New insights into the interaction of triethylphosphine oxide with silica surface: exchange between different surface species.

Although chemical shift values of triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO) adsorbed on acidic solids have been considered as an indication of acid strength, in this work we demonstrate that the chemical shift depends also on the adsorbed amount of TEPO. On silica, the presence of three different adsorbed species, physisorbed on non-acidic surface, chemisorbed through a single H bond and chemisorbed through two H bonds, can be detected by the correlation of the 31P chemical shift with the TEPO adsorbed amount. TEPO chemical exchange between the different sites is demonstrated by the single NMR signal obtained in all the cases, and also by the variation of the line width, which is broader at low surface coverage due to the slower chemical exchange because of the longer average distance between surface sites.

Functionalization of Porous Cellulose with Glyoxyl Groups as a Carrier for Enzyme Immobilization and Stabilization.

The functionalization of the internal surface of macroporous carriers with glyoxyl groups has proven to highly stabilize a large variety of enzymes through multipoint covalent immobilization. In this work, we have translated the surface chemistry developed for the fabrication of glyoxyl-agarose carriers to macroporous cellulose (CEL). To that aim, CEL-based microbeads were functionalized with glyoxyl groups through a stepwise alkoxylation (or alkylation)/oxidation synthetic scheme. This functionalization sequence was analyzed by solid-state NMR, while the scanning electron miscroscopy of CEL microbeads reveals that the mild oxidation conditions negligibly affect the morphological properties of the material. Through the optimal functionalization protocol using rac-glycidol, we introduce up to 200 µmols of aldehyde groups per gram of wet CEL, a similar density to the one obtained for the benchmarked agarose-glyoxyl carrier. This novel CEL-based carrier succeeds to immobilize and stabilize industrially relevant enzymes such as d-amino acid oxidase from Trigonopsis variabilis and xylanases from Trichoderma reseei. Remarkably, the xylanases immobilized on the optimal CEL-based materials present a half-life time of 51 h at 60 °C and convert up to 90% of the xylan after four operation cycles for the synthesis of xylooligosaccharides.

Study of interactions between Brønsted acids and triethylphosphine oxide in solution by 31P NMR: evidence for 2 : 1 species.

The variation of the 31P chemical shift of triethylphosphine oxide in CDCl3 solution with a series of Brønsted acids at different molar ratios allows the determination of the value for the 1 : 1 species (δ1 : 1), which is much lower than the reported value at infinite dilution. This value correlates with the pKa of the acid in two zones, for acids stronger and weaker than TEPO-H+. The acid strength also controls the exchange rate in solution. The evolution of the chemical shift at high acid/TEPO molar ratios indicates the existence of a second TEPO-acid interaction, which is also dependent on the acid strength. This interaction is much more favorable in the case of a diacid, which shows chemical shift higher than expected for its pKa1 value.

Safety study of intravitreal and suprachoroidal Laponite clay in rabbit eyes.

PURPOSE: To study the safety and biocompatibility of Laponite clay (LAP) within an intravitreal and suprachoroidal administration in rabbit eyes. METHODS: Thirty-two New Zealand albino rabbits were divided into two experimental groups to test intravitreal (IVT group) and suprachoroidal (SCS group) administration of a 100-µl and 50-µl Laponite suspension respectively. Following injection, the eyes were monitored by ocular tonometry, slit-lamp eye examination and indirect ophthalmoscopy, at 24 h, 1, 4, 12, and 14 weeks post administration. Histological examination was also performed to determine whether any ocular pathological change had occurred. Throughout the study, LAP presence in vitreous was estimated by complexometric titration with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), taking advantage of the Laponite high content of magnesium ions. RESULTS: Neither significant differences in the intraocular pressure, nor relevant ocular complications were found in the two experimental groups after LAP administration. The histology of the retina remained unchanged. LAP presence in vitreous could be indirectly confirmed by complexometric titration until 14 weeks post administration in eyes of IVT group. CONCLUSION: Laponite could be considered as a vehicle for potential clinical use in ocular drug administration, due to its proven ocular biocompatibility and its transparency in gel state.

Corrigendum to "Laponite for biomedical applications: An ophthalmological perspective" [Mater. Today Bio 24 (2024) 100935].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100935.].

Stereochemical outcome of copper-catalyzed C-H insertion reactions. An experimental and theoretical study.

The combination of chiral preparative HPLC separation, VCD measurements, and theoretical calculations allows the unambiguous determination of the absolute configuration of the conformationally flexible products of copper-catalyzed carbene insertion reactions. DFT calculations were used to predict the stereochemical outcome of the copper-bis(oxazoline)-catalyzed C-H insertion reaction between methyl diazophenylacetate and tetrahydrofuran and also to predict the absolute configuration of the major stereoisomers derived from the same reaction with different cyclic ethers. These predictions were verified experimentally through NMR and VCD spectroscopy and allowed rationalization of the stereochemical outcome of these reactions without further derivatization of the products, which can be prblematic under certain conditions as described herein.

CuO/SiO2 as a simple, effective and recoverable catalyst for alkylation of indole derivatives with diazo compounds.

The purely inorganic copper oxide on silica catalyzes the reaction of methyl phenyldiazoacetate with N-methyl indole under mild reaction conditions, giving the alkylation (formally a C-H insertion) in position 3, and the catalyst can be recovered and reused at least in 5 consecutive runs with only minor loss in activity. The scope of the reaction includes various diazo compounds and indole or pyrrole derivatives leading to alkylation or cyclopropanation depending on the heterocycle structure. An alternative mechanism, without reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), is proposed on the basis of the obtained results.

Structure and dynamics of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate phases on silica and laponite clay: from liquid to solid behavior.

Solid-state NMR experiments show that the behavior of supported 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid phases depends on the type of support and the phase thickness. A mobile nearly liquid phase is obtained on silica, on the basis of the line widths of the bands in (1)H, (31)P, and (13)C spectra. However, the mobility is somehow restricted, as shown by the possibility of using the cross-polarization technique, although with slow dynamics. On laponite clay, a layered material with a negatively charged surface, a truly solid phase is obtained at low coverage, whereas the increase in ionic liquid loading leads to a second liquid phase, as shown by the presence of two contributions with very different line widths. These two phases seem to coexist without exchange in the NMR time frame. Heteronuclear correlation experiments evidence different relative dispositions of the imidazolium-surface-PF(6) system, with only aromatic protons involved in all the interactions on silica but participation of the benzylic groups (N-CH(3) and/or N-CH(2)) in the case of laponite clay.

Enantioselective C-H carbene insertions with homogeneous and immobilized copper complexes.

The efficiency of chiral bis(oxazoline)- and azabis(oxazoline)-copper complexes in the enantioselective carbene insertion into C-H bonds of cyclic ethers in homogeneous phase strongly depends on the structure of the substrate. The immobilization on laponite clay by electrostatic interactions not only allows the recovery and reuse of the heterogeneous catalysts, but in some cases also improves enantioselectivity and overall chemoselectivity, making possible reactions that do not take place or lead to low yields in solution, even with the commonly used Rh(2)[S-DOSP](4) catalyst.

Comparison of Chemical and Enzymatic Methods for the Transesterification of Waste Fish Oil Fatty Ethyl Esters with Different Alcohols.

Fatty acid esters of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (EH), 2-hexyl-1-decanol (HD), and isopropanol have been obtained from a mixture of ethyl esters obtained as a fish oil byproduct. Homogeneous base catalysis with alkaline hydroxides and alkoxides has been compared with the use of two commercially available immobilized lipases. The enzymatic methodology is more efficient in the case of the largest alcohol (HD) mainly because of the high stability of the immobilized enzymes upon recovery and reuse. In contrast, the use of a base as a catalyst is highly favorable in the case of isopropanol because of the rather poor activity of the lipases and the low price of the bases. With EH, the activity of lipases is good but the recoverability is not as efficient; hence, basic catalysts are again the most attractive alternative. The mixtures of esters obtained may be useful as hydraulic liquids given their viscosity values.

Surface-enhanced stereoselectivity in Mukaiyama aldol reactions catalyzed by clay-supported bis(oxazoline)-copper complexes.

Surface effects on a laponite-exchanged bis(oxazoline)-copper complex modify the stereochemical course of the Mukaiyama aldol reaction between 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan and alpha-ketoesters, leading up to 90% ee (dr 86 : 14) becoming the best overall result obtained for this reaction and significantly improving the homogeneous process.

Simple and efficient heterogeneous copper catalysts for enantioselective C-H carbene insertion.

Immobilized box-Cu complexes are able to efficiently catalyze the insertion of a carbene, from methyl phenyldiazoacetate, into C-H bonds of THF, with high enantioselectivity (up to 88% ee). The immobilization not only allows recovery and reuse of the enantioselective catalyst but also provides an improvement in the selectivities from the values obtained in solution, probably due to a confinement effect of the bidimensional support. [reaction: see text].

Determination of Three Corticosteroids in the Biologic Matrix of Vitreous Humor by HPLC-tandem Mass Spectrometry: Method Development and Validation.

PURPOSE: To develop a simple, specific, and rapid method to determine corticosteroid concentrations in vitreous humor. METHODS: An analytical method based on high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) with a simple extraction procedure was developed. New Zealand albino rabbits (n = 54) received a single (0.1 mL) intravitreal injection of dexamethasone (DXM, 0.1 mg), methylprednisolone (MP, 2 mg), or triamcinolone acetonide (TA, 10 mg). Eyes were enucleated and mean vitreous steroid levels were quantified at 12 h and 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 days. RESULTS: Corticosteroids were extracted from the vitreous with acetonitrile, and TA was extracted with ethyl acetate, yielding high protein precipitation and clean solution samples. Vitreous samples were analyzed by isocratic HPLC-MS with mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and 2 mM ammonium formate buffer in water, pH 3.5. The linear range was 50-100,000 ng/g with a lower quantification limit of 45 ng/g for DXM and MP, and 50 ng/g for TA. Vitreous levels of DXM and MP were not detectable 14 days post-administration. Vitreous levels of TA were positive and stable throughout the study in both injected and control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The HPLC-MS analytical method is an alternative to HPLC-MS/MS methods, sensitive enough for identifying and quantifying steroids in vitreous humor at a therapeutic dosage scale.

Laponite as carrier for controlled in vitro delivery of dexamethasone in vitreous humor models.

Laponite clay is able to retain dexamethasone by simple physisorption, presumably accomplished by hydrogen bonding formation and/or complexation with sodium counterions, as shown by solid state NMR. The physisorption can be somehow modulated by changing the solvent in the adsorption process. This simple system is able to deliver dexamethasone in a controlled manner to solutions used as models for vitreous humor. The proven biocompatibility of laponite as well as its transparency in the gel state, together with the simplicity of the preparation method, makes this system suitable for future in vivo tests of ophthalmic treatment.

The first synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands.

Condensation of tetraethoxysilane with silane-functionalized bis(oxazolines) in the presence of dodecylamine leads to hybrid materials whose textural and catalytic properties depend on both the ligand and the spacer structure.

New silica-immobilized chiral amino alcohol for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde.

[reaction: see text] A readily available chiral amino alcohol has been immobilized on silica by sol-gel synthesis and grafting. The solid prepared according to the latter method led to the best enantioselectivity (77% ee) described for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde using inorganic solids.