Chromatographic and column stability at pH 7 of a C18 dimethylurea polar stationary phase

Chromatographic evaluations of a C18 dimethylurea phase in 150 mm x 3.9 mm HPLC columns were performed using the Tanaka and Engelhardt test mixtures. The applicability of the new C18 dimethylurea phase was also evaluated with a mixture of some herbicides and their metabolites. An artificial aging procedure was also performed by passing a potassium phosphate mobile phase buffered at pH 7.0 through C18 50 mm x 3.9 mm dimethylurea columns. The column stability was evaluated by means of the chromatographic parameters obtained for the separation of some compounds from the Neue test mixture, using apolar, polar and highly basic analytes.     

Development of a rapid and specific assay for detection of busulfan in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific assay for detection of busulfan in human plasma was developed. The assay is based on rapid isolation of busulfan by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, and detection by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry. 1,6-Bis(methanesulfonyloxy)hexane, a synthesized analogue of busulfan, was used as the internal standard (IS). The acquisition was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode; busulfan and the IS were detected with no interferences from plasma matrix. The method was linear over the range 5-2500 ng mL(-1), with r2 > 0.99 and a run time of only 3.5 min. The intra- and inter-assay precisions were in the ranges 2.1-11.9% and 3.2-10.1%, respectively, and the intra- and inter-assay accuracies were 92.2-107.6% and 94.7-104.1%, respectively. The absolute recoveries were 82.0% (20 ng mL(-1)), 90.6% (1000 ng mL(-1)) and 80.0% (2000 ng mL(-1)) for busulfan, and 89.1% for the IS (1000 ng mL(-1)). The limits of detection and quantification were 2 and 5 ng mL(-1), respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze plasma samples obtained from six adults receiving doses of 1 mg kg(-1) in a conditioning regimen prior to bone marrow transplantation. A marked intra-patient variation in busulfan concentrations during the steady state was observed, which limits the application of pharmacokinetic modeling and suggests that continuous therapeutic monitoring is necessary for adequate individualized dosing. In this regard, the present assay brings important advantages relative to other methods described in the literature, i.e., it is highly specific and simple to perform, with a rapid chromatographic run time (3.5 min), and the whole procedure can be completed in 4-5 h, which would permit dose corrections after the third dose allowing earlier and better dosing adjustments towards the target level of busulfan.     

Effects in high-performance liquid chromatography of a high pH in the mobile phase on poly(methyloctylsiloxane) immobilized by gamma-radiation on titanium-grafted silica

Effects of high-pH environments on a stationary phase prepared by gamma-radiation immobilization of poly(methyloctylsiloxane) on titanium-grafted silica were investigated by HPLC testing with standard sample mixtures. The HPLC parameters indicate good stationary phase stability to 10000 column volumes each of mobile phases with pH of 7, 9 and 12. At pH 13, the efficiency decreases slowly, although reasonably good separations are still possible until increasing flow resistance no longer allows easy passage of the mobile phase.     

Lanthanum chromites partially substituted by calcium,strontium and barium synthesized by urea combustion

Because of their electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties rare earth and transition metal mixed oxides are important compounds. Lanthanum chromites have been extensively used as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect materials. In this work, lanthanum chromites partially substituted by alkaline earth metals were synthesized by the urea combustion process. TG and DSC techniques were used to evaluate the presence of the organic material in the powder after reaction on the hot plate. The powders were calcinated at 900°C and characterized by XRD and SEM. The results show that the particles have nanometric dimensions and the perovskite structure was formed.     

Stereoselective conjugate addition of benzyl phenylsulfonyl carbanions to enoates derived from d-mannitol

The conjugate addition of benzylic phenylsulfonyl carbanions (2a'-d') to enoates derived from d-(+)-mannitol (E- or Z-1a-c) was studied using THF and THF/HMPA as solvent. Under kinetic conditions (-78 degrees C), enoate E-1a,b led to a mixture of syn-(R,S) and anti-(S,S) adducts (55/45), and syn-(R,S) adducts were the main product obtained ( approximately 90/10) from enoate Z-1a. Under thermodynamic conditions (-78 degrees C to room temperature) syn-(R,S) adducts were also preferentially formed ( approximately 90/10), despite the geometry at the double bond in the acceptor. Enoate 1c (E/Z = 57/43), bearing an additional benzyl group at the alpha-position, also reacted with carbanions 2'a,b, under thermodynamic conditions, leading to syn-adducts in excellent de (control at the three newly generated stereogenic centers). The adducts were quantitatively transformed into the corresponding beta-gamma-disubstituted gamma-butyrolactones and alpha,beta,gamma-trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones. (1)H NMR studies (NOE and J-coupling) of these lactones allowed us to determine their configuration at the newly generated chiral centers. The reduction of the C-S bond in adducts syn-(R,S) with Na/Hg, followed by treatment of the resulting products in aqueous acid media, led to enantioenriched beta-benzyl-gamma-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactones. The conformational equilibrium of enoates E- and Z-1b was evaluated by theoretical calculations (ab initio, MP2/6-31G), and a mechanistic rationale was proposed to explain the observed stereoselectivities.     

A new steroidal saponin from Agave attenuata

A new steroidal saponin was isolated from the leaves of Agave attenuata. Its structure was established as (3beta,beta,25S)-spirostan-3-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The structural identification was performed using detailed analyses of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (COSY, HETCOR, and COLOC) and chemical conversions. The hemolytic activity of the steroidal saponin was evaluated using an in vitro assay.     

Optimization of acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse and investigations on its fermentability for the production of xylitol by Candida guilliermondii

The dilute-acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse was optimized using a statistical experimental design resulting in hydrolysates containing 57.25 g/L of xylose, which were fermented with a high inoculum concentration (10 g/L of the yeast Candida guilliermondii IM/UFRJ 50088). The addition of urea reduced the time of conversion (t _C) to 75 h (without nitrogen source addition t _C>127 h), and, consequently, improving the rates of xylitol bioproduction. Fermentator experiments, using the optimized conditions, resulted in enhanced conversion rates, reducing t _C to 30 h. The stability of the yeast in the hydrolysate was also verified in a 480-h cultivation.     

Partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis

Partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis (PFACE) is used to examine the binding interactions between two model biological systems: D-Ala-D-Ala terminus peptides to the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin (Van) from Streptomyces orientalis, and arylsulfonamides to carbonic anhydrase B (CAB, EC 4.2.1.1, bovine erythrocytes). Using these two systems, modifications in the PFACE technique are demonstrated including flow-through PFACE (FTPFACE), competitive flow-through PFACE (CFTPFACE), on-column ligand synthesis PFACE (OCLSPFACE), and multiple-step ligand injection PFACE (MSLIPFACE). In PFACE small plugs of sample are injected into the capillary column and an equilibrium is established between receptor and ligand during electrophoresis. Binding constants are then obtained by Scatchard analysis using changes in the migration time of the receptor/ligand on changing the concentration of the ligand/receptor. Data demonstrating the quantitative potential of these methods are presented. This review focuses on the unique capabilities of the different PFACE techniques as applied to two model biological systems.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II) with diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone)

Diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone) has been used as a sensitive reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of tin. This reagent forms an orange-yellow complex with stannous ion at pH 3.5–7.0 (λ_max = 455 nm, ? = 2.25 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1/cm^?1 while no reaction is observed with quadrivalent tin. The colored complex extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone has been used for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II). The molar absorption in the organic solvent is 3.54 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1 cm^?1 and the compound shows its maximum absorbance at 455 nm. The interferences of foreign ions have been determined.