Simultaneous metal adsorption on tannin resins

Vegetable tannin sorbent is evaluated as ion exchange resin using a multitracer study on the adsorption behavior of various elements. Lisiloma latisiliqua L. tannins, polycondensated into spherical pellets were chosen as sorbent resin material. Sorption evaluation of Ce, Cu(II), U(VI), Eu, Fe(III), Th, Nd as representatives of different classes of metal ions were done at different pH values. The distribution ratio of the studied elements was calculated from laboratory experiments. Tannic ion exchange material shows excellent ability for actinides and rare earth elements adsorption from waters. Using radiotracers, the number of catechins subunits involve in each tannin-metal complex was determined.     

Photoaddition of benzophenone to azaindole,synthesis of the oxetane of 7-azaindole

7-Azaindole did not react with benzophenone on irradiation. However, irradiation of benzophenone in the presence of 1-acetyl-7-azaindole produced an oxetane by cycloaddition of the ketone to the 7-azaindole 2,3-double bond. The nmr and the mass spectra of the oxetane have also been studied in some detail.     

Extraction and preconcentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins using the cloud-point methodology: Application to their determination in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography

A new analytical method based on the cloud-point extraction (CPE) methodology combined with high-performance liquid chromatography is used in this study for the extraction and quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. These compounds are extracted by using the non-ionic surfactant polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) from different aqueous systems: fresh, brackish and sea waters. After the cloud-point extraction, which also allowed a preconcentration of the PCDDs being studied, the samples were analysed using a HPLC–UV system under the optimum chromatographic conditions. The proposed method showed very satisfactory recovery percentages for the PCDDs under study and standard deviation values lower than 2%.

The results obtained were finally compared with those found using the traditional liquid–liquid extraction method.     

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Myrcia multiflora and Eugenia florida Essential Oils

The essential oils of three specimens of Myrcia multiflora (A, B and C) and Eugenia florida were extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical compositions from the essential oils were identified by gas chromatography and flame ionization detection (CG/MS and CG-FID). The fungicide potential of the EOs against five fungicide yeasts was assessed: Candida albicans INCQS-40175, C. tropicalis ATCC 6258, C. famata ATCC 62894, C. krusei ATCC 13803 and C. auris IEC-01. The essential oil of the specimen Myrcia multiflora (A) was characterized by the major compounds: α-bulnesene (26.79%), pogostol (21.27%) and δ-amorphene (6.76%). The essential oil of the specimen M. multiflora (B) was rich in (E)-nerolidol (44.4%), (E)-γ-bisabolene (10.64%) and (E,E)-α-farnesene (8.19%), while (E)-nerolidol (92.21%) was the majority of the specimen M. multiflora (C). The sesquiterpenes seline-3,11-dien-6-α-ol (12.93%), eremoligenol (11%) and γ-elemene (10.70%) characterized the chemical profile of the EOs of E. florida. The fungal species were sensitive to the essential oil of M. multiflora (B) (9–11 mm), and the lowest inhibitory concentration (0.07%) was observed in the essential oil of M. multiflora (A) against the yeasts of C. famata. Fungicidal action was observed in the essential oils of M. multiflora (A) against C. famata, with an MIC of 0.78 µL/mL and 3.12 µL/mL; C. albicans, with an MFC of 50 µL/mL and M. multiflora (C) against C. albicans; and C. krusei, with a MFC of 50 µL/mL.     

De Novo Design of Selective Quadruplex–Duplex Junction Ligands and Structural Characterisation of Their Binding Mode: Targeting the G4 Hot-Spot

Targeting the interface between DNA quadruplex and duplex regions by small molecules holds significant promise in both therapeutics and nanotechnology. Herein, a new pharmacophore is reported, which selectively binds with high affinity to quadruplex–duplex junctions, while presenting a poorer affinity for G-quadruplex or duplex DNA alone. Ligands complying with the reported pharmacophore exhibit a significant affinity and selectivity for quadruplex–duplex junctions, including the one observed in the HIV-1 LTR-III sequence. The structure of the complex between a quadruplex–duplex junction with a ligand of this family has been determined by NMR methods. According to these data, the remarkable selectivity of this structural motif for quadruplex–duplex junctions is achieved through an unprecedented interaction mode so far unexploited in medicinal and biological chemistry: the insertion of a benzylic ammonium moiety into the centre of the partially exposed G-tetrad at the interface with the duplex. Further decoration of the described scaffolds with additional fragments opens up the road to the development of selective ligands for G-quadruplex-forming regions of the genome.     

SPME and SPE comparative study for coupling with microwave-assisted micellar extraction in the analysis of organochlorine pesticides residues in seaweed samples

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures were coupling with microwave-assisted micellar extraction for organochlorine pesticides residues determination in seaweed samples. They were optimized, compared and discussed.Preliminary experiments were performed in order to study experimental conditions for the extraction of pesticides from spiked seaweed samples with microwave-assisted micellar extraction (MAME) using a non-ionic surfactant (Polyoxyethylene 10 Lauryl Ether). After that, SPME and SPE were used to clean-up and preconcentrate MAME extract prior the analysis by liquid chromatography with photodiode array (PDA) detection.Excellent results were obtained for both procedures. Average pesticide recoveries between 80.5 and 104.3% for MAME-SPME and between 73.9 and 111.5% for MAME-SPE were obtained. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were lower than 10.3% and 5.3% respectively for all recoveries tested, and LOD between 138–348 ng g^− 1 for MAME-SPME and 2–38 ng g^− 1 for MAME-SPE were obtained. The method was validated using Soxhlet extraction procedure.Both methods were applied to analyse target organochlorine pesticides in several seaweed samples and results were compared. These results show the great possibilities of combining MAME-SPE-HPLC-UV for the analysis of seaweed samples, improving the selectivity and sensitivity in the determination of organochlorine pesticides analysis for this kind of samples.     

Reduction of cationic free-base <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-tris-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyridinium-4-yl porphyrins in positive mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Reductions involving more than one electron with formation of the M⁺ and [M+2H]⁺ ions were observed for electrosprayed meso-tris(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin iodides, MI₃. These reductions were studied by using different solvents and flow rates. Formation of the [M+2H]⁺ ions occurred only for protic solvents and to a larger extent at lower flow rates. The type of the fourth substituent does not seem to affect the reduction processes. Formation of the two reduced species, M⁺ and [M+2H]⁺ ions, may occur through the participation of counter ion/solvent clusters. Reduction of multiply charged, non-metallated species with formation of [M+nH]⁺ ions (n>1) was not observed before in positive mode electrospray mass spectrometry.