Carbamoylation of B6 vitamins

The reaction of B₆ vitamins 1–3 with cyanate, in the presence of equivalent amounts of hydrochloric acid, yields different adducts according to the structure of the starting material. Regiospecific attack on the amino group or the phenolic hydroxy group was found for 2a,b and 3a,b , respectively. From the aldehydes 1a,b , the 2H-pyrido[3,4-e]-1,3-oxazin-2-ones 7a,b were obtained through an attack on both the phenolic and aldehyde group.     

Development of a simplified method for the simultaneous determination of retinol, α-tocopherol,and β-carotene in serum by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A new and simple method for the determination of fat-soluble vitamins (retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene) in human serum was developed and validated by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI-MS-MS). Different solvent mixtures were tested to obtain deproteinization and extraction of the analytes from the matrix. As a result, a volume of 240 microL of a 1:1 (v/v) ethanol/ethyl acetate mixture added to 60 microL of serum was found to be suitable for both protein precipitation and antioxidants solubilization, giving the best recovery for all three analytes. Deproteinized samples (20 microL) were injected after dilution, without the need for concentration or evaporation to dryness and reconstruction of the sample. Vitamins were separated on a C-8 column using a 95:5 (v/v) methanol/dichloromethane mixture and ionized in the positive-ion mode; detection was performed in the selected-reaction monitoring mode. Linearity of the LC-APCI-MS-MS method was established over 5 orders of magnitude for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, whereas in the case of beta-carotene it was limited to 4 orders. Lower limits of quantitation were 1.7, 2.3, and 4.1 nM for retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene, respectively. Serum concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and alpha+beta-carotene determined in a group of healthy volunteers were 2.48, 38.07, and 0.50 microM, respectively, in samples collected in winter ( n=122) and 2.69, 45.88, and 0.90 microM during summer ( n=66).     

The Michael addition of indoles to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by CeCl3.7H2O-NaI combination supported on silica gel

Alkylation of indoles by means of the Michael addition has been the subject of a number of investigation. It is well established that regioselectivity in the additions of indoles to electron-deficient alkenes is strongly controlled by the reaction medium. In a continuation of the work on developing greener and cleaner technologies, the cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide combination supported on silica gel catalyzes the alkylation of various indoles with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones giving 3-(3-oxoalkyl)indole derivatives in good yields. The substitution on the indole nucleus occurred exclusively at the 3-position, and N-alkylation products have not been observed.     

Photoreduction of Thiosulfate in Semiconductor Dispersions

Conduction band electrons produced by band gap excitation of TiO₂-particles reduce efficiently thiosulfate to sulfide and sulfite. \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm 2e}_{{\rm cb}}^ - ({\rm TiO}_{\rm 2}) + {\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_3^{2 - } \longrightarrow {\rm S}^{2 - } + {\rm SO}_3^{2 - } $\end{document} This reaction is confirmed by electrochemical investigations with polycrystalline TiO₂-electrodes. The valence band process in alkaline TiO₂-dispersions involves oxidation of S₂O to tetrathionate which quantitatively dismutates into sulfite and thiosulfate, the net reaction being: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ 2{\rm h}^{\rm + } ({\rm TiO}_{\rm 2}) + 0.5{\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_{\rm 3}^{{\rm 2} - } + 1.5{\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm O} \longrightarrow {\rm SO}_3^{2 - } + 3{\rm H}^{\rm + } $\end{document} This photodriven disproportionation of thiosulfate into sulfide and sulfite: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ 1.5{\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm O } + 1.5{\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_{\rm 3}^{{\rm 2} - } \mathop \to \limits^{h\nu} 2{\rm SO}_3^{2 - } + {\rm S}^{{\rm 2} - } + 3{\rm H}^{\rm + } $\end{document} should be of great interest for systems that photochemically split hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and sulfur.     

Hyperpigmentation induced by topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid plus visible light

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is an alternative tool for the treatment of superficial non-melanoma skin cancers. Recently ALA-PDT has been employed with encouraging results also for warts, condylomata and psoriasis. In this study the effects of topical ALA plus irradiation with visible light on intact human skin have been evaluated. Five skin areas (A, B, C, D, and E) on the inner upper part of the arms of five healthy volunteers (skin types III and IV) were treated with (A) ALA 20% in base cream without irradiation, (B) only the vehicle (base cream) without ALA, (C, D and E) ALA cream at the concentrations of 5, 10 and 20%, respectively; all treatments were applied with an occlusive dressing. Four hours after ALA or vehicle application areas B, C, D and E were irradiated with a fixed dose of 40 J/cm(2). ALA penetration through the intact skin was evaluated by in vivo fluorescence determination. The effects on healthy skin were evaluated by clinical and chromometric examinations, light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. RESULTS: (1) in vivo fluorescence demonstrated that ALA is able to penetrate through the intact skin, when applied with occlusive dressing and induces a classical fluorescence peak due to Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) formation, which is the active photosensitiser. (2) Skin areas receiving ALA plus irradiation showed erythema and swelling just after the irradiative session and hyperpigmentation 48-72 h later. (3) Colourimetric data confirmed significant skin colour changes: values a* (representing the erythematous changes) increased only on the skin areas where ALA+irradiation were applied and during the 48 h after irradiation, thereafter a* began to decrease; values L* (pigmentation) increased during the 2 weeks following treatment. (4) Histopathological, immunohistochemical (S100, HMB-45) and electron microscopic findings showed an absolute increment of the number of melanocytes, which appeared clearly activated. In conclusion the application of ALA cream followed by irradiation is able to induce a pigmentation response in healthy human skin, at least in skin types III and IV. This melanocytic activation could have a potential for the treatment of skin disorders characterised by hypopigmentation.     

Design and self-assembly of ditopic and tetratopic cavitand complexes

The self-assembly of open ditopic and tetratopic cavitand complexes has been investigated by using monofunctionalized cavitand ligands and suitable metal precursors. In the case of ditopic complexes, self-assembly protocols, leading exclusively to the formation of both thermodynamically stable cis-Pt square-planar complexes 8 and 9 and the kinetically inert fac-Re octahedral complex 14, have been elaborated. The use of cis-[Pt(CH3)CN)2Cl2] as metal precursor led to the formation of monotopic trans-10 and ditopic trans-11 cavitand complexes, while cis-[Pt(dmso)2Cl2] afforded both cis-13 and trans-11 isomers. The self-assembly of tetratopic cavitand complexes has been achieved by using mononuclear [Pd(CH3CN)4(BF4)2] and dinuclear [M2(tppb)(OTf)4] (19: M = Pt; 20: M = Pd) metal precursors. Only the tetratopic dinuclear complexes 21 and 22 were stable. The ligand configuration with two phosphorus and two cavitand ligands at the metal centers is the most appropriate to build tetratopic cavitand complexes with sufficient kinetic stability.     

Determination of Aldehydes and Ketones in Fuel Ethanol by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

A new methodology was developed for analysis of aldehydes and ketones in fuel ethanol by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrochemical detection. The electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2-furfuraldehyde, butyraldehyde, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) at glassy carbon electrode present a well defined wave at +0.94 V; +0.99 V; +1.29 V; +1.15 V and +1.18 V, respectively which are the basis for its determination on electrochemical detector. The carbonyl compounds derivatized were separated by a reverse-phase column under isocratic conditions with a mobile phase containing a binary mixture of methanol / LiClO_4(aq) at a concentration of 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ (80:20 v/v) and a flow-rate of 1.1mL min⁻¹ . The optimum potential for the electrochemical detection of aldehydes-DNPH and ketones-DNPH was +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The analytical curve of aldehydes-DNPH and ketones-DNPH presented linearity over the range 5.0 to 400.0 ng mL⁻¹, with detection limits of 1.7 to 2.0 ng mL⁻¹ and quantification limits from 5.0 to 6.2 ng mL⁻¹, using injection volume of 20 μL. The proposed methodology was simple, low time-consuming (15 min/analysis) and presented analytical recovery higher than 95%.     

Polycondensed nitrogen heterocycles. Part 19. Pyrrolo[1,2-f]phenanthridines by pschorr-type cyclization brought about by hypophosphorous acid

Pyrrolo[1,2-f]phenanthridines were prepared in good yields by the diazotization in acetic acid of the amines la,b and subsequent treatment with hypophosphorous acid. The necessity for hypophosphorous acid in the reaction was demonstrated.     

Axial Imidazole Distortion Effects on the Catalytic and Binding Properties of Chelated Deuterohemin Complexes

The effect of strain in the axial coordination of imidazole to the heme has been studied in the chelate complexes deuterohemin-histidine (DH-His) and deuterohemin-alanylhistidine (DH-AlaHis). Molecular mechanics calculations indicate that three types of distortion of the axial ligand occur in DH-His, due to the relatively short length of the arm carrying the donor group: tilting off-axis, tipping, and inclination of the imidazole plane with respect to the axial Fe-N bond. The effects of tilting (Deltagamma approximately 10 degrees ) and inclination of the imidazole ring (Deltadelta approximately 17 degrees ) are dominant, while tipping is small and is probably of little importance here. By contrast, the axial imidazole coordination is normal in DH-AlaHis and other computed deuterohemin-dipeptide or -tripeptide complexes where histidine is the terminal residue, the only exception being DH-ProHis, where the rigidity of the proline ring reduces the flexibility of the chelating arm. The distortion in the axial iron-imidazole bond in DH-His has profound and negative influence on the binding and catalytic properties of this complex compared to DH-AlaHis. The former complex binds more weakly carbon monoxide, in its reduced form, and imidazole, in its oxidized form, than the latter. The catalytic efficiency in peroxidative oxidations is also reduced in DH-His with respect to DH-AlaHis. The activity of the latter complex is similar to that of microperoxidase-11, the peptide fragment incorporating the heme that results from hydrolytic cleavage of cytochrome c.     

OH-Induced shift from carbon to oxygen acidity in the side-chain deprotonation of 2-, 3- and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol radical cations in aqueous solution: results from pulse radiolysis and DFT calculations

DFT calculations have been carried out for 2-, 3- and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol radical cations (1⁺, 3⁺ and 4⁺, respectively) and the α-methyl derivatives 2⁺ and 5⁺ using the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) method. The theoretical results have been compared with the experimental rate constants for deprotonation of 1⁺-5⁺ under acidic and basic conditions. In acidic solution, the decay of 1⁺-5⁺ proceeds by cleavage of the C-H bond, while in the presence of ⁻OH all the radical cations undergo deprotonation from the α-OH group. This pH-dependent change in mechanism has been interpreted qualitatively in terms of simple frontier molecular orbital theory. The ⁻OH induced α-O-H deprotonation is consistent with a charge controlled reaction, whereas the C-H deprotonation, observed when the base is H₂O, appears to be affected by frontier orbital interactions.