Electrochemical impedance probing of DNA hybridisation on oligonucleotide-functionalised polypyrrole

We report a new approach for detecting DNA hybridisation using non faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The technique was applied to a system of DNA probes bearing amine groups that are immobilized by covalent grafting on a supporting polypyrrole matrix functionalised with activated ester groups.The kinetics of the attachment of the ss-DNA probe was monitored using the temporal evolution of the open circuit potential (OCP). This measurement allows the determination of the time necessary for the chemical reaction of ss-DNA probe into the polypyrrole backbone.The hybridisation reactions with the DNA complementary target and non complementary target were investigated by non faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results show a significant modification in the Nyquist plot upon addition of the complementary target whereas, in presence of the non complementary target, the Nyquist plot is not modified. The spectra, in the form of Nyquist plot, were analysed with the Randles circuit. The transfer charge resistance R₂ shows a linear variation versus the complementary target concentration. Sensitivity and detection limit (0.2 nM) were determined and detection limit was lower of one order of magnitude than that obtained with the same system and measuring variation of the oxidation current at constant potential.     

Studies on werner clathrates. Part 131. Selective criteria in werner clathrates. Six crystal structures with bis(isothiocyanato)tetra(4-vinylpyridine)nickel(II) as host

This paper addresses the general question: what are the significant guest properties selected by this host when interacting with guest molecules in the liquid phase, resulting in cocrystallization of the host and guest? In particular, to what extent do π electrons in a guest molecule effect its potential as a guest? Werner clathrates of the host [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄] with mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cyclic hydrocarbons as guests have been synthesised and their structures elucidated. Clathrate (1): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](1.78 THF)(0.22 cyclohexane), crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupP _bcn a=9.976(6),b=20.630(25),c=19.861 (4) Å,V=4087ų,Z=4,R=0.087 for 1461 reflections; (2): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](1.76 THF)(0.24 cyclohexene),P _bcn ,a=9.987(7),b=20.614(4),c=19.898(4)Å,V=4096ų,Z=4,R=0.084 for 1304 reflections; (3): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](0.48 THF)(0.52 1,3-cyclohexadiene), tetragonalI4₁/a,a=16.898(3),b=16.898(3),c=26.463(6)Å,V=7556ų,Z=8,R=0.120 for 1698 reflections; (4): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](0.36 THF)(1.04 1,4-cyclohexadiene),I4₁/a,a=16.986(4),b=16.986(4),c=25.896(15)Å,V=7472ų,Z=8,R=0.103 for 2025 reflections; (5): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](0.35 THF)(1.05 benzene),I4₁/a,a=17.102(10),b=17.102(10),c=25.498(8)Å,V=7458ų,Z=8,R=0.118 for 2200 reflections; (6): [Ni(NCS)₂(4-ViPy)₄](3 benzene), triclinicP1,a=10.432(24),b=11.155(9),c=21.581(7)Å, α=78.70(5), β=82.60(7), γ=74.09(13)°,V=2361ų,Z=2,R=0.078 for 3427 reflections. Host-guest ratios and, for mixtures of guests, guest1/guest2 ratios, were elucidated by density and NMR. We show that the conformational freedom of the substituted pyridines is not the primary reason for the clathrating ability of Werner hosts. All six structures show no host-guest interaction at the level of van der Waals interactions. As non-bonding interactions are not observed between the host and guest, this study shows that the above host's selectivity by enclathration of particular guest molecules cannot be accounted for by solid state structural analysis.     

Supercoiled circular DNA retention in nonequilibrium chromatography: viscosity and velocity dependence--behavior difference with proteins

This study demonstrates that the retention behavior of various circular double-stranded DNA molecules (3, 5, and 10 kb) increases over the entire flow-rate range (0.02-1.8 mL/min) at all the mobile phase viscosities (h). The transition between the two well-known nonequilibrium chromatography methods (slalom and hydrodynamic chromatography) is clearly visualized for proteins and does not appear for plasmids because of their strong compact structure. Also, the optimal conditions for F and h are determined to obtain the most efficient separation of these three plasmids in a minimum analysis time.     

Determination of carnitine and acylcarnitines in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of carnitine, its biosynthetic precursor butyrobetaine, and eight acylcarnitines in plasma. The procedure includes a solid-phase extraction for carnitine and short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines, and a liquid-liquid extraction for protein-bound long-chain acylcarnitines, followed by separation on a reversed-phase column in the presence of a volatile ion-pairing reagent. Detection was achieved using an ion-trap mass spectrometer run in the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) mode. The choice of the matrix for calibrators, used for quantification of these endogenous compounds, was also investigated. Validation was performed for standard quality controls diluted with 4% bovine serum albumin solution and for spiked plasma quality control samples at concentrations between 0.5 and 80 micromol/L, depending on the compound. Intra- and inter-day precisions for the determination of carnitine were below 3.4% and accuracies were between 95.2 and 109.0%. Application of the method to the diagnosis of pathological acylcarnitine profiles of metabolic disorders in a patient suffering from methylmalonic aciduria is presented. The method allows quantification of carnitine, butyrobetaine, acetylcarnitine and propionylcarnitine, and semiquantitative analysis of medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines. In contrast with other methods, no derivatization step is needed.     

Mixed valence Mn(II)/Mn(III) [3 x 3] grid complexes: structural, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and magnetic properties

Mn(II)9 grid complexes with a [Mn9(mu-O)12] core, obtained by self-assembly of a series of tritopic picolinic dihydrazone ligands with Mn(II) salts, have been oxidized by both chemical and electrochemical methods to produce mixed oxidation state systems. Examples involving [Mn(III)3Mn(II)6] and [Mn(III)4Mn(II)5] combinations have been produced. Structures are reported for [Mn9(2poap-2H)6](NO3)6.14H2O (1), [Mn9(2poap-2H)6](ClO4)10.10H2O (3), and [Mn9(Cl2poap-2H)6](ClO4)9.14H2O.3CH3CN (10). Structural studies show distinct contraction of the corner grid sites on oxidation, with overall magnetic properties consistent with the resulting changes in electron distribution. Antiferromagnetic exchange in the outer ring of eight metal centers creates a ferrimagnetic subunit, which undergoes antiferromagnetic coupling to the central metal, leading to S=1/2 (3) and S2/2 (10) ground states. Two moderately intense absorptions are observed on oxidation of the Mn(II) grids in the visible and near-infrared (1000 nm, 700 nm), associated with charge transfer transitions (LMCT, IVCT respectively). Compound 1 crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P2 1/n, with a=21.308(2) A, b=23.611(2) A, c=32.178(3) A, beta=93.820(2) degrees . Compound 3 crystallized in the tetragonal system, space group I, with a=b=18.44410(10) A, c = 24.9935(3) A. Compound 10 crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P, with a=19.1150(10) A, b=19.7221(10) A, c=26.8334(14) A, alpha=74.7190(10) degrees, beta=77.6970(10) degrees, gamma=64.7770(10) degrees. The facile oxidation of the Mn(II)9 grids is highlighted in terms of their potential use as molecular based platforms for switching and data storage.     

Imdazole systems. I. Imidzo[2,1-b][1,3,5]benzothiadiazepine derivatives as potential antipsychotic agents

Imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,5]benzothiadiazepine 3 constitutes a novel ring system, and its analogs 3a-i were synthesized to investigate their potential antipsychotic activity. The synthesis of the ring system was achieved by reaction of 2-aminophenylthioimidazoles 7 with phosgene or thiophosgene and by ring closure of the 1-[2-(2-imidazolyl)thiophenyliminocarbonyl]-1-piperazines 13 . An efficient method for the conversion of thioureas 8, 12 to guanidine 3a via the corresponding cyanothioamidines 11, 14 was developed.     

Reactions of Allyl Phenyl Ether in High-Temperature Water with Conventional and Microwave Heating

In a systematic study, allyl phenyl ether (1) was heated in water for 1 h at temperatures of 180 degrees C and above. Parallel experiments were conducted with a conventionally heated autoclave and a recently developed microwave batch reactor. Relatively modest temperature differences resulted in diverse product distributions, and these were independent of the method of heating. Maximum conversion of 1 to 2-allylphenol occurred at 200 degrees C (56%) and to 2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran at 250 degrees C (72%). Although 2-(2-hydroxyprop-1-yl)phenol comprised less than 1% of the product mixture at both 180 and 260 degrees C, it accounted for 37% at 230 degrees C. The reaction sequence was investigated by heating intermediates individually at selected temperatures up to 290 degrees C. Hydration of 2-allylphenol to 2-(2-hydroxyprop-1-yl)phenol was partially reversible. The work showed that high-temperature water constitutes an environmentally benign alternative to the use of acid catalysts or organic solvents and offers scope for interconversion of alcohols and alkenes.     

A new strategy for improved nicotine vaccines using conformationally constrained haptens

Constrained nicotine analogues were synthesized and coupled to the carrier protein KLH. The immunogenic effects were compared to those using our previously designed flexible nicotine hapten. Immunization of mice with the constrained hapten conjugates resulted in highly increased antibody titers and affinity for nicotine.     

Application of infrared spectrometry to the study of tautomerism and conformational and configurational isomerism in medical and biochemical agents: N,N'-disubstituted amidines.

Infrared investigations on the v(NH) and v(C = N) vibrations of N,N'-disubstituted formamidines, acetamidines and benzamidines, containing the same or different groups at the amino and imino nitrogen atoms, and of some model compounds (N-monosubstituted amides, imidazoles and 2-aminopyridines), carried out in CCl4 at various temperatures and concentrations, and in other solvents, show that all the amidines studied have the E configuration on the C = N double bond and display conformational isomerism on the C-N single bond. Formamidines exist predominantly in the form of a conformer with a hydrogen atom synperiplanar to the imino nitrogen atom, and can form a cyclic dimer. In acetamidines and benzamidines the other conformer, with a hydrogen antiperiplanar to the imino nitrogen, prevails, and hence they can form mainly linear dimers. Different positions of the v(NH) and v(C = N) bands observed for N,N'-diaryl and N,N'-dialkyl derivatives permit determination of the composition of tautomeric mixtures in N-alkyl-N'-arylamidines.     

Zero kinetic energy ions in dissociative attachment on triatomic molecules: S−/OCS,O−/CO2

The zero kinetic energy yield of S^? ions in OCS and O^? ions in CO₂, produced by dissociative electron attachment through the lowest shape resonance, has been measured in a quadrupole mass spectrometer with electrostatic filter for translational energy analysis. The relative cross sections for S^? and O^? ion formation associated with CO fragments excited up to the vibrational level υ = 4 are obtained.