The Michaelis-Menten equation is used in many biochemical and bioinorganic kinetic studies involving homogeneous catalysis. Otherwise, it is known that determination of Michaelis-Menten parameters K M, Vmax, and k cat by the well-known Lineweaver-Burk double reciprocal linear equation does not produce the best values for these parameters. In this paper we present a discussion on different linear equations which can be used to calculate these parameters and we compare their results with the values obtained by the more reliable nonlinear least-square fit.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a síntese, estrutura cristalina, atividade eletroquímica, propriedades espectroscópicas (IV-TF e UV-Vis) e atividade catalítica frente à oxidação do benzeno do novo complexo mononuclear de cobre(II) [Cu(BTMEA)2Cl]Cl, (1) (BTMEA: bis(2-tienilmetil)-1,2-etilenodiamina). A reação entre BTMEA e [Cu(OH2)2]Cl2, em metanol, resultou em 1, o qual cristaliza como um cristal irregular azul, no grupo espacial Pnna, com a = 20,101(3), b = 12,094(6), c = 12,741(2) Å, V = 3097,4(17) ų, Z = 4. Em 1, o íon cobre está pentacoordenado, mostrando uma geometria de pirâmide de base quadrada distorcida. Complexo 1 apresenta dois processos redox irreverssíveis a - 0,35 V e 0,456 V versus NHE, os quais são atribuídos ao processo redox CuII/CuI e a uma reação acoplada envolvendo o ligante cloreto. A atividade catalítica de 1 foi avaliada através da reação de oxidação do benzeno, usando peróxido de hidrogênio como oxidante. Os produtos da reação (fenol e p-benzoquinona) foram identificados por cromatografia gasosa.

The aim of this work is to present the synthesis, crystal structure, electrochemical behavior, spectroscopic properties (FT-IR and UV-Vis) and catalytic activity toward benzene oxidation of a new mononuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(BMTEA)2Cl]Cl, (1) (BTMEA: bis(2-thienylmethyl)-1,2-ethylenediamine). The reaction between BTMEA and [Cu(OH2)2]Cl2, in methanol, resulted in 1, which crystallizes as an irregular blue crystal, space group Pnna, with a = 20.101(3), b = 12.094(6), c = 12.741(2) Å, V = 3097.4(17) ų, Z = 4. In 1, the copper ion is pentacoordinated, showing a distorted square pyramidal geometry. Complex 1 shows two irreversible redox processes at -0.35 V and at 0.456 V versus NHE, which are associated with the CuII/CuI redox couple and with a coupled reaction involving the chloride ligand. The catalytic activity of 1 was evaluated through benzene oxidation reaction, using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Reaction products (phenol and p-benzoquinone) were identified by gas chromatography.

Brazilian chemical industries face several problems regarding Research, Development and Innovation (RDI). The present paper shows that simple cooperation between chemical industries and university laboratories can be a way to overcome some of the present difficulties. The work carried out at LABOCAT has several industrial interfaces. It involves, among other areas of RDI, the development of anti-HIV-protease (and other virus-related-protease) drugs, the establishment of new (industrial) chemical processes and the implementation of industrial (biodiesel and related) plants. A model based on the present so called RHAE programme is proposed in which, parallel to the fellowship awards of this programme, financing participation of Brazilian Agencies would cover process development.

The replicative cycle of HIV presents several events. The proteins involved in these events can be anticipated as pharmacological targets, aiming to the development of anti viral agents. Presently, there are fifteen commercially available anti-HIV drugs, which act at substrate binding site of reverse transcriptase (zidovudine, didanosine, zalcitabine, stavudine, lamivudine and abacavir), at a non-substrate binding site of reverse transcriptase (nevirapine, delavirdine and efavirenz), or by inhibiting HIV protease activity (saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir and lopinavir). The present review focus both on these established classes of drugs and on new classes of compounds acting on other virus specific steps.

Misturas de enantiômeros de alanina, serina, threonina, valina, metionina, leucina e norleucina foram resolvidas cromatograficamente (e reprodutivelmente), através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com fase reversa, por troca de ligantes, utilizando-se L-prolina, L-hidroxiprolina ou N,N-dimetil-L-fenilalanina (2 mmol L-1) e Cu(CH3COO)2 (1 mmol L-1) em água ou em água/metanol. A utilização de água/metanol leva a uma grande diminuição dos tempos de retenção dos α-amino ácidos mais hidrofóbicos, preservando a separação enantiomérica. O pH precisa ser alto o bastante para permitir a presença de grupos –NH2 livres, o que torna a complexação com Cu(II) mais fácil. α-Amino ácidos conformacionalmente mais restritos, como a L-prolina e a L-hidroxiprolina, conduziram a separações enantioméricas menores. A formação de complexos pseudo-homoquirais e pseudo-heteroquirais, por troca de ligantes, que é cinética e termodinamicamente controlada, desempenha um papel fundamental para a separação enantiomérica desejada. Esta metodologia simples e barata pode ser usada em qualquer laboratório envolvido em síntese de α-amino ácidos.

Enantiomeric mixtures of alanine, serine, threonine, valine, methionine, leucine and norleucine were resolved in ligand exchange reversed phase HPLC (reproducibly), by using L-proline, L-hydroxyproline or N,N-dimethyl-L-phenylalanine (2 mmol L-1) and Cu(CH3COO)2 (1 mmol L-1) in water or in water/methanol. The latter mobile phase greatly decreased the retention time of the more hydrophobic α-amino acids, preserving enantioseparation. pH must be high enough to allow the presence of free –NH2 groups in order to make the complexation with Cu(II) easier. The more restricted conformation of L-proline and L-hydroxyproline led to lower enantioseparations. The ligand exchange formation of pseudo-homochiral and pseudo-heterochiral complexes, thermodynamically and kinetically controlled, plays a fundamental role for the desired enantiomeric chromatographic separation. This simple and inexpensive methodology can be used routinely by any laboratory involved in α-amino acid synthesis.