Superchiral Pd3L6 Coordination Complex and Its Reversible Structural Conversion into Pd3L3Cl6 Metallocycles

Large, non‐symmetrical, inherently chiral bispyridyl ligand L derived from natural ursodeoxycholic bile acid was used for square–planar coordination of tetravalent Pd^II, yielding the cationic single enantiomer of superchiral coordination complex 1 Pd₃ L ₆ containing 60 well‐defined chiral centers in its flower‐like structure. Complex 1 can readily be transformed by addition of chloride into a smaller enantiomerically pure cyclic trimer 2 Pd₃ L ₃Cl₆ containing 30 chiral centers. This transformation is reversible and can be restored by the addition of silver cations. Furthermore, a mixture of two constitutional isomers of trimer, 2 and 2′ , and dimer, 3 and 3′ , can be obtained directly from L by its coordination to trans‐ or cis‐N‐pyridyl‐coordinating Pd^II. These intriguing, water‐resistant, stable supramolecular assemblies have been thoroughly described by ¹H DOSY NMR, mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, molecular modelling, and drift tube ion‐mobility mass spectrometry.     

Shorter and modular synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren derivatives

Hemicryptophanes are host molecules with many applications as supramolecular catalysts or in ion selective recognition. A very convenient and efficient modular approach for the synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren (tren, tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine) derivatives has been developed. For instance, hemicryptophane 1 was synthesized at the gram scale in four steps from vanillyl alcohol compared to the previous seven-step procedure. The size, shape, and functionalities of the molecular cavity were also easily modified.     

Identification of organic sulfur compounds in coal bitumen obtained by different extraction techniques using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection

The determination of organic sulfur compounds (OSC) in coal is of great interest. Technically and operationally these compounds are not easily removed and promote corrosion of equipment. Environmentally, the burning of sulfur compounds leads to the emission of SO _x gases, which are major contributors to acid rain. Health-wise, it is well known that these compounds have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Bitumen can be extracted from coal by different techniques, and use of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric detection enables identification of compounds present in coal extracts. The OSC from three different bitumens were tentatively identified by use of three different extraction techniques: accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasonic extraction (UE), and supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE). Results obtained from one-dimensional gas chromatography (1D GC) coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (GC–qMS) and from two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (GC × GC–TOFMS) were compared. By use of 2D GC, a greater number of OSC were found in ASE bitumen than in SFE and UE bitumens. No OSC were identified with 1D GC–qMS, although some benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes were detected by use of EIM and SIM modes. GC × GC–TOFMS applied to investigation of OSC in bitumens resulted in analytical improvement, as more OSC classes and compounds were identified (thiols, sulfides, thiophenes, naphthothiophenes, benzothiophenes, and benzonaphthothiophenes). The roof-tile effect was observed for OSC and PAH in all bitumens. Several co-elutions among analytes and with matrix interferents were solved by use of GC×GC.     

Evaluation of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with micro-electron capture detection for the analysis of seven pesticides in sediment samples

A GC-μECD and a GC×GC-μECD method were developed for the analysis of pesticides in sediments. For 1D-GC, instrumental LOD and LOQ were found in the range from 0.60 to 2.31μgL(-1) and 1.83 to 5.62μgL(-1), respectively. For GC×GC method development two sets of columns were tested (DB-5/DB-17ms, and HP-50+/DB-1ms), and the best results were obtained with the set of columns DB-5/DB-17ms. Instrumental LOD and LOQ were found in the range from 0.08 to 1.07μgL(-1) and 0.25 to 3.23μgL(-1), respectively. The LOD for the GC×GC was about 36% lower than those obtained for the 1D-GC. Concentrations of 21.18μgkg(-1) through 1D-GC method and 3.34μgkg(-1) for GC×GC for trifloxystrobin were found in a sediment sample which was collected close to an area of rice plantation.     

Evaluation of the effects of Mitragyna speciosa alkaloid extract on cytochrome P450 enzymes using a high throughput assay

The extract from Mitragyna speciosa has been widely used as an opium substitute, mainly due to its morphine-like pharmacological effects. This study investigated the effects of M. speciosa alkaloid extract (MSE) on human recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities using a modified Crespi method. As compared with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, this method has shown to be a fast and cost-effective way to perform CYP inhibition studies. The results indicated that MSE has the most potent inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, with apparent half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 0.78 μg/mL and 0.636 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, moderate inhibition was observed for CYP1A2, with an IC(50) of 39 μg/mL, and weak inhibition was detected for CYP2C19. The IC(50) of CYP2C19 could not be determined, however, because inhibition was <50%. Competitive inhibition was found for the MSE-treated CYP2D6 inhibition assay, whereas non-competitive inhibition was shown in inhibition assays using CYP3A4, CYP1A2 and CYP2C19. Quinidine (CYP2D6), ketoconazole (CYP3A4), tranylcypromine (CYP2C19) and furafylline (CYP1A2) were ACCESSused as positive controls throughout the experiments. This study shows that MSE may contribute to an herb-drug interaction if administered concomitantly with drugs that are substrates for CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP1A2.     

The inherent structural instability: concentration-dependent transformation of pyrogallarene to pyrogallarene lactones

Pyrogallarene shows concentration-dependent instability in dilute solutions resulting in elimination of two ketene molecules and formation of pyrogallarene lactones. This unexpected phenomenon, which is not observed with resorcinarenes, highlights the significance of the four hydroxyl groups at 2-position for the molecular characteristics of pyrogallarenes.     

Arabinoxylan structure affects the reinforcement of films by microfibrillated cellulose

The chemical structure of rye arabinoxylan (rAX) was systematically modified, exploiting selective enzymes to mimic different naturally occurring xylans, i.e., its degree of substitution (DS) was decreased using α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and a controlled decrease in the degree of polymerization (DP) was performed using endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase. The arabinose to xylose ratio was decreased from 0.45 to 0.27 and the weight-average molar mass was decreased from 184,000 to 49,000 g/mol. The resulting samples were used to prepare films, as such, and with 15% (wt. − %) softwood-derived microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) to obtain novel plant-derived biocomposite materials. The enzymatic tailoring of rAX increased the crystallinity of films, evidenced by X-ray diffraction studies, and the addition of MFC to the debranched, low DS rAX induced the formation of ordered structures visible with polarizing optical microscopy. MFC decreased the moisture uptake of films and increased the relative humidity of softening of the films, detected with moisture scanning dynamic mechanical analysis. For the first time, the chemical structure of xylan was proven to significantly affect the reinforcement potential of nano-sized cellulose, as the tensile strength of films from high DP rAXs, but not that of low DP rAXs, clearly increased with the addition of MFC. At the same time, MFC only increased the Young’s modulus of films from rAX with high arabinose content, regardless of DP.     

A study of the antioxidative behavior of phenolic acids, in aqueous herb extracts, using a dsDNA biosensor

Electrochemical DNA biosensors are promising tools for the fast, inexpensive and simple in vitro analysis for the determination of free radicals and antioxidants. High concentrations of antioxidants in such compounds as phenolic acids and plant extracts, act as free radical terminators which reduce the effect of the oxidative dam-age on DNA. The electrochemical behavior of three representative phenolic acids, caffeic acid, gallic acid and trolox were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Moreover, the determination of the above antioxidants under the optimized conditions (scan rate, deposition potential and time) using differential pulse voltammetry was also investigated. In vitro studies focused on their antioxidative effect were performed by adsorptive transfer stripping voltammetry and dsDNA biosensor. Using Fenton’s system, with FeSO₄ and H₂O₂ was chosen as a strong oxidative system. This biosensor was applied as a screening antioxidant test in order to estimate the antioxidant capacity of aqueous herb extracts.      

PCNCP Ligands in the Chromium‐Catalyzed Oligomerization of Ethylene: Tri‐ versus Tetramerization

Chromium(III) complexes bearing R′N(CH₂PR₂)₂ (PCNCP) ligands have been prepared. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, these complexes proved to be effective in the selective tri‐ and tetramerization of ethylene. The formation of either 1‐hexene or 1‐octene was found to be highly dependent on the steric bulk of the substituents R on the phosphine moieties. This observation was rationalized by using density functional theory calculations on selected steps of the metallacyclic mechanism of the ethylene oligomerization reaction.     

Cellulose structural arrangement in relation to spectral changes in tensile loading FTIR

In order to utilise wood and wood fibres in advanced materials, a better understanding of the mechanical material characteristics and the interactions among the components is necessary. For this purpose, FTIR was explored together with mechanical loading as a means of studying the molecular responses to the loading of spruce wood and cellulose paper material. A linear shift of absorption bands was detected as the loading was applied. In relation to the applied stress these shifts were higher under moist conditions than under dry ones but they were similar with regard to the strains applied. There were no shifts detected in bands related to lignin or the hemicelluloses. The results are interpreted as reflecting a parallel arrangement of the load bearing component, the cellulose ordered structure, and the moisture accessible regions in the cellulose microfibril structure. This therefore represents an equal strain loaded system.