Reagentless biosensor for isocitrate using one step modified Pt-Ir microelectrode

The Pt-Ir microelectrode modified through one step electropolymerization is proposed for the isocitrate amperometric biosensor construction. The enzyme (isocitrate dehydrogenase-ICDH), coenzyme (NADP(+)) and mediator (Meldola's Blue) were immobilized onto the microelectrode surface in one step from a PIPES buffer solution containing pyrrole. The optimized experimental conditions were 25 cycles of cyclic voltammetric in a solution containing 3.58 10(-5) mol l(-1) of mediator, 3.51 10(-4) mol l(-1) of coenzyme and 2.68 U ml(-1) of enzyme. In contrast to the biosensor for isocitrate reported in literature, just one enzyme was immobilized and no coenzyme addition in the solution of analysis was necessary. Catalytic currents were proportional to the isocitrate concentration between 7.7 10(-6) and 1.04 10(-4) mol l(-1), showing good repeatability. The detection limit of the proposed biosensor was 3.50 10(-6) mol l(-1), the response time was lower than 20 s, the lifetime was about 30 determinations and no significant interference of sugars and citric acid was verified. Orange juice samples were analysed by both methodology biosensor and spectrophotometric commercial kit, and the obtained results presented a good correlation. The data demonstrated that the developed biosensor is suitable for isocitrate determination in orange juice without matrix interferences.     

Isomerisation of ω-hydroxyalkenes under hydroxycarbonylation conditions in palladium catalysed aqueous phase systems

The ω-hydroxyolefins 3-buten-1-ol, 3-buten-1-methyl-1-ol and 4-penten-1-ol were subjected to hydroxycarbonylation conditions in water in the presence of PdCl₂(PhCN)₂ and 4-8 equiv. of water soluble tris(3-sodiumsulfonatophenyl)phosphine (TPPTS), or N-bis(N′,N′-diethyl-2-aminoethyl)-4-aminomethylphenyl-diphenylphosphine (N3P). Under conditions of high conversion, the olefins primarily undergo isomerisation through a chain walking mechanism with selectivities for aldehyde ranging from 65% to 98%, with the lower values for longer chain alcohols. The lactones formed as the minor product are almost exclusively branched, indicating that in the first step 2,1-insertion is strongly favoured over 1,2-insertion. In the N3P system also linear lactone is produced at lower conversion. Running the reaction in D₂O produces multiple deuterium incorporation in all positions of the carbon chain. A mechanism is discussed.     

Uronic (hexenuronic) acid profile of ethanol–alkali delignification of giant reed Arundo donax L.

The effect of process variables on uronic acids (UAs) and hexenuronic acids (HexAs) in the annual crop Arundo donax L. during ethanol–alkali pulping has been examined. A substantial loss of UA moieties (up to 90%) was observed by the end of pulping (target kappa number 18) performed with 25% NaOH and 40% EtOH (by volume) within the temperature range of 130–150 °C. At the same time, the progressive formation of HexA in pulp was detected from the early phases of delignification. The proportion of HexA in the residual UA of the final pulp was found to be 84%, indicating almost complete conversion of 4-O-methylglucuronic acid side groups (MeGlcA) of heteroxylan into HexA. The kinetics of UA degradation and HexA formation has been described in terms of three consecutive first-order reaction stages. The overall rate of UA degradation was one order higher than the rate of UA conversion into HexA. The values of apparent activation energy were estimated as 68.6 and 94.7 kJ mol^–1, respectively. The reaction medium alkalinity was shown to be the controlling factor for UA and HexA stability during ethanol–alkali pulping. An increase in alkali charge from 5% to 35% (as NaOH) led to UA loss of 40%, but promoted HexA formation from 11.8 to 20.1 mol g^–1. The addition of organic solvent to the alkaline pulping solution had a similar effect, and about 10% of UA was lost and the content of HexA increased from 6.9 to 10.9 mol g^–1 with an increase in ethanol proportion in the liquor from 20% to 60%.     

A mild and efficient method for halogenation of 3,5-dimethyl pyrazoles by ultrasound irradiation using N-halosuccinimides

The 4-halo-3,5-dimethyl pyrazoles have been synthetisized in good yields in short reaction times in the absence of a catalyst by reaction of 3,5-dimethyl pyrazoles with N-halosuccinimides (NBS, NCS and NIS) under ultrasound irradiation. Finally, the halogenation of pyrazoles with Br₂, ICl and I₂ was showed in similar conditions.     

Mono- and dinuclear five-coordinate cyclometalated palladium(II) compounds

Reaction of cyclometalated halide-bridged Pd(II) complexes 1-4 with the tertiary triphosphine ligand (Ph2PCH2CH2)2PPh (triphos) yielded complexes [((Ph2PCH2CH2)2PPh-P,P,P)Pd(N(Cy)=(H)C)C6H2(C(H)=N(Cy))Pd((Ph2PCH2CH2)2PPh-P,P,P)][ClO4]2 5, [Pd(C6H4-N=NC6H5)((Ph2PCH2CH2)2PPh-P,P,P)][ClO4] 6, and [Pd(R-C6H3C(H)=NCy)((Ph2PCH2CH2)2PPh-P,P,P)][ClO4] (7; R = 4-CHO, 8; 3-CHO). Spectroscopic and analytic data suggest five-coordination on the palladium atom, which, for complexes 5, 6, and 7, was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The geometry around palladium may be view as a distorted trigonal bipyramid, with the palladium, nitrogen, and terminal phosphorus atoms in the equatorial plane. Compound 5 is the first doubly cyclometalated palladium(II) compound with two pentacoordinated metal centers. The structure of 6 comprises two discrete cations with slightly different geometries, showing the importance of crystal packing forces in order to determine the coordination arrangement.     

Tertiary phosphine abstraction from a platinum(II) coordination complex with SeCN: Crystal and molecular structures of SePTA and [SePTA-Me]I · CH3OH

Reacting [PtCl(PTA)₃]Cl(PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane) with KSeCN in aqueous or MeOH medium results in the abstraction of the PTA ligands to yield SePTA. The reaction also proceeds quantitatively by direct reaction of PTA and KSeCN in water or methanol. The methylated PTA ligand, [PTA-Me]I (1-methyl-1-azonia-3,5-diaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane iodide), reacts accordingly with KSeCN, albeit significantly slower. The crystal structure of SePTA, 1, and [SePTA-Me]I · CH₃OH, 2, revealed PSe bond distances of 2.0991(19) and 2.100(2) Å, respectively. The first order phosphorous selenium coupling constants, ¹J_P-Se (D₂O), of 722 and 788 Hz for SePTA and [SePTA-Me]I, respectively, indicates the latter is significantly less electron rich.     

A new steroidal saponin from Agave attenuata

A new steroidal saponin was isolated from the leaves of Agave attenuata. Its structure was established as (3beta,beta,25S)-spirostan-3-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The structural identification was performed using detailed analyses of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (COSY, HETCOR, and COLOC) and chemical conversions. The hemolytic activity of the steroidal saponin was evaluated using an in vitro assay.     

Coordination of 2,2'-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthroline to yttrium and lanthanum complexes based on a scorpionate ligand

Reaction of yttrium and lanthanum trichloride with 1 equiv of sodium or potassium hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate and 1 equiv of 2,2'-bipyridine gives good yields of the complexes [MCl(2)(Tp(Me2))(C(10)H(8)N(2))] (M = Y (1), La (2)). The analogous compounds with 1,10-phenanthroline, [MCl(2)(Tp(Me2))(C(12)H(8)N(2))] (M = Y (3), La (4)), have been obtained by a similar procedure. The solid-state structures of 2-4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and revealed that the compounds are all seven-coordinate with capped octahedral geometry. In contrast, reaction of yttrium trichloride with 1 equiv of sodium hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate in the presence of 1 equiv of neocuproine affords [YCl(3)(Tp(Me2))][Na(neoc)(3))] (5). Compounds 1 and 2 provide an entry for the synthesis of complexes containing the bipyridyl ligand in a radical anionic form or in a dianionic form. Reaction of 1 and 2 with an excess of sodium amalgam gives [Y(Tp(Me2))(bipy)(THF)(2)] (6) and [La(Tp(Me2))(2)(bipy)] (7), respectively. The structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 7 can be oxidized with iodine to give [La(Tp(Me2))(2)(bipy)]I (8).     

Chromatographic aspects in high throughput liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Important parameters to consider when developing a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method are buffer type and concentration, and column geometry. In the work presented here the choice of buffer for the analysis of basic compounds using a polar embedded phase (HyPURITYtrade mark ADVANCE) is illustrated for the analysis of tricyclic antidepressants. Method transfer from a 4.6 mm i.d. column to a 2.1 mm i.d. column is demonstrated for the analysis of triazines and anabolic steroids and their metabolites, with no change in selectivity and with added speed of analysis. Analysis of eight beta-blockers is achieved in 65 seconds by using a short 30 x 4.6 mm C18 column.     

Mechanism of action of 4-hydroxymethyl-1,6,8-trimethylfuro[2,3-h]quinolin-2(1H)-one, a very active angular furocoumarin-like sensitizer

The molecular structure of 1,4,6,8-tetramethylfuro[2,3-h]quinolin-2(1H)-one (FQ), a recent furocoumarin-like photosensitizer, has been modified with the aim of reducing its strong genotoxicity, by replacing the methyl group at 4 position with a hydroxymethyl one, and so obtaining 4-hydroxymethyl-1,6,8-trimethylfuro[2,3-h]quinolin-2(1H)-one (HOFQ). This modification gave rise to a strong reduction of lipophilicity and dark interaction with DNA. The formation of monoadducts (MA) was deeply affected, whereas the induction of bifunctional adducts between DNA and proteins (DPC(L>0)) was replaced by an efficient production of DNA-protein cross-links at zero length (DPC(L=0)), probably via guanine damage. Because of its angular molecular structure, HOFQ does not form interstrand cross-links (ISC): therefore, DPC(L=0) and MA represent the main lesions induced by HOFQ in DNA. In comparison with FQ (which induces MA and DPC(L>0)) and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) (MA, ISC, DPC(L>0)), HOFQ seems to be a more selective agent. In fact, contrary to FQ and 8-MOP, HOFQ, together with a noticeable antiproliferative activity, shows low levels of point mutations in bacteria and of clastogenic effects in mammalian cells. HOFQ is also an efficient apoptosis inducer, especially in comparison with 8-MOP, when tested at equitoxic experimental conditions; this property might be correlated with the complete HOFQ inability of inducing skin erythemas, a well-known side effect of classic furocoumarin photosensitization.