Solute-Solvent Interactions in the Nematic and Smectic A Phases of 4 4-di-n-Heptylazoxybenzene Studied by Deuteron NMR

The orientational order parameters have been measured by deuteron N.M.R. of both solute (at low dilution) and solvent in various binary mixtures involving the liquid crystal 4,4'-di-n-heptylazoxybenzene (HAB). The solutes studied were azoxybenzene-d₁₀ and n-heptylbenzene-d₇ which are fragments of HAB, azobenzene-d₁₀ because of its similarity to azoxybenzene, and anthracene-d₁₀ because of its known structure and symmetric shape. The major and biaxial order parameters of the solutes are analysed in terms of a molecular field model for the potential of mean torque for biaxial particles. The behaviour of the solute order parameters on approaching and entering the smectic A phase is interpreted in terms of a temperature and phase dependent partitioning of the solute between aromatic and aliphatic regions of the solvent.     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of ethyl esters of halogenated acetic acids

The behaviour of a series of differently halogenated acetic acid ethyl esters was studied using electron impact and metastable ion techniques. The presence of different halogens strongly influences the fragmentation pathways and also the kinetic energy release values associated with some decomposition routes. By mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry, a composite metastable peak was detected for the transition CF₂BrCO⁺ → CF₂Br⁺, and rationalized on the basis of two different structures for the precursor ion.     

The styrylpyridine dye for the silane sol–gel transition studies by time-dependent fluorescence

A trans-4-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)-N-vinylbenzylpyridinium chloride (vbDMASP) fluorescence probe was optimized in ground and excited state as a function of change in the microenvironment polarity, using the Amsol HyperChem program package. In the calculations, protic and aprotic solvents were used. On this basis a change in the molecule geometry after excitation, depending on the surrounding solvent, was determined.Absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectra of vbDMASP in the solvent of different polarity and in the model water–glycerol solutions were also recorded. On the basis of Stokes’ shift change with the Onsager polarity scale a change in the dipole moment of the probe during transition from ground to excited state, in protic and aprotic solvents was determined.Since during the sol–gel transition of tetraethylorthosilane in the acidic environment both polarity and viscosity of the microenvironment change the vbDMASP probe was applied and fluorescence time-resolved measurements were done. On this basis the correlations between the results of time-resolved measurements for the multichromophoric probe applied in the gelation process and molecular optimization data are discussed.     

Synthesis of tetrasubstituted Zn(II)-phthalocyanines carrying four carboranyl-units as potential BNCT and PDT agents

The synthesis of two tetrasubstituted zinc(II)phthalocyanines carrying four carbon-carbon linked o-carboranyl-units (40 boron atoms, 27.5% boron by weight) is presented. In an in vitro model test the new compounds showed a good photosensitizing efficiency, that encourages further studies for their evaluation as possible BNCT-PDT sensitizers.     

On the detailed mechanisms of collision-induced dissociation experiments performed by electrospray ion trap

The product ion spectra obtained by electrospray ionization (ESI) ion trap instruments exhibit a higher number of fragment ions than those achieved by other ion-trap-based systems, indicating the presence of more effective energy deposition mechanisms. This behavior can be attributed to several different reasons, among which different initial internal energy of the precursor ions, pre-activation due to collisions taking place outside the trap, different target gas mixtures inside the trap, and different ion trap geometry were considered. Data obtained from experiments using a triple quadrupole instrument, CI-ion trap, and ESI-ion trap have been compared. The results so achieved seem to indicate that the presence inside the trap of neutral molecules of the solvent employed for the ESI process have a relevant role, promoting high energy deposition in the colliding ions.     

A mass spectrometric investigation on some 3-[2-(Nitroxy)alkyl]-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-(3H)-one derivatives

The electron ionization mass spectrometric behaviour of ten 3-[2-(nitroxy)alkyl]-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-(3H)-one derivatives has been studied by means of metastable ion studies. By mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry of the related molecular ions, clear differences have been evidenced between the 5-methyl derivative and the other compounds, consisting of a highly favoured loss of NO₂ radical. The same methodology has allowed easy characterization of isomeric compounds.     

Detection and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of a goat beta-casein associated with a CSN2 null allele

The identification and characterization of a truncated goat beta-casein, associated with a null beta-casein allele (CSN2(O')), is reported. The truncated beta-casein predicted at the DNA level (NCBI Acc. No. CAB39313) but never observed at the protein level, here named beta-casein O, was detected as a minor component in a goat milk sample from an autochthonous breed from southern Italy, 'Rossa Mediterranea', by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS). The ESI mass spectrum of the intact beta-casein O determined an M(r) value of 18 780 Da (calculated 18 781.5). Characterization of the amino acid sequence, performed by coupling trypsin digestion with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), RP-HPLC/ESI-MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), demonstrated that the amino acid sequence corresponds to the 1-166 sequence of mature beta-casein variant A (Acc. No. P33048), thus confirming that the protein is coded by the null allele CSN2(O'), characterized by a transition (C --> T) at the 373rd nucleotide of the 7th exon of the gene, which generates a premature stop codon in position 182.     

Characterization of Adducts Formed in the Reactions of Methylglyoxal and Malonaldehyde with Lysine and Histidine Derivatives

Glycation of biopolymers by α‐oxoaldehydes such as methylglyoxal is believed to play a major role in the complex pathologies associated with diabetes and metabolic diseases. To design strategies that could interfere with the endogenous production of such aldehydes or promote their detoxification or, alternatively, to develop therapeutic procedures that could inhibit the deleterious effects of the oxoaldehydes at the cellular level, it is important to characterize the wide spectrum of reactions between these compounds and biomolecules, and gain insight into their mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the reactivity of endogenous α‐oxoaldehyde, methylglyoxal, and of malonaldehyde towards amino acid derivatives, and we identified new adducts with N^α‐acetyllysine and N^α‐acetylhistidine. In addition, we showed that a structurally analogous adduct is also formed with the model peptide N‐acetylglycyllysine O‐methyl ester. The characterized compounds were most likely derived from the addition of the appropriate nucleophilic center of the studied biomolecules to the C?C bond of the initially formed aldehyde conjugate. The resulted adducts contain an electrophilic β‐dicarbonyl moiety and could potentially be involved in the formation of DNA? protein or protein cross? links.     

Identification and Quantitation of Hydroxytyrosol in Italian Wines

Hydroxytyrosol (HTy) is a potent natural antioxidant found in olive oil and in mill waste waters. Although wines are rich in polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol has not been identified in wines so far. We have analyzed ten wines from different grape varieties grown in several Italian regions, using a gas-chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector (GC-MS). Solid-phase extraction of wine samples was performed on a C18 column, with ethyl acetate used as eluting agent. Eluates were derivatized with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and analyzed by GC-MS using one target and two qualifying ions. The detection limit was 15 pg/μL, with 49% average recovery. Under these experimental conditions hydroxytyrosol was detected in all wines analyzed. Its average concentrations in red and white wines were 4.0 mg/L and 1.9 mg/L, respectively.