A cyclic voltammetry investigation of the complex formation between Cu and some Schiff bases in binary acetonitrile/dimethylformamide mixtures

The complex formation between Cu²⁺ ions and some Schiff base ligands was studied in binary solvent mixtures of acetonitrile (AN)/dimethylformamide (DMF) systems at 25 °C using the cyclic voltammetric technique. The stoichiometry and stability of the complexes were determined by monitoring the shift in the half-wave potential of the CV peaks of the copper against the ligands concentration. The stoichiometry of all the complexes was found to be 1:1 and the complexation constants increased with decreasing amounts of dimethylformamide in these binary systems. In all cases, the variation of the stability constant with composition of the solvents was monotonic and showed good correlation with the inherent solvation ability of the neat solvents which form the mixture.     

Screening method for phthalate esters in water using liquid-phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic microdrop combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) technique was developed using directly suspended organic microdrop coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), for the extraction and the determination of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) in water samples. Microextraction efficiency factors, such as nature and volume of the organic solvent, temperature, salt effect, stirring rate and the extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions (extraction solvent: 1-dodecanol; extraction temperature: 60 °C; microdrop volume: 7 μL; stirring rate: 750 rpm, without salt addition and extraction time: 25 min), figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated. The values of the detection limit were in the range of 0.02–0.05 μg L⁻¹, while the R.S.D.% value for the analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ of the analytes was below 7.7% (n = 4). A good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9940) and a broad linear range (0.05–100 μg L⁻¹) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factor values ranging from 307 to 412. Finally, the designed method was successfully applied for the preconcentration and determination of the studied phthalate esters in different real water samples and satisfactory results were attained.     

Sotalol nanolevel detection at an Au microelectrode in flowing solutions

Sotalol detection in tablets is achieved with the help of a newly developed, time-saving, and simple method, called fast Fourier transform with continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV). Noticeably, FFTCV illustrates two advantages, not being demonstrated by earlier reports. First, there is no requirement for the oxygen removal from the test solution. In addition, the speed of the method for determining any compound is high in a broad range of chromatographic methods. This research includes the observation of effects of various parameters (influence of the pH of the eluent, accumulation potential, sweep rate, accumulation time) on the sensitivity of the detection system. Finally, the technique was found to be linear for the concentration range of 3–14900 pg/ml (r = 0.998) with a limit of detection and quantitation of 0.95 pg/ml and 3 pg/ml, respectively. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 9, pp. 1103–1110. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Antioxidant, nitric oxide scavenging and malondialdehyde scavenging activities of essential oils from different chemotypes of Zataria multiflora

The antioxidant, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging and malondialdehyde (MDA) scavenging activities of different Zataria multiflora (ZM) chemotype essential oils (EOs) were investigated. The main components are: ZM1 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM2 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM3 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM4 (linalool), ZM5 (carvacrol, p-cymene, thymol), ZM6 (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, γ-terpienene), ZM7 (thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpienene) and ZM8 (carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene, thymol). The antioxidant capacities were estimated to be 863?±?55, 619?±?27, 876?±?32, 38?±?9, 649?±?50, 595?±?40, 696?±?41 and 618?±?9?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. The NO scavenging values were estimated to be 54?±?1.2, 50?±?1.4, 63?±?1, 0.60?±?0.1, 53?±?0.7, 53?±?1.5, 38?±?1.1 and 46.5?±?3?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. The MDA scavenging values were estimated to be 19?±?1, 9?±?1, 24?±?1, 1.6?±?0.6, 12?±?1, 11.7?±?1, 10?±?1 and 12.5?±?1.3?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. Among these EOs, ZM3 with carvacrol and p-cymene had higher antioxidant, NO scavenging and MDA scavenging properties.     

A green method for the electroorganic synthesis of new 1,3-Indandione derivatives

This is an environmentally friendly method in the field of electroorganic reactions under controlled potential electrolysis, without toxic reagents at a carbon electrode in an undivided cell which involves the (EC) mechanism reaction and comprises two steps alternatively; (i) electrochemical oxidation and (ii) chemical reaction. In particular, the electrochemical oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of 2-phenyl-1,3-indandione has been studied in a water-acetonitrile (90 : 10) mixture. The research includes the use of a variety of experimental techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, controlled-potential electrolysis, and spectroscopic identification of products (FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, and MS spectrometry).     

Evaluation of the In Vitro Antiparasitic Effect of the Essential Oil of Cymbopogon winterianus and Its Chemical Composition Analysis

Cymbopogon winterianus, known as “citronella grass”, is an important aromatic and medicinal tropical herbaceous plant. The essential oil of C. winterianus (EOCw) is popularly used to play an important role in improving human health due to its potential as a bioactive component. The present study aimed to identify the components of the essential oil of C. winterianus and verify its leishmanicidal and trypanocidal potential, as well as the cytotoxicity in mammalian cells, in vitro. The EOCw had geraniol (42.13%), citronellal (17.31%), and citronellol (16.91%) as major constituents. The essential oil only exhibited significant cytotoxicity in mammalian fibroblasts at concentrations greater than 250 μg/mL, while regarding antipromastigote and antiepimastigote activities, they presented values considered clinically relevant, since both had LC₅₀ < 62.5 μg/mL. It can be concluded that this is a pioneer study on the potential of the essential oil of C. winterianus and its use against the parasites T. cruzi and L. brasiliensis, and its importance is also based on this fact. Additionally, according to the results, C. winterianus was effective in presenting values of clinical relevance and low toxicity and, therefore, an indicator of popular use.     

Introduction of a new dichlorophen electrochemical sensor relying on the modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide/poly (L-arginine)

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Dichlorophen (Dcp), a harmful environmental pollutant, is broadly utilized in veterinary medications, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, cosmetics, and...