Selected Methodologies Convenient for the Synthesis of N,5‐Diaryloxazole‐2‐amine Pharmacophore

N,5‐Diaryloxazole‐2‐amine moiety is a strong pharmacophore found in 775 biologically active compounds possessing antitumor, anti‐infective, immunosuppressive, anti‐inflammatory, and other activities. Despite a broad biological exploitation, synthesis of N,5‐diaryloxazole‐2‐amine‐containing compounds is still not well developed. Preparation of oxazole‐2‐amine moiety is a relatively complex topic, and often low yields are observed. In this article, we discussed four synthetic methodologies and provided some generalization of their advantages, as well as further synthetic development. Using these methodologies, we prepared all together 10 new oxazole‐2‐amine derivatives and discovered presence of urea and enamine side products.     

Newly synthesized indolizine derivatives — antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties

A series of indolizine derivatives have been synthesized and subjected to antibacterial screening studies. Antibacterial activity of 21 derivatives was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli; also, the sensitivity of model yeast Candida parapsilosis and some model filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Microsporum gypseum was tested. Newly synthesized indolizine derivatives have shown selective toxicity to Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and were also considered to be able to inhibit the acidoresistant rod M. smegmatis. Derivative XXI has shown the highest inhibition effect with the bacteriostatic effect on the cells at the concentration of 25 µg mL^?1. The best antifungal activity has been detected in the presence of derivative XIII. Derivative XIII did also affect the morphology of hyphal tips of B. cinerea, which led to enhanced ramification of hyphae. Finally, the antimutagenic activity of derivatives was investigated. Significant antimutagenic activity was registered in case of derivative VIII. The number of induced revertants by mutagen [2-(5-nitrofuryl)acrylic acid] was decreased almost to the level of spontaneous revertants in the lowest applied concentration (50 µg per plate).     

On‐line coupled capillary isotachophoresis‐capillary zone electrophoresis in hydrodynamically closed separation system hyphenated with laser induced fluorescence detection

An analytical method, based on a column coupling capillary ITP and CZE in a hydrodynamically closed separation mode hyphenated with the detection in the modular arrangement, was developed in this work. Analytical possibilities of this approach are demonstrated on the direct and ultrasensitive quantitative determination of quinine (QUI) in diluted real multicomponent ionic matrices (beverages, urine). The detection cell interface, with the rectangular arrangement of the optical channels inside, connected the separation capillary with the LIF detector via optical fibers in the on‐column detection arrangement. ITP enabled the direct large volume (30 μL) injections of the diluted real matrices with an on‐line sample pretreatment (preseparation, preconcentration) so that no external sample preparation (except for the dilution) was necessary for the separation of the analyte in the multicomponent ionic matrices. Due to the ITP sample preconcentration and intrinsic sensitivity of the LIF detection, very low concentration LOD (as low as 77 pg/mL), were reached at the same time. This was ca. two orders lower than the corresponding LOD achieved by the same 2D separation system with UV absorbance detection. Compared to the single column CE‐LIF methods applied for this model analyte and matrix, this method was found to be superior in terms of concentration LOD, with acceptable selectivity and benefits of the on‐line sample preparation. A food control and bioanalytical application clearly illustrates great practical possibilities and routine use of the proposed modular ITP–CZE–LIF technique.     

Functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes-modified electrode for sensitive determination of Diuron in seawater samples

ABSTRACT

This work was focused in to develop an electroanalytical method based on a direct modification of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by the deposition of successive aliquots of diluted dispersions of functionalised carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) in ethanol (0.1 mg.mL^?1) aiming the determination of Diuron into seawater samples, a common antifouling substance, using differential pulse voltammetry as electroanalytical technique. The GCE/MWCNT-COOH showed a sensitivity of 2.20 μA/μmol L^?1 about 10 times higher than the unmodified counterpart (GCE) which showed a sensitivity of 0.192 μA/μmol L^?1. The limits of detection and quantificationwere 6.88 × 10^?8 and 2.29 × 10^?7 mol L^?1 for GCE/MWCNT-COOH while for GCE were 7.87 × 10^?7 and 2.62 × 10^?6 mol L^?1, respectively. The applicability was evaluated with spiked detectable amounts of Diuron into seawater samples. The recovery results were between 76% and 119%.     

Effects of enzymes and hydrocolloids on physical, sensory, and shelf-life properties of wheat bread

This study compares two types of enzymes: maltogenic amylase (Novamyl 10000 BG) and lipase (Lipopan F BG, Lipopan Xtra BG), both separately and in combination, and seven hydrocolloids (guar gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, β-glucan, carob gum, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)) on the physical and sensory properties of a bakery product (white wheat bread). Their effect was observed on the baking characteristics of volume, specific volume, shape, mass, shelf-life (penetration and water activity test), and overall taste. The best results in shelf-life extension from the hydrocolloids were shown by β-glucan, a combination of xanthan gum + carrageenan and guar gum. From the enzymes, the best results were achieved with Lipopan Xtra BG and Novamyl 10000 BG + Lipopan F BG combination. The sensory properties (e.g. taste, colour, shape, aroma, elasticity, hardness) were evaluated by ten trained panellists, holding certification in sensory analysis. β-Glucan and Novamyl 10000 BG + Lipopan F BG combination increased the bread volume significantly and also were deemed to afford the most favourable taste.     

Spirocyclisation of phytoalexin 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of Grignard reagents

The anti-cancer properties of naturally occurring (2R, 3R)-(?)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether (I) and their synthetic amino or piperidyl analogues II inspired us to study the synthesis of new target compounds III with a C—C bond in the 2-position of indole rather than a C—N or C—O bond (I or II respectively). The goal was achieved via electrophilic-nucleophilic 3,2-difunctionalisation of 1-methoxybrassinin (IV) in the presence of bromine and the Grignard reagent leading to the formation of cis- and trans-C—C analogues of I. Finally, the anti-cancer activities of the new compounds were measured and compared with I and II in order to show the importance of a heteroatom in the 2-substituted indole on the anti-cancer activity of spirobrassinols.     

Soy protein–nanocellulose composite aerogels

Organic aerogels based on two important and widely abundant renewable resources, soy proteins (SP) and nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) are developed from precursor aqueous dispersions and a facile method conducive of channel- and defect-free systems after cooling and freeze-drying cycles that yielded apparent densities on the order of 0.1 g/cm³. NFC loading drives the internal morphology of the composite aerogels to transition from network- to fibrillar-like, with high density of interconnected cells. Composite aerogels with SP loadings as high as ca. 70 % display a compression modulus of 4.4 MPa very close to that obtained from reference, pure NFC aerogels. Thus, the high compression modulus of the composite system is not compromised as long as a relatively low amount of reinforcing NFC is present. The composite materials gain moisture (up to 5 %) in equilibrium with 50 % RH air, independent of SP content. Furthermore, their physical integrity is unchanged upon immersion in polar and non-polar solvents. Fast liquid sorption rates are observed in the case of composite aerogels in contact with hexane. In contrast, water sorption is modulated by the chemical composition of the aerogel, with an important contribution from swelling. The potential functionalities of the newly developed SP–NFC composite green materials can benefit from the reduced material cost and the chemical features brought about the amino acids present in SPs.     

Synthesis of Some New Chiral Sulfonamide Ligands

Synthesis of new chiral sulfonamide ligands derived from isatoic anhydride by reaction with trans-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and chiral aminoacid esters.     

Intracellular concentration map of magnesium in whole cells by combined use of X-ray fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy

We report a novel experimental approach to derive quantitative concentration map of light elements in whole cells by combining two complementary nano-probe methods: X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XRFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The concentration is derived by normalizing point-by-point the elemental (here Mg) spatial distribution obtained by XRFM, by the thickness measured using AFM. The considerable difference between the elemental distribution and the concentration maps indicates that this procedure is essential to obtain reliable information on the role and function of elements in whole cells.     

Geographical origin of durum wheat studied by 1H-NMR profiling

(1)H-Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to detect metabolic profiles of wheat flour samples of different geographical and botanical origin. The NMR profiles were analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques in order to establish the origin of the samples. A linear model, able to discriminate among three different locations, was built achieving a prediction level of about 80% of correctly assigned samples. The principal classes of compounds responsible for the geographic origin discrimination were individuated in aromatic compounds and amino acids. The statistical modeling also indicated that botanical origin information is very poor in the NMR profiles of the analyzed wheat samples.