Publications

Abstract A multidisciplinary project was developed, combining the synthesis of a series of beta-nitrostyrene derivatives and the determination of their physicochemical parameters (redox potentials, partition coefficients), to the evaluation of the corresponding antibacterial activity. A complete conformational analysis was also performed, in order to get relevant structural information. Subsequently, a structure-property-activity (SPAR) approach was applied, through linear regression analysis, aiming at obtaining a putative correlation between the physicochemical parameters of the compounds investigated and their antibacterial activity (both against standard strains and clinical isolates). The beta-nitrostyrene compounds displayed a lower activity towards all the tested bacteria relative to the beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene analogues. This was observed particularly for the 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene (IVb) against the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium). The SPAR results revealed the existence of a clear correlation between the redox potentials and the antibacterial activity of the series of beta-nitrostyrene derivatives under study.

Abstract The toxicological and redox profiles of MDMA and its major metabolites (MDA, alpha-methyldopamine, N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine, 6-hydroxy-alpha-methyldopamine, 3-methoxy-alpha-methyldopamine) were studied to establish a structure- toxicity relationship and determine their individual contribution to cell death induction by apoptosis and/or necrosis. The results of the comparative toxicity study, using undifferentiated PC12 cells, strongly suggest that the metabolites possessing a catecholic group are more toxic to the cells than MDMA and metabolites with at least one protected phenolic group. Redox studies reveal that an oxidative mechanism seems to play an important role in metabolite cytotoxicity. Nuclear features of apoptosis and/or necrosis show that most of the metabolites, particularly N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine, induce cell death by apoptosis, largely accompanied by necrotic features. No significant differences were found between MDMA and the metabolites, concerning overall characteristics of cell death. These results may be useful to ascertain the contribution of metabolism in MDMA neurotoxicity molecular mechanisms.

Abstract Catanionic surfactants result from the pairing of oppositely charged amphiphilic molecules, forming a new class of surfactant molecules with various interesting lyotropic and thermotropic properties. With the aim of probing the role of both headgroup chemical nature/structure and molecular shape, a series of catanionic surfactants were synthesized. The cationic portion of the molecule is kept constant, being the dioctadecyldimethylammonium double chain. Different single-chained surfactants with varying headgroups and chain lengths are used as the anionic pair. The thermotropic behavior has been studied by DSC and the mesophase structural investigated by polarizcd light microscopy. The results indicate that, for a given chain length, parameters such as headgroup polarity and charge density, as well as volume, influence the catanionic surfactant behavior. The thermodynamic parameters are qualitatively evaluated, considering the headgroup chemical nature and the overall molecular structure.

Abstract We present the phase behavior and thermodynamics of the catanionic mixture of the gemini surfactant hexanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dodecyidimethylammonium bromide), designated here as 12-6-12Bn(2), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SIDS) over the full range of composition, at the water-rich corner. Visual and turbidity measurements of the mixtures provide some basic macroscopic information on phase behavior. The structure of the aggregates formed spontaneously in the mixtures has been observed with TEM. As the molar fraction of SDS, X(SDS), is increased, at constant total surfactant concentration, the aggregation morphologies change gradually from gemini-rich micelles, through multiphase regions containing a precipitate (catanionic surfactant) and a vesicle region, to SDS-rich micelles. From isothermal titration calorimetry measurements, the phase boundaries and corresponding enthalpy changes for phase transitions have been obtained. The formation of the different microstructures, in particular, the spontaneously formed vesicles in the SDS-rich side, is discussed on the basis of geometric and electrostatic effects occurring in the SDS-gemini mixture.

Abstract The lyotropic phase behavior for the neat cationic gemini surfactants alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(alkyldimethylammonium bromide), designated here as in-s-m, has been investigated previously in several works, but the thermotropic behavior has not been well characterized. Only for 15-s-15 and 14-s- 12 have thermotropic liquid crystals (Lc) been reported. In this work, for the first time and in contrast to previous reports, we observe thermotropic Lc formation for m-2-m geminis with in = 12, 14, 16, and 18, by means of polarizing microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, we investigate mixtures of m-2-m and SDS, m-2-m Br(2)center dot 2SDS, which exhibit crystal-to-crystal phase transitions at lower temperature and, at high temperature, smectic Lc phases. The transition temperatures and enthalpies for Lc phases, obtained by DSC, present clear trends upon increase of the chain lengths. Combining Langmuir film experiments, possible lamellar arrangements for the different phases are tentatively discussed.

Abstract A confon-national analysis of ethyl 3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoate (ethyl 3,4,5-trihydroxycinnamate, ETHPPE), a polyphenolic cinnarnic ester which displays antiproliferative activity towards human adenocarcinorna cells, was carried out by Raman spectroscopy coupled to ab initio MO calculations. Apart from the optimised geometrical parameters for the most stable conformations of this compound (both for the trans and cis isomers), the corresponding harmonic vibrational frequencies were obtained. Eighteen distinct geometries were found, 12 for the lowest energy trans isomer and six for the cis species. The conformational preferences of this system were verified to be mainly ruled by the stabilising effect of pi-electron delocalisation, a planar geometry being favoured. The orientation of the ester moiety showed to be the most determinant factor for the overall stability of the molecule. In the light of these results, a complete assignment of the corresponding Raman pattern was performed.

Abstract The aqueous self-assembly of a novel lysine-derived surfactant with a gemini-like architecture, designated here as 12-Lys-12, has been experimentally investigated for the amphiphile alone in water and in a mixture with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). The neat surfactant forms interesting micrometer-sized rigid tubules in the dilute region, resulting in very viscous solutions. For the catanionic mixture with DTAB, various single and multiphase regions were identified (up to a total surfactant concentration of 1.5 wt %) by means of combined polarizing light microscopy, cryo-TEM, and NMR. In the DTAB-rich side, for a mixing molar ratio in the range 2 < DTAB/12-Lys-12 < 4, a region of stable, unilamellar vesicles can be found. Furthermore, it was found that upon addition of 12-Lys-12 to pure DTAB solutions, the mixed micelles grow and beyond a given mixing ratio, vesicles assemble and coexist with small micelles. The transition is not continuous, since there is a narrow mixing range where phase separation occurs. Self-diffusion measurements and cryo-TEM imaging show that the average vesicle radius is on the order of 30-40 nm.

Abstract The standard ( p(0)= 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, Delta H-f(m)0, for crystalline phthalimides: phthalimide, N-ethylphthalimide and N-propylphthalimide were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, in oxygen, at the temperature 298.15 K, measured by static bomb-combustion calorimetry, as, respectively, - ( 318.0 +/- 1.7), - (350.1 +/- 2.7) and - ( 377.3 +/- 2.2) kJ mol(-1). The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, Delta H-8(cr)m(0), at T=298.15 K were derived by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, from the temperature dependence of the vapour pressures for phthalimide, as (106.9 +/- 1.2) kJ mol(-1) and from high temperature Calvet microcalorimetry for phthalimide, N-ethylphthalimide and N-propylphthalimide as, respectively, (106.3 +/- 1.3), (91.0 +/- 1.2) and (98.2 +/- 1.4) kJ mol(-1). The derived standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous state, are analysed in terms of enthalpic increments and interpreted in terms of molecular structure.

Abstract Eight structurally similar dihydroxy and trihydroxyphenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, hydrocaffeic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid and 3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)propenoic acid) were examined for their total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Furthermore, their ability to scavenge peroxyl radicals, generated by AAPH in liposomes, was determined. The antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity of the compounds was screened using the 2'-deoxyguanosine assay. All compounds behave as radical scavengers, with 3,4,5-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid being the most potent. Nevertheless, in the lipid peroxidation assay an inverse ranking order was observed, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid being the most effective compound. All the dihydroxylated compounds showed a pro-oxidant behaviour leading to an increase of 50% in 8-OH-dG induction. From the structure-antioxidant activity relationship studies performed it may be concluded that the number of phenolic groups and the type of the alkyl spacer between the carboxylic acid and the aromatic ring strongly influence the antioxidant activity.

Abstract The molecule of the title compound, C(23)H(40)O(4)Si(2), features an approximate non-crystallographic C(2) symmetry axis. The aldehyde group is disordered over two positions with similar occupancies. The geometry of the isolated molecule was studied by ab initio quantum mechanical calculations employing a molecular orbital Hartree - Fock method. The calculations reproduce well the equilibrium geometry but slightly overestimate the value of the Si - O bond lengths of the trioxadisilepine ring.