An Improved HPLC Post-Column Methodology for the Identification of Free Radical Scavenging Phytochemicals in Complex Mixtures

The importance of natural antioxidants principally relates to their health-promoting properties. The discovery of new sources of established compounds or more potent compounds is a costly exercise and any technique capable of aiding this procedure would be highly significant. An approach combining chromatographic separation, component analysis and post-column identification of free radical scavenging has been reported. However, its effectiveness is dependent upon various factors and the number of samples analyzed without operator intervention is restricted. A more applicable technique using a 10% to 100% methanol with 2% acetic acid mobile phase and a citric acid-sodium citrate buffered methanolic 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical reagent is presented, whereby free radical scavengers can be detected within crude extracts of variable polarity without special considerations. As an illustration, acetone, 70% (aq.) methanol and acetonitrile-soluble extracts were prepared from sage (Salvia officinalis L.) for extraction of polar and non-polar radical scavengers and analyzed. Radical scavenging components were identified as carnosic, caffeic and rosmarinic acids and luteolin-7-O-glycoside. Others radical scavengers were tentatively identified as benzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids and diterpenoids. Through the application of this technique, carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid were identified as the principal free radical scavengers.     

The scope of catalytic enantioselective tandem carbonyl ylide formation-intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloadditions

Catalytic enantioselective tandem carbonyl ylide formation-intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 2-diazo-3,6-diketoesters show promising scope in terms of asymmetric induction as the tethered alkene/alkyne dipolarophile component is varied. Cycloadditions were found to occur in moderate to very good yields, with a difference in ee exhibited by the electronically different 2-diazo-3,6-diketoesters 1, 25 and 33, 34. Values for ee of up to 90% for alkene dipolarophiles and up to 86% for alkyne dipolarophiles were obtained.     

The thermodynamic model of inorganic arsenic species in aqueous solutions Potentiometric study of the hydrolitic equilibrium of arsenic acid

Protonation constants of arsenic acid were determined at different ionic strengths in NaClO(4) (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 mol dm(-3)), NaCl (0.5 and 1.0 mol dm(-3)) and KCl (0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mol dm(-3)) ionic media by means of a potentiometric study. The distribution of arsenate species was defined depending on two important variables in natural environments: pH and composition. All the experimentation was performed at 25 degrees C. The differences found in the protonation constants for different medium compositions, were explained by the different behaviour of the interaction parameters of the species considered in the different media and ionic strengths. These parameters were reported for all hydrolitic As(V) species and were calculated using the Modified Bromley's Methodology (MBM). The corresponding thermodynamic stepwise formation constants were also determined (log degrees K(1)=11.58+/-0.01, log degrees K(2)=7.06+/-0.01, log degrees K(3)=2.25+/-0.01). All the results obtained showed not only the importance of the ionic strength but also of the composition of the ionic medium on the distribution of the acid-base species of As(V) as a function of pH in natural waters.     

A kinetic method for <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-nitrophenol determination based on its inhibitory effect on the catalatic reaction of catalase

The inhibitory effect of para-nitrophenol on the catalytic reaction of catalase was investigated. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters were determined from Lineweaver-Burk plots obtained in the absence or in the presence of the inhibitor. The inhibitor pattern, revealed by the Lineweaver-Burk plots, suggested a fully mixed inhibition mechanism. Spectrophotometric monitoring of the indicator reaction: in conjunction with initial rate measurements was employed for the kinetic determination of the inhibitor. Calibration plots of initial rate vs. para-nitrophenol concentration were linear in the concentration range 0.9·10⁻⁵–2.5·10⁻⁵ mol/L and the detection limit was 3·10⁻⁶ mol/L (417 μg/L) para-nitrophenol. Interferences from other phenolic compounds like orto-cresole, meta-and orto-nitrophenol were observed.     

Ag(I) complexes with alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) as building units for discrete metallomacrocyclic frames. A structural and solution study

Alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) (pyr2Cx, x = 2-5) are useful ligands to interact with Ag(I) yielding discrete metallocycles. Crystal structures of the [(pyr2C2)Ag(NO3)]2 and [(H-pyr2C4)Ag(NO3)2]2 have been isolated where each macrocyclic moiety interacts with their surroundings through weak interactions, yielding 3D discrete structures, On the other hand, the solution study shows that the equilibrium constants for the formation of Ag(pyr2Cx)+ complexes are higher than the literature values for Ag(I) complexes with single pyrimidines, although the differences could be explained by invoking the solid-state structures of the Ag(I)-pyr2Cx complexes.     

Structural characterisation of tyrosine-nitrated peptides by ultraviolet and infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Nitration of tyrosine residues in proteins may occur in cells upon oxidative stress and inflammation processes mediated through generation of reactive nitroxyl from peroxynitrite. Tyrosine nitration from oxidative pathways may generate cytotoxic species that cause protein dysfunction and pathogenesis. A number of protein nitrations in vivo have been reported and some specific Tyrosine nitration sites have been recently identified using mass spectrometric methods. High-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI) FT-ICR-MS) is shown here to be a highly efficient method in the determination of protein nitrations. Following the identification of nitration of the catalytic site Tyr-430 residue of bovine prostacyclin synthase, we synthesised several model peptides containing both unmodified tyrosine and 3-nitro-tyrosine residues, using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The structures of the nitrotyrosine peptides were characterised both by ESI- and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI)-FT-ICR-MS, using a standard ultraviolet (UV) nitrogen nitrogen laser and a 2.97 microm Nd-YAG infrared laser. Using UV-MALDI-MS, 3-nitrotyrosyl-peptides were found to undergo extensive photochemical fragmentation at the nitrophenyl group, which may hamper or prevent the unequivocal identification of Tyr-nitrations in cellular proteins. In contrast, infrared-MALDI-FT-ICR-MS did not produce fragmentation of molecular ions of Tyr-nitrated peptides.     

Investigations for Modification of Polyacrylamide-Bentonite by Phytic Acid and its Usability in Fe3+, Zn2+ and UO2 2+ Adsorption

Composite of polyacrylamide-bentonite (PAA-B) was prepared by direct polymerisation of PAA in a suspension of bentonite (B). Adsorption and thermodynamic features of phytic acid (Phy) adsorption onto B, PAA and PAA-B, and those of Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ adsorption onto PAA-B and its modification by Phy (PAA-B-Phy) have been investigated. The reusability, storagability, ion selectivity and recoverability of sorbed ions with 1 M HCl have also been considered.The chemical and physical structure of adsorbents has been characterised by means of FT-IR and XRD. All adsorption isotherms for Phy and the ions were L-type of the Giles classification except, the one which is S type for adsorption of Phy onto PAA. The maximum adsorption capacities for the ions adsorbed were in order of UO₂ ²⁺ > Fe³⁺ > Zn²⁺ for PAA-B and Zn²⁺ > Fe³⁺ > UO₂ ²⁺ for PAA-B-Phy. Langmuir equilibrium constants for the adsorption of ions onto PAA-B-Phy were significantly higher than those found for PAA-B; the magnitude of increase for UO₂ ²⁺ was about 100. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that adsorption reactions are spontaneous in terms of adsorption free enthalpy.The chemical structure of PAA-B-Phy was not changed at the end of the studies of reusability and storagability. The composite was selective for UO₂ ²⁺ of the ions of interest.The composite of PAA-B and its modification by Phy have been used for the first time in this investigation. It is proposed that the composites can be practically used in the investigations and applications of adsorption.     

Determination of dinoseb by adsorptive stripping voltammetry using a mercury film electrode

An adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of the pesticide dinoseb (2-sec.-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) at the mercury film electrode is described. The deposition of the mercury film on a glassy carbon disk electrode was optimized. The temperature, at which the mercury film was deposited, was demonstrated to have a strong influence on the stripping peaks, the first one being much more intense than the second. A systematic study of the variables affecting the stripping response was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry. The results obtained have been compared with those at the HMDE; a significant improvement in the sensitivity of the method developed with the MFE was observed. Using a 300 s accumulation time, the limits of determination and detection were 3.6 × 10^–10 and 1.1 × 10^–10 mol L^–1, respectively. The effect of the presence of several herbicides on the dinoseb response was also tested. The method has been applied to the determination of the pesticide in spiked apple juice at two concentration levels: 12.0 and 1.2 g L^–1 of juice.     

Texture changes inside smectic-C droplets in azobenzene Langmuir monolayers

Preparation of Langmuir monolayers of a mixture of trans- and cis-isomers of an azobenzene derivative, 4-[4-[(4-octylphenyl)azo]phenoxy]butanoic acid, results in the segregation of birefringent trans-isomer domains embedded in an isotropic medium of cis-isomers. Brewster angle microscopy observations allow us to identify different textures inside the domains depending on surface pressure, temperature, and domain size. The evolution of the monolayer in the dark, from initial droplets formed after spreading to a stable stripe texture, is described. The dynamics of domain coalescence and some morphological transitions induced by temperature and surface pressure changes are also discussed. A simple theoretical model is included to supplement some of these experimental observations.     

An Infrared Spectroscopic Study on the Hofmann-diam-type 1,12-Diaminododecanemetal(II) Tetracyanonickelate(II)-aromatic Guest Clathrates: M(H2N(CH2)12NH2)Ni(CN)4ċG(M=Co, Ni or Cd; G = Benzene, Naphthalene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene or Biphenyl)

Three Hofmann-diaminododecane-type clathrates of the form M(1,12-diaminododecane) Ni(CN)₄G (M = Co, Ni or Cd; G = benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene or biphenyl) have been prepared in powder form. The 1,12-diaminododecane molecules in the host lattice permit the inclusion of bulky guest molecules. The spectral features suggest that these compounds are similar in structure to the other Hofmann-diam-type clathrates.