Single-molecule fluorescence detection in microfluidic channels—the Holy Grail in μTAS?

Both single-molecule detection (SMD) methods and miniaturization technologies have developed very rapidly over the last ten years. By merging these two techniques, it may be possible to achieve the optimal requirements for the analysis and manipulation of samples on a single molecule scale. While miniaturized structures and channels provide the interface required to handle small particles and molecules, SMD permits the discovery, localization, counting and identification of compounds. Widespread applications, across various bioscience/analytical science fields, such as DNA-analysis, cytometry and drug screening, are envisaged. In this review, the unique benefits of single fluorescent molecule detection in microfluidic channels are presented. Recent and possible future applications are discussed.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

Quantitative validation of different protein precipitation methods in proteome analysis of blood platelets

For the preparation of proteins for proteome analysis, precipitation is frequently used to concentrate proteins and to remove interfering compounds. Various methods for protein precipitation are applied, which rely on different chemical principles. This study compares the changes in the protein composition of human blood platelet extracts after precipitation with ethanol (EtOH) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Both methods yielded the same amount of proteins from the platelet preparations. However, the EtOH-precipitated samples had to be dialyzed because of the considerable salt content. To characterize single platelet proteins, samples were analyzed by two-dimensional fluorescence differential gel electrophoresis. More than 90% of all the spots were equally present in the EtOH- and TCA-precipitated samples. However, both precipitation methods showed a smaller correlation with nonprecipitated samples (EtOH 74.9%, TCA 79.2%). Several proteins were either reduced or relatively enriched in the precipitated samples. The proteins varied randomly in molecular weight and isoelectric point. This study shows that protein precipitation leads to specific changes in the protein composition of proteomics samples. This depends more on the specific structure of the protein than on the precipitating agent used in the experiment.     

Preparation,Solid‐state Characteristics,and Catalytic Properties of Promoted Vanadium Phosphate Materials

The syntheses of transition metal promoted (M = Co, Cr, Fe, Mo) supported vanadium phosphate (VPO) catalysts (TiO₂ (anatase), γ‐Al₂O₃) and their characterization by N₂‐adsorption, X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), FTIR‐spectroscopy and determination of V‐valence state is reported. The catalytic properties were checked in the heterogeneous catalytic ammoxidation of 2, 6‐dichlorotoluene to the corresponding nitrile. The catalyst samples were prepared by synthesis of the precursor compound VOHPO₄ · 0.5 H₂O, impregnation using various metal salt solutions and mixing with the support materials. The characterization revealed increased surface areas for all the promoted samples in comparison to the basic materials. XRD showed the formation of (VO)₂P₂O₇ after calcinations as well as patterns of support materials (anatase, γ‐Al₂O₃). The formation of crystalline proportions of mixed oxides were not observed. The catalytic ammoxidation runs revealed a significant effect of the promoter metals on the catalytic properties by an increase of yield by ca. 20 % compared to bulk VPO. Almost complete conversion of 2, 6‐dichlorotoluene and 81 % yield of nitrile were observed using a 25 %VPCoO/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Stereochemistry of isoplagiochin C, a macrocyclic bisbibenzyl from liverworts

Cyclic bisbibenzyls, like isoplagiochins C (1) and D (2), are stereochemically intriguing molecules: Although not equipped with any of the traditional stereogenic elements that render molecules conformationally stable per se, they are sometimes isolated in an optically active form and are thus chiral at room temperature. The paper describes quantum chemical calculations, in particular investigations of the conformational space and molecular dynamics simulations, showing that the helicity is a property of the entire molecule, whose ring strain makes the molecule configurationally stable overall, with (formally) three stereogenic elements (two biaryl axes and one helical stilbene unit). Only one of the biaryl axes (the 'upper' one, joining C-12' and C-14) has a stable configuration, leading to a population of four interconverting diastereomers, yet without racemization at room temperature. On the basis of these conformational and dynamic calculations, the circular dichroism spectrum of isoplagiochin C (1) was calculated, leading to the first assignment of the absolute configuration of a cyclic bisbibenzyl. Accordingly, 1 has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable biaryl axis and constitutes a mixture of diastereomers with respect to the other biaryl axis and the helical stilbene unit. From the temperature dependence of the racemization rates, an enantiomerization barrier of 101.6 kJ/mol was determined. Likewise, for the first time for cyclic bisbibenzyls, the enantiomeric ratio of this natural product was determined, by chromatography on a chiral phase with CD-coupling. Accordingly, 1 from Plagiochila deflexa is not enantiomerically pure, but occurs in a 85:15 ratio in favor of the enantiomer that has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable axis.     

Die Addition von Säuren an Alkinderivate mit Push-pull-Gruppen,

The addition of proton acids as HF, HCl, HBr, HOAc and phenol to alkyne-derivatives of the type (CH₃)₂N? C?C? CO? R( 1 ) yielding the adducts 2 to 6 is investigated. The stereochemical course of the reaction is mainly influenced by the structure of the alkyne 1 . Kinetic investigations show that the rate of the third-order-reaction increases from 1 a (R?H) to 1 b (R ? CH₃) and 1 c (R ? OCH₃) and decreases drastically in polar solvents. According to these results a reaction mechanism is outlined and discussed.     

Über die Reaktionen von Guanidin bzw. Thioharnstoff mit α,β,γ,δ-ungesättigten Ketonen

Guanidine and phenylguanidine react with phenylhexadienone1b and 1,5-diaryl-2,4-pentadien-1-ones1c–k respectively (via unstable dihydropyrimidines of type2 as intermediates) to 4-methyl- and 4-aryl-6-styryl-2-pyrimidinamines3b–j and N²-phenyl-2-pyrimidinamines7c, k. Efforts to stabilize the intermediates2 by introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents (compare^2,3) were not successful. Similarly, thiourea reacts with diphenylpentadienone1c to afford (via8c) 4-phenyl-6-phenethylpyrimidinethione9c. Action of guanidine on 1,3,5-triphenylpentadienone101 and on the 5-(3-chlorophenyl) analogue10m under decomposition of the ketones yields 4,6-diphenyl-and 4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-phenyl-2-pyrimidineamine (121 andm), respectively. The formation of12m proves that acetophenone splits off from101,m during the reactions. However, heating of thiourea with10m in sodium butylate/butanol gives the expected 4,6-diphenyl-4-styryldihydropyrimidinethione13m. The reaction of thiourea with triphenylpentadienone101 is taking an atypical course: Addition of thiourea to the δ- and β-carbon atom of101 affords 2-(4,6-diphenyl-2-thioxohexahydro-4-pyrimidinyl)acetophenone (141); the conformation of the latter was deduced from¹H-NMR data.     

A combined theoretical and experimental study of efficient and fast titanocene-catalyzed 3-exo cyclizations

The mechanism of titanocene mediated 3-exo cyclizations was investigated by a combined theoretical and experimental study. A gradient corrected density functional theory (DFT) method has been scaled against titanocene dichloride, the parent butenyl radical, and in bond dissociation energy (BDE) calculations. The BP86 method using density fitting, and a basis set of triple-zeta quality emerged as a highly reliable tool for studying titanocene mediated radical reactions. The computational results revealed important kinetic and thermodynamic features of cyclopropane formation. Surprisingly, the beta-titanoxy radicals, the first intermediates of our investigations, were demonstrated to possess essentially the same thermodynamic stabilization as the corresponding alkyl radicals by comparison of the calculated BDEs. In contrast to suggestions for samarium mediated reactions, the cyclization was shown to be thermodynamically favorable in agreement with earlier kinetic studies. It was established that stereoselectivity of the cyclization is governed by the stability of the intermediates and thus the trans disubstituted products are formed preferentially. The observed ratios of products are in good to excellent agreement with the DFT results. By a combination of computational and experimental results, it was also shown that for the completion of the overall cyclopropane formation the efficiency of the trapping of the cyclopropylcarbinyl radicals is decisive.     

Characterization of Carbohydrates in Paper and Paper Pulps Using Anion Exchange Chromatography and Principal Component Analysis

In the course of this investigation, a method for the characterization and differentiation of paper pulps was developed. After hydrolyzation of the papers and the respective raw pulps with trifluoroacetic acid, the hydrolyzates were analyzed with respect to their carbohydrate composition using ion exchange chromatography. The variations in carbohydrate composition mainly arise from the various hemicelluloses of the papers and pulps. The chromatographic results were then further processed using principal component analysis which allows correlating the various papers to different pulp materials.     

Solvent intercalation in cobalt dimethylglyoximato complexes: A miniature host-guest system

When crystallized from appropriate solvents, the complex aqua-bis(dimethylglyoximato)nitrocobalt (III) may incorporate solvent molecules, thus forming a variety of mixed crystals. In the resulting host-guest crystals, the space groupP2_l/m and the packing motif of the pure host compound are retained. Lattice constantsa andb remain essentially unaltered upon intercalation, whereasc and the monoclinic angle depend largely on the clathrated guest. Space filling and intermolecular contacts are discussed.Dedicated to Professor Peter Paetzold at the occasion of his 60th birthday. A preliminary account of this work has been given at the Spring Meeting of the British Crystallographic Association, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1994.     

Internal energy effects in collision induced dissociation spectra

The effect of the precursor ion internal energy on the branching ratios obtained from collision induced dissociation fragmentation patterns was examined for [NH₃]⁺ and [C₂H₄N]⁺. The ion internal energy was changed by varying both the chemical ionization reagent gas and the ion source pressure. Effects observed in the collision induced dissociation fragmentation patterns as a function of the ion source pressure are explained by the reaction exothermicities and by collisional deactivation of internally excited ions (at high pressure).