Determination of salicylate in blood serum using an amperometric biosensor based on salicylate hydroxylase immobilized in a polypyrrole-glutaraldehyde matrix

The use of an amperometric biosensor for the salicylate determination in blood serum is described. The biosensor is based on salicylate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.1) electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon-working electrode with polypyrrole and glutaraldehyde, to improve the biosensor lifetime. The hexacyanoferrate (II) was also incorporated to work as a redox mediator to minimize possible interferences. The salicylate is enzymatically converted to catechol, which is monitored amperometrically by its electrooxidation at+0.170 V versus SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Salicylate determination was carried out maintaining the ratio between beta-NADH and salicylate at 4:1 (30 degrees C). The amperometric response of the biosensor was linearly proportional to the salicylate concentration between 2.3x10(-6) and 1.4x10(-5) mol l(-1), in 0.1 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), containing 0.1 mol l(-1) KCl and 5.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) Na(2)H(2)EDTA, as supporting electrolyte. The recovery studies, in the presence of several interfering compounds, showed recoveries between 96.4 and 104.8%. The useful lifetime of the biosensor in the concentration range evaluated was at least 40 days, in continuous use. Blood serum samples analyzed by this biosensor showed a good correlation compared to the spectrophotometric method (Trinder) used as reference, presenting relative deviations lower than 7.0%.     

Ring-opening Sn2'' reactions of 7-oxanorbornenes by organolithium reagents. Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of substituted cyclohexenediols

The nucleophilic Sn2' bridge opening of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1] hept-5-en-2-ols with organolithium reagents occurs in a regio- and stereospecific fashion to produce 6-substituted-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diols, regardless of the stereochemistry at C-2. A free alcohol functionality is necessary to attain complete regiocontrol of the process. The methodology is utilized to prepare an optically pure cyclohexene derivative, (+)-(1S,3S,6R)-6-n-butyl-3-methyl-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diol (5b), as a model system.     

Study of the ESI-mass spectrometry ionization mechanism of Fischer carbene complexes

By means of deuterium-labeling experiments, we have carried out a systematic ESI-MS study to determine the mechanism of ESI ionization of alkenyl and alkynyl group 6 Fischer carbene complexes. These compounds can be ionized under ESI conditions only in the presence of additives such as hydroquinone (HQ) or tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). Our results demonstrate that in the ESI source an anion-radical is formed after the initial HQ- or TTF-mediated electron transfer to the metallic carbene complex. For alkenyl carbene complexes, this species evolves by extrusion of a hydrogen radical to form an allenylchromium anion that is detected as the [M - H](-) ion in the mass spectrum. The preference for this mechanistic pathway could be rationalized by DFT calculations. In the case of alkynyl carbene complexes, experiments combining deuterated substrate, additive, and solvent demonstrate that the previously proposed allene-anion carbene complex is not formed. Instead, the H transfer from the ethoxy group in the anion radical, followed by extrusion of a hydrogen radical, leads to an allenyl anion that is detected in the ESI-MS as [M - H - CO](-).     

Implementation of the finite field perturbation method in the CRYSTAL program for calculating the dielectric constant of periodic systems

The finite field approach has been implemented in the periodic ab initio CRYSTAL program and been used for calculating the dielectric constants of crystalline LiF and MgO (FCC structure) and BeO (wurtzite structure). To maintain the periodicity along the applied field direction, a "sawtooth" potential is used in conjunction with a supercell scheme. Supercells four to five times longer than the primitive cell in the direction of the applied field provide well-converged results. The influence of the computational parameters is discussed. An alternative scheme has also been implemented, for inner check, that consists of applying a static electric field to a slab of increasing thickness in the direction orthogonal to the surface; the dielectric response at the center of the slab is shown to converge rapidly to the bulk value evaluated with the sawtooth field. The method is accurate and permits the determination of nonlinear corrections to the dielectric constant. When used in conjunction with the local density approximation (LDA) scheme, it provides for the dielectric constant of the three above-mentioned compounds values close to those recently obtained with a time-dependent density functional theory approach.     

Electron-density topology in molecular systems: paired and unpaired densities

This work studies the partitioning of the electron density into two contributions which are interpreted as the paired and the effectively unpaired electron densities. The topological features of each density field as well as of the total density are described localizing the corresponding critical points in simple selected molecules (local formalism). The results show that unpaired electron-density concentrations occur out of the topological bonding regions whereas the paired electron densities present accumulations inside those regions. A comparison of these results with those arising from population analysis techniques (nonlocal or integrated formalisms) is reported.     

Synthesis of 3-arylisocoumarins, including thunberginols A and B, unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins, and 3-ylidenephthalides via iodolactonization of methyl 2-ynylbenzoates or the corresponding carboxylic acids

3-Aryl-4-iodoisocoumarins, which were readily and efficiently prepared by regioselective iodolactonization of methyl 2-ynylbenzoates or the corresponding carboxylic acids, were used as precursors either to 3-arylisocoumarins, including naturally-occurring thunberginols A and B, or to unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins. On the other hand, (Z)- and (E)-3-iodomethylidenephthalides, which were regioselectively prepared by iodolactonization of methyl 2-ethynylbenzoate, were employed as starting materials for the stereospecific synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-ylidenephthalides, respectively. Some 3-arylisocoumarins and unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins showed certain cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines in vitro.     

Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: a new method for species identification of truffles

This study describes a rapid method to identify different truffle species by analysis of their volatile compound fraction using static headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were extracted using a new 2-cm 50/30 microm DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber placed for 10 min in the headspace of the truffle sample with the vial maintained at 20 degrees C (in a thermostatically controlled analysis room). The mass spectra of the VOC chromatograms were represented as 'fingerprints' of the analysed samples. Next, stepwise factorial discriminant analysis afforded a limited number of characteristic fragment ions that allowed a classification of the truffle species studied. This new method provides an effective approach to rapid quality control and identification of truffle species by analysis of their volatile fraction. Moreover, this method offers the advantage of minimizing thermal, mechanical, and chemical modifications of the truffles, thereby reducing the risk of analytical artifacts.     

A spectroscopic study of cobalt(III) furyldioximates

Summary The electronic properties of a series of cobalt(III)trans-furyldioximato-complexes of the type [CoB(FH)₂X] (B=NH₃, X=Cl, Br, I or NO₂; B=pyridine (py) or thiocarbamide (thio), X=Cl or Br; B=imidazole (imid), X=Br), [Co(FH₂)(FH)Cl₂] and [Co(thio)₂(FH)₂]NO₃ were studied by i.r., u.v. and¹H and¹³C n.m.r. spectra The results were compared with those from the corresponding dimethylglyoximato-complexes. It was concluded that -conjugation over the equatorial plane in the furyldioximates is greater than in the dimethylglyoximates. There is some evidence of thetrans-influence of the anionic ligands in the ammines which are in the order NO ₂ ^– >Br^–>Cl^–.     

Stöber synthesis of monodispersed luminescent silica nanoparticles for bioanalytical assays

We have developed a simple method to prepare bright and photostable luminescent silica nanoparticles of different sizes and narrow size distribution in high yield. The method is based on the use of St?ber synthesis in the presence of a fluorophore to form bright silica nanoparticles. Unlike micro-emulsion-based methods often used to prepare luminescent silica particles, the St?ber method is a one-pot synthesis that is carried out at room temperature under alkaline conditions in ethanol:water mixtures and avoids the use of potentially toxic organic solvents and surfactants. Our luminescent particles contained the transition metal complex tris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) chloride, [Ru(phen)3]Cl2. They showed higher photostability and a longer fluorescence lifetime compared to free Ru(phen)3 solutions. Leakage of dye molecules from the silica particles was negligible, which was attributed to strong electrostatic attractions between the positively charged ruthenium complex and the negatively charged silica. To demonstrate the utility of the highly luminescent silica nanoparticles in bioassays, we further modified their surface with streptavidin and demonstrated their binding to biotinylated glass slides. The study showed that digital counting of the luminescent nanoparticles could be used as an attractive alternative to detection techniques involving analogue luminescence detection in bioanalytical assays.     

The influence of the brewing process on the formation of biogenic amines in beers

Biogenic amines, as dabsyl derivatives, were determined in beer samples, intermediate products, and raw materials (malt and maize) by HPLC. A procedure for the extraction of the amines from malt and maize with diluted hydrochloric acid was optimised by combining a Response Surface Methodology with a Simultaneous Decision Making Approach. The results of the analysis indicate that, in brewing, technology and hygiene are the decisive factors that determine the amine concentrations in the final product.