Preparation of an eight-membered sesquiterpene lactone resulting from sequential Gif System GoAgg(III) and MCPBA oxidation of (+)-10beta,14-dihydroxy-allo-aromadendrane

Studies aimed at a comparison of chemical, biomimetic (Gif system GoAgg(III))and enzymatic (CHMO) transformations of natural (+)-10beta,14-dihydroxy-allo-aromadendrane have led to preparation of an eight-member sesquiterpene lactone.     

A Layer‐by‐Layer Film of Chitosan in a Taste Sensor Application

Chitosan is alternated with sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) to build layer‐by‐layer (LBL) films that are used as sensing units in an electronic tongue. Using impedance spectroscopy as the principle method of detection, an array using chitosan/PSS LBL film and a bare gold electrode as the sensing units was capable of distinguishing the basic tastes – salty, sweet, bitter, and sour – to a concentration below the human threshold. The suitability of chitosan as a sensing material was confirmed by using this sensor to distinguish red wines according to their vintage, vineyard, and brands.

PCA Plot for red wine samples obtained from impedance measurements at 1 kHz for the sensor array comprising a 3‐bilayer chitosan/PSS film and a bare gold electrode.     

Additivity of the lanthanide induced chemical shifts in rigid compounds with two identical functional groups

The NMR spectra of anemonin, tetrahydroanemonin and cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7-dione, rigid compounds with two identical functional groups, in the presence of Eu(FOD)₃ are studied. The additivity of the lanthanide induced chemical shifts due to “coordination” of europium atoms at both functions is shown, while the trans configuration of the lactone rings of anemonin and the cis ring fusion in bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7-dione is confirmed.     

Sequence-specific binding of DNA to liposomes containing di-alkyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) amphiphiles

We present a method to covalently attach peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to liposomes by conjugation of PNA peptide to charged amino acids and synthetic di-alkyl lipids ("PNA amphiphile," PNAA) followed by co-extrusion with disteroylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and cholesterol. Attachment of four Glu residues and two ethylene oxide spacers to the PNAA was required to confer proper hydration for extrusion and presentation for DNA hybridization. The extent of DNA oligomer binding to 10-mer PNAA liposomes was assessed using capillary zone electrophoresis. Nearly all PNAs on the liposome surface are complexed with a stoichiometric amount of complementary DNA 10-mers after 3-h incubation in pH 8.0 Tris buffer. No binding to PNAA liposomes was observed using DNA 10-mers with a single mismatch. Longer DNA showed a greatly attenuated binding efficiency, likely because of electrostatic repulsion between the PNAA liposome double layer and the DNA backbone. Langmuir isotherms of PNAA:DSPC:chol monolayers indicate miscibility of these components at the compositions used for liposome preparation. PNAA liposomes preserve the high sequence-selectivity of PNAs and emerge as a useful sequence tag for highly sensitive bioanalytical devices.     

Synthesis and Characterization of [Hg(sulfamethoxazolato)2]·2DMSO and[Cu2(μ‐CH3CO2)4(sulfamethoxazole)2]

[Hg(sulfamethoxazolato)₂]·2DMSO ( 1 ) and [Cu₂(CH₃COO)₄(sulfa‐methoxazole)₂] ( 2 ) can be obtained by the reaction of sulfamethoxazole with mercury acetate or copper acetate in methanol. The structures of the two complexes were characterized by single crystal X—ray diffractometry. Compound 1 consists of sulfamethoxazolato ligands bridging the metal ions building an unidimensional chain. Two solvent dimethylsulfoxide molecules are involved via N‐H···O hydrogen bridges. The mercury atom shows a linear primary coordination arrangement formed by two trans deprotonated sulfonamidic nitrogen atoms. The overall coordination around the metal atom may be regarded as a strongly distorted octahedron when the interactions of mercury with four sulfonamidic oxygen atoms [bond distances of 2.761(4) Å—2.971(4) Å] are also considered to build an equatorial plane and the N1 and N1′ atoms [bond distance of 2.037(5) Å] occupy the apical positions. Compound 2 is a dinuclear complex in which the copper ions are bridged by four syn‐syn acetate ligands which are related by a symmetry centre located in the centre of the complex. Each copper atom presents a nearly octahedral coordination where the equatorial plane is formed by four oxygen atoms and an isoxazolic nitrogen atom and the second copper atom occupy the apical positions.     

NO Release from trans-[Ru(NH3)4L(NO)]3+ Complexes Upon Reduction (L = 1-Methylimidazole or Benzoimidazole)

The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄(L)NO](PF₆)₃(L = benzoimidazole or 1-methylimidazole in trans position to NO) are presented. ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy data indicate that the benzoimidazole and 1-methylimidazole ligands are coordinated to Ru^II through carbon and nitrogen, respectively. The nitrosyl stretching frequencies [(NO) > 1900 cm^–1] suggest that the coordinated nitrosyl has substantial NO⁺ character. The complexes undergo a single-electron reduction (E ⁰–0.245 versus NHE), which involves the coordinated nitrosyl. Dissociation of NO in the reduced species is facilitated by the 1-methylimidazole ligand, which is not observed for the benzoimidazole species. The complex with 1-methylimidazole does not suffer hydroxide attack on the NO⁺, at least at pH values lower than 11.     

FT-Raman spectroscopy of lichens on dolomitic rocks: an assessment of metal oxalate formation

The FT-Raman spectra of five epilithic lichen taxa growing on dolomite and magnesium-rich carbonate rocks have been analysed and interpreted for the key molecular marker bands associated with calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite), calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddelite) and magnesium oxalate dihydrate. From the results, it can be concluded that the biomineral product of lichen biodeterioration involves the calcareous part of the substratum only; no trace of magnesium oxalate has been found in the Raman spectra. Two of the species, Lecanora sulfurea and Aspicilia calcarea, produce calcium oxalate monohydrate exclusively, but Dirina massiliensis f. sorediata, D. massiliensis f. massiliensis and Tephromela atra produce significant quantities of the dihydrate. An explanation is advanced for the exclusive accumulation of calcium oxalate into the lichen thallus despite the significant presence of magnesium ions.     

Ion association studies in aqueous NiSO4 solutions by positron lifetime spectroscopy

Ion association has been studied by positron lifetime spectroscopy in aqueous solutions containing the Ni²⁺ and SO ₄ ^2– ions at 294 K with the double aim of assessing the reliability of the method for quantitative determination of complex formation constants and of probing the validity of various expressions to calculate single-ion activity coefficients at high ionic strength. The existence of two complexes, identified as NiSO₄ and Ni₂SO ₄ ²⁺ , is shown by the data analysis. Considering the formation constant of the former, K_I=(196±10)M^–1, determined in previous works leads to discarding several of the expressions commonly used for activity corrections. Two possible values are retained for K_I, (193±20)M^–1 and (179±20)M^–1, while K_II related to Ni₂SO ₄ ²⁺ is better defined, as (2.57±0.14)M^–1.     

Development of a rapid and specific assay for detection of busulfan in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific assay for detection of busulfan in human plasma was developed. The assay is based on rapid isolation of busulfan by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, and detection by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry. 1,6-Bis(methanesulfonyloxy)hexane, a synthesized analogue of busulfan, was used as the internal standard (IS). The acquisition was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode; busulfan and the IS were detected with no interferences from plasma matrix. The method was linear over the range 5-2500 ng mL(-1), with r2 > 0.99 and a run time of only 3.5 min. The intra- and inter-assay precisions were in the ranges 2.1-11.9% and 3.2-10.1%, respectively, and the intra- and inter-assay accuracies were 92.2-107.6% and 94.7-104.1%, respectively. The absolute recoveries were 82.0% (20 ng mL(-1)), 90.6% (1000 ng mL(-1)) and 80.0% (2000 ng mL(-1)) for busulfan, and 89.1% for the IS (1000 ng mL(-1)). The limits of detection and quantification were 2 and 5 ng mL(-1), respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze plasma samples obtained from six adults receiving doses of 1 mg kg(-1) in a conditioning regimen prior to bone marrow transplantation. A marked intra-patient variation in busulfan concentrations during the steady state was observed, which limits the application of pharmacokinetic modeling and suggests that continuous therapeutic monitoring is necessary for adequate individualized dosing. In this regard, the present assay brings important advantages relative to other methods described in the literature, i.e., it is highly specific and simple to perform, with a rapid chromatographic run time (3.5 min), and the whole procedure can be completed in 4-5 h, which would permit dose corrections after the third dose allowing earlier and better dosing adjustments towards the target level of busulfan.