Development and optimization of a solid composite tyrosinase biosensor for phenol detection in flow injection systems

Bulk-modified epoxy-graphite tyrosinase biosensors were fabricated by four different procedures. The influence of these fabrication procedures on the analytical performance of the enzyme electrode in an amperometric wall-jet flow cell has been studied. The bioprobe performance is assessed by cyclic voltammetry. Higher current densities and narrower peaks were obtained when the enzyme was introduced in the dry state into the epoxy-graphite material, instead of introducing it previously dissolved in the buffer. In the F1 system responses of 11.79 μA cm⁻² and 1.43 μA cm⁻² are then obtained for catechol and phenol respectively for 50 μL injections of 20 μM solutions. Moreover, if gold/palladium is introduced into the epoxy-graphite, a further increase in current is achieved resulting in 27.70μA cm⁻² and 4.90μA cm⁻²for catechol and phenol, respectively. This biosensor can operate in aqueous as well as in mixed aqueous-organic environments.     

Active nickel-based reduction of organic compounds

The reducing system NiCl₂·2H₂O—Li—arene_cat (cat is catalyst) was proposed for use to reduce a wide range of organic compounds, including alkenes, alkynes, carbonyl compounds, imines, halogenated derivatives, sulfonates, aromatic compounds, hydrazines, azo and azoxy compounds, N-oxides, and nitrones. The degree of reduction can be controlled for some substrates. Deuterium can be incorporated in the reaction products using nickel chloride deuteriohydrate. Nitrones, N-alkoxyamides, and acyl azides are also reduced with the Li—arene_cat system containing no nickel salt.     

Kinetic deoxyribose degradation assay and its application in assessing the antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds in a Fenton-type reaction system

Pro-oxidant properties of phenolic antioxidants, which are derived from their iron recycling reactivity, render the traditional deoxyribose degradation assay invalid to assess the hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity in Fenton-type reaction systems. In the present paper, we studied in detail the interactions between iron and phenolic compounds, and established a kinetic deoxyribose method by taking advantage of the distinct difference between the completion time of Fenton reaction and that of the iron-reducing process. With the newly established kinetic method, we investigated the effects of phenolics on hydroxyl radical formation in a Fenton-type system and determined successfully the second rate constants of hydroxyl radical-scavenging reactions. The site-specific and non-site-specific hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability suggested that both direct hydroxyl radical-scavenging potency and iron-chelating capacity accounted for their inhibitory effects on deoxyribose oxidation degradation. This method, more simple, time saving, and applicative than the traditional deoxyribose assay, produces as accurate results (RSD<0.05, with dynamic range from 7.5 to 575 μM) as typical methods, such as radiolysis technology, and may be of significance in evaluating and screen the hydroxyl radical-scavenging antioxidants.     

A mild and practical method for the regioselective synthesis of N-acylated 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones. New acyl transfer reagents

The treatment of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones with n-BuLi at −78 °C, followed by quenching with various electrophiles furnished N3-substituted derivatives, regioselectively. Further, N1,N3-diacyl derivatives were found to transfer N1-acyl groups to nucleophilic sites.     

Some polyhydroxy azo–azomethine derivatives of salicylaldehyde: Synthesis, characterization, spectroscopic, molecular structure and antimicrobial activity studies

Some new substituted polyhydroxy azo–azomethine compounds were prepared by reaction of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane with (E)-2-hydroxy-5-(phenyldiazenyl) benzaldehyde and its substituted derivatives. The structures of azo and azo–azomethine compounds were determined by IR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques, and/or X-ray diffraction studies. According to IR spectra, all azo–azomethine compounds adopt keto form in solid state. UV–vis analysis has shown the presence of keto–enol tautomerism in solution for all azo–azomethine compounds, except that for nitro substituted derivative, enol form is dominantly favored in solution. At the same time, above mentioned derivative compounds were studied in vitro for their antimicrobial properties. Among the phenylazosalicylaldehyde series compound tested, 4-phenylazosalicylaldehyde, 4-(3-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(2-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(4-fluorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(3-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde and 4-(4-ethylphenylazo)salicylaldehyde showed a weak antimicrobial activity only against gram positive bacteria. On the contrary, phenylazosalicylaldehyde series compounds were reacted tris(hydroxmethyl)aminomethane, that exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria, yeast and mould. Moreover, while the 2-{[1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol did not show an inhibition on tested microorganism, the addition of phenyldiazine groups to 2-{[1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol resulted in a strong increases in antimicrobial activity.     

Determination and fractionation of sulphur in a contaminated dredged sediment

Conversion of sulphur compounds in reduced, contaminated sediments that are brought in upland conditions may largely affect the potential mobility of heavy metal contaminants. We applied selected methods for the determination of total sulphur and sulphur fractions in a contaminated sediment in the reduced state and after gradual drying and oxidation during 1 month. Dry ashing, followed by ion chromatographic detection, was reliable for the determination of total sulphur. Good recoveries were obtained in both reference samples and spiked samples. Total sulphur was 14.5±0.6 g kg⁻¹ relative to dry sediment. Wet chemical methods that involve the determination of acid-volatile, Zn–HCl-reducible, chromium-reducible, acetone-soluble and HI-reducible sulphur were used to estimate specific sulphur forms. Results for acetone-soluble sulphur were to high and not consistent with results for other fractions. Major part of sulphur in the sediment (90%) was inorganic. Sulphides were converted partially to sulphate and to intermediary oxidised sulphur compounds upon oxidation of the sediment. The results suggested that the intermediary oxidised sulphur pool in the reduced sediment (2.5 g kg⁻¹) mainly consisted of pyrite, that was not converted during drying and oxidation. No significant changes in organic sulphur were detected.     

Crystal and Molecular Structure of the Nitramino Derivatives of Tetrazole and 1,2,4-Triazole. III. 5-Nitraminotetrazole Lithium Salt Monohydrate

The structure of 5-nitraminotetrazole lithium salt monohydrate was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c; a = 8.3789(5), b = 10.1872(6), c = 6.6709(5) ; = 106.63(1)°; V = 545.60(98) ³; Z = 4; _calc = 1.875 g/cm³. The anion has a planar nitrimine structure with a delocalized negative charge. Each lithium cation (c.n. 5) is bound to three anions and two hydration water molecules. Both oxygen atoms of the nitro groups and the N(3) atom of the tetrazole ring are involved in cation coordination. The geometrical characteristics of the anion are similar to those found for other monosalts of 5-nitraminotetrazole.     

Proton ionizable crown compounds. 18. Comparison of alkali metal transport in a H2O-CH2Cl2-H2O liquid membrane system by four proton-ionizable macrocycles containing the dialkylhydrogenphosphate moiety

The macrocycle-mediated fluxes of alkali, alkaline earth, and several transition metal cations have been determined and compared in a H₂O-CH₂Cl₂-H₂O liquid membrane system using four water-insoluble macrocycles containing a dialkylhydrogenphosphate moiety. Transport of alkali metal cations by these ligands was greatest from a source phase pH = 12 or above into an acid receiving phase (pH = 1.5). Very low fluxes were observed for the transport of the alkaline earth cations and all transition metal ions studied except Ag⁺ and Pb²⁺ which were transported reasonably well by these new macrocycles.Deceased: September 5, 1987.     

Polyparametric modification equation for estimating thermodynamic properties of energetic nitro compounds

Calculation methods, based on hybrid density-functional theory with the basis sets of B3LYP/ 6-311+G (2d, p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d, p)and B3LYP/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d, p), were applied to determine the thermodynamic characteristics of various energetic nitro compounds. A parametric modification equation and the least-squares approach were used to identify 21 of the energetic research compounds. The atomization energies of these 21 compounds have an average relative error of 0.21–0.25% of the experimental values. The enthalpy (H _f) and the Gibbs energy (G _f) of formation have mean absolute errors of 10.8–11.4 kJ/ mol (2.6–2.7 kcal/mol) and 10.0–10.3 kJ/mol (2.4 kcal/ mol), respectively. The enthalpy and the Gibbs energy of formation obtained exceed those in the literature obtained by semiempirical calculations. The calibrated least-squares parameters and parametric equations were used to predict H _f and G _f for the five newly developed energetic nitro compounds for further applications.Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financial support of this work under grant no. NSC-91-2113-M-014-003. The National Center for High-Performance Computing providing the computation facility is also acknowledged.     

Voltammetric Detection of Free Sulfhydryl Compounds in Food Flours

Cyclic voltammetry has been applied to the rapid measurement of free SH‐compounds in food flours samples. The protocol is based on the electrochemical adaptation of the Ellman's test, where the DTNB reacts with SH‐compounds present in food flour extracts, resulting in the equimolar production of the electroactive compound TNBA which, in turns, reacts with phenylendiamine. The reaction is found to provide an analytical signal from which to quantify indirectly free sulfhydryl compounds in flours extracts.