Silvia Angelova

Antioxidant potential of curcumin-related compounds studied by chemiluminescence kinetics, chain-breaking efficiencies, scavenging activity (ORAC) and DFT calculations

Summary This study compares the ability to scavenge different peroxyl radicals and to act as chain-breaking antioxidants of monomers related to curcumin (1): dehydrozingerone (2), zingerone (3), (2Z,5E)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxohexa-2,5-dienoate (4), ferulic acid (5) and their corresponding C 2-symmetric dimers 6–9. Four models were applied: model 1 – chemiluminescence (CL) of a hydrocarbon substrate used for determination of the rate constants (k A) of the reactions of the antioxidants with peroxyl radicals; model 2 – lipid autoxidation (lipidAO) used for assessing the chain-breaking antioxidant efficiency and reactivity; model 3 – oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), which yields the activity against peroxyl radicals generated by an azoinitiator; model 4 – density functional theory (DFT) calculations at UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level, applied to explain the structure–activity relationship. Dimers showed 2–2.5-fold higher values of k A than their monomers. Model 2 gives information about the effects of the side chains and revealed much higher antioxidant activity for monomers and dimers with α,β-unsaturated side chains. Curcumin and 6 in fact are dimers of the same monomer 2. We conclude that the type of linkage between the two “halves” by which the molecule is made up does not exert influence on the antioxidant efficiency and reactivity of these two dimers. The dimers and the monomers demonstrated higher activity than Trolox (10) in aqueous medium (model 3). A comparison of the studied compounds with DL-α-tocopherol (11), Trolox and curcumin is made. All dimers are characterized through lower bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) than their monomers (model 4), which qualitatively supports the experimental results.

Aggregation of 2‐Aminobenzimidazole—A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

An investigation of 2-aminobenzimidazole was carried out by calculations at HF, MP2, and DFT levels of theory and also by UV and IR spectroscopy. The quantum chemical calculations predict a full shift of the equilibrium towards the amino form, but the absorption spectra in different solvents distinctly show a two-component equilibrium system. Examination of possible equilibria in solution shows that an equilibrium between two dimeric forms of the amino tautomer of 2-aminobenzimidazole explains the spectral observations.

Solid-state tautomerism in 2-carboxyindan-1,3-dione.

The structure of 2-carboxyindan-1,3-dione was investigated using a combination of quantum-chemical calculations and solid-state NMR and IR spectroscopy. Due to poor solubility of the compound in different solvents, no single crystals could be obtained. Two dimeric structures formed from the tautomers of 2-carboxyindan-1,3-dione are likely to coexist in the solid state. The dimers interconvert via intramolecular proton transfer in one of the tautomeric forms constituting the dimers. The energy barrier of the intramolecular proton transfer reaction is calculated as 5.82 kcal mol(-1) at the MP2/6-31++G level of theory.

Assembly of New Merocyanine Chromophores with a 1,8-Naphthalimide Core by a New Method for the Synthesis of the Methine Function

A new method for the synthesis of the monomethine group using nitro as a leaving group in an SN-Ar reaction is described. A series of novel merocyanine dyes has been synthesised and their photophysical properties have been elucidated. The longest wavelength absorption occurs in the range 519–619 nm and the molar absorptivities vary with the substituents and are in the range 1000–47700 L mol–1 cm–1. The dyes show high chemical and photostability. One example from the series has the ability to distinguish methanol from ethanol. The introduction of a quinoid fragment into the structure leads to a pronounced intramolecular charge transfer and hence a noticeable positive solvatochromism. The structures and electronic properties of the compounds have been studied by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT.

Halogen-containing thiazole orange analogues – new fluorogenic DNA stains

Novel asymmetric monomeric monomethine cyanine dyes 5a–d, which are analogues of the commercial dsDNA fluorescence binder thiazole orange (TO), have been synthesized. The synthesis was achieved by using a simple, efficient and environmetally benign synthetic procedure to obtain these cationic dyes in good to excellent yields. Interactions of the new derivatives of TO with dsDNA have been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The longest wavelength absorption bands in the UV–vis spectra of the target compounds are in the range of 509–519 nm and these are characterized by high molar absorptivities (63000–91480 L·mol−1·cm−1). All investigated dyes from the series are either not fluorescent or their fluorescence is quite low, but they become strongly fluorescent after binding to dsDNA. The influence of the substituents attached to the chromophores was investigated by combination of spectroscopic (UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy) and theoretical (DFT and TDDFT calculations) methods.

Optical modeling of bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells based on squarine dye as electron donor

The potentiality of a squarine dye (Sq1) for using as electron donor component in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ) has been studied from the optical point of view. The soluble n-type fullerene, (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PC61MB) was chosen as acceptor. Optical modelling based on transfer matrix method was carried out to predict and improve photovoltaic performance of a BHJ device with blended Sq1/PC61MB active layer. The dependence of the absorption and the calculated maximum short circuit photocurrent (Jscmax) on the thickness of the active layer (dact), was investigated for two weight ratios of Sq1 and PC61MB. Thus, the optimal dact was calculated to be about 100 nm, which provides an efficient overlapping of the total absorption with solar spectrum in the range between 580 and 900 nm. Besides, it is found that the insertion of ZnO or C60 spacer layer shifts Jscmax peak to lower dact and significantly enhances Jscmax for active layers with dact < 50 nm, which is mainly due to improved light absorption by a factor of 5 to 10. Simultaneously, for dact <100 nm the optical effect of inserted PEDOT:PSS hole transporting layer is negligible.

Antiradical and Antioxidant Activities of New Natural-like Hydroxylated Biphenyls of Dehydrozingerone, Zingerone and Ferulic Acid

Selected synthesized natural and natural-like hydroxylated biphenyls (dimers) and their corresponding monomers (dehydrozingerone, zingerone and ferulic acid) were tested experimentally for their capacity both as radical scavengers and chain-breaking antioxidants in individual and binary mixture with α-tocopherol. Quantum-chemical calculations at the UB3LYP/6-13+G(d,p) level were used to get full geometry optimization of the compounds in neutral and radical forms. Good correlation between experimental data of radical scavenging and antioxidant activities and predicted activity was achieved.

Protective effects of new antioxidant compositions of 4-methylcoumarins and related compounds with dl-α-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid: Protective effects of new antioxidant compositions of 4-methylcoumarins

BACKGROUND Coumarin derivatives possess a wide range of biological activities. By functionalization of the parent coumarin skeleton that has neither antioxidant nor biological activity, a series of new bio-antioxidants has been designed. RESULTS New antioxidant compositions (equimolar binary and ternary mixtures) of eight 4-methylcoumarins and three related compounds have been tested and different effects between individual components have been observed: synergism (positive effect), additivism (summary effect) and antagonism (negative effect). Higher oxidative stability of the lipid substrate was obtained in the presence of the new antioxidant compositions of the studied compounds with dl-α-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid. The role of each component in the antioxidant compositions of ternary mixtures has been identified by using new equations composed by the authors. CONCLUSION All ternary mixtures demonstrate synergism as a result of continuous regeneration of dl-α-tocopherol from the studied antioxidants and l-ascorbic acid. Theoretical calculations have been probed as indicators of the expected effects between the individual components in a binary mixture.

Solid-state structures of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-substituted phenalene-1,3-dione and indan-1,3-dione

The structure of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-substituted indan-1,3-dione and phenalene-1,3-dione is investigated using a combination of solid-state NMR, single crystal X-ray analyses and quantum chemical calculations. It is shown that 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-indandione exists as a diketo tautomer while 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-phenalenedione exists in the enol form.

Optical properties of thin merocyanine dye layers for photovoltaic applications

The potentiality was studied of our newly synthesized push-pull type merocyanine dye, labeled A1, for use as an electron donating component in solution-processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells. For the purpose, a soluble n-type fullerene, (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which is currently and in the ear future without an alternative, was chosen as an acceptor. The optical constants (n and k) of thin films obtained by spin coating from solutions in chlorobenzene of A1 and of an A1/PCBM blend were determined by spectrophotometric measurements. Further, an optical simulation of a standard BHJ cell with an active layer of an A1dye/PCMB blend was performed using a transfer-matrix formalism. Thus, the optimum thickness of the active layer was calculated to be about 80 nm, which provides overlapping of the total absorption with the solar spectrum in the broad range 400 nm – 800 nm. Finally, the maximum current density, Jsc, was determined to be 13 mA cm2 assuming that the internal quantum efficiency, IQE, is unity. Comparing the calculated Jsc with data on some advanced small-molecule BHJ devices, the prospects for practical applications of the new merocyanine dye are discussed.