New copper(II) complexes including pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid: synthesis,spectroscopic, thermal properties,crystal structure and how these complexes interact with purified PON 1 enzyme

We report the synthesis of two square-pyramidal copper(II) complexes, [Cu(2,5-pydc)(2-aepy)(H₂O)]·H₂O, 1, and [Cu(2,5-pydc)(2-ampy)(H₂O)]·H₂O, 2 (2-aepy = 2-(aminoethyl)pyridine, 2-ampy = 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine, 2,5-pydc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid or isocinchomeronic acid). The synthesized complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, elemental, and thermal analysis techniques. The crystal structure of 1 was established by X-ray analysis. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the complexes are pure. The inhibition of human serum paraoxonase 1 (PON 1, EC 3.1.8.1) enzyme with these complexes were investigated. We used diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate to measure the paraoxonase activity of PON 1 enzyme spectrophotometrically. Complexes 1 and 2 decreased the in vitro PON 1 activity with different inhibition mechanisms. Complexes 1 and 2 inhibited paraoxonase activity of this enzyme as competitively and noncompetitively, respectively.     

Larvicidal activity of some secondary lichen metabolites against the mosquito Culiseta longiareolata Macquart (Diptera: Culicidae)

The larvicidal activity of some lichen metabolites, (+)-usnic acid, atranorin, 3-hydroxyphysodic acid and gyrophoric acid, against the second and third instar larvae of the mosquito Culiseta longiareolata were studied. All metabolites caused high larvicidal activities. When metabolites were compared on the basis of their LC(50) values, the order of increasing toxicity was as follows: gyrophoric acid (0.41?ppm)?>?(+)-usnic acid (0.48?ppm)?>?atranorin (0.52?ppm)?>?3-hydroxyphysodic acid (0.97?ppm). However, when LC(90) values were compared, the order of toxicity was (+)-usnic acid (1.54?ppm)?>?gyrophoric acid (1.93?ppm)?>?3-hydroxyphysodic acid (4.33?ppm)?>?atranorin (5.63?ppm). In conclusion, our results found that lichen secondary metabolites may have a promising role as potential larvicides.     

Voltammetric and amperometric determination of metoclopramide on boron-doped diamond film electrode

New methods for the determination of metoclopramide, antiemetic and gastroprokinetic pharmaceutical, were developed, using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and flow injection analysis (FIA) with amperometric detection on a boron-doped diamond film electrode. Electrode pretreatment necessary to ensure the stable results was investigated and it was found, that while DPV requires frequent electrode cleaning, FIA with a sufficiently high flow rate can maintain a stable signal with no signs of electrode passivation. The calculated quantification limits of the DPV and FIA with amperometric detection were 0.13 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.015 mmol L⁻¹, respectively. The applicability of the new methods was verified by the determination of metoclopramide in a pharmaceutical preparation. FIA with amperometic detection proved to be sensitive, accurate and, due to the resistance of the electrode to the passivation, also simple to handle.      

Sorption behaviour of uranium(VI) with N,N-dibutyl-N'-benzoylthiourea Impregnated in Amberlite XAD-16

The sorption of U(VI) by N, N-dibutyl, N'-benzoylthiourea (DBBT) impregnated resin has been studied. DBBT impregnated resin was prepared by direct adsorption of chelating ligand onto macroporous support, Amberlite XAD-16. The adsorption of DBBT on the macroporous support is shown by FTIR spectroscopy to be the result of only weak chelating ligand-support interactions. Parameters such as the pH effect on the sorption of uranium, the sorption capacity of the impregnated resin, the stripping of uranium and the effect of coexisting ions were investigated by batch experiments. The results demonstrated that uranium(VI) ions, at pH 4.5-7 could be sorbed completely using 0.1 g Amberlite XAD-16 resin loaded with DBBT. The sorption capacity of the impregnated resin is 0.90 mmol uranium(VI) g(-1). Quantitative recovery of U(VI) is achieved by stripping with 0.1 M HNO(3). The method was applied to the determination of uranium in synthetic samples. The precision of the method was 2.4 RSD% in a concentration of 1.20 mug ml(-1) for ten replicate analysis.     

A novel two-dimensional silver(I) saccharinato coordination polymer constructed from weak Ag?C interactions: Synthesis, IR spectra and X-ray structure

A new dinuclear silver(I)-saccharinato (sac) complex with acetonitrile (MeCN), [Ag₂(sac)₂(MeCN)₂]_n has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The silver(I) ions are doubly bridged by two sac ligands, leading to a short argentophilic contact of 2.9074(3) Å. Each silver(I) ion exhibits a square-planar coordination geometry including the Ag-Ag bonds. The individual dimeric molecules are extended into a two-dimensional layered structure by weak Ag?C_sac (η²) interactions of ca. 3.2 Å. These interactions were discussed and compared with those found in the first silver(I)-sac complex [Ag(sac)]_n.     

N‐Isopropylacrylamide/monoalkyl itaconate copolymers and N‐isopropylacrylamide/itaconic acid/dimethyl itaconate terpolymers

Temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive copolymers and terpolymers of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with itaconic acid (IA), monomethyl itaconate (MMeI), monobutyl itaconate (MBuI), monooctyl itaconate (MOcI), monocetyl itaconate (MCeI), and dimethyl itaconate (DMI) were prepared by free radical solution polymerization method. The dependence of coil‐to‐globule transition on pH and composition, molecular structures, and reactivities of monoalkyl itaconates, molecular weight distributions, and glass transition temperatures of copolymers and terpolymers were investigated using FT‐IR and UV–visible spectroscopic techniques, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and acid–base titration methods. The temperature‐/pH‐dependent coil‐to‐globule transition measurements showed that, upon increasing the content and length of alkyl chains, the lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) were shifted to higher temperatures. This meant that with increase in the length of hydrophobic alkyl chain in the monoitaconates intramolecular intreactions between the carboxyl groups were suppressed and LCSTs increased. The aqueous solution behaviors of NIPAAm/IA/DMI terpolymers also revealed that, even if the terpolymer hydrophobicity is increased by adding DMI units, the presence of IA units overcame the decrease in hydrophilicity of the terpolymers. The presence of DMI units in the terpolymers balanced the hydrophilic character of IA. DSC results supported the ones obtained from the pH‐dependent coil‐to‐globule transition measurements. An increase in both the chain length of alkyl groups attached to the monoitaconates and the contents of the mono‐ and dialkyl itaconates in the copolymers and terpolymers decreased the T_gs. In the case of NIPAAm/IA and NIPAAm/MMeI copolymers, the presence of the carboxyl groups forming hydrogen bonds increased the T_g, while the monoalkyl and dialkyl itaconates such as MBuI, MOcI, MCeI and DMI lead to a decrease in T_g of copolymers and terpolymers because of the suppression of intramolecular interactions (resulting from the ? COOH and ? COO^? groups) through the longer alkyl spacers. The dependence of the thermosensitivity of these NIPAAm copolymers and terpolymers on different conditions of pH, and the nature and content of comonomers suggests that they can be useful in biotechnology and drug delivery applications which involve small changes in pH and temperature. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The moment function for the ratio of correlated generalized gamma variables

The moment function for the ratio of correlated generalized gamma variables is expressed in terms of special functions. The expression presented generalizes the known moment expression for the integer valued moments to the real valued moments. Approximate formulas, in terms of elementary functions, are provided for low and high correlation regions and some application examples are given.     

Adsorption,Diffusion, and Self‐Assembly of an Engineered Gold‐Binding Peptide on Au(111) Investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy

Go for the gold! The structural evolution of peptide binding and assembly on a Au(111) surface is dynamic and involves surface diffusion and multiple stages of molecular thin‐film topology development (see schematic depiction and corresponding AFM images). The new fundamental observations may form the basis of peptide‐based novel hybrid molecular technologies of the future.