Polystyryl-supported TBD as an efficient and reusable catalyst under solvent-free conditions

Polystyryl supported-TBD (PSTBD) is an efficient and reusable heterogeneous basic catalyst under solvent-free conditions for a variety of organic transformations such as 1,2-epoxide ring-opening, aldol-type condensation and Michael addition.     

Separation and characterisation of sphingoceramides by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

We developed a simple and reliable analytical method for the quantification and the characterization of ceramides extracted from biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS). The chromatographic separation of analytes was carried out in a RP8 column, eluting with a methanol-water mixture in gradient elution mode. The separated lipids were detected by total ion monitoring and characterised by MS/MS spectra; quantitative analysis was performed by integrating the extracted ion peaks obtained in the negative ion mode. Good repeatability was obtained for retention time (0.3-2%), peak area ratio (A(S)/A(IS), 2-8%), as well as limit of detection (LOD, 5-26 pg) and quantification (LOQ, 13-53 pg). The method was validated for the analysis of N-palmitoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (Cer16), N-stearoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (Cer18), N-tetracosanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (N24:0, lignoceric ceramide, Cer24:0), and N-tetracos-15'-enoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (N24:1, nervonic ceramide, Cer24:1), giving good results. Lipid mixtures, extracted from skin and epidermal cells, were analysed for their content of the studied ceramides.     

Studies on diastereoselective reduction of cyclic β-ketoesters with boron hydrides. Part 4: The reductive profile of functionalized cyclohexanone derivatives

Reduction of 2-allyl-2-carboalkoxycyclohexanones (3d-f), 2-propyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3g) and 2-benzyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3h) with boron hydrides in the presence and absence of several chelating agents were studied. Molecular modeling studies using semiempirical PM3 method were performed in order to find a suitable explanation of the diastereoselection of ketone carbonyl faces during the reductive process, which yielded trans-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (6e) and cis-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (7e) in good diastereomeric excess by using inexpensive sodium and tetrabutylammonium borohydrides.     

A Novel Proton Transfer Self‐Associated Compound from Dipicolinic Acid and Guanidine and Its Cadmium(II) Complex: Synthesis,Characterization, Crystal Structure,and Solution Studies

A novel 1:2 proton transfer self‐associated compound LH₂ , (GH⁺)₂(pydc^2—), was synthesized from the reaction of dipicolinic acid, pydcH₂, (2, 6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid), and guanidine hydrochloride, (GH⁺)(Cl^—). The characterization was performed using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. LH₂ · H₂O crystallizes in the space group C2/c of the monoclinic system and contains eight molecules per unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 26.480(5)Å, b = 8.055(2)Å, c = 14.068(3)Å. The first coordination complex (GH)₂[Cd(pydc)₂] · 2H₂O, was prepared using LH₂ and cadmium(II) iodide, and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The crystal system is triclinic with space group P1¯ with one molecule per unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 8.5125(7)Å, b = 11.0731(8)Å, c = 13.2404(10)Å. The cadmium(II) atom is six‐coordinated with a distorted octahedral geometry. The two pydc^2— units are almost perpendicular to each other. The protonation constants of the building blocks of the pydc‐guanidine adduct, the equilibrium constants for the reaction of pydc^2— with guanidine and the stoichiometry and stability of the Cd²⁺ complex with LH₂ in aqueous solution were accomplished by potentiometric pH titration. The solution studies strongly support a self‐association between pydc^2— and GH⁺ with a stoichiometry for the Cd^II complex similar to that observed for the isolated crystalline complex. In fact, the [Cd(pydc)₂]^2— complex was found as the most abundant species in solution (> 90 %) at a pH >5.     

Long-term diffusive samplers for the indoor air quality evaluation

Three kinds of diffusion samplers, conceived to perform long-term samplings in indoor sites are illustrated in this work. Two of them, in part deriving from the previous "Analyst for VOC" device, extend the field of application up to the semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), PAHs and nicotine in particular. A third device, which employs a basic barium hydroxide solution as an absorbing medium, is proposed for the determination of carbon dioxide levels which indicate the air change quality in the indoor sites. Laboratory and field experiments, performed in order to assess the reliability of the proposed devices, are shown. A monthly monitoring campaign, performed at three private apartments in Rome and its outskirts highlights that the indoor pollution levels are a complex function of various concurrent and opposite factors, like external air pollution, internal sources, air change rate and sink effect of surfaces, which contribute to depletion phenomena through adsorption and/or decomposition processes.     

Zn(II) coordination to polyamine macrocycles containing dipyridine units. New insights into the activity of dinuclear Zn(II) complexes in phosphate ester hydrolysis

Zn(II) binding by the dipyridine-containing macrocycles L1-L3 has been analyzed by means of potentiometric measurements in aqueous solutions. These ligands contain one (L1, L2) or two (L3) 2,2'-dipyridine units as an integral part of a polyamine macrocyclic framework having different dimensions and numbers of nitrogen donors. Depending on the number of donors, L1-L3 can form stable mono- and/or dinuclear Zn(II) complexes in a wide pH range. Facile deprotonation of Zn(II)-coordinated water molecules gives mono- and dihydroxo-complexes from neutral to alkaline pH values. The ability of these complexes as nucleophilic agents in hydrolytic processes has been tested by using bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) as a substrate. In the dinuclear complexes the two metals play a cooperative role in BNPP cleavage. In the case of the L2 dinuclear complex [Zn(2)L2(OH)(2)](2+), the two metals act cooperatively through a hydrolytic process involving a bridging interaction of the substrate with the two Zn(II) ions and a simultaneous nucleophilic attack of a Zn-OH function at phosphorus; in the case of the dizinc complex with the largest macrocycle L3, only the monohydroxo complex [Zn(2)L3(OH)](3+) promotes BNPP hydrolysis. BNPP interacts with a single metal, while the hydroxide anion may operate a nucleophilic attack. Both complexes display high rate enhancements in BNPP cleavage with respect to previously reported dizinc complexes, due to hydrophobic and pi-stacking interactions between the nitrophenyl groups of BNPP and the dipyridine units of the complexes.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Transparent Alumina Gel and Pure Gamma Alumina by Urea Hydrolysis of Aluminum Nitrate

-Alumina was synthesized by a sol-gel method with the aluminum ion hydrolysis control performed by urea. The initial saturated Al³⁺/urea solution presented urea coordinated with the aluminum ion, as shown in the ¹³C NMR and ²⁷Al NMR spectra and longitudinal relaxation times, T ₁, from the latter. The substitution of water molecules in the Al³⁺ coordination shell by urea controlled the hydrolysis process and provided an extensive nucleation during the initial steps of the aluminum hydroxide formation due to urea thermolysis at 90°C. The resulting sol, composed of Al(OH)₃ nanoparticles, coalesced and became a transparent gel permeated by a solution of urea and the polycation ion [Al₁₃O₄(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂]⁷⁺. The freshly prepared gel was transformed, under heating at 300°C, directly to -alumina, characterized by FTIR, ²⁷Al-MAS-NMR and S_BET techniques, without - or -phases, as a consequence of the high degree of homogeneity of the -alumina precursor.     

Synthesis and photophysical evaluations of β-fused uracil-porphyrin derivatives

New β-fused uracil-porphyrin conjugates were synthesized by the tetramerization of uracil-pyrroles under acidic conditions. Two different synthetic approaches were systematically studied in order to evaluate their efficiency, as well as the possibility to obtain a single regioisomer. Metallation effects were studied for aggregation in solution, and preliminary photophysical experiments were also performed in order to evaluate the potential of these new compounds.     

Potentiometric studies on the complexation of copper(II) by phenolic acids as discrete ligand models of humic substances

Studies on the complexation of copper(II) by phenolic acids, as ligand models of humic substances were done by potentiometry. The acids under study were: 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid or hydrocaffeic acid (1), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (2) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid or protocatechuic acid (3). Acidity constants of the ligands and the formation constants of metal-ligand complexes were evaluated by computer programs. The carboxylic group of the phenolic acids has different pK_a1 values, being the dissociation constants intrinsically related with the distance between the function and the aromatic nucleus. The results obtained allow concluding that acidity constants of the catechol moiety of the compounds are similar with pK_a2 and pK_a3 values between 9.47-9.41 and 11.55-11.70. The complexation properties of the three ligands towards copper(II) ion are quite similar, being the species found not different either in nature or stability. Although the model ligands have some structural differences no significant differences were found in their complexation properties towards copper(II). So, it can be postulated that complexation process is intrinsically related with the presence of a catechol group.     

Separation of cis/trans geometrical fatty acid isomers by silver-exchanged zeolite Y

The separation of cis and trans isomers is relevant for biological and nutritional applications, silver-exchanged zeolite Y was prepared and applied for the treatment of mixtures of cis and trans geometrical isomers of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). cis FAMEs were adsorbed into zeolite with a high degree of selectivity (cis/trans ratio in the range of 1.9-3.2). The effectiveness was due to the synergism of the π-complexation between the silver ion and the double bonds and the different FAME structures trapped into the zeolite cages. Some indication of the complex stabilities came from theoretical studies using unsaturated lipids. A prototype cartridge was also designed for application in the fractionation of cis/trans FAME mixtures.