Light: a rare reaction product

The production of visible light by chemical reactions constitutes interesting and fascinating phenomena and several reaction mechanisms are discussed to rationalize excited state formation. Most efficient chemiluminescence reactions are thought to involve one or more electron transfer steps and chemiexcitation is believed to occur by radical annihilation. A brief introduction to the general principles of light production and the main known chemiexcitation mechanisms will be given here. Subsequently, recent results on the mechanistic elucidation of efficient chemiluminescence systems, as the peroxyoxalate reaction, the induced decomposition of phenoxy-substituted 1,2-dioxetanes and the catalyzed decomposition of new a-peroxylactones will be discussed.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenadoria para o Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Synthesis of unstable cyclic peroxides for chemiluminescence studies

Cyclic four-membered ring peroxides are important high-energy intermediates in a variety of chemi and bioluminescence transformations. Specifically, α-peroxylactones (1,2-dioxetanones) have been considered as model systems for efficient firefly bioluminescence. However, the preparation of such highly unstable compounds is extremely difficult and, therefore, only few research groups have been able to study the properties of these substances. In this study, the synthesis, purification and characterization of three 1,2-dioxetanones are reported and a detailed procedure for the known synthesis of diphenoyl peroxide, another important model compound for the chemical generation of electronically excited states, is provided. For most of these peroxides, the complete spectroscopic characterization is reported here for the first time

Uso de ferramentas on-line no ensino presencial: reflexões pré-pós-pandemia

This article discusses the use of online teaching tools in face-to-face classes courses. The author shares his personal perspective on how the lessons learned with online teaching and social distancing during the pandemic of COVID-19 can help to improve teaching practice. In addition, practical aspects of creating online content and using Internet materials and tools in the teaching-learning process are addressed.Esse artigo traz algumas reflexões sobre o uso de ferramentas de ensino on-line no ensino presencial. O autor compartilha suas as dúvidas sobre a melhor forma de conciliar as lições aprendidas com o ensino on-line durante o distanciamento social imposto pela pandemia de COVID-19 e o retorno das aulas presenciais. Além disso, são abordados aspectos práticos da criação de conteúdo on-line e do uso de material e ferramentas da internet no processo de ensino-aprendizagem

Development of an assay to determine the antioxidant capacity of natural products by chemiluminescence of luminol

Na última década, o estudo de espécies ativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio e o seus papeis em um grande número de patologias revelou que substâncias antioxidantes são capazes de prevenir os efeitos do estresse oxidativo. A reação quimiluminescente de luminol e peróxido de hidrogênio, na presença de hemina como catalisador, tem sido utilizada como método de avaliação de atividade antioxidante, uma vez que a emissão pode ser suprimida por este tipo de substância. Foi realizado um estudo cinético para estabelecer as condições experimentais do ensaio. As concentrações dos reagentes foram variadas em diferentes condições experimentais na ausência e na presença de antioxidantes, e os resultados obtidos levaram ao melhor entendimento acerca do sistema. Um novo método para o tratamento de dados foi também utilizado, permitindo a correlação entre o efeito antioxidante e o número de fótons suprimidos. Vários antioxidantes conhecidos (trolox, ácido ascórbico e ácido úrico) foram utilizados para estabelecer a metodologia. A atividade antioxidante foi calculada a partir da correlação entre a área de supressão obtida e a concentração de antioxidante, usando trolox como composto de referência. Empregando esta metodologia foi possível determinar a atividade antioxidante dos extratos e do produto majoritário isolado de Photomorphe umbellata, o 4-nerolidicatecol.In the last decade the study of active oxygen and nitrogen species and their role in a large number of chronicle diseases, including cancer, heart disease and even aging itself, revealed that natural and synthetic antioxidants are able to prevent the effects caused by oxidative stress. Several methods can be used to evaluate the total antioxidant activity in body fluids, complex mixtures and isolated substances. Simple trapping assays can quantify the total antioxidant content in a sample, which is expressed as TRAP (total radical-trapping potential) or TEAC (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and these indexes are well accepted due to its high sensitivity and operational facilities. The determination of the antioxidant potential of plant extracts and isolated natural products may constitute a simple tool to evaluate the potential biological activity of plant constituents. The chemiluminescence reaction of luminol and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hemin as catalyst has been used as the method to evaluate the antioxidant activity, since the chemiluminescence emission can be suppressed by antioxidants, and a linear relationship between antioxidant concentration and the observed induction time is obtained. A kinetic study was performed to establish the ideal experimental conditions for the assay. The reactant concentrations were varied in the absence and the presence of antioxidants, and the results lead to a better understanding of the system. A new method for data treatment is also used, which allows the correlation of the antioxidant effect to the number of photons suppressed. Several well-known antioxidants (trolox, ascorbic and uric acid) were used to establish the methodology. TRAP values were calculated from the correlations between the number of photons suppressed and the antioxidant concentration, using trolox as reference compound. Using this methodology we were able to determine the antioxidant activity of Photomorphe umbellata extracts, and of its isolated major compound, 4-nerolidylcatechol

Mechanisms and applicalions of organic peroxide chemiluminescence

A quimiluminescência derivada da decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos e do sistema peróxi-oxalato pode ser explicada através do mecanismo de luminescência iniciada por troca de elétron - CIEEL (\"Chemically Initiated Electron Exchange Luminescence\"). Esta proposta supõe uma transferência de elétron seguida de uma retrotransferência, que pode ocorrer de forma intra ou intermolecular, dependendo do sistema. A etapa de quimiexcitação do sistema peróxi-oxalato envolve uma retro-transferência de elétron intermolecular, da qual participam dois radicais-íons - um deles postulado como o dióxido de carbono radical-anion. Por outro lado, não existe consenso a respeito da via de retro-transferência de elétron na decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos, que pode ocorrer de forma intra ou intermolecular. Neste trabalho são apresentadas as sínteses de sete 1,2-dioxetanos, os resultados obtidos na investigação da via de quimiexcitação proposta no mecanismo CIEEL para a decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos e para o sistema peróxi-oxalato e a aplicação da quimiluminescência do luminol em matriz polimérica de poli(vinilpirrolidona) para a calibração de luminômetros de microplacas. Verificou-se, através do estudo do efeito da viscosidade do solvente sobre os rendimentos quânticos singlete na decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos, uma dependência entre a eficiência de quimiexcitação e o efeito da cavidade de solvente, que foi racionalizada em termos de um modelo difusional e friccional. Estes resultados, associados a cálculos teóricos, tomaram possível postular um mecanismo intramolecular modificado para a decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos. No sistema peróxi-oxalato foi realizada uma tentativa de detecção direta do dióxido de carbono ânion-radical através de medidas do sinal de ressonância paramagnética de elétron do aduto formado entre α-fenil-N-tert-butilnitrona (PBN), um spin trap, e o radical-anion. Apesar da leve discrepância entre as constantes de acoplamento do sinal observado em relação aos valores relatados na literatura para o aduto PBN-CO2, a caracterização foi realizada preliminarmente através de espectroscopia de massas com injeção direta. Finalmente, foi desenvolvido um sistema para calibração de luminômetros de microplacas, baseado na quimiluminescência de luminol em matriz polimérica, que pode ser utilizado - adicionalmente - na quantificação de peróxido de hidrogênio, em concentrações µmol-1, e agentes redutores com potencial anti-radicalar e antioxidante.The chemiluminescence resulting from induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes and the peroxyoxalate system can be explained by the Chemically Initiated Electron Exchange Luminescence - CIEEL mechanism. This hypothesis postulates an electron transfer followed by a bond cleavage or rearrangement and back electron transfer which can occur in a intra or intermolecular way, depending on the system. The chemiexcitation step in the peroxyoxalate system involves an intermolecular back electron transfer, in which two radical ions participates - one of them is assumed to be carbon dioxide radical anion. However, there is no consensus about the back electron transfer path in the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes, which Can occur in an intra or intermolecular way. This work reports the synthesis of seven 1,2-dioxetane derivatives, the results obtained in the investigation of the chemiexcitation path proposed by the CIEEL mechanism for the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes and for the peroxyoxalate system, and the application of poly(vinylpirrolidone) supported luminol chemiluminescence in the development of a rnicroplate luminometer calibration method. It was possible to confirm, by the study of solvent viscosity effect on singlet quantum yields in induced 1,2-dioxetane decomposition, a dependence between chemiexcitation efficiency and the solvent cavity effect, which was rationalized based on a diffusional and frictional model. These results, together with theoretical calculations, allow us to postulate a modified intermolecular chemiexcitation mechanism for the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes. An attempt to detect directly the carbon di oxide radical anion in the peroxyoxalate system was made based on the electron paramagnetic resonance detection of the α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN)-CO2 adduct. Despite small discrepancies between the observed and the previously reported hyperfine coupling constant values, the adduct characterization was confirmed by direct injection mass spectrometry. Finally, a microplate luminometer light intensity calibration system, based on polymeric matrix-supported luminal, was developed. This method can be used also to determine hydrogen peroxide at µ mol-1 concentration and to quantify reducing agents with antiradical and antioxidant potential

Mechanisms and applicalions of organic peroxide chemiluminescence

A quimiluminescência derivada da decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos e do sistema peróxi-oxalato pode ser explicada através do mecanismo de luminescência iniciada por troca de elétron - CIEEL (\"Chemically Initiated Electron Exchange Luminescence\"). Esta proposta supõe uma transferência de elétron seguida de uma retrotransferência, que pode ocorrer de forma intra ou intermolecular, dependendo do sistema. A etapa de quimiexcitação do sistema peróxi-oxalato envolve uma retro-transferência de elétron intermolecular, da qual participam dois radicais-íons - um deles postulado como o dióxido de carbono radical-anion. Por outro lado, não existe consenso a respeito da via de retro-transferência de elétron na decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos, que pode ocorrer de forma intra ou intermolecular. Neste trabalho são apresentadas as sínteses de sete 1,2-dioxetanos, os resultados obtidos na investigação da via de quimiexcitação proposta no mecanismo CIEEL para a decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos e para o sistema peróxi-oxalato e a aplicação da quimiluminescência do luminol em matriz polimérica de poli(vinilpirrolidona) para a calibração de luminômetros de microplacas. Verificou-se, através do estudo do efeito da viscosidade do solvente sobre os rendimentos quânticos singlete na decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos, uma dependência entre a eficiência de quimiexcitação e o efeito da cavidade de solvente, que foi racionalizada em termos de um modelo difusional e friccional. Estes resultados, associados a cálculos teóricos, tomaram possível postular um mecanismo intramolecular modificado para a decomposição induzida de 1,2-dioxetanos. No sistema peróxi-oxalato foi realizada uma tentativa de detecção direta do dióxido de carbono ânion-radical através de medidas do sinal de ressonância paramagnética de elétron do aduto formado entre α-fenil-N-tert-butilnitrona (PBN), um spin trap, e o radical-anion. Apesar da leve discrepância entre as constantes de acoplamento do sinal observado em relação aos valores relatados na literatura para o aduto PBN-CO2, a caracterização foi realizada preliminarmente através de espectroscopia de massas com injeção direta. Finalmente, foi desenvolvido um sistema para calibração de luminômetros de microplacas, baseado na quimiluminescência de luminol em matriz polimérica, que pode ser utilizado - adicionalmente - na quantificação de peróxido de hidrogênio, em concentrações µmol-1, e agentes redutores com potencial anti-radicalar e antioxidante.The chemiluminescence resulting from induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes and the peroxyoxalate system can be explained by the Chemically Initiated Electron Exchange Luminescence - CIEEL mechanism. This hypothesis postulates an electron transfer followed by a bond cleavage or rearrangement and back electron transfer which can occur in a intra or intermolecular way, depending on the system. The chemiexcitation step in the peroxyoxalate system involves an intermolecular back electron transfer, in which two radical ions participates - one of them is assumed to be carbon dioxide radical anion. However, there is no consensus about the back electron transfer path in the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes, which Can occur in an intra or intermolecular way. This work reports the synthesis of seven 1,2-dioxetane derivatives, the results obtained in the investigation of the chemiexcitation path proposed by the CIEEL mechanism for the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes and for the peroxyoxalate system, and the application of poly(vinylpirrolidone) supported luminol chemiluminescence in the development of a rnicroplate luminometer calibration method. It was possible to confirm, by the study of solvent viscosity effect on singlet quantum yields in induced 1,2-dioxetane decomposition, a dependence between chemiexcitation efficiency and the solvent cavity effect, which was rationalized based on a diffusional and frictional model. These results, together with theoretical calculations, allow us to postulate a modified intermolecular chemiexcitation mechanism for the induced decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes. An attempt to detect directly the carbon di oxide radical anion in the peroxyoxalate system was made based on the electron paramagnetic resonance detection of the α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN)-CO2 adduct. Despite small discrepancies between the observed and the previously reported hyperfine coupling constant values, the adduct characterization was confirmed by direct injection mass spectrometry. Finally, a microplate luminometer light intensity calibration system, based on polymeric matrix-supported luminal, was developed. This method can be used also to determine hydrogen peroxide at µ mol-1 concentration and to quantify reducing agents with antiradical and antioxidant potential

PREDICTION OF METAL CATION TOXICITY TO THE BIOLUMINESCENT FUNGUS GERRONEMA VIRIDILUCENS

A correlation between the physicochemical properties of mono- [Li(I), K(I), Na(I)] and divalent [Cd(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Mg(II), Ca(II)] metal cations and their toxicity (evaluated by the free ion median effective concentration. EC50(F)) to the naturally bioluminescent fungus Gerronema viridilucens has been studied using the quantitative ion character activity relationship (QICAR) approach. Among the 11 ionic parameters used in the current study, a univariate model based on the covalent index (X(m)(2)r) proved to be the most adequate for prediction of fungal metal toxicity evaluated by the logarithm of free ion median effective concentration (log EC50(F)): log EC50(F) = 4.243 (+/-0.243) -1.268 (+/-0.125).X(m)(2)r (adj-R(2) = 0.9113, Alkaike information criterion [AIC] = 60.42). Additional two- and three-variable models were also tested and proved less suitable to fit the experimental data. These results indicate that covalent bonding is a good indicator of metal inherent toxicity to bioluminescent fungi. Furthermore, the toxicity of additional metal ions [Ag(I), Cs(I), Sr(II), Ba(II), Fe(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II)] to G. viridilucens was predicted, and Pb was found to be the most toxic metal to this bioluminescent fungus (EC50(F)): Pb(II) > Ag(I) > Hg(I) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Co(II) Ni(II) > Mn(II) > Fe(II) approximate to Zn(II) > Mg(II) approximate to Ba(II) approximate to Cs(I) > Li(I) > K(I) approximate to Na(I) approximate to Sr(II)> Ca(II). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2177-2181. (C) 2010 SETACFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[06/53628-3]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[07/00684-6]FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[05/60484-5]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Chemiluminescence-based uphill energy conversion

The conversion of red excitation light into blue emission light (uphill energy conversion) using unstable 1,2-dioxetanes is described. The method is based on 1,2-dioxetane formation by red-light sensitized photooxygenation of adequate alkenes and subsequent blue-light emission due to thermal 1,2-dioxetane cleavage. The energy gain resulting from the chemical energy obtained in the transformation of an alkene into two carbonyl compounds transforms a red-light excitation laser beam into a blue-light chemiluminescence emission, producing thereby a formal anti-Stokes shift of 200-250 nm, opening up a whole spectrum of possible applications

Revision of Singlet Quantum Yields in the Catalyzed Decomposition of Cyclic Peroxides

The chemiluminescence of cyclic peroxides activated by oxidizable fluorescent dyes is an example of chemically initiated electron exchange luminescence (CIEEL), which has been used also to explain the efficient bioluminescence of fireflies. Diphenoyl peroxide and dimethyl-1,2-dioxetanone were used as model compounds for the development of this CIEEL mechanism. However, the chemiexcitation efficiency of diphenoyl peroxide was found to be much lower than originally described. In this work, we redetermine the chemiexcitation quantum efficiency of dimethyl-1,2-dioxetanone, a more adequate model for firefly bioluminescence, and found a singlet quantum yield (Phi(s)) of 0.1%, a value at least 2 orders of magnitude lower than previously reported. Furthermore, we synthesized two other 1,2-dioxetanone derivatives and confirm the low chemiexcitation efficiency (Phi(s) < 0.1%) of the intermolecular CIEEL-activated decomposition of this class of cyclic. peroxides. These results are compared with other chemiluminescent reactions, supporting the general trend that intermolecular CIEEL systems are much less efficient in generating singlet excited states than analogous intramolecular processes (Phi(s) approximate to 50%), with the notable exception of the peroxyoxalate reaction (Phi(s) approximate to 60%).Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2006/03420-7, 2005/58320-4, 2012/02428-5, 2007/00684-6, 2011/23036-5]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) [304887/2010-2]Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES)Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES

Beetroot-pigment-derived colorimetric sensor for detection of calcium dipicolinate in bacterial spores.

In this proof-of-concept study, we describe the use of the main red beet pigment betanin for the quantification of calcium dipicolinate in bacterial spores, including Bacillus anthracis. In the presence of europium(III) ions, betanin is converted to a water-soluble, non-luminescent orange 1∶1 complex with a stability constant of 1.4 × 10(5) L mol(-1). The addition of calcium dipicolinate, largely found in bacterial spores, changes the color of the aqueous solution of [Eu(Bn)(+)] from orange to magenta. The limit of detection (LOD) of calcium dipicolinate is around 2.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) and the LOD determined for both spores, B. cereus and B. anthracis, is (1.1 ± 0.3)× 10(6) spores mL(-1). This simple, green, fast and low cost colorimetric assay was selective for calcium dipicolinate when compared to several analogous compounds. The importance of this work relies on the potential use of betalains, raw natural pigments, as colorimetric sensors for biological applications