Development of a laccase-based flow injection electrochemical biosensor for the determination of phenolic compounds and its application for monitoring remediation of Kraft E1 paper mill effluent

This paper describes the development of a new system for amperometric determination of phenolic compounds, and its application for monitoring these compounds in paper mill effluent. The method was based on a flow system, a dialysis sampler, and a laccase-based biosensor. The performance of this system was investigated with respect to pH, ionic strength, working potential, and flow-rate dependence. The biosensor showed an excellent long-term stability allowing measurements for over than 3 months. The sensitivity of laccase-based biosensor was tested for phenol, p-chlorophenol, guaiacol and chloroguaiacol; the detector presented selective measurements of micromolar concentration of these compounds. The integration of a dialysis membrane sampling in the system protected the biosensor surface from fouling and gave independence of sample conditions that commonly influence the biosensor performance. These favorable characteristics allowed its application for direct measurements in complex media with no sample pretreatment. This ability was confirmed employing this system in a continuous analysis of phenolic compounds during the remediation of paper mill effluent by ozonization process.     

Synthesis of human renin inhibitory peptides, angiotensinogen transition-state analogs containing a retro-inverso amide bond

The experimental details for the synthesis of human renin inhibitors are described. In order to avoid metabolic degradation of the Phe-His (P3-P2) amide bond in transition-state analogs, structurally modified acyl residues (P4-P3) were incorporated into the inhibitors. Compound 1a, which contained 2-(1-naphthylmethyl)-3-(N-phenethylcarbamoyl)propionyl residue (P4-P3) with a retro-inverso amide bond, L-histidine, and norstatine isoamylamide residue (P1-P1) as a transition-state mimic, had potent human renin inhibitory activity, and it lowered blood pressure when administered orally to common marmosets.     

Lipid-soluble and water-soluble arsenic compounds in blubber of ringed seal (Pusa hispida)

High concentrations of arsenic were observed in the blubber of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in our previous study. To better understand the arsenic accumulation in blubber of marine mammals, arsenicals in the blubber of ringed seal were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICPMS). The most predominant water-soluble arsenical in the blubber was dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in spite of the predominance of arsenobetaine in other tissues. Lipid-soluble fraction was hydrolyzed under mild (tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAH) hydrolysis) and strong (NaOH hydrolysis) conditions, and then an aliquot of hydrolysate was injected onto HPLC–ICPMS. Both TEAH-labile and TEAH-stable/NaOH-labile lipid-soluble fractions contained precursors of DMA. These results suggest that the blubber might be the pool of DMA and DMA-containing precursors in ringed seals.     

Preparation,structures, and redox and emission characteristics of the isothiocyanate complexes of hexarhenium(III) clusters [Re6(mu3-E)8(NCS)6]4- (E = S,Se)

Hexarhenium(III) complexes with terminal isothiocyanate ligands, [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)[Re(6)(mu(3)-S)(8)(NCS)(6)] (1) and (L)(4)[Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(NCS)(6)] (L(+) = PPN(+) (2a), (n-C(4)H(9))(4)N(+) (2b)), have been prepared by three different methods. Complex 1 was prepared by the reaction of [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)[Re(6)(mu(3)-S)(8)Cl(6)] with molten KSCN at 200 degrees C, while 2b was obtained by refluxing the chlorobenzene-DMF (2:1 v/v) solution of [Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(CH(3)CN)(6)](SbF(6))(2) and [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N]SCN. The [Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(NCS)(6)](4)(-) anion was also obtained from a mixture of Cs(2)[Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)Br(4)] and KSCN in C(2)H(5)OH by a mechanochemical activation at room temperature for 20 h and isolated as 2a. The X-ray structures of 1 and 2a.4DMF have been determined (1, C(70)H(144)N(10)S(14)Re(6), monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 14.464(7) A, b = 22.059(6) A, c = 16.642(8) A, beta = 113.62(3) degrees, V = 4864(3) A(3), Z = 2; 2a.4DMF, C(162)H(144)N(14)O(4)P(8)S(6)Se(8)Re(6), triclinic, space group P1 (No. 2), a = 15.263(2) A, b = 16.429(2) A, c = 17.111(3) A, alpha = 84.07(1) degrees, beta = 84.95(1) degrees, gamma = 74.21(1) degrees, V = 4098.3(8) A(3), Z = 1). All the NCS(-) ligands in both complexes are coordinated to the metal center via nitrogen site with the Re-N distances in the range of 2.07-2.13 A. The redox potentials of the reversible Re(III)(6)/Re(III)(5)Re(IV) process in acetonitrile are +0.84 and +0.70 V vs. Ag/AgCl for [Re(6)(mu(3)-S)(8)(NCS)(6)](4)(-) and [Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(NCS)(6)](4)(-), respectively, which are the most positive among the known hexarhenium complexes with six terminal anionic ligands. The complexes show strong red luminescence with the emission maxima (lambda(max)/nm), lifetimes (tau(em)/micros), and quantum yields (phi(em)) being 745 and 715, 10.4 and 11.8, and 0.091 and 0.15 for 1 and 2b, respectively, in acetonitrile. The data reasonably well fit in the energy-gap plots of other hexarhenium(III) complexes. The temperature dependence of the emission spectra and tau(em) of 1 and [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)[Re(6)(mu(3)-S)(8)Cl(6)] are also reported.     

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile with β-propiolactone

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile (monomer 1) with β-propiolactone (monomer 2) and the structures of the resulting copolymers were studied. The copolymerization with sodium cyanide in N,N-dimethylformamide gave copolymers of the structure I containing acid anhydride linkage in the molecular chains, with the monomer reactivity ratios, r₁ = 1.20, r₂ = 0.00. The copolymerization with potassium hydroxide gave either copolymers of the structure II (r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 3.64 at 30°C; r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 5.00 at 40°C) in N,N-dimethylformamide or only β-propiolactone homopolymer in toluene.      

Determination of Phenolic Compounds Based on Co‐Immobilization of Methylene Blue and HRP on Multi‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

This work evaluated an amperometric biosensor based on multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), chemically modified with methylene blue (Met) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), for detection of phenolic compounds. The dependences of the biosensor response due to the enzyme immobilization procedure, HRP amounts, pH and working potential were investigated. The amperometric response for catechol using the proposed biosensor showed a very wide linear response range (1 to 150 μmol L^?1), good sensitivity (50 nA cm^?2 μmol^?1 L), excellent operational stability (after 300 determinations the response remained at 97%) and very good storage stability (lifetime>3 months). Based on all these characteristics, it is possible to affirm that the material is promising for phenol detection due to its good electrochemical response and enzyme stabilization. The biosensor response for various phenolic compounds was investigated.     

Photodegradation of polyethylene in the presence of ferric chloride

Effects of ferric chloride (FeCl₃) on photodegradation of high-density polyethylene (PE) were investigated by using ESR and infrared spectrometry. In the system with irradiation at light of λ > 220 nm, PE irradiated at 77°K yielded an 8-line spectrum, the intensity of which was markedly weakened by using FeCl₃ with the sample, indicating a distinct depression of radical formation. On the other hand, PE with the use of FeCl₃ yielded radicals under irradiation only with light of λ > 300 nm, showing a singlet spectrum with a line width of 15 gauss. For photooxidized PE, almost the same effect of FeCl₃ was observed. On irradiation at room temperature, PE samples with and without FeCl₃ showed a singlet spectrum with line widths of 15 and 25 gauss, respectively. On the other hand, the unsaturated double bond contained in a small amount in PE sample was observed by infrared study to be decreased with photoirradiation; however, the decrease was sharply depressed with the addition of FeCl₃ to the sample. The degradation of carbonyl group in a photooxidized sample was markedly affected by photoirradiation, and the decay was obviously reduced for the sample on addition of FeCl₃. It is concluded that FeCl₃ works upon photodegradation of PE to enhance the Norrish type II reaction and to accelerate the formation of unsaturated double bond in the chain.     

Free-Radical Carbonylations: Then and Now

Although known since the 1950s, free-radical carbonylation has not received much attention until only recently. In the last few years the application of modern free-radical techniques has revealed the high synthetic potential of this reaction as a tool for introducing CO into organic molecules. Clearly now is the time for a renaissance of this chemistry. Under standard conditions (tributyltin hydride/CO) primary, secondary, as well as tertiary alkyl bromides and iodides can be efficiently converted into the corresponding aldehydes. Aromatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes can also be prepared from the parent aromatic and vinylic iodides. If the reaction is carried out in the presence of alkenes containing an electron-withdrawing substituent, the initially formed acyl radical subsequently adds to the alkene, leading to a general method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones. This three-component coupling reaction can be extended successfully to allyltin-mediated reactions. Thus, β,γ-enones can be prepared from organic halides, CO, and allyltributylstannanes. In a remarkable one-pot procedure alkyl halides can be treated with a mixture of alkene, allyltributylstannane, and carbon monoxide in a four-component coupling reaction that provides β-functionalized δ,?-unsaturated ketones by the formation of three new C? C bonds. The reaction of 4-pentenyl radicals with CO leads to acyl radical cyclization, which provides a useful method for the synthesis of cyclopentanones. Certain useful one-electron oxidations can be combined efficiently with free-radical carbonylations. These findings and others discussed in this article clearly demonstrate that free-radical carbonylation can now be considered a practical alternative to transition metal mediated carbonylation.     

Mass spectrometric studies on gibberellins

Based on the element maps of twenty-two gibberellin methyl esters fragmentations are discussed, which are characteristic of the common structural features as well as structural modification in gibberellin homologues.