Quinones from plants of northeastern Brazil: structural diversity, chemical transformations, NMR data and biological activities

The present review focus in quinones found in species of Brazilian northeastern Capraria biflora, Lippia sidoides, Lippia microphylla and Tabebuia serratifolia. The review cover ethnopharmacological aspects including photography of species, chemical structure feature, NMR datea and biological properties. Chemical transformations of lapachol to form enamine derivatives and biological activities are discussed.     

Activation of the disulfide bond and chalcogen-chalcogen interactions: an experimental (FTICR) and computational study

Dimethyldisulfide (I) is the simplest model of the biologically relevant family of disubstituted disulfides. The experimental study of its gas-phase protonation has provided, we believe for the first time, a precise value of its gas-phase basicity. This value agrees within 1 kJ mol-1 with the results of G3 calculations. Also obtained for the first time was the reaction rate constant for the bimolecular reaction between I and its protonated form, IH+, to yield methanethiol and a dimethyldithiosulfonium ion. This constant is of the order of magnitude of the collision limit. A computational mechanistic study based on the energetic profile of the reaction, completed with Fukui's and Bader's treatments of the reactants and transition states fully rationalizes the regioselectivity of the reaction as well as the existence of a shallow, flat Gibbs energy surface for the reaction. The mechanistic relevance of the chalcogen-chalcogen interaction and the C--H...S bonds has been demonstrated.     

Creating σ‐Holes through the Formation of Beryllium Bonds

Through the use of ab initio theoretical models based on MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ‐optimized geometries and CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ and CCSD(T)/aug‐c‐pVDZ total energies, it has been shown that the significant electron density rearrangements that follow the formation of a beryllium bond may lead to the appearance of a σ‐hole in systems that previously do not exhibit this feature, such as CH₃OF, NO₂F, NO₃F, and other fluorine‐containing systems. The creation of the σ‐hole is another manifestation of the bond activation–reinforcement (BAR) rule. The appearance of a σ‐hole on the F atoms of CH₃OF is due to the enhancement of the electronegativity of the O atom that participates in the beryllium bond. This atom recovers part of the charge transferred to Be by polarizing the valence density of the F into the bonding region. An analysis of the electron density shows that indeed this bond becomes reinforced, but the F atom becomes more electron deficient with the appearance of the σ‐hole. Importantly, similar effects are also observed even when the atom participating in the beryllium bond is not directly attached to the F atom, as in NO₂F, NO₃F, or NCF. Hence, whereas the isolated CH₃OF, NO₂F, and NO₃F are unable to yield F ??? Base halogen bonds, their complexes with BeX₂ derivatives are able to yield such bonds. Significant cooperative effects between the new halogen bond and the beryllium bond reinforce the strength of both noncovalent interactions.     

Liposomes-entrapped chondroitin sulphate: ultrastructural characterization and in vitro biocompatibility

The purpose of this study was ultrastructural characterization of liposomes-entrapped chondroitin sulphate and to prove their in vitro biocompatibility in a human dermal fibroblast culture system, in order to use liposome-entrapped chondroitin sulphate in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Chondroitin sulphate entrapped in liposomes appears as electron-dense particles in ultra-thin section. Comparative studies using chondroitin sulphate, empty liposomes and liposome-chondroitin sulphate systems were performed in order to evaluate their effect on growth and morphology of fibroblasts after 48 h of culture. Light microscopy indicated that chondroitin sulphate, empty liposomes and liposome-chondroitin sulphate systems do not induce appreciable cytotoxic effects, and cells maintain normal morphology when compared to control fibroblasts.