Screening approach for chiral separation of pharmaceuticals IV. Polar organic solvent chromatography

The aim of this work is to determine generic screening conditions and an initial simple separation strategy allowing the rapid separation of drug enantiomers in polar organic solvent chromatography (POSC). Four cellulose/amylose-based stationary phases were investigated in detail using two mobile phase basis solvents commonly applied in this mode, i.e. acetonitrile and methanol. Polar mode is interesting for use in purification of enantiomers. In a first step, the parameters potentially influencing the separation, such as addition of an alcohol to the polar organic solvent or the type of mobile phase additive(s), were examined by means of experimental designs. Afterwards, the factors found most important are investigated in more detail. Results showed that the cellulose- and amylose-based stationary phases have very broad and complementary enantiorecognition abilities in the POSC mode. The type of organic solvent for the mobile phase appeared to have a dramatic influence on the quality of the separation. Based on the results, a screening strategy was proposed. Enantioseparation was observed in more than 85% of the tested compounds and analysis times of last eluted peak were usually below 10 min.     

MIL-96, a porous aluminum trimesate 3D structure constructed from a hexagonal network of 18-membered rings and mu3-oxo-centered trinuclear units

A new aluminum trimesate Al12O(OH)18(H2O)3(Al2(OH)4)[btc]6.24H2O, denominated MIL-96, was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions (210 degrees C, 24 h) in the presence of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (trimesic acid or H3btc) in water. Hexagonal crystals, allowing a single-crystal XRD analysis, are grown from a mixture of trimethyl 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Me3btc), HF, and TEOS. The MIL-96 structure exhibits a three-dimensional (3D) framework containing isolated trinuclear mu3-oxo-bridged aluminum clusters and infinite chains of AlO4(OH)2 and AlO2(OH)4 octahedra forming a honeycomb lattice based on 18-membered rings. The two types of aluminum groups are connected to each other through the trimesate species, which induce corrugated chains of aluminum octahedra, linked via mu2-hydroxo bonds with the specific -cis-cis-trans- sequence. The 3D framework of MIL-96 reveals three types of cages. Two of them, centered at the special positions 0 0 0 and 2/3 1/3 1/4, have estimated pore volumes of 417 and 635 A3, respectively, and encapsulate free water molecules. The third one has a smaller pore volume and contains disordered aluminum octahedral species (Al(OH)6). The solid-state NMR characterization is consistent with crystal structure and elemental and thermal analyses. The four aluminum crystallographic sites are resolved by means of 27Al 3QMAS technique. This product is able to sorb both carbon dioxide and methane at room temperature (4.4 mmol.g(-1) for CO2 and 1.95 mmol.g(-1) for CH4 at 10 bar) and hydrogen at 77 K (1.91 wt % under 3 bar).     

On the role of the bridging dicyanamidobenzene ligand in a new binuclear ruthenium complex: [{Ru(tpy)(thd)}2(mu-dicyd)][PF6] with tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione

The dicyanamidobenzene-bridge diruthenium complex [{Ru(tpy)(thd)}(2)(mu-dicyd)][PF(6)] ([3][PF(6)]) (dicyd = 1,4-dicyanamidobenzene, tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) and its mononuclear counterpart [Ru(tpy)(thd)(Ipcyd)] (2) [Ipcyd = 4-iodophenylcyanamide anion (Ipcyd(-))] were synthesized and fully characterized. Cyclic voltammetry of 3 showed the presence of four reversible one-electron redox couples. UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy of the electrogenerated paramagnetic intermediates were used to ascertain the oxidation-state distribution. The stable starting dinuclear complex 3(+) is found to be a ligand-centered anion radical as shown by EPR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and DFT calculations. Oxidation of 3(+) to 3(2+) led to an EPR silent system due to substantial intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction of the electron spins carried by the low spin ruthenium(III) atom and the bridging anion radical dicyanamido (dicyd(*)(-)), an observation which was supported by UV-vis-NIR, X-ray structure, and DFT calculations. Complex 3(3+) presented an EPR spectra consistent with a total effective spin S = (1)/(2) issued from an antiferromagnetic interaction of electron spins carried by two low spin ruthenium(III) atoms and the bridging anion radical dicyd(*)(-) in accordance with UV-vis-NIR. This study shows that the dicyanamidobenzene bridging ligand has indubitably a noninnocent behavior.     

Potentiometric titration of metal ions in ethanol

The potentiometric titrations of Zn2+, Cu2+ and 12 Ln3+ metal ions were obtained in ethanol to determine the titration constants (defined as the at which the [-OEt]/[Mx+]t ratios are 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5) and in two cases (La3+ and Zn2+) a complete speciation diagram. Several simple monobasic acids and aminium ions were also titrated to test the validity of experimental titration measurements and to establish new constants in this medium that will be useful for the preparation of buffers and standard solutions. The dependence of the titration constants on the concentration and type of metal ion and specific counterion effects is discussed. In selected cases, the titration profiles were analyzed using a commercially available fitting program to obtain information about the species present in solution, including La3+ for which a dimer model is proposed. The fitting provides the microscopic values for deprotonation of one to four metal-bound ethanol molecules. Kinetics for the La3+-catalyzed ethanolysis of paraoxon as a function of are presented and analyzed in terms of La3+ speciation as determined by the analysis of potentiometric titration curves. The stability constants for the formation of Zn2+ and Cu2+ complexes with 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane as determined by potentiometric titration are presented.     

Azanonaboranes containing imidazole derivatives for boron neutron capture therapy: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro toxicity evaluation

A number of azanonaboranes containing imidazole derivatives have been synthesized by a ligand-exchange reaction. The exo-NH(2)R group of the azanonaborane of the type [(RH(2)N)B(8)H(11)NHR] can be exchanged by one hetero-nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring. In the case of histamine, the exchange takes place on the aliphatic amino group, the hetero-nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring or both of them. The products were confirmed by NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. The electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group in 2-nitroimidazole is the main hindrance to achieve the exchange reaction. In vitro experiments were performed with B16 melanoma cells. A comparison of the biological properties of the products in which the B(8)N cluster is connected to the hetero-nitrogen atom of imidazole ring or the aliphatic NH(2) group showed that incorporation of B(8)N cluster unit into primary amino group increases the compound's toxicity. In contrast, this specificity for cytotoxicity effect was not observed in the case of histamine containing two B(8)N clusters which was relatively nontoxic and did not inhibit colony formation up to concentrations of 2 mM.     

Identification of the elastic properties of an artificial capsule membrane with the compression test: effect of thickness

The mechanical properties of a capsule membrane are evaluated by means of a compression experiment between two parallel plates. Since large deformations of the membrane are involved, the choice of the wall material constitutive law is essential. In this paper, we explore different classical laws to describe the behavior of the membrane and evaluate also the limit of application of the thin shell approximation. A numerical study of the compression process is performed using Abaqus software and an inverse method is used to identify the material constants of the constitutive laws. The comparison between the model predictions and experimental measurements on capsules with serum albumin-alginate membranes, indicates that the thin shell approximation is valid only for thickness to radius ratios up to 5% and that thick membranes obey non linear elastomer type constitutive laws. The Young modulus of the membrane material is found to increase non-linearly with membrane thickness, thus indicating that fabrication of thicker serum albumin-alginate walls results in capsules stiffer than expected.     

A novel spectrophotometric method for batch and flow injection determination of sulfite in beverages

A novel spectrophotometric assay method for batch and flow injection determination of sulfite in beverages is described. The method involves a reaction with diaquacobyrinic acid heptamethyl ester (diaquacobester, DACbs) in acetate buffer of pH 3 to form a highly stable sulfite cobester complex (SO₃Cbs). In the absence of sulfite, the reagent displays three absorption maxima at 349, 409 and 525 nm. Addition of sulfite is associated with the development of a new absorption band at 313 nm, an increase in the intensity of the band at 425 nm and a decrease in the absorbance of the bands at 349 and 525 nm. Variations of the absorptions at 313, 349, 425 and 525 nm are linearly proportional to sulfite concentrations over the range of 0.05–25 μg ml⁻¹with a detection limit of 0.01–0.2 μg ml⁻¹. Negligible interferences are caused by most common ions. Validation of the method according to the quality assurance standards shows suitability for quality control assessment of sulfite in complex matrices without prior treatment. The method has the advantages of high selectivity, good sensitivity, fast reaction, high stability of the reagent and reaction product and absorbance measurements at four different wavelengths in the same run. The method is successfully applied to determine the sulfite contents of some beverages. The results compare fairly well with data obtained using the standard method.     

Some aromatic hydrazone derivatives as inhibitors for the corrosion of C-steel in phosphoric acid solution

The effect of furfural benzoylhydrazone and its derivatives (I-VII) as corrosion inhibitors for C-steel in 1M phosphoric acid solution has been studied by weight-loss and galvanostatic polarization techniques. A significant decrease in the corrosion rate of C-steel was observed in the presence of the investigated inhibitors. This study revealed that, the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing the inhibitor concentration, and the addition of iodide ions enhances it to a considerable extent. The effect of temperature on the inhibition efficiency of these compounds was studied using weight-loss method. Activation energy (E(a)*) and other thermodynamic parameters for the corrosion process were calculated and discussed. The galvanostatic polarization data indicated that, the inhibitors were of mixed-type, but the cathode is more polarized than the anode. The adsorption of these compounds on C-steel surface has been found to obey Frumkin's adsorption isotherm. The mechanism of inhibition was discussed in the light of the chemical structure of the undertaken inhibitors.     

Spectrofluorometric determination of verapamil hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma using organized media: application to stability studies

A highly sensitive spectrofluorometric method was developed for the determination of verapamil hydrochloride (VP HCl) in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. The proposed method is based on investigation of the fluorescence spectral behavior of VP HCl in micellar systems, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). In aqueous solutions of borate buffer of pH 9 and 8.5, VP HCI was well incorporated into SDS and beta-CD, respectively, with enhancement of its native fluorescence. The fluorescence was measured at 318 nm after excitation at 231 nm. The fluorescence intensity enhancements were 183 and 107% in SDS and in beta-CD, respectively. The fluorescence-concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 0.02-0.2 and 0.02-0.25 microg/mL, with lower detection limits of 5.58 x 10(-3) and 3.62 x 10(-3) microg/mL in SDS and beta-CD, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablets and the results were in good agreement with those obtained with the official method. The method was further applied to the determination of VP HCl in real and spiked human plasma. The mean % recoveries in the case of spiked human plasma (n=4) was 92.59 +/- 3.11 and 88.35 +/- 2.55 using SDS and beta-CD, respectively, while that in real human plasma (n=3) was 90.17 +/- 6.93 and 89.17 +/- 6.50 using SDS and beta-CD, respectively. The application of the method was extended to the stability studies of VP HCl after exposure to ultraviolet radiation and upon oxidation with hydrogen peroxide.     

Solvent-free reaction on KF-alumina under microwave: serendipitous one-pot domino synthesis of new isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones from alpha-hydroxyketones

The reaction of four α-hydroxyketones 1a-d with a double equivalent of t-butyl acetylacetonate in the presence of KF-alumina under microwave irradiation afforded 6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-3,3-dialkyl-7-methyl isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones 3a-d.