Crystal and Molecular Structure of (BzlMe3N) 2 + [Fe2OCl6]2-

The crystal and molecular structure of (BzlMe₃N) ₂ ⁺ [Fe₂OCl₆]^2- has been determined. The asymmetric unit contains two benzyltrimethylammonium cations and two half -oxo-bis(trichloro-iron(III)) anions. The bridging -oxygen atoms of these anions are located over crystallographic symmetry elements. Therefore, the two anions resulting from the symmetry operations correspond to two different conformers presenting angular and linear dispositions of the Fe-O-Fe bond angle. Mössbauer spectrum consists of two asymmetric lines that are adequately simulated by two equally populated quadrupole doublets associated with the two iron sites.     

Chemical transformations of 3‐amino‐2‐quinolones

In order to find new antimalarial drugs, an exploration about the chemical properties of the starting compounds 3‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐phenyl‐1H‐quinolin‐2‐one ( 1 ) and 3‐amino‐4‐methyl‐1H‐quinolin‐2‐one ( 2 ) was developed. Acylation with acyl chloride, sulfonyl chloride and acetic anhydride were carried out. Despite a previous report [2], when acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride were assayed on 1 , only the diacetyl derivative 7 was obtained. When this compound was heated at reflux temperature in a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride, it was transformed in the oxazoloquinoline 8 . Further reactions of the acyl derivatives with diazomethane afforded 1‐methylated compounds. Compound 2 gave the imine 16 by condensation with 4‐nitrobenzaldehyde.     

A very sensitive flow system for the direct determination of copper in natural waters based on spectrophotometric detection

A very sensitive flow injection method with spectrophotometric detection has been developed for the on-line determination of copper in natural waters. The method exhibits a limit of detection three times lower than the most sensitive direct spectrophotometric method previously described and then allows the direct and simple in situ determination of copper in most natural waters.The method was based on the measurement of the absorbance of the coloured complex formed by copper with the chromogenic reagent di-2-pyridyl ketone benzoylhydrazone (dPKBH) in an alkaline medium. This complex presents stoichiometry 1:2 (Cu:dPKBH), and exhibits maximum absorbance at 370 nm. The manifold used was very simple, and consisted of two channels. The first one contained the sample while the second one contained the colorimetric reagent (3.3×10⁻⁴ M dPKBH in 10% ethanol), in a 1.6×10⁻² M phosphate buffer solution at pH 8. The performance of the system was optimised by using both univariate and modified simplex methodologies. When modified simplex was used, the best signal was obtained for a sample injection volume of 529 μl, a reaction coil length of 1.29 m, and a reagent flow rate of 4.8 ml min⁻¹. Under optimum conditions, the response was linear up to 3 mg l⁻¹ copper, the equation of the straight line being y=0.314x+5.2×10⁻⁴ (r²=0.998). The method allowed a sampling frequency of 40 samples per hour and exhibited a precision of 2.11% (as R.S.D., n=11). The limit of detection was 4.6 μg l⁻¹ (calculated as 3s_b/m, where s_b is the standard deviation of the y-intercept and m represents the slope of the straight line), and was therefore more sensitive than all the direct continuous methods reported previously.The method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, with an average relative error of 5.32%.     

Studies on diastereoselective reduction of cyclic β-ketoesters with boron hydrides. Part 4: The reductive profile of functionalized cyclohexanone derivatives

Reduction of 2-allyl-2-carboalkoxycyclohexanones (3d-f), 2-propyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3g) and 2-benzyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3h) with boron hydrides in the presence and absence of several chelating agents were studied. Molecular modeling studies using semiempirical PM3 method were performed in order to find a suitable explanation of the diastereoselection of ketone carbonyl faces during the reductive process, which yielded trans-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (6e) and cis-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (7e) in good diastereomeric excess by using inexpensive sodium and tetrabutylammonium borohydrides.     

Evaluation of soybean seed protein extraction focusing on metalloprotein analysis

Two methods of protein extraction for soybean seeds were evaluated in terms of preservation of the metal ions bound to proteins after the extraction and separation procedures. The proteins were firstly separated according to their molar masses by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Then, the protein bands were mapped by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence in order to establish which metal ions were present in each one. Finally, some mapped protein bands were decomposed by microwave-assisted combustion and Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The extraction methods studied were Method A (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with hexane and their extraction with Tris–HCl and β-mercaptoethanol) and Method B (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with petroleum ether and their extraction with Tris–HCl, dithiothreitol, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, sodium dodecyl sulfate and potassium chloride). The best method was Method B, in which a 78% higher extraction efficiency was obtained when compared to Method A. Additionally, the metal-protein interactions were more appropriately preserved when Method B was applied, where the most affected ions were those that are bound weakly to proteins, such as Ca, K, and Mg.     

Synthesis and characterization of MCM-48 tubular membranes

MCM-48 membranes have been prepared on alumina supports of different pore sizes. A battery of characterization techniques has been used to study the physical properties and the quality of the membranes prepared. The highest quality membranes were prepared on supports with pore size of up to 60 nm. The MCM-48 membranes were tested in the separation of gas phase mixtures and a cyclohexane/O₂ selectivity higher than 270 was obtained. The selective separation of organic compounds from inert components is a result of the cooperative effects of capillary condensation in MCM-48 pores and of the specific interactions of the permeating compounds and the membrane material.     

Copper-assisted oxidation of catechols into quinone derivatives

Catechols are ubiquitous substances often acting as antioxidants, thus of importance in a variety of biological processes. The Fenton and Haber–Weiss processes are thought to transform these molecules into aggressive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a source of oxidative stress and possibly inducing degenerative diseases. Here, using model conditions (ultrahigh vacuum and single crystals), we unveil another process capable of converting catechols into ROSs, namely an intramolecular redox reaction catalysed by a Cu surface. We focus on a tri-catechol, the hexahydroxytriphenylene molecule, and show that this antioxidant is thereby transformed into a semiquinone, as an intermediate product, and then into an even stronger oxidant, a quinone, as final product. We argue that the transformations occur via two intramolecular redox reactions: since the Cu surface cannot oxidise the molecules, the starting catechol and the semiquinone forms each are, at the same time, self-oxidised and self-reduced. Thanks to these reactions, the quinone and semiquinone are able to interact with the substrate by readily accepting electrons donated by the substrate. Our combined experimental surface science and ab initio analysis highlights the key role played by metal nanoparticles in the development of degenerative diseases.

An antioxidant catechol transforms following intramolecular redox reactions into highly reactive oxygen species, a semiquinone and a quinone, on copper.     

Concentrated reverse micelles in a random graft block copolymer system: structure and in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles

The structure and rheological properties of a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(oxyethylene) copolymer at high concentrations in block-selective solvents were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheometry. Analysis of SAXS data indicates that quasispherical, reverse micellar aggregates (with no ordered packing) are present in concentrated solutions of the copolymer in nonpolar solvents, and that upon addition of water, the size of such aggregates increases due to the solubilization inside the micellar cores. The viscosity of concentrated polymer solutions increases exponentially as water is added, and finally, viscoelastic, gel-like behavior is found in the vicinity of the phase separation limit. It was found that small silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of ≈3 nm can be synthesized inside the copolymer aggregates without the need of a reducing agent; namely, particles embedded in a viscoelastic matrix are obtained. The synthesis seems to follow first-order kinetics. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.