Synthesis of Some Selectively N-Protected (1S,2S)-p-Nitrophenylserinol–Based Diamino-1,3-dioxanes and Tripodands

The unconventional methodology for the non-epimerizable cycloacetalization of optically active (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)propane-1,3-diol (p-nitrophenylserinol) (condensed H₂SO₄ 96% as solvent and catalyst, i.e., sulfuric transacetalization) producing (2R,4S,5S) diamino-1,3-dioxanes was enlarged by the use of N-protected forms of 2,2-dimethoxyethylamine (DMEA, aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal). Conversely, N-protected derivatives of p-nitrophenylserinol were successfully cyclocondensed with DMEA in the same sulfuric conditions. N-Functionalization of DMEA upon treatment with trimesic acid trichloride and cyanuric chloride yielded the corresponding triple amide and melamine, respectively. Their adapted sulfuric transacetalization in triplicate in reaction with arylserinols (aryl: phenyl, p-nitrophenyl) afforded a new series of optically active tripodands.     

Positive ion chemistry of esters of carboxylic acids in air plasma at atmospheric pressure

Ionization of esters of carboxylic acids RCOOR' (R = H, alkyl; R' = alkyl) within the air plasma of the Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) source occurs largely via H(+)-transfer and, to a minor extent, via NO(+) association. The protonated ester MH(+) is normally observed as M(2)H(+) and as higher aggregates (M(3)H(+), M(3)H(+)(H(2)O)) also at high source temperature. The behavior of M(2)H(+) upon collisional activation is consistent with the reported dissociation of proton-bound dimers to MH(+) species that, in turn, fragment according to the known paths of lowest energy. In addition, other important product ions form within the plasma, some in very high relative abundance, which are attributed to ion-molecule condensation reactions between neutral M and either MH(+) or M(2)H(+) resulting in the elimination of CO, R'OH, alkene from the alkoxy moiety of the ester and HCOOH. A general scheme is proposed to account for the experimental observations, which suggest that the encounter complex formed between MH(+) and M or between M(2)H(+) and M may either collisionally relax to the protonated dimer or trimer, respectively, or react via covalent bond forming and cleaving steps to eliminate stable neutral molecules. The proposed scheme is supported by both the observed concentration dependence and the temperature dependence of the products relative abundances within the plasma. Such reactions can be the dominant process, as in the case of formate esters. A second significant ionization route involves addition of NO(+) to form M(n)NO(+) (n = 1, 2, 3). An additional product corresponding to [M(2)NO(+) - CO(2)] is also observed with iso- and n-butyl formate esters.     

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments of aurasperone A and fonsecinone A, two bis-naphthopyrones produced by Aspergillus aculeatus

Complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the polyketides aurasperone A and fonsecinone A were made by means of nuclear Overhauser enhancement and heteronuclear NMR correlation experiments. These compounds were isolated for the first time from Aspergillus aculeatus, an endophytic fungus obtained from leaves of Melia azedarach(Meliaceae).     

Development of a Sequential Injection Analysis Device for the Determination of Total Polyphenol Index in Wine

A sequential injection analysis method is developed for the determination of the total polyphenol index in wines. The determination is based on the Folin-Ciocalteu reaction, which is monitored spectrophotometrically. Interactions between experimental variables and their optimal levels were investigated using factorial designs. The proposed system is fully computerised and is able to monitor polyphenol index in real samples of white, sweet and red wines. The calibration graph is linear from 5 to 200mg·L^–1 using Tannic acid as standard, with a detection limit of 3.2mg·L^–1. Interferences are studied. For validation purposes the proposed methodology was applied to the determination of the total polyphenol index in different types of wines and compared with earlier alternatives in order to assess their performance.     

Evaluation of transversal and longitudinal dispersion in a flow injection system by exploiting laser induced fluorescence: influence of flow-cell positioning

A fully mechanized set-up was built for the experimental determination of bi-dimensional dispersion with high spatial resolution (2400 μm²). Gravitational and wall effects in a single stream were evaluated by using time-based sampling and a micro-flow cell. Vertical upward and downward flows as well as horizontal flows were investigated. Ethylene glycol (MEG) and Rhodamine B in MEG were used as carrier and sample solutions, respectively. Longitudinal profiles were obtained by laser induced total fluorescence (LIF) at up to 19 transversal sites and combined to generate high-resolution bi-dimensional profiles. A two frontal maxima pattern was observed for all flows. The volumetric fraction of RB shape was highly stretched for downward flow and there was high asymmetry for horizontal flow. The sensitivity of three dispersion parameters was evaluated: maximum peak value, peak half-width at half-height, and peak area.Data modeling showed that the tanks-in-series was more sensitive to wall effects, had good adjustment with only one tank for upward and horizontal flow and needed two tanks for downward flow which was attributed to the latter having higher dispersion. A black box empirical modeling described better the gravitational effect and allowed to identify a parameter sensitive to upward and downward flow as well as hinting to two inner streams within the horizontal flow. It also pointed to a wall dispersion contribution of twice that of the liquid-liquid dispersion.     

Study of the acid-base properties of SiO2-supported NiMoO4 catalysts by temperature-programmed desorption: effect of the support

The acid-base properties of several NiMoO₄ catalysts supported on two silicas and prepared by different methods have been studied by temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃. The catalytic behavior in the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane for two NiMoO₄ catalysts with different acid-base properties are compared.     

A new tripodal receptor for molecular recognition of monosaccharides. A paradigm for assessing glycoside binding affinities and selectivities by 1H NMR spectroscopy

A new tripodal receptor for the recognition of monosaccharides is described. The prototypical host 1 features a 1,3,5-substituted 2,4,6-triethylbenzene scaffold bearing three convergent H-bonding units. The binding ability of the t-octyl derivative 1a toward a set of octylglycosides of biologically relevant monosaccharides, including Glc, Gal, Man, and GlcNAc, was investigated by 1H NMR in CDCl3. A protocol for the correct evaluation of binding affinities was established, which can be generally applied for the recognition of monosaccharides by 1H NMR spectroscopy. A three-constant equilibrium model, including 1:1 and 2:1 host-guest association and dimerization of the receptor, was ascertained for the interaction of 1a with all the investigated glycosides. An affinity index, which we defined median binding concentration BC50 in analogy to the IC50 parameter, intended to address the general issue of comparing dimensionally heterogeneous binding data, and a limiting BC0(50)quantity describing intrinsic binding affinities were developed for evaluating the results. BC0(50) values for 1a range from 1 to 6 mM, indicating an intrinsic binding affinity in the millimolar range and a selectivity factor of 5 toward the investigated glycosides. The treatment has been extended to include any generic host-guest system involved in single or multiple binding equilibria.     

Immobilized polysiloxanes as stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography and solid phase extraction

Polysiloxanes immobilized onto the surfaces of porous silica particles have proven to be good stationary phases for the separation of multiresidues of pesticides and their metabolic/degradation products by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Similar materials have proven effective for pre-concentration and clean-up procedures using solid phase extraction. The present paper describes the preparation and some applications of several of these packing materials.     

Novel CFCs-substitutes recommended by EPA (hydrofluorocarbon-245fa and hydrofluoroether-7100): Ion chemistry in air plasma and reactions with atmospheric ions

The ion chemistry of the title compounds, a nonafluorobutyl methyl ether and a hydrofluoropropane, is elucidated by a combination of studies using atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. In the positive ion mode, the hydrofluoroether readily forms an [M - F]+ ion, attributable to hydronium ion induced dehydrofluorination, the product of which can be further hydrated to give a protonated hydrofluoroester. By contrast, the hydrofluoropropane does not react with the hydronium ion but rather gives hydrofluoroalkenylium cations via H atom and F atom abstraction by the dioxygen radical cation. In the negative ion mode, the fluorobutyl methyl ether undergoes dissociative electron capture with O2-*, O2-*(H2O), O3-*, and NO2- to generate the fluorobutoxy anion, which can dissociate by CF2[doublebond]O loss to give the perfluorocarbanion when the precursor ions are internally excited. The hydrofluoropropane reacts readily with common atmospheric anions to form molecular complexes with F-, O2-*, and O3-* and the strongly H-bonded species, O2-*(HF) and F-(HF). Interestingly, isomeric pentafluoropropanes form in the reaction with O2-*, either O2-*(HF) or F-(HF), depending on the specific pattern of the fluoro substitution.