Directed synthesis and immunoactive properties of (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts of 1-R-indol-3-ylsulfanyl(sulfonyl)alkanecarboxylic acids

A general method for the synthesis of 1-alkyl(allyl)(benzyl)-substituted (indol-3-yl)-sulfanylalkanecarboxylic acids and hexane-1,6-diyl(1,4-phenylenemethylene)bisindol-3-ylsulfanylalkanecarboxylic acids from the corresponding N-substituted indoles and bisindoles, thiourea, iodine, and halogencarboxylic acids was developed. The oxidation of substituted (indol-3-yl)sulfanylalkanecarboxylic acids for the first time afforded their analogs containing the sulfonyl group. New (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts of 1-R-indol-3-ylsulfanyl(sulfonyl)-alkanecarboxylic acids, which are structural analogs of highly active immunomodulators of indacetamin and VILIM, were synthesized. Among the studied (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts of 1-R-indol-3-ylsulfanylacetic and -sulfonylalkanecarboxylic acids, the compounds exhibiting high dose-dependent antiproliferative activity by the ability to affect the spontaneous and mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation of mice in vitro were found.     

Enantiomeric and diastereomeric high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of cyclic beta-substituted alpha-amino acids on a copper(II)-D-penicillamine chiral stationary phase

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of stereoisomeric cyclic beta-substituted alpha-quaternary alpha-amino acids was performed by ligand-exchange on a copper(II)-D-penicillamine chiral stationary phase. The investigated amino acids are the 1-amino-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids, the 1-amino-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids, the 1-amino-2-methylcyclopentanecarboxylic acids and the trans-configured 1,2-diaminocyclohexanecarboxylic acids. The effects of the mobile phase composition (copper(II) concentration, type and content of organic modifier, pH) and the temperature on the enantio- and diastereoselectivity were studied and the conditions were optimised to resolve the four stereoisomers of each of the said amino acids in single chromatographic runs. A reversal of the elution order occurred for enantiomers of some of the amino acids in dependence on the acetonitrile content of the eluent. This phenomenon is explained by at least two different copper(II) complexes of the tridentate ligand penicillamine.     

Borate complexes of benzohydroxamic acid and some of its derivatives

Ultraviolet spectrophotometric measurements in dilute aqueous solution give pK(a) values of 8.78, 8.27, 8.96 and 8.68, respectively, for benzohydroxamic, N-phenylbenzohydroxamic, p-methoxybenzohydroxamic and N-methyl-p-methoxybenzohydroxamic acids. The acids carrying no substituent on nitrogen form 1:1 complexes with boric acid according to the general equation RCONHOH + H(3)BO(3) --> (1:1 complex)(-) + H(+). Equilibrium constants (log K) were found to be -5.70 for benzohydroxamic acid and -5.8 for p-methoxybenzohydroxamic acid. The complexes behave as very weak monoprotic acids and decompose at high pH to yield borate ions and the corresponding hydroxamate ions. The N-substituted hydroxamic acids showed no reaction with boric acid under the same conditions.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Di-[3-(Trimethylsilyl)-1-Propylene] Alkylenediphosphonic Acids

A homologous series of alkylenediphosphonic acids was successfully esterified with 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanol to the symmetrically-substituted diesters. The procedure, which has general applicability for incorporating silicon heteroatoms into diphosphonic acids, utilizes the esterification reagent dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCC) to activate the acid. The aggregation properties of the di-[3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propylene] alkylenediphosphonic acids were measured in toluene and 1-decanol.     

The sensitive determination of nucleic acids using resonance light scattering quenching method

It is found that in hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA)-HCl buffer of pH 7.00, nucleic acids can quench the resonance light scattering (RLS) of europium (III) (Eu3+)-2-thenoyltrifluoroacetne (TTA)-1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) system. Based on this, a sensitive method for the determination of nucleic acids is proposed. The experiments indicate that under the optimum conditions, the quenched RLS intensity is in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 1.0x10(-10) to 2.0x10(-6) g ml-1 for fish sperm (fsDNA), 1.0x10(-11) to 1.0x10(-6) g ml-1 for yeast RNA (yRNA), 5.0x10(-11) to 5.0x10(-7) g ml-1 for calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). Their detection limits (S/N=3) are 0.03, 0.006 and 0.002 ng ml-1, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method is the most sensitive RLS method for the determination of nucleic acids so far. The interaction between nucleic acids and Eu3+-TTA-Phen is also discussed.     

Carotenoid and fatty acid profiles of bilberries and cultivated blueberries from Romania

The worldwide consumption of blueberries has increased due to their potential health effects. They contain micronutrients, various phytochemicals and anti-oxidant pigments, represented especially by anthocyanins. In addition to these, carotenoids and fatty acids are also present. The aim of this study was the identification and quantification of carotenoids (by HPLC) and fatty acids (by GC with flame ionisation detection) in two bilberry genotypes (Wild 1 and 2) and three cultivars (BlueCrop, Elliot, and Duke). The main carotenoids identified were lutein, ??-cryptoxanthin, and ??-carotene, with the average total carotenoid content of 266 ??g per 100 g of fruit. The ratio of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was 0.098 for Wild 1 and 0.11 for Wild 2 genotypes and ranged from 0.14 to 0.28 for cultivars. The main fatty acids identified were linoleic (18:2) and linolenic (18:3) acids in all the samples analysed. In Vaccinium myrtillus the amount of carotenoids and fatty acids was higher than in Vaccinium corymbosum species.     

The determination of DNA based on light-scattering of a complex formed with histone

The interaction of histone with nucleic acids was characterized by light-scattering measurement using a common spectrofluorometer. Thereby, a sensitive and convenient method for the determination of nucleic acids was established. At pH 4.5-6.5, the interaction of histone with nucleic acids resulted in considerable light-scattering , and four characteristic peaks at 298, 450, 503, and 551 nm were observed. The light-scattering was applied to the determination of nucleic acids. The experiments indicated that, under optimal conditions, a linear relationship was obtained between the light-scattering intensity (I(LS)) and the concentration of nucleic acids. The linear ranges were 0.02-2.0 mug ml(-1) for fish sperm DNA (fsDNA), 0.05-1.5 mug ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA (ctDNA), 0.05-2.5 mug ml(-1) for Herring testis DNA (HtDNA), and 0.05-1.5 mug ml(-1) for human placenta DNA (hpDNA). The detection limits were 2.0 ng for fish sperm DNA, 2.0 ng for calf thymus DNA, 5.0 ng for Herring testis DNA, and 3.0 ng for human placenta DNA. The nucleic acids in yeast cell extraction were determined by simple vortex extraction. The results were satisfactory, and the recovery rates were in the range of 88-108%.     

Characterization of an NH-pi interaction in Co(III) ternary complexes with aromatic amino acids

The NH-pi interaction has been detected in the crystal structures of Co(III) ternary complexes with N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-(S)-phenylalanine (BCMPA) and aromatic amino acids including (S)-phenylalanine ((S)-Phe), (R)-phenylalanine ((R)-Phe), and (S)-tryptophan ((S)-Trp)). Additionally, this interaction has been studied in solution for Co(III) ternary complexes with BCMPA or NTA (NTA = nitrilotriacetic acid) and several amino acids (AA) by means of electronic absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The CD intensities of the Co(III) complexes with aromatic amino acids measured in the d-d region ( approximately 20.5 x 10(3) cm(-)(1)) are significantly decreased in ethanol solutions relative to water. Analogous complexes with aliphatic amino acids do not exhibit this solvent effect. The (1)H NMR spectra of the Co(III) complexes with aromatic amino acids measured in DMSO-d(6) exhibit upfield shifts of the NH peaks compared with those with aliphatic amino acids, which suggest a shielding effect due to the aromaticity. The upshift values coincide with those experimentally evaluated from the crystal structures. The magnitude of the upfield shifts agrees well with Hammett's rule, indicating that the increase of pi-electron densities on the aromatic rings leads attractive NH-pi interaction that exerts a larger shielding effect for the NH protons. In ligand-substitution reactions of the carbonatocobalt(III) complexes with amino acids, the yields of those with aromatic amino acids are higher than the yields obtained for complexes with aliphatic amino acids. This observation is discussed in connection with the important contribution of the NH-pi interaction as one of the promotion factors in the reaction.     

Synthesis of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s by direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids with hydrazine sulfate using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid as condensing agent and solvent

A convenient method for the synthesis of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s of high molecular weights has been developed. These polymers were prepared readily by the direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids with hydrazine sulfate ( 1 ) using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid (PPMA) as both a condensing agent and solvent. Polycondensation of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with 1 proceeded even at room temperature and produced poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s with inherent viscosities up to 1.4 dL/g. The synthesis of aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s from aromatic dicarboxylic acids containing phenyl ether structures was carried out by a one-pot procedure because the preactivation of dicarboxylic acids was required. The synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles by the reaction of carboxylic acids with 1 in PPMA was studied to demonstrate the feasibility of the reaction for polymer formation. The thermogravimetry of the aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s showed 10% weight loss both in air and in nitrogen at 440–490°C.     

Gold and silver nanoparticles‐based laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry method for detection and quantification of carboxylic acids

A comparison of ionization efficiency for gold and silver nanoparticles used as an active media of matrix‐less laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry (MS) methods was made for carboxylic acids including fatty acids. The matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)‐type targets containing monoisotopic cationic ¹⁰⁹Ag nanoparticles (¹⁰⁹AgNPs) and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used for rapid MS measurements of 10 carboxylic acids of different chemical properties. Carboxylic acids were directly quantified in experiments with 10 000‐fold concentration change conditions ranging from 1 mg/ml to 100 ng/ml which equates to 1 μg to 100 pg of carboxylic acids per measurement spot.     

Interaction of morin-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with nucleic acids and determination of nucleic acids at nanograms per milliliter levels based on the enhancement of preresonance light scattering

A new preresonance light scattering (PRLS) assay of nucleic acids is presented. At pH 7.30, the weak PRLS of morin-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) can be greatly enhanced by the addition of nucleic acids, owing to the interaction between the nucleic acid and morin-CTMAB. After the addition of morin and CTMAB to DNA, the zeta potential of DNA decreases and changes from negative to positive, which is due to the formation of an associate, the aggregation of morin on nucleic acids and the electric neutralization between DNA and the cationic surfactant CTMAB. Mechanism studies showed that the enhanced PRLS comes from the aggregation of morin in the presence of nucleic acids and CTMAB. The enhanced intensity of PRLS is in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range 7.5 x 10(-9)-1.0 x 10(-5) g ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, 7.5 x 10(-9)-1.0 x 10(-6) g ml(-1) for salmon sperm DNA and 1.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-6) g ml(-1) for yeast RNA. The detection limits are 3.4, 6.2 and 4.1 ng ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, salmon sperm DNA and yeast RNA, respectively. Synthetic samples were analyzed satisfactorily.     

Novel benzoic acid congeners of bilirubin

Three regioisomeric bilirubins and biliverdins with propionic acids replaced by benzoic acids were synthesized from the corresponding xanthobilirubic acids by oxidative coupling. The rubins were found to exhibit widely varying polarity, spectroscopic properties, and stereochemistry. The isomer with ortho benzoic acids (1o) was much less polar than either the meta (1m) or para (1p) because 1o (but not 1m and 1p) can adopt a folded conformation with both carboxylic acids intramolecularly hydrogen bonded to the opposing dipyrrinones. The consequences of such conformational differentiation are found in the varying 1H NMR, UV-vis, and circular dichroism spectral properties.     

Synthesis of isothiocoumarin derivatives

A method was developed for the synthesis of 1-oxo-1H-isothiochromenes from 2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one (phthalide). 3-Bromo-6-chloro- and 3,6-dibromo-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-ones were prepared by the bromination of 6-chloro- and 6-bromo-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-ones and were converted by hydrolysis into 5-chloro- or 5-bromo-2-formylbenzoic acids. The condensation of these acids with rhodanine followed by recyclization gave 7-chloro- and 7-bromo-1-oxo-1H-isothiochromene-3-carboxylic acids.     

Polyelectrolyte Complexes Formed from Conjugated Polymers: Array‐Based Sensing of Organic Acids

One fluorescent, positively charged poly(para‐phenyleneethynylene) ( PAE 1 ) forms electrostatic complexes with five negatively charged pyridine‐ or benzothiadiazole‐containing poly(para‐aryleneethynylene)s ( PAE 2 – PAE 6 ). The PAE 2 – PAE 6 are less fluorescent in water and act as quenchers for PAE 1 in their electrostatic complexes C 1 – C 5 ; the PAE‐complexes (2 μm ) were exposed to thirteen different carboxylic acids (50 mm ) in buffered aqueous solution. The fluorescence responses of the small library of electrostatic PAE–complexes towards the acids was analyzed; discrimination of all of the thirteen acids was achieved. The investigated acids include acetic, butyric, tartaric, maleic, lactic, sorbic, oxalic, aspartic, and citric acids. A random, simple, ad‐hoc library of electrostatic polymer complexes, C 1 – C 5 , therefore discerns the thirteen carboxylic acids in water.     

Determination of nucleic acids in acidic medium by enhanced light scattering of large particles

The large particle light scattering technique was first developed as a sensitive and convenient analysis method for microdetermination of nucleic acids by using a common spectrofluorometer. In 0.1 mol l(-1) HCl, H(2)SO(4), or HNO(3) solution, the nucleic acids can aggregate to form large particles whose dimensions are comparable to the wavelength of UV-Vis light. The large particles can result in very strong light scattering which is well proportional to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 0.06-100.0 mug ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, 0.05-60.0 mug ml(-1) for fish sperm DNA, and 0.6-90.0 mug ml(-1) for yeast RNA. The detection limits (3sigma) are 18.0 ng ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, 16.0 ng ml(-1) for fish sperm DNA, and 57.6 ng ml(-1) for yeast RNA, respectively. Six synthetic samples were determined with satisfactory results.     

Synthesis of mono- and difluoronaphthoic acids

Aryl carboxamides are useful structural units found in several biologically active compounds. Unlike their benzoic acid counterparts, fluorinated versions of naphthoic acids are relatively unknown. In connection with a recent project, we needed viable syntheses of several mono- and difluorinated naphthoic acids. Herein we describe the synthesis of 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-fluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acids and 5,7-, 5,8-, 6,7-, and 4,5-difluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acids. The 5-fluoro derivative 1was obtained from the corresponding 5-bromo compound via electrophilic fluorination of the lithio-intermediate. The rest of the monofluoro (2, 3, and 4) and the difluoro acids (5, 6, and 7) were prepared by a new, general route which entailed the elaboration of commercial fluorinated phenylacetic acids to 2-(fluoroaryl)glutaric acids with differential ester groups; selective hydrolysis to a mono acid, intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization, and aromatization furnished the target structures. An alternative process to assemble a naphthalene skeleton is also presented for the difluoro acids 5 and 6. Finally, 4,5-difluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (8) was prepared expeditiously from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene by adapting classical reactions.     

Ion-exclusion chromatographic behavior of aliphatic carboxylic acids and benzenecarboxylic acids on a sulfonated styrene--divinylbenzene co-polymer resin column with sulfuric acid containing various alcohols as eluent

The addition of C1-C7 alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, heptanol, hexanol and heptanol) to dilute sulfuric acid as eluent in ion-exclusion chromatography using a highly sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene co-polymer resin (TSKgel SCX) in the H+ form as the stationary phase was carried out for the simultaneous separations of both (a) C1-C7 aliphatic carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, valeric, 2-methylvaleric, isocaproic, caproic, 2,2-dimethyl-n-valeric, 2-methylhexanoic, 5-methylhexanoic and heptanoic acids) and (b) benzenecarboxylic acids (pyromellitic, hemimellitic, trimellitic, o-phthalic, m-phthalic, p-phthalic, benzoic and salicylic acids and phenol). Heptanol was the most effective modifier in ion-exclusion chromatography for the improvement of peak shapes and a reduction in retention volumes for higher aliphatic carboxylic acids and benzenecarboxylic acids. Excellent simultaneous separation and relatively highly sensitive conductimetric detection for these C1-C7 aliphatic carboxylic acids were achieved on the TSKgel SCX column (150 x 6 mm I.D.) in 30 min using 0.5 mM sulfuric acid containing 0.025% heptanol as eluent. Excellent simultaneous separation and highly sensitive UV detection at 200 nm for these benzenecarboxylic acids were also achieved on the TSKgel SCX column in 30 min using 5 mM sulfuric acid containing 0.075% heptanol as eluent.     

Determination of volatile fatty acids in landfill leachates by ion-exclusion chromatography

An ion-exclusion chromatographic method with on-line desalinization for the determination of volatile fatty acids in landfill leachates is described. Highly sensitive conductivity detection of the organic acids was achieved by using dilute p-hydroxybenzoic acid solution as an eluent. Interference with mineral acids was reduced by treatment with barium chloride solution prior to desalinization. A silver-loaded cation-exchange guard column for the desalinization was installed in series with the analytical column to avoid the contamination of organic acids. This method features detection limits of 0.01 mg L(-1) formic acid, 0.02 mg L(-1) acetic acid, 0.05 mg L(-1) propionic acid, and 0.1 mg L(-1) butyric acid, respectively, with an injection of 20 microL sample. Application of the on-line desalinization LC method is illustrated for leachate samples from a Japanese sanitary landfill.     

Detection of N-nitroso-bile acids at 285 nm in reverse-phase HPLC

In the present study, we developed a novel, simple, and specific detection method using an RP-HPLC at UV 285 nm for the separation and quantification of N-nitroso-bile acids. First, we found that N-nitroso-bile acids have a specific spectrophotometric absorbance at 285 nm. Using this 285 nm detection system, we could especially measure N-nitroso-bile acids, even in co-existence of non-N-nitroso-bile acids. Next, we observed the decomposition of N-nitroso-glychocholate under alkaline, acidic, and neutral conditions. N-nitroso-glychocholate rapidly decomposed under alkaline conditions (pH 9) (t(1/2) = 0.96 h), but remained fairly stable under acidic (pH 2) (t(1/2) = 12.8 h) and neutral (pH 7) (t(1/2) = 7.8 h) conditions. This study is the first report, which simply and specifically analyzes N-nitroso-bile acids using an RP-HPLC system.