Development of a Novel Automatic Potentiometric System for Determination of Selenium and Its Application in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Anodic Slime

Poly(vinyl chloride) polymeric membrane sensors containing Sn(IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SnPC) and Co(II) phthalocyanine (CoPC) as novel electroactive materials dispersed in o‐nitrophenyl octylether (o‐NPOE) as a plasticizer are examined potentiometrically with respect to their response toward selenite (SeO₃^2?) ions. Fast Nernstian response for SeO₃^2? ions over the concentration ranges 7.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?3 and 8.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?3 mol L^?l at pH 3.5–8.5 with lower detection limit of 5.0×10^?6 and 8.0×10^?6 mol L^?1 and calibration slopes of ?25.4 and ?29.7 mV decade^?1 are obtained with SnPC and CoPC based membrane sensors, respectively. The proposed sensors reveals by the modified separate solution method (MSSM) a good selectivity over different anions which differ significantly from the classical Hofmeister series. A segmented sandwich membrane method is used to determine complex formation constants of the ionophores in situe in the solvent polymeric sensing membranes. Membrane incorporating CoPC in a tubular flow detector is used in a two channels flow injection set up for continuous monitoring of selenite at a frequency of ca. 50 samples h^?1. Direct determination of selenium in pharmaceutical formulations and anodic slime gives results in good agreement with data obtained using standard ICP method.     

Real-time monitoring of protein complexes reveals their quaternary organization and dynamics

The dynamics of protein complexes are crucial for their function yet are challenging to study. Here, we present a nanoelectrospray (nESI) mass spectrometry (MS) approach capable of simultaneously providing structural and dynamical information for protein complexes. We investigate the properties of two small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) and find that these proteins exist as dodecamers composed of dimeric building blocks. Moreover, we show that these proteins exchange dimers on the timescale of minutes, with the rate of exchange being strongly temperature dependent. Because these proteins are expressed in the same cellular compartment, we anticipate that this dynamical behavior is crucial to their function in vivo. Furthermore, we propose that the approach used here is applicable to a range of nonequilibrium systems and is capable of providing both structural and dynamical information necessary for functional genomics.     

Regioselectivity and regiospecificity of benzoxazinone (2-isopropyl-4H-3,1-benzoxazinone) derivatives toward nitrogen nucleophiles and evaluation of antimicrobial activity

A novel group of 6-iodoquinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives was prepared. The reaction of the benzoxazinone 3 with various nitrogen nucleophiles such as formamide and hydrazine hydrate and also the reaction of the isopropylquinazolinone 4 with hydrazonyl chloride have been shown to proceed with a high degree of regioselectivity at C(2). Spiro heterocycles have been found to play fundamental roles in biological processes and have exhibited diversified biological activity and pharmacological and therapeutical properties; thus reaction of acetohydrazides 10a–c afforded the spiro compounds 11a–c. The acetohydrazide derivative 7 reacted with carbon electrophiles such as acetylacetone, ethyl acetoacetate, acid chlorides, and benzaldehyde to give some interesting heterocyclic compounds 12–16, respectively. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were inferred by infrared, ¹H NMR, and mass spectra as well as elemental analyses. The antimicrobial activities of some of the synthesized products were preliminarily evaluated.     

6-Iodo-2-isopropyl-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one as building block in heterocyclic synthesis

As a part of ongoing studies in the synthesis of a variety of heterocycles of biological importance, we report here an efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of novel compounds from 6-iodo-2-isopropyl-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one 1 as building block. The reaction of benzoxazinone 1 with various reagents such as diethylmalonate, sodium azide, and phosphorus pentasulfide yielded the compounds 2–5. The behavior of benzothiazin-4-thione 5 toward formamide and hydrazine hydrate was investigated, forming the compounds 6 and 7. The reaction of quinazolinone derivative 8 with β-D-glucose pentaacetate, ethyl 2-methyl-5-((1S,2R,3R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)furan-3-carboxylate, epichlorohydrin and benzenesulphonyl chloride afforded quinazolinone derivatives 9, 10, 12, and 13 respectively. The reaction of quinazolinone derivative 10 with acetic anhydride resulted in formation of the acylated compound 11. The behavior of quinazolinylacetohydrazide derivative 14 toward carbon electrophiles^[16 El-Hashash, M. A.; El-Naggar, A. M.; El-Bordany, E. A.; Marzouk, M. I.; Nawar, T. M. S. Regioselectivity and regiospecificity of benzoxazinone (2-isopropyl4H-3,1-benzoxazinone) derivatives toward nitrogen nucleophiles and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Synth. Commun. 2016, 46(14), 1230–1241.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]^] has been investigated by its reaction with ethyl benzoylacetate, potassium thiocyanate, and phenyl isothiocyanate, affording the quinazolinone derivatives 15, 16, and 18, respectively. Treatment of compound 16 with sodium hydroxide followed by hydrochloric acid yielded the mercapto-triazole derivative 17. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, infrared (IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectra. The antimicrobial activities of some of the synthesized compounds were preliminarily evaluated.     

Eco-friendly micellar HPTLC technique for the simultaneous analysis of co-formulated antibiotic cefoperazone and sulbactam in pure form and vial pharmaceutical formulation

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A rapid, sensitive, and eco-friendly micellar high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique for the simultaneous...     

Validated green high‐performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of coformulated pharmaceuticals: A comparison with reported conventional methods

The introduction of sustainable development concepts to analytical laboratories has recently gained interest, however, most conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography methods do not consider either the effect of the used chemicals or the amount of produced waste on the environment. The aim of this work was to prove that conventional methods can be replaced by greener ones with the same analytical parameters. The suggested methods were designed so that they neither use nor produce harmful chemicals and produce minimum waste to be used in routine analysis without harming the environment. This was achieved by using green mobile phases and short run times. Four mixtures were chosen as models for this study; clidinium bromide/chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, phenobarbitone/pipenzolate bromide, mebeverine hydrochloride/sulpiride, and chlorphenoxamine hydrochloride/caffeine/8‐chlorotheophylline either in their bulk powder or in their dosage forms. The methods were validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, system suitability, and robustness. The developed methods were compared to the reported conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography methods regarding their greenness profile. The suggested methods were found to be greener and more time‐ and solvent‐saving than the reported ones; hence they can be used for routine analysis of the studied mixtures without harming the environment.     

A Site-Selective Doping Strategy of Carbon Anodes with Remarkable K-Ion Storage Capacity

The limited potassium-ion intercalation capacity of graphite hampers development of potassium-ion batteries (PIB). Edge-nitrogen doping is an effective approach to enhance K-ion storage in carbonaceous materials. One shortcoming is the lack of precise control over producing the edge-nitrogen configuration. Here, a molecular-scale copolymer pyrolysis strategy is used to precisely control edge-nitrogen doping in carbonaceous materials. This process results in defect-rich, edge-nitrogen doped carbons (ENDC) with a high nitrogen-doping level (up to 10.5 at %) and a high edge-nitrogen ratio (87.6 %). The optimized ENDC exhibits a high reversible capacity of 423 mAh g⁻¹, a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 65 %, superior rate capability, and long cycle life (93.8 % retention after three months). This strategy can be extended to design other edge-heteroatom-rich carbons through pyrolysis of copolymers for efficient storage of various mobile ions.     

Characterization of bismuth–tin–lead and bismuth–tin–lead–cadmium fusible alloys

Microstructure, electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of quenched bismuth–tin eutectic, Rose (Bi₅₀Sn_22.9Pb_27.1) and Wood’s (Bi₅₀Sn_12.5Pb₂₅Cd_12.5) alloys have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, the double bridge method, the dynamic resonance method, Vickers hardness measurement and thermal analysis. Wood’s alloy (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) has low electrical resistivity and melting point but a high elastic modulus and internal friction when compared with the Rose (Bi–Pb–Sn) alloy. The presence of cadmium in Wood’s alloy decreases its melting point and electrical resistivity with an increase in its elastic modulus, which improves the mechanical properties. Wood’s alloy (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) has better properties, which make it useful in various applications such as in protection shields for radiotherapy, locking of mechanical devices and welding at low temperature.     

Spectroscopic studies on some azo compounds and their cobalt, copper and nickel complexes

Synthesis and characterization of [o-carboxy phenylazo] moiety of barbituric acid, thiobarbituric acid, thiouracil, citrazinic acid, and disodium chromotropate and their complexes derived from cobalt (II), nickel (II), and copper (II) salts were done. The stereochemistry and the mode of bonding of the complexes were achieved based on elemental analysis, NMR, UV-Vis, IR and ESR. The dissociation constants of the free azo ligands are evaluated by spectrophotometric methods.     

Thermal response of dielectric,impedance and modulus spectroscopy study of NCZA bulk ceramics

The Ni_0.27Cu_0.10Zn_0.63Fe_1.96Al_0.04O₄ (NCZA) magnetic bulk ceramics is prepared via conventional solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction study has confirmed the single phase spinel crystal structure. The surface morphology has been studied and found small grain size distributions that are separated by well-defined grain boundaries. Besides, to understand the thermal and frequency variation of the electrical and dielectric properties, the investigation has done at different selected temperatures (T_m = 300, 323, 373, 423, 473, 523 and 573) over a range of frequency (20 Hz to 2 MHz) throughout a non-destructive impedance spectroscopy technique. It is observed that the dielectric constant has increased with the increase of T_m as well as frequency. The impedance plot showed two semicircular arcs due to the distinguishing relaxation time constant of charge carrier of grain and grain boundaries. Modulus spectroscopy has been carried out to analyze the mechanism of electrical transport process in the ceramics.