Ni(ii)-POCOP pincer complexes [NiCl{C₆H₂-4-OH-2,6-(OPR₂)₂}] (R = Ph (1), tBu (2), iPr (3)) were studied as bifunctional molecular sensors for inorganic anions.

Dicationic N-methylated at quinolyl moieties derivatives of three isomers of N,N′-bis(quinolyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, and respective N-methyl quinolinium benzamides as reference compounds, have been prepared and characterized by crystal structures, spectral and acid–base properties in water. First pK_a values of dicarboxamides between 8.1 and 9.3 determined spectrophotometrically are unusually low for amides. Dicarboxamide derivatives of 3- (1) and 6-aminoquinoline (2) undergo efficient fluorescence quenching by halide, acetate, pyrophosphate and nucleotide anions but the derivative of 5-aminoquinoline (3) shows very small quenching effects. The shape of Stern–Volmer plots for dicarboxamides indicates the existence of ground state complexation with anions, which is absent for related benzamides. Association constants, K_A, with anions were calculated from analysis of concentration profiles of the quenching effects on the fluorescence of 1 and 2. Quenching by nucleoside triphosphates is much more efficient than by inorganic anions. Efficient binding of even simple inorganic anions by neutral amide N–H donors in water is attributed to high acidity of amides and preorganized rigid structure of the receptors.

Photoluminescent chemosensors based on Zn and Cd coordination arrays for the sensitive and selective detection of pesticides, herbicides, and cyanide in aqueous environments.

Context: Lippia species (Verbenaceae) are widely used in Latin America and Africa as folk medicine for their tranquilizing properties. Objective: To evaluate the anxiolytic-like effects and safety of Lippia graveolens Kunth. by exploring its aqueous and organic leaf extracts and identifying the responsible chemical constituents. Material and methods: Aqueous and organic extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) were pharmacologically evaluated at several doses. Chemical constituents were identified using MS, NMR and GC-MS analysis. The isolated compounds (3 mg/kg, i.p.), extracts (1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.), and the reference drug diazepam (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) were assessed in CD-1 mice using experimental behavioural models: open-field, cylinder, hole-board, plus-maze and sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, as well as their acute toxicity (LD₅₀). Results: After administration of the extracts and bioactive compounds, a significant anxiolytic-like response from 1 mg/kg, i.p. was observed, resembling the effect of diazepam. Major presence of thymol (33.40%) was observed in the hexane extract; whereas for the first time in this species a p-cymene + thymol mixture (9.78%), naringenin (0.18%) and cirsimaritin (1.16%) were obtained as bioactive constituents of the ethyl acetate crude extract. Acute toxicity was calculated to be LD₅₀ = 1000 mg/kg for the crude hexane extract, lower in comparison to the other extracts analyzed (LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg). Discussion and conclusion: Our results suggest that L. graveolens exerts anxiolytic-like activity involving many kinds of constituents, mainly of the terpenoid and flavonoid nature. These results reinforce the potential use of this species in the therapy of anxiety.