Enhancement of Bioelectrocatalytic Processes by the Rotation of Mediator‐Functionalized Magnetic Particles on Electrode Surfaces: Comparison with a Rotating Disk Electrode

The rotation of redox‐functionalized magnetic particles (MPs) by means of an external magnet is a common practice for enhancing bioelectrocatalytic processes and for the amplification of biosensing events. The current densities generated by rotating redox‐functionalized MPs in two bioelectrocatalytic systems are compared to the current densities generated by rotating disc electrodes (RDE) functionalized with similar redox functionalities. The bioelectrocatalytic systems consist of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)‐functionalized MPs that oxidize NADH, and ferrocene‐functionalized MPs that mediate the bioelectrocatalyzed oxidation of glucose in the presence of glucose oxidase. The results reveal that only ca. 1% of the area of the redox‐functionalized MPs are electrically contacted with the electrode. Also, the current densities generated by the rotating MPs at high rotation speeds are lower than theoretically expected, presumably due to lose of electrical contact between the MPs and the electrode, and incoherent rotation of the particles on the electrode, due to insufficient magnetization. The comparison of the current densities in the bioelectrocatalytic systems in the presence of the rotating redox‐functionalized MPs to the analogous RDE systems allows us to elucidate the kinetics of electron transfer at the redox‐active MPs.     

Effects of ultrasound on the structural and emulsifying properties and interfacial properties of oxidized soybean protein aggregates

Oxidative attack leads to the oxidative aggregation and structural and functional feature weakening of soybean protein. We aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasonic treatment (UT) with different intensities on the structure, emulsifying features and interfacial features of oxidized soybean protein aggregates (OSPI). The results showed that oxidative treatment could disrupt the native soy protein (SPI) structure by promoting the formation of oxidized aggregates with β1-sheet structures through hydrophobic interactions. These changes led to a decrease in the solubility, emulsification ability and interfacial activity of soybean protein. After low-power ultrasound (100 W, 200 W) treatment, the relative contents of β1-sheets, β2-sheets, random coils, and disulfide bonds of the OSPI increased while the surface hydrophobicity, absolute ζ-potential value and free sulfhydryl content decreased. Moreover, protein aggregates with larger particle sizes and poor solubility were formed. The emulsions prepared using the OSPI showed bridging flocculation and decreased protein adsorption and interfacial tension. After applying medium-power ultrasound (300 W, 400 W, and 500 W) treatments, the OSPI solubility increased and particle size decreased. The α-helix and β-turn contents, surface hydrophobicity and absolute ζ-potential value increased, the structure unfolded, and the disulfide bond content decreased. These changes improved the emulsification activity and emulsion state of the OSPI and increased the protein adsorption capacity and interfacial tension of the emulsion. However, after a high-power ultrasound (600 W) treatment, the OSPI showed a tendency to reaggregate, which had a certain negative effect on the emulsification activity and interfacial activity. The results showed that UT at an appropriate power could depolymerize OSPI and improve the emulsification and interfacial activity of soybean protein.     

Harnessing Quinone Methides: Total Synthesis of (±)‐Vaticanol A

Although quinone methides are often postulated as intermediates in the biosynthesis of many polyphenolic natural products, deploying their power in a laboratory setting to achieve similar bond constructions has sometimes proven challenging. Herein, a total synthesis of the resveratrol trimer vaticanol A has been achieved through three instances of quinone methide chemistry. These operations, one of which succeeded only under very specific conditions, expediently generated its [7,5]‐carbocyclic core, afforded a unique sequence for dihydrobenzofuran formation, and concurrently generated, in addition to the target molecule, a series of diastereomers reflective of many other isolates.     

Synthesis and Antimalarial Activities of New Hybrid Atokel Molecules

The currently spreading resistance of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combination therapies makes an urgent need for new efficient drugs. Aiming to kill artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium, a series of novel hybrid drugs named Atokels were synthesized and characterized. Atokels are based on an 8-amino- or 8-hydroxyquinoline entity covalently bound to a 1,4-naphthoquinone through a polyamine linker. These drugs have been designed to target the parasite mitochondrion by their naphthoquinone moiety reminiscent of the antimalarial drug atovaquone, and to trigger a damaging oxidative stress due to their ability to chelate metal ions in order to generate redox active complexes in situ. The most effective Atokel drug shown a promising antimalarial activity (IC₅₀=622 nm on an artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum strain) and no cytotoxicity at 50 μm indicating a specific antiplasmodial mode of action.     

Synthesis of dithiafulvene–quinone donor–acceptor systems: isolation of a Michael adduct

π‐Conjugated donor–acceptor systems based on dithiafulvene (DTF) donor units and various acceptor units have attracted attention for their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The reaction between p‐benzoquinone and a 1,3‐dithiole phosphonium salt, deprotonated by lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), gave a product mixture from which the Michael adduct [systematic name: dimethyl 2‐(3‐hydroxy‐6‐oxocyclohexa‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ylidene)‐2H‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate], C₁₃H₁₀O₆S₂, was isolated. It is likely that one of the unidentified products obtained previously by others from related reactions could be a similar Michael adduct.     

Gas‐phase dissociation of 1,4‐naphthoquinone derivative anions by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Gas‐phase dissociation pathways of deprotonated 1,4‐naphthoquinone (NQ) derivatives have been investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS). The major decomposition routes have been elucidated on the basis of quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level. Deprotonation sites have been indicated by analysis of natural charges and gas‐phase acidity. NQ anions underwent an interesting reaction under collision‐induced dissociation conditions, which resulted in the radical elimination of the lateral chain, in contrast with the even‐electron rule. Possible pathways have been suggested, and their mechanisms have been elucidated on the basis of Gibbs energy and enthalpy values for the anions previously described at each pathway. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Site-specifically cleavage of oxidized insulin B chain with Zn（Ⅱ） ion studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry investigation showed that the binding sites of Zn^2＋ with oxidized insulin B chain are His 5, His 10, and Arg 22, which lead to the selective cleavages of the peptide bonds at Ash 3- Gin 4, His 5-Leu 6, Gly 8-Ser 9, and Glu 21-Arg 22 of oxidized insulin B chain.