Derivados citotóxicos de vitanolidos isolados das folhas de Acnistus arborescens

In view of anticancer activity of 7 β-acetoxywithanolide D (2) and 7β-16α-diacetoxywithonide D (3), isolated from the leaves of Acnistus arborescens (Solanaceae), five withanolide derivatives were obtained and their structures were determined by NMR, MS and IV data analysis. The in vitro anticancer activity of these derivatives was evaluated in a panel of cancer cell lines: human breast (BC-1), human lung (Lu1), human colon (Col2) and human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB). Compounds 2a (acetylation of 2), 3b (oxidation of 3) and 2c (hydrogenation of 2) exhibited the highest anticancer activity against human lung cancer cells, with ED50 values of 0.19, 0.25 and 0.63 μg/mL, respectively.

Adsorção do corante vermelho congo por derivados da o-carboximetilquitosana hidrofobicamente modificados

Hydrophobically modified O-carboxymethylchitosan derivatives were synthesized through a reaction with lauroyl chloride and applied for adsorption of congo red dye. The Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model was found to be the most suitable one for the VC adsorption and maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 281.97 mg g-1 at a pH value of 7.0 for HL 1.0. The adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the corresponding rate constants were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters showed that adsorption process is spontaneous (positive ∆Hº) and favorable (negative ∆Gº). The hydrophobic derivatives are able to adsorb the dye even in high pH values.

Estudos de QSAR 2D baseados em descritores topológicos e fragmentos moleculares para uma série de derivados azólicos ativos contra Candida albicans

Azole derivatives are the main therapeutical resource against Candida albicans infection in immunocompromised patients. Nevertheless, the widespread use of azoles has led to reduced effectiveness and selection of resistant strains. In order to guide the development of novel antifungal drugs, 2D-QSAR models based on topological descriptors or molecular fragments were developed for a dataset of 74 molecules. The optimal fragment-based model (r² = 0.88, q² = 0.73 and r²pred = 0.62 with 6PCs) and descriptor-based model (r² = 0.82, q² = 0.79 and r²pred = 0.70 with 2 PCs), when analysed synergically, suggested that the triazolone ring and lipophilic properties are both important to antifungal activity.

Ácidos naftênicos no petróleo

Brazilian petroleum is known by its high acidity due to the presence of acidic constituents, especially naphthenic acids (NA). The total characterization of the NA in petrochemical samples has been receiving special attention in research and comprises an analytical challenge, mainly due to the complexity of their mixtures. Gas chromatography with mass detector (GC/MS) is the technique of analysis more used, but recently comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) has been used, due to its high resolution, peak capacity and sensitivity. The goal of this article is to discuss the techniques for sample preparation and analysis of NA in petroleum.

Síntese e caracterização de copolímeros de cadeia lateral derivados de acrilatos de 4,5-di-hidroisoxazol e do (-)-mentol

Five monomers 5-[4-(5-cyano-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl)phenoxy]undecyl acrylate (7a); n-alkyl 3-{4-[5-(acryloyloxyundecyl)oxyphenyl]}-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carboxylate (7b,c for n-butyl and n-hexyl, respectively); 3-{4-[5-(acryloyloxyundecyl) oxyphenyl]}-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carboxylic acid (7d) and (1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl acrylate (9) and the corresponding copolymers 10a-d,11 and homopolymers 12 from 7a and 13 from 9 were designed and synthesized. Except for acrylate 9 which is derived from (-)-menthol, all of the monomers belong to the series containing the isoxazoline ring linked to the acrylate unit by a flexible spacer chain of eleven methylene units. They presented low glass temperature and despite birefringence behavior, these copolymers showed no mesomorphic properties.

Síntese e avaliação preliminar da atividade antibacteriana e antifúngica de derivados N-acilidrazônicos

We describe the synthesis and evaluation of N-acylhydrazone compounds bearing different electron-donating groups in one of its aromatic rings, obtained using a four-step synthetic route. IC50 values against pathogenic fungi and bacteria were determined by serial microdilution. Compounds showed low activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By contrast, a derivative with a meta-oriented electron-donating group showed significant activity (IC50) against Candida albicans (17 µM), C. krusei (34 µM) and C. tropicalis (17 µM). Results suggest this is a promising lead-compound for synthesis of potent antifungal agents.

Processos naturais de biodegradação do petróleo em reservatórios

Petroleum biodegradation in reservoirs is a process caused by different microorganisms affecting many oil deposits which modifies the oil composition in a quasi-stepwise process starting from n-alkanes and isoprenoids through to diasteranes. This causes oil souring and increased viscosity, sulfur and metal content, having a direct impact on oil production and refining costs.

Isolamento e avaliação do potencial citotóxico de derivados fenólicos de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae)

The EtOH extract from leaves of S. terebinthifolius was subjected to partition between EtOH:H2O and hexane, CH2Cl2, and EtOAc. The phases obtained were evaluated in vitro against human tumoral cell lines and the EtOAc phase exhibited activity. Chromatographic procedures afforded gallic acid (1), methyl (2) and ethyl (3) gallates, trans-catechin (4), quercitrin (5), and afzelin (6), being the first occurrence of 1, 4 and 6 in S. terebinthifolius.In vitro cytotoxic evaluation of 1 - 6 indicated that gallic acid (1) displayed higher activity than ethyl gallate (3) against HL-60 and HeLa cells, while compounds 2, 4 - 6 were inactive.

Síntese de heterociclos bioativos derivados do ferroceno

The discovery of ferrocene marked one of the points of departure for modern organometallic chemistry. In general, the compounds of ferrocene derivatives are widely applied in several areas. One of the most important applications of ferrocene is the development of more active drugs, especially in cases where there is resistance to current drugs. Bioactive agents containing ferrocene have proven effective in combating diseases such as cancer, malaria, HIV, Alzheimer and conditions caused by fungi and bacteria. In this context, the present paper aims to highlights the synthesis of heterocycles containing ferrocene moiety and their use in medicinal chemistry.

Preparação de derivados do lapachol em meio ácido e em meio básico: uma proposta de experimentos para a disciplina de Química Orgânica Experimental

In this educational paper we describe the extraction of lapachol from its natural source according to acid-base concepts in organic chemistry and the use of its derivatives β-lapachone and hydroxy-hydrolapachol to exemplify intramolecular cyclization, carbocation stability, Michael addition reaction and chromatography. The experiments were performed during three different undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes using low cost material, while avoiding color reagents for TLC visualization, as well as small-scale column chromatography to isolate the mixture of lapachol and β-lapachone.

PCA: uma ferramenta para identificação de traçadores químicos para água de formação e água de injeção associadas à produção de petróleo

This study describes the use of Principal Component Analysis to evaluate the chemical composition of water produced from eight oil wells in three different production areas. A total of 609 samples of produced water, and a reference sample of seawater, were characterized according to their levels of salinity, calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium and sulphate (mg L-1) contents, and analyzed by using PCA with autoscaled data. The method allowed the identification of variables salinity, calcium and strontium as tracers for formation water, and variables magnesium and sulphate as tracers for seawater.

Síntese de derivados 4-aril-3,4-di-hidrocumarínicos catalisada por NbCl5

Multicomponent reactions between phenols, β-diesters and benzaldehydes for the synthesis of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydrocoumarin derivatives were carried out under mild conditions (room temperature) and presented moderate yields (38-88%) and reasonable reaction times (2-4 days), using niobium pentachloride as a catalyst.

Síntese de cristais líquidos derivados do nitroazobenzeno: uma proposta de síntese multi-etapas aplicada às aulas de química orgânica experimental

We describe a synthetic route consisting of five steps from aniline to obtain liquid crystal compounds derived from nitroazobenzene. Syntheses were performed during the second half of the semester in organic chemistry laboratory classes. Students characterized the liquid crystal phase by the standard melting point techniques, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. These experiments allow undergraduate students to explore fundamentally important reactions in Organic Chemistry, as well as modern concepts in Chemistry such as self-assembly and self-organization, nanostructured materials and molecular electronics.

Síntese e avaliação da atividade antimalárica de compostos derivados da curcumina

One of the main challenges in the development of new antimalarial drugs is to achieve a viable lead candidate with good pharmacokinetic properties. Curcumin has a broad range of biological activities, including antimalarial activity. Herein, we report the antimalarial activity of six curcumin derivatives (6-12) and an initial analysis of their pharmacokinetic properties. Five compounds have demonstrated potent activity against the P. falciparum in vitro (IC50 values ranging from 1.7 to 15.2 µg mL-1), with moderate or low cytotoxicity against the HeLa cell line. The substitution of the carbonyl group in 6 by a 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone group (to afford 11) increases the Selective Index. These preliminary results indicate curcumin derivatives as potential antimalarial compounds.

Terpanos pentacíclicos como indicadores de heterogeneidades composicionais em reservatório de petróleo biodegradado

Reservoir geochemistry has been effectively used to evaluate compositional heterogeneity in petroleum reservoirs by employing oil fingerprinting technique to assess reservoir continuity, primarily in paraffin oil accumulations. In-reservoir biodegradation has resulted in vast deposits of heavy oils globally; therefore, the application of reservoir geochemistry to such accumulations becomes necessary. We recommend the use of pentacyclic terpanes instead of lower molecular compounds, which are less resistant to biodegradation. Using oil fingerprinting technique in this novel way enabled the differentiation of oil composition among sedimentary facies of tar sands (Pirambóia Formation, Paraná Basin).