Teores de carbamato de etila e outros componentes secundários em diferentes cachaças produzidas em três regiões do estado de Minas Gerais: Zona da mata, sul de minas e vale do jequitinhonha

Minas Gerais is the highest producer of handmade spirits. Research has been carried out aiming to contribute to progress. Thus, the goal of this work is to evaluate the quality of spirits in three different regions of Minas Gerais state. We analyzed ethyl carbamate, alcoholic grade, volatile acidity, higher alcohols, aldehyde, esters, methanol, furfural and copper. The values obtained for ethyl carbamate varied from undetectable to 643.5 µg L-1, with only one region not following the legislation (150 µg L-1). Most of the compounds in the spirits were present within the limits estabilished by the legislation.

O programa NAS/CNPq: avaliação de um participante

The NAS/CNPq programme in Chemistry ran from 1969 to 1974, and brought recent PhD and post-doctoral chemists to the Chemistry Institutes at the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The purpose was to create and direct new research topics in selected areas of chemistry, and participate in the post-graduate programmes. As a participant in this programme, I present my personal views, some background information, and an evaluation of this programme for the advance of synthetic organic chemistry in Brazil.

Impacto do acordo de cooperação do Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq) com a National Academy of Sciences - (NAS)

In the beginning of the 1960's, the university education in chemistry, in Brasil, represented only a professional preparation, with no official post-graduate teaching and research, as yet. The name Federal University Rio de Janeiro, evolved, since January 30, 1959, from University of Brazil, RJ, to Federal University of Guanabara, which, on August 20, 1965, became the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. With the Resolution nº 4, of the University direction, the first Institute of Chemistry was created, to include the Centers of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and the Medical Sciences. The strictu sensu's system was established only in 1961.

Catalisadores contendo carbenos n-heterocíclicos como ligantes: propriedades, sínteses, aplicações e comparação com outros ligantes

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become of considerable importance in modern organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. There are several advantages in the use NHCs over their phosphorus analogues, which explains the enormous development of NHC ligands in the field of organometallic catalysis in the past few years. In this article, we present an overview of the importance of the catalysts containing NHC ligands, their synthesis, some pertinent synthetic applications, and a brief comparison with other catalysts.

Alcalóides e outros metabólitos do caule e frutos de Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba A. St. Hil

Phytochemical investigation of this species, popularly known as tinguaciba and used in traditional medicine to various diseases, resulted in the isolation of 15 substances: 2 alkaloids - norchelerythrine and arnottianamide; 1 lignan - sesamin; 4 terpenoids - citronellyl acetate, lupeol, α-bisabolol and spatulenol; 5 coumarins described for the first time - xanthotoxin, isopimpinelin, O-prenylumbelliferone, imperatorin and aurapten, 1 protoalkaloid - methyl N-methylanthranilate and 2 steroids - stigmasterol and β-sitosterol. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and compared with literature data.

Flavonóides, norisoprenóides e outros terpenos das folhas de Tapirira guianensis

From hexane fraction of methanol extract of leaves of Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae) were obtained lupeol, 24-methylenecycloartan-3-ol, phytol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, sitosterol, sitostenone, glycosyl sitosterol, as well as sitosterol esterified with palmitic and stearic acids. Phytol, α-amyrin and β-amyrin esterified with fatty acids were also identified from same extract. The EtOAc extract besides the norisoprenoids (6S,7E,9S)-6,9-dihydroxy-megastigma-4,7-dien -3-one 9-O-β-glucopyranoside and (6S,7E,9R)-6,9-dihydroxy-megastigma-4,7-dien-3-one 9-O-β-glucopyranoside also afforded kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, and kaempferol. The structural elucidation of isolated compounds were based on UV, IR, MS, ¹H and 13C NMR data analysis.

Fenilpropanóides e outros constituintes bioativos de Nectandra megapotamica

From the trunk bark of Nectandra megapotamica (Lauraceae) four phenylpropanoids, elemicin, isoelemicin, (±)-erythro-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol and (±)-threo-1-(3,4,5-trimetoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol have been isolated, in addition to 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, (-)-epicatechin and trans-1(10)-epoxy-4(15)-caryophyllene. The diastereoisomeric erythro- and threo- phenylpropanoids are being reported for the first time in a plant taxon as well as the occurrence of the other compounds in Nectandra. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. Their in vitro antifungal activities against standard strains of Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans and antioxidant properties were also evaluated in this work.

Potencialidades e oportunidades na química da sacarose e outros açúcares

Non-renewable biomass, such as coal, oil and natural gas are not only energy sources but also important starting materials for the production of a variety of chemicals ranging from gasoline, diesel oil and fine chemicals. In this regard, carbohydrates, the most abundant class of enantiopure organic compounds, are very suitable for generation of chemicals of great practical value. Their bulk-scale availability associated with low cost make them unique starting materials for organic preparative purpose. They are a most attractive alternative for construction of enantiopure target molecules by asymmetric synthesis. This review addresses, in addition to the use of low molecular weight carbohydrates, issues related to renewable biomass from photosynthesis and alternatives for the production of bulk and fine chemicals.

Alcaloides e outros constituintes de Xylopia langsdorffiana (Annonaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of Xylopia langsdorffiana led to the isolation of corytenchine, xylopinine, discretamine, xylopine, ent-atisan-16α-hydroxy-18-oic acid, 13² (S) hydroxy-17³-ethoxyphaephorbide and quercetin-3-α-rhamnoside. Their structures were assigned based on spectroscopic analyses, including two-dimensional NMR techniques. Antioxidant activities of discretamine were measured using the 1,2-diphenyl- 2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay.

Produtividade em pesquisa do CNPq: análise do perfil dos pesquisadores da Química

The profile of the CNPq Research Productivity Program in Chemistry was studied using the Plataforma Lattes curricula of all researchers with grants in effect as of March 2009. Most of them are male (67.2%), working in Federal Universities (59.4%) and located in Southeastern Brazil (63.7%). There is no evident homogeneity among researchers of the same level/category concerning the productivity criterions used (the H index and the scientific productivity of the last five years). CNPq and the Chemistry Assessor Committee have been focusing on making their judgments unbiased, by using quantitative parameters, but such overlap is still noticeable.

Glicoalcaloides antifúngicos, flavonoides e outros constituintes químicos de Solanum asperum

Two glycoalkaloids: solamargine and solasonine; three flavonoids: tiliroside, 7-O-α-L-ramnopyranosyl-kaempferol and 3-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-L-ramnopyranosyl]-7- O-α-L-ramnopyranosyl-kaempferol, in addition to the tripeptide Leu-Ile-Val, the aminoacid proline and the eicosanoic acid were isolated from Solanum asperum (Solanaceae). The structures of all compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectra (IR, MS, ¹H and 13C NMR) and comparison with the literature data. All compounds, except the glycoalkaloids, are being reported for the first time for S. asperum. Solasonine showed strong activity (MIC < 0.24 μg/mL) against four filamentous fungi species of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton.

Licanol, um novo flavanol, e outros constituintes de Licania macrophylla Benth

The phytochemical investigation of L. macrophylla Benth led to the isolation of a new flavanol named licanol: (-)-4'-O-methyl-epigallocatechin-3'-O-α-L-rhamnoside, along with nine known compounds, identified as: (-)-4'-O-methyl-epigallocatechin, pheophytin A, 13²-hydroxy-(13²-S)-pheophytin A, pheophytin B, sitosterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol-β-O-glucoside, betulinic alcohol and oleanolic acid. The structures were established based on IR, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR spectrometric data analysis with the aid of 2D techniques. The methanolic extracts of leaves and stem bark as well as the compounds licanol, 13²-hidroxi-(13²-S)-feofitina A, and betulinic alcohol demonstrated antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains.

Flavonoides e outros compostos isolados de Mimosa artemisiana Heringer e Paula

This the first phytochemical investigation of Mimosa artemisiana (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) describing the isolation and identification of quercitrin, myricitrin, 3,5,4´-trihydroxi-6,7-dimethoxyflavone (6,7-dimethylkaepferol), flavolignans, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosil sitosterol, lupeol, sitostenone, stigmastenone, campestenone, sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, methyl indole-3-carboxilate and indole-3-carboxaldehyde in the extracts from the leaves and wood of this plant. This is the first registry of 6,7-dimethoxy,4'-hydroxy-flavona and the flavonolignans in this genera. The isolation of all metabolites was made by chromatographic methods and the structures were established on the basis of IR, MS, ¹H and 13C NMR spectra analysis, comparison with literature data and GC-MS of mixtures analysis.