Theoretical study of Gibbs free energy and NMR chemical shifts, of the effect of methyl substituents on the isomers of (E)-1-(α,Ꞵ-Dimethylbenzyliden)-2,2-diphenylhydrazine.

A theoretical analysis of free Gibbs Energy and NMR 1H 13C chemical shifts of the effect of introduce methyl groups on diphenyl rings, to produce different isomers of (E)-1-(α,Ꞵ-dimethylbenzylidene)-2,2-diphenylhydrazine, is presented. IR vibrational frequencies, Mulliken charges, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), Gibbs free energy (G) and 1H- and 13C-NMR chemical shifts were obtained by theoretical calculations. In this analysis it was found that the position of the methyl group affects the values of the 1H- and 13C-NMR chemical shifts and the ∆G and ∆H thermodynamic properties of formation and reaction, these properties vary with the same trend, for the isomers studied. Gibbs free energy calculations show that the theoretical (E)-1-(3,4-Dimethylbenzylidene)-2,2-diphenylhydrazine isomer is the most stable, which explains the success of the experimental synthesis of this compound among the other isomers. For this molecule, the C of the HC=N group is the most nucleophilic and the H is the least acidic. The 1H-NMR chemical shifts of protons show a strong correlation with the C=N distance. It was also observed that methyl affects the ν(C=N) frequencies, the C=N distance increases when the inductive effect of the methyl groups is in the structure.

Green approach to the extraction of major capsaicinoids from habanero pepper using near-infrared, microwave, ultrasound and Soxhlet methods, a comparative study.

A simple method for the extraction of two major capsaicinoids from habanero peppers, using near-infrared irradiation, microwave irradiation or ultrasound as the energy source and ethanol as the solvent, was compared with Soxhlet extraction. The extraction processes were monitored by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The new processes offer better overall yields and a higher ratio of capsaicin to dihydrocapsaicin than Soxhlet extraction. The physical effect of the different energy sources on the peppers was determined using scanning electron microscopy. Extraction of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin using near-infrared irradiation, which has not been previously reported, was shown to be a simple and efficient alternative extraction procedure.

Chronic administration of nicotine enhances NMDA-activated currents in the prefrontal cortex and core part of the nucleus accumbens of rats.

Nicotine is an addictive substance of tobacco. It has been suggested that nicotine acts on glutamatergic (N-methyl-d-aspartate, NMDA) neurotransmission affecting dopamine release in the mesocorticolimbic system. This effect is reflected in neuroadaptative changes that can modulate neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core (cNAcc) and shell (sNAcc) regions. We evaluated the effect of chronic administration of nicotine (4.23 mg/kg/day for 14 days) on NMDA activated currents in dissociated neurons from the PFC, and NAcc (from core and shell regions). We assessed nicotine blood levels by mass spectrophotometry and we confirmed that nicotine increases locomotor activity. An electrophysiological study showed an increase in NMDA currents in neurons from the PFC and core part of the NAcc in animals treated with nicotine compared to those of control rats. No change was observed in neurons from the shell part of the NAcc. The enhanced glutamatergic activity observed in the neurons of rats with chronic administration of nicotine may explain the increased locomotive activity also observed in such rats. To assess one of the possible causes of increased NMDA currents, we used magnesium, to block NMDA receptor that contains the NR2B subunit. If there is a change in percent block of NMDA currents, it means that there is a possible change in expression of NMDA receptor subunits. Our results showed that there is no difference in the blocking effect of magnesium on the NMDA currents. The magnesium lacks of effect after nicotinic treatment suggests that there is no change in expression of NR2B subunit of NMDA receptors, then, the effect of nicotine treatment on amplitude of NMDA currents may be due to an increase in the quantity of receptors or to a change in the unitary conductance, rather than a change in the expression of the subunits that constitute it.

Thioglycerol matrix interactions in the positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of several Hantzsch and Biginelli ester derivatives of boronic acids.

RATIONALE: Fast atom bombardment (FAB) ionization is a valuable tool for analyzing non-volatile or thermally labile compounds when harder ionization methods (EI or CI) have been unsuccessful. Unexpected interactions between matrix and analyte may, however, occur in FAB ionization leading to the formation of artifacts whose structures have to be determined. METHODS: We used esters synthesized by our research group following green chemistry protocols. Artifacts relating to the target molecules were produced in the solvent cage using positive ion FAB using thioglycerol as the matrix and analyzed by accurate mass measurement. RESULTS: Through interactions between thioglycerol and the boron atom, various adducts associated with boron-containing Hantzsch and Biginelli ester derivatives appeared in the FAB mass spectra. These interactions must arise in a solvent cage involving a Lewis acid-base bond. Accurate mass determinations of these adducts confirmed the presence of the target molecules. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between the thioglycerol matrix and the eleven boron-containing Hantzsch and Biginelli ester derivatives in addition to the three reagents were seen in their FAB(+) spectra. These interactions, together with their accurate mass determinations, allowed us to determine the structures of the new molecules.

(E)-1-Benzyl-idene-2,2-diphenyl-hydrazine.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(19)H(16)N(2), contains two independent mol-ecules, both of which show an E configuration with respect to the C=N bond. The dihedral angles between the phenyl rings bonded to the hydrazine group are 81.00 (10) and 88.34 (8)° in the two mol-ecules. Inter-molecular C-H⋯π inter-actions are observed in the crystal structure.

N'-[5-(4-Nitro-phen-yl)furan-2-yl-methyl-idene]-N,N-diphenyl-hydrazine.

The title compound, C(23)H(17)N(3)O(3), has an E configuration with respect to the C=N bond. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings bonded to the hydrazine group is 86.45 (13)°. The furan ring makes dihedral angles of 3.4 (2) and 7.06 (13)°, respectively, with the methyl-idenehydrazine C=N-N plane and the benzene ring.