Direct electrocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxide and reduction of hydrogen peroxide based on α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles-chitosan composite

α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles prepared using a simple solution-combusting method have been dispersed in chitosan (CH) solution to fabricate nanocomposite film on glass carbon electrode (GCE). The as-prepared α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanocomposite film exhibits high electrocatalytic oxidation for nitric oxide (NO) and reduction for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The electrocatalytic oxidation peak is observed at +0.82 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and controlled by diffusion process. The electrocatalytic reduction peak is observed at −0.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and controlled by diffusion process. This α-Fe₂O₃-CH/GCE nanocomposite bioelectrode has response time of 5 s, linearity as 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 15.0 × 10⁻⁶ M of NO with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ M and a sensitivity of −283.6 μA/mM. This α-Fe₂O₃-CH/GCE nanocomposite bioelectrode was further utilized in detection of H₂O₂ with a detection limit of 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ M, linearity as 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 44.0 × 10⁻⁶ M and with a sensitivity of 21.62 μA/mM. The shelf life of this bioelectrode is about 6 weeks under room temperature conditions.     

Reaction of 3-aminoquinoline-2,4-diones with isothiocyanic acid—an easy pathway to thioxo derivatives of imidazo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-ones and imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-ones

3-Amino-1H,3H-quinoline-2,4-diones react with thiourea or potassium thiocyanate in boiling acetic acid to give novel 2,3-dihydro-3-thioxoimidazo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5(6H)-ones in high yields. However, if the starting compounds are substituted with a benzyl group at position 3, a C-debenzylation proceeds to give 2,3-dihydro-2-thioxo-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4(5H)-ones. According to a proposed reaction mechanism, a molecular rearrangement of the primarily formed mono-substituted thiourea takes place. All compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry.     

One-pot three-component synthesis of α-aminonitriles using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as an eco-friendly cyanide source

An efficient and environmentally friendly method has been developed for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles via one-pot three-component condensation of carbonyl compounds, amines, and potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in the presence of benzoyl chloride as a promoter. This protocol has the features of use of eco-friendly cyanide source, high yield, and simple work-up procedure.     

A label-free differential proteomic analysis of mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid exposed to ultrafine carbon black

Ultrafine carbon black (ufCB) is a potential hazard to the lung. It causes changes in protein expression and it increases alveolar-capillary permeability in the lung. Label-free quantitative proteomic methods allow a sensitive and accurate analytical method for identifying and quantifying proteins in a protein mixture without chemically modifying the proteins. We used a label-free quantitative proteomic approach that combined and aligned LC-MS and LC-MS/MS spectra to analyze mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein changes associated with exposure to ufCB. We developed a simple normalization method for quantification without spiking the internal standard. The intensities of unchanged peptides were used as normalization factors based on a statistical method to avoid the influence of peptides changed because of ufCB. LC-MS/MS spectra and then database searching were used to identify proteins. The relative abundances of the aligned peptides of identified proteins were determined using LC-MS spectra. We identified 132 proteins, of which 77 are reported for the first time. In addition, the expression of 15 inflammatory proteins and surfactant-associated proteins was regulated (i.e., 7 upregulated and 8 downregulated) compared with the controls. Several proteins not previously reported provide complementary information on the proteins present in mouse BALF, and they are potential biomarkers for the understanding of mechanisms involved in ufCB-induced lung disorders hypothesize that using the label-free quantitative proteomic approach introduced here is well suited for more rigorous, large-scale quantitative analysis of biological samples. We hypothesize that this label-free quantitative proteomic approach will be suited for a large-scale quantitative analysis of biological samples.     

Synthesis of β-aminovinylphosphonates by organocatalytic nucleophilic displacement of acetate with amines

The synthesis of diethyl β-aminovinylphosphonates 2 from acetoxy phosphonate 1 is described. The reaction entails an organocatalyzed substitution of the acetoxy group by primary or secondary amines. The use of a catalytic amount of DABCO is necessary if the amine is not nucleophilic enough, otherwise a strong nucleophilic amine can react without organocatalyst. The reaction led to a series of functionalized title compounds in good to excellent yields.     

An efficient synthesis of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones from Baylis-Hillman adducts via an In-mediated Barbier reaction and stereoselective lactonization under MeSO2Cl/Et3N conditions

An efficient synthesis of trans-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones is disclosed from syn-homoallylic alcohols via the intramolecular mesylate displacement reaction promoted by nearby ester group under the influence of MsCl/Et₃N. syn-Homoallylic alcohols were prepared via the In-mediated Barbier reaction of the bromides of Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

Animal bone meal as an efficient catalyst for crossed-aldol condensation

α,α′-Bis(substituted benzylidene)cycloalkanones were efficiently prepared from cycloalkanones and benzaldehydes in water by using animal bone meal (ABM) or ABM modified as a catalyst. It is shown that ABM modified can be quantitatively recovered and be reused effectively for many times. A comparison of catalytic activity of these catalysts is discussed.     

Towards the catalytic formation of α,β-vinylesters and alkoxy substituted γ-lactones

A facile, one pot, high yield synthesis of α,β-vinylester (1-14) and alkoxy substituted γ-lactones (15-28) has been achieved by the photochemical reaction of terminal acetylene (ferrocenyl phenyl trimethylsillyl, hexyl and cyclohexyl) with alcohol (methanol, ethanol and isopropanol) and carbon monoxide in presence of iron pentacarbonyl as a catalyst. The selectivity of the compounds depends on the time of photolysis of the reaction as well as the solvent used. A stable reaction intermediate ferrole was isolated, and further photolysis with alcohols, resulted in the formation of α,β-vinylester. All the compounds were fully characterised by spectroscopic methods and the molecular structures of compounds 1, 16, 17 and 20 were established crystallographically.     

Mixed oxides of sodium, antimony (5+) and divalent metals (Ni, Co, Zn or Mg)

A family of α-NaFeO₂-type oxides Na_xM_(1+x)/3Sb_(2−x)/3O₂ (M=Ni, Co, Zn, Mg; x≈0.8 or 0.9) has been prepared by solid state reactions and characterized by powder XRD. At x=1, ordering occurs with tripling the unit cells and formula units. The powder patterns for Na₃M₂SbO₆ (M=Ni, Co) comply with both trigonal P3₁12 cell and monoclinic C2/m cell. The Ni compound exhibits also a series of extremely weak reflections (I<0.3%) that need doubling of the c axis, and the final cell is C2/c, a=5.3048(3), b=9.1879(4), c=10.8356(7), β=99.390(5). These ambiguities are explained by stacking faults. The compounds absorb atmospheric moisture with c-axis expansion up to 29%. A delafossite-related superlattice Ag₃Co₂SbO₆ has been prepared by ion exchange and refined: P3₁12, a=5.3842(2), c=18.6613(10). Ionic conductivity of the Na_0.8Ni_0.6Sb_0.4O₂ ceramics, 0.4 S/m at 300 °C, is greater than reported previously, presumably owing to the grain orientation produced by hot pressing.     

Application of thiophilic chromatography to deplete serum immunoglobulins in sample preparation for bidimensional electrophoresis

Serum is a typical sample for non-invasive studies in clinical research. Its proteome characterization is challenging, since requires extensive protein depletion. Methods used nowadays for removal of high-abundance proteins are expensive or show quite often a low loading capacity, which has strong repercussions on the number of samples and replicates per analysis.In order to deplete immunoglobulins (Igs) and albumin (HSA) from 1 mL serum samples, we have developed a protocol based on a combination of thiophilic chromatography, not previously used in clinical proteomics, and a HSA-specific resin. Ig/HSA-depleted samples, immunoglobulinome and albuminone were analyzed by 2-DE. Thiophilic chromatography, coupled with HSA-depletion, allows a good 2-DE resolution as well as the visualization of new spots. Moreover, it yields enough protein to evaluate technical variability and facilitate subsequent protein identification. To validate the protocol, we carried out a preliminary comparative study between triplicate Igs/HSA-depleted serum samples from healthy control individuals and recently diagnosed/untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. RA patients showed several acute phase proteins, as well as additional serum proteins, differentially and significantly regulated.Therefore, thiophilic chromatography can be used as an efficient and economical method in 2-DE to deplete immunoglobulins from large human serum samples before a more extensive fractioning.