Novel Boronate Probe Based on 3-Benzothiazol-2-yl-7-hydroxy-chromen-2-one for the Detection of Peroxynitrite and Hypochlorite

Derivatives of coumarin, containing oxidant-sensitive boronate group, were recently developed for fluorescent detection of inflammatory oxidants. Here, we report the synthesis and the characterization of 3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-7-coumarin boronic acid pinacol ester (BC-BE) as a fluorescent probe for the detection of peroxynitrite (ONOO^–), with high stability and a fast response time. The BC-BE probe hydrolyzes in phosphate buffer to 3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-7-coumarin boronic acid (BC-BA) which is stable in the solution even after a prolonged incubation time (24 h). BC-BA is slowly oxidized by H₂O₂ to form the phenolic product, 3-benzothiazol-2-yl-7-hydroxy-chromen-2-one (BC-OH). On the other hand, the BC-BA probe reacts rapidly with ONOO⁻. The ability of the BC-BA probe to detect ONOO^– was measured using both authentic ONOO^– and the system co-generating steady-state fluxes of O₂^•– and ^•NO. BC-BA is oxidized by ONOO^– to BC-OH. However, in this reaction 3-benzothiazol-2-yl-chromen-2-one (BC-H) is formed in the minor pathway, as a peroxynitrite-specific product. BC-OH is also formed in the reaction of BC-BA with HOCl, and subsequent reaction of BC-OH with HOCl leads to the formation of a chlorinated phenolic product, which could be used as a specific product for HOCl. We conclude that BC-BA shows potential as an improved fluorescent probe for the detection of peroxynitrite and hypochlorite in biological settings. Complementation of the fluorescence measurements by HPLC-based identification of oxidant-specific products will help to identify the oxidants detected.     

Classical Lattice-Gas Models of Quasicrystals

One of the fundamental problems of quasicrystals is to understand their occurrence in microscopic models of interacting particles. We review here recent attempts to construct stable quasicrystalline phases. In particular, we compare two recently constructed classical lattice-gas models with translation-invariant interactions and without periodic ground-state configurations. The models are based on nonperiodic tilings of the plane by square-like tiles. In the first model, all interactions can be minimized simultaneously. The second model is frustrated; its nonperiodic ground state can arise only by the minimization of the energy of competing interactions. We put forward some hypotheses concerning stabilities of nonperiodic ground states. In particular, we introduce two criteria, the so-called strict boundary conditions, and prove their equivalence to the zero-temperature stability of ground states against small perturbations of potentials of interacting particles. We discuss the relevance of these conditions for the low-temperature stability, i.e., for the existence of thermodynamically stable nonperiodic equilibrium states.     

Density of levels in vibrational spectra of molecules

Density distribution of the discrete spectrum of a Hamiltonian which represents a system of N-coupled oscillators and, hence may describe molecular vibrations in the local mode approximation, is analyzed. The spectral density moments are expressed as linear combinations of products of coefficients which depend on the molecular topology (analogs of the propagation coefficients in the statistical theory of nuclear and atomic spectra) and of one-particle moments describing individual bonds and interactions between them. The dependence of the first three moments of the energy-level density on the structural parameters of the molecule is discussed. Detailed expressions for several special cases are derived. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 63 : 835–842, 1997     

Complexation of aminoglutethimide with native and modified cyclodextrins

Complexations of R(+) and RS(+/?)aminoglutethimide (AGT), the drug used in a treatment of breast and prostate cancer with native and modified cyclodextrins (α‐CD, β‐CD, γ‐CD, 2,6‐di‐O‐methyl‐β‐CD (DM‐β‐CD), 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐β‐CD (TM‐β‐CD) and carboxymethyl‐β‐CD (CM‐β‐CD)) were studied. The stability constants were determined with UV–Vis spectrophotometric method at pH 9.0. The NMR data obtained for TM‐β‐CD suggest that the complexation of AGT is possible from both sides of CD molecule. This was confirmed by molecular dynamic simulations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tetra­kis(1‐eth­yl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐κN4)bis­(nitrato‐κO)copper(II) and bis­(nitrato‐κO)tetra­kis­(1‐prop­yl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐κN4)copper(II)

The copper(II) environments for tetra­kis­(1‐eth­yl‐1,2,4‐triaz­ole)­dinitratocopper(II), [Cu(NO₃)₂(C₄H₇N₃)₄], and tetrakis­(1‐prop­yl‐1,2,4‐triazole)dinitratocopper(II), [Cu(NO₃)₂(C₅H₉N₃)₄], are distorted square bipyramidal. Both structures are centrosymmetric, with the copper(II) ions located at inversion centers coordinated by four N atoms of four triazole mol­ecules and by two O atoms of two nitrate ions in an elongated octa­hedral geometry. This elongation is a result of the Jahn–Teller effect. The largest distortion is that of the N—Cu—O angles, which differ from 90° by 5.68 (10)° in the eth­yl and 5.59 (8)° in the prop­yl derivative.     

Pressurized liquid extraction and anticholinesterase activity-based thin-layer chromatography with bioautography of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids

Modern extraction technique-pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was optimised for extraction of lycorine and galanthamine (Amaryllidaceae alkaloids) from Narcissus jonquilla ‘Pipit’. Crude extracts were purified on Oasis MCX cartridges, and the alkaloids eluted with 80-100% recoveries using methanol-10% ammonia solution (3:1, v/v). Quantitative results were obtained by both HPTLC-densitometry on silica gel plates and RP-HPLC with diode array (DAD) on XTerra C₁₈ stationary phase. Both methods were fully validated in terms of specificity, precision (including intra- and inter-day measurements), LOD and LOQ values, correlation of UV spectra and linearity of calibration curves. The methods were also well correlated each other with correlation coefficients (r) 0.98823 and 0.99081, respectively, for the mean values of galanthamine and lycorine.Among the investigated solvents methanol and 1% tartaric acid methanolic solution at default conditions (120 °C, p = 60 bar, time: 10 min, one static cycle) permit the highest yields of the total sum of the alkaloids, whereas for toluene the lowest amounts were measured. Lycorine to galanthamine mean ratios were dependant on the type of solvent used, and in toluene galanthamine and related alkaloids were preferably extracted.In temperature experiments for galanthamine, the levels of this compound increased from the temperature of 20 till 150 °C in the investigated solvent systems, then decreased with slight increase from the temperature of 175 to 200 °C in 1% tartaric acid methanolic solution. When lycorine was analysed, similar trends were observed, however the maximum of the concentration was measured at a temperature about 125 °C. The ratios of the mean values of these two compounds differed in temperature-dependant experiments in both solvent systems.Further more, two TLC with bioautography approaches were used in screening for anticholinesterese properties of the extracts. No qualitative differences were found among the different solvent extracts, and AChE inhibition was correlated with galanthamine and related compounds.In conclusion, optimised PLE was much more effective than previously applied hot-solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) or ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE).     

Exciton Binding Energies in Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Films

Molecular design: The electronic structure of conjugated polyelectrolytes as a function of ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) is determined using X‐ray absorption and emission spectroscopy (see figure). Different functional groups give rise to dissimilar transport gaps and exciton binding energies.

     

Internal Architecture and Adsorption Sites of Violet Lander Molecules Assembled on Native and KBr‐Passivated InSb(001) Surfaces

The adsorption of individual Violet Lander molecules self‐assembled on the c(8×2) reconstructed InSb(001) surface in its native form and on the surface passivated with one to three monolayers of KBr is investigated by means of low‐temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Preferred adsorption sites of the molecules are found on flat terraces as well as at atomic step edges. For molecules immobilized on flat terraces, several different conformations are identified from STM images acquired with submolecular resolution and are explained by the rotation of the 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl groups around σ bonds, which allows adjustment of the molecular geometry to the anisotropic substrate structure. Formation of ordered molecular chains is found at steps running along substrate reconstruction rows, whereas at the steps oriented perpendicularly no intermolecular ordering is recorded. It is also shown that the molecules deposited at two or more monolayers of the epitaxial KBr spacer do not have any stable adsorption sites recorded with STM. Prospects for the manipulation of single molecules by using the STM tip on highly anisotropic substrates are also explored, and demonstrate the feasibility of controlled lateral displacement in all directions.