In the criminal sphere, it is extremely important to identify perpetrators of crimes based on latent fingerprints (invisible to the naked eye) revealed at crime scenes and their corresponding objects. The present work aimed to evaluate four synthetic analogues of curcumin as possible IDL developers, and to compare their results with those of carbon black developer, as well as to reach the most adequate parameters in the use of the LTQ and FT-ICR mass spectrometers with the paper spray ionization (PS) source to study the chemical composition of the endogenous substances contained in the IDL. For this, a 24-1 factorial design was developed, where it was verified that the distance and voltage factors were the most influential for the increase in the response of signals, in the analysis of latent fingerprints by PS. Among the detected substances we can mention around 20 fatty acids, and squalene. Finally, four potential developers, synthetic analogues of curcumin, were compared with carbon black developer. The revelation of latent fingerprints occurred efficiently, allowing the visualization of minutiae, such as bifurcation and end of line, making it possible to classify them, according to the Vucetich Fingerprint Classification System.

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids is largely restricted worldwide since they are associated with innumerous side effects and health damage. However, apprehensions of formulations of anabolic agents have been extensively increasing throughout the world, making their analysis a common task in the forensic field. In this sense, a set of three experiments was developed and applied to undergraduate students of Forensic Chemistry dealing with visual inspection of apprehended formulations of anabolic androgenic steroids as well as chemical identification by Infrared Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Moreover, the classroom evaluated the extraction of steroidal active ingredients by ultrasonic and microwave-assisted extraction. The experimental procedures allied with the theory behind these topics provided an important background to the students on distinct extraction methods and analytical techniques used in the analysis of anabolic agents. Finally, the classroom was led to critically evaluate and interpret the results as well as to question the adequacy of experimental methods used in forensic analysis to stimulate their critical thinking.

This work aims the synthesis of amidino pyrazolines by the cyclocondensation reaction between 3-(hetero)aryl-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)enones and aminoguanidine hydrochloride under sonochemical conditions. Thirteen new compounds were synthesized in 15-83% of yield after sonication for 30 min without purification by chromatography. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compounds were investigated by in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in a panel of four bacterial strains and four Candida yeasts. As result, the 5-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamide hydrochloride was identified as the most active against gram-positive S. aureus and E. faecalis with MIC of 7.8 µg mL−1, similar to the value showed by chloramphenicol, which was used as standard.