Tight and Selective Caging of Chloride Ions by a Pseudopeptidic Host

The selective molecular recognition of chloride versus similar anions is a continuous challenge in supramolecular chemistry. We have designed and prepared a simple pseudopeptidic cage ( 1 a ) that defines a cavity suitable for the tight encapsulation of chloride. The interaction of the protonated form of 1 a with different inorganic anions was studied in solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS, and in the solid state by X‐ray diffraction. The solution binding data showed that the association constants of 1 a to chloride are more than two orders of magnitude higher than to any other tested inorganic anion. Remarkably, 1 a displayed a high selectivity for chloride over other closely related halides such as bromide (selectivity=111), iodide (selectivity=719), and fluoride (selectivity >1000). Binding experiments (¹H NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS) suggested that 1 a has a high‐affinity (inner) binding site and an additional low‐affinity (external) binding site. The supramolecular complexes with F^?, Cl^?, and Br^? have been also characterized by the X‐ray diffraction of the corresponding [ 1 a? nHX] crystalline salts. The structural data show that the chloride anion is tightly encapsulated within the host, in a binding site defined by a very symmetric array of electrostatic H‐bonds. For the fluoride salt, the size of the cage cavity is too large and is occupied by a water molecule, which fits inside the cage efficiently competing with F^?. In the case of the bigger bromide, the mismatch of the anion inside the cage caused a geometrical distortion of the host and thus a large energetic penalty for the interaction. This minimalistic pseudopeptidic host represents a unique example of the construction of a simple well‐defined binding pocket that allows the highly selective molecular recognition of a challenging substrate.     

DNA Aptamers are Functional Molecular Recognition Sensors in Protic Ionic Liquids

The function and structural changes of an AMP molecular aptamer beacon and its molecular recognition capacity for its target, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), was systematically explored in solution with a protic ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). It could be proven that up to 2 M of EAN in TBS buffer, the AMP molecular aptamer beacon was still capable of recognizing AMP while also maintaining its specificity. The specificity was proven by using the guanosine monophosphate (GMP) as target; GMP is structurally similar to AMP but was not recognized by the aptamer. We also found that in highly concentrated EAN solutions the overall amount of double stranded DNA formed, as well as its respective thermal stability, diminished gradually, but surprisingly the hybridization rate (k_h) of single stranded DNA was significantly accelerated in the presence of EAN. The latter may have important implications in DNA technology for the design of biosensing and DNA‐based nanodevices in nonconventional solvents, such as ionic liquids.     

Assessing hazelnut allergens by protein- and DNA-based approaches: LC-MS/MS,ELISA and real-time PCR

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is responsible for a significant part of the allergies related to nuts. Still, it is a very much appreciated nut and as consequence is widely used in all types of processed foods, such as chocolates. Correct food labelling is currently the most effective means of preventing the consumption of allergenic ingredients, namely hazelnut, by the sensitised/allergic individuals. Thus, to verify labelling compliance and to ensure allergic patient protection, the development of highly sensitive methodologies is of extreme importance. In this study, three major methodologies, namely enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction, were evaluated for their performance regarding the detection of hazelnut allergens in model chocolates. The sandwich ELISA and respective antibodies were in-house developed and produced. With sensitivity levels of approximately 1 mg kg^?1 and limits of quantification of 50–100 mg kg^?1, all the performed methods were considered appropriate for the identification of hazelnut in complex foods such as chocolates. To our knowledge, this was the first successful attempt to develop and compare three independent approaches for the detection of allergens in foods.

Analysis of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in extremely low gestational age neonate urines by UPLC-MS/MS

Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN) frequently require the use of oxygen supply in the delivery room leading to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress that are responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to establish reference ranges of a set of representative isoprostanes and prostaglandins, which are stable biomarkers of lipid peroxidation often correlated with oxidative stress-related disorders. First, a quantitative ultra performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated. The proposed analytical method was tailored for its application in the field of neonatology, enabling multi-analyte detection in non-invasive, small-volume urine samples. Then, the lipid peroxidation product concentrations in a total of 536 urine samples collected within the framework of two clinical trials including extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN) were analyzed. The access to a substantially large number of samples from this very vulnerable population provided the chance to establish reference ranges of the studied biomarkers. Up to the present, and for this population, this is the biggest reference data set reported in literature. Results obtained should assist researchers and pediatricians in interpreting test results in future studies involving isoprostanes and prostaglandins, and could help assessing morbidities and evaluate effectiveness of treatment strategies (e.g., different resuscitation conditions) in the neonatal field.

Solvent and Media Effects on the Photophysics of Naphthoxazole Derivatives

The photophysical properties of 2‐phenyl‐naphtho[1,2‐d][1,3]oxazole, 2(4‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)naphtho[1,2‐d][1,3]oxazole and 2(4‐N,N‐diphenylaminophenyl) naphtho[1,2‐d][1,3]oxazole were studied in a series of solvents. UV–Vis absorption spectra are insensitive to solvent polarity whereas the fluorescence spectra in the same solvent set show an important solvatochromic effect leading to large Stokes shifts. Linear solvation energy relationships were employed to correlate the position of fluorescence spectra maxima with microscopic empirical solvent parameters. This study indicates that important intramolecular charge transfer takes place during the excitation process. In addition, an analysis of the solvatochromic behavior of the UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra in terms of the Lippert–Mataga equation shows a large increase in the excited‐state dipole moment, which is also compatible with the formation of an intramolecular charge‐transfer excited state. We propose both naphthoxazole derivatives as suitable fluorescent probes to determine physicochemical microproperties in several systems and as dyes in dye lasers; consequence of their high fluorescence quantum yields in most solvents, their large molar absorption coefficients, with fluorescence lifetimes in the range 1–3 ns as well as their high photostability.     

Extended TTF-type donors fused with pyrazine units; synthesis and characterization

Pyrazinedicyanoethylthiotetrathiafulvalene, (pzdc-TTF) (1a), an extended TTF fused with a pyrazine moiety and also a dithiolene ligand precursor, was synthesized through a cross-coupling with triethyl phosphite between pyrazine-1,3-dithiole-2-thione (I) and 4,5-bis(2-cyanoethylthio)-1,3-dithiole-2-one (III). This reaction also yields to dipyrazine TTF derivative (1b) and 2,3,6,7-Tetrakis(2-cyanoethylthio)TTF (1c), resulting from the self-coupling reactions of the thione (I) and ketone (III). The crystal structure of 1a is composed by pairs of head to head donor stacks of pzdc-TTF molecules along b in opposite orientations. Single crystals of 1b revealed a new polymorph with a face-to-face π-stacking motif. The electrochemical properties of 1a studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in DMF, shows two single electron oxidation processes typical of TTF-based donors; one pair of asymmetric redox waves centered at 627 mV versus Ag/Ag⁺ is ascribed to the couple [pzdc-TTF]⁺/[pzdc-TTF]²⁺, and one pair of quasi-reversible redox waves centered at 430 mV is ascribed to the couple [pzdc-TTF]⁰/[pzdc-TTF]⁺.     

A portable lab‐on‐a‐chip instrument based on MCE with dual top–bottom capacitive coupled contactless conductivity detector in replaceable cell cartridge

A new design for a compact portable lab‐on‐a‐chip instrument based on MCE and dual capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (dC⁴D) is described. The instrument is battery powered with total dimension of 14 × 25 × 8 cm³ (w × l × h), and weighs 1.2 kg. The device consists of a front electrophoresis compartment which has the chip holder and the chip, the associated high‐voltage electrodes for electrophoresis injection and separation and the detector. The detection cell is integrated into the device housing with an exchangeable plug‐and‐play cartridge format. The design of the dC⁴D cell has been optimized for maximum performance. The cartridge includes the top–bottom excitation and pick up electrodes incorporated into the cell and connected to push‐pull self‐latching pins that are insulated with plastic. The metal frame of the cartridge is grounded completely to eliminate electronic interferences. The cartridge is designed to clamp a thin fluidic chip at the detection point. The cartridges are replaceable whereby different cartridges have different detection electrode configurations to employ according to the sensitivity or resolution needed in the specific analytical application. The second compartment consists of all the electronics, data acquisition card, high‐voltage modules of up to ±5 kV both polarity, and batteries for 10 h of operation. The improved detector performance is illustrated by the electrophoresis analysis of six cations (NH₄⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Li⁺) with a detection limit of approximately 5 μM and the analysis of the anions (Br^?, Cl^?, NO₂^?, NO₃^?, SO₄^2?, F^?) with a detection limit of about 3 μM. Analytical capabilities of the instrument for food and medical applications were evaluated by simultaneous detection of organic and inorganic acids in fruit juice and inorganic cations and anions in rabbit blood samples and human urine samples are also demonstrated.     

Stepwise Degradation of Trifluoromethyl Platinum(II) Compounds

The action of moisture on the homoleptic organoplatinum(II) compound [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₄] ( 1 ) gives rise to the carbonyl derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(CO)] ( 2 ), which is itself moisture stable. However, treatment of compound 2 with HCl(aq) results in the formation of [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂Cl(CO)] ( 3 ), which undergoes degradation of an additional CF₃ group by further treatment with HCl(aq) in large excess, affording [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)Cl₂(CO)] ( 4 ). The carbonyl derivatives 2 – 4 are fairly stable species, in which the CO ligand, however, can be readily extruded by reaction with trimethylamine N‐oxide (ONMe₃). Thus, compound 2 reacts with ONMe₃ in the presence of a number of neutral or anionic ligands affording a series of singly or doubly charged derivatives with the general formulae [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(L)] [L=CNtBu ( 5 ), PPh₃ ( 6 ), P(o‐tolyl)₃ ( 7 ), tht ( 8 ; tht=tetrahydrothiophene)] and [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₃X] [X=Cl ( 9 ), Br ( 10 ), I ( 11 )], respectively. Compound 2 also reacts with ONMe₃ and pyridin‐2‐thiol (C₅H₅NS) giving rise to the five‐membered metallacyclic derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(CF₂NC₅H₄S‐κC,κS)] ( 12 ), which can be viewed as a difluorocarbene species stabilized by intramolecular base coordination. On the other hand, treatment of compound 3 with ONMe₃ in the presence of C₅H₅NS yields the four‐membered metallacyclic compound [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(NC₅H₄S‐κN,κS)] ( 13 ). The geometries of the metallacycles in compounds 12 and 13 are compared. In the absence of any additional ligand, compound 3 undergoes dimerization producing the dinuclear species [NBu₄]₂[{Pt(CF₃)₂}₂(μ‐Cl)₂] ( 14 ). Halide abstraction in the latter compound with AgClO₄ in THF yields the solvento compound cis‐[Pt(CF₃)₂(thf)₂] ( 15 ). The highly labile character of the THF ligands in compound 15 makes this species a convenient synthon of the “cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂” unit.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)‐based thermo‐responsive polyurethane hydrogels for controlled drug release

The thermo‐responsiveness, swelling and mechanical properties of a series of novel poly(ester‐ether urethane) hydrogels have been investigated. These thermo‐sensitive hydrogels were obtained by combining hydrophobic biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone) diols and hydrophilic two‐, three‐ and four‐arm hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of various molecular weights, using hexamethylene diisocyanate, dichloroethane as solvent and a tin‐based catalyst. The use of multifunctional PEGs leads to the formation of covalent crosslinking points allowing an additional control of the swelling capability. Thus, it was found that tuning the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and the crosslinking degree by changing the composition, the swelling and the thermo‐responsive behavior of these hydrogels could be modulated. The obtained hydrogels showed a volume transition at around room temperature. Therefore, and taking into account their biocompatibility, these hydrogels show promising properties for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery. Thus, the loading and release of diltiazem hydrochloride, an antihypertensive drug used as model, were investigated. These new PEG polyurethane hydrogels were able to incorporate a high amount of drug providing a sustained release after an initial burst effect. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.