Determination of arsenic species in seafood samples from the Aegean Sea by liquid chromatography-(photo-oxidation)-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

In this study arsenic compounds were determined in mussels (Mytulis galloprovincialis), anchovies (Engraulis encrasicholus), sea-breams (Sparus aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sardines (Sardina pilchardus) collected from Aegean Sea using liquid chromatography-photo-oxidation-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry [LC-(PO)-HG-AFS] system. Twelve arsenicals were separated and determined on the basis of their difference in two properties: (i) the pK_a values and (ii) hydride generation capacity. The separation was carried out both with an anion- and a cation-exchange column, with and without photo-oxidation. In all the samples arsenobetaine, AB was detected as the major compound (concentrations ranging between 2.7 and 23.1 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), with trace amounts of arsenite, As(III), dimethylarsinic acid, DMA and arsenocholine, AC, also present. Arsenosugars were detected only in the mussel samples (in concentrations of 0.9-3.6 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), along with the presence of an unknown compound, which, based on its retention time on the anion-exchange column Hamilton PRP-X100 and a recent communication [E. Schmeisser, R. Raml, K.A. Francesconi, D. Kuehnelt, A. Lindberg, Cs. Soeroes, W. Goessler, Chem. Commun. 16 (2004) 1824], is supposed to be a thio-arsenic analogue.     

Synthesis of Phenyl or 4-Nitrophenyl Methyl β-Ketophosphonate Esters

Seven new aryl methyl g -ketophosphonate esters were synthesized. The hydrolytic rates of the compounds under physiological conditions were studied. Most of the compounds are effective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. The enzyme recovers on the 10-50 h time scale from its adducts with two of the inhibitors.     

Determination of Low-Molecular-Mass Phenolic and Non-Phenolic Lignin Degradation Compounds in Wood Digestion Solutions by Capillary Electrophoresis

 Different capillary electrophoretic techniques were investigated and compared for the separation of low-molecular-mass phenolic and neutral lignin degradation compounds. Simple capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was not suited for this problem. Switching to micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) by adding micelle-forming reagents to the carrier electrolyte enhanced the separation performance considerably. Alternatively, microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) was investigated. This is a CE technique in which analytes interact with moving oil droplets present in a microemulsion buffer. Using the optimized carrier electrolyte systems and a 60 cm×50 μm I.D. bubble cell capillary it was possible to analyse solutions of different wood digestion procedures and to investigate differences in lignin degradation products during use of different kinds of wood (eucalyptus, beech, scotch pine and acacia). Received August 25, 1999. Revision April 13, 2000     

HPTLC Analysis of Thymol in Extracts of Satureja hortensis L. Obtained by Different Techniques

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The separation and quantitative analysis of thymol in Satureja hortensis L. extracts is reported. The extracts were obtained by...     

Transition states of some acyl transfer reactions in acetonitrile 1

β-Deuterium isotope effect (β-DIE) studies of acyl transfer from aryl acetates to acetate ion in acetonitrile indicate the degree of tetrahedral character at the transition state (TS) to be small, and the same as in protic solvents.     

The Effect of Copper Salts on Bioactive Compounds and Ultrastructure of Wheat Plants

Abiotic stress agents, among them metal stress, can cause oxidative damage to plant cells. In defense, plants can increase the production of secondary metabolites in order to mitigate the harmful effects caused by them. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of two types of copper salts (CuSO₄ and Cu(NO₃)₂), added in two different amounts in soil (150 mg/kg, respectively 300 mg/kg), on assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity and the elemental composition of wheat. The obtained results were compared with those from control plants grown in the same conditions but without copper salts. The amount of assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity respectively increases or decreases in the plants treated with copper salts compared to the control depending on the stage of development of the plant. No significant damage induced in the leaves of the wheat plants treated with the selected salts was observed following the TEM analysis. In six-week-old plants it was observed by EDX analysis that the salts are transformed into nanoparticles. The bioactive compounds, elemental composition and their interaction is influenced by concentration of metal’s salt, type of salt and exposure period.     

Asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions in ionic liquids

Recent interest in ionic liquids has developed various uses for them, including some applications by synthetic chemists. Ionic liquids have joined the potential list of non-traditional solvents for Diels-Alder reactions. We report here our own efforts to examine the rates and selectivities of carbon Diels-Alder reactions. Our investigations show that excellent diastereoselective and enantioselective carbon Diels-Alder reactions can be achieved in imidazolium ionic solvents at room temperature.