Dimethyl(2-oxo-2-ferrocenylethyl)sulfonium iodide—a useful synthetic equivalent of ferrocenoylcarbene in the synthesis of ferrocene-containing cyclopropanes

The reaction of 1-ferrocenyl-3-thiabutan-1-one with methyl iodide in acetonitrile at room temperature gave dimethyl(2-oxo-2-ferrocenylethyl)sulfonium iodide, which was characterized by spectral data (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR) and X-ray crystallographic analysis. This salt reacted with a base (sodium hydride) in acetonitrile yielding a stabilized ylide—dimethylsulfonium ferrocenoylmethylide, which was in turn, submitted to reactions with seven conjugated enones. The obtained results showed that this methodology is potentially a new and useful approach to ferrocene-containing cyclopropanes.     

Hydrogen peroxide sensing at MnO2/carbonized nanostructured polyaniline electrode

Manganese dioxide modified carbonized nanostructured polyaniline (MnO₂/Carb-nanoPANI) was prepared via a novel hydrothermal procedure. The synthesized material was characterized using XRD, SEM and TG-DTA analysis. Furthermore, MnO₂/Carb-nanoPANI was examined as electrode material for potential application in the field of electroanalysis. It showed a high electrocatalytic activity for the sensing of hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous media.     

Electrochemical generation of manganese(III) and behaviour of the generated oxidant in acetic acid in the presence of perchlorate ions

Summary Research was carried out to determine conditions for the anodic generation of manganese(III) with high current efficiency in solutions of sodium perchlorate in acetic acid, and to examine the behaviour of the oxidant thus generated. The effects of water and acetic anhydride on current efficiency in the generation of the oxidant was also examined. The formal redox potential of the Mn(III)/ Mn(II) system is decreased with increasing concentrations of sodium acetate in the solution. The effect of sodium perchlorate and perchloric acid concentrations is the reverse. Procedures for coulometric titrations of a number of substances with the generated oxidant were developed, end point being detected using biamperometric and potentiometric methods. Perchloric acid accelerates the oxidation of certain substances with manganese(III) in acetic acid and increases the sensitivity of end-point detection using the potentiometric method.

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Elektrochemische Erzeugung von Mangan(III) und das Verhalten dieses Oxydationsmittels in Essigsäure bei Gegenwart von Perchlorat

Zusammenfassung Die Bedingungen der anodischen Erzeugung von Mangan(III) mit hoher Stromausbeute in Essigsäure, nach Zugabe von Natriumperchlorat wurden untersucht; das elektrochemische Verhalten des so dargestellten Oxydationsmittels wurde ebenfalls untersucht. Der Einfluß von Wasser und Essigsäureanhydrid auf die prozentuelle Stromausbeute des erwähnten Oxydationsmittels wurde verfolgt. Das Formalredoxpotential des Systems Mn(III)/ Mn(II) sinkt bei Erhöhung der Konzentration an Natriumacetat in der Lösung. Perchlorsäure wie auch Natriumperchlorat üben eine entgegengesetzte Wirkung aus und führen zur Steigerung des Formalredoxpotentials bei Erhöhung ihrer Konzentration. Verfahren zur coulometrischen Titration verschiedener Substanzen mittels biamperometrischer oder potentiometrischer Erfassung des Titrationsendpunktes wurden ausgearbeitet. In Gegenwart von Perchlorsäure wächst die Geschwindigkeit der Oxydation einiger Substanzen in Essigsäure in Gegenwart von Mn(III) und auch die Empfindlichkeit der Endpunktbestimmung verbessert sich.

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Presented at the 9th International Symposium on Microchemical Techniques, Amsterdam, August 28–September 2, 1983.     

Determination of multi-class pharmaceuticals in wastewater by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS)

An analytical method for multi-class pharmaceuticals determination in wastewater has been developed and validated. Target compounds were: sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfaguanidine, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin), diaminopyrimidine (trimethoprim), anaesthetic (procaine), anthelmintic (praziquantel and febantel), and macrolide (roxithromycin). The method involves pre-concentration and clean-up by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Strata-X extraction cartridges at pH 4.0. Target analytes were identified and quantitatively determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Recoveries were higher than 50% with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 18.3% for three concentrations. Only for sulfaguanidine was low recovery obtained. Matrix effect was evaluated using matrix-matched standards. The method detection limit (MDL) was between 0.5 and 5 ng L⁻¹ in spiked water samples. The precision of the method, calculated as relative standard deviation, ranged from 0.5 to 2.0% and from 1.4 to 8.3 for intra-day and inter-day analysis, respectively. The described analytical method was used for determination of pharmaceuticals in effluent wastewaters from the pharmaceutical industry.     

Solid phase extraction and HPLC determination of veterinary pharmaceuticals in wastewater

This work focuses on the application of SPE-HPLC analysis of important veterinary pharmaceuticals from different classes in highly complex wastewater matrix. The pharmaceutical investigated included three sulfonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfadiazine and sulfaguanidine), a sulfonamide synergist (trimethoprim), a tetracycline (oxytetracycline), a fluoroquinolone (enrofloxacine) and a β-lactame (penicillin G/procaine). The method involves pre-concentration and clean-up by solid phase extraction (SPE) using Oasis HLB extraction catridges. Final analysis of the selected pharmaceutical compounds was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector (DAD). Recoveries were ranged from 68.3 to 97.9% with relative standard deviation below 8.4%. Only for sulfaguanidine low recovery was obtained. Limits of quantification were in the range 1.5-100 μg/L depending on pharmaceutical. The described method was applied to the determination of pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples from pharmaceutical industry.     

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Helleborus odorus Waldst. & Kit, H. multifidus Vis. and H. hercegovinus Martinis

This study was undertaken in order to evaluate possible antioxidative and antiproliferative activities of three Helleborus taxa. The dry leaves and roots of three Helleborus taxa were extracted with ethanol and water. A phytochemical evaluation of the selected extracts was performed using spectrophotometric methods and a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay was used for measuring the antioxidative activity of extracts. The antiproliferative activity of the three Helleborus taxa was studied using Burkitt's lymphoma B cells (BJAB) cell lines. The phytochemical evaluation showed that the leaves contain high levels of total phenolic and flavonoid content. Results from the DPPH assay indicated that the activity of the ethanol and water extracts of the leaves was higher than that of positive control (thymol). Extracts from the roots of H. odorus also displayed higher antioxidant activity than the positive probe, while H. mulifidus and H. hercegovinus root extracts were less effective. A statistically significant correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidative properties indicates that these compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity. The highest percentage of cell growth inhibition was observed when testing the water root extracts of H. multifidus (50.14%) and H. hercegovinus (49.04%). In contrast, the water leaf extract of H. hercegovinus exhibited the lowest inhibition of cell growth (8.59%), although it showed strong antioxidant activity.     

Common fixed points of generalized contractions on partial metric spaces and an application

In this paper, common fixed point theorems for four mappings satisfying a generalized nonlinear contraction type condition on partial metric spaces are proved. Presented theorems extend the very recent results of I. Altun, F. Sola and H. Simsek [Generalized contractions on partial metric spaces, Topology and its applications 157 (18) (2010) 2778-2785]. As application, some homotopy results for operators on a set endowed with a partial metric are given.     

Nonlinear stochastic differential equations containing generalized delta processes

In this paper, some classes of nonlinear stochastic differential equations involving the generalized delta process and its derivatives are considered in the framework of the Colombeau generalized stochastic process theory. All initial problems considered are proven to have a unique unbiased solution. Several examples are exposed that provide more insight into the assumptions made in the theorems.     

A LFER Kinetic Study of The Reaction of 5‐Substituted Orotic Acids with Diazodiphenylmethane

Linear free energy relationships (LFER) were applied to the kinetic data for the reaction of 5‐substituted orotic acids, series 1 , with diazodiphenylmethane (DDM) in N,N–dimethylformamide and compared with results obtained for 2‐substituted benzoic acids, series 2 . The correlation analysis of the kinetic data with σ substituent parameters was carried out using SSP (single substituent parameter) methods. From the sign and value of proportinality constant ρ, lower sensitivity to the substituent effect was obtained in series 1 , 0.876, than in the series 2 , 1.877. Evaluation of substituent “ortho‐effect” was performed using the Charton model, which includes the steric substituent parameter, and Fujita and Nishioka's model, which describes the total ortho‐effect as contribution of ordinary polar effect, the ortho‐steric and ortho‐polar effects. Results of correlations, obtained by using the Charton model, showed highest contribution of the polar effect, 0.861 vs. 2.101, whereas the steric effect is of lowest significance, 0.117 vs. 0.055, for series 1 and 2 , respectively. Also, a low negative value of coefficient with the steric effect, –0.08, obtained from the Fujita–Nishioka model indicated low steric effect, influencing a decrease of the reaction rate in series 1 . The structural and substituent effects were also studied by using the density functional theory method, and together with kinetic data, it gave a better insight into the influence of the effect of both geometry and substituent on the π?electron density shift induced reactivity of investigated acids.     

Antioxidant and Sensory Assessment of Innovative Coffee Blends of Reduced Caffeine Content

Considering the current trend in the global coffee market, which involves an increased demand for decaffeinated coffee, the aim of the present study was to formulate coffee blends with reduced caffeine content, but with pronounced antioxidant and attractive sensory properties. For this purpose, green and roasted Arabica and Robusta coffee beans of different origins were subjected to the screening analysis of their chemical and bioactive composition using standard AOAC, spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. From roasted coffee beans, espresso, Turkish and filter coffees were prepared, and their sensory evaluation was performed using a 10-point hedonic scale. The results showed that Arabica coffee beans were richer in sucrose and oil, while Robusta beans were characterized by higher content of all determined bioactive parameters. Among all studied samples, the highest content of 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (14.09 mg g⁻¹ dmb), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (8.23 mg g⁻¹ dmb) and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4.65 mg g⁻¹ dmb), as well as caffeine (22.38 mg g⁻¹ dmb), was detected in roasted Robusta beans from the Minas Gerais region of Brazil, which were therefore used to formulate coffee blends with reduced caffeine content. Robusta brews were found to be more astringent and recognized as more sensorily attractive, while Arabica decaffeinated brews were evaluated as more bitter. The obtained results point out that coffee brews may represent a significant source of phenolic compounds, mainly caffeoylquinic acids, with potent antioxidant properties, even if they have reduced caffeine content.