No description available.

This thesis focuses on methods for quantification by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) of specific biomarkers for internal dose of chemicals which induce toxicity through their electrophilic reactivity. In vivo such compounds are short-lived, and could feasibly be measured as their reaction products (adducts) with biomacromolecules. Analysis by MS methods of stable adducts offers the specificity and accuracy required to generate data on internal dose useful in risk estimation. The primary aim was to develop a method for quantification by LC/MS of bulky adducts to serum albumin (SA) from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, using the genotoxic diolepoxide (DE) of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) as a model. A method for analysis of the BPDE adducts to His146 in SA was developed which is robust, easy-to-use, has good reproducibility and which reached a high sensitivity. A method for quantification of BPDE adducts to N2-deoxyguanosine (dG) in DNA by LC/MS was also established. In mice exposed to BP, adducts to SA and DNA from stereoisomers of BPDE were identified and quantified. The adduct level was shown to be &gt;400 times higher in DNA than in SA, which from an in vitro study could be concluded to mainly depend on a large difference in the rates of adduct formation to His in SA and to dG in DNA. BPDE adduct levels to SA and DNA, and a biomarker of genotoxic effect (frequency of micronuclei), were compared in BP-exposed mice. The results were used to evaluate how these methods could be used in procedures for cancer risk estimation. An LC/MS method for analysis of valine hydantoins (VH) formed as adducts from isocyanates to N-termini in haemoglobin was established. VH, formed from urea/isocyanic acid, was investigated in mice as a potential biomarker of renal failure and for dose adjustment during treatment with a radioactive cytostatic drug. The kidney dysfunction was not severe enough to give a significant increase of VH in the experiment. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>

The acute cellular responses to DNA damaging agents are critical in determining the long term outcome of disease. A cell’s susceptibility to damage, or its capacity to remove or repair this damage, all contributes to the eventual health or disease of tissues. This process is especially crucial in colonic epithelial cells and in the development of colorectal oncogenesis. The colonic lumen is constantly subjected to different environmental compounds that may have genotoxic properties that can initiate mutational events and possibly carcinogenesis. Therefore, the study of a regulatory dietary agent that improves the colonic cells ability to withstand damage, improve repair and retain its general health is a significant and practical tool in the fight against colorectal cancer. The health benefits of fish oil, including its potential chemopreventative properties, have been reported in numerous studies. However, the mechanism by which this protective effect occurs remains unclear. A gap in current literature exists that fails to explore the effect of fish oil on the early cellular responses to carcinogenic agents. Therefore, this thesis aims to firstly, better understand the specific host responses to an insult of carcinogen in vivo; secondly, to determine if regulation of these responses can be achieved by dietary fish oil; and lastly, to explore the potential consequences of this regulation for colorectal oncogenesis. All experimental work was carried out using a rat – azoxymethane (AOM) animal model of colorectal carcinogenesis. The key host responses to the carcinogen that were measured included the formation of acute O6methyldeoxyGuanosine (O6medG) DNA damage, the acute apoptotic response to genotoxic carcinogen (AARGC) and cell proliferation rates. A novel immunochemical assay was designed to detect both the levels and distribution of O6medG in colonic cells. With this established, a pattern of these host responses were mapped out over time. A dietary intervention study trialling a range of fish oil diets containing different doses and forms was then carried out to determine if modulation of responses occurred. This study was then followed on by a longer term study that explored the consequences of regulation by fish oil on pre-neoplastic lesions in the colon. The acute host responses to an insult of AOM showed that colonic O6medG formation began 2h post AOM administration and peaked at 6h. The AARGC response followed the pattern of O6medG by a 2h delay, peaking at 8h post AOM administration, while cell proliferation rates decreased significantly after 6h. The inclusion of tuna oil in the diet did not affect either the AARGC or cell proliferation rates when given in any form or at any dose. Animals fed a diet with 15% free tuna oil and 7% encapsulated tuna oil did however have significantly reduced levels of O6medG DNA damage in the distal colon. This reduction in O6medG levels did not translate into a reduction of ACF lesion, with a protective effect against ACF lesions only being observed in animals fed the high dose fish oil groups. Analysis of the data suggest that the acute host responses to an insult of DNA damaging agent appear to be closely related, all reaching their peak level of response 6-8h after the insult. The short time frame between both O6medG and apoptosis also did not support the current popular theory which explains O6medG mediated apoptosis. An alternate hypothesised BER mediated apoptotic pathway was also not supported. Regulation of the acute apoptotic response or the cell proliferation rate was not achieved by dietary fish oil. However, a high dose fish oil diet did regulate the level of O6medG in colonic epithelial cells by significantly reducing the total O6medG DNA damage load. This reduction of O6medG by a high fish oil diet however, was not translated into a protective effect against the formation of pre-neoplastic lesions. These data suggests that regulation of the acute O6medG response to a damaging agent does not necessarily imply protection for longer term colorectal oncogenesis. Additional studies exploring both the effect of fish oil on AOM metabolising enzymes and also a longer term cancer study may help to answer some pertinent questions evolving from this thesis.

Hemoglobin and serum albumin, two prevalent proteins in human blood, contain unbound cysteine thiol moieties, creating a nucleophilic site with the potential for covalent modification by reactive chemical species. These covalent modifications, called “adducts”, are stable entities that accumulate during acute and chronic exposure and remain covalently bound for the life-span of the protein. Despite their current use as exposure markers for a variety of compounds, the use of adducts in assessing exposure to drugs of abuse has not yet been explored. The goal of this work was to examine the in vitro adduct forming capability of selected drugs of abuse with hemoglobin to provide additional proof of principle for the development of a real-world detection and monitoring analysis method. This goal was accomplished by first analyzing the binding capabilities of the drugs of interest with glutathione, a smaller tripeptide. Use of protein adducts as biomarkers of drug exposure may allow for an increased window of detection, from several days to several months, as compared to current blood analysis methods. In total, there were 16 drugs analyzed in the research, and they covered a wide range of abused drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and Δ 9 -THC. Results from the glutathione trials showed that 10 of the 16 the drugs of interest were able to form covalent adducts with the free thiol moiety, with four drugs forming more than one novel adduct. The MS results for hemoglobin showed 11 adducts formed for five of the drugs under investigation. Additional MS/MS confirmatory data was obtained for two of those 11 adducts. I successfully identifyied adducts formed between drugs of abuse and glutathione and hemoglobin, which have the potential to be used as long-term biomarkers of exposure.

This research is concerned with determining whether the previously reported synthesis of tropolone by the solvolysis of the dichloroketene-cyclopentadiene adduct in sodium acetate and acetic acid could be used to prepare 2-alkyltropones from the adducts of alkylhaloketenes and cyclopentadiene. The information obtained from these rearrangements could be useful in determining the mechanism of the ring expansion of halogenated ketene-cyclopentadiene adducts to tropone derivatives.

No description available.

Esta tese apresenta as reações entre o aduto de Diels-Alder 2,3-diclorobenzoquinona-ciclopentadieno e alguns nucleófilos, não descritas na literatura, conforme pode ser verificado pela revisão bibliográfica apresentada no primeiro capítulo. Assim, dezenove novos adutos dialquiltio- e diariltio-substituídos, bem como o correspondente difenilseleno derivado, foram sintetizados e caracterizados. As reações com alguns nucleófilos de oxigênio e nitrogênio falharam, fornecendo o aduto diclorado aromatizado. O aduto dimetiltio-substituído aromatizado foi obtido pela reação do aduto diclorado com excesso de metil mercapteto do sódio. Algumas reações dos adutos ditio-substituídos foram investigadas, tais como a de retro Diels-Alder, fotociclizacao e oxidação. A reação de retro Diels-Alder permitiu a síntese de três novas benzoquinonas 2,3-dialquiltio-substituídas, as quais foram identificados e caracterizadas. No caso da 2,3-dimetiltio benzoquinona, a sua reação com ciclopentadieno forneceu o aduto dimetiltio-substituído, que se mostrou idêntico àquele obtido a partir do aduto diclorado. As experiências de fotociclização com alguns adutos dialquiltio-substituídos não conduziram aos compostos \"gaiola esperados. Algumas experiências de oxidação do aduto dimetiltio substituído são descritas, bem como a síntese do aduto metiltiometilsulfinil-substituído. Este não sofreu posterior oxidação, nem ciclizou sob irradiação. Contudo, sua reação com cloreto de tionila foi bem sucedida, pois conduziu ao aduto cloro-alquiltio substituído, o qual não pode ser sintetizado diretamente pela reação entre quantidades equimolares do aduto diclorado e mercapteto. Os mecanismos destas reações são discutidos, apontando - se a importância do aduto cloro-alquiltio-substituído como intermediário em síntese de adutos mistos ditio-substituídos. Apesar desta inesperada falta de reatividade na fotociclização, os adutos ditio-substituídos mostraram possuir configuração endo, conforme foi demonstrado por evidências químicas e de espectroscopia de13C. As possíveis causas desta falta de reatividade, até agora não registrada na literatura em outros adutos endo, são discutidas. / This thesis presents reactions not yet described in the literature between the 2,3-dichlorobenzoquinone-cyclopentadiene Diels-Alder adduct and some nucleophiles, as shown by a bibliographic survey, initially presented. Thus, nineteen new dialkylthio and diarylthiobenzoquinones-cyclopentadiene adducts and the corresponding diphenylseleno one were synthesized. The reactions with some oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles failed and afforded the aromatized dichloro adduct. The aromatized dimethylthio-substituted adduct was obtained by the reaction of the dichloro adduct with an excess of sodium methyl mercaptide. Some reactions of the dithio-substituted adducts were investigated, such as the retro Diels-Alder, photocyclization and oxidation. The retro Diels-Alder reaction led to the synthesis of three new 2,3-dialkylthiobenzoquinones, which were identified and characterized. The 2,3-dimethylthiobenzoquinone underwent Diels-Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene to give the dimethylthio- substituted adduct which showed to be identical to that obtained from the dichloro adduct. The irradiation of some dialkylthio- substituted adducts did not afford the expected \"cage\" compounds. Some oxidation experiments with the dimethylthio-substituted adduct are described, and the synthesis of the methylthio- methylsulphinyl-substituted adduct is reported. The latter did not undergo further oxidation nor cyclization on irradiation. However, successful reaction was obtained with thionyl chloride, leading to the chloro-alkylthio-substituted adduct which could not be synthesized by reaction between dichloro adduct and mercaptide in 1:1 proportion. The mechanisms for both reactions are discussed and the possibility of the chloro-alkylthio-substituted adduct being an intermediate for the synthesis of the mixed dithio-substituted adducts is suggested. Despite of the lack of reactivity on photocyclization the dithio-substituted adducts were shown to be endo by chemical and 13C spectroscopics evidences. Possible factors which would be responsible for this unusual inertness for the endo adducts, are discussed.

Catalisadores Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) de 4ª geração são preparados com suporte de dicloreto de magnésio com morfologia controlada, obtidos a partir de adutos etanólicos de dicloreto de magnésio (MgCl2.nEtOH). O objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar o balanço entre as variáveis independentes concentração de reagentes, velocidade de agitação da emulsão e pressão de transferência, na preparação do aduto com controle morfológico. Os adutos etanólicos com controle da morfologia esférica foram preparados pela transferência controlada do aduto fundido a 125 ºC e precipitação por resfriamento brusco (quenching) em não-solvente a – 50 ºC, utilizando o método Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). A ativação do MgCl2.nEtOH foi feita pela rota química para remoção do etanol e consequente aumento da área superficial do suporte. Os adutos foram preparados com razão molar EtOH/MgCl2 de 3,5 ou 63% (p/p) de etanol. Os experimentos foram realizados segundo planejamento fatorial 23 a dois níveis e ponto central replicado. As variáveis dependentes foram o diâmetro médio e distribuição de tamanho das partículas do suporte, densidade aparente compactada, morfologia e teor de álcool incorporado no aduto. Os catalisadores Z-N’s foram obtidos a partir dos suportes tratados com TiCl4 e um doador de elétrons interno, e testados em polimerização padrão de propileno. Foi observado que o controle do tamanho (diâmetro médio) da partícula do suporte é altamente dependente da velocidade de transferência, controlada pela pressão no reator de fusão. A concentração do reagente ([MgCl2]) teve efeito significativo nas quatro variáveis dependentes. A velocidade de agitação no reator de fusão ou da emulsão do aduto fundido teve efeito significativo somente na morfologia do suporte, sendo este efeito menor que o observado para a pressão de transferência. A velocidade de agitação não teve significância no processo de transferência CTEM, sendo este mais suscetível a variação da pressão no reator. / 4th Generation Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Z-N catalysts) are prepared with magnesium dichloride support with controlled morphology, obtained from ethanolic adducts of magnesium dichloride (MgCl2.nEtOH). The objective of this work was to optimize the balance between the independent variables reagent concentration, emulsion agitation speed and transfer pressure, in the preparation of the adduct with morphological control. The ethanolic adducts with spherical morphology control were prepared by controlled transfer of the molten adduct at 125 °C and quenching in nonsolvent at - 50 °C using the Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). The activation of MgCl2.nEtOH was done by chemical route to remove the ethanol and consequently increase the surface area of the support. The adducts were prepared with EtOH/MgCl2 molar ratio of 3.5 or 63% (w/w) ethanol. The experiments were performed according to factorial design 23 at two levels and replicated central point. The dependent variables were the mean diameter and particle size distribution of the carrier, compacted bulk density, morphology and alcohol content incorporated in the adduct. The Z-N’s catalysts were obtained from TiCl4-treated media and an internal electron donor, and tested in standard polypropylene polymerization. It has been observed that size control (median diameter) of the carrier particle is highly dependent on the transfer rate, controlled by the pressure in the fusion reactor. The concentration of the reagent ( [MgCl2] ) had a significant effect on the four dependent variables. The stirring rate in the melt reactor or the cast adduct emulsion had significant effect only on the morphology of the support, this effect being smaller than that observed for the transfer pressure. The stirring speed was not significant in the CTEM transfer process, which is more susceptible to pressure variation in the reactor.

Catalisadores Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) de 4ª geração são preparados com suporte de dicloreto de magnésio com morfologia controlada, obtidos a partir de adutos etanólicos de dicloreto de magnésio (MgCl2.nEtOH). O objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar o balanço entre as variáveis independentes concentração de reagentes, velocidade de agitação da emulsão e pressão de transferência, na preparação do aduto com controle morfológico. Os adutos etanólicos com controle da morfologia esférica foram preparados pela transferência controlada do aduto fundido a 125 ºC e precipitação por resfriamento brusco (quenching) em não-solvente a – 50 ºC, utilizando o método Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). A ativação do MgCl2.nEtOH foi feita pela rota química para remoção do etanol e consequente aumento da área superficial do suporte. Os adutos foram preparados com razão molar EtOH/MgCl2 de 3,5 ou 63% (p/p) de etanol. Os experimentos foram realizados segundo planejamento fatorial 23 a dois níveis e ponto central replicado. As variáveis dependentes foram o diâmetro médio e distribuição de tamanho das partículas do suporte, densidade aparente compactada, morfologia e teor de álcool incorporado no aduto. Os catalisadores Z-N’s foram obtidos a partir dos suportes tratados com TiCl4 e um doador de elétrons interno, e testados em polimerização padrão de propileno. Foi observado que o controle do tamanho (diâmetro médio) da partícula do suporte é altamente dependente da velocidade de transferência, controlada pela pressão no reator de fusão. A concentração do reagente ([MgCl2]) teve efeito significativo nas quatro variáveis dependentes. A velocidade de agitação no reator de fusão ou da emulsão do aduto fundido teve efeito significativo somente na morfologia do suporte, sendo este efeito menor que o observado para a pressão de transferência. A velocidade de agitação não teve significância no processo de transferência CTEM, sendo este mais suscetível a variação da pressão no reator. / 4th Generation Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Z-N catalysts) are prepared with magnesium dichloride support with controlled morphology, obtained from ethanolic adducts of magnesium dichloride (MgCl2.nEtOH). The objective of this work was to optimize the balance between the independent variables reagent concentration, emulsion agitation speed and transfer pressure, in the preparation of the adduct with morphological control. The ethanolic adducts with spherical morphology control were prepared by controlled transfer of the molten adduct at 125 °C and quenching in nonsolvent at - 50 °C using the Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). The activation of MgCl2.nEtOH was done by chemical route to remove the ethanol and consequently increase the surface area of the support. The adducts were prepared with EtOH/MgCl2 molar ratio of 3.5 or 63% (w/w) ethanol. The experiments were performed according to factorial design 23 at two levels and replicated central point. The dependent variables were the mean diameter and particle size distribution of the carrier, compacted bulk density, morphology and alcohol content incorporated in the adduct. The Z-N’s catalysts were obtained from TiCl4-treated media and an internal electron donor, and tested in standard polypropylene polymerization. It has been observed that size control (median diameter) of the carrier particle is highly dependent on the transfer rate, controlled by the pressure in the fusion reactor. The concentration of the reagent ( [MgCl2] ) had a significant effect on the four dependent variables. The stirring rate in the melt reactor or the cast adduct emulsion had significant effect only on the morphology of the support, this effect being smaller than that observed for the transfer pressure. The stirring speed was not significant in the CTEM transfer process, which is more susceptible to pressure variation in the reactor.

Catalisadores Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) de 4ª geração são preparados com suporte de dicloreto de magnésio com morfologia controlada, obtidos a partir de adutos etanólicos de dicloreto de magnésio (MgCl2.nEtOH). O objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar o balanço entre as variáveis independentes concentração de reagentes, velocidade de agitação da emulsão e pressão de transferência, na preparação do aduto com controle morfológico. Os adutos etanólicos com controle da morfologia esférica foram preparados pela transferência controlada do aduto fundido a 125 ºC e precipitação por resfriamento brusco (quenching) em não-solvente a – 50 ºC, utilizando o método Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). A ativação do MgCl2.nEtOH foi feita pela rota química para remoção do etanol e consequente aumento da área superficial do suporte. Os adutos foram preparados com razão molar EtOH/MgCl2 de 3,5 ou 63% (p/p) de etanol. Os experimentos foram realizados segundo planejamento fatorial 23 a dois níveis e ponto central replicado. As variáveis dependentes foram o diâmetro médio e distribuição de tamanho das partículas do suporte, densidade aparente compactada, morfologia e teor de álcool incorporado no aduto. Os catalisadores Z-N’s foram obtidos a partir dos suportes tratados com TiCl4 e um doador de elétrons interno, e testados em polimerização padrão de propileno. Foi observado que o controle do tamanho (diâmetro médio) da partícula do suporte é altamente dependente da velocidade de transferência, controlada pela pressão no reator de fusão. A concentração do reagente ([MgCl2]) teve efeito significativo nas quatro variáveis dependentes. A velocidade de agitação no reator de fusão ou da emulsão do aduto fundido teve efeito significativo somente na morfologia do suporte, sendo este efeito menor que o observado para a pressão de transferência. A velocidade de agitação não teve significância no processo de transferência CTEM, sendo este mais suscetível a variação da pressão no reator. / 4th Generation Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Z-N catalysts) are prepared with magnesium dichloride support with controlled morphology, obtained from ethanolic adducts of magnesium dichloride (MgCl2.nEtOH). The objective of this work was to optimize the balance between the independent variables reagent concentration, emulsion agitation speed and transfer pressure, in the preparation of the adduct with morphological control. The ethanolic adducts with spherical morphology control were prepared by controlled transfer of the molten adduct at 125 °C and quenching in nonsolvent at - 50 °C using the Controlled Turbulence Emulsion Method (CTEM). The activation of MgCl2.nEtOH was done by chemical route to remove the ethanol and consequently increase the surface area of the support. The adducts were prepared with EtOH/MgCl2 molar ratio of 3.5 or 63% (w/w) ethanol. The experiments were performed according to factorial design 23 at two levels and replicated central point. The dependent variables were the mean diameter and particle size distribution of the carrier, compacted bulk density, morphology and alcohol content incorporated in the adduct. The Z-N’s catalysts were obtained from TiCl4-treated media and an internal electron donor, and tested in standard polypropylene polymerization. It has been observed that size control (median diameter) of the carrier particle is highly dependent on the transfer rate, controlled by the pressure in the fusion reactor. The concentration of the reagent ( [MgCl2] ) had a significant effect on the four dependent variables. The stirring rate in the melt reactor or the cast adduct emulsion had significant effect only on the morphology of the support, this effect being smaller than that observed for the transfer pressure. The stirring speed was not significant in the CTEM transfer process, which is more susceptible to pressure variation in the reactor.