Preparation and self-assembly of chiral porphyrin diads on the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances: a novel potential approach to the development of enantioselective chemical sensors

Porphyrin diad 1 was synthesized by reaction of the acyl chloride of porphyrin 2 and trans-1,2-dithiane-4,5-diol. The Co complex of this diad was studied as a potential enantioselective receptor for chiral recognition in solution and in the solid state. In solution both enantiomers of limonene induce significant changes in the visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of [Co2(1)], while a different behavior is observed in the case of the enantiomeric pair of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. A different efficiency of [Co2(1)] chiral recognition is obtained for these compounds, with a remarkable degree of enantiodiscrimination observed in the case of limonene. Self-assembled monolayers of [Co2(1)] were deposited onto the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances to be used as sensing materials of nanogravimetric sensors operating in the gas phase. The enantiodiscrimination properties of these sensors towards the enantiomeric pairs of chiral analytes have been studied. While in the case of analytes bearing donor ligand atoms we did not observe a remarkable enantioselectivity, a significant degree of chiral discrimination was observed in the case of limonene; this result is particularly encouraging for the potential development of enantioselective chemical sensors for use in an array configuration.     

Electron impact mass spectrometric investigation of pyrrole mono-, di- and tri-carboxylic acids

The electron impact-induced fragmentation processes of pyrrole-2-, -3-, -2,3-, -3,4-, -2,5- and -2,3,4-carboxylic acids were investigated with the aid of metastable ion, collisional and deuterium labelling experiments. The general behaviour of these compounds is discussed in detail, together with the reasonable structures of the more relevant fragment ions.     

Uranyl-salophen based ditopic receptors for the recognition of quaternary ammonium halides

Uranyl-salophen complexes endowed with aromatic side arms behave as very efficient ditopic receptors towards tetralkylammonium halides as a result of a combination of Lewis acid-base and cation-pi interactions.     

Simplified chemical and radiochemical synthesis of 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors

Endocannabinoids have emerged as a new class of lipid mediators, with manifold roles in the central nervous system and in the periphery. Several studies have identified 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) as a major endogenous agonist of cannabinoid receptors. Here, the chemical synthesis of 2-AG is reported, along with the synthesis of its tritium-labeled derivative. These unlabeled and radiolabeled compounds are suitable tools for unravelling some metabolic routes and biological activities of 2-AG in various cells and tissues.     

Multielemental analysis of food and agricultural matrixes by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

The suitability of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for multielemental analysis of food following microwave closed vessel digestion of samples was evaluated in relation to analytical challenges presented by some major food and agricultural matrixes. Fifteen key analytes (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, Zn) were determined in 9 reference materials representative of 3 major groups of staple foods (cereals, seafood, and meat). For all measurements, the method of external calibration was used and Rh was selected as internal standard. Matrix-induced interferences were evaluated for each material, and suitable methods to overcome them were applied. Spectral interferences caused by C, Cl, and Ca content of digestates were quantitated and corrected by entering a simple system of mathematical correction equations into the instrument software before each analytical run. Full mastering of interferences together with adoption of a series of measures to control the reliability of analytical measurements produced accurate results for all the analytes. A standard analytical protocol is outlined for the benefit of both research and routine high-throughput laboratories that perform ICP-MS analyses of food.     

Unprecedented detection of inherent chirality in uranyl-salophen complexes

In complexes with the uranyl dication salophen ligands are highly puckered. This implies that non-symmetrically substituted uranyl-salophen derivatives exist in principle as a pair of enantiomers. However, due to easy disrotations about the bonds connecting the phenoxide units to the imine carbons, the rate of interconversion between enantiomeric forms of simple, sterically unhindered compounds is extremely fast. Bulky substituents in appropriate positions decrease the interconversion rate and make this novel type of inherent chirality detectable by 1H and 13C NMR.     

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl iodides with acetic anhydride. A carbon monoxide-free synthesis of acetophenones

[reaction: see text] The palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl iodides with acetic anhydride provides a straightforward and experimentally simple carbon monoxide-free route to acetophenones. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functionalized aryl iodides. Acetophenones are isolated in excellent yield with a variety of neutral, slightly electron-rich, and slightly electron-poor aryl iodides, whereas moderate yields are obtained with aryl iodides containing strongly electron-withdrawing substituents.     

Calorimetric determination of the acidic character of amorphous and crystalline aluminosilicates

Aluminosilicates can present different structures such as crystalline true zeolite molecular sieves or amorphous silica–aluminas. With a large surface area available, both can be involved as catalysts, adsorbents or catalyst supports, and the determination of their surface acidic properties is an important parameter in the study of such materials.

The number, strength and strength distribution of the acidic sites were determined using microcalorimetry linked to a volumetric line. Ammonia was used as a basic probe molecule. The adsorption temperatures ranged from 353 K up to 473 K. The samples consisted of two amorphous silica–aluminas (Si/Al ≈ 6.5) and three microporous zeolites H-β, H-ZSM-5 and H-MCM-22 with similar Si/Al ratios (Si/Al ≈ 13).

The differential heats of ammonia adsorption versus coverage and the corresponding isotherms are given. The H-ZSM-5, H-MCM-22, H-β samples display a plateau of constant adsorption heats near 150 kJ mol⁻¹, while the silica–alumina samples present continuously decreasing heats from 150 kJ mol⁻¹ at zero coverage to 40 kJ mol⁻¹ at high coverage, due to their surface heterogeneity. For amorphous silica–aluminas, the number of acid sites is dependent of the aluminum distribution at the surface.

The differences observed in the adsorption behavior of ammonia over the three zeolites arise from differences in their morphology, i.e. the total free volumes, pore geometries and electric field gradients at the adsorption sites. The adsorption isosteres have also been calculated from the adsorption isotherms, and the isosteric heats of adsorption have been compared with the heats measured by calorimetry.     

Metal ion catalysis in the beta-elimination reactions of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium in aqueous solution

Catalysis of the beta-elimination reaction of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (1) and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (2) by Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) in OH(-)/H(2)O (pH = 5.20-6.35, 50 degrees C, and mu = 1 M KCl) has been studied. In the presence of Zn(2+), the elimination reactions of both isomers occur from the Zn(2+)-complexed substrates (C). The equilibrium constants for the dissociation of the Zn(2+)-complexes are as follows: K(d) = 0.012 +/- 0.003 M (isomer 1) and K(d) = 0.065 +/- 0.020 M (isomer 2). The value of k(C)(H2O) for isomer 1 is 4.81 x 10(-6) s(-1). For isomer 2 both the rate constants for the "water" and OH(-)-induced reaction of the Zn(2+)-complexed substrate could be measured, despite the low concentration of OH(-) in the investigated reaction mixture [k(C)H2O)= 1.97 x 10(-6) s(-1) and k(C)(OH-)= 21.9 M(-1) s(-1), respectively]. The measured metal activating factor (MetAF), i.e., the reactivity ratio between the complexed and the uncomplexed substrate, is 8.1 x 10(4) for the OH(-)-induced elimination of 2. This high MetAF can be compared with the corresponding proton activating factor (Alunni, S.; Conti, A.; Palmizio Errico, R. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2000, 453), PAF = 1.5 x 10(6) and is in agreement with an E1cb irreversible mechanism (A(xh)D(E)* + D(N)) (Guthrie, R. D.; Jencks, W. P. Acc. Chem. Res. 1989, 22, 343). A value of k(C)(H2O)>or= 23 x 10(-7) s(-1) is estimated for the Cd(2+)-complexed isomer 2, while catalysis by Cd(2+) has not been observed for isomer 1.     

N-Nosyl-α-amino acids in solution phase peptide synthesis

A highly efficient and practical synthesis of peptides in solution phase has been developed. The procedure is based on the use of p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (nosyl) group for the protection of the amino function of α-amino acids. Every step of the procedure, protection of the amino function by the nosyl group, formation of the peptide bond, and removal of the sulfonamide group, is characterized by high yields and excellent purity of the final products. The described strategy allows the preparation of short peptide sequences keeping the chiral integrity of amino acid precursors. Compatibility of nosyl group with the side-chain protecting groups used in Fmoc-based strategy is demonstrated. The method here presented is an alternative strategy that could provide advantages for future peptide synthesis.