Combination of hollow‐fiber‐supported liquid membrane and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction as a fast and sensitive technique for the extraction of pesticides from grape juice followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

The simultaneous use of a hollow‐fiber‐supported liquid membrane and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of pesticides directly in grape juice was investigated. The detection and quantification were performed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The optimum extraction condition was reached by filling the pores of the membrane wall with dodecanol and using hexane/acetone as extraction/dispersion solvents. Salt addition had a highly negative effect on the extraction efficiency and the optimum extraction time was 60 min. The volume of hexane/acetone mixture and the sample pH did not affect the signal at the levels studied. Therefore, an intermediate amount of these solvents (250 μL; 1:7.5 v/v) and pH 6 were selected. The optimum desorption condition was obtained with acetonitrile and 10 min of desorption time. The linear working range varied from 58 to 500 μg/L (parathion‐methyl), 62–500 μg/L (difenoconazole) and 107–500 μg/L (chlorpyrifos), with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9980–0.9942. The limits of detection and quantification found were, respectively, 17 and 58 μg/L for parathion‐methyl, 19 and 62 μg/L for difenoconazole and 32 and 107 μg/L for chlorpyrifos. The relative standard deviation ranged between 3.5 and 11.2%.     

Ferrocenylethynyl‐Terminated Azobenzenes: Synthesis,Electrochemical, and Photoisomerization Studies

Ferrocenylethynyl‐terminated derivatives 8 – 12 have been synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical and photophysical studies indicate that the electronic communication in ferrocenylethynyl‐substituted derivatives is strongly influenced by the substituted position of the ferrocenylethynyl moiety. In situ electrochemical oxidation or chemical oxidation caused a characteristically weak ligand‐to‐metal charge‐transfer (LMCT) band to appear at 700–1000 nm. Subsequent electrochemical reduction or chemical reduction recovered the most of the original curve and the color of the solution as well. Among the derivatives, compound 8 exhibits the highest cis/trans molar ratio (64:36) in the photostationary state (PSS) upon light irradiation at 365 nm. Compound 8 exhibits excellent fatigue resistance and reversibility under several repeated reversible isomerization cycles.     

Biomimetic versus enzymatic high-potential electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide on a functionalized carbon nanotube electrode

We report the non-covalent functionalization of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) electrode with a biomimetic model of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) active site. By modifying the MWCNT electrode surface with imidazole-modified polypyrrole, a new biomimetic complex of HRP was synthesized on the MWCNT sidewalls via the coordination of imidazole (Im) to the metal centre of iron protoporphyrin IX, affording (Im)(PP)Fe^III. Compared to the pi-stacking of non-coordinated (PP)Fe^III on a MWCNT electrode, the (Im)(PP)Fe^III-modified MWCNT electrode exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity with an I _max = 0.52 mA cm^–2 for the reduction of H₂O₂, accompanied by a high onset potential of 0.43 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The performances of these novel surface-confined HRP mimics were compared to those of a MWCNT electrode modified by HRP. Although the enzyme electrode displays a higher electrocatalytic activity towards H₂O₂ reduction, the (Im)(PP)Fe^III-modified MWCNT electrode exhibits a markedly higher operational stability, retaining 63% of its initial activity after one month.     

Growth under Visible Light Increases Conidia and Mucilage Production and Tolerance to UV‐B Radiation in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Colletotrichum acutatum

Light conditions can influence fungal development. Some spectral wavebands can induce conidial production, whereas others can kill the conidia, reducing the population size and limiting dispersal. The plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum acutatum causes anthracnose in several crops. During the asexual stage on the host plant, Colletototrichum produces acervuli with abundant mucilage‐embedded conidia. These conidia are responsible for fungal dispersal and host infection. This study examined the effect of visible light during C. acutatum growth on the production of conidia and mucilage and also on the UV tolerance of these conidia. Conidial tolerance to an environmentally realistic UV irradiance was determined both in conidia surrounded by mucilage on sporulating colonies and in conidial suspension. Exposures to visible light during fungal growth increased production of conidia and mucilage as well as conidial tolerance to UV. Colonies exposed to light produced 1.7 times more conidia than colonies grown in continuous darkness. The UV tolerances of conidia produced under light were at least two times higher than conidia produced in the dark. Conidia embedded in the mucilage on sporulating colonies were more tolerant of UV than conidia in suspension that were washed free of mucilage. Conidial tolerance to UV radiation varied among five selected isolates.     

Formulation of Aluminum Chloride Phthalocyanine in Pluronic™ P‐123 and F‐127 Block Copolymer Micelles: Photophysical properties and Photodynamic Inactivation of Microorganisms

Aluminum Chloride Phthalocyanine (AlPcCl) can be used as a photosensitizer (PS) for Photodynamic Inactivation of Microorganisms (PDI). The AlPcCl showed favorable characteristics for PDI due to high quantum yield of singlet oxygen (Φ_Δ) and photostability. Physicochemical properties and photodynamic inactivation of AlPcCl incorporated in polymeric micelles of tri‐block copolymer (P‐123 and F‐127) against microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were investigated in this work. Previously, it was observed that the AlPcCl undergoes self‐aggregation in F‐127, while in P‐123 the PS is in a monomeric form suitable for PDI. Due to the self‐aggregation of AlPcCl in F‐127, this formulation did not show any effect on these microorganisms. On the other hand, AlPcCl formulated in P‐123 was effective against S. aureus and C. albicans and the death of microorganisms was dependent on the PS concentration and illumination time. Additionally, it was found that the values of PS concentration and illumination time to eradicate 90% of the initial population of microorganisms (IC₉₀ and D₉₀, respectively) were small for the AlPcCl in P‐123, showing the effectiveness of this formulation for PDI.     

Three‐Component Reaction of Pyrimidin‐2‐yl Sulfonates with Sodium Azide and Alkynes: An Efficient Approach to C2–Triazolo Functionalized Pyrimidines

Pyrimidin‐2‐yl sulfonate, as an efficient reaction partner, can be easily prepared from cheap commercial materials, reacted with sodium azide and alkynes to give C2‐triazolo functionalized pyrimidines in good yields under mild reaction conditions. This procedure eliminates the need to handle organic halides or organic azides, as they are generated in situ, making this already powerful click process even more user‐friendly and safe.     

Photosensitizing Activity of Endogenous Eye Lens Chromophores: An Attempt to Unravel Their Contributions to Photo‐Aging and Cataract Disease

UVA‐visible light has been proposed as a risk factor in the photo‐aging of the human eye lens, as well as in the etiology of cataract disease. There is accumulating evidence indicating that photosensitizing reactions mediated by endogenous chromophores, which are generated during human eye lens aging, can play an important role in the generation of these processes. These reactions can lead to protein impairment by inducing non‐enzymatic post‐translational modifications such as protein oxidation and crosslinking. Although numerous chromophores have been characterized as both bound to human eye lens proteins and as unbound low‐molecular‐mass compounds, their contribution to eye lens photoaging and cataract disease is not completely understood. In this article we discuss the photochemical contribution of UV‐filters derived from tryptophan catabolism and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to human eye lens aging and cataract disease. We also discuss the recently described photosensitizing capacity of chromophores derived from newly discovered glucose and ascorbate degradation as a parallel pathway to their role in AGEs generation.     

Clean and Efficient Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives in Aqueous Media

A series of 5‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazole derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of 3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐arylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one with hydrazine in aqueous media without using any catalyst. This method has the advantages of easier work‐up, mild reaction condition, high yields, and an environmentally benign procedure.