Solid State Reactions of Hemin with Basic Substances: Formation of bis and Mixed Complexes

The solid state reactions of hemin with KCN, Na₂SxH₂O, arginine, imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, benzimidazole, and mixtures of these basic reagents were monitored using IR, Mössbauer, and XRD techniques. All these basic substances react at the peripheral propionic acid group of hemin-forming salts. Binary mixtures of KCN, arginine, imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and benzimidazole were found to form complexes with mixed ligands at the iron site of hemin. According to the structural information obtained for these mixed complexes, mechanisms for their formation are proposed. The solid state synthesis and the properties of the obtained products reveal the specifities of the involved ligands.     

Synthesis, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity of novel silver(I) tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphadamantane complexes

Five new silver(I) complexes of formulas [Ag(Tpms)] (1), [Ag(Tpms)(PPh(3))] (2), [Ag(Tpms)(PCy(3))] (3), [Ag(PTA)][BF(4)] (4), and [Ag(Tpms)(PTA)] (5) {Tpms = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, PPh(3) = triphenylphosphane, PCy(3) = tricyclohexylphosphane, PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane} have been synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analyses, (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and IR spectroscopic techniques. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of 3 shows the Tpms ligand acting in the N(3)-facially coordinating mode, while in 2 and 5 a N(2)O-coordination is found, with the SO(3) group bonded to silver and a pendant free pyrazolyl ring. Features of the tilting in the coordinated pyrazolyl rings in these cases suggest that this inequivalence is related with the cone angles of the phosphanes. A detailed study of antimycobacterial and antiproliferative properties of all compounds has been carried out. They were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against the standard strains Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), Streptococcus pyogenes (SF37), Streptococcus sanguinis (SK36), Streptococcus mutans (UA159), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and the fungus Candida albicans (ATCC 24443). Complexes 1-5 have been found to display effective antimicrobial activity against the series of bacteria and fungi, and some of them are potential candidates for antiseptic or disinfectant drugs. Interaction of Ag complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been studied by fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, using ethidium bromide (EB) as a fluorescence probe of DNA. The decrease in the fluorescence of DNA-EB system on addition of Ag complexes shows that the fluorescence quenching of DNA-EB complex occurs and compound 3 is particularly active. Complexes 1-5 exhibit pronounced antiproliferative activity against human malignant melanoma (A375) with an activity often higher than that of AgNO(3), which has been used as a control, following the same order of activity inhibition on DNA, i.e., 3 > 2 > 1 > 5 > AgNO(3)? 4.     

Water-soluble and stable dinitrogen phosphine complexes trans-[ReCl(N2)(PTA-H)n(PTA)4-n]n+ (n = 0-4), the first with 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane

The first dinitrogen complexes with the hydrosoluble PTA ligand, or its protonated form PTA-H, trans-[ReCl(N2)(PTA-H)n(PTA)(4-n)]n+ (n = 0-4), are prepared, shown to be soluble and stable in water, interconvertible by stepwise protonation/deprotonation and to form, upon N2 loss, the corresponding penta-coordinate compounds. Dinitrogen displacement by CO affords trans-[ReCl(CO)(PTA)4].     

Direct organocatalytic aldol reactions in buffered aqueous media

Organocatalytic cross-aldol reactions catalyzed by cyclic secondary amines in aqueous media provide a direct route to a variety of aldols including carbohydrate derivatives and may warrant consideration as a prebiotic route to sugars.     

Deuterium NMR spectroscopy is a versatile and economical tool for monitoring reaction kinetics in ionic liquids

Time-resolved 2H NMR spectroscopy is used to monitor the progress of and gain kinetic information for a variety of reactions in different ionic media.     

Gamma radiation effects on physical properties of parchment documents: Assessment of Dmax

Parchments are important documents that give testimony for History; therefore these materials should be respected and preserved. Considering incremental biodeterioration problems that have to be faced daily, the Archive of the University of Coimbra (AUC) is involved in different scientific projects in order to evaluate and determine new methods for document decontamination and preservation.The aim of this study was to evaluate gamma radiation effects on the colour and texture of the AUC parchment documents. The assessment of these effects was used to estimate the maximum gamma radiation dose (D_max) that could guarantee parchment documents′ decontamination treatment, without significant alteration of their physical properties. Parchment samples were exposed to gamma radiation doses ranging from 10 to 30 kGy. The texture and colour of samples were assessed before and after the irradiation procedure, using a texture analyser and an electronic colorimeter. Hardness and springiness were determined based on texture spectra. Lightness (L?), Chroma (C), greenness vs. redness (a*) and yellowness vs. blueness (b*) values were obtained from colorimetric measures. Results indicate no significant effects of gamma radiation on the texture and colour of parchment for the studied doses.     

The effect of the nitrogen non-bonding electron pair on the NMR and X-ray in 1,3-diazaheterocycles

The effect of the nitrogen nonbonding electron pair on the ¹J_C,H values of 1,3-diazaheterocycles was analyzed and compared to 1,5-diazabiciclo[3.2.1]octanes, which have a restricted conformation. The ¹J_C,H values were measured by observing the ¹³C satellites in the ¹H NMR spectra and then determining the ¹H-coupled ¹³C NMR spectra. The ¹J_C,H values are 10 Hz larger when the α-hydrogen is synperiplanar rather than antiperiplanar to the nonbonding electron pair on the nitrogen, which serves as experimental evidence of the orbital n_N→σ¹_C,Hap interactions. In addition, the homoanomeric effect from the interactions of the nitrogen lone pair with the antibonding orbital of the equatorial hydrogen, which was in the β position, was discussed (n_N→σ¹_C(β),Heq).     

Benzocoumarins from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Juncus acutus rhizomes revealed seven benzocoumarins, probably derived from oxidation of phenanthrenes already isolated from the plant. The structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods. The anti-algal activity of the isolated compounds tested on the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata are reported here.