Novel copolymers of styrene. 5. Alkyl and alkoxy ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates

Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, alkyl and alkoxy ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH?C(CN)CO₂C₃H₇ (where R is 2,3-dimethyl, 2,5-dimethyl, 2,6-dimethyl, 3,4-dimethyl, 2,3-dimethoxy, 2,4-dimethoxy, 2,5-dimethoxy, 2,6-dimethoxy 3,4-dimethoxy, 3,5-dimethoxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and propyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene (M₁) in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200–500°C range with residue (0.6–5.0% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range.     

Aqueous Barbier allylation of aldehydes mediated by tin

The aqueous tin-mediated Barbier reaction affords good to excellent yields and moderate syn diastereoselectivity under basic and acidic conditions. The high yields and stereoselectivity observed in the case of o-substituted aldehydes suggest a cyclic organotin intermediate or transition state in K2HPO4 solution. A practical and efficient aqueous tin allylation of methoxy- and hydroxybenzaldehydes can be carried out in HCl solution in 15 minutes to afford the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in high yields. Aliphatic aldehydes give moderate to excellent yields with reaction times ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. Under these conditions, crotylation gives exclusively the gamma-product and the syn isomer is formed preferentially. For 2-methoxybenzaldehyde, an equilibration of the isomers to a syn/anti ratio of 1:1 can be observed after several hours. Control experiments with radical sources or scavengers give no support for radical intermediates. NMR studies suggest a mechanism involving an organotin intermediate. The major organotin species formed depends on the reaction medium and the reaction time. The use of acidic solution reduces the reaction times, due to the acceleration of the formation of the allyltin(IV) species.     

Low-resolution 1H spin-spin relaxation of n-decane/water emulsions stabilized by beta-casein

A low-resolution ¹H NMR relaxometry study on the dynamics of an n-decane/water emulsion stabilized by β-casein is presented. Spin–spin (transverse) relaxation time constants (T₂) were used to assess relative mobilities of emulsion components, by a selective deuteration procedure. Data analysis allowed the emulsion investigated to be described by a heterogeneous collection of dynamically distinct populations. A major population of n-decane molecules presented an average mobility that very nearly approached that of pure solvent, which is compatible with its occurrence in the emulsion continuous microphase. β-Casein molecules displayed a prevalent population with significantly decreased mobility as compared to the free protein in solution, which is in accordance with the protein location at the oil/water interface. Also, a major H₂O population with significantly lower average T₂ as compared to the pure liquid was detected and has been assigned to interfacial water.     

Thermal decomposition study of sewage sludge and of organicwaste used in the sorption of metals

The conventional treatments of effluents containing heavy metals produce significant quantities of byproducts with recalcitrant characteristics, making necessary looking after alternative techniques in order to avoid the production of new contaminated residues. Sorption process of chromium and zinc in vertical columns loaded with sewage sludge and organic solid waste has been studied in this work. The data from the TG curves of the two sorbents presented significant differences when they were submitted to the metal uptake, being noticed the displacement of the thermal events towards lower temperatures for both types of sorbents studied. As it was expected, for both sorbents, an increase in the mass of samples has been observed at the completion of the thermal tests upon metal uptake. Therefore, these facts demonstrate that during the biosorption process a physico-chemical interaction took place between sorbents and metals, as it was evidenced by the more than 100 K increase in the decomposition temperatures as well as the variation of the ΔH values of the samples.     

Efficient Synthesis of Nitroflavones by Cyclodehydrogenation of 2′-Hydroxychalcones and by the Baker-Venkataraman Method

Summary. Several nitroflavone derivatives were synthesized by cyclodehydrogenation of 2′-hydroxychalcones and by the Baker-Venkataraman approach, starting from 2′-hydroxyacetophenones and benzoic acid derivatives. Nitroflavones synthesised by the first synthetic approach were obtained in better global yields than those obtained by the later method. The structures of all new compounds were elucidated by microanalyses, 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopic measurements.     

Study of cork (from Quercus suber L.)-wine model interactions based on voltammetric multivariate analysis

The cork from Quercus suber L. is the premium raw material used to produce wine-bottling stoppers; however, being a natural product, cork can be contaminated and attacked in different ways that could promote differences in its proprieties. A specific contamination is the defect known in the industry as “Mancha Amarela—Yellow spot” (MA). This cork shows modifications in its mechanical, structural and optical properties and is potentially able to cause off-flavours in wine. In this study, a new analytical approach is proposed for the rapid screening of cork-wine model interactions in order to determine if the cork were able to contaminate a wine. Cork samples classified as standard (S) and cork MA were put in contact with a wine model matrix. The model matrix was analysed by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry in function of different contact times. Considering that matrices in contact with cork S and MA exhibited different pH, the influence of this parameter on the distinction power was also evaluated. The data sets obtained from the different techniques were treated by principal component analysis (PCA) and PLS_Cluster. The major difference between samples S and MA is the occurrence of an important peak at ca. 580 mV in the MA voltammograms. This more positive peak may be assigned to lignin related phenolics; therefore, it can be proposed as a possible marker to follow lignin degradation.     

New designs for inhibitors of the NF-κB: DNA binding

We present a series of new inhibitors of the association between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) and the corresponding B site in DNA. They were designed using the lead compound 15-deoxy-^12,14 -prostaglandin J₂ (PGJ2), which is a natural product with demonstrated inhibitory efficiency for this system. First, the binding mode of PGJ2 to NF-B was unraveled by GOLD docking calculation. Subsequently, substitutions were made to PGJ2 to optimize its association with NF-B. Care was taken not to strongly increase the reactivity of the new compounds, and to keep the overall shape, size and hydrophilicity of the lead compound, which should render them a similar bioavailability. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed to decide on the suitability of the substitutions, and to evaluate the energies of association with NF-B. Density functional theory calculations were performed also to study the overall reactivity of the substituted drugs towards NF-B. Important general conclusions were obtained, concerning the improvement of these natural inhibitors; namely, a set of rational methodologies were deduced to improve the association between the PGJ2 derivatives and NF-B, and their efficiency demonstrated by generating a set of substituted complexes, some of them with a very much increased affinity for NF-B, opening new doors to enlarge the therapeutic capabilities of this class of drugs.     

Contrasting behavior in azide pyrolyses: an investigation of the thermal decompositions of methyl azidoformate, ethyl azidoformate and 2-azido-N, N-dimethylacetamide by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy

The thermal decompositions of methyl azidoformate (N3COOMe), ethyl azidoformate (N3COOEt) and 2-azido-N,N-dimethylacetamide (N3CH2CONMe2) have been studied by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and real-time ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. N2 appears as an initial pyrolysis product in all systems, and the principal interest lies in the fate of the accompanying organic fragment. For methyl azidoformate, four accompanying products were observed: HNCO, H2CO, CH2NH and CO2, and these are believed to arise as a result of two competing decomposition routes of a four-membered cyclic intermediate. Ethyl azidoformate pyrolysis yields four corresponding products: HNCO, MeCHO, MeCHNH and CO2, together with the five-membered-ring compound 2-oxazolidone. In contrast, the initial pyrolysis of 2-azido-N,N-dimethyl acetamide, yields the novel imine intermediate Me2NCOCH=NH, which subsequently decomposes into dimethyl formamide (HCONMe2), CO, Me2NH and HCN. This intermediate was detected by matrix isolation IR spectroscopy, and its identity confirmed both by a molecular orbital calculation of its IR spectrum, and by the temperature dependence and distribution of products in the PES and IR studies. Mechanisms are proposed for the formation and decomposition of all the products observed in these three systems, based on the experimental evidence and the results of supporting molecular orbital calculations.     

Sorting out the value of spectroscopic tools to assess the Colletotrichum acutatum impact in olive cultivars with different susceptibilities

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) can be affected by Colletotrichum acutatum, causing a loss of yield and quality of the final products, whilst the incidence of this fungal infection depends on several factors, including cultivar susceptibility. Thus, the effect of C. acutatum infection in cultivars displaying different susceptibilities to this fungal disease (‘Galega Vulgar’ ‐ susceptible, ‘Cobrançosa’ ‐ moderately susceptible, ‘Picual’ ‐ tolerant) has been assessed through spectrophotometric methods and HPLC, while the FTIR spectra of the cuticles have been concomitantly registered, resorting to the ATR accessory. With the support of multivariate analysis, these spectra allowed to discriminate olives with distinct infection times, besides retrieving evidences concerning the different susceptibility of each cultivar, while these observations were reinforced by the spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. Furthermore, the assessment of the phenolic profile evidenced individual compounds in the distinct cultivars, so as their variations in response to the fungal infection.