Four cyclo­alkane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithiones

The crystal structures of four cyclo­alkane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithiones, namely cyclo­pentane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithione {systematic name: 1,3‐diaza­spiro­[4.4]­nonane‐2,4‐dithione}, C₇H₁₀N₂S₂, cyclo­hexane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithione {systematic name: 1,3‐diaza­spiro­[4.5]decane‐2,4‐dithione}, C₈H₁₂N₂S₂, cyclo­heptane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithione {systematic name: 1,3‐diaza­spiro­[4.6]undecane‐2,4‐dithione}, C₉H₁₄N₂S₂, and cyclo­octane­spiro‐4′‐imidazolidine‐2′,5′‐dithione {systematic name: 1,3‐di­aza­spiro­[4.7]dodecane‐2,4‐dithione}, C₁₀H₁₆N₂S₂, have been determined. The three‐dimensional packing in all of the structures is based on closely similar chains, in which hydantoin moieties are linked through N—H⋯S hydrogen bonding. The size of the cyclo­alkane moiety influences the degree of its deformation. In the cyclo­octane compound, the cyclo­octane ring assumes both boat–chair and boat–boat conformations.     

Determination of arsenic in sediments, coal and fly ash slurries after ultrasonic treatment by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and trapping in an iridium-treated graphite tube

A simple and reliable method for the determination of arsenic in sediment and in coal without sample digestion, based on hydride generation from slurry samples is proposed. After grinding the samples to a particle size of 50 μm, the sample powder was mixed with aqua regia and hydrofluoric acid in an ultrasonic bath for 30 min. After diluting the mixture with hydrochloric acid, the slurry was allowed to stand for 48 h, and an aliquot was used for hydride generation with sodium borohydride. More than 80% of the arsenic was leached to the aqueous phase under these conditions, except for one sediment sample with very high silica content. The generated arsine was collected in a graphite tube, treated with 0.5 mg of iridium as a permanent modifier, and the arsenic determination was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The same tube could be used for at least 160 cycles without any re-treatment. The greatest advantage of the method was that only a minimum of reagents and sample handling were required, reducing the risks of contamination and/or analyte loss. However, the addition calibration technique had to be used in order to obtain results within the 95% confidence level for 11 certified reference materials, 5 sediments, 5 coals and one coal fly ash. One certified sediment slurry was spiked with the analyte and the resulting addition calibration curve was used for the analysis of the certified sediments. Similarly, one certified coal was used to obtain the addition calibration curve for the coal and coal fly ash samples. The recoveries of the certified values, except for one sediment, were between 91 and 115%. The limits of detection in the samples were 0.54 and 0.7 μg g⁻¹ for the coal and sediment samples, respectively, obtained for 1 ml of slurry containing 1 mg of sample.     

Extraction of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) from aqueous solution by nitrogen and thiol functionality grafted to silica gel measured by calorimetry

The reaction of ethylene sulfide with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane gave a new silylating agent, which was anchored onto a silica surface via the sol–gel procedure. This surface displayed a chelating moiety containing nitrogen and two sulfur basic centers potentially capable of extracting cations from aqueous solutions. The process of metal extraction was followed by a batch method, and fitted to a modified Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacities found were: 2.06 ± 0.01, 3.72 ± 0.02, and 5.14 ± 0.02 mmol g⁻¹ for Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II), respectively. The enthalpies of bending are: −1.16 ± 0.04, −3.60 ± 0.10, and −8.94 ± 0.03 kJ mol⁻¹ for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II), respectively. The Gibbs free energies of binding agree with the spontaneity of the proposed reactions between cations and basic centers.     

Capture of toxic gases in MOFs: SO2, H2S,NH3 and NOx

MOFs are promising candidates for the capture of toxic gases since their adsorption properties can be tuned as a function of the topology and chemical composition of the pores. Although the main drawback of MOFs is their vulnerability to these highly corrosive gases which can compromise their chemical stability, remarkable examples have demonstrated high chemical stability to SO₂, H₂S, NH₃ and NO_x. Understanding the role of different chemical functionalities, within the pores of MOFs, is the key for accomplishing superior captures of these toxic gases. Thus, the interactions of such functional groups (coordinatively unsaturated metal sites, μ-OH groups, defective sites and halogen groups) with these toxic molecules, not only determines the capture properties of MOFs, but also can provide a guideline for the desigh of new multi-functionalised MOF materials. Thus, this perspective aims to provide valuable information on the significant progress on this environmental-remediation field, which could inspire more investigators to provide more and novel research on such challenging task.

MOFs are promising candidates for the capture of toxic gases such as SO₂, H₂S, NH₃ and NOx. Understanding the role of different chemical functionalities, within the pores of MOFs, is the key for accomplishing superior captures of these toxic gases.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological activity of bis(3‐Aryl‐1‐hexahydropyrimidinyl)methanes. Novel heterocyclic polyamine derivatives

A method is described for the synthesis of bis(3‐aryl‐1‐hexahydropyrimidinyl)methanes 1, by condensation of N‐aryl‐1,3‐propanediarnines 2 with formaldehyde. The reaction mechanism involves N‐arylhexahydropyrimidines 3 as intermediates. Such compounds can also be prepared efficiently by a methylene exchange reaction between bis‐hexahydropyrimidines 1 and the corresponding diamines 2. The antimicrobial activity of compounds 1 was evaluated by the disk diffusion method and some of them showed moderate to good growth inhibition activity.     

Investigations of the thermal stability and phase transformations in the system marocco phosphorite—(NH4)3H(SO4)2.NH4HSO4

Different physical chemical methods were used to study the thermochemical processes in a system involving a natural phosphate and complex acid salts of ammonium sulphate. The products of decomposition of the double ammonium salt and the products of their interactions with the phosphate were identified. The formation of ammonium and calcium polyphosphates and the disproportionation of P₃O ₁₀ ^5? and P₂O ₇ ^4? to PO ₄ ^3? and PO ₃ ^? were found to depend on the circumstances of the thermal interactions.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

Estimation of third virial coefficients at low reduced temperatures

We use the Clausius–Clapeyron equation to calculate third virial coefficients at low reduced temperatures. This procedure gives an alternative to predict third virial coefficients in a region where the third virial coefficient is difficult to measure. We compare the results of this method with published third virial coefficient data. Calculated third virial coefficients have average percentage deviations within 5% of the experimental values at reduced temperatures between 0.8 and 1.0.     

Isolation of selenium organic species from antarctic krill after enzymatic hydrolysis

Total selenium content and its distribution in the soluble and insoluble protein-bound fractions obtained after aqueous extraction of antarctic krill samples were determined. About 26% of the total selenium (2.4 g g^–1 dry weight) was found in the supernatant; the rest was in the pellet. Isolation of low molecular selenium-containing fractions was also performed by enzymatic digestion of the protein, followed by size-exclusion chromatography in conjunction with atomic absorption spectrometry. From the applied various proteinases (pronase E, subtilisin Carlsberg, trypsin, chymotrypsin, proteinase and proteinase N from Bacillus subtilis and Novo 0.6 MPX enzyme), the treatment with pronase E led to best recovery of selenium. About 96% of the total Se was found in the hydrolysate, mainly in low molecular weight fractions. Eighty percent of the Se species were in fractions with molecular weights in the range of amino acids and short peptides. High-performance liquid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) allowed the identification of selenomethionine and the assumption that selenocystine or its derivatives were the main species in these fractions.     

GC-MS Chemical Characterization and Antibacterial Effect of the Essential oil of Piper mosenii

Commercialized mouthwashes are generally expensive for the most financially vulnerable populations. Thus, several studies evaluate the antimicrobial potential of herbal products, such as essential oils, to reduce the activity of microorganisms in the mouth. The objective of this research was to carry out the chemical characterization and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Piper mosenii (EOPm), providing data that enable the development of a low-cost mouthwash formulation aimed at vulnerable communities. The analysis of the antibacterial potential and modulator of bacterial resistance was verified by the microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC. The chemical components were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, where 23 chemical constituents were detected, with α-pinene, being the major compound. The EOPm showed a MIC ≥ 1024 µg/mL for all bacterial strains used in the tests. When the EOPm modulating activity was evaluated together with chlorhexidine, mouthwash and antibiotics against bacterial resistance, the oil showed a significant synergistic effect, reducing the MIC of the products tested in combination, in percentages between 20.6% to 96.3%. Therefore, it is recommended to expand the tests with greater variation of EOPm concentration and the products used in this research, in addition to the evaluation of toxicity and in vivo tests, seeking the development of a possible formulation of mouthwash accessible to the vulnerable population.