Search

Two new mixed ligand complexes of copper(II) with acetylacetonate (acac), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) belonging to the class of cytotoxic and antineoplastic compounds known as CASIOPEINAS® were synthesized and structurally characterized. Crystals of both complexes [Cu(acac)(bpy)(H2O)]NO3 · H2O (1), [Cu(acac)(phen)Br] (2) contain square pyramidal Cu(II) complex species. In frozen solution both compounds give well resolved EPR spectra with very similar parameters.

Five green leafy vegetables commonly consumed in Nigeria (Talinum triangulare, Corchorus olitorius, Celosia argentea, Amaranthus hybridus and Vernonia amygdalina) were examined for their chlorophyll contents. These varied between 0.038% for Talinum triangulare and 0.137% for Vernonia amygdalina, with chlorophyll-a constituting between 68 and 75% of the total chlorophyll. By bringing the temperature of the leaves to 100°C, at least 56% of the total chlorophyll was lost, the rate of loss decreasing with the initial total chlorophyll content. When the leaves were blanched by immersion in boiling water, they showed a greater rate of chlorophyll loss. This was reduced when the pH was adjusted to 6.