Complexes of Uracil (2,4-Dihydroxypyrimidine) Derivatives

Equilibrium studies have been carried out on complex formation of M²⁺ ions (M=Co, Ni, and Zn) with L = thymine, 6-chloromethyluracil, 5-hydroxymethyluracil, uracil, 6-methyluracil, and 6-umpm (dimethyl 6-uracilmethylphosphonate) in aqueous solution, at 25 ^∘;C and an ionic strength of I=0.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ (KNO₃). Potentiometric results indicate the formation of ML species (coordination via N3) for Co(II) and Ni(II) as well as a hydroxo complex MLH₋₁—with a deprotonated water of the inner coordination sphere. Titrations of Zn(II) confirmed both the existence of ML and MLH₋₁ species with 6-chloromethyluracil as well as 5-hydroxymethyluracil, whereas for uracil, thymine, and 6-methyluracil the only species accepted pH-metrically was MLH₋₁. For all the ligands under study the complexation with Zn(II) was reinvestigated by means of ion-selective electrodes (ISE). The role of substituents is discussed.     

Epilobium angustifolium L. Extracts as Valuable Ingredients in Cosmetic and Dermatological Products

Epilobium angustifolium L. is a popular and well-known medicinal plant. In this study, an attempt to evaluate the possibility of using this plant in preparations for the care and treatment of skin diseases was made. The antioxidant, antiaging and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanolic extracts from Epilobium angustifolium (FEE) were assessed. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of extracts chemically composition was performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The total polyphenol content (TPC) of biologically active compounds, such as the total content of polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and assimilation pigments, as well as selected phenolic acids, was assessed. FEE was evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties, achieving 68% inhibition of lipoxygenase activity, 60% of collagenase and 49% of elastase. FEE also showed high antioxidant activity, reaching to 87% of free radical scavenging using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 59% using 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Additionally, in vitro penetration studies were performed using two vehicles, i.e., a hydrogel and an emulsion containing FEE. These studies showed that the active ingredients contained in FEE penetrate through human skin and accumulate in it. The obtained results indicate that E. angustifolium may be an interesting plant material to be applied as a component of cosmetic and dermatological preparations with antiaging and anti-inflammatory properties.     

Selective methane oxidation to formaldehyde using polymorphic T-, M-, and H-forms of niobium(V) oxide as catalysts

The investigations of selective methane oxidation to formaldehyde over T-Nb₂O₅, the mixture of M-Nb₂O₅ and H-Nb₂O₅ as well as H-Nb₂O₅ were carried out. The tests were conducted under atmospheric pressure, in the temperature range 420–750°C, using oxygen as the oxidizing agent. T-Nb₂O₅ samples were examined at the contact time 0.7–1.8 s (GHSV 2000–5143 h⁻¹). Other polymorphic forms of niobium(V) oxide were examined at the contact time 0.9 s. Various polymorphic forms of Nb₂O₅ displayed various formaldehyde and carbon dioxide yield. Using H-Nb₂O₅ and M-Nb₂O₅ phases with a block type structure, made it possible to obtain higher formaldehyde selectivity (78 % at 0.9 s) as compared to T-Nb₂O₅ (47 % at 0.9 s), a polymorphic form which does not have a block type structure. However, the highest space time yield of formaldehyde (46 g per kg of catalyst per h) was obtained over T-Nb₂O₅ supported on SiO₂. Presented at the 34th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 21–25 May 2007.     

Solubility of perfumery and fragrance raw materials based on cyclohexane in 1-octanol under ambient and high pressures up to 900 MPa

The (solid + liquid) phase equilibria (SLE) of binary mixtures containing 1-octanol and fragrance raw materials based on cyclohexane were investigated. The systems {1-octanol (1) + cyclohexyl carboxylic acid (CCA), or cyclohexyl acetic acid (CAA), or cyclohexyl acetate (CA), or 2-cyclohexyl ethyl acetate (2CEA), or 2-cyclohexyl ethanol (2CE)(2)} have been measured by a dynamic method in wide range of temperatures from (220 to 320) K and ambient pressure. For all systems SLE diagrams were detected as eutectic mixtures with complete miscibility in the liquid phase. The experimental data were correlated by means of the Wilson and NRTL equations, utilizing parameters derived from the (solid + liquid) equilibrium. The root-mean-square deviations of the solubility temperatures for all calculated data are dependent upon the particular system and the particular equation used.Additionally, the SLE in binary mixture that contain {1-octanol (1) + CCA (2)} has been measured under very high pressures up to about 900 MPa at the temperature range from T = (303.15 to 353.15) K. The thermostatted apparatus for the measurements of transition pressures from the (liquid + solid) state was used. The freezing and melting temperatures at a constant composition increase monotonously with pressure. The high pressure experimental results obtained at isothermal conditions (p–x) were interpolated to more convenient T–x diagram. Data of the (pressure + temperature) composition relation at the high pressure (solid + liquid) phase equilibria was correlated by the polynomial based on the Yang model.The basic thermodynamic properties of pure substances viz. the melting point, enthalpy of fusion, enthalpy of solid–solid phase transition, and glass transition, have been determined by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Cellular Mechanistic Considerations on Cytotoxic Mode of Action of Phosphino Ru(II) and Ir(III) Complexes

Two piano-stool ruthenium(II) complexes Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂PPh₂CH₂OH ( RuPOH ) and Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂P(p-OCH₃Ph)₂CH₂OH ( RuMPOH ) and two half-sandwich iridium(III) complexes Ir(η ⁵-Cp*)Cl₂PPh₂CH₂OH ( IrPOH ) and Ir(η ⁵-Cp*)Cl₂P(p-OCH₃Ph)₂CH₂OH ( IrMPOH ) have been studied in terms of potential anticancer activity on previously selected cell line (human lung adenocarcinoma). Based on experimental results obtained in monoculture in vitro model mechanistic considerations on the possible cellular modes of action have been carried out. ICP-MS analysis revealed the higher cellular uptake for less hydrophobic Ir(III) complexes in comparison to the corresponding Ru(II) compounds. Cytometric analysis showed a predominance of apoptosis over the other types of cell death for all complexes. The apoptotic pathway was confirmed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and the activation of caspases-3/9 for both Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes. It was concluded that in the case of Ru(II) complexes the intense ROS generation is mainly responsible for the resulting cytotoxicity. The corresponding Ir(III) complexes trigger simultaneously at least three different cytotoxic pathways i. e., depletion of mitochondrial potential, activation of caspases-dependent apoptosis, and ROS-associated oxidation. Thus, it can be assumed that the final accumulation of toxic effects over time via parallel activation of different pathways results in the highest cytotoxicity in vitro exhibited by Ir(III) complexes when compared with Ru(II) complexes.     

Soft-phonon dynamics of the thermoelectric β-SnSe at high temperatures

Results of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on SnSe single crystals at high temperatures along with theoretical studies based on the density functional theory are reported. Our experiments reveal significant softening of the transverse acoustic branch along the $[0,\xi ,0]$ direction in the low-temperature α-SnSe of $Pbnm$ symmetry as temperature approaches $T_c=807$ K from below. This process is followed by a condensation of the zone-boundary Y-phonon of the high-temperature β-SnSe with $Cmcm$ symmetry at the onset of phase transition. The employed theoretical approach supports experimental observations and demonstrates that the phase change in SnSe is mediated by an unstable zone-boundary phonon with the $Y_2^{+}$ irreducible representation within the $Cmcm$ symmetry space group of the high-temperature β-SnSe. The present work provides a detailed understanding of the soft-mode dynamics in SnSe and conclusively shows that the $\alpha ?\beta$ structural transformation in this currently topical thermoelectric material is of displacive type.     

A Mild Deoxygenation of Heteroaromatic N-Oxides by Formamidinesulfinic Acid

Summary.  Various heteroaromatic N-oxides were efficiently deoxygenated to the corresponding bases under mild conditions using formamidinesulfinic acid (thiourea S,S-dioxide). Received March 24, 2000. Accepted April 18, 2000     

Changes in Porous Parameters of the Ion Exchanged X Zeolite and Their Effect on CO2 Adsorption

Zeolite 13X (NaX) was modified through ion-exchange with alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. The degree of ion exchange was thoroughly characterized with ICP, EDS and XRF methods. The new method of EDS data evaluation for zeolites was presented. It delivers the same reliable results as more complicated, expensive, time consuming and hazardous ICP approach. The highest adsorption capacities at 273 K and 0.95 bar were achieved for materials containing the alkali metals in the following order K < Na < Li, respectively, 4.54, 5.55 and 5.94 mmol/g. It was found that it is associated with the porous parameters of the ion-exchanged samples. The Li_0.61Na_0.39X form of zeolite exhibited the highest specific surface area of 624 m²/g and micropore volume of 0.35 cm³/g compared to sodium form 569 m²/g and 0.30 cm³/g, respectively. The increase of CO₂ uptake is not related with deterioration of CO₂ selectivity. At room temperature, the CO₂ vs. N₂ selectivity remains at a very high stable level prior and after ion exchange in co-adsorption process (X_CO2 during adsorption 0.15; X_CO2 during desorption 0.95) within measurement uncertainty. Additionally, the Li_0.61Na_0.39X sample was proven to be stable in the aging adsorption-desorption tests (200 sorption-desorption cycles; circa 11 days of continuous process) exhibiting the CO₂ uptake decrease of about 6%. The exchange with alkaline earth metals (Mg, Ca) led to a significant decrease of SSA and micropore volume which correlated with lower CO₂ adsorption capacities. Interestingly, the divalent cations cause formation of mesopores, due to the relaxation of lattice strains.