DMFDMA)

Reactions of chloroacetamides (5) with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal gave 1,4‐diaryl‐piperazine‐2,5‐diones 11a–e in good yield, rather than 1,5‐diaryl‐3,7‐dimethoxy‐1H,5H‐[1,5]diazocine‐2,6‐diones (9a–e).     

Three-dimensional Pd/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites on a highly porous copper foam fiber for headspace solid-phase microextraction of BTEX prior to their quantification by GC-FID

The preparation of bimetallic Pd/Pt nanofoam for use in fiber based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is described. First, a highly porous copper foam was prepared on the surface of an unbreakable copper wire by an electrochemical method. Then, the substrate was covered with metallic Pd and Pt using galvanic replacement of the Cu nanofoam substrate by applying a mixture of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) ions. The procedure provided an efficient route to modify Pd/Pt nanofoams with large specific surface and low loading with expensive noble metals. The fiber was applied to headspace SPME of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) (as the model compounds) in various spiked water and wastewater samples. It was followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). A Plackett-Burman design was performed for screening the experimental factors prior to Box-Behnken design. Compared with the commercial PDMS SPME fiber (100 μm), it had higher extraction efficiency for BTEX. Under the optimum conditions, the method has low limits of detection (0.16–0.35 μg L^?1), a wide linear range (1–200 μg L^?1), relative standard deviations between 5.8 and 10.5%, and good recoveries (>85% from spiked samples).

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a three-dimensional Pd/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites supported on a highly porous copper foam fiber for use in headspace solid phase microextraction of BTEX. They were then quantified by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector.

     

Characterization and performance of Pd/Ni(Zn)-aluminate catalysts for acetylene hydrogenation

Research on Chemical Intermediates - 0.03 wt% Pd catalysts on nickel and zinc aluminate supports were prepared by impregnation. The samples were characterized by XRD, BET, ICP, SEM, EDS,...     

Coordination compounds of some transition metal ions with new Schiff base ligand derived from dibenzoyl methane. Structural characterization,thermal behavior,molecular structure,antimicrobial, anticancer activity and molecular docking studies

Series of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes were prepared with tetradentate Schiff base ligand derived by condensation of 2‐aminophenol with dibenzoylmethane. The novel Schiff base H₂L (2–2′‐((1Z,1Z’)‐(1,3‐diphenyl propane‐1,3 diylidene) bis (azanylylidene) diphenol) and its binary metal complexes were characterized by physicochemical procedures i.e. elemental analysis, FT‐IR, UV–Vis, thermal analyses (TGA/DTG), mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility and conductometric measurements. On the basis of these studies, an octahedral geometry for all these complexes was proposed expect Ni(II) complex which had tetrahedral geometry. Molar conductivity values revealed that the complexes were electrolytes except Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes were non electrolytes. The ligand bound to the metal ions via two azomethine N and two phenolic OH as indicated from the IR and ¹H NMR spectral study. The molecular and electronic structures of H₂L and its zinc complex were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. The antimicrobial activity against a number of bacterial organisms as Streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus Subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and fungi as Aspergillus fumigates, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Geotricum candidum and Candida albicans by disk diffusion method were screened for the Schiff base and its complexes. The Cd(II) complex has potent antimicrobial activity. Anticancer activity of the Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes were evaluated in human cancer (MCF‐7 cells viability). The Cr(III) complex exhibited higher activity than other complexes and ligand. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between Schiff base ligand (H₂L) and its Zn(II) complex and the receptors of RNA of amikacin antibiotic (4P20) and human‐DNA‐Topo I complex (1SC7). The docking study provided useful structural information for inhibition studies.     

An overview on synthetic strategies to coumarins

Coumarins units have recently emerged as a hot topic of research due to their diverse applications. Their synthesis is partly based on classical methodologies such as Pechmann reaction or Knoevenagel condensation, but it also sparked the discovery of completely new pathways. In very recent years so-called vertically expanded coumarins were synthesized, effectively expanding the portfolio of existing architectures. This review serves as a guide through synthesis strategies to coumarins.     

Validated HPTLC and HPLC methods for determination of fluorometholone and sodium cromoglycate in presence of their impurities and degradation products; application to kinetic study and on rabbit aqueous humor

Fluorometholone (FLM) and Sodium Cromoglycate (CMG) are co-formulated in ophthalmic preparation and showed marked instability under different conditions. Two specific, sensitive and precise stability-indicating chromatographic methods have been developed and validated for their determination in the presence of their degradation products and FLM impurity. Ten components were efficiently separated by them. The first method was HPTLC-spectrodensitometry, where the separation was achieved using silica gel 60?F₂₅₄ HPTLC plates and developing system of ethyl acetate: methanol (9:1, v/v). The second method was a reversed phase HPLC associated with kinetic study of the degradation process and was successfully applied for determination of the studied compounds in spiked rabbit aqueous humor. The mobile phase was acetonitrile: methanol: 0.05?M potassium dihydrogenphosphate (0.1% trimethylamine); pH 2.5, adjusted with orthophosphoric acid (20: 30: 50, by volume). In both methods, the separated components were detected at 240?nm and system suitability was checked. Good correlation was obtained in the range of 0.10–24.00 and 0.20–48.00?µg band^?1, for FLM and CMG by HPTLC. While for HPLC, the linearity ranges from 0.01–50.00 and 0.05–50.00?µg?mL^?1 for both drugs. The methods were applied in pharmaceutical formulation, where they were compared to the reported method with no significant difference.     

Attraction behaviour of Anagrus nilaparvatae to remote lemongrass (Cymbopogon distans) oil and its volatile compounds

Utilisation of Anagrus nilaparvatae is a promising and effective method for planthoppers manipulation. Twenty-seven components of remote lemongrass (Cymbopogon distans) oil were identified by GC/MS and nine volatiles were selected for behavioural experiments. In this study, we noted that the remote lemongrass oil was attractive to female A. nilaparvatae at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/L. α-Pinene, β-pinene, eucalyptol, carveol and D-carvone attracted female wasps in the dose-dependent bioassays. Blend 1 (a mixture of eucalyptol, D-carvone, carveol, α-pinene, and β-pinene with ratios of remote lemongrass oil volatiles of 625:80:11:5:3) attracted female wasps at 10 mg/L, while blend 2 (a mixture of the same five volatiles at the same loading ratio) attracted them at 0.1 and 1 mg/L. These results suggested that plant essential oils could be attractants for natural enemies to control pests. The ratios of volatiles in the mixtures affect the attractiveness of the synthetic mixtures.