A Simple Method for Producing Pure (+) trans-1,2-Epoxylimonene

In this paper we report a simple methodology for obtaining (+) trans - 1,2 - epoxylimonene (1b) in high purity (>99% HRGC) and reasonable quantity. The mixture of 1a and 1b in CH₂Cl₂ is stirred with 1M NaHSO₃ in water. Under these conditions 1a is completely destroyed, while 1b is only partially destroyed.     

Study of benznidazole–cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, cytotoxicity and trypanocidal activity

The current chemotherapy for Chagas disease is still based on benznidazole, which has low solubility, but complexation with cyclodextrins provides a way of increasing the solubility. The objective of this work was to characterize the inclusion complexes formed between benznidazole (BNZ) and randomly 2-methyled-β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD) in aqueous solution and study cytotoxicity and trypanocidal. BNZ:RM-β-CD solution complex systems were prepared and characterized using the phase solubility diagram, nuclear magnetic resonance and a photostability assays, also to investigate the in vitro trypanocidal activity with epimastigote forms of Trypanossoma cruzi and the study of cytotoxicity against mammal cells. The phase-solubility diagram displayed an A _L-type feature, providing evidence of the formation of soluble inclusion complexes. The continuous variation method showed the existence of a complex with 1:1 stoichiometry. Toxicity assays demonstrated that inclusion complexes were able to reduce the toxic effects caused by benznidazole alone and that this did not interfere with the trypanocidal activity of the benznidazole. The use of inclusion complexes benznidazole:cyclodextrin is thus a promising alternative for the development of a safe and stable liquid formulation and a new option for the treatment of Chagas disease.     

Experimental NMR and MS study of benzoylguanidines. Investigation of E/Z isomerism

Molecules containing the guanidinic nuclei possess several pharmacological applications, and knowing the preferred isomers of a potential drug is important to understand the way it operates pharmacologically. Benzoylguanidines were synthesized in satisfactory to good yields and characterized by NMR, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and Fourrier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy techniques (FTIR). E/Z isomerism of the guanidines was studied and confirmed by NMR analysis in solution (¹H‐¹³C Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence (HSQC) and Heteronuclear Multiple‐Bond Correlation (HMBC), ¹H‐¹⁵N HMBC, ¹H‐¹H Correlation Spectroscopy (COSY) and Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments) at low temperatures. Compounds with p‐Cl and p‐Br aniline moiety exist mainly as Z isomer with a small proportion of E isomer, whereas compounds with p‐NO2 moiety showed a decrease in proportion of isomer Z. The results are important for the application of these molecules as enzymatic inhibitors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly corrosion resistant siloxane-polymethyl methacrylate hybrid coatings

Siloxane-polymethyl methacrylate hybrid films were deposited on carbon steel substrates by dip-coating from a sol prepared by acid-catalyzed hydrolytic co-polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-methacryloxy propyl-trimethoxysilane (MPTS), followed by radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). Structural properties of the hybrids were studied using ²⁹Si and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as a function of the MMA/MPTS ratio, which ranged between 2 and 10. The efficiency of corrosion protection of hybrid-coated carbon steel was investigated by XPS, potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy after immersion of the material in acidic and neutral saline aqueous solution. The NMR and TGA results indicate a high degree of polycondensation (84%) and elevated thermal stability of 410?°C for the hybrid film with a MMA/MPTS ratio of 8, exhibiting also and excellent adhesion to the substrate. The XPS analysis confirmed the variation of the MMA phase in the hybrid, and showed that no corrosion-induced changes had occurred after 18?days immersion of the coated steel in 3.5% NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization curves have shown that the hybrid coating prepared using a TEOS/MPTS ratio of 8 yielded the best anti-corrosion performance. It acts as a very efficient corrosion barrier, increasing the total impedance by almost 6 orders of magnitude and reducing the current densities by 4 orders of magnitude, compared to the bare electrode. The obtained results are discussed based on the correlation of structural information with impedance data presented for both electrolytes in the form of electrical equivalent circuits.     

Separation of isomeric disaccharides by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry using CO2 as drift gas

The use of CO₂ as a massive and polarizable drift gas is shown to greatly improve peak‐to‐peak resolution (R_p‐p), as compared with N₂, for the separation of disaccharides in a Synapt G2 traveling wave ion mobility cell. Near or baseline R_p‐p was achieved for three pairs of sodiated molecules of disaccharide isomers, that is, cellobiose and sucrose (R_p‐p = 0.76), maltose and sucrose (R_p‐p = 1.04), and maltose and lactose (R_p‐p = 0.74). Ion mobility mass spectrometry using CO₂ as the drift gas offers therefore an attractive alternative for fast and efficient separation of isomeric disaccharides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrastructure of the Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) midgut

The insect midgut has ultimately been the focus of researches tempting to control insect pests because alterations in the insect gut may affect not only its development, but also physiological events such as nutrient absorption and transformation. The objective of the present work was to describe morphologically, histochemically, and ultrastructurally the larva midgut of Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a cotton key pest in Brazil. Light and electronic transmission microscopy was used to obtain images from midgut sections of late fourth-instar larvae of A. argillacea. In general, the morphology, histochemistry, and ultrastructure characteristics of A. argillacea midgut follow that described in the literature for other lepidopteran species. However, the results showed a mitochondrial polymorphism and branched microvilli, which suggest an ultrastrucutural and physiological modification possibly associated with a high absorption and secretion activity by the columnar cells of this species. This intense activity may favor a faster response related to the action of ingested microbial agents and/or toxins, and can explain the high susceptibility of A. argillacea to the agents of control such as the toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis.     

Molecular Recognition of Acetylaminofluorene-and Aminofluorene-modified Guanosine

Abstract

New receptors based upon a carboxamidonaphthyridine unit derivatized with the polyaromatic segments [4-(1-pyrenyl)butyroylamino] and [3-(9-anthracenyl)propanoylamino] have been synthesized and studied by ¹H NMR titration in their binding interaction to the guanosine-C8 adducts from the carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene. The high binding energy, in comparison with that of the non-derivatized analogues, is rationalized in terms of a bi-site interaction (hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking). Although many factors may contribute to the strength of the host-guest complexes described herein, it appears that in some cases π-π interaction may induce a concomitant bending in the hydrogen bond system.