Electronic communication through the ureylene bridge: spectroscopy, structure and electrochemistry of dimethyl 1,1-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate)

Dimethyl 1^′,1^′-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate) (1) formed during the synthesis of 1-amino, 1^′-ferrocenecarboxylic acid shows virtual molecular centrosymmetry. Electronic coupling between the two Fc groups through the ureylene bridge results in both Fc groups being individually oxidizable (ΔE_1/2?0.14 V). The possible existence of intermolecular electronic communication has discussed. The oxidation was followed by spectroelectrochemistry. The separation between the two halfwave potentials ΔE_1/2=137±5 mV and the comproportionation constant K_c=207.     

Glutamate receptor incorporated in a mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane array, as a sensing element of a biosensor working under flowing conditions

The realization of a reliable receptor biosensor requires stable, long-lasting, reconstituted biomembranes able to supply a suitable biomimetic environment where the receptor can properly work after incorporation. To this end, we developed a new method for preparing stable biological membranes that couple the biomimetic properties of BLMs (bilayer lipid membranes) with the high stability of HBMs (hybrid bilayer membranes); this gives rise to an innovative assembly, named MHBLM (mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane). The present work deals with the characterization of biosensors achieved by embedding an ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) on MHBLM. Thanks to signal (transmembrane current) amplification, which is typical of natural receptors, the biosensor here produced detects glutamate at a level of nmol L(-1). The transmembrane current changes linearly vs glutamate up to 100 nmol L(-1), while the limit of detection is 1 nmol L(-1). In addition, the biosensor response can be modulated both by receptor agonists (glycine) and antagonists (Mg(2+)) as well, and by exploiting the biosensor response, the distribution of different kinds of ionotropic GluR present in the purified sample, and embedded in MHBLM, was also evaluated. Finally, one of the most important aspects of this investigation is represented by the high stability of the biomimetic system, which allows the use of biosensor under flowing conditions, where the solutions flow on both biomembrane faces.     

Eptastigmine,nicotinamide and nicotinic acid determination using an inhibition enzyme sensor; application to pharmaceutical analysis

An enzyme inhibition biosensor, developed in our laboratory and previously used for the analysis of compounds with anticholinesterase activity (e.g. physostigmine, neostigmine, pyridostigmine nicotine and organophosphorus compounds) has now been tested for the analysis of another recently synthesized cholinesterase inhibitor, i.e. eptastigmine. In addition nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, although displaying weaker inhibition properties, were also tested in pharmaceutical products using the same inhibition enzyme sensor. The biosensor consisted of a hydrogen peroxide amperometric electrode coupled to a functionalised nylon membrane chemically bonding both the enzymes butyrylcholinesterase and choline oxidase; a butyrylcholine standard solution in glycine buffer acted as substrate. The response of the system to all the inhibitors considered was characterised completely and the analysis of several pharmaceutical formulations containing nicotinamide or nicotinic acid was also performed.     

Decomposizioni di semifiltri e Γ-limiti sequenziali in reticoli completamente distributivi

Summary Sequential forms of De Giorgi's -limits are obtained via a decomposition of their carriers (carrier=sostegno) in the setting of completely distributive complete lattices. Moreover, the notion of carrier enables us to calculate easily the K-limits of epi- or hipo-graphs of arbitrary -limits.     

Redox chemistry of tellurium bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(V)azane disulfide and diselenide systems: a spectroscopic and structural study

The redox chemistry of tellurium-chalcogenide systems is examined via reactions of tellurium(IV) tetrachloride with Li[(t)()BuN(E)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(E)N(H)(t)Bu] (3a, E = S; 3b, E = Se). Reaction of TeCl(4) with 2 equiv of 3a in THF generates the tellurium(IV) species TeCl(3)[HcddS(2)][H(2)cddS(2)] 4a [cddS(2) = (t)BuN(S)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(S)N(t)Bu] at short reaction times, while reduction to the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddS(2)](2) 5a is observed at longer reaction times. The analogous reaction of TeCl(4) and 3b yields only the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddSe(2)](2) 5b. The use of 4 equiv of 3a or 3b produces Te[HcddE(2)](2) (6a (E = S) or 6b (E = Se)). NMR and EPR studies of the 5:1 reaction of 3a and TeCl(4) in THF or C(6)D(6) indicate that the formation of the Te(II) complex 6a via decomposition of a Te(IV) precursor occurs via a radical process to generate H(2)cddS(2). Abstraction of hydrogen from THF solvent is proposed to account for the formation of 2a. These results are discussed in the context of known tellurium-sulfur and tellurium-nitrogen redox systems. The X-ray crystal structures of 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 5a, 5b, 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) have been determined. The cyclodiphosph(V)azane dichalcogenide ligand chelates the tellurium center in an E,N (E = S, Se) manner in 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) with long Te-N bond distances in each case. Further, a neutral H(2)cddS(2) ligand weakly coordinates the tellurium center in 4a small middle dot[C(7)H(8)](0.5) via a single chalcogen atom. A similar monodentate interaction of two neutral ligands with a TeCl(2) unit is observed in the case of 5a and 5b, giving a trans square planar arrangement at tellurium.     

Novel platinum-catalysed cascade reactions: cyclisation, ring expansion and 1,2-oxygen shift reaction of a camphor-derived diyne

2,3-Bis(ethynyl)-3-hydroxy-camphorsultam was converted in one step into a novel tetracyclic cyclopentenone derivative, in an unprecedented platinum-catalysed cascade reaction. In the course of this reaction, cyclisation of the alkynes takes place, together with a ring expansion of the camphor skeleton and 1,2-migration of an oxygen atom. The structure of the unexpected product was analysed in detail by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, and validated with the help of quantum mechanical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ and B3LYP/6-31+G(2df)) of the IR vibrational frequencies and the ¹H and ¹³C isotropic chemical shifts.     

NMR shielding constants for hydrogen guest molecules in structure II clathrates

Proton NMR shielding constants and chemical shifts for hydrogen guests in small and large cages of structure II clathrates are calculated using density-functional theory and the gauge-invariant atomic-orbital method. Shielding constants are calculated at the B3LYP level with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The calculated chemical shifts are corrected with a linear regression to reproduce the experimental chemical shifts of a set of standard molecules. The calculated chemical shifts of single hydrogen molecules in the small and large structure II cages are 4.94 and 4.84 ppm, respectively, which show that within the error range of the method the H2 guest molecules in the small and large cages cannot be distinguished. Chemical shifts are also calculated for double occupancy of the hydrogen guests in small cages, and double, triple, and quadruple occupancy in large cages. Multiple occupancy changes the chemical shift of the hydrogen guests by approximately 0.2 ppm. The relative effects of other guest molecules and the cage on the chemical shift are studied for the cages with multiple occupancies.     

Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methane

Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methanes Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methanes ( 2a–c ) have been prepared by reaction of all-cis-cyclononatetraenide with 1,1-dichlorodimethyl ether as well as with carbenium ion precursors 9b and 9c . The title compounds 2 are attractive precursors of highly delocalised nonafulvenes of type 3 ; however, elimination experiments 2→3 failed so far.     

ASV determination of cadmium complexation in seawater. Methodology evaluation

The methodology for using DPASV to study cadmium complexation in seawater is evaluated using EDTA as a model ligand and by analysing natural samples. The results show that the methodology gives an accurate evaluation of metal complexation when inert complexes are studied, both as regards the ligand concentration and the conditional stability constant; the error for both the parameters is lower than 10% at a ligand concentration of about 10(-8) M and a conditional stability constant of 10(9) M-1. Cadmium complexes with ligands present in natural seawater show an evident kinetic lability that may lead to underestimation of the conditional stability constant when a working electrode characterised by a very thick diffusion layer is used. The conditional stability constant in one water sample of the Adriatic coast ranged between 0.14 and 1.4 l/nmol using a rotating disk electrode at rotation rates of 300 and 6000 rpm. The results of cadmium complexation obtained for samples collected in coastal seawater show that the ligands present low specificity for the metal.     

Analysis of human brain tissue, brain tumors and tumor cells by infrared spectroscopic mapping

This study uses infrared (IR) spectroscopic, point detection, mapping procedures to examine tissue samples from normal brain specimens and from astrocytic gliomas, the most frequent human brain tumors. Model systems were derived from cultured glioma cell lines. IR spectra of normal tissue sections distinguished white matter from gray matter by increased spectral contributions from lipids and cholesterol. Qualitatively the same differences were found in IR spectra of low and high grade glioma tissue sections pointing to a significant reduction of brain lipids with increasing malignancy. Whereas spectral contributions of proteins and lipids were similar in IR spectra of glioma cells and tissues, nucleic acid bands were more intense for cells suggesting higher proliferative activities. For statistical analyses of IR spectroscopic maps from 71 samples, a parameter for the lipid to protein ratio was introduced involving the CH(2) symmetric stretch band with lipids as main contributors and the amide I band of proteins. As this parameter correlated with the grade of gliomas obtained from standard histopathological examination, it was applied to classify brain tissue sections based on IR spectroscopic mapping.