Charge-transfer complexes as polymerization inhibitors. I. Amine–chloranil complexes as inhibitors for the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Charge-transfer complexes of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) and triethylamine (TEA) with chloranil have been investigated as inhibitors for the sensitized polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in bulk and in solution. Complete inhibition is achieved by the complexes of both amines followed by retardation only in case of DMA. The higher inhibiting efficiency of the TEA complexes is attributed to their greater stability. The polymers formed in the presence of chloranil alone or its complexes with both amines are quinonoid and contain no combined nitrogen. The results support the idea that inhibition reaction involve electron transfer from the growing chains to the quinone, with formation of molecular complexes of polymeric cations and semiquinone anions. The latter are the actual inhibiting species, so that the efficiency of inhibiting depends on their concentration, which is determined by the stability of the molecular complexes formed. The inhibition reactions should accordingly be considered as oxidation–reduction processes in which the growing chains are the electron donors. The suggested mechanism affords an explanation for the great differences in the inhibiting power of a particular quinone for the polymerization of different monomers.     

Sorption of uranium by non-living water hyacinth roots

Summary Many studies have shown that water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) roots can be used to accumulate high concentrations of organic as well as inorganic pollutants. They are currently used to remediate aquatic environments and aqueous solutions. In the present study, sorption of uranium from aqueous solutions by using dried roots of water hyacinth has been investigated. The sorption of uranium was examined as a function of initial concentration, pH, weight of roots and contact time. Five different concentrations 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μg ^. ml^-1 were used. Sorption proves to be very rapid and depend on pH, weight of roots and concentration of uranium. Maximum sorption capacity of water hyacinth roots was 64,000 U⁶⁺ μg/g. The sorption of uranium by water hyacinth roots follows a Langmuir isotherm.     

Analysis of serotonin in brain microdialysates using capillary electrophoresis and native laser-induced fluorescence detection

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a major neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. In this work, a method for analyzing 5-HT in brain microdialysis samples using a commercially available capillary electrophoresis (CE) system has been developed. A pH-mediated in-capillary preconcentration of samples was performed, and after separation by capillary zone electrophoresis, native fluorescence of 5-HT was detected by a 266 nm solid-state laser. The separation conditions for the analysis of 5-HT in standard solutions and microdialysates have been optimized, and this method has been validated on both pharmacological and analytical bases. Separation of 5-HT was performed using a 80 mmol/L citrate buffer, pH 2.5, containing 20 mmol/L hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) and +30 kV voltage. The detection limit was 2.5 x 10(-10) mol/L. This method allows the in vivo brain monitoring of 5-HT using a simple, accurate CE measurement in underivatized microdialysis samples.     

Molecular tectonics. Selective exchange of cations in porous anionic hydrogen-bonded networks built from derivatives of tetraphenylborate

Tetraphenylmethanes with multiple hydrogen-bonding sites are known to associate to form robust porous supramolecular networks. Analogous anionic networks can be built from the corresponding tetraphenylborates. Crystallization of the tetraphenylphosphonium salt of tetraphenylborate 2 produces an anionic network in which 74% of the volume is available for including cations and neutral guests. Other salts of anion 2 with diverse cations crystallize consistently to form the same network, whereas a neutral analogue of anion 2, tetraphenylmethane 1, produces an uncharged network that is far less open. Cations can be exchanged in single crystals of salts of tetraphenylborate 2 with retention of crystallinity and with selectivities similar to those observed in typical zeolites. Together, these observations provide new strategies for making ordered molecular materials by design, and they reveal that constructing such materials from charged subunits offers special advantages.     

2,5‐Dicarboxy­anilinium chloride monohydrate

The title compound, C₈H₈NO₄⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, is the chloro­hydrated form of 2‐amino­benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid, the basic crystal structure of which is still not known. Mol­ecules are linked by classical N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O, N—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, mainly along the mol­ecular plane, into sheets built by unusual R₆⁴(26), R₆⁴(22) and R₄³(22) rings. The stacking between layers is stabilized by another N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bond and by π–π inter­actions between aromatic rings facing each other.     

Effect of anion concentration on the stability of the uranyl-ascorbate complex

The effect of anion concentration and the dependence of uranyl ascorbate on the nature of anion present is systematically studied for nine different anions over the concentration range (0.2–2.0) × 10⁻² M. These anions, commonly encountered in pharmaceutical preparations with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are nitrate, sulfate, chloride, bromide, fluoride, phosphate, citrate, oxalate, and tartrate. Based on the absorbance data, and on the value of the replacement constant K calculated, the studied anions may be arranged according to their complexing power on uranium as follows: citrate > tartrate > phosphate > oxalate > fluoride > sulfate > nitrate > chloride > bromide.This order is substantiated by the calculated values of the side reaction coefficients α_M of the uranyl ligand complex or the conditional stability constant of uranyl-ascorbate calculated at different ligand concentrations.     

One-pot four-component reaction: aqueous TiCl3/PhN2+-mediated alkyl radical addition to imines generated in situ

Ti(III)-induced free-radical decomposition of a phenyldiazonium salt, followed by phenyl radical iodine-atom abstraction from alkyl iodides, leads to a one-pot selective alkyl radical addition to the C-atom of imines generated in situ under aqueous acidic conditions. [reaction: see text]     

Energetic Bio-Activation of Some Organic Molecules and Their Antioxidant Activity in the Pulp of the Moroccan Argan Tree «Argania spinosa L.»

Argania spinosa L. Skeels is an emblematic tree in Morocco, known worldwide for its medicinal and nutritional value. Its fruits contain kernels used to prepare an edible oil, the leaves are used to feed livestock, and its wood is used as fuel. If the oil acquires high importance, the other components of the fruit of the argan are undervalued. Our objective is to invest the waste of the argan industry. Particularly, our study aimed to assess the effect of thermal activation of argan pulp on its therapeutic value, its phenolic profile and its functional and physicochemical properties. After heat treatment, the HPLC analysis for the average total phenolic content varied from 2% to 37%, depending on temperature. The antioxidant activity was increased with heat treatment. Higher values of antioxidant activity, polyphenol and pigment content were recorded at 70 °C. Functional properties analysis indicated that water solubility index and water absorption capacity were significantly affected by heat stress. Physicochemical analysis showed that moisture content, titratable acidity and soluble solids were affected.     

Trichoderma Enzymes for Degradation of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A

The contamination of agricultural products with mycotoxins causes risks to animal and human health and severe economic losses. Mycotoxicoses can be reduced by preventing fungal infection using chemical and biological approaches. The chemical strategies can release toxic molecules; therefore, strategies for biological control are being evaluated, such as using nontoxic fungi and their metabolites. This work evaluated the effect of exoenzymes produced by the beneficial fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum strain T22 in degrading Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA). The ability of Trichoderma to produce hydrolases was stimulated by using different inducing substrates. The highest AFB1 and OTA degradation activity was obtained using a medium containing lyophilized mushrooms and crude fiber. The T. afroharzianum T22’s ability to reduce mycotoxins may be attributed to peroxidase enzymes. This study showed that T. afroharzianum strain T22 or its peroxidase supplementation could represent a sustainable strategy for the degradation of AFB1 and OTA in feed and food products.     

Nano-Structured Ridged Micro-Filaments (≥100 µm Diameter) Produced Using a Single Step Strategy for Improved Bone Cell Adhesion and Proliferation in Textile Scaffolds

Textile scaffolds that are either 2D or 3D with tunable shapes and pore sizes can be made through textile processing (weaving, knitting, braiding, nonwovens) using microfilaments. However, these filaments lack nano-topographical features to improve bone cell adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, the diameter of such filaments should be higher than that used for classical textiles (10–30 µm) to enable adhesion and the efficient spreading of the osteoblast cell (>30 µm diameter). We report, for the first time, the fabrication of biodegradable nanostructured cylindrical PLLA (poly-L-Lactic acid) microfilaments of diameters 100 µm and 230 µm, using a single step melt-spinning process for straightforward integration of nano-scale ridge-like structures oriented in the fiber length direction. Appropriate drawing speed and temperature used during the filament spinning allowed for the creation of instabilities giving rise to nanofibrillar ridges, as observed by AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). These micro-filaments were hydrophobic, and had reduced crystallinity and mechanical strength, but could still be processed into 2D/3D textile scaffolds of various shapes. Biological tests carried out on the woven scaffolds made from these nano-structured micro filaments showed excellent human bone cell MG 63 adhesion and proliferation, better than on smooth 30 µm- diameter fibers. Elongated filopodia of the osteoblast, intimately anchored to the nano-structured filaments, was observed. The filaments also induced in vitro osteogenic expression, as shown by the expression of osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein after 21 days of culture. This work deals with the fabrication of a new generation of nano-structured micro-filament for use as scaffolds of different shapes suited for bone cell engineering.