A Thermodynamic Study of Interactions of Monoionic Kaolinite with N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA) and Pyridine (PY)

Two series of monoionic (M) kaolinites (M = H(+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Al(3+), and Fe(3+)) were prepared from a natural Brazilian clay (S?o Sim?o clay, SP): series A, dried under vacuum at 25 degrees C, and series B, dried under vacuum at 25 degrees C. The natural clay was characterized by elemental analysis, cation exchange capacity, X-ray diffractometry, differential thermal analysis, and surface area measurements (BET). The interactions of M,M-dimethylacetamide and pyridine with these (M) kaolinites were studied by adsorption isotherms, titration calorimetry, and infrared spectroscopy (for pyridine only). The results indicated a coordinative interaction between M,M-dimethylacetamide and (M) kaolinites. For the interactions between pyridine and (M) kaolinites, the formation of hydrogen bonds (M = Al(3+), Fe(3+)), hydrogen and coordinative bonds (M = Cu(2+), Zn(2+)), and ionic pairs (M = H(+), Ca(2+)) was observed. For the pyridine-(Cu) kaolinite system, a substitution of water coordinated to Cu(2+) by pyridine was established.     

Detection of exogenous intake of natural corticosteroids by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry: application to misuse in sport

A detailed procedure for the analysis of exogenous hydrocortisone and cortisone in urine by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) is proposed. As urinary levels of hydrocortisone are rather low for GC/C/IRMS analysis, the focus is on the main corticosteroid metabolites, tetrahydrocortisone (THE) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF). Following different solid phase extraction purifications, THE and THF are oxidized to 5beta-androstanetrione before analysis by GC/C/IRMS. Significant differences in delta(13)C per thousand values of synthetic natural corticosteroids and endogenous human corticosteroids have been observed. Therefore, a positive criterion, to detect exogenous administration of synthetic corticosteroids in anti-doping control, is proposed.     

Lacidipine,a potential peroxynitrite scavenger: investigation of activity by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Inflamed tissues are often characterised by the production of *NO and O(2)(-) radicals, which are known to react at an extremely fast rate to produce peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). This highly oxidising entity reacts with protein-bound tyrosine to give 3-nitrotyrosine, which is considered a biochemical marker of peroxynitrite-induced damage. Lacidipine is a calcium antagonist indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. In the present work, electrospray mass spectrometry with and without liquid chromatography was used to evaluate the capability of lacidipine and two other related molecules as ONOO(-) scavengers. This capability is compared with that associated with a number of commercial polyphenols described in the literature as efficient scavengers of this cytotoxic agent. The use of mass spectrometry provided rapid quantitative assessment of both the nitration and its reduction, and showed that lacidipine possesses a reasonable capability for reducing in vitro nitration of superoxide dismutase.     

Adsorption of crude oil on anhydrous and hydrophobized vermiculite

This publication reports the adsorption of crude oil on vermiculite samples, expanded and hydrophobized with carnauba (Copernícia Cerífera) wax. The adsorption studies were performed by using columns filled with the vermiculite matrices and by dispersion of the vermiculite samples in an oil-water (50 ppm of oil) emulsion. The hydrate vermiculite exhibits a very low adsorption capacity against crude oil. On the other hand, anhydrous (expanded) and hydrophobized matrices show a high adsorption capacity. The 10% hydrophobized matrix show a 50% increased adsorption capacity, in comparison with the expanded one. For adsorption performed in the water-oil emulsion, saturation of the solid hydrophobized matrix is achieved after 60 min. The hydrophobized samples exhibit adsorption factors in the 0.7-1.0 range.     

New halogenated furanones from the marine alga delisea pulchra (cf. fimbriata)

An investigation of the natural products chemistry of the red alga Delisea pulchra, collected from the Cape Banks, New South Wales, Australia, yielded eight new polyhalogenated furanones (1–7) and the previously reported metabolites 8–24). The structures of 1–8 were determined from the interpretation of their 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and mass spectral data. For the first time, complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR data for compounds 14, 18, and 20-23 are reported.     

Axially Dissymmetric Diphosphines in the Biphenyl Series: Synthesis of (6,6′-Dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)(‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and Analogues via an ortho-Lithiation/Iodination Ullmann-Reaction Approach

The new axially dissymmetric diphosphines (R)- and (S)-(6,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenyl phosphine) ((R)- and (S)- 5a ; ‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and the analogues (R)- and (S)- 5b and 5c have been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. These ligands have become readily available by a synthetic scheme which employs, as key steps, an ortho-lithiation/iodination reaction of the (m-methoxyphenyl)diprienylphosphine oxides 8 and a subsequent Ullmann reaction of the resulting iodides 9 to provide the racemic bis(phosphine oxides) 10 . The bis(phosphine oxides) 10 subsequently are resolved with (?)-(2R,3R)- and (+)-(2S,3S)-O-2,3-dibenzoyltartaric acid and reduced to diphosphines 5 . The Ullmann reaction constitutes a new and efficient route to 2,2′-bis(phosphinoyl)-substituted biphenyl systems. Absolute configurations were established for (R)- 5a by X-ray analysis of the derived Pd complex (R,R)- 17a , and for 5b and 5c by means of ¹H-NMR comparisons of the derived Pd complexes 16 or 17 , respectively, and by means of CD comparisons. The MeO-BIPHEP diphosphine 5a proved to be as efficient as the previously described BIPHEMP diphosphine ((6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)) in enantioselective isomerizations and hydrogenations.     

Background airborne radioactivity in an equatorial Brazilian town

The aim of this work was to determine the background airbome radioactivity in the town of Natal, Brazil. Indoor radon concentrations were measured inside 24 buildings using solid state nuclear track detectors which were exposed for a period of about 180 days. The average indoor radon level resulted to be 15.4±10.6 Bq·m^–3. Measurements of gross - and -activities were performed at six different sites for airbome particulate samples collected over cellulose nitrate filters. Mean values of 0.15±0.06 mBq·m^–3 and 0.42±0.10 mBq·m^–3 were obtained for the gross -and gross -activity, respectively.     

Heterocyclic N-glycosyl derivatives. XIV. Preparation of some N-(2,3-dideoxyglycopyranosyl)benzotriazoles by hydrogenation of N-(pent- and hex-2-enopyranosyl)benzotriazoles

Catalytic hydrogenation of a series of N-(pent- and hex-2-enopyranosyl)benzotriazoles afforded the corresponding saturated N-glycosyl derivatives having the same anomeric configuration as the starting compounds. The conformations of all compounds obtained were determined by nmr spectroscopy. The hexopyranosyl nucleosides in solution adopt the Cl conformation. On the other hand, pentopyranosyl nucleosides exist as a mixture of the two chair conformers in equilibrium, with the IC or CI ( L ) form predominating.     

Bioanalysis of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine

(E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine is an antiviral drug that is experimentally used for modulation of the antitumour effect of fluoropyrimidines, such as ftorafur and 5-fluorouracil. The isolation of the analyte, in the presence of 5-fluorouracil, from the matrix is performed either by means of a simple protein precipitation (plasma) or by means of a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate (urine). Following pretreatment, the analyte is analysed by reversed-phase chromatography and quantified by absorbance detection at 307 nm. The minimum detectable concentration in plasma and urine samples is ca. 6 ng/ml. The recovery after deproteination of plasma samples is 75%, while after liquid-liquid extraction of urine the recovery amounts 92%. The degree of protein binding of the analyte, measured by ultrafiltration, is found to be 97%. These data allow the bioanalysis of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine for pharmacokinetic studies.     

Ferrocene incorporating host-guest dyads with electrochemically controlled three-pole hydrogen bonding properties

We describe the electrochemically controlled hydrogen bonding interactions between the isobutyl flavin/2,6-diferrocenylamidopyridine (2·5) and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone/1-ferrocenyl-3-hexylurea (4·6) dyads. Cyclic and square wave voltammetry studies have shown that the binding efficiencies between these moieties can be electrochemically actuated in non-polar (CH₂Cl₂ for 2·5) or polar (DMF for 4·6) organic solvents between three distinct states.