Two isomeric butadiene–N‐(acetoxy­phenyl)maleimide Diels–Alder adducts: supramolecular structure directed by C—H⋯X (X = O and π) hydrogen bonds and perpendicular dipole carbonyl–carbonyl inter­actions

The mol­ecular and supramolecular structures of 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexa­hydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)phenyl acetate, C₁₆‐H₁₅NO₄, (I), and its para isomer, 4‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexa­hydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)phenyl acetate, (II), are reported. The torsion angle between the succinimide and benzene rings depends on the position of the acet­oxy substitution [89.7 (1) and 61.9 (1)° for (I) and (II), respectively]. The twist of the acet­oxy group relative to the mean plane of the benzene ring is almost independent of the acet­oxy position [66.0 (1) and 70.0 (1)°]. Packing inter­actions for both compounds include soft C—H⋯X (X = O and Ph) inter­actions, forming chains of centrosymmetric dimers and inter­linked chains for (I) and (II), respectively. In addition, three perpendicular dipole C=O⋯C=O inter­actions contribute to the supramolecular structure of (II).     

Particle-size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban air in southern Spain

The size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was determined for airborne particles from a large city with high vehicular traffic. The analytical method was optimised and validated using NIST standard reference material (SRM 1649a Urban Dust). The 16 priority PAH listed in the US-EPA were Soxhlet-extracted from filtered particulate matter and then fractionated using on-column chromatography. The aromatic fraction was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Real samples of particles collected in Seville (Spain) were analysed using the validated method. Values for the total concentration of PAH in the air, as well as the concentrations of each PAH in six particle-size ranges were obtained. Values of the PAH in TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ were assessed.     

Adaptation of the human skin by chronic solar-simulating UV irradiation prevents ultraviolet-B irradiation-induced rise in serum C-reactive protein levels

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation induces local inflammation. We hypothesized that inflammation induced by erythemal UV-B irradiation could elevate levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and that suberythemal repeating doses of solar-simulating UV radiation (SSR) would produce photoadaptation to such inflammation. Separation-free high-sensitivity assays of CRP show an increase by 42% (P = 0.046) in CRP concentrations in healthy human subjects 24 h after a 3 minimal erythemal dose (MED) dose of UV-B delivered onto a 100 cm2 skin area. Preceding daily suberythemal doses of whole-body SSR for 10 or 30 consecutive days completely prevented the CRP increase. UV-B-induced skin erythema was partially attenuated by 30 preceding days of SSR only (P = 0.00066). After 10 daily SSR doses, the mean baseline CRP concentrations (0.24 +/- 0.21 mg/L) declined by 35% (P = 0.018). Using high-sensitivity analysis of serum CRP as the endpoint marker for cutaneous inflammation, we show that acute exposure of even a relatively small skin area to erythemal UV-B induces skin inflammation detectable also at the systemic level and that photoadaptation by preceding repeating suberythemal doses of SSR reduces signs of inflammation. Our data complement the view given by previous studies in that local photoadaptation also has systemic manifestations.     

Stability and magnetic characterization of oleate-covered magnetite ferrofluids in different nonpolar carriers

This work describes the preparation and stability evaluation of suspensions consisting of hydrophobic magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in different organic solvents. The ferrite particles are covered by a shell of chemisorbed oleate ions following a procedure that is described in detail. The oleate-covered particles were dispersed in different organic solvents with dielectric constants, epsilon(r), ranging between 1.8 and 9, and the centrifugal field strength needed to remove particle aggregates formed during the synthesis was determined for the different liquid carriers used. A thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the observed stability of the suspensions in liquids with epsilon(r) < 5 is well correlated with the very low lyophobic attraction between the particles. This can easily be surmounted by thermal agitation, since the van der Waals attraction is negligible. In contrast, for liquids with epsilon(r) > 9, the suspensions become unstable because of the combined action of the van der Waals and lyophobic attractions, the latter being dominant for very polar solvents. Finally, a complete magnetic characterization of the oleate-magnetite powder, as well as of several stable ferrofluids prepared with it, was carried out. From this characterization, the magnetic diameters and magnetic moments of the particles immersed in the different liquid carriers were estimated and compared to those corresponding to the dry magnetic particles. This made it possible to estimate the thickness of the nonmagnetic layer on the particles.     

Preparation and sedimentation behavior in magnetic fields of magnetite-covered clay particles

This work is devoted to the preparation of magnetite-covered clay particles in aqueous medium. For this purpose, magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method. These magnetic particles are adhered to sodium montmorillonite (NaMt) particles in aqueous suspensions of both materials, by appropriate control of the electrolyte concentrations. The best condition to produce such heteroaggregation corresponds to acid pH and approximately 1 mol/L ionic strength, when the electrokinetic potentials (zeta-potential) of both NaMt and Fe3O4 particles have high enough and opposite sign, as demonstrated from electrophoresis measurements. When a layer of magnetite re-covers the clay particles, the application of an external magnetic field induces a magnetic moment in clay-magnetite particles parallel to the external magnetic flux density. The sedimentation behavior of such magnetic particles is studied in the absence or presence of an external magnetic field in a vertical direction. The whole sedimentation behavior is also strongly affected by the formation of big flocculi in the suspensions under the action of internal colloidal interactions. van der Waals and dipole-dipole magnetic attractions between magnetite-covered clay particles dominate the flocculation processes. The different relative orientation of the clay-magnetite particles (edge-to-edge, face-to-edge, and face-to-face) are discussed in order to predict the most favored flocculi configuration.     

Group 6 heteroatom- and non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes. beta,beta'- and alpha,beta,beta'-annulation reactions of cyclic enamines

Cyclization reactions of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines are described. Enamine 3a undergoes thermal alpha,beta,beta'-annulation with alkenylcarbene complexes 1 and 2 (THF, 60 degrees C), affording semibullvalenes 5. The metalate intermediates 6, resulting from beta,beta'-annulation of the enamines 3a and 4a, were quantitatively formed by running the reaction in hexane at room temperature. Acid-promoted demetalation of 6 afforded endo-2-bicyclo[3.2.1]octen-8-ones 7 and endo/exo-2-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonen-9-ones 8 (endo/exo = 5:1). Using (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine-derived enamines 3b and 4b,c allowed highly enantioenriched cycloadducts endo-(+)-7 as well as endo-(-)-8 and exo-(-)-8 to be accessed. The non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complex 10 was formed from complex 6 by Me(3)SiOTf-promoted elimination of the methoxy group, characterized by (13)C NMR, and transformed into the organic compounds 7, 7-d, and 11 as well as into bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2,8-diones 14 and cycloheptanones 15. On the basis of this sequence, enantioenriched cycloheptanones (+)-15 were efficiently prepared in one pot from carbene complexes 2 and enamine 3b (51-55% yield, 91-96% ee). Extension of this work to simple Fischer carbene complexes 16 allowed an appropriate way to generate the nonstabilized pentacarbonyl[(phenyl(alkyl)carbene]tungsten complex 17 to be designed, for which the thermal and chemical behavior leading to compounds 18-21 is described.     

Selenomethionine Extraction from Selenized Yeast: an LC-MS Study of the Acid Hydrolysis of a Synthetic Selenopeptide

A synthetically prepared seleno-peptide (AHPDVLTVXLQMLDDGR) was used as a model system for the acid hydrolysis of selenized yeast proteins. The seleno-peptide is a tryptic peptide of a heat shock protein 104 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was subjected to acid hydrolysis using methanesulfonic acid over a time period of 8 hours. Aliquots of the solution were sub-sampled at predetermined time intervals and the peptide fragments characterized by reversed phase LC MSⁿ. Similarly, the appearance of amino acid residues in the solution was monitored. It was found that after about 8 hours the synthetic peptide completely hydrolyzed. The use of a selenopeptide as a model for hydrolysis of selenized yeast hydrolysis was validated by comparing the decomposition time profile of the synthetic peptide with that of a selenized yeast sample. The rate of hydrolysis was identical in both systems, suggesting that the employed acid hydrolysis yields to the complete decomposition of the Se containing proteins in yeast and consequently to the liberation of selenomethionine.     

The Synthesis of Novel Methotrexate-like Compounds

Summary. Methotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist used in treatment of several chronic inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. In this study, new MTX-like compounds that may-be potential anticancer agents were synthesized and their structures were determined by IR, UV, GC-MS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra. Also, in this study, a series structurally related to MTX or folate analogous compounds were evaluated whether they have inhibitory properties on the dihydrofolate reductase activity (DHFR).     

Are electrocyclization reactions of (3Z)-1,3,5-hexatrienone and nitrogen derivatives pseudopericyclic? A DFT study

[reactions: see text] Electrocyclization reactions of (3Z)-1,3,5-hexatrienone and nitrogen derivatives were studied by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations together with the 6-31+G* basis set. Reactants, products, and transition states for each reaction were localized and the IRC connecting reactants and products was also obtained. Magnetic properties were evaluated along the reaction path to elucidate the characteristics of the reactions studied. As obtained from the calculations, electrocyclization of (3Z)-1,3,5-hexatrienone is a pericyclic process, as indicated by a variety of indexes, such as Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift (NICS), anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility, or anisotropy of the current-induced density (ACID). This reaction presents characteristics of pericyclic reactions despite the activation energy lowering relative to the electrocyclization of (4Z)-1,2,4,6-heptatetraene, and the relatively small NICS values observed in the transition state. Magnetic properties indicate that an enhancement of the aromaticity relative to reactants and products occurs revealing the absence of orbital disconnections on the cyclic loop of interacting orbitals. Only two reactions among those studied exhibit pseudopericyclic character due to the in-plane attack of the lone pair on nitrogen. In these cases, the reactions showed no barrier for the electrocyclization process, and no aromaticity enhancement was observed.     

Electrochemical study of antioxidants at a polypyrrole electrode modified by a nickel phthalocyanine complex. Application to their HPLC separation and to their FIA system detections

A polypyrrole electrode modified with a tetrasulfonated nickel(II) phthalocyanine complex (GCE/PPy/NiPcTs) was used as amperometric electrochemical detector in a flow injection system, in order to determine some antioxidants in foods. The lather were separated by HPLC and detected at the modified electrode. Previous investigations carried out in our laboratory employed this electrode and cyclic voltammetry (CV), obtaining excellent results, due to an electrocatalytic effect on the oxidation of certain alimentary antioxidants, such tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) and propylgallate (PG). In order to obtain good separation, the chromatographic conditions were optimised. The geometry of the flow injection analysis (FIA) circuit and the reproducibility of the results were also optimised and, finally, the linear relationship between the signal and the concentration was verified. The proposed procedure is more precise and accurate than the conventional voltammetry methods. These results offer new analytical possibilities to this type of modified electrodes. The developed methods were applied to the determination of these antioxidants in commercial food.