Profiling of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of dry extracts from the selected Sorbus species

The antioxidant efficiency of dry extracts from inflorescences and/or leaves of seven Sorbus species was studied using four in vitro tests of SET (single electron transfer) and HAT-type (hydrogen atom transfer) mechanisms. The 70% methanol extracts and its diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions were tested in parallel with the phenolic standards, e.g., caffeic acid, quercetin, BHA, BHT, and Trolox. The SET-type activity of the extracts depended primarily on the extraction solvent. The most valuable extracts were n-butanol and ethyl acetate ones, which activity was high in the DPPH (EC(50) = 3.2-5.2 μg/mL), TEAC (2.8-4.0 mmol Trolox/g), and FRAP (9.8-13.7 mmol Fe2+/g) tests, and strongly correlated with the total phenolic levels (39.6-58.2% of gallic acid equivalents). The HPLC-PDA analysis of the extracts led to the identification of chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin 3-O-sophoroside, and sexangularetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside as the main components. Apart from flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins have also a significant impact on the SET-type activity. The HAT-reactivity of the extracts in the linoleic acid peroxidation test (IC(50) = 36.9-228.3 μg/mL) depended more strongly on the plant tissue than on the extraction solvent, and its correlation with the phenolic content was weak. Both SET and HAT-type activity of the most potent Sorbus extracts was comparable with the activity of the standards, indicating their great potential as effective sources for health products.     

New ternary germanides La4Mg5Ge6 and La4Mg7Ge6: crystal structure and chemical bonding

The synthesis, structural characterization, and chemical-bonding peculiarities of the two new polar lanthanum-magnesium germanides La(4)Mg(5)Ge(6) and La(4)Mg(7)Ge(6) are reported. The crystal structures of these intermetallics were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The La(4)Mg(5)Ge(6) phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic Gd(4)Zn(5)Ge(6) structure type [Cmc2(1), oS60, Z = 4, a = 4.5030(7) ?, b = 20.085(3) ?, c = 16.207(3) ?, wR2 = 0.0451, 1470 F(2) values, 93 variables]. The La(4)Mg(7)Ge(6) phase represents a new structure type with a monoclinic unit cell [C2/m, mS34, Z = 2, a = 16.878(3) ?, b = 4.4702(9) ?, c = 12.660(3) ?, β = 122.25(3)°, wR2 = 0.0375, 1466 F(2) values, 54 variables]. Crystallographic analysis together with linear muffin-tin orbital band structure calculations reveals the presence of strongly bonded 3D polyanionic [Mg-Ge] networks balanced by positively charged La atoms in both stoichiometric compounds. The La(4)Mg(5)Ge(6) compound is related to Zintl phases, showing a prominent density of states pseudogap at the Fermi level. A distinctive feature of the La(4)Mg(5)Ge(6) structure is the presence of Ge-Ge covalent dumbbells; in La(4)Mg(7)Ge(6), the higher Mg content generates a polyanionic network consisting exclusively of Mg-Ge heterocontacts. Nevertheless, the frameworks of the two phases are structurally similar, as is highlighted in this work.     

Influence of nanoparticle surface functionalization on the thermal stability of colloidal polystyrene films

The installation of large scale colloidal nanoparticle thin films is of great interest in sensor technology or data storage. Often, such devices are operated at elevated temperatures. In the present study, we investigate the effect of heat treatment on the structure of colloidal thin films of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles in situ by using the combination of grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and optical ellipsometry. In addition, the samples are investigated with optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). To install large scale coatings on silicon wafers, spin-coating of colloidal pure PS nanoparticles and carboxylated PS nanoparticles is used. Our results indicate that thermal annealing in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature T(g) of pure PS leads to a rapid loss in the ordering of the nanoparticles in spin-coated films. For carboxylated particles, this loss of order is shifted to a higher temperature, which can be useful for applications at elevated temperatures. Our model assumes a softening of the boundaries between the individual colloidal spheres, leading to strong changes in the nanostructure morphology. While the nanostructure changes drastically, the macroscopic morphology remains unaffected by annealing near T(g).     

Ruthenium-vinylhelicenes: remote metal-based enhancement and redox switching of the chiroptical properties of a helicene core

Introducing metal-vinyl ruthenium moieties onto [6]helicene results in a significant enhancement of the chiroptical properties due to strong metal-ligand electronic interactions. The electro-active Ru centers allow the achievement of the first purely helicene-based redox-triggered chiroptical switches. A combination of electrochemical, spectroscopic, and theoretical techniques reveals that the helicene moiety is a noninnocent ligand bearing a significant spin density.     

Rhodium complexes with dioximes as catalysts of hydroformylation and hydrogenation of 1-hexene

Rhodium(II) complexes with dioximes [Rh(Hdmg)₂(PPh₃)]₂ [I] (Hdmg=monoanion of dimethylglyoxime) and [Rh(Hdmg)(ClZndmg)(PPh₃)]₂ [II] catalyse hydroformylation and hydrogenation reactions of 1-hexene at 1 MPa CO/H₂ and 0.5 MPa H₂ at 353 K, respectively. Hydroformylation with complex [I] produces 94% of aldehydes (n/iso=2.2) and 6% 2-hexene whereas the second catalyst [II] gives ca. 40% of aldehydes (n/iso=2.1) and 60% of 2-hexene. Corresponding Rh(III) complexes are inactive in hydroformylation except of RhH(Hdmg)₂(PPh₃) [III], which shows activity similar to [I]. Complexes [Rh(Hdmg)₂(PPh₃)]₂ [I], [Rh(Hdmg)(ClZndmg)(PPh₃)]₂ [II], RhH(Hdmg)₂(PPh₃) [III] and [Rh(Hdmg)₂(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ [V] catalyse 1-hexene hydrogenation with an average TON ca. 18 cycles/mol [Rh]×min. Complex [II] has also been found to catalyse hydrogenation of cyclohexene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene and styrene.     

Selective formation of non-conjugated olefins by samarium(II)-mediated elimination/isomerization of allylic benzoates

Aromatic allylic benzoates can be selectively transformed to the corresponding benzoate eliminated olefin by the action of samarium diiodide. Depending on the substrate and the elimination conditions, high selectivity for the non-conjugated alkene product can be achieved.     

The potential of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric detection for capillary electrophoretic analysis of pesticides

In this work, the potential of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled to capillary electrophoresis (CE) to determine organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) is demonstrated. Element specific detection of (31)P with ICP-MS is performed for the detection of OPPs. Three common OPPs, including glyphosate, glufosinate, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), were analyzed by CE-ICP-MS to demonstrate its applicability for the analysis of OPPs. The advantages of using ICP-MS with respect to other common detectors, such as flame photometric detection (FPD), for CE analysis of OPPs are shown. Additionally, different CE separation conditions were studied to achieve complete baseline separation of the pesticide compounds in short migration times. Two CE buffer systems were evaluated for the separation of OPPs using ICP-MS detection. A buffer solution containing 40 mmol.L(-1) ammonium acetate at pH 9.0 and an applied voltage of +20 kV were finally selected leading to a separation time of 10.0 min. Both migration time and area relative standard deviations (%RSD) were evaluated and their respective values were in the intervals of 1.1-3.3% and 2.7-5.3%. Detection limits obtained with the CE-ICP-MS system were in the range of 0.11-0.19 mg.L(-1) (as compound) yielding an enhancement of 130- to 230-fold with respect to FPD. The proposed methodology was finally applied for the determination of the OPPs mentioned above in natural river water samples.     

Transition Metal Complexes of Dis(thiosemicarbazone): Synthesis and Spectral,and Antifungal Studies

Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized with benzil bis(thiosemicarbazone) (L) and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibility measurements, thermogravimetric studies, infrared (IR), electronic, and electron paramagnetic resonance (eEPR) spectral studies. The molar conductance measurements of the complexes in DMF correspond to the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. Thus these complexes may be formulated as [M(L)X₂] (where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and X = Cl^? and NO₃ ^?). On the basis of IR, electronic, and EPR spectral studies, an octahedral geometry has been assigned for Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes, whereas a tetragonal geometry for the Cu(II) complexes is presumed. The free ligand and its metal complexes were tested against the phytopathogenic fungi (i.e., Rhizoctonia baticola, Alternaria alternata) in vitro.     

Enantioselective Extraction System Containing Binary Chiral Selectors and Chromatographic Enantioseparation Method for Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Enantiomers of Cyclopentolate

The distribution coefficients and enantioseparation of cyclopentolate were studied in an extraction system containing d-tartaric acid ditertbutyl ester in organic phase and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) in aqueous phase. Various parameters involved in the enantioseparation such as the type and the concentration of chiral selectors, pH value and a wide range of organic solvents were investigated. The maximum enantioselectivity (α = 2.13) and optimum distribution coefficients (K _R = 0.85, K _S = 0.40) were obtained under the following conditions: 0.10 mol/L HP-β-CD in aqueous phase and 0.20 mol/L d-tartaric acid ditertbutyl ester in decanol as organic phase. Cyclopentolate is present as a racemic mixture to the aqueous phase. The potentially different biological activities of cyclopentolate enantiomers have not been examined yet. Two chiral liquid chromatography methods have been developed for the direct separation of the enantiomers of cyclopentolate. First method was used for the quantification analysis of cyclopentolate enantiomers in aqueous phase. Second method used two chiroptical detectors: electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and optical rotation (OR) for the identification of individual cyclopentolate enantiomers from the organic phase enriched with (R)-enantiomer. The absolute stereochemistry was determined by means of the comparison of the experimental and computed ECD spectra and signs of OR. The ECD spectra of chiral analytes were measured on-line using HPLC-ECD technique.

     

Comparative studies in subsolidus areas of ternary oxide systems PbO–V2O5–In2O3 and PbO–V2O5–Fe2O3

Thermal stability of PbO was studied. Reactivity of oxides in the systems PbO–M₂O₃ (M = In, Fe) was investigated up to 650 °C. Using the DTA and XRD methods, parts of investigated ternary oxide systems, labelled by compounds: V₂O₅, Pb₈V₂O₁₃ and M₂O₃ (M = In, Fe), have been divided into partial ternary systems. IR spectra of compounds Pb₂MV₃O₁₁ (M = In, Fe) have been compared.