Reactivity and selectivity of the N-acetyl-Glu-P-1, N-acetyl-Glu-P-2, N-acetyl-MeIQx,and N-acetyl-IQx nitrenium ions: comparison to carbocyclic N-arylnitrenium ions

The model ultimate carcinogens 1a-d, related to the metabolites of the food-derived carcinogenic heterocyclic amines Glu-P-1, Glu-P-2, MeIQx, and IQx, spontaneously decompose in neutral aqueous solution to generate the heterocyclic nitrenium ions, 2a-d. The less reactive esters 1a and 1b also undergo acid-catalyzed ester hydrolysis to generate the corresponding hydroxamic acids at pH <2, while the more reactive 2c and 2d are prone to rearrangement in nonaqueous solvents. The reactions of the nitrenium ions with AcO(-), HPO(4)(2-), N(3)(-), and 2'-deoxyguanosine (d-G) were characterized in aqueous solution by using a combination of competitive trapping methods and product isolation and identification. The reactions with N(3)(-) and d-G generally follow patterns previously established for carbocyclic nitrenium ions, but the reactions with AcO(-) and HPO(4)(2-) are unusual. Similar reactions have previously only been reported for heterocyclic 1-alkyl-2-imidazolium ions. The N(3)(-)/solvent selectivities of these ions (5.1 x 10(6) M(-1) for 2a, 2.3 x 10(6) M(-1) for 2b, 1.2 x 10(5) M(-1) for 2c, and 5.2 x 10(4) M(-1) for 2d) are comparable to those of highly selective carbocyclic nitrenium ions. If k(az) for these ions is diffusion limited at ca. 5 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) the aqueous solution lifetimes of these ions range from 10 micros (2d) to 1 ms (2a). These ions are also highly selective for trapping by d-G, but comparisons to other nitrenium ions show that they are 10- to 50-fold less selective for trapping by d-G than they would be if both the N(3)(-) and d-G reactions were diffusion limited. This is not a consequence of their heterocyclic structures. Several carbocyclic ions show similar behavior. The relatively inefficient trapping of 2c and 2d by d-G may account for the observation of the unusual minor N-2 d-G adduct that is isolated for both of these nitrenium ions, but has not previously been observed for the reactions of other nitrenium ions with monomeric d-G.     

Polar effect in the reaction of CH3O with HBr

The discharge flow method with laser induced fluorescence detection of CH₃O was applied to determine the rate constant, k ₁, for the reaction CH₃O + HBr → products (1) k ₁ (298 K) = (8.41 ± 0.80(1σ)) 10¹¹ cm³ mol^-1 s^-1. The unusually large k ₁ value was explained by the polar nature of the transition state of the reaction. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Efficient Synthesis of Phosphono‐ and Phosphinoxidomethylated N‐Heterocycles under Solvent‐Free Microwave Conditions

Simple N‐heterocycles were converted to N‐phosphono‐ and phosphinoxidomethyl derivatives by a solvent‐free microwave‐assisted condensation of the heterocycle, paraformaldehyde, and diethylphosphite or diphenylphosphine oxide in a convenient and, in most cases, efficient way. In contrast to an earlier report, imidazole proved to be unreactive in this type of phospha‐Mannich reaction.     

Thermal degradation of crab shell biomass,a nitrogen-containing carbon precursor

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The refrigerator unit based on electrically driven vapor compression technology consumes high energy, associated with high cost and loss of ecosystem....     

Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms of Silent Progression,Biomarkers and Neuroprotective Therapy—Kynurenines Are Important Players

Neurodegeneration is one of the driving forces behind the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Progression without activity, pathopsychological disturbances (cognitive impairment, depression, fatigue) and even optic neuropathy seems to be mainly routed in this mechanism. In this article, we aim to give a comprehensive review of the clinical aspects and symptomology, radiological and molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets of neurodegeneration in connection with MS. As the kynurenine pathway (KP) was evidenced to play an important role in the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative conditions (even implied to have a causative role in some of these diseases) and more and more recent evidence suggest the same central role in the neurodegenerative processes of MS as well, we pay special attention to the KP. Metabolites of the pathway are researched as biomarkers of the disease and new, promising data arising from clinical evaluations show the possible therapeutic capability of KP metabolites as neuroprotective drugs in MS. Our conclusion is that the kynurenine pathway is a highly important route of research both for diagnostic and for therapeutic values and is expected to yield concrete results for everyday medicine in the future.     

Electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric study of fused nitrogen-containing ring systems

Four fused nitrogen-containing ring systems were investigated by electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry: Pyridazino-indoles, pyridazino-quinolines, a pyrimido-quinoline derivative and pyrimido-cinnolines. Fragmentation patterns of these compounds are discussed and compared. Several characteristic cross-ring fragments were formed mainly on the pyridazine and pyrimidine rings of the ring systems. The connected Cl, NO₂, Me, Ph and more extended heterocyclic substituents influenced the fragmentation.     

Extraction of antioxidants from plants using ultrasonic methods and their antioxidant capacity

The analytical method based on the HPLC coupled with UV detection (HPLC‐UV) for the determination of selected antioxidants (i.e. esculetin, scopoletin, 7‐hydroxycoumarine, rutin, xanthotoxin, 5‐methoxypsoralen and quercetin) in plant material was developed. Two ultrasonic extraction methods for the isolation of these compounds from the plants such as Mentha longifolia L., Mentha spicata L., Ruta graveolens L., Achyllea millefolium L., Plantago lanceolata L. and Coriandrum sativum L. were used. Both of these methods, i.e. ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic bath, were optimised and compared to each other. For the proposed HPLC‐UV method LOQ values in the range from 22.7 (xanthotoxin) up to 97.2 ng/mL (rutin) were obtained. For all extracts the antioxidant capacity based on the reduction of free 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical was also determined. Obtained results ranged from 10.11 up to 73.50% of DPPH radical inhibition.     

Ecotoxicity and analysis of nanomaterials in the aquatic environment

Nanotechnology is a major innovative scientific and economic growth area. However nanomaterial residues may have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. To date there is a lack of quantitative ecotoxicity data, and recently there has been great scientific concern about the possible adverse effects that may be associated with manufactured nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are in the 1- to 100-nm size range and can be composed of many different base materials (carbon, silicon and metals, such as gold, cadmium and selenium) and they have different shapes. Particles in the nanometer size range do occur both in nature and as a result of existing industrial processes. Nevertheless, new engineered nanomaterials and nanostructures are different because they are being fabricated from the “bottom up”. Nanomaterial properties differ compared with those of the parent compounds because about 40–50% of the atoms in nanoparticles (NPs) are on the surface, resulting in greater reactivity than bulk materials. Therefore, it is expected that NPs will have different biological effects than parent compounds. In addition, release of manufactured NPs into the aquatic environment is largely an unknown. The surface properties and the very small size of NPs and nanotubes provide surfaces that may bind and transport toxic chemical pollutants, as well as possibly being toxic in their own right by generating reactive radicals. This review addresses hazards associated and ecotoxicological data on nanomaterials in the aquatic environment. Main weaknesses in ecotoxicological approaches, controversies and future needs are discussed. A brief discussion on the scarce number of analytical methods available to determinate nanomaterials in environmental samples is included.     

Periodic pulses of calcium ions in a chemical system

By coupling the bromate-sulfite-ferrocyanide oscillating chemical reaction with the complexation of calcium ion by EDTA, we construct a system that generates periodic pulses of free Ca(2+) with an amplitude of 2 orders of magnitude and a period of ca. 20 min. These pulses may be observed either with a calcium ion-selective electrode or with Arsenazo(III) as an indicator. We describe the systematic design procedure and the properties of this first abiotic calcium-based chemical oscillator.     

2-Diphenylphosphino-2′-hydroxybiphenyl-based P-ligands and their platinum(II) complexes

2-Diphenylphosphino-2′-hydroxybiphenyl (2), become readily available via a ring opening reaction of a dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorine, was utilized as P-ligand in complexation with dichlorodibenzonitrile platinum to give a Cl₂Pt2₂ complex (4) with trans geometry. The O-benzyl derivative (5) could not be involved in complexation. A bidentate P-ligand (7) obtained by the interaction of hydroxy-diphenylphosphinobiphenyl 2 with chloro-dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorine (1) formed an 8-ring transition metal complex (Cl₂Pt7 = 9) in reaction with PtCl₂(PhCN)₂. Under the conditions of chromatography, separation of the diastereomers of 7 was not possible due to a partial isomerisation by rotation around the biphenyl axis of the molecule that is justified by the average barrier height of 6.0 kcal/mol.The stereostructure of P-ligands 2 and 7, as well as platinum complexes 4 and 9 was evaluated by B3LYP quantum chemical calculations.