Detection of Thiols by o‐Quinone Nanocomposite Modified Electrodes

A chemically modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed as an amperometric sensor for detection of biological thiols. The electrode was modified by inclusion of co‐enzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and a co‐catalyst of oxidized single wall carbon nanotubes (Ox‐SWNT) into a gold polypyrrole (Au‐PPy) nanocomposite matrix. The electrode (PQQ/Ox‐SWNT/Au‐PPy/GC) was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Optimal conditions for the PQQ/Ox‐SWNT/Au‐PPy/GC electrode were determined and then utilized for the amperometric detection of L‐cysteine, N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, L‐penicillamine and D, L‐glutathione. The electrochemical response for each thiol in pH 3.2 citrate phosphate buffer at +450 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) was found to be linear with limit of detections (LOD, S/N=3) ranging from 0.50 µM for L‐penicillamine to 1.55 µM for D, L‐glutathione with sensitivities of 30.2 nA/µM and 3.6 nA/µM respectively. The electrode design is simple and easy to construct using a minimum amount of co‐enzyme and co‐catalyst, resulting in detection methods with very good stability and improved sensitivity for thiol detection.     

Bioactivity Profiles of Cytoprotective Short-Chain Quinones

Short-chain quinones (SCQs) have been investigated as potential therapeutic candidates against mitochondrial dysfunction, which was largely thought to be associated with the reversible redox characteristics of their active quinone core. We recently reported a library of SCQs, some of which showed potent cytoprotective activity against the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. To better characterize the cytoprotection of SCQs at a molecular level, a bioactivity profile for 103 SCQs with different compound chemistries was generated that included metabolism related markers, redox activity, expression of cytoprotective proteins and oxidative damage. Of all the tested endpoints, a positive correlation with cytoprotection by SCQs in the presence of rotenone was only observed for the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)-dependent reduction of SCQs, which also correlated with an acute rescue of ATP levels. The results of this study suggest an unexpected mode of action for SCQs that appears to involve a modification of NQO1-dependent signaling rather than a protective effect by the reduced quinone itself. This finding presents a new selection strategy to identify and develop the most promising compounds towards their clinical use.     

Effects of introduction of α‐carboxylate,N‐methyl,and N‐formyl groups on intramolecular cyclization of o‐quinone amines: Density functional theory‐based study

o‐Quinone amines, which are relevant to various biological processes, can undergo spontaneous intramolecular cyclization (ring closure reaction by amino‐terminated hydrocarbon side chain) that deactivates them toward another possible reactions, that is, thiol binding. Density functional theory‐based calculation is employed for obtaining the potential energy curves along the C? N bond formation in the intramolecular cyclization of various o‐quinone amines, viz., dopaminequinone, dopaquinone, N‐methyl‐dopaminequinone, N‐formyl‐dopaminequinone, and the corresponding methylene‐inserted analogues. The activation barrier is decreased by introduction of α‐carboxylate and N‐methyl group whereas increased by introduction of N‐formyl group. A negative correlation between the activation barriers and the level of highest occupied molecular orbital is pointed out. Furthermore, the methylene‐inserted analogues show decreased activation barriers. This is explained by reduction of steric repulsion in the transition state.     

Unified Total Syntheses of (−)‐Medicarpin, (−)‐Sophoracarpan A,and (±)‐Kushecarpin A with Some Structural Revisions

The total syntheses of medicarpin, sophoracarpan A, and kushecarpin A from a common intermediate are achieved by using ortho‐ and para‐quinone methide chemistry. Additionally, the relative stereochemistry of sophoracarpan A and B have been reassigned.     

On-line solid phase extraction of Ni and Pb using carbon nanotubes and modified carbon nanotubes coupled to ETAAS

A study about the capabilities of three kinds of nanomaterials namely, carbon nanotubes (CNT), oxidized carbon nanotubes (ox-CNT) and l-alanine immobilized on carbon nanotubes (ala-CNT) to serve as sorbents for preconcentrating Ni and Pb using an on-line system coupled to electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS) technique, was accomplished. The solid phase extraction was performed in a conical minicolumn used as sorbent holder. After loading a fixed volume of the analytes, they were eluted with a discrete volume (50 μL) of nitric acid, placed directly into the platform of a L’Vov tube. After that, each analyte was determined individually. Ni and Pb retention was strongly influenced by pH but exhibiting different behaviors. The study demonstrated that the sorbent based on ox-CNTs was the one that exhibited the highest capacity and linearity for both analytes when compared with CNT or ala-CNT. The analytical performance was evaluated for the three sorbents to establish the best conditions regarding sensitivity, reproducibility and accuracy. The precision expressed as relative standard deviations (n = 6) were 3.9 and 0.5% for Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺, respectively The limit of detection (LOD), calculated as the concentration required to yield a net peak equal to three times the standard deviation of the background signal (3σ) was 30 and 10 ng L⁻¹ for Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺ respectively. Alternatively, the limit of quantification (10σ) was calculated and resulted to be 0.79 and 0.07 μg L⁻¹ for Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺ respectively. After optimization, the method that involved the use of ox-CNT associated to an on-line preconcentration was tested in samples of relevant environmental importance. Accuracy was evaluated analyzing a certified reference material namely, Municipal Sludge (QC MUNICIPAL SLUDGE A) and a reference sample of Lake Sediment (TRAP-LRM from IJS).     

芳醚的催化氧化反应

以取代芳醚为原料,碘苯醋酸酯为氧化剂,二氯甲烷为溶剂,在醋酸铑催化下合成了一系列醌类化合物,其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR和HR-MS确证。     

Development of an alkaloid-pyrone annulation: synthesis of pleiomaltinine

Odd Couple: A method for the synthesis of alkaloid-pyrones using a novel pyrone annulation of β-carbolines and indoles with 3-siloxy-4-pyrones is reported. The approach has enabled synthesis of the unusual alkaloid-pyrone pleiomaltinine from the plant-derived indole-alkaloid pleiocarpamine (see Scheme; TBS= tert-butyldimethylsilyl).     

傅里叶变换红外测定氧化淀粉的羧基含量初探

采用傅里叶变换红外测试氧化淀粉中的羧基含量,以国标法测得的羧基含量为纵坐标,谱图中羰基吸光度与C—H键吸光度比值为横坐标绘制得到标准曲线。对未知氧化淀粉产物进行红外测试,得到吸光度比值通过标准曲线方程,计算其羧基含量,得到的羧基含量与采用国标法测试的羧基含量进行对比,误差在2%～4%之间。为了提高实验的准确度,选取标样绘制标准曲线时,必须保证待测氧化淀粉的羧基含量在标准曲线计算的极限值范围之内,且偏离标准曲线的极限值。与国标法测试羧基含量相比,采用红外测试,方法简单易操作,效率高,准确度好。因此采用红外光谱测试方法对氧化淀粉的羧基含量的预测具有一定重要意义。     

Cost‐Effective Biomass Carbon/Calix[4]Quinone Composites for Lithium Ion Batteries

Searching for new cheap encapsulating materials to decrease the solubility of organic small molecules as the cathode materials in electrolytes and improve the performance of organic lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is very important and highly desirable. In this research, we found that a novel cheap biomass carbon (named as PPL), prepared by pyrolyzing calyxes of Physalis Peruviana L, can efficiently encapsulate calix[4]quinone to form composites, which can be used as cathodes in LIBs. The initial discharge capacity of the as‐fabricated battery was 437 mAh g^?1 and could maintain 228 mAh g^?1 after 100 cycles. Even at 1 C, the discharge capacity was still 217 mAh g^?1.     

含氧有机物作为锂电池正极材料

有机物作为锂电池正极材料具有理论比容量高、原料丰富、环境友好、体系安全的优点,近年来受到关注。本文综述了含氧有机物正极材料的研究进展,概括了醌类、酸酐和硝基化合物等材料的结构特征、电化学性能以及充放电机理,比较了各种材料的优势与不足,并对比了不同有机物材料的放电电位和比容量,同时对该类材料的研究方向进行了展望。