Effect of ethanol on the thermal stability of human serum albumin

The effect of ethanol on human serum albumin stability in aqueous solution was studied by use of differential scanning calorimetry. A deconvolution of DSC traces in 2-state model with ΔC _p=0 and ΔC _p≠0 was performed and analysed to obtain information on the interaction of ethanol with different parts of albumin molecule both fatty acid containing and fatty acid free. The differences in ethanol binding affinity for both kinds of albumin were found. At very low concentrations ethanol was observed to be a stabilizer of the folded state of albumin contrary to the higher concentration where its binding to the unfolded protein predominates.     

Collisionally activated dissociation of some pyridinium cations: Novel fragmentation pathways

Three novel collisionally induced dissociation pathways, additional to the usual formation of pyridine or pyridinium cation, are described for laser-desorbed N-substituted pyridinium cations. Particularly prevalent is the formation of an ion of m/z 94, corresponding to [PyCH₃]⁺. Doubly charged pyridiniums tend to lose H⁺, and one example of the apparent formation of the neutral radical C₅H₆N˙ is reported.     

Rifamycin antibiotics—new compounds and synthetic methods. Part 1: Study of the reaction of 3-formylrifamycin SV with primary alkylamines or ammonia

Within the study covering the search for new methods of synthesis of rifamycin antibiotics, the reactions of 3-formylrifamycin SV (2) with primary amines or ammonia were studied. In the reaction of 2 with methylamine, unstable 3-methyliminomethylrifamycin SV (8) was formed, which was further oxidised to stable 3-methyliminomethylrifamycin S (9). In the reaction of 2 with ammonia, N,15-didehydro-15-deoxo-pyrimido-(4,5-b)rifamycin SV (10), a new compound with a chromophore system enlarged by a pyrimidine ring, was obtained. The product of its reduction with sodium borohydride—(11)—was also isolated. The structures of the compounds and an explanation of the synthesis mechanism have been proposed on the basis of mass spectrometry results as well as (1D) and (2D) ¹H- and ¹³C NMR analysis. In vitro antituberculous activity of the new compounds have been investigated.     

STUDIES ON PYRAZINE DERIVATIVES. XL. SYNTHESIS,REACTIVITY, AND TUBERCULOSTATIC ACTIVITY OF 4-HYDROXYALKYL-5-PYRAZINYL4H-[1,2,4]-TRIAZOLE-3-THIONES

2,2′-Sulfinyl-bis(4-methyl phenol) 3 and it's thio derivative have been synthesized in this work. The reduction process of sulfoxide 3 to its thio derivative 5 was accomplished in the presence of Zn/AcOH/SiO₂, under microwave irradiation. The structures have been confirmed by spectroscopic (IR, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR) and single crystal x-ray diffraction methods. 2,2′-Sulfinyl-bis(4-methyl phenol) 3 crystallizes in the space group Cc of the monoclinic system with four molecules in the unit cell of dimensions a = 11.425(2) Å, b = 13.530(2) Å, c = 9.5215(17) Å, β = 117.289(4) Å, and 2,2′-thio-bis(4-methyl phenol) 5 crystallizes in the space group P 2₁2₁2₁ of the orthorhombic system with four molecules in the unit cell of dimensions a = 9.021(1) Å, b = 10.523(2) Å, c = 13.607(2) Å, α = 90. The structures have been refined to final values for the crystallographic R factor of 0.0189(3) and 0.0248(5) based on 2999 and 3720 observed independent reflections respectively.     

Inherently Chiral Spider‐Like Oligothiophenes

The racemate of an inherently chiral “spider‐like” octathiophene monomer T8₃ , in which chirality is generated by torsion in its backbone, was synthesized. The racemate was resolved into configurationally stable antipodes by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase. Electrooxidation of the enantiomers resulted in materials displaying high enantiorecognition ability towards the antipodes of some chiral probes. Moreover, the T8₃ racemate demonstrated great aptitude to stimulate formation of 3D rigid architectures if used as a cross‐linking monomer for molecular imprinting. This feature was exploited to devise a molecularly imprinted polymer‐based chemosensor selective for a thymine–adenine oligonucleotide.     

Thermal and spectroscopic properties of light lanthanides (III) and sodium complexes of 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid

Pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, known as isocinchomeric acid is one of six isomers containing two carboxylic groups. Light lanthanide (III) complexes with pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid with general formula Ln₂L₃·nH₂O, where n = 8, 9, were obtained. Their thermal and spectroscopic properties were studied. Sodium salt was obtained as Na₂L·H₂O. Hydrated complexes of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III) and Gd(III) are stable to 313–333 K, whereas Na₂L·H₂O is stable to about 333 K. Dehydration process for all compounds runs in one stage, next they decompose into appropriate lanthanide oxalates, oxocarbonates carbonates and finally to metal oxides. Bands of νCOOH vibrations at 1736 and 1728 cm⁻¹ disappear on complex spectra and ν_as and ν_s of COO⁻ groups appear thus indicating that complexation process took place.     

Kinetic determinations of accurate relative oxidation potentials of amines with reactive radical cations

Accurate oxidation potentials for organic compounds are critical for the evaluation of thermodynamic and kinetic properties of their radical cations. Except when using a specialized apparatus, electrochemical oxidation of molecules with reactive radical cations is usually an irreversible process, providing peak potentials, E(p), rather than thermodynamically meaningful oxidation potentials, E(ox). In a previous study on amines with radical cations that underwent rapid decarboxylation, we estimated E(ox) by correcting the E(p) from cyclic voltammetry with rate constants for decarboxylation obtained using laser flash photolysis. Here we use redox equilibration experiments to determine accurate relative oxidation potentials for the same amines. We also describe an extension of these experiments to show how relative oxidation potentials can be obtained in the absence of equilibrium, from a complete kinetic analysis of the reversible redox kinetics. The results provide support for the previous cyclic voltammetry/laser flash photolysis method for determining oxidation potentials.     

Modification of a micellar system for amino acid separation by MEKC--application for amino acid profiling in formulations for parenteral use

The paper proposes a new method for amino acid determination which can be applied for amino acid profiling in solutions for parenteral nutrition. The MEKC method based on a mixed micellar system was developed for the separation of 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatized amino acids. Background electrolyte was based on tris-borate buffer with high alkaline pH. Sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles were modified using 1,2-hexanediol as a co-surfactant. The effect of the modifier on amino acid migration was studied with respect to hydrophobicity of the analytes. The modifier appeared to be suitable to improve the separation of AQC-tagged amino acids without an adverse effect on buffer ionic strength or EOF velocity. The method was successfully validated and applied for amino acid profiling in medicinal preparations for parenteral nutrition. The results obtained were compared with a reference chromatographic method (amino acid analyser).     

Reactions of OH and NO radicals with 1,1-dichloroethylene in argon matrices. FTIR and theoretical studies

HONO/1,1-dichloroethylene/Ar matrices were subjected to UV radiation (lambda > 340 nm) from a medium pressure mercury lamp. The products of the photolysis were studied experimentally by means of FTIR spectroscopy and theoretically using the ab initio MP2 method. Two conformers of 2-nitroso-2,2-dichloroethanol molecule have been identified as the final products of the double addition reaction of the OH, NO radicals to 1,1-dichloroethylene. The additional reactive species observed in the matrix is tentatively identified as an 1,1-dichloro-2-hydroxyethyl radical, an intermediate formed by single addition of OH to 1,1-dichloroethylene. The three photoproducts have been identified and observed for the first time. The identities of the products have been justified by comparison with the experiments with deuterated DONO and by performing concentration and annealing studies as well as by reference to the spectral data of related molecules. The results of the quantum mechanical calculations confirmed both the assignment of the new molecules and mechanism of the reaction observed in our experiment.     

Quality Assessment of Wild and Cultivated Green Tea from Different Regions of China

Natural products have always enjoyed great popularity among consumers. Wild tea is an interesting alternative to tea from intensive plantations. The term “wild tea” is applied to many different varieties of tea, the most desirable and valued of which are native or indigenous tea plants. Special pro-health properties of wild tea are attributed to the natural conditions in which it grows. However, there are no complex studies that describe quality and health indicators of wild tea. The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality of wild and cultivated green tea from different regions of China: Wuzhishan, Baisha, Kunlushan, and Pu’Er. The assessment was carried out by verifying the concentration of selected chemical components in tea and relating it to the health risks they may pose, as well as to the nutritional requirements of adults. Wild tea was characterized by higher micronutrient concentration. The analyzed teas can constitute a valuable source of Mn in the diet. A higher concentration of nitrates and oxalates in cultivated tea can be associated with fertilizer use. The analyzed cultivated tea was a better source of antioxidants with a higher concentration of caffeine. There were no indications of health risks for wild or cultivated teas.