(S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine alpha-iminoglyoxylamide as a chiral glycine cation equivalent: a modular and flexible approach to enantioenriched alpha-amino ketones

We have studied the ability of an alpha-imino glyoxylamide derived from (S, S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine as a valuable chiral electrophile for the preparation of alpha-amino carbonyl compounds. In this context, the addition of Grignard reagents to the azomethine moiety of this chiral electrophile afforded the expected alpha-amino amide adducts in good yields and diastereoselectivities. Moreover, these adducts have been transformed into enantioenriched alpha-amino ketones by exploiting the ability of pseudoephedrine amides to undergo selective monoaddition to the carbamoyl group with organolithium reagents.     

Theoretical and electrochemical studies on organometallic symmetrical schiff base complexes of Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II)

The electronic communication between two redox centres through a Schiff base complex has been investigated in a series of ethylenediimine-bis(1-ferrocenyl-1,3-butanedionate) complexes of Zn(II) 1, Cu(II) 2, Ni(II) 3 and Co(II) 4. Cyclic voltammetry experiments of 1 and 2 exhibit a unique two-electron reversible oxidation wave, whereas in the case of 3 and 4 two and three one-electron oxidation processes are, respectively, observed. These results suggest some electronic interaction between the iron atoms of the ferrocenyl groups. DFT calculations carried out on model complexes show that for all the studied compounds the removal of the first two electrons corresponds to the oxidation processes of the iron centres in the weakly coupled ferrocenyl termini. The electronic communication between the two iron centres increases on going from 1 to 4. Finally, a re-indexation of the bands observed in the UV-Visible spectra has been carried out using TDDFT calculations.     

Determination of phthalates in wine by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Use of deuterated phthalates as internal standards

This study proposes the use of deuterated phthalates as internal standards for the accurate determination of phthalates in wine by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Unlike other internal standards proposed previously such as benzyl benzoate, deuterated phthalates enabled matrix-error free determinations to be performed without standard addition because statistically equal slopes were obtained for synthetic, white, rose and red wines. The relative standard deviation values under intermediate precision conditions ranged from 0.24 to 4.6%, and detection limits below 35 ng L(-1) were obtained. Recovery values were around 100% in most of cases and the method provided similar results to standard addition. Finally, the method was used to screen phthalate levels in 10 wine samples.     

Highly Recyclable and Tough Elastic Vitrimers from a Defined Polydimethylsiloxane Network

Despite intensive research on sustainable elastomers, achieving elastic vitrimers with significantly improved mechanical properties and recyclability remains a scientific challenge. Herein, inspired by the classical elasticity theory, we present a design principle for ultra-tough and highly recyclable elastic vitrimers with a defined network constructed by chemically crosslinking the pre-synthesized disulfide-containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains with tetra-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG). The defined network is achieved by the reduced dangling short chains and the relatively uniform molecular weight of network strands. Such elastic vitrimers with the defined network, i.e., PDMS-disulfide-D, exhibit significantly improved mechanical performance than random analogous, previously reported PDMS vitrimers, and even commercial silicone-based thermosets. Moreover, unlike the vitrimers with random network that show obvious loss in mechanical properties after recycling, those with the defined network enable excellent thermal recyclability. The PDMS-disulfide-D also deliver comparable electrochemical signals if utilized as substrates for electromyography sensors after the recycling. The multiple relaxation processes are revealed via a unique physical approach. Multiple techniques are also applied to unravel the microscopic mechanism of the excellent mechanical performance and recyclability of such defined network.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized polysubstituted pyrrolidines

The organocatalytic conjugate addition of different aldehydes to beta-nitroacrolein dimethyl acetal, generating the corresponding highly functionalized nitroaldehydes in high yields and with high stereoselectivities, has been studied in detail. These transformations have been achieved by using both readily available starting materials in a 1:1 ratio as well as commercially available catalysts at a 10 mol % catalyst loading. Furthermore, a very short and efficient protocol has been devised for the preparation of highly enantioenriched pyrrolidines containing two or three contiguous stereocenters starting from the obtained Michael adducts. 3,4-Disubstituted pyrrolidines have been obtained in a single step by Zn-mediated chemoselective reduction of the nitro group followed by intramolecular reductive amination, and trisubstituted homoproline derivatives have been prepared by means of an olefination reaction and a cascade process involving chemoselective reduction of the nitro group followed by a fully diastereoselective intramolecular aza- Michael reaction.     

Discovery of novel polyamine analogs with anti-protozoal activity by computer guided drug repositioning

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi that affects about 6 million people in Latin America. Despite its sanitary importance, there are currently only two drugs available for treatment: benznidazole and nifurtimox, both exhibiting serious adverse effects and limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease. Polyamines are ubiquitous to all living organisms where they participate in multiple basic functions such as biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, proliferation and cell differentiation. T. cruzi is auxotroph for polyamines, which are taken up from the extracellular medium by efficient transporters and, to a large extent, incorporated into trypanothione (bis-glutathionylspermidine), the major redox cosubstrate of trypanosomatids. From a 268-compound database containing polyamine analogs with and without inhibitory effect on T. cruzi we have inferred classificatory models that were later applied in a virtual screening campaign to identify anti-trypanosomal compounds among drugs already used for other therapeutic indications (i.e. computer-guided drug repositioning) compiled in the DrugBank and Sweetlead databases. Five of the candidates identified with this strategy were evaluated in cellular models from different pathogenic trypanosomatids (T. cruzi wt, T. cruzi PAT12, T. brucei and Leishmania infantum), and in vitro models of aminoacid/polyamine transport assays and trypanothione synthetase inhibition assay. Triclabendazole, sertaconazole and paroxetine displayed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of T. cruzi (epimastigotes) and the uptake of putrescine by the parasite. They also interfered with the uptake of others aminoacids and the proliferation of infective T. brucei and L. infantum (promastigotes). Trypanothione synthetase was ruled out as molecular target for the anti-parasitic activity of these compounds.     

OPTIMAL FISH HARVESTING FOR A POPULATION MODELED BY A NONLINEAR PARABOLIC PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

As the human population continues to grow, there is a need for better management of our natural resources in order for our planet to be able to produce enough to sustain us. One important resource we must consider is marine fish populations. We use the tool of optimal control to investigate harvesting strategies for maximizing yield of a fish population in a heterogeneous, finite domain. We determine whether these solutions include no‐take marine reserves as part of the optimal solution. The fishery stock is modeled using a nonlinear, parabolic partial differential equation with logistic growth, movement by diffusion and advection, and with Robin boundary conditions. The objective for the problem is to find the harvest rate that maximizes the discounted yield. Optimal harvesting strategies are found numerically.     

Fibre selection based on an overall analytical feature comparison for the solid-phase microextraction of trihalomethanes from drinking water

This paper describes the optimization of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) conditions for three different fibres (Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (CAR-PDMS), divinylbenzene-Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (DVB-CAR-PDMS) and polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB)) used to determine trihalomethanes (THMs) in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC). The influence of temperature and salting-out effect was examined using a central composite design for each fibre. Extraction time was studied separately at the optimum values found for temperature and sodium chloride concentration (40 degrees C and 0.36g mL-1). The HS-SPME-GC-MS method for each fibre was characterised in terms of linearity, detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits and repeatability. The fibre PDMS-DVB was selected as it provided a broader linear range, better repeatability and lower detection and quantification limits than the others, particularly CAR-PDMS fibre. The accuracy of the proposed method using the PDMS-DVB fibre was checked by a recovery study in both ultrapure and tap water. A blank analysis study showed the absence of memory effects for this fibre. The reproducibility (expressed as a percentage of relative standard deviation) was 6-11% and the detection limits were between 0.078 and 0.52microgL-1 for bromoform and chloroform, respectively. Finally, the method was applied to determine THM concentration in two drinking water samples.     

Determination of phthalates in wine by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: fibre comparison and selection

This paper describes the development of a headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) method for determining phthalates in wine. The HS-SPME conditions were thoroughly studied: first, the performance of six fibres at three temperature values and two sample volumes was surveyed by means of a 6 x 3 x 2 multi-factor categorical experimental design. From this study, three fibres - carbowax-divinylbenzene (CW-DVB), polyacrylate (PA) and polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) - were selected. Then, temperature, sample volume and sodium chloride concentration were optimised using a central composite design and the overall desirability function for each fibre. The optimal values were 70 degrees C, a NaCl concentration of 2.6, 3.6 and 5.5M for PA, CW-DVB and PDMS-DVB fibres, respectively, and sample volumes of 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0 mL. Next, the performance characteristics of the three fibres were obtained and compared. PDMS-DVB fibre showed the best repeatability values followed by CW-DVB. PA fibre was not suitable for diethylhexylphthalate extraction and showed poor repeatability for the heavier phthalates, and was therefore discarded. Finally, the performance of CW-DVB and PDMS-DVB fibres was checked for red, white and rosé wines.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of polyelectrolyte adsorption

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of polyelectrolyte adsorption at oppositely charged surfaces from dilute polyelectrolyte solutions. In our simulations, polyelectrolytes were modeled by chains of charged Lennard-Jones particles with explicit counterions. We have studied the effects of the surface charge density, surface charge distribution, solvent quality for the polymer backbone, strength of the short-range interactions between polymers and substrates on the polymer surface coverage, and the thickness of the adsorbed layer. The polymer surface coverage monotonically increases with increasing surface charge density for almost all studied systems except for the system of hydrophilic polyelectrolytes adsorbing at hydrophilic surfaces. In this case the polymer surface coverage saturates at high surface charge densities. This is due to additional monomer-monomer repulsion between adsorbed polymer chains, which becomes important in dense polymeric layers. These interactions also preclude surface overcharging by hydrophilic polyelectrolytes at high surface charge densities. The thickness of the adsorbed layer shows monotonic dependence on the surface charge density for the systems of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Thickness is a decreasing function of the surface charge density in the case of hydrophilic surfaces while it increases with the surface charge density for hydrophobic substrates. Qualitatively different behavior is observed for the thickness of the adsorbed layer of hydrophilic polyelectrolytes at hydrophilic surfaces. In this case, thickness first decreases with increasing surface charge density, then it begins to increase.