Conformational dependence of the electrostatic potential-derived charges of dopamine: Ramifications in molecular mechanics force field calculations in the gas phase and in aqueous solution

The electrostatic potential-derived charges for the catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine were calculated at the STO-3G and 6-31G* basis sets for six different molecular conformations. The degree of variance of the charges with changing conformations was examined. The 6-31G* basis set produced charges that were more sensitive to changes in conformation than those derived from the STO-3G electrostatic potentials. The implication of the charge variations in molecular mechanics calculations was also investigated. The molecular mechanics results in the gas phase exhibited a variance depending upon the charge set used. The force field calculations varied much less when aqueous solvation was included in the calculations through a continuum model. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers from Dysidea herbacea,Dysidea chlorea and Phyllospongia foliascens

The marine sponges Dysidea herbacea, D. chlorea and Phyllospongia foliascens were differentiated with difficulty in the field. D. herbacea contained 2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-3,4,5-tribromophenol (1), 2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-4,5,6-tribromophenol (2) and 2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-3,5-dibromophenol (6). D. chlorea contained only 2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol(3), a compound previously reported as a metabolite of D. herbacea. Phyllospongia foliascens contained 2-(3',5'-dibromo-2'-methoxy-phenoxy)-3,5-dibromoanisole (7) and a 1:2 mixture of 2-(3',5'-dibromo-2'-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,5,6-tribromophenol (8) and 2-(3',5'-dibromo-2'-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophenol (9).     

A Variable-Pressure 2D 1H-NMR Study of the Mechanism of Trimethyl Phosphate Intermolecular Exchange and cis/trains-Isomerisation of Tetrachlorobis(trimethyl phosphate)zirconium(IV)

In chloroform, [ZrCl₄·2(MeO)₃PO] exists in both cis- and trans-isomeric forms. Three reactions can be envisaged in the presence of excess (MeO)₃PO = L: (1) cis-[ZrCl₄·2L] + *L?cis-[ZrCl₄·L*L]+ L; (2) trans-[ZrCl₄·2L] + *L ? trans-[ZrCl₄·L*L] + L; (3) cis-[ZrCl₄·2L]? trans-[ZrCl₄·2L]. To distinguish between these possible reaction pathways, we have used 2D ₁H-NMR spectroscopy. For the first time, variable-pressure 2D exchange spectra were used for mechanistic assignments. cis/trans-Isomerisation was found to be the fastest reaction (in CHCl₃/CDCl₃), with a small acceleration at higher pressure: it is concluded to be an intramolecular process with a slightly contracted six-coordinate transition state. The intermolecular (MeO)₃PO exchange on the cis- and trans-isomer are second-order processes and are strongly accelerated by increased pressure: I_a mechanisms are suggested without ruling out limiting A mechanisms.     

CCSD(T) expectation value calculations of first-order properties

An expectation value approach to calculations of first-order properties using the non-iterative, triple-excitation amplitudes in the coupled cluster wave function is exploited. Three methods are suggested and analysed using the many body perturbation theory (MBPT) expansion arguments. The first method, in which non-iterative triple-excitation amplitudes are used in the expression for the expectation values, makes the wave function accurate through the second order of MBPT. In the second method, which is an extension of the first, effects of triple-excitation amplitudes are coupled with single- and double-excitation amplitudes. The correlated density matrix equivalent through the fourth order to that obtained when CCSDT-la amplitudes are used is employed in the third method. The suggested methods are tested on dipole moment and polarizability calculations for several diatomic closed-shell molecules and are compared to other related approaches. Received: 15 May 1997 / Accepted: 5 June 1997     

In situ tissue pathology from spatially encoded mass spectrometry classifiers visualized in real time through augmented reality

Integration between a hand-held mass spectrometry desorption probe based on picosecond infrared laser technology (PIRL-MS) and an optical surgical tracking system demonstrates in situ tissue pathology from point-sampled mass spectrometry data. Spatially encoded pathology classifications are displayed at the site of laser sampling as color-coded pixels in an augmented reality video feed of the surgical field of view. This is enabled by two-way communication between surgical navigation and mass spectrometry data analysis platforms through a custom-built interface. Performance of the system was evaluated using murine models of human cancers sampled in situ in the presence of body fluids with a technical pixel error of 1.0 ± 0.2 mm, suggesting a 84% or 92% (excluding one outlier) cancer type classification rate across different molecular models that distinguish cell-lines of each class of breast, brain, head and neck murine models. Further, through end-point immunohistochemical staining for DNA damage, cell death and neuronal viability, spatially encoded PIRL-MS sampling is shown to produce classifiable mass spectral data from living murine brain tissue, with levels of neuronal damage that are comparable to those induced by a surgical scalpel. This highlights the potential of spatially encoded PIRL-MS analysis for in vivo use during neurosurgical applications of cancer type determination or point-sampling in vivo tissue during tumor bed examination to assess cancer removal. The interface developed herein for the analysis and the display of spatially encoded PIRL-MS data can be adapted to other hand-held mass spectrometry analysis probes currently available.

Integration between a hand-held mass spectrometry desorption probe based on picosecond infrared laser technology (PIRL-MS) and an optical surgical tracking system demonstrates in situ tissue pathology from point-sampled mass spectrometry data.     

Capillary-channeled polymer fibers as stationary phases in liquid chromatography separations

A method utilizing capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers as stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatographic separations has been investigated. Polymeric fibers of differing backbones (polypropylene and polyester) having nominal diameters of approximately 50 and approximately 35 microm and a channeled structure on their periphery were packed into stainless steel tubing (305 x 4.6 mm I.D.) for use in reversed-phase separations of various mixtures. The fibers have eight channels running continuously along the axis which exhibit very high surface activity. As such, solvent transport is affected through the channels through wicking action. Bundles of 1000-3000 fibers are loaded co-linearly into the tubing, providing flow channels extending the entire length of the columns. As a result, backing pressures are significantly lowered (approximately 50% reduction) in comparison to packed-sphere columns. In addition, the capital costs of the fiber material (< US$0.25 per column) are very attractive. Flow-rates of up to 5 ml/min can be used to achieve near baseline separation of related compounds in reasonable run times, indicating very fast mobile phase mass transfer (C-terms). The polymer stationary phases demonstrate high selectivity for a wide variety of analytes with gradient elution employed successfully in many instances. Specifically, separations of three polyaromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, pyrene), mixtures of both organic and inorganic lead compounds [chlorotriethyllead, chlorotriphenyllead, lead nitrate, lead(II) phthalocyanine], and a lipid standard of triglycerides were accomplished on the polymeric stationary phases. Other species of biological interest, including groups of aliphatic and aromatic amino acids have also been effectively separated. The reversed-phase nature of the fiber surfaces is supported through atomic force microscopy measurements using hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalized polystyrene beads as the probe tips. Separations of the various analytes demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing C-CP fibers as stationary phases in reversed-phase LC. It is envisioned that columns of this nature would be particularly useful in prep-scale separations as well as for immobilization matrices for organic constituents in aqueous environments.     

Separation of sodiated isobaric disaccharides and trisaccharides using electrospray ionization-atmospheric pressure ion mobility-time of flight mass spectrometry

A series of isobaric disaccharide-alditols, four derived from O-linked glycoproteins, and select trisaccharides were rapidly resolved using tandem high resolution atmospheric pressure ion-mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization was used to create the gas-phase sodium adducts of each carbohydrate. Using this technique it was possible to separate up to three isobaric disaccharide alditols and three trisaccharides in the gas phase. Reduced mobility values and experimentally determined ion-neutral cross sections are reported for each sodium-carbohydrate complex. These studies demonstrated that ion mobility separations at atmospheric pressure can provide a high-resolution dimension for analysis of carbohydrate ions that is complementary to traditional mass spectral (m/z) ion analysis. Combining these independent principles for separation of ions provides a powerful new bioanalytical tool for the identification of isomeric carbohydrates.     

Asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino carbonyl compounds with N-sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides

[reaction: see text] Diverse organometallic reagents readily add to enantiopure N-sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides providing the corresponding, stable, N-sulfinyl beta-amino carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields. This new methodology represents a general solution to the problem of beta-amino carbonyl syntheses, which are important chiral building blocks and constituents of natural products. N-Sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides are prepared by reaction of the potassium enolate of N-methoxy N-methylacetamide with sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines) or lithium N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine with N-sulfinyl beta-amino esters.     

N-sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides: synthesis of enantiopure beta-amino carbonyl compounds. Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-sedridine and (-)-allosedridine

[reaction: see text] N-Sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides are prepared by condensation of sulfinimines with the potassium enolate of N-methoxy-N-methylacetamide. These new chiral building blocks are useful for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino carbonyl compounds, as illustrated here by the concise enantioselective syntheses of sedum alkaloids (+)-sedridine and (-)-allosedridine.     

Synthesis of optically active 2-benzyldihydrobenzopyrans for the hypoglycemic agent englitazone

Two syntheses of some optically active 2-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyrans and benzopyran-4-ones are presented. An asymmetric synthesis starting from D- and L-phenylalanine was used to provide both enantiomers of 2-benzyl-6-(methoxycarbonyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyran-4-one 19. Phenylalanine was diazotized in aqueous sulfuric acid to 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid 6 which was converted in four steps to 1-bromo-2-(4-methoxycarbonylphenoxy)-3-phenylpropane 11. (4R,S)-Benzamido-2-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-6-(methoxycarbonyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-carboxylic acid 16 was prepared from 11 by amidoalkylation with α-hydroxyhippuric acid in methanesulfonic acid solution followed by spiroalkylation to (4R,S)-2-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-6-(methoxycarbonyl)spiro[4H-benzopyran-4,4′-2′-phenyloxazolidin]-5′-one 15. After the phenyloxazolidin-5-one 15 was hydrolyzed to the spirobenzamido carboxylic acid 16 , oxidative decarboxylation with sodium hypochlorite yielded optically active 2-benzyl-6-(methoxycarbonyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyran-4-one 19. The ketone in 19 was reduced by hydrogenation over palladium on carbon to a methylene group and the ester was converted to the aldehyde to give both isomers of the desired intermediate 2-benzyl-6-(formyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyran 25. The second synthesis relied on an enzymatic hydrolysis of ethyl 2,3-dihydrobenzopyran-2-carboxylate 27 with the lipase from P. fluorescens to provide the desired 2R-ester. The ester group in (R)- 27 was converted to the triflate (R)- 29. Displacement of the triflate group with phenylmagnesium bromide and cuprous bromide as catalyst gave 2R-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyran (R)- 30. Formylation of (R)- 30 provided 2R-benzyl-6-(formyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzopyran (R)- 25 identical with that from the first synthesis. These optically active intermediates are used in the preparation of the hypoglycemic agent englitazone.