Interactions of thiophenes and acidophilic,thermophilic bacteria

The growth and oxygen consumption of a variety of thermophilic, acidophilic bacteria in the presence of thiophene-2-carboxylate (T2C) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) have been determined. T2C was extremely toxic to the acidophiles in comparison with neutrophiles, but appeared to be degraded by a heterotrophicSulfolobus- like thermophile. DBT proved to be unstable at high temperatures, even in the absence of bacteria, and was not a substrate for the thermophiles.     

Preferred conformations of some 2-pyridyl substituted thiourea derivatives. A reinvestigation of NMR spectral data

A previous report involving ¹H nmr spectra of some 1-phenyl and 1-benzoyl 3-(2-pyridyl)thioureas was reinvestigated and found to be incorrect. Analysis of the data permits the designation of preferred conformations for these systems.     

MECHANISM OF PHOTOOXYGENATION OF THE CD (II) COMPLEX OF PYROPHEOPHORBIDE A METHYL ESTER

Photooxygenation of (pyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II) was studied using ^18,18O₂ labeling of the molecular oxygen required for cleavage of the macrocycle. After reductive demetallation of the primary oxidation product (4,5-dioxo-4,5-secopyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II), the isotope content of formylbilinone 4a was analyzed by repeated-scan fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the labeled pigment 4a with the statistical probabilities of¹⁸ O isotope incorporation calculated for four possible reaction mechanisms clearly proves that photooxidative ring cleavage occurred by the one-molecule mechanism, i.e. the terminal oxygen atoms of 4a were derived from one oxygen molecule. Furthermore, a study of the exchange of the¹⁸ O-labeled atoms revealed that no exchange occurs within the pH 4.5–9.5 range. In stronger alkaline or acidic solutions, only the oxygen atom of the formyl group is exchanged. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester group of 4a was achieved, without loss of the¹⁸ O label on the formyl group, at pH 7.2 in the presence of pig liver esterase.     

Rapid determination of acetaminophen in physiological fluids by liquid chromatography using SDS mobile phase and ED detection

Acetaminophen is determined in serum and urine samples by a rapid, sensitive, and precise chromatographic method without any pretreatment step in a C18 column using a pure micellar mobile phase of 0.02M sodium dodecyl sulfate at pH 7. Acetaminophen is eluted in less than 5 min with no interference of the protein band. The use of electrochemical and UV detection is compared. Linearities (r > 0.999), as well as intra- and interday precision, are studied in the validation of the method. Limits of detection (LOD) are also calculated to be 0.56, 0.83, and 0.74 ng/mL in micellar solution, serum, and urine using electrochemical detection. The developed micellar liquid chromatographic method is useful for the quantitation of acetaminophen in serum and urine. Recoveries in the biological matrices are in the 98-107% range and results are compared with those obtained using a reference method. Drug excretion (in urine) and serum distribution are studied in several healthy volunteers, and no interference from metabolites is found. The developed procedure can be applied in routine analyses, toxicology, and therapeutic monitoring.     

The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine,a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid from cryptolepis sanguinolenta

The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine, a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid obtained from extracts of the roots of the Ghanaian medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is reported. The structure determination was made via a consideration of the spectral data, including uv, ir, nmr, and mass spectra. In particular, one-dimensional proton/carbon nmr, one-dimensional nOe difference nmr, and a series of homonuclear (COSY) and inverse-detected heteronuclear two-dimensional (HMQC, HMBC) experiments were utilized, as well as high resolution FABMS. Cryptomisrine is most unusual in that its two monomeric parts apparently exist in such a C₂ symmetric environment that only one set of proton and carbon nmr resonances are observed. Cryptomisrine is the first example of a dimeric indolo-[3,2-b]quinoline alkaloid to have been isolated from nature.     

Gradient elution capillary electrochromatography and hyphenation with nuclear magnetic resonance

Coupling of gradient capillary electrochromatography (gradient CEC) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was performed using a recently developed capillary NMR interface. This technique was applied for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and food. An analgesic was investigated using isocratic and gradient continuous-flow CEC-NMR. Comparison of the results demonstrated the superiority of gradient CEC over isocratic CEC. Aspartame and caffeine, both ingredients of soft beverages, were separated and analyzed by continuous flow CZE-NMR. The order of elution could be reversed by altering the pH. This reversal led to an increased sample concentration in the NMR detection cell, thus allowing the acquisition of a totally correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY) two-dimensional (2-D) spectrum of the synthetic peptide aspartame.     

Mesoporous electrode material from alumina-stabilized anatase TiO2 for lithium ion batteries

A mesoporous electrode material whose structure is composed of anatase nanocrystals stabilized by alumina is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction shows the anatase phase only, but micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that the materials have a core-shell morphology with grains of bulk anatase covered by a thin rutile layer on the surface. This structure is unique when compared to analogous materials stabilized by zirconia (PNNL-1). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate a monotonous increase in surface area and mesopore volume with increasing Al content. Thin film electrodes from these materials were characterized by lithium insertion electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit significant differences in Li accommodation in Al-free and Al-stabilized materials.     

Substituted m-phenylene bridges as strong ferromagnetic couplers for Cu(II)-bridge-Cu(II) magnetic interactions: new perspectives

Based on a combined theoretical-experimental study, we propose that substituted m-phenylene ligands (m-N-Phi-N) can act as tuneable strong ferromagnetic couplers connecting Cu(II) ions; a new complex presenting that bridge with J close to +15 cm(-1) has been suggested and synthesized.