Spectroscopic probing of the effect of alkanols on the properties of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water

The effects of addition of alkanols (ethanol, n-hexanol, and 3-ethyl-3-pentanol) on the micropolarity and microviscosity of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water have been investigated by fluorescence probing methods (ANS fluorescence yield and TMADPH fluorescence anisotropy), complemented by the use of the solvatochromic probe E(T)(30) in absorption spectroscopy. For all the alkanols considered, ANS fluorescence in AOT reverse micelles (at W=3) is quenched by additive incorporation, being the effect elicited almost independent of the alkanol chain length and topology. As sensed by the E(T)(30) parameter, the micropolarity of the micelle surface increases, remains unmodified, and decreases upon addition of ethanol, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, and hexanol, respectively. While ethanol barely modifies the fluorescence anisotropy of TMADPH, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol addition strongly decrease it. The similarity of the tendencies of ANS data to TMADPH anisotropies and the differences between ANS data and E(T)(30) values would indicate that, at least for 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol, microviscosity, rather than micropolarity, must be considered to interpret the effect of the alkanols upon the fluorescent behavior of ANS.     

Factorial design in the optimization of preconcentration procedure for lead determination by FAAS

The present paper proposes a preconcentration procedure for lead determination using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). It is based on lead(II) ions extraction as brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) complex and its sorption onto Diaion HP-2MG, a methacrylic ester copolymer. The optimization step was carried out using factorial design and the variables studied were pH, shaking time and reagent concentration. In the established experimental conditions, lead can be determinate with a limit of detection of 3.7 μg L⁻¹ lead (N = 20) and a relative standard deviation of 7% for a lead concentration of 100 μg L⁻¹. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference material, the stream sediment furnished by National Research Centre for Certified Reference Materials (NRCCRM), China (GBW 07310). Effect of other ions in the procedure proposed was also studied. The method was applied for lead determination in real samples of water, tea, soil and dust. Tests of addition/recovery in the experiments for lead determination in water samples revealed that the proposed procedure could be applied satisfactorily for analysis of these samples.     

A liquid crystal derived from ­ruthenium(II,III) and a long‐chain carboxylate

The title compound, catena‐poly[[tetrakis(μ‐decanoato‐κ²O:O′)diruthenium(II,III)(Ru—Ru)]‐μ‐octanesulfonato‐κ²O:O′], [Ru₂(C₁₀H₁₉O₂)₄(C₈H₁₇O₃S)], is an octane­sulfonate derivative of the mixed‐valence complex diruthenium tetradecanoate. The equatorial carboxyl­ate ligands are bidentate, bridging two Ru atoms to form a dinuclear structure. Each of the two independent dinuclear metal complexes in the asymmetric unit is located at an inversion centre. The octane­sulfonate anion bridges the two dinuclear units through axial coordination. The alkyl chains of the carboxyl­ate and sulfonate ligands are arranged in a parallel manner. The global structure can be seen as infinite chains of polar moieties separated by a double layer of non‐polar alkyl groups, without interdigitation of the alkyl chains.     

Screening of acetogenin-producing plants in Brazilian flora

The acetogenins are strongly bioactive natural compounds present in the bark, roots, leaves, and seeds of manyAnnonaceae plants. They are modified fatty acids and their cytotoxicities have been determined for different biological models including the in vitro growth inhibition of several human cancer cell lines. Very low acetogenin yield (< 0.1 g%) has been found previously in native phytobiomass, and we have now investigated the nonpredatory exploitation of the seeds as acetogenin sources characterizing the seed triacylglycerols (dominant fraction; > 90% of the whole lipid extracts) as potential valuable by-products.     

Efficient synthesis in three steps and spectral determination of methyl‐5‐[(o‐, m‐, and p‐substituted‐phenylthio]‐2‐benzimidazolecarbamates

The preparation and spectral properties often novel methyl 5‐[(o‐, m‐, and p‐substituted)‐phenylthio]‐2‐benzimidazolecarbamates with possible pharmacological activity as antihelmintics is described; by condensation and cyclization between 5‐methylthioures sulfate chloroformic acid methyl ester and 3,4‐diaminophenyl‐substituted‐phenylthio ether dissolved in ethanol. The structures of all final products were corroborated by ir; ¹H‐nmr, ¹³C‐nmr and ms.     

Efficient synthesis and spectral determination of 11‐[(o‐ m‐ and p‐substituted)‐phenyl]‐8‐chloro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2,3,4,5,10,11‐hexahydro‐1H‐dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin‐1‐ones

A new synthesis to obtain eleven novel derivatives of 11‐[(o‐ m‐ and p‐substituted)‐phenyl]‐8‐chloro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2,3,4,5,10,11‐hexahydro‐1H‐dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin‐1‐ones with possible pharmacological activity in the central nervous system in two efficient steps has been developed. The final products were obtained by condensation and cyclization between 3‐[4‐chloro‐1,2‐phenylenediamine]‐5,5‐dimethyl‐2‐cyclohexenone with (o‐ m‐ and p‐substituted)benzaldehyde. The structure of all products was corroborated by ir, ¹H‐nmr, ¹³C‐nmr and high resolution in ms.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of 7‐chloro‐5‐[(o‐ and p‐R1)phenyl]‐1‐R2‐3H‐[1,4]benzodiazepin‐2‐ones

A series of twelve new 7‐chloro‐5‐[(o‐ and p‐R₁)phenyl]‐1‐R₂‐3H‐[1,4] benzo‐diazepin‐2‐ones, which have possible pharmacological properties were synthesized. The synthesis of all the final compounds was carried out by four steps. The structure of all final products was corroborated by ir, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr and ms, and have been obtained in 35‐94% yield.     

Chronic Treatment with Melatonin Improves Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the Aged Brain and Under Neurodegeneration

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is altered during aging and under different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Melatonin shows neurogenic and neuroprotective properties during aging and neuropathological conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chronic treatment with melatonin on different markers of neurodegeneration and hippocampal neurogenesis using immunohistochemistry in the aged and neurodegenerative brains of SAMP8 mice, which is an animal model of accelerated senescence that mimics aging-related Alzheimer’s pathology. Neurodegenerative processes observed in the brains of aged SAMP8 mice at 10 months of age include the presence of damaged neurons, disorganization in the layers of the brain cortex, alterations in neural processes and the length of neuronal prolongations and β-amyloid accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus. This neurodegeneration may be associated with neurogenic responses in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of these mice, since we observed a neurogenic niche of neural stem and progenitor/precursors cells in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. However, hippocampal neurogenesis seems to be compromised due to alterations in the cell survival, migration and/or neuronal maturation of neural precursor cells due to the neurodegeneration levels in these mice. Chronic treatment with melatonin for 9 months decreased these neurodegenerative processes and the neurodegeneration-induced neurogenic response. Noticeably, melatonin also induced recovery in the functionality of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in aged SAMP8 mice.     

Aminoquinolones and Their Benzoquinone Dimer Hybrids as Modulators of Prion Protein Conversion

Prion Diseases or Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies are neurodegenerative conditions associated with a long incubation period and progressive clinical evolution, leading to death. Their pathogenesis is characterized by conformational changes of the cellular prion protein—PrP^C—in its infectious isoform—PrP^Sc—which can form polymeric aggregates that precipitate in brain tissues. Currently, there are no effective treatments for these diseases. The 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinone structure is associated with an anti-prion profile and, considering the biodynamic properties associated with 4-quinolones, in this work, 6-amino-4-quinolones derivatives and their respective benzoquinone dimeric hybrids were synthesized and had their bioactive profile evaluated through their ability to prevent prion conversion. Two hybrids, namely, 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis((3-carboxy-1-pentyl-4-quinolone-6-yl)amino)-1,4-benzoquinone (8e) and 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis((1-benzyl-3-carboxy-4-quinolone-6-yl)amino)-1,4-benzoquinone (8f), stood out for their prion conversion inhibition ability, affecting the fibrillation process in both the kinetics—with a shortening of the lag phase—and thermodynamics and their ability to inhibit the formation of protein aggregates without significant cytotoxicity at ten micromolar.