Antioxidant protection in cultured corneal cells and whole corneas submitted to UV-B exposure

Several corneal pathologies are characterized by the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS); therefore, we evaluated the protection afforded by pirenoxine and melatonin to corneal cell culture and whole rabbit cornea from ultraviolet exposure and other oxidant systems. Rabbit cornea cell (SIRC) plates and whole corneas were exposed to UV-B (80 or 800 mJ/cm2) or incubated with fMLP-stimulated autologous macrophages, in the presence or absence of pirenoxine or melatonin (10(-5) M). The protective activity of compounds was assessed by measuring superoxide anion formation, inhibition of oxidation and mitochondrial viability. Moreover the ex vivo protective effect of pirenoxine and melatonin was verified in the whole cornea submitted to UV-B exposure in vitro. Our experimental data demonstrate that pirenoxine and melatonin were able to inhibit the superoxide formation and oxidative effect in cell culture and whole rabbit corneas submitted to UV-B exposure or to incubation with fMLP-stimulated autologous macrophages. Mitochondrial viability was restored in epithelial cells of rabbit cornea but not in SIRCs. Moreover, both compounds are also able to increase ex vivo epithelial corneal cell defences against the in vitro UV-B induced lipid peroxidation.     

Comprehensive multidimensional GC for the characterization of roasted coffee beans

The present investigation is based on the separation of one of the most complex food matrices: the roasted coffee bean volatile fraction. Analysis of the two main species of coffee (Arabica/Robusta) was achieved through an effective and simple sampling procedure, headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and the unprecedented resolving power of comprehensive gas chromatography (GC x GC). The combination of these two techniques proved to be a powerful tool for the extraction and separation of coffee volatiles. In fact, thousands of compounds that play various roles in the constitution of coffee aroma profile were resolved in the 2-D contour plot, each occupying a specific position pinpointed by two retention time coordinates. The potential use of this method for the assessment of coffee quality and the detection of commercial fraud is discussed. The potential of GC x GC for identification and classification of unknowns was also demonstrated, as the formation of characteristic patterns for structurally related compounds was observed in the bidimensional chromatogram. Moreover, reproducibility results were supported by the use of an autosampler for SPME applications that allowed any inaccuracy arising from manual handling to be avoided.     

Application of liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of polyphenolic compounds from an infusion of Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu

A fast and reliable method, based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-ITMS), was developed to investigate the infusion prepared from the leaves of Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu (Malpighiaceae), a native plant used in Brazil against gastric disorders. The use of on-line reverse-phase HPLC/ESI-ITMS allowed separation of three major classes of compounds and identification of over 20 very polar compounds characterized as galloylquinic acids, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoid glycosides, as well as the dimeric flavonoid amentoflavone and minor amounts of galloyl hexose and galloyl saccharose. This approach provided data that will allow establishment of a method for a future standardization of the infusion.     

Synthesis and cholera toxin binding properties of multivalent GM1 mimics

Dendrimers based on the 3,5-di-(2-aminoethoxy)-benzoic acid branching unit were used to attach multiple copies of a GM1 mimic for inhibition of cholera toxin binding. Systems up to octavalent were synthesized along with relevant reference compounds that contained in one case the ligand in a monovalent format and in another case the scaffold but not the ligand. Using a surface plasmon resonance inhibition assay the prepared inhibitors showed good inhibition. While the monovalent GM1 mimic showed the expected inhibition in the 200 microM range the multivalent scaffolds led to increased binding. The tetravalent compound was shown to be 440-fold more potent than its monovalent counterpart. The octavalent analog, however, was the most potent compound as determined using an ELISA assay.     

Static dielectric constant,viscosity, and structure of pure isomeric pentanols

Static dielectric constants, viscosities, densitites and refractive indices of 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-methyl-2-butanol were measured at 15, 25, 35 and 45°C. These results together with the previous data on n-pentanol have been analyzed in terms of the Kirkwood correlation factor g _k and of the energy of activiation for viscous flow. With the exception of 2-methyl-2-butanol, g _k was found to be greater than unity. These results show that the monomeric units of isomeric pentanols interact by means of hydrogen bonding to form dynamic structures essentially of two types: linear chains where co-association raises the total polarizability and cyclic dimers with nearly zero net dipole moment. Energies of activation for viscous flow as well as Kirkwood correlation factors correlate with the molecular parameters (i.e. position of OH group in the molecules, steric hindrance of alkyl chain etc.) of the alcohols. The implication of these parameters on the molecular association of the isomeric pentanols are discussed.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of MeOPEG-bounded azides

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of MeOPEG-supported azide 2 with a variety of dipolarophiles have been studied. 1-MeOPEG-supported 1,2,3-triazoles 4 and 5, 1,2,3,4-tetrazoles 12 and aziridine 14 were obtained in nearly quantitative yields. The removal of the MeOPEG moiety from the 1,2,3-triazole nucleus was achieved by acidic cleavage of the cycloadduct mixtures 4 and 5 giving 4- and 5-substituted-1,2,3-triazoles 6 and 7.     

v-Triazolines. part XXI. Spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene[54']1',2'.s'-triazole]derivatives from cyclopentadiene and 5-amino-4-methylene-v-triazolines

1R^*, 4R^*, 5S^*, 5'S^*-5'-Amino-1'-(4-nitrophenyl)-4',5'-dihydrospiro[bicyclo [2.2. 1]hept-2-ene[5.4]-1',2',3'-triazoles]$\text{2}$ have been obtained both by ?4 +2]-cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene to amino-methylene-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-v-triazoles $\text{1}$ and by [3+2]-cycloaddition of 4-nitrophenylazide to 5-aminomethylene-2-norborenes $\text{4}$. The configuration has been fully established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The course of the cycloaddition and the thermal behaviour of $\text{2}$ are discussed.     

The CAMET and CASET links for the synthesis of protected oligopeptides and oligodeoxynucleotides on solid and soluble supports

Simple bifunctional carboxy- and phospho-protecting groups are described which allow the attachment of protected amino acids and nucleotides to soluble or insoluble carriers. After chemical synthesis with conventional procedures, the completed oligopeptides or oligonucleotides can be detached by base-catalyzed β-elimination, leaving other protecting groups intact. These protected biopolymer segments can then be purified, characterized, and used for further synthetic work by virtue of their free carboxy or phospho groups. It is also possible to deprotect peptides and nucleotides on the supports: this procedure may be used for the preparation of affinity-chromatographic materials.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenium Complexes with Substituted Pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]‐phenanthroline (=Rppl; R=Me,COOH, COOMe)

A series of substituted pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]‐phenanthroline (Rppl) ligands (with R=Me, COOH, COOMe) were synthetized (see 1 – 4 in Scheme 1). The ligands can be visualized as formed by a bipyridine and a quinoxaline fragment (see A and B ). Homoleptic [Ru(R¹ppl)₃](PF₆)₂ and heteropleptic [Ru(R¹ppl){(R²)₂bpy}₂](PF₆)₂ (R¹=H, Me, COOMe and R²=H, Me) metal complexes 5 – 7 and 8 – 13 , respectively, based on these ligands were also synthesized and characterized by conventional techniques (Schemes 2 and 3, resp.). In the heteroleptic complexes, the R¹‐ppl ligand reduces at a less‐negative potential than the bpy ligand, reflecting the acceptor property conferred by the quinoxaline moiety. The potentiality of some of these complexes as solar‐cell dyes is discussed.     

An evaluation by density functional theory of M-M interactions in organometallic clusters with the [Fe(3)MoS(3)](2+) cores

Density functional theory calculations were carried out on the structurally characterized [(Cl(4)-cat)Mo(py)Fe(3)S(3) (CO)(4)(P(n)Pr(3))(3)], A, and (Cl(4)-cat)Mo(py)Fe(3)S(3)(CO)(6)(PEt(3))(2), B, and also on A(2)(-) and B(2+) clusters. The Fe-Fe distances in these molecules depend on the total number of valence electrons (60 e(-) in A and B(2)(+) and 62 e(-) in A(2)(-) and B) and undergo great structural changes upon addition or removal of electrons. The changes are consistent with known electron-counting rules in organometallic chemistry. The weak nature of the Fe-Fe bonding interactions in these clusters is apparent in the very similar energies of states with widely different Fe-Fe distances.