The role of the βAsp residue in copper(II) binding by modified peptides

The synthesis and binding abilities of peptides containing β-amino acids towards Cu(II) ions are presented. The peptides studied were: Ala-βAsp-Ser-Gly and Arg-Lys-βAsp-Val-Tyr. Potentiometric titrations were carried out to establish the stoichiometry of the resulting metal-ligand complexes. The copper(II) coordination mode of the complexes was investigated by performing detailed spectroscopic analyses (UV–Vis, CD) in strict correlation with potentiometric measurements. The results obtained on the β-peptides studied allowed the characterization of the influence of this structural modification on the coordination abilities of the peptides. Moreover, the role of the α-Asp position in the peptide chain was also described.     

Standardization of 177Lu by means of 4π(LS)β-γ coincidence and anti-coincidence counting

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The activity concentration of a 177Lu solution was measured by the Laboratory of Radioactivity Standards in the Radioisotope Centre POLATOM. The...     

Development of novel thin-film solid-phase microextraction materials based on deep eutectic solvents for preconcentration of trace amounts of parabens in surface waters

A green and sensitive thin-film solid-phase microextraction method based on deep eutectic solvent was developed that enables simultaneous isolation, preconcentration, and determination of parabens in surface waters. Six new deep eutectic solvents were synthesized and used directly to prepare thin-film coatings on a stainless steel mesh support. Among the compounds obtained, the highest efficiency in the extraction of parabens was found for a material consisting of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride and n-docosanol in a molar ratio of 1:2. For the proposed method, parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of parabens, such as the coating material, the desorption solvent, the volume of the sample, the pH of the sample, the extraction and desorption time, and the salting-out effect, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method allowed us to achieve good precision between 3.6 and 6.5% and recovery ranging from 68.1 to 91.4%. The limits of detection range from 0.018 to 0.055 ng/mL.     

Thermal and spectroscopic properties of light lanthanides (III) and sodium complexes of 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid

Pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, known as isocinchomeric acid is one of six isomers containing two carboxylic groups. Light lanthanide (III) complexes with pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid with general formula Ln₂L₃·nH₂O, where n = 8, 9, were obtained. Their thermal and spectroscopic properties were studied. Sodium salt was obtained as Na₂L·H₂O. Hydrated complexes of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III) and Gd(III) are stable to 313–333 K, whereas Na₂L·H₂O is stable to about 333 K. Dehydration process for all compounds runs in one stage, next they decompose into appropriate lanthanide oxalates, oxocarbonates carbonates and finally to metal oxides. Bands of νCOOH vibrations at 1736 and 1728 cm⁻¹ disappear on complex spectra and ν_as and ν_s of COO⁻ groups appear thus indicating that complexation process took place.     

Stereochemistry of 1-hydroxyphosphonate-phosphate rearrangement. Retention of configuration at the phosphorus atom

1-Hydroxyphosphonate 1 in the presence of triethylamine in acetonitrile solution undergoes irreversible rearrangement to phosphate 2 and reversible retro-phospho-aldol (retro-Abramov) reaction. The X-ray structures for 1 and 2 revealed that the phosphonate-phosphate rearrangement occurs with retention of configuration at the phosphorus atom.     

Pegylated tetraarylporphyrin entrapped in liposomal membranes. A possible novel drug-carrier system for photodynamic therapy

A system of poly(ethylene glycol) bound tetraarylporphyrin entrapped in liposomal membranes was investigated. The interactions between the 5-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)-10,15,20-tritolylporphyrin (Po) covalently attached to the poly(ethylene glycol) chain (PEG-Po), and phosphatidylcholine liposomes in the aqueous solution were studied. The adsorption of the investigated polymer to lipid vesicles was confirmed by measurements of dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. Experimental results demonstrate that the diameter of liposomes increased and the absolute value of the zeta potential decreased after addition of PEG-Po. The binding constants (K(b)) of Po chromophores to liposome in pH range from 5.2 to 9.0 were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy. The degree of binding was found to be pH-independent and the average value was 24.6 +/- 0.9 mg ml(-1). The acid-base properties of the porphyrin chromophores and their aggregation in an aqueous solution were also studied. pK values associated with imine-N protonation of the porphyrin core were found to be 2.59 and 0.68 at the ionic strength of 0.1 M. The equilibrium constant for dimerization, K(D), was found to be 5 x 10(3) M(-1).     

Invariance in a class of Bajraktarevi? means

Let I⊂R be a non-trivial interval, s:I→(0,∞) be a function, and let φ,ψ be real continuous strictly monotonic functions defined on I. We consider the equation

     

A specialization of prinjective Ringel-Hall algebra and the associated Lie algebra

In the present paper we describe a specialization of prinjective Ringel-Hall algebra to 1, for prinjective modules over incidence algebras of posets of finite prinjective type, by generators and relations. This gives us a generalisation of Serre relations for semisimple Lie algebras. Connections of prinjective Ringel-Hall algebras with classical Lie algebras are also discussed.     

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 .