Synthesis of 3-substituted-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-naphth[1,2-d]-imidazole-2,4,5-triones and 1-Substituted-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-naphth[2,3-d]imidazole-2,4,9-triones

Tricyclic compounds with an imidazolinone ring fused to 1,2- and 1,4-naphtoquinones were synthesized by a reaction of 4-amino-1,2-naphthoquinone and 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone with electrophilic symmetric and non symmetric diazenes.     

Development of an Accurate Mass Retention Time Database for Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis and Its Application to Plasma and Urine Pediatric Samples

Liquid-chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is currently the method of choice for untargeted metabolomic analysis. The availability of established protocols to achieve a high confidence identification of metabolites is crucial. The aim of this work is to describe the workflow that we have applied to build an Accurate Mass Retention Time (AMRT) database using a commercial metabolite library of standards. LC-HRMS analysis was carried out using a Vanquish Horizon UHPLC system coupled to a Q-Exactive Plus Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Milan, Italy). The fragmentation spectra, obtained with 12 collision energies, were acquired for each metabolite, in both polarities, through flow injection analysis. Several chromatographic conditions were tested to obtain a protocol that yielded stable retention times. The adopted chromatographic protocol included a gradient separation using a reversed phase (Waters Acquity BEH C18) and a HILIC (Waters Acquity BEH Amide) column. An AMRT database of 518 compounds was obtained and tested on real plasma and urine samples analyzed in data-dependent acquisition mode. Our AMRT library allowed a level 1 identification, according to the Metabolomics Standards Initiative, of 132 and 124 metabolites in human pediatric plasma and urine samples, respectively. This library represents a starting point for future metabolomic studies in pediatric settings.     

Comprehensive Characterization of Chain End Groups of Vinylidene Fluoride Based Polymers

Summary: In this work an investigation of the chain end groups produced in the free radical copolymerization of vinilydene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) is performed. Type and amount of chain end groups are evaluated by a meticulous analytical characterization of VDF/HFP copolymer. At first pulsed gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (spin-echo NMR) is used to identify all the chain end groups also at very low concentration (equal to 0.1 mmol · Kg⁻¹). The instrument sensitivity is increased of an order of magnitude in comparison with the traditional NMR. Moreover potentiometric titration and ion chromatography (IC) are also used to study the chain end groups and, as a consequence, the nature and the amount of the acidity showed by the polymer chains. In details two intensity of acidity are detected by potentiometric titration, namely strong and weak. The strong acidity is associated to the presence of residual surfactant and can be removed washing the polymer, while the weak acidity is due to free molecules of fluoride acid (HF). The standard ion chromatography facility is properly modified to quantify the fluoride in the polymer matrix without any pre extraction in water. Thanks to this the HF concentration in the polymer is evaluated with high accuracy. A detailed kinetic scheme for the VDF/HFP polymerization is also proposed taking into account all the findings obtained studying the chain end groups.     

Parkia pendula Seed Lectin: Potential Use to Treat Cutaneous Wounds in Healthy and Immunocompromised Mice

Parkia pendula seed lectin was used to treat cutaneous wounds of normal and immunocompromised mice, inducing cicatrization. Methotrexate (0.8 mg/kg/week) was used as immunosuppressive drug. Wounds were produced in the dorsal region (1 cm²) of female albino Swiss mice (Mus musculus), health and immunocompromised. Wounds were daily topically treated with 100 μL of the following solutions: (1) control (NaCl 0.15 M), (2) control Im (0.15 M NaCl), (3) P. pendula seed lectin (100 μg/mL), and (4) P. pendula seed lectin Im (100 μg/mL). Clinical evaluation was performed during 12 days. Biopsies for histopathology analysis and microbiological examinations were carried out in the second, seventh, and 12th days. The presence of edema and hyperemia was observed in all groups during inflammatory period. The first crust was detected from the second day, only in the groups treated with P. pendula seed lectin. Microbiological analysis of wounds from day 0 to day 2 did not show bacterium at P. pendula seed lectin group; however, Staphylococcus sp. was detected every day in the other groups. The lectin markedly induced a total wound closing at P. pendula seed lectin and P. pendula seed lectin Im groups on 11th day of evolution. The present study suggests that P. pendula seed lectin is a biomaterial potential to show pharmacological effect in the repair process of cutaneous wounds.     

Synthesis of potential HIV integrase inhibitors inspired by natural polyphenol structures

Drawing inspiration from the structural features of some natural polyphenols, the synthesis of two different model compounds as potential inhibitors of HIV integrase (IN) has been described. The former was characterised by a diketo acid (DKA) bioisostere, such as a β-hydroxycarbonyl moiety, between two fragments containing aromatic groups, while in the latter an epoxide linked two polyoxygenated aromatic residues. The moieties present in the structures are thought to function by chelating divalent metal ions on the enzyme catalytic site. Overall, 10 compounds were prepared and some of that submitted to molecular modelling studies (to investigate their interactions with the active site of IN), to metal titration studies (to detect their chelating capability) and to biological assays.     

Application of thermal analysis to the rhenium recovery process from copper and molybdenum sulphides minerals

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Rhenium production from copper and molybdenum sulphides involves the use of a pyrometallurgical process. In traditional pyrometallurgy processes, gases...     

1,2,3-Triazolo[4,5-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-c]pyrimidines

Some new 1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[3, 4 -c]pyrimidmes were prepared starting from the corresponding 1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidines via the formation of the 1,2,4-triazole ring. Thus suitable hydrazino derivatives 6 were condensed with triethyl orthoformate, triethyl orthoacetate and triethyl orthobenzoate to give the expected tricyclic derivatives 7 , 8 and 9 . Intramolecular cyclization of the ethoxycarbonylhydrazino derivatives 10 gave the tricyclic compounds 11 bearing an hydroxyl group in the 3 position. The v-triazolo-s-triazolopyrimidine derivatives were tested towards the A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors in binding assays, but they did not show any receptor affinity.     

Dipeptides containing D-serine or D-isoserine from the same (R)-aziridine-2-imide by a simple reversal of the synthetic procedure

The ring expansion of 3-unsubstituted (R)-aziridine-2-imide-containing dipeptide under acidic conditions gives rise to oxazoline-5-imide regio and stereoselectively, which can be hydrolysed to the dipeptide containing D-isoserine. On the other hand, the ring opening of 3-unsubstituted (R)-aziridine-2-ester dipeptide, easily obtained from the same (R)-aziridine, gives the regioisomeric dipeptide containing D-serine.     

An Experimental Evidence of a Metal−Metal Bond in μ‐Carbonylhexacarbonyl[μ‐(5‐oxofuran‐2(5H)‐ylidene‐κC,κC)]‐dicobalt(Co−Co)[Co2(CO)6(μ‐CO)(μ‐C4O2H2)]

The orthorhombic crystal structure of [Co₂(CO)₆(μ‐CO)(μ‐C₄O₂H₂)] ( 1 ) was determined at 150 K (Fig. 1). Two C−H⋅⋅⋅O bonds connect the molecules, forming waving ribbons along the b axis. The experimental electron density, determined with the aspherical‐atom formalism, was analyzed with the topological theory of molecular structure. The presence of the Co−Co bond critical point indicates for the first time the existence of a metal−metal bond in a system with bridged ligands. The bond critical properties of the intramolecular bonds and of the intermolecular interactions show features similar to those found in [Mn₂(CO)₁₀], confirming our previously established bonding classification for organometallic and coordination compounds.