Titrimetric determination of arsenic(III) with potassium dichromate, using redox indicators

Experimental conditions have been established for the accurate direct titrimetric determination of arsenic(III) with potassium dichromate, using ferroin and N-pnenylanthranilic acid as redox indicators. Interferences have been considered.     

Solvolysis of (1-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropyl) benzene in presence and absence of mercury(II) chloride

The kinetics of solvolysis of the title compound has been studied in water and in 10 vol. % ethanol-water in the presence and absence of mercury (II) chloride. The results confirm the earlier conclusion that mercury(II) chloride is solvated in hydroxylic solvents.

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Кинетика сольволиза заглавного соединения была исследована в воде и в смеси этанола (10 об.%) с водой в присутствии и отсутствии хлористой ртути (II). Реэультаты подтверждают более раннее заключение, согласно которому хлористая ртуть (II) сольватируется в гидроксильных растворителях.

     

Covalently Immobilized Battacin Lipopeptide Gels with Activity against Bacterial Biofilms

Novel antibiotic treatments are in increasing demand to tackle life-threatening infections from bacterial pathogens. In this study, we report the use of a potent battacin lipopeptide as an antimicrobial gel to inhibit planktonic and mature biofilms of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The antimicrobial gels were made by covalently linking the N-terminal cysteine containing lipopeptide (GZ3.163) onto the polyethylene glycol polymer matrix and initiating gelation using thiol-ene click chemistry. The gels were prepared both in methanol and in water and were characterised using rheology, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Antibacterial and antibiofilm analyses revealed that the gels prepared in methanol have better antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. Additionally, a minimum peptide content of 0.5 wt% (relative to polymer content) is required to successfully inhibit the planktonic bacterial growth and disperse mature biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The antibacterial activity of these lipopeptide gels is mediated by a contact kill mechanism of action. The gels are non-haemolytic against mouse red blood cells and are non-cytotoxic against human dermal fibroblasts. Findings from this study show that battacin lipopeptide gels have the potential to be developed as novel topical antibacterial agents to combat skin infections, particularly caused by S. aureus.     

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in 2-(2'-arylsulfonamidophenyl)benzimidazole derivatives: the effect of donor and acceptor substituents

A series of water-soluble 2-(2'-arylsulfonamidophenyl)benzimidazole derivatives containing electron-donating and accepting groups attached to various positions of the fluorophore pi-system has been synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution at 0.1 M ionic strength. The measured pK(a)'s for deprotonation of the sulfonamide group of monosubstituted derivatives range between 6.75 and 9.33 and follow closely Hammett's free energy relationship. In neutral aqueous buffer, all compounds undergo efficient excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) to yield a strongly Stokes-shifted fluorescence emission from the phototautomer. Upon deprotonation of the sulfonamide nitrogen at high pH, ESIPT is interrupted to yield a new, blue-shifted emission band. The peak absorption and emission energies were strongly influenced by the nature of the substituents and their attachment positions on the fluorophore pi-system. The fluorescence quantum yield of the ESIPT tautomers revealed a significant correlation with the observed Stokes shifts. The study provides valuable information regarding substituent effects on the photophysical properties of this class of ESIPT fluorophores in an aqueous environment and may offer guidelines for designing emission ratiometric pH or metal-cation sensors for biological applications.     

Making Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis Greener: A Review of the Literature

To date, the synthesis of peptides is concurrent with the production of enormous amounts of toxic waste. DMF, CH₂Cl₂, and NMP are three of the most toxic organic solvents used in chemical synthesis and are the most common solvents used for peptide synthesis. Additionally, concerns about the hepatotoxicity caused by exposure to DMF and from the toxic and allergenic nature of additives used in peptide synthesis necessitates the need for a green, environmentally friendly, and safer protocol for peptide synthesis. This review summarizes the current literature on green solid‐phase peptide synthesis successes and challenges encountered. The review concludes with suggestions for future research towards a simple and efficient green peptide synthesis protocol.     

Conformation of p-dimethylamino aza styryl dyes

Conformational studies on some p-dimethylamino β-aza and β-aza (with respect to the dimethylamino phenyl ring) styryl dyes derived from quinoline-4, quinoline-2, pyridine-4, pyridine-2, and benzothiazole-2 have been carried out using the quantum mechanical PCILO (perturbative configuration interaction using localized orbitals) method. These molecules may be considered as heterocyclic analogues of benzylidene anilines whose conformations have been studied extensively by both theoretical and experimental methods to explain the difference of their spectra from the isoelectronic benzylidene compounds. The results of the present studies show that the β-aza styryl dyes are nearly planar. In case of β-aza styryl dyes, although the phenyl ring is coplanar with the central atoms, there is a substantial twist of the heterocyclic ring. These results are explained in terms of CT -1 and CT -2 effects and are used as a possible explanation for the observed spectral and sensitization properties.