Synthesis and second-order nonlinear optical properties of new chromophores containing benzimidazole, thiophene, and pyrrole heterocycles

A new series of thermally stable benzimidazole-based nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores 4 and 5 have been developed. These chromophores possess a thienylpyrrolyl π-conjugated system attached to functionalized benzimidazole heterocycles. This feature leads to robust chromophores with excellent solvatochromic properties, high thermal stabilities and good molecular optical nonlinearities.     

Taurocholate and taurodeoxycholate: gel formation and protonation constants

Taurocholate (TC) and taurodeoxycholate (TDC) in aqueous solutions, in the presence of sodium and hydrogen ions can give micellar products, even differently protonated. This phenomenon is investigated in this paper to explain whether the assumption of hydrogen ions is to attribute to the micellar aggregates, or to the protonation of taurocholate and taurodeoxycholate, respectively. In the course of this research, often the formation of gel occurred immediately after the mixture of the reagents (sodium, hydrogen ions and anions of bile acids) or after some time, depending on the concentrations of the reagents. No author mentions this evidence, but experiments carried out in the presence of gel are not reproducible because the investigated solutions cannot be considered in real equilibrium. The protonation study was performed by means of electromotive force measurements of a galvanic cell involving a glass electrode, at 25 degrees C and 1.00 mol dm(-3) NaCl, as ionic medium. The obtained protonation constants had the following values: log k1 = 0.07+/- 0.02 for TC and log k'1 = 1.60 +/- 0.03 for TDC.     

Solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography and atomic emission detection for the determination of cyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl and (methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese tricarbonyl in soils and seawaters

A method based on solid-phase microextraction with capillary gas chromatography and microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detection (SPME-GC-MIP-AED) for the determination of cyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl (CMT) and its methyl derivative, (methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in seawaters and soils was optimized and evaluated. The solvent-free preconcentration step was carried out in the headspace (HS) mode. Element-specific detection and quantification was carried out by monitoring the manganese (259 nm) emission line. A matrix effect was found for the soil samples investigated, so that standard additions were required for their quantification. On the other hand seawaters were analyzed by applying direct calibration against aqueous standards. Detection limits of 13 and 15 pg Mn L(-1) were obtained for CMT and MMT, respectively, in seawaters, and 0.62 and 0.65 pg Mn g(-1), respectively, for the soil samples. The method permitted recoveries of 76-113%, depending on the compound and the sample analyzed, confirming the reliability of the procedure and its suitability for routine monitoring purposes.     

Validation of a confirmatory method for the determination of macrolides in liver and kidney animal tissues in accordance with the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC

This study proposes a simple multiresidue liquid chromatography-diode array detector (LC-DAD) method capable of determining seven macrolide antibiotics in samples of liver and kidney animals at concentrations lower than those allowed by current legislation. Samples were prepared by homogenizing the tissue with EDTA-McIlvaine's buffer and extracted with an Oasis HLB cartridge. The consumption of organic solvent during extraction was minimum. The analytes were detected by LC-DAD and also by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (LC-(ESI)MS). The method was specific, stable and robust enough for the required purposes. The DAD method was validated in accordance with the European Commission Decision 657/2002. Recovery data were also satisfactory with values higher than 67% for most macrolide antibiotics extracted from liver and kidney samples spiked at 200 microg/kg, the lowest MRL established for the macrolides studied. The relative standard deviations (RSD (%), (n=3)) were lower than 13% and 15% for intra-day and inter-day assays. The method was applied to investigate the occurrence of the studied macrolides in 31 beef and kidney animal samples. The results obtained by LC-DAD for positive samples were compared to those obtained by LC-(ESI)MS. Therefore, the method with simpler instrumentation than a LC-(ESI)MS can be used as a control method and the results of the validation process demonstrate that this method is suitable for application in a European Union program for monitoring residues of veterinary drugs.     

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of ethyl 3‐amino‐4‐oxo‐9‐(phenylsubstituted)thieno[2,3‐b]quinoline‐2‐carboxylate derivatives

A series of thieno[ 2 ,3‐b]quinolone derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their abilities to inhibit β‐hematin formation, hemoglobin hydrolysis and in vivo for their efficacy in rodent Plasmodium berghei. Compound 3b was the most promising as inhibitor of hemoglobin hydrolysis, and its effects as inhibitor of β‐hematin formation was promising. When the aromatic ring was substituted in 2 (Me), in 3 (CF₃) or in 2,4 (Cl) the inhibition of hemoglobin proteolysis was maximal (88%), the rest of compounds maintained a low inhibition. The most active compound to emerge in vitro and in murine studies, was 3b suggesting an antimalarial activity via multiple mechanisms.     

Structural characterization of native high-methoxylated pectin using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Comparative use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and nor-harmane as UV-MALDI matrices

The successful analysis by ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UV-MALDI-TOF MS) of native and hydrolyzed high-methoxylated pectin samples is described. In order to find the optimal conditions for UV-MALDI-TOF MS analysis several experimental variables were studied such as: different UV-MALDI matrices (nor-harmane, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid), sample preparation methods (mixture, sandwich), inorganic salt addition (doping salts, NaCl, KCl, NH(4)Cl), ion mode (positive, negative), linear and reflectron mode, etc. nor-Harmane has never been used as a UV-MALDI matrix for the analysis of pectins but its use avoids pre-treatment of the sample, such as an enzymatic digestion or an acid hydrolysis, and there is no need to add salts, making the analysis easier and faster. This study suggested an alternative way of analyzing native high-methoxylated pectins, with UV-MALDI-TOF MS, by using nor-harmane as the matrix in negative ion mode. The analysis by (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the native and hydrolyzed pectin is also briefly described.     

Structure and conformational properties of N-pentafluorosulfur(sulfuroxide difluoride imide) SF5N=S(O)F2: vibrational analysis, gas electron diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structure and conformational properties of N-pentafluorosulfur(sulfuroxide difluoride imide), SF5N=S(O)F2, have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy (IR (gas) and Raman (liquid)), by gas electron diffraction (GED), and by quantum chemical calculations (MP2 and B3LYP with (6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(2df) basis sets). According to GED, the prevailing conformer possesses a syn structure (N-SF5 bond synperiplanar with respect to the bisector of the SF2 group). Splitting of the symmetric N=S=O stretching vibration in gas and liquid spectra demonstrates the presence of a second conformer (11(5)%) with anticlinal orientation of the N-SF5 bond according to quantum chemical calculations. The geometric structure, conformational properties, and vibrational frequencies are well reproduced by quantum chemical calculations.