Copper(II) 2,2-Bis(Hydroxymethyl)Propionate Coordination Compounds with Hexamethylenetetramine: From Mononuclear Complex to One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer

Three new copper coordination compounds derived from 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (dmpa) and hexamethylenetetramine (hmta) were obtained and their crystal structures were determined. The stoichiometry of the reagents applied in the syntheses reflects the metal to ligand molar ratio in the formed solid products. Due to the multiple coordination modes of the used ligands, wide structural diversity was achieved among synthesized compounds, i.e., mononuclear [Cu(dmp)₂(hmta)₂(H₂O)] (1), dinuclear [Cu₂(dmp)₄(hmta)₂] (2), and 1D coordination polymer [Cu₂(dmp)₄(hmta)]_n (3). Their supramolecular structures are governed by O—H•••O and O—H•••N hydrogen bonds. The compounds were characterized in terms of absorption (UV-Vis and IR) and thermal properties. The relationships between structural features and properties were discussed in detail. Owing to discrepancies in the coordination mode of a dmp ligand, bidentate chelating in 1, and bidentate bridging in 2 and 3, there is a noticeable change in the position of the bands corresponding to the stretching vibrations of the carboxylate group in the IR spectra. The differences in the structures of the compounds are also reflected in the nature and position of the UV-Vis absorption maxima, which are located at lower wavelengths for 1.     

Geissospermiculatine,a New Alkaloid from Geissospermum reticulatum Bark

A new alkaloid, geissospermiculatine was characterized in Geissospermum reticulatum A. H. Gentry bark (Apocynaceae). Here, following a simplified isolation protocol, the structure of the alkaloid was elucidated through GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, 1D, and 2D NMR (COSY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹⁵N HMBC). Cytotoxic properties were evaluated in vitro on malignant THP-1 cells, and the results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of the alkaloid (30  μg/mL) was comparable with staurosporine (10  μM). Additionally, the toxicity was tested on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in vivo by monitoring their development (0–72 h); toxicity was not evident at 30  μg/mL.     

Functional Modification of Cellulose Acetate Microfiltration Membranes by Supercritical Solvent Impregnation

This study investigates the modification of commercial cellulose acetate microfiltration membranes by supercritical solvent impregnation with thymol to provide them with antibacterial properties. The impregnation process was conducted in a batch mode, and the effect of pressure and processing time on thymol loading was followed. The impact of the modification on the membrane’s microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron and ion-beam microscopy, and membranes’ functionality was tested in a cross-flow filtration system. The antibiofilm properties of the obtained materials were studied against Staphyloccocus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while membranes’ blocking in contact with bacteria was examined for S. aureus and Escherichia coli. The results revealed a fast impregnation process with high thymol loadings achievable after just 0.5 h at 15 MPa and 20 MPa. The presence of 20% of thymol provided strong antibiofilm properties against the tested strains without affecting the membrane’s functionality. The study showed that these strong antibacterial properties could be implemented to the commercial membranes’ defined polymeric structure in a short and environmentally friendly process.     

A New Pyrimidine Schiff Base with Selective Activities against Enterococcus faecalis and Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Enterococcus faecalis is known as a significant nosocomial pathogen due to its natural resistance to many antibacterial drugs. Moreover, it was found that E. faecalis infection causes inflammation, production of reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage to human gastric cancer cells, which can induce cancer. In this study, we synthesized and tested the biological activity of a new Schiff base, 5-[(4-ethoxyphenyl)imino]methyl-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-phenylpyrimidin-4-amine (3), and compared its properties with an analogous amine (2). In the biological investigation, 3 was found to have antibacterial activity against E. faecalis 29212 and far better anticancer properties, especially against gastric adenocarcinoma (human Caucasian gastric adenocarcinoma), than 2. In addition, both derivatives were non-toxic to normal cells. It is worth mentioning that 3 could potentially inhibit cancer cell growth by inducing cell apoptosis. The results suggest that the presence of the –C=N– bond in the molecule of 3 increases its activity, indicating that 5-iminomethylpyrimidine could be a potent core for further drug discovery research.     

The Role of Sulphate and Phosphate Ions in the Recovery of Benzoic Acid Self-Enhanced Ozonation in Water Containing Bromides

The ozonation of aromatic compounds in low-pH water is ineffective. In an acidic environment, the decomposition of ozone into hydroxyl radicals is limited and insufficient for the degradation of organic pollutants. Radical processes are also strongly inhibited by halogen ions present in the reaction medium, especially at low pH. It was shown that even under such unfavorable conditions, some compounds can initiate radical chain reactions leading to the formation of hydroxyl radicals, thus accelerating the ozonation process, which is referred to as so-called “self-enhanced ozonation”. This paper presents the effect of bromides on “self-enhanced ozonation” of benzoic acid (BA) at pH 2.5. It is the first report to fully and quantitatively describe this process. The presence of only 15 µM bromides in water inhibits ozone decomposition and completely blocks BA degradation. However, the effectiveness of this process can be regained by ozonation in the presence of phosphates or sulphate. The addition of these inorganic salts to the bromide-containing solution helps to recover ozone decomposition and BA degradation efficiency. As part of this research, the fractions of hydroxyl, sulphate and phosphate radicals reacting with benzoic acid and bromides were calculated.     

Acenaphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazole and Its Kuratowski Complex: A π-Extended Tecton for Supramolecular and Coordinative Self-Assembly

π-Extended acenaphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazoles, the unsubstituted Anta-H and its di-tert-butyl derivative Dibanta-H, as well as 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole Cybta-H were obtained in concise syntheses. In the solid state, Dibanta-H forms an unprecedented hydrogen-bonded cyclic tetrad, stabilized by dispersion interactions of the bulky tBu substituents, whereas a cyclic triad was found in the crystal structure of Anta-H. These cyclic assemblies form infinite slipped stacks in the crystals. Evidence for analogous hydrogen-bonded self-assembly in solution was provided by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy and computational analyses. Kuratowski-type pentanuclear complexes [Zn₅Cl₄(Dibanta)₆] and [Zn₅Cl₄(Cybta)₆] were prepared from the respective triazoles. In the Dibanta complexes, the π-aromatic surfaces of the ligands extend from the edges of the tetrahedral Zn₅ core, yielding an enlarged structure with significant internal molecular free volume and red-shifted fluorescence.     

Non-invasive surface analysis of ancient bronze arrowheads with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry

In this research, surfaces of eight ancient metal arrowheads were investigated regarding chemical composition, homogeneity, and products of corrosion. To perform that, two nondestructive techniques were applied: Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD). Importantly, both methods did not require sampling, cutting, nor significant cleaning of the historical artifacts, which made the measurements not only nondestructive but noninvasive too. SEM-EDS measurements provided information on the morphology and elemental composition of the surfaces of the studied objects as well as the distribution of chemical elements on the surfaces and supported crystalline phase analysis. It was revealed that the arrowheads were cast of tin bronze, but some of them contained high amounts of lead and admixtures of antimony and arsenic while copper and tin oxides and lead carbonates were found as the major corrosion products. In some cases, distribution of elements in the surface exhibited serious nonhomogeneity, probably resulting from limited solubility of the casting metals and degradation processes. Based on the obtained results, authenticity and declared provenience of the arrowheads were assessed in reference to the characteristics of similar objects described in literature.     

Synthesis and structural properties of porphyrin analogues of bacteriochlorophyll c

The self-assembling photosynthetic pigment bacteriochlorophyll c contains α-hydroxyethyl and keto groups on opposite sides of the macrocycle. A porphyrin has been synthesized that contains a 3-hydroxymethyl group and a 15-ethoxycarbonyl group (ZnP2-OH). X-ray analysis of ZnP2-OH and the related porphyrin containing 5-hydroxymethyl and 15-ethoxycarbonyl groups (ZnP1-OH) in each case revealed infinite coordination polymers wherein the zinc porphyrins are bound by Zn-O coordination and are cofacially offset in a staircase architecture.     

IA,database of known ligands of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

The IA database contains 240 structures of known inhibitors of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Structures can be downloaded in different file formats (mol, sdf, smile, png). The search engine offers possibility of searching for the ligands with a given functional group. Additionally, one can search for ligands that act on selected synthetases and from particular references. The data include information which synthetase a given ligand inhibits together with the inhibition constant (IC₅₀) if known. Database is freely available at     

Gas chromatographic retention indices of trimethylsilyl derivatives of mono- and diglycerides on capillary columns with non-polar stationary phases

Mono- and diglycerides play an important role in the metabolism of plants and animals. They are usually constitutive elements of complex mixtures and are not always as main components, which considerably hinder the identification of these analytes. This work communicates about a synthesis of a wide range of esters of glycerol and aliphatic C(6)-C(20) acids and presents gas chromatographic characteristics of 32 compounds in the form of the most reproducible parameters-linear-programmed retention indices on high-performance capillary columns with non-polar stationary phases. The article also presents mass spectra for a series of those glycerides which were not characterized earlier by these parameters.