Cotinus coggygria Scop. (smoketree) is a phytotherapeutically valuable shrub growing in specific areas in many Eurasian countries. Exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic (abiotic) factors that modulate its secondary metabolism has fundamental and applicative importance. Three smoketree plants from the same population were studied for a period of 4.5 months. Their extracts were characterized using LC–MS/MS, HPLC–UV–VIS–DAD and colorimetric assays to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant potential. Multivariate analysis was applied to correlate the metabolomic data with registered habitat variables and phenological stages. The identified and quantified compounds belonged to the flavonoids (myricetin-3-O-galactoside, myricitrin) and hydrolysable tannins groups (pentagalloyl glucose, methyl gallate, methyl digallate I). Phenolic compounds and tannins were synthesized abundantly in the flowering and fruit stages, whereas flavonoids and triterpenes accumulated during senescence. The antioxidant activities varied between detection methods, samplings and individuals and were only punctually correlated with the compound contents in certain phenological stages. Based on the HCAbp analysis, the samples clustered under four groups, according to their metabolic profile. The CCA analysis revealed that during the reproductive stages (flower, fruit or seed), the secondary metabolism of the plants’ leaves is sensitive to the action of abiotic factors, while in senescence, the metabolic content is according to the phenological phase. This study provides a first attempt at understanding the interplay between the habitat and the metabolome of smoketree.

As a continuation of research on 1-vinylazulenes synthesis, on their physico–chemical properties as well as on their use as colorimetric and electrochemical materials for the detection of heavy metals ions, new compounds, 4-(azulen-1-ylmethylene)-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones, are reported. The exceptional structure of azulene moiety with symmetrical electron distribution only with respect to the x-axis gives some special chemical and physical properties to compounds in which it is inserted. Various azulene-1-carbaldehydes and hippuric acids are condensed with good yields in Erlenmeyer—Plöchl reaction conditions. The obtained 1-vinylzulenes were characterized and their UV-Vis and NMR spectra were briefly discussed.

New aspects of the Ni(II)-salophen complex and salophen ligand precursor were found during deep electrochemical and optical characterization, as well as biological studies for new pharmacological applications. Physicochemical and spectroscopic methods (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and molar conductance measurements) were also used to prove that the salophen ligand acts as a tetradentate and coordinates to the central metal through nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The electrochemical behavior of the free Schiff salophen ligand (H₂L) and its Ni(II) complex (Ni(II)L) was deeply studied in tetrabutylammonium perchlorate solutions in acetonitrile via CV, DPV, and RDE. Blue films on the surfaces of the electrodes as a result of the electropolymerization processes were put in evidence and characterized via CV and DPV. (H₂L) and Ni(II)L complexes were tested for their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant activity, showing good antimicrobial and antifungal activity against several bacteria and fungi.

Background: New amino derivatives of NBD type are of high interest due to their strong fluorescence, while compounds containing a disulphide moiety are of high interest in nano-chemistry due to their easiness of attaching to noble nanoparticles. Therefore, in this work a new fluorescent derivative of NBD and cystamine was obtained. Methods: The reaction between cystamine and NBD-chloride occurs straightforwardly, and the isolated new compound was characterized by IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, MS, etc. Results: Structural analysis confirmed the proposed structure and highlighted the fluorescence behavior. Conclusions: A new fluorescent derivative of cystamine was obtained and characterized by different means.