Effect of multivalent cations,temperature, and aging on SOM thermal properties

Multivalent cations are suggested to influence the supramolecular structure of soil organic matter (SOM) via inter- and intra-molecular interactions with SOM functional groups. In this study, we tested the combined effect of cations, temperature treatment, and isothermal aging on SOM matrix properties. Samples from a peat and a mineral soil were either enriched with Na, Ca, and Al or desalinated in batch experiments. After treatment at 25, 40, 60, and 105 °C and after different periods of aging at 19 °C and 31 % relative humidity, we investigated the physicochemical matrix stability and the thermal stability against combustion. We hypothesized that multivalent cations stabilize the SOM matrix, that these structures disrupt at elevated temperatures, and that aging leads to an increase in matrix stability. The results show that cation-specific effects on matrix rigidity started to evolve in the peat only after 8 weeks of aging and were significantly lower than the temperature effects. Temperature treatment above 40 °C caused a non (or not immediately) reversible loss of water molecule bridges (WaMB) and above 60 °C a partly reversible melting process probably of semi-crystalline poly(methylene). Thermal stability increased with increasing cation valence and degree of protonation and was much less affected by temperature. Generally, Na-treated and control samples revealed lower thermal stability and lower increase in matrix rigidity with aging than those treated with Ca, Al, and H. We conclude that drying at elevated temperatures (>40 °C) may irreversibly change SOM structure via disruption of labile cross-links and melting of semi-crystalline domains.     

Synthesis of novel 14-membered cyclic bis-semicarbazones

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of novel 14-membered cyclic bis-semicarbazones based on acid-catalyzed cyclization of the hydrazones of 3-(3-oxobutyl)semicarbazides has been developed. The starting semicarbazides were prepared according to a four-step strategy involving amidoalkylation of the sodium enolate of acetylacetone with N-(α-tosylbenzyl)carbamates followed by base-promoted retro-Claisen reaction and treatment of the obtained N-(3-oxobutyl)carbamates with hydrazine.     

Dephosphorylation of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-derived Schiff bases in the presence of bovine alkaline phosphatase

The present paper reports on the study of the dephosphorylation of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and four derived hydrazones (containing the residues of pyrazine, 2-furan, 2-thiophene, 3-pyridine carboxylic acids) induced by bovine alkaline phosphatase from intestinal mucosa at 298.2 K and pH 10 (0.05 m Tris–HCl buffer). We observed and discussed characteristic changes in the UV–vis and fluorescent spectra of substrates. Michaelis–Menten parameters of the enzymatic dephosphorylation are calculated. The stability of alkaline phosphatase in the presence of hydrazones is confirmed. The dephosphorylation of the Zn(II) complex with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-derived hydrazone is analyzed.     

Naphthalene derivatives of a conformationally locked GFP chromophore with large stokes shifts

The active development of fluorescence microscopy requires an increase in the variety of the dyes and their characteristics. Compounds with a large Stokes shift, i.e., a large difference between the positions of the absorption and emission maxima, have attracted the interest of researchers as a tool that can be used for multicolor labeling. One of the known approaches to increase the Stokes shift is the introduction of additional polycyclic fragments. Herein, we report novel derivatives of a conformationally locked GFP chromophore containing the naphthalene ring. The proposed modification leads not only to the enhancement of the Stokes shift up to 100 nm but also leads to the noticeable red-shift of the emission and absorption spectra in contrast with the corresponding derivatives with one benzene ring.     

LC of sulfonamide residues in poultry muscle and eggs extracts using fluorescence pre‐column derivatization and monolithic silica column

A new, rapid, sensitive and selective HPLC method with fluorescence detection is described for the simultaneous determination of 12 sulfonamides, in the presence of putrescine as internal standard, after pre‐column derivatization with fluorescamine. The drugs were separated on a Chromolith Performance RP‐18 column (100×4.6 mm), using a gradient elution with a binary mobile phase of methanol/0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 3.4). Linearity of derivatization was obtained for concentrations from 3.0 to 300 μg/L in standard solutions. The whole procedure was evaluated and fully validated, according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC, for the determination of sulfonamides in turkey muscle and hen eggs following SPE. The LODs varied from 2 to 17 μg/kg in turkey and 2 to 15 μg/kg in egg samples. The average recoveries ranged between 96.9–108.6% in turkey muscle and 96.0–108.4% in egg samples, respectively.     

General approach to 6-tosyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1,3-diazepin-2-ones via nucleophile-mediated ring expansion of tetrahydropyrimidines

A general six-step approach to 6-tosyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1,3-diazepin-2-ones has been developed. The key step involves a ring expansion reaction of 4-mesyloxymethyl- or 4-tosyloxymethyl-5-tosyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-one mediated by nucleophilic reagents.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.     

Between Adamantane and Atrane: Intrabridgehead Interactions in the Cage‐Like Phosphane Related to a Novel Tris(homoadamantane) Ring System

Herein, we report unusual four‐center interactions in the novel cage‐like phosphane, 1,4,7‐triaza‐9‐phosphatricyclo[5.3.2.1^4,9]tridecane (CAP). This water‐soluble ligand, the first example of a tris(homoadamantane) ring system, can be considered a macrocyclic homologue of the well‐known PTA (1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane). However, ³¹P NMR spectroscopic anomalies of CAP follow those typical for the bi‐/tricyclic atrane systems. Another atrane‐like feature of CAP is the ability of one nitrogen atom to undergo out–in pyramidal inversion. The latter is associated with a substantial decrease in the intracage N?N and P?N distances. Analysis of electron density distribution [molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) and atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) approaches] suggests that the P and N atoms in the pyramidally inverted CAP derivatives are involved in interactions resulting in accumulation of electron density at the center of the phosphane cage. The latter can reliably explain the stereoelectronic and NMR anomalies of the new ligand. The semi‐flexible CAP cage populates the structural niche between the rigid adamantine skeleton of PTA and flexible atrane systems and can be regarded as an alternative to PTA in aqueous coordination chemistry.     

Synthesis of (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen and (Z)-2-[4-[1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl]-1butenyl]phenoxyacetic acid

The synthesis of (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen and (Z)-2-[4-[1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl]-1-butenyl]phenoxyacetic acid was accomplished using a McMurry reaction as the key step. The perfluorotolyl derivatives of the McMurry products enabled the separation of the minor undesirable geometrical isomer. The methodology proceeds without E,Z isomerization, employs a very mild final debenzylation step compatible with a large array of functional groups, and can be applied to the generation of a variety of 4-hydroxytamoxifen analogues.