Differentiation of diasteromeric α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A set of diastereomeric α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives, which are important building blocks for pharmaceuticals with potent biological activity, are studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M+H](+), [M+NH(4)](+), [M+Na](+) and [M+Li](+) of the diastereomers were studied, among them the CID of [M+Na](+) and [M+Li](+) showed consistent differences in the relative abundance of characteristic ions that enabled distinction of the anti isomers from syn isomers. The decomposition pathways for the diagnostic ions were arrived at based on high-resolution mass spectrometry data, multiple mass spectrometry data, deuterium labeling experiments and the mass shift in accordance with the substituents located at different places. Loss of (R(1)-C(6)H(4)-CH=NH) and (Cat-NH-SO(2)R(2)) from [M+Cat](+), where Cat=Na and Li, and the product ions as a results of McLafferty rearrangement involving either >S=O or >C=O group were found to be diagnostic. The McLafferty rearrangement product ions involving >S=O group were more abundant in syn isomers while those involving >C=O group were more abundant in anti isomer. The selectivity observed in the decomposition of [M+Li](+) ions was found to be similar to that of [M+Na](+) ions, but in few cases the differences are marginal in the decomposition [M+Li](+) ions.     

Synthetic, crystallographic, computational, and biological studies of 1,4-difluorobenzo[c]phenanthrene and its metabolites

1,4-Difluorobenzo[c]phenanthrene (1,4-DFBcPh) and its putative metabolites, the dihydrodiol and diol epoxides, have been synthesized and structurally characterized, and the extent of DNA binding by the metabolites has been assessed. 1,4-DFBcPh and 1,4-difluoro-10-methoxybenzo[c]phenanthrene were prepared by photochemical cyclization of appropriate naphthylphenylethylenes. The dihydrodiol was synthesized from 1,4-difluoro-10-methoxybenzo[c]phenanthrene, and the diol epoxides were diastereoselectively synthesized from the dihydrodiol. Interesting differences were noted in 1H NMR spectra of the series 1 (syn) diol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh) and 1,4-DFBcPh; the BcPh diol epoxide displays a quasi-diequatorial orientation of the hydroxyl groups, but in the 1,4-DFBcPh case these are diaxially disposed. This difference probably stems from the presence of the fjord-region fluorine atom in 1,4-DFBcPh. A through-space, fjord-region H-F coupling has also been observed for 1,4-DFBcPh and its derivatives. Comparative X-ray crystallographic analyses of BcPh and 1,4-DFBcPh and their dihydrodiols show that introduction of fluorine increases the molecular distortion by about 6-7 degrees . As a guide to estimating the molecular distortion and its effects, and for comparison with the X-ray structures in known cases, optimized structures of BcPh, 1,4-DFBcPh, and 1,4-DMBcPh (the dimethyl analogue) as well as their dihydrodiols and diol epoxides were computed. Relative aromaticities of these compounds were assessed by nucleus-independent chemical shift calculations, and 13C NMR chemical shifts were computed by gauge-inducing atomic orbital calculations. 1,4-DFBcPh and its dihydrodiol were subjected to metabolism, and the amount of DNA binding in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was assessed. The extent of DNA binding was then compared with that for BcPh and its dihydrodiol and the potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene. The 1,4-DFBcPh series 2 (anti) diol epoxide-derived DNA adducts were also compared with those arising from intracellular oxidation of the dihydrodiol with subsequent DNA binding. These experiments showed that increased molecular distortion decreased metabolic activation to the terminal metabolites but that diol epoxide metabolites that are formed are the DNA-damaging species.     

Enhancement of diastereoselectivity in photodimerization of alkyl 2-naphthoates with chiral auxiliaries via inclusion within γ-cyclodextrin cavities

Irradiations of alkyl 2-naphthoates are known to result in four isomeric "cubane-like" photodimers: anti(HH)-2, syn(HH)-2, anti(HT)-2, and syn(HT)-2 where the anti(HH)-2, anti(HT)-2, and syn(HT)-2 consist of pairs of diastereomers. Here, chiral auxiliary and chiral microreactor strategies have been combined to achieve high diastereoselectivity in photodimerizations of an enantiomeric pair of 2-naphthoates with (R)- and (S)-1-methoxycarbonylethyl esters as chiral auxiliaries (1R and 1S). Thus, irradiations of their γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) complexes have been conducted. Fluorescence, IR, and NMR spectra of both enantiomers of 1 demonstrate that their γ-CD complexes are mainly 2:2 with the molecules of 1 in head-to-head orientations. Irradiation of the complexes in the solid state mainly resulted in anti(HH)-2. The absolute configuration of each diastereomer of anti(HH)-2 has been established for the first time here. The diastereomeric excesses (de's) of anti(HH)-2 from 1R and 1S were 94% and 86%, respectively. These de's are much higher than those found from irradiations in solution (55% for 1R and 1S), where the opposite diastereomeric form is in excess! Calculations of the energies of various conformations of the head-to-head 2:2 inclusion complexes were performed using the PM3 approach. The predicted major diastereomers based on the calculation are consistent with those found experimentally.     

Theoretical study of aza-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aza-PAHs), modelling carbocations from oxidized metabolites and their covalent adducts with representative nucleophiles

Protonation of the epoxides, diol epoxides, and dihydrodiols of benzo[h]quinoline (BhQ), benzo[f]quinoline (BfQ), phenanthrene (Phe), benzo[c]phenanthridine (BcPhen), and chrysene (Chry) were studied by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G* level, and selected cases were calculated with the 6-31+G* diffuse-function augmented basis set for comparison purposes. Bay-region carbocations were formed from O-protonated epoxides via a barrierless processes. Relative carbocation stabilities were determined in the gas phase and with water as solvent (PCM method). The presence of a heteroatom changes the regioselectivity of epoxide ring opening, in some cases favoring non-bay-region carbocations. The epoxide ring opening mode is also greatly influenced by N-protonation. The dications resulting from initial N-protonation followed by epoxide protonation were also studied by DFT. Charge delocalization modes in the resulting mono- and dications were derived by GIAO-NMR (based on Delta delta13C values) and via the NPA-derived changes in charges. Relative aromaticity in different rings in the arenium ions was gauged by NICS. In representative cases, the covalent adducts (syn and anti) formed by reaction of the benzylic carbocations derived from diol epoxides and dihydrodiols with methoxide and methanethiolate anions were studied. Relative energies (in the gas phase and with water as solvent) and geometries of the adducts formed by quenching of the carbocations derived from BhQ and Phe-epoxides with guanine via the exocyclic amino group and via the N-7 were also investigated computationally. Although aqueous phase calculations change the energy for the addition reactions because of greater stabilization of the reactants, relative reactivity trends remain the same. The data are discussed, taking into account the available experimental results concerning the biological activity of these compounds.     

MO tripeptide diastereomers (M=99/99mTc, Re): models to identify the structure of 99mTc peptide targeted radiopharmaceuticals

Biologically active molecules, such as many peptides, serve as targeting vectors for radiopharmaceuticals based on 99mTc. Tripeptides can be suitable chelates and are easily and conveniently synthesized and linked to peptide targeting vectors through solid-phase peptide synthesis and form stable TcVO complexes. Upon complexation with [TcO]3+, two products form; these are syn and anti diastereomers, and they often have different biological behavior. This is the case with the approved radiopharmaceutical [99mTcO]depreotide ([99mTcO]P829, NeoTect) that is used to image lung cancer. [99mTcO]depreotide indeed exhibits two product peaks in its HPLC profile, but assignment of the product peaks to the diastereomers has proven to be difficult because the metal peptide complex is difficult to crystallize for structural analysis. In this study, we isolated diastereomers of [99TcO] and [ReO] complexes of several tripeptide ligands that model the metal chelator region of [99mTcO]depreotide. Using X-ray crystallography, we observed that the early eluting peak (A) corresponds to the anti diastereomer, where the Tc=O group is on the opposite side of the plane formed by the ligand backbone relative to the pendant groups of the tripeptide ligand, and the later eluting peak (B) corresponds to the syn diastereomer, where the Tc=O group is on the same side of the plane as the residues of the tripeptide. 1H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy report on the metal environment and prove to be diagnostic for syn or anti diastereomers, and we identified characteristic features from these techniques that can be used to assign the diastereomer profile in 99mTc peptide radiopharmaceuticals like [99mTcO]depreotide and in 188Re peptide radiotherapeutic agents. Crystallography, potentiometric titration, and NMR results presented insights into the chemistry occurring under physiological conditions. The tripeptide complexes where lysine is the second amino acid crystallized in a deprotonated metallo-amide form, possessing a short N1-M bond. The pKa measurements of the N1 amine (pKa approximately 5.6) suggested that this amine is rendered more acidic by both metal complexation and the presence of the lysine residue. Furthermore, peptide chelators incorporating a lysine (like the chelator of [TcO]depreotide) likely exist in the deprotonated form in vivo, comprising a neutral metal center. Deprotonation possibly mediates the interconversion process between the syn and anti diastereomers. The N1 amine group on non-lysine-containing metallopeptides is not as acidic (pKa approximately 6.8) and does not deprotonate and crystallize as do the metallo-amide species. Three of the tripeptide ligands (FGC, FSC, and FKC) were radiolabeled with 99mTc, and the individual syn and anti isomers were isolated for biodistribution studies in normal female nude mice. The main organs of uptake were the liver, intestines, and kidneys, with the FGC compounds exhibiting the highest liver uptake. In comparing the diastereomers, the syn compounds had substantially higher organ uptake and slower blood clearance than the anti compounds.     

Utilization of MS3 spectra for the multicomponent quantification of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamines

A rapid and accurate means of quantifying mixtures of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamine monosaccharides using MS³ product ions is introduced. The method involves derivatizing the monosaccharides with [Co(DAP)₂Cl₂]Cl (where DAP is diaminopropane), and subjecting the derivatized products to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Each diastereomer provides unique MS³ product ion abundances. The abundances for the pure monosaccharide standards are used in a system of equations in order to quantify mixtures of these diastereomers. Using the system of equations is quite advantageous, as it is the only mass spectrometric method that has been shown to successfully quantify mixtures of more than two isomers. The utility of the method is demonstrated by successfully quantifying various two and three component mixtures of the diastereomeric monosaccharides. Furthermore, the method is used to quantify the recovery of a single diastereomeric monosaccharide from an acidic resin. Although the multicomponent quantification method described herein is used to quantify mixtures of N-acetylhexosamine diastereomers, it could be applied to any group of isomers, provided distinguishing CID spectra are obtained. This is the first known report of utilizing MS³ product ions for quantification of structural isomeric mixtures.     

Diastereomer-differentiating photochemistry of beta-arylbutyrophenones: Yang cyclization versus type II elimination

The diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 are shown to exhibit distinct photochemical reactivities due to conformational preferences; while the anti isomers of 2 and 3 undergo efficient Yang cyclization in 75-90% yields with a remarkable diastereoselectivity (> 90%), the syn isomers predominantly undergo Norrish Type II elimination. The differences in the product profiles of the diastereomers are consistent with a mechanistic picture involving the formation of precursor diastereomeric triplet 1,4-biradicals in which the substituents at alpha and beta-positions stabilize the cisoid (cyclization) or transoid (elimination) geometry. The fact that such a diastereomeric relationship does indeed ensue at the triplet-excited-state itself is demonstrated via the nanosecond laser-flash photolysis of model ketones 1. The diastereomeric discrimination in the product profiles observed for ketones 2 and 3 as well as in the triplet lifetimes observed for ketones 1 can both be mechanistically traced back to different conformational preferences of the ground-state diastereomeric ketones and the intermediary 1,4-biradicals. Additionally, it emerges from the present study that the syn and anti diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 represent two extremes of a broad range of widely examined butyrophenones, which lead to varying degrees of Yang photocyclization depending on the alkyl substitution pattern.     

Oppolzer sultam directed aldol as a key step for the stereoselective syntheses of antitumor antibiotic belactosin C and its synthetic congeners

[reaction: see text] An efficient protocol has been developed using D-(2R)-Oppolzer sultam as a chiral auxiliary for generating anti/syn diastereomers with high enantiopurity and utilized in the efficient synthesis of natural product belactosin C and their synthetic congeners. It has been observed that a variation in the stoichiometry of the Lewis acid led to a difference in anti/syn selectivity.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Oxotechnetium(V) Mixed-Ligand Complexes Containing a Tridentate N-Substituted Bis(2-mercaptoethyl)amine and a Monodentate Thiol

A series of 22 mixed-ligand complexes of the general formula TcOL(1)L(2), where L(1)H(2) are N-substituted bis(2-mercaptoethyl)amine ligands, [SN(R)S], and L(2)H are monodentate thiols as coligand, is reported. The complexes were prepared by the ligand exchange method using Tc-gluconate as precursor and equimolar quantities of the two ligands. In all cases the syn stereoisomer was formed in high yield and isolated as a crystalline product. In four cases HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of the anti stereoisomer in the reaction mixture. Although the yield was less than 1%, one anti isomer, 4a, was successfully isolated as brown crystals. The isolated complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The formation of the two diastereomers, syn and anti, was expected due to the configuration of the nitrogen substituent (R) with respect to the central TcO core. The X-ray crystallography showed that the coordination geometry of the syn isomers 9, 11, and 18 is trigonal bipyramidal while for the anti isomer 4a it is distorted square pyramidal. This is the first documentation of syn/anti isomerism in N-substituted TcO[SN(R)S][S] mixed-ligand complexes.     

Differentiation of diastereomeric N-aryltetrahydropyrano/tetrahydrofuranochromenylamines under electron ionization and chemical ionization conditions

A series of diastereomeric 4S,5S,6R/S-tetrahydropyrano- and 3S,4S,5R/S-tetrahydrofuranochromenylamine derivatives (a/b isomers; 1-26) has been studied under electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) conditions. The EI mass spectra of all diastereomeric compounds show two characteristic fragment ions, of which one is formed by retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) reaction from the molecular ion, retaining the charge on the diene fragment, and the other [M-(HNAr)]+ ion by a simple radical loss. The RDA process is more favorable in all b isomers, whereas the radical loss is dominant in all a isomers; based on these two ions it is easy to differentiate the two diastereomers. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of all the molecular ions also show the same trend, which reflects the stereoselectivity in the formation of the two characteristic fragment ions. The results of theoretical calculations performed are in accordance with the experimental observations. The CI experiments (methane and isobutane) on all the diastereomeric compounds also enabled the differentiation of the isomers.     

Comparative studies of 193-nm photodissociation and TOF-TOFMS analysis of bradykinin analogues: The effects of charge site(s) and fragmentation timescales

The dissociation reactions of [M + H]+, [M + Na]+, and [M + Cu]+ ions of bradykinin (amino acid sequence RPPGFSPFR) and three bradykinin analogues (RPPGF, RPPGFSPF, PPGFSPFR) are examined by using 193-nm photodissociation and post-source decay (PSD) TOF-TOF-MS techniques. The photodissociation apparatus is equipped with a biased activation cell, which allows us to detect fragment ions that are formed by dissociation of short-lived (<1 mus) photo-excited ions. In our previously reported photodissociation studies, the fragment ions were formed from ions dissociating with lifetimes that exceeded 10 mus; thus these earlier photofragment ion spectra and post-source decay (PSD) spectra [composite of both metastable ion (MI) and collision-induced dissociation (CID)] were quite similar. On the other hand, short-lived photo-excited ions dissociate by simple bond cleavage reactions and other high-energy dissociation channels. We also show that product ion types and abundances vary with the location of the charge on the peptide ion. For example, H+ and Na+ cations can bind to multiple polar functional groups (basic amino acid side chains) of the peptide, whereas Cu+ ions preferentially bind to the guanidino group of the arginine side-chain and the N-terminal amine group. Furthermore, when Cu+ is the charge carrier, the abundances of non-sequence informative ions, especially loss of small neutral molecules (H2O and NH3) is decreased for both photofragment ion and PSD spectra relative to that observed for [M + H]+ and [M + Na]+ peptide ions.     

Differentiation among the four diastereomers of benzyloxycarbonyl-protected γ-hydroxyornithine in negative-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Discrimination among the four γ-hydroxyornithine diastereomers was studied by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). It is impossible to distinguish among the four diastereomers of this amino acid by positive- and negative-ion FAB and collisionally activated dissociation MS, but benzyloxycarbonyl group protection of the α- and δ-amino groups in γ-hydroxyornithine allows differentiation among the diastereomers in negative-ion FABMS. The negative-ion mass spectra of benzyloxycarbonyl-protected γ-hydroxyornithine diastereomers showed differences among the abundances of the molecule ion [M – H]^-, the dehydrated ion [M — H — H₂O]^- due to the loss of the γ-hydroxyl group and the fragment ions formed from both [M — H]^- and [M — H — H₂O]^- ions. On the other hand, no difference was found between the fragmentations of the benzyloxycarbonyl-protected enantiomers of ornithine in negative-ion FABMS. These results indicate that the orientation of the γ-hydroxyl group and the existence of two benzene rings in the benzyloxycarbonyl group are important factors which are responsible for the fragmentations of the four benzyloxycarbonyl-protected γ-hydroxyornithine diastereomers in negative-ion FABMS. These studies also showed that the negative-ion FABMS for benzyloxycarbonyl-protected γ-hydroxyornithine diastereomers is a useful method for determining the configuration of each diastereomer of γ-hydroxyornithine.     

Utilization of MS spectra for the multicomponent quantification of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamines

A rapid and accurate means of quantifying mixtures of diastereomeric N-acetylhexosamine monosaccharides using MS³ product ions is introduced. The method involves derivatizing the monosaccharides with [Co(DAP)₂Cl₂]Cl (where DAP is diaminopropane), and subjecting the derivatized products to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Each diastereomer provides unique MS³ product ion abundances. The abundances for the pure monosaccharide standards are used in a system of equations in order to quantify mixtures of these diastereomers. Using the system of equations is quite advantageous, as it is the only mass spectrometric method that has been shown to successfully quantify mixtures of more than two isomers. The utility of the method is demonstrated by successfully quantifying various two and three component mixtures of the diastereomeric monosaccharides. Furthermore, the method is used to quantify the recovery of a single diastereomeric monosaccharide from an acidic resin. Although the multicomponent quantification method described herein is used to quantify mixtures of N-acetylhexosamine diastereomers, it could be applied to any group of isomers, provided distinguishing CID spectra are obtained. This is the first known report of utilizing MS³ product ions for quantification of structural isomeric mixtures.     

Solvent-free synthesis of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-diol 9,10-epoxide adducts at the N(2)-position of deoxyguanosine

[reaction: see text] The first solid-state (or solvent-free) synthesis of protected deoxyguanosine (dG) adducts of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxides at room temperature is reported. Whereas dG adducts derived from cis- and trans-opening of (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9beta,10beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (DE-1 1) are formed as a 1:1 mixture, the direct opening of the diastereomeric (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (DE-2, 2) produced a 15:85 ratio favoring the trans-opened dG adduct 7.     

First identification of benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene as a product of fuel pyrolysis, using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array ultraviolet-visible absorbance detection and mass spectrometry

We present HPLC/UV/MS evidence to support the identification of benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene as a product of supercritical toluene pyrolysis. Mass spectral data confirm that compound I-eluting in between co-eluting benzo[a]coronene/phenanthro[5,4,3,2-efghi]perylene and benzo[pqr]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene, all three of which have been unequivocally identified as C(28)H(14) products of toluene pyrolysis-is also a C(28)H(14) product component. The UV spectrum of compound I is presented, and indicates that it is a benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Five of the eight benzenoid C(28)H(14) PAH isomers have published UV spectra, and characteristics of the remaining three are deduced from annelation theory. Only one of these compounds, benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene, is predicted to have a UV spectrum with characteristics that we find in the spectrum of compound I. In addition, benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene is the only benzenoid C(28)H(14) isomer whose length-to-breadth ratio is consistent with the HPLC retention time of compound I. The reaction mechanism through which benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene is formed in this environment is shown, and is consistent with reaction pathways of other large PAH found in this product mixture.     

Determination and enhancement of stereospecific decompositions via triple mass spectrometry: Formation of untypical protonated precursor molecules

A tetraquadrupole mass spectrometer with consecutive surface-induced dissociation/collisionally activated dissociation (SID/CAD) capability has been used to investigate the decompositional behaviour of bifunctional terpenes. SID and CAD yield similar daughter-ion spectra of protonated molecules generated by ammonia chemical ionization. These collision mass spectra of MH⁺ contain diagnostic daughter ions which can be used to distinguish diastereomeric terpenols. Pronounced stereochemical effects underlying specific decompositions of the ammonium adduct and protonated molecule forms of the bifunctional terpenes have been attributed to the formation of protonated molecules of lower stability produced via decomposition of [M + NH₄]⁺. Evidence supporting the existence of such unusual protonated molecules formed via collision is given in the grand-daughter spectra of [M + NH₄]⁺. Triple mass Spectrometry is shown to promote the Stereospecific formation and subsequent diagnostic decomposition of these singular protonated forms, thus improving the ability to differentiate the diastereomers.     

Differentiation of diastereomeric conduramine derivatives under electron ionization and chemical ionization mass spectral conditions

Diastereomeric conduramine derivatives, i.e., (1R,2S,3R/S,6S)-6-(N-carbomethoxyamino) 1,2-O-isopropylidenecyclohex-4-ene-1,2,3-triol (1 and 2) and their O-acetyl derivatives (3 and 4), were studied using gas chromatography (GC) with electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI). The EI mass spectra of diastereomeric pairs show consistent differences in the relative abundances of characteristic ions. The EI fragmentation patterns are based on precursor/product ion spectra, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and deuterium labelling. The CI spectra show differences from the EI spectra, and the isobutane/CI spectra are much simpler than the methane/CI spectra. The differences shown in the CI spectra are similar to those shown in the product ion spectra of [M+H](+) ions generated under electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions. Theoretical calculations are performed to understand the observed differences. The differences in the relative stabilities of molecular ions, or protonated molecules at different sites, can explain the observed differences in the spectra.     

Role of Cationization and Multimers Formation for Diastereomers Differentiation by Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Stereochemistry plays an important role in biochemistry, particularly in therapeutic applications. Indeed, enantiomers have different biological activities, which can have important consequences. Many analytical techniques have been developed in order to allow the identification and the separation of stereoisomers. Here, we focused our work on the study of small diastereomers using the coupling of traveling wave ion mobility and mass spectrometry (TWIMS-MS) as a new alternative for stereochemistry study. In order to optimize the separation, the formation of adducts between diastereomers (M) and different alkali cations (X) was carried out. Thus, monomers [M + X]⁺ and multimers [2M + X]⁺ and [3M + X]⁺ ions have been studied from both experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Moreover, it has been shown that the study of the multimer [2Y + M + Li]⁺ ion, in which Y is an auxiliary diastereomeric ligand, allows the diastereomers separation. The combination of cationization, multimers ions formation, and IM-MS is a novel and powerful approach for the diastereomers identification. Thus, by this technique, diastereomers can be identified although they present very close conformations in gaseous phase. This work presents the first TWIMS-MS separation of diastereomers, which present very close collision cross section thanks to the formation of multimers and the use of an auxiliary diastereomeric ligand.

Aromatic A-ring analogues of orobanchol, new germination stimulants for seeds of parasitic weeds

Strigolactones are signaling compounds in plants of increasing importance. In this paper the focus is on their activity as germinating agents for seeds of parasitic weeds. The syntheses of aromatic A-ring analogues of the germination stimulant orobanchol have been described. Starting substrate is the ABC unit of the stimulant GR24. Oxidation at the C-4 position gives a 4-oxo derivative which on subsequent reduction produces two C-4 epimeric alcohols, syn and anti in a ratio of 82 : 3. For practical access of the C-4 anti alcohol, the predominant syn epimer is inverted by a Mitsunobu procedure. The anti C-4 alcohol is then coupled with the D-ring in a one-pot two-step process involving a formylation and a reaction with bromobutenolide to give a mixture of the diastereomeric aromatic A-ring analogues of orobanchol. In contrast, the syn C-4 alcohol cannot be coupled directly with the D-ring. Protection of the C-4 syn OH is a prequisite. The best protecting function is the SEM group as deprotection after coupling with the D-ring can then readily be achieved. The structures of these new analogues have been ascertained by X-ray analyses. Both diastereomers of the C-4 syn as well as the C-4 anti orobanchol analogues have been tested as germination agents of seeds of Striga hermonthica and Orobanche ramosa. In addition, the acetates of both epimeric C-4 alcohols have been prepared and tested. Both diastereomers of the 4-oxo derivative have been prepared and bioassayed as well. The bioassays reveal that the diastereomers having the natural relative configuration are most active. The data also suggest that hydrogen bonding is not an important factor in the binding of the stimulant molecules in the receptor.     

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of diols and tetrols from reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon epoxides with hemoglobin

We have evaluated both electron ionization (EI) and negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) methods for the analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives of a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) alcohols including styrene diol, benzo[e]pyrene diol and tetrols, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene diols, benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-diols, chrysene tetrols, benz[a]anthracene tetrols I and II, and syn- and anti-benzo[a]pyrene tetrols. NICI is the more sensitive method for all compounds except styrene diol. Detection limits are compound-dependent and range from 1 fmol for cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene diol to 1 pmol for benzo[e]pyrene diol. The EI detection limit for styrene diol is 60 fmol. PAH alcohols related to the compounds listed above were observed following hydrolysis of hemoglobin which had been reacted with PAH epoxides in vitro. Benzo[a]pyrene tetrols and a chrysene tetrol were observed following hydrolysis of hemoglobin isolated from human smokers' blood. Hydrolysis of styrene oxide treated hemoglobin in 18O-labeled water revealed at least two mechanisms of ester hydrolysis, including the BAL 1 pathway.