Synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxy- and of 2,3-diamino-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines

A new synthesis of 7-chloro-2,3-diamino-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines is described, which allows for the preparation of compounds bearing the same or different substituents at the 2 and 3 positions, starting from 2-amino-7-chloro-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines.     

A molecular orbital study of lithium ion association with bases. I. The carbonyl bases R2CO

Ab initio SCF calculations have been performed to determine the relative lithium ion affinities of the carbonyl bases R₂CO and the structures of the complexes R₂COLi⁺. The predicted order of lithium ion affinity for the bases R₂CO with respect to R is NH₂ > CH₃ > OH> H> F. Except for (OH)₂COLi⁺ which has C_a, symmetry, the complexes R₂COLi⁺ have C_2v symmetry, with the lithium ion located on the symmetry axis near the oxygen. The major structural changes in the intramolecular coordinates of the bases which occur upon lithium ion complexation include an increase in the carbonyl C---O bond length, a decrease in the length of the bond from the carbonyl carbon to the substituent atom X, and an increase in the X---C---X angle at the carbonyl carbon. The energetic, structural, and electronic properties of the complexes indicate that the interaction between the lithium ion and a carbonyl base is predominantly an ion-dipole attraction rather than a covalent interaction.     

UV stabilizers bonded to transition metals: Synthesis and X-ray structure of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole-oxovanadium(IV) and -dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes

The UV-stabilizer 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (Tinuvin P, LH) has been used as a monoanionic bidentate ligand for complexing oxocations. Displacement of acacH from [VO(acac)₂] and [MoO₂(acac)₂] gave [*VO(acac)₂*(μ-L)] (2) and [cis-O₂Mo(acac)L] (3) respectively, as crystalline compounds. Their structure has been determined by an X-ray analysis showing the structural changes occurring upon coordination. The UV spectrum of Tinuvin P is significantly affected by complexation.     

Chronocoulometric study of the electrochemistry of Prussian blue

During the electrochemical oxidation of Prussian blue (PB) to Prussian yellow (PY), an electrocatalytic oxygen production proceeds at the electrode when aqueous electrolyte solutions are used. The formed oxygen is scavenged by the PY, probably by absorption, and it is consumed during the electrochemical reduction of PY to PB by a heterogeneous chemical reaction of PB with oxygen to PY and hydrogen peroxide. Because of this catalytic regeneration of PY, it is impossible to determine the amount of low-spin iron by chronocoulometry using a potential program in which PB is first oxidized to PY and then the charge is measured to reduce PY to PB. The latter charge is biased by the electrocatalytic PY regeneration.     

An insight into the aromaticity of fullerene anions: experimental evidence for diamagnetic ring currents in the five-membered rings of C(60)(6-) and C(70)(6-)

Reduction of the two "closed" [6,6] methanofullerenes, [6,6]C(61)H(2) (1) and [6,6]C(71)H(2) (5), to the corresponding hexaanions with lithium metal causes the bridgehead-bridgehead bonds to open, at least partially, and this change gives rise to diamagnetic ring currents in the resulting homoconjugated six-membered rings (6-MRs). These new ring currents shield the overlying hydrogen atoms on the methylene bridge and induce upfield shifts of 1.60 and 0.11 ppm in their (1)H NMR resonances, respectively. Analogous reduction of the already "open" [5,6]methanofullerenes, [5,6]C(61)H(2) (2) and [5,6]C(71)H(2) (3 and 4), only slightly enhances the shielding of the hydrogen atoms over the homoconjugated 6-MRs (upfield shifts of 0.13, 0.68, and 0.14 ppm, respectively) but leads to exceptionally strong diamagnetic ring currents in the homoconjugated five- membered rings (5-MRs), as evidenced by dramatic shielding of the hydrogen atoms situated over them (upfield shift of 5.01, 6.78, and 1.63 ppm, respectively). The strongest shielding is seen for the hydrogen atom sitting over the 5-MR at the pole of C(71)H(2)(6)(-) (delta = -0.255 ppm) indicating that the excess charge density is concentrated at the poles.     

Olive mill wastewater treatment by a pilot-scale subsurface horizontal flow (SSF-h) constructed wetland

Performances of a pilot-scale reed bed for the olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment were investigated, by monitoring influent and effluent pH, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus and polyphenols. In order to reduce the suspended matter concentration and to avoid clogging, OMW was pre-treated by adding lime putty, calcium hydroxide and hydraulic lime. The best results were obtained with 2 g/L of hydraulic lime. Pre-treated OMW was dosed in the reed bed at dilution ratios of 1/3 and 1/10 (v/v), pointing up that the latter only did not give rise to reed suffering and allowed to obtain good and durable removal efficiencies, above all for COD (74.1+/-17.6%) and polyphenols (83.4+/-17.8%). Recycling of the effluent was quite effective for the improvement of the wastewater quality, allowing a further removal of 26-70%, depending on the parameter taken into account. A post-dosage study, carried out by feeding the reed bed with the effluent of an activated sludge plant, pointed up a rapid decreasing of the outlet concentrations of the investigated parameters to values compatible with Italian regulations concerning wastewater discharge in surface water. Polyphenols were the exception, being their outlet concentration at the end of post-dosage study around 2 mg/L.     

Single electron traps at the surface of polycrystalline MgO: assignment of the main trapping sites

Paramagnetic centers at the surface of ionic oxides in the form of trapped electrons can be generated by exposure of the material to alkali metal or hydrogen atoms or of molecular hydrogen under UV irradiation. For many years, it has been assumed that the resulting paramagnetic centers consist of oxygen vacancies filled by one electron. High-resolution electron spin resonance spectra and ab initio quantum chemical calculations show that the paramagnetic centers consist of (H(+))(e(-)) electron pairs formed at morphological irregularities of the surface. At least three different kinds of (H(+))(e(-)) centers, [A], [B], and [C], have been identified with abundances of 80%, 10%, and 8%, respectively. In this work, we compare a wide set of measured and computed g-factors and hyperfine coupling constants of the unpaired electron with the surrounding (25)Mg, (17)O, and (1)H nuclei and we propose a general assignment of the centers. (H(+))(e(-)) pairs formed at Mg(4c) ions at steps and edges account for species [A], centers formed at Mg(4c) ions at reverse corners correspond to species [B], and species [C] originates from (H(+))(e(-)) pairs formed at Mg(3c) ions at corners and kinks.     

Density and Sound Velocity Studies of Aqueous Solutions of Tetradecyltrimethylammonium Nitrate at Different Temperatures

The density and ultrasound velocity of aqueous solutions of tetradecyltrimethylammonium nitrate were measured in the temperature range of 15 to 35°C in 5°C intervals. The concentration range covered the premicellar and micellar regimes. By assuming a pseudophase separation model for the micellar system, we applied the densitometric data to estimate the apparent molar volumes and the apparent thermal expansibility coefficients of the surfactant in monomeric and micellar forms. Ultrasound velocity and density data enabled us to estimate the isentropic compressibility of the surfactant in both forms. The results are compared with relevant literature data for alkyltrimethylammonium bromides.     

Evaluation of glycoalkaloids in tubers of genetically modified virus Y-resistant potato plants (var. Désirée) by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (NACE–ESI–MS)

The glycoalkaloid content of transgenic potatoes was evaluated by an optimised method based on non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled on-line with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (NACE-ESI-MS). The potato material consisted of tubers from a conventional cv. Désirée and from three lines of modified plants resistant, intermediate and susceptible to infection by potato virus Y (PVY). The main glycoalkaloids were confirmed to be alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine with parent ion masses m/z 852 and 868, respectively. In addition, an unknown minor peak at m/z 850.6 was found both in conventional (control) and susceptible line potato tubers. Such a compound exhibited an MS(2) spectrum with fragments ions at 704 and 396 m/z derived by loss of two ions, i.e. m/z 146 and 307, most likely corresponding to a rhamnose unit and a [glucose-(rhamnose)(2)] moiety, respectively. Up to 30-80-fold higher concentrations of total glycoalkaloids were found in the peel compared to flesh samples of all tubers examined. TGA content was nearly doubled in peel samples of resistant compared to control lines, and these levels were lower than the limit recommended for food safety, i.e. 20-60 mg of TGA per 100 g fresh weight. Moreover, it was established that tubers produced by virus-resistant clones are substantially equivalent in glycoalkaloid contents to those produced by conventional potato varieties.     

13-Hydroxyacenaphato[1,2-b]quinolizinium bromide as a new flouorescence indicator

13-Hydroxyacenaphtho[1,2-b]quinolizinium bromide (13-HQBr)was selected as a fluorescence indicator to determine basic compounds in non-aqueous media. This compound possesses an acidic phenolic hydroxyl group. It presents varying absorption (ROH, 408, 430 nm; RO(-) 456, 478 nm) and excitation spectra (ROH, 425 nm; RO, 471 nm) depending on the pH of the media, but the same emission fluorescence spectrum (ROH = RO(-), 526 nm) at different pH in buffered aqueous solutions. However, in acidic non-aqueous media (acetic, formic and trifluoroacetic acids), it can be observed that the fluorescence emission spectra differ for the ionized (lambda(em) = 530 nm) and non-ionized (lambda(em) = 440, 470 nm) forms. The fluorescence intensity at the characteristic peaks depends on the acid-base equilibria in the ground and excited states. Therefore, this property could be used to evaluate the concentration of basic compounds, showing a good linearity range between fluorescence intensity and basic sample concentration.