Biological Activity and Chemical Composition of Propolis from Various Regions of Poland

Propolis is one of the bee products, with multiple biological properties used in numerous applications. The research objective was to determine the chemical composition and biological properties (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and cytoprotective activity) of propolis extracts collected from various regions of Poland. The results indicated that the total content of phenols (116.16–219.41 mg GAE/g EEP) and flavonoids (29.63–106.07 mg QE/g EEP) in propolis extracts depended on their geographic origin. The high content of epicatechin, catechin, pinobanksin, myricetin, and acids: vanillic and syringic in propolis samples was confirmed by chromatographic analysis. Moreover, the presence of caffeic acid phenethyl ester was confirmed in all samples. The origin of propolis also influenced the biological properties of its extracts. The propolis extracts were characterized by moderate DPPH free radical scavenging activity (29.22–35.14%), and relatively low ferrous iron chelating activity (9.33–32.32%). The results indicated also that the propolis extracts showed high activity in the protection of human red blood cells against free radicals generated from 2,2’-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). The extracts exhibited diversified activity against the tested pathogenic bacteria and limited activity against fungal strains. The research of selected propolis extracts showed that only 2 of 5 examined samples showed moderate activity against HPV (human papillomaviruses) and the activity depended on its geographical distribution.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric and coulometric detection to the analysis of SZ1677, a new neuromuscular blocking agent, and its two derivatives

A HPLC method with amperometric and coulometric detection for the determination of SZ1677 and its two derivatives SZ1676 and SZ1823 has been developed. This active substance is under development (clinical trial) and there are no analytical methods published for the determination of SZ1677 thus far. The limit of quantitation for SZ1677 was 25 and 100ngml(-1) by the coulometric and amperometric detection, respectively. The elaborate method for the simultaneous analysis of SZ1677 and its two derivatives proved to be fast, precise, accurate and sensitive.     

Application of organolithium and related reagents in synthesis,Part X. Metallation-electrophilic substitution sequence of secondary chlorobenzamides

Summary The lithiation (Bu ⁿLi/THF) of 2-chloro- (1), 3-chloro- (2) and 4-chlorobenzanilides (3) and the subsequent reactions of the corresponding bis-lithiated anilides4–6 with electrophiles (MeI, CH₂=CH-CH₂Br,Me ₃SiCl,MeCHO,o-MeOC₆H₄CHO,p-MeOC₆H₄CHO,Me ₂NCHO andp-MeOC₆H₄CONMe ₂) towards the synthesis of theortho substituted chlorobenzoesic acids derivatives12–14 have been described. The effect of the chlorine substituent upon the generation and stability of the bis-lithiated chloro-anilides4–6 has been studied. It has been found that the bis-lithiated chloro-anilide5 derived fromm-chloro-benzanilide (2) at a temperature above –30°C converts into the corresponding benzyne9. The anilide moiety (masking group) of the formedortho-substituted chlorobenzanilides appeared to be effectively removable on acid-driven hydrolysis.

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Anwendungen von Organolithium und verwandten Reagenzien in organischen Synthesen, 10. Mitt. Metallierung und nachfolgende elektrophile Substitution sekundärer Chlorbenzamide

Zusammenfassung Die Lithiierung (Bu ⁿLi/THF) der 2-Chlor-(1), 3-Chlor- (2) and 4-Chlorbenzanilide (3) und nachfolgende Reaktion der entsprechenden doppellithiierten Anilide4–6 mit elektrophilen Reagenzien (MeI, CH₂=CH-CH₂Br,Me ₃SiCl,MeCHO,o-MeOC₆H₄CHO,p-MeOC₆H₄CHO,Me ₂NCHO undp-MeOC₆H₄CONMe ₂) zur Synthese vonortho-substituierten Benzoesäurederivaten12–14 wird beschrieben. Der Einfluß des Chlorsubstituierten auf die Bildung und Stabilität der doppellithiierten Chloranilide4–6 wurde untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, daß das doppellithiierte, vomm-Chlorbenzanilid erhaltene Chloranilid5 bei Temperaturen über –30°C das entsprechende Arin9 bildet. Der Anilidrest (eine maskierende Gruppe) der gebildetenortho-substituierten Chloranilide kann durch saure Hydrolyse abgespalten werden.

     

Correlation between glass transition effect and structural changes in multicomponent iron phosphate-silicate glasses

Iron phosphate-silicate glasses from P₂O₅–SiO₂–K₂O–MgO–CaO–Fe₂O₃ system were subjected to the thermal and spectroscopic studies in order to gain information about their structure and thermal behavior in the range of glass transition effect. Research includes results obtained via DSC, MIR and DRIFT spectroscopy. Designated values of glass transition temperature and specific heat change slightly increases with Fe₂O₃ incorporation. Spectra collected during thermal treatment of glasses containing 2 and 30 mol% Fe₂O₃ exhibited various changes. Fe₂O₃ addition affected the glass structure by its reinforcement and led to its preservation during thermal treatment. The connection between density, molar volume, oxygen packing density and the chemical composition’s alteration were also established because of the direct dependence of physical properties and the structure. Obtained results supported thermal and spectroscopic studies. Conducted research is considered as a contribution to the knowledge about the family of iron phosphate glasses, which are known from their interesting properties and widely used applications.

     

tert‐Butyl(tert‐butoxy)zinc Hydroxides: Hybrid Models for Single‐Source Precursors of ZnO Nanocrystals

Alkylzinc alkoxides, [RZnOR′]₄, have received much attention as efficient precursors of ZnO nanocrystals (NCs), and their “Zn₄O₄” heterocubane core has been regarded as a “preorganized ZnO”. A comprehensive investigation of the synthesis and characterization of a new family of tert‐butyl(tert‐butoxy)zinc hydroxides, [(tBu)₄Zn₄(μ₃‐OtBu)_x(μ₃‐OH)_4?x], as model single‐source precursors of ZnO NCs is reported. The direct reaction between well‐defined [tBuZnOH]₆ ( 1₆ ) and [tBuZnOtBu]₄ ( 2₄ ) in various molar ratios allows the isolation of new mixed cubane aggregates as crystalline solids in a high yield: [(tBu)₄Zn₄(μ₃‐OtBu)₃(μ₃‐OH)] ( 3 ), [(tBu)₄Zn₄(μ₃‐OtBu)₂(μ₃‐OH)₂] ( 4 ), [(tBu)₄Zn₄(μ₃‐OtBu)(μ₃‐OH)₃] ( 5 ). The resulting products were characterized in solution by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, and in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The thermal transformations of 2 – 5 were monitored by in situ variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric measurements. The investigation showed that the Zn?OH groups appeared to be a desirable feature for the solid‐state synthesis of ZnO NCs that significantly decreased the decomposition temperature of crystalline precursors 3 – 5 .     

Addition of dimethyl phosphite to N,N'-dialkyl- and -diaryl terephthalaldimines and its stereochemistry contrary to behavior of other analogues

The addition of dimethyl phosphite to N,N'-terephthalylidene-alkyl- (or aryl-) amines resulted in new tetramethyl 1,4-phenylene-bis-(N-alkylaminomethyl)-phosphonates in moderate yields. The stereochemical behavior of these reactions was studied by NMR, demonstrating that the reactions lead to the formation of both possible diastereomeric forms from 1:1 to 1:2 ratios. This was unexpected considering that previously investigated additions of diethyl, dibenzyl, and diphenyl phosphites to terephthalaldimines were diastereoselective up to 100%. Attempts were made to find reasonable explanation for the phenomenon using semi-empirical and DFT calculations.     

Source of Cooperativity in Halogen‐Bonded Haloamine Tetramers

Inspired by the isostructural motif in α‐bromoacetophenone oxime crystals, we investigated halogen–halogen bonding in haloamine quartets. Our Kohn–Sham molecular orbital and energy decomposition analysis reveal a synergy that can be traced to a charge‐transfer interaction in the halogen‐bonded tetramers. The halogen lone‐pair orbital on one monomer donates electrons into the unoccupied σ*_N?X orbital on the perpendicular N?X bond of the neighboring monomer. This interaction has local σ symmetry. Interestingly, we discovered a second, somewhat weaker donor–acceptor interaction of local π symmetry, which partially counteracts the aforementioned regular σ‐symmetric halogen‐bonding orbital interaction. The halogen–halogen interaction in haloamines is the first known example of a halogen bond in which back donation takes place. We also find that this cooperativity in halogen bonds results from the reduction of the donor–acceptor orbital‐energy gap that occurs every time a monomer is added to the aggregate.     

First electrochemical study of the fungicide oxycarboxin

In this article, the utility of a boron-doped diamond electrode for the determination of the fungicide oxycarboxin is demonstrated. For the first time, the square-wave voltammetry was employed in a quantitative determination of oxycarboxin on the boron-doped diamond electrode. It was found that oxycarboxin displays a well-expressed oxidation peak at a potential of ca. +1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl in Britton–Robinson buffer with the maximum response in pH 4.0. As observed in cyclic voltammetry, oxycarboxin undergoes diffusion-controlled irreversible electrochemical oxidation. At optimised square-wave voltammetry parameters, the current response of oxycarboxin was linearly proportional to its concentration in the wide linear dynamic range of 8.0–100.0 μmol L^?1 (2.1–26.7 mg L^?1). The developed electroanalytical method yielded a relatively low limit of detection of 1.6 μmol L^?1 (0.4 mg L^?1), associated with high repeatability of the peak current expressed as relative standard deviation in the range of 1.1–2.9% for each concentration of oxycarboxin solution. This simple and sensitive method was proved to be suitable for an analysis of spiked river water samples with satisfactory results (relative standard deviation of 1.4%, recovery of 100.2%). The impact of possible interferences was tested and evaluated, and obtained results proved good selectivity of the proposed method. In addition, the influence of oxycarboxin on the corrosion properties of AISI 316 L stainless steel used as a construction material in farming was tested using potentiodynamic method, and a corrosive damage was characterised by means of scanning electron microscopy.     

Mandelalides A-D, cytotoxic macrolides from a new Lissoclinum species of South African tunicate

Mandelalides A-D are variously glycosylated, unusual polyketide macrolides isolated from a new species of Lissoclinum ascidian collected from South Africa, Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth and the surrounding Nelson Mandela Metropole. Their planar structures were elucidated on submilligram samples by comprehensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, supported by mass spectrometry. The assignment of relative configuration was accomplished by consideration of homonuclear and heteronuclear coupling constants in tandem with ROESY data. The absolute configuration was assigned for mandelalide A after chiral GC-MS analysis of the hydrolyzed monosaccharide (2-O-methyl-α-L-rhamnose) and consideration of ROESY correlations between the monosaccharide and aglycone in the intact natural product. The resultant absolute configuration of the mandelalide A macrolide was extrapolated to propose the absolute configurations of mandelalides B-D. Remarkably, mandelalide B contained the C-4' epimeric 2-O-methyl-6-dehydro-α-L-talose. Mandelalides A and B showed potent cytotoxicity to human NCI-H460 lung cancer cells (IC(50), 12 and 44 nM, respectively) and mouse Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cells (IC(50), 29 and 84 nM, respectively).