Electrochemical Determination of L‐Lactate Using Phenylboronic Acid Monolayer‐Modified Electrodes

The surface of a gold (Au) disk electrode was modified with a self‐assembled monomolecular layer of dithiobis(4‐butylamino‐m‐phenylboronic acid) (DTBA‐PBA) to prepare L ‐lactate‐sensitive electrodes. The DTBA‐PBA‐modified electrodes exhibited an attenuated cyclic voltammogram (CV) for the Fe(CN)₆^3? ion in the presence of L ‐lactate, as a result of the formation of phenylboronate ester of L ‐lactate accompanied with the addition of OH^? ion to the boron atom. In other words, the negatively charged DTBA‐PBA monolayer blocked the electrode surface from the access of the Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? ions. Thus, the DTBA‐PBA monolayer‐modified Au electrode can be used for determining L ‐lactate on the basis of the change in redox current of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? ions. The calibration graph useful for determining 1–30 mM L ‐lactate was obtained.     

Determination of the enantiomers of α‐hydroxy‐ and α‐amino acids in capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

The enantiomers of the anions of five α‐hydroxy acids, namely lactic acid, α‐hydroxybutyric acid, 2‐hydroxycaproic acid, 2‐hydroxyoctanoic acid and 2‐hydroxydecanoic acid, as well as the two α‐amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid, were baseline separated and detected by CE with contactless conductivity detection. Vancomycin was employed as chiral selector and could be used with conductivity detection without having to resort to a partial filling protocol as needed when this reagent is used with UV absorbance measurements. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of the lactic acid enantiomers in samples of milk and yogurt. Linearity was achieved in the concentration range of 10–500 μmol/L with good correlation coefficients (0.9993 and 0.9990 for L ‐ and D ‐lactic acid, respectively). The LODs (3 S/N) for L ‐ and D ‐lactic acid were determined as 2.8 and 2.4 μmol/L, respectively.     

Highly Stereoselective Recognition and Deracemization of Amino Acids by Supramolecular Self‐Assembly

The highly stereoselective supramolecular self‐assembly of α‐amino acids with a chiral aldehyde derived from binol and a chiral guanidine derived from diphenylethylenediamine (dpen) to form the imino acid salt is reported. This system can be used to cleanly convert D ‐amino acids into L ‐amino acids or vice versa at ambient temperature. It can also be used to synthesize α‐deuterated D ‐ or L ‐amino acids. A crystal structure of the ternary complex together with DFT computation provided detailed insight into the origin of the stereoselective recognition of amino acids.     

Determination of D,L‐serine in midbrain of Parkinson's disease mouse by capillary electrophoresis with in‐column light‐emitting diode induced fluorescence detection

A capillary electrophoresis method with in‐column light‐emitting diode induced fluorescence detection is described for simultaneous determination of D ,L ‐serine in the midbrain of a Parkinson's disease mouse. D ,L ‐Serine was derivatized with fluorescein isothiocyanate, and chiral separation and determination of D ,L ‐serine derivatives were performed on a laboratory‐built capillary electrophoresis system with in‐column light‐emitting diode induced fluorescence detector using γ‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector. Using this method, the levels of D ‐ and L ‐serine in the midbrains of Parkinson's disease mice were determined. When compared to controls, the levels of D ‐ and L ‐serine showed significant differences. The result suggested that the biosynthesis and the transportation of endogenous D ,L ‐serine may participate in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.     

Stereoselective and Chiroselective Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis of Amino Acids by Molecularly Imprinted Au‐Nanoparticle Composites

Au nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with thioaniline and cysteine are used to assemble bis‐aniline‐bridged Au‐NP composites on Au surfaces using an electropolymerization process. During the polymerization of the functionalized Au NPs in the presence of different amino acids, for example, L ‐glutamic acid, L ‐aspartic acid, L ‐histidine, and L ‐phenylalanine, zwitterionic interactions between the amino acids and the cysteine units linked to the particles lead to the formation of molecularly imprinted sites in the electropolymerized Au‐NP composites. Following the elimination of the template amino acid molecules, the electropolymerized matrices reveal selective recognition and binding capabilities toward the imprinted amino acid. Furthermore, by imprinting of L ‐glutamic or D ‐glutamic acids, chiroselective imprinted sites are generated in the Au‐NP composites. The binding of amino acids to the imprinted recognition sites was followed by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The refractive index changes occurring upon the binding of the amino acids to the imprinted sites are amplified by the coupling between the localized plasmon associated with the Au NPs and the surface plasmon wave.     

Enantioseparation of dansyl amino acids by ligand‐exchange capillary electrophoresis with zinc(II)‐L‐phenylalaninamide complex

A novel method of chiral ligand‐exchange CE was developed with L ‐amino acylamides as a chiral ligand and zinc(II) as a central ion. It has been demonstrated that these chiral complexes, such as Zn(II)‐L ‐alaninamide, Zn(II)‐L ‐prolinamide, and Zn(II)‐L ‐phenylalaninamide, are suitable for use as chiral selectors for the enantioseparation of either individual pair of or mixed dansyl amino acids. The optimal separation running buffer consisted of 5 mM ammonium acetate, 100 mM boric acid, 4 mM ZnSO₄·7 H₂O, and 8 mM L ‐amino acylamides at pH 8.2. The experiments showed that apart from the effect of the concentration of the complexes on the resolution and the migration time, the buffer pH also had a sharp influence on resolution. The employed chiral ligands exhibited different enantioselectivities and enantiomer migration orders. D ‐Amino acids migrate faster than L ‐amino acids when Zn(II)‐L ‐alaninamide and Zn(II)‐L ‐phenylalaninamide are used as chiral selectors, but it was observed that the migration order is reversed when Zn(II)‐L ‐prolinamide is used as the chiral selector. Furthermore, the amount of dansylated amino acids is found to be highly dependent on the labeling temperature.     

A molecular dynamics simulation of the chemisorption of the optical isomers of propranolol on the graphitic electrode modified with melamine,cyanuric, and isocyanuric acids

To demonstrate the nature of the interaction of optical isomers of propranolol with the surface of the graphitic electrode modified with melamine, uracil, cyanuric, and isocyanuric acids, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations of the four‐component systems with variable modifier's molecules. We have considered the possible formation of complexes between the propranolol and modifier's molecules, covering the electrode approximated as the graphene surface. Our simulations demonstrate that the l ‐isomer in aqueous solutions is bonded to the electrode surface stronger than its d ‐counterpart; hence, the difference in analytical signals arises. Different strengths of bonding of the propranolol enantiomers to the surface modifiers are caused by the different intramolecular interactions taking place in the molecules of d ‐ and l ‐isomers. Thus, we have computationally shown that the modification of the graphite surface with melamine, uracil, cyanuric, and isocyanuric acids allows for increasing the sensitivity of the electrode toward the propranolol enantiomers and using the modified graphitic electrodes for the detection of its d ‐ and l ‐forms.     

Chiral SiO2 and Ag@SiO2 Materials Templated by Complexes Consisting of Comblike Polyethyleneimine and Tartaric Acid

A facile avenue to fabricate micrometer‐sized chiral (L ‐, D ‐) and meso‐like (dl ‐) SiO₂ materials with unique structures by using crystalline complexes (cPEI/tart), composed of comblike polyethyleneimine (cPEI) and L ‐, D ‐, or dl ‐tartaric acid, respectively, as catalytic templates is reported. Interestingly, both chiral crystalline complexes appeared as regularly left‐ and right‐twisted bundle structures about 10 μm in length and about 5 μm in diameter, whereas the dl ‐form occurred as circular structures with about 10 μm diameter. Subsequently, SiO₂@cPEI/tart hybrids with high silica content (>55.0 wt %) were prepared by stirring a mixture containing tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and the aggregates of the crystalline complexes in water. The chiral SiO₂ hybrids and calcined chiral SiO₂ showed very strong CD signals and a nanofiber‐based morphology on their surface, whereas dl ‐SiO₂ showed no CD activity and a nanosheet‐packed disklike shape. Furthermore, metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were encapsulated in each silica hybrid to obtain chiral (D and L forms) and meso‐like (dl form) Ag@SiO₂ composites. Also, the reaction between L ‐cysteine (Lcys) and these Ag@SiO₂ composites was preliminarily investigated. Only chiral L ‐ and D ‐Ag@SiO₂ composites promoted the reaction between Lcys and Ag NPs to produce a molecular [Ag–Lcys]_n complex with remarkable exciton chirality, whereas the reaction hardly occurred in the case of meso‐like (dl ‐) Ag@SiO₂ composite.     

Chiral Space Formed by (+)‐(1S)‐1,1′‐Binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diyl Phosphate: Recognition of Aliphatic L‐α‐Amino Acids

(+)‐(1S)‐1,1′‐Binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diyl hydrogen phosphate (bnppa) is one of the useful optical selectors. To disclose the molecular mechanism by which bnppa recognizes aliphatic L ‐α‐amino acids and separates them by fractional crystallization, X‐ray analyses of bnppa and of its salts with L ‐alanine, L ‐valine, L ‐norvaline, and L ‐norleucine have been undertaken. All the amino acids adopt energetically favorable conformations in the crystal structures. The conformations and the packing patterns of bnppa in these crystal structures are very similar. The bnppa molecules are packed in a specific way to form hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers that are well separated. Between bnppa molecules, at the interface of these hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers, a space with chirality is formed. This space, designated as chiral space, recognizes the optically active amino acids. The packing of bnppa is mainly governed by intermolecular CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions between naphthalene moieties. The chiral space is responsible for the molecular recognition by bnppa allowing fractional crystallization of the L ‐α‐amino acids.     

Dibutylsilylene Derivatives of Tartaric Acid

Crystals of the bis(tert‐butyl)silylene (DTBS) derivatives of the tartaric acids were synthesized from D ‐, L ‐, rac‐, and meso‐tartaric acid and DTBS bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate): two polymorphs of Si₂tBu₄(L ‐Tart1,2;3,4H_–4) (L ‐ 1a and L ‐ 1b ), the mirror image of the denser modification (D ‐ 1b ) as well as the racemate ( 2 ), and the meso analogue Si₂tBu₄(meso‐Tart1,3;2,4H_–4) ( 3 ). The structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The threo‐configured D ‐ and L ‐ (and rac‐) tartrates were coordinated by two tBu₂Si units forming five‐membered chelate rings, whereas the erythro‐configured meso‐tartrate formed six‐membered chelate rings. The new compounds were analyzed by NMR techniques, including ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography.     

Chemical synthesis of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid by polycondensation of γ‐glutamic acid dimer: Synthesis and reaction of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid methyl ester

α‐Methyl glutamic acid (L ‐L )‐, (L ‐D )‐, (D ‐L )‐, and (D ‐D )‐γ‐dimers were synthesized from L ‐ and D ‐glutamic acids, and the obtained dimers were subjected to polycondensation with 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and 1‐hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate as condensation reagents. Poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) methyl ester with the number‐average molecular weights of 5000∼20,000 were obtained by polycondensation in N,N‐dimethylformamide in 44∼91% yields. The polycondensation of (L ‐L )‐ and (D ‐D )‐dimers afforded the polymers with much larger |[α]_D | compared with the corresponding dimers. The polymer could be transformed into γ‐PGA by alkaline hydrolysis or transesterification into α‐benzyl ester followed by hydrogenation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 732–741, 2001     

Enantioselective Recognition of Aspartic Acids by Chiral Ligand Exchange Potentiometry

Enantioselective resolution is realized by combining potentiometry with ligand exchange (CE) in a new method called chiral ligand exchange potentiometry (CLEP). A chiral selector, N‐carbobenzoxy‐L ‐aspartic acid (N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp), preferentially recognizes D ‐aspartic acid (D‐Asp) and undergoes ligand exchange with the enantiomeric labile coordination complexes of [Cu(II)(D‐Asp)₂] or [Cu(II)(L‐Asp)₂] to form a diastereoisomeric complex [(D‐Asp)Cu(II)(N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp)] (a) or [(L‐Asp)Cu(II)(N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp)] (b). Considerable stereoselectivity occurs in the formation of these diastereoisomeric complexes, and their net charges were ?2 (a) and 0 (b), respectively, resulting in different Nernst factor (electrode slope), thus enabling chiral D‐Asp to be distinguished by potentiometry without any pre‐ or postseparation processes.     

A Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Immunosensor for Determination of 1‐Pyrenebutyric Acid Based on the Bifunctionality of Nafion/Gold Nanoparticles Composite Electrode

A simple, highly sensitive and label‐free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) immunosensor was developed using Nafion and gold nanoparticles (nano‐Au/Nafion) composites for the determination of 1‐pyrenebutyric acid (PBA). Under the optimal conditions, the amount of immobilized antibody was significantly improved on the nano‐Au/Nafion electrode due to the synergistic effect and biocompatibility of Nafion film and gold nanoparticles composites. The results showed that the sensitivity and stability of nano‐Au/Nafion composite electrode for PBA detection were much better than those of nano‐Au modified glassy carbon electrode (nano‐Au/GCE). The plot of increased electron transfer resistances (R_ets) against the logarithm of PBA concentration is linear over the range from 0.1 to 150 ng·mL^?1 with the detection limit of 0.03 ng·mL^?1. The selectivity and accuracy of the proposed EIS immunosensor were evaluated with satisfactory results.     

Chirality‐Assisted Ring‐Like Aggregation of Aβ(1–40) at Liquid–Solid Interfaces: A Stereoselective Two‐Step Assembly Process

Molecular chirality is introduced at liquid–solid interfaces. A ring‐like aggregation of amyloid Aβ(1–40) on N‐isobutyryl‐L ‐cysteine (L ‐NIBC)‐modified gold substrate occurs at low Aβ(1–40) concentration, while D ‐NIBC modification only results in rod‐like aggregation. Utilizing atomic force microscope controlled tip‐enhanced Raman scattering, we directly observe the secondary structure information for Aβ(1–40) assembly in situ at the nanoscale. D ‐ or L ‐NIBC on the surface can guide parallel or nonparallel alignment of β‐hairpins through a two‐step process based on electrostatic‐interaction‐enhanced adsorption and subsequent stereoselective recognition. Possible electrostatic interaction sites (R5 and K16) and a chiral recognition site (H14) of Aβ(1–40) are proposed, which may provide insight into the understanding of this effect.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of syn‐β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acids by Direct Aldolization of Pseudoephenamine Glycinamide

β‐Hydroxy‐α‐amino acids figure prominently as chiral building blocks in chemical synthesis and serve as precursors to numerous important medicines. Reported herein is a method for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid derivatives by aldolization of pseudoephenamine glycinamide, which can be prepared from pseudoephenamine in a one‐flask protocol. Enolization of (R,R)‐ or (S,S)‐pseudoephenamine glycinamide with lithium hexamethyldisilazide in the presence of LiCl followed by addition of an aldehyde or ketone substrate affords aldol addition products that are stereochemically homologous with L ‐ or D ‐threonine, respectively. These products, which are typically solids, can be obtained in stereoisomerically pure form in yields of 55–98 %, and are readily transformed into β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids by mild hydrolysis or into 2‐amino‐1,3‐diols by reduction with sodium borohydride. This new chemistry greatly facilitates the construction of novel antibiotics of several different classes.     

Preparation and Electrochemical Behaviour of Silver Pentacyanonitrosylferrate Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode and Its Electrocatalytic Oxidation to L‐cysteine

A glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with silver pentacyanonitrosylferrate (AgPCNF) film as a redox mediator was fabricated. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the redox property of AgPCNF modified electrode. The modified electrode showed a well‐defined redox couple due to [Ag^IFe^III/II(CN)₅NO]^1‐/2‐system. The effects of scan rates, supporting electrolytes and solution pHs were studied on the electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode. The feasibility of using the AgPCNF modified electrode to measure L ‐cysteine was investigated. It showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of L ‐cysteine and the anodic currents were proportional to the L ‐cysteine concentration in the range of 0.1 μM to 20 μM, the linear regression equation is I_pa(μA) = ‐68.58 ‐ 5.78C_{L ‐cysteine} (μM), with a correlation coefficient 0.998 for N = 23. The detection limit was down to 3.5 × 10^‐8 M (three times the ratio of signal to noise).     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of NCN‐Pincer Pd‐Complex‐Bound Norvalines

The NCN‐pincer Pd‐complex‐bound norvalines Boc‐D /L ‐[PdCl(dpb)]Nva‐OMe ( 1 ) were synthesized in multigram quantities. The molecular structure and absolute configuration of 1 were unequivocally determined by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The robustness of 1 under acidic/basic conditions provides a wide range of N‐/C‐terminus convertibility based on the related synthetic transformations. Installation of a variety of functional groups into the N‐/C‐terminus of 1 was readily carried out through N‐Boc‐ or C‐methyl ester deprotection and subsequent condensations with carboxylic acids, R¹COOH, or amines, R²NH₂, to give the corresponding N‐/C‐functionalized norvalines R¹‐D /L ‐[PdCl(dpb)]Nva‐R² 2 – 9 . The dipeptide bearing two Pd units 10 was successfully synthesized through the condensation of C‐free 1 with N‐free 1 . The robustness of these Pd‐bound norvalines was adequately demonstrated by the preservation of the optical purity and Pd unit during the synthetic transformations. The lipophilic Pd‐bound norvalines L ‐ 2 , Boc‐L ‐[PdCl(dpb)]Nva‐NH‐n‐C₁₁H₂₃, and L ‐ 4 , n‐C₄H₉CO‐L ‐[PdCl(dpb)]Nva‐NH‐n‐C₁₁H₂₃, self‐assembled in aromatic solvents to afford supramolecular gels. The assembled structures in a thermodynamically stable single crystal of L ‐ 2 and kinetically stable supramolecular aggregates of L ‐ 2 were precisely elucidated by cryo‐TEM, WAX, SAXS, UV/Vis, IR analyses, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. An antiparallel β‐sheet‐type aggregate consisting of an infinite one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network of amide groups and π‐stacking of PdCl(dpb) moieties was observed in the supramolecular gel fiber of L ‐ 2 , even though discrete dimers are assembled through hydrogen bonding in the thermodynamically stable single crystal of L ‐ 2 . The disparate DSC profiles of the single crystal and xerogel of L ‐ 2 indicate different thermodynamics of the molecular assembly process.     

A Dual‐Functional Metallogel of Amphiphilic Copper(II) Quinolinol: Redox Responsiveness and Enantioselectivity

A dual‐functional metallogel, which was based on the copper(II) complex of quinolinol‐substituted L ‐glutamide, showed both redox‐responsive and enantioselective properties; moreover, the metallogels collapsed into a sol after reduction and could be revived upon subsequent oxidation. The supramolecular chirality and morphology also reversible changed with the gel–sol transition. Furthermore, the metallogels showed new enantioselective recognition towards chiral aromatic amino acids. A new emission band in the blue‐light region at around 393 nm appeared when the metallogels encountered L ‐aromatic amino acids, whereas no new emission band was observed for the corresponding D ‐aromatic amino acids. Such enantioselectivity only occurred in the gel state. No similar phenomenon could be observed in solution. This result suggested that, during the gel formation, the gelator molecules self‐assembled into ordered, chiral supramolecular structures and enhanced the enantiorecognition of the L ‐aromatic amino acids.     

One Step Fabrication of Au Nanoparticles‐Ni‐Al Layered Double Hydroxide Composite Film for the Determination of L‐Cysteine

This paper reports the fabrication of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs)‐Ni‐Al layerd double hydroxide (LDH) composite film by one step electrochemical deposition on the surface of a glass carbon electrode from the mixture solution containing HAuCl₄ and nitrate salts of Ni²⁺ and Al³⁺. Improved conductivity was obtained by Au NPs codeposited on LDH film. The synergic effect of LDHs and Au NPs dramatically improves the performance of L ‐cysteine electro‐oxidation, displaying low oxidation peak potential (0.16 V) and high current response. Thus the electrode was used to sense L ‐cysteine, showing good sensitivity and selectivity.     

Pyranoside‐into‐Furanoside Rearrangement: New Reaction in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Its Application in Oligosaccharide Synthesis

Great interest in natural furanoside‐containing compounds has challenged the development of preparative methods for their synthesis. Herein a novel reaction in carbohydrate chemistry, namely a pyranoside‐into‐furanoside (PIF) rearrangement permitting the transformation of selectively O‐substituted pyranosides into the corresponding furanosides is reported. The discovered process includes acid‐promoted sulfation accompanied by rearrangement of the pyranoside ring into a furanoside ring followed by solvolytic O‐desulfation. This process, which has no analogy in organic chemistry, was shown to be a very useful tool for the synthesis of furanoside‐containing complex oligosaccharides, which was demonstrated by synthesizing disaccharide derivatives α‐D ‐Galp‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐ Galf ‐OPr, 3‐O‐s ‐lactyl‐β‐D ‐ Galf ‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐Glcp‐OPr, and α‐L ‐ Fucf ‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐GlcpA‐OPr related to polysaccharides from the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis and the brown seaweed Chordaria flagelliformis.