Activation enthalpies and entropies for the microscopic rate constants of acetate-catalyzed isomerization of 5-androstene-3,17-dione

Both acetic acid and acetate catalyze the isomerization of 5-androstene-3,17-dione (1) to its conjugated isomer, 4-androstene-3,17-dione (3), through a dienol(ate) intermediate. The temperature dependence of the overall isomerization rate constants and of the microscopic rate constants for this isomerization was determined, and the Arrhenius plots give the activation enthalpy and entropy for each step. The source of the activation energy for the overall isomerization and for each of the individual steps is predominantly enthalpic, with a moderate to low entropic penalty. Additionally, the entropy and enthalpy for the keto-enol equilibrium of 1 and dienol were determined; this equilibrium is entirely controlled by enthalpy with no entropic contribution. The relevance of these results to the mechanism of the isomerization of 1 catalyzed by the enzyme 3-oxo-Delta(5)-steroid isomerase is discussed.     

Determination of ephedrine alkaloids in dietary supplements and botanicals by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: collaborative study

An interlaboratory study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and precision of a method for ephedrine-type alkaloids [i.e., norephedrine (NE), norpseudoephedrine (NPE), ephedrine (E), pseudoephedrine (PE), methylephedrine (ME), and methylpseudoephedrine (MPE)] in dietary supplements and botanicals. The amount of ephedrine-type alkaloids present was determined using liquid chromatography with tandem mass selective detection. The samples were diluted to reflect a concentration of 0.0200 to 1.00 microg/mL for each alkaloid. An internal standard was added and the alkaloids were separated using a 5 microm phenyl LC column with an ammonium acetate, glacial acetic acid, acetonitrile, and water mobile phase. Eight blind duplicates of dietary supplements or botanicals were analyzed by 10 collaborators. Included was a negative control, ephedra nevadensis, and negative controls fortified at 2 different levels with each of the 6 ephedrine-type alkaloids. The spike levels were approximately 100 and 1000 microg/g for NE, 100 and 600 microg/g for NPE, 6500 and 65000 microg/g for E, 1000 and 10 000 microg/g for PE, 300 and 3000 microg/g for ME, and 100 and 1000 microg/g for MPE. On the basis of the accuracy and precision results for this interlaboratory study, it is recommended that this method be adopted Official First Action for the determination of 6 different individual ephedrine-type alkaloids in dietary supplements and botanicals.     

Polymer-supported triphenylphosphine ditriflate: a novel dehydrating reagent

A new type of polymeric dehydrating reagent, readily prepared by the treatment of polymer-supported triphenylphosphine oxide with triflic anhydride, was found to be effective in a variety of dehydration reactions such as ester and amide formation; the polymer-supported triphenylphosphine oxide was easily recovered and reused several times without the loss of activity.     

Semicarbazide is a minor thermal decomposition product of azodicarbonamide used in the gaskets of certain food jars

Evidence is presented for the first time showing that semicarbazide (SEM) is a minor thermal decomposition product of the blowing agent azodicarbonamide (ADC). A novel direct analytical method based on liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESIMS/MS) has been developed to determine SEM in foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) seals of metal lids, as well as in commercially available ADC. The direct LC-MS/MS method for gaskets entails extraction of the gaskets in hot water, addition of ((15)N(2)(13)C)-SEM as internal standard, and injection of an aliquot directly into the LC-MS system, achieving good sensitivity (S/N = 348 for 2 ng injected on-column) and monitoring three characteristic mass transitions (m/z 76-->31; 76 -->44; 76-->59). Semicarbazide can be detected in thermally treated ADC, reaching up to 0.93 mmol mol(-1) at 220 degrees C, as determined by the direct LC-MS/MS method. This new method is also compared to the classical derivatization method using 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2-NBA) that is routinely employed to determine SEM as an indicator of the usage of the antimicrobial drug nitrofurazone, the use of which is not authorized in the European Union (EU). Both methods revealed proportional results, with approx. 3-fold higher levels recorded by the direct SEM approach, probably due to differences in the extraction procedures used. A limited survey of plastic seals from used press twist and twist-off metal lids on food jars (non-foamed and foamed) revealed levels of SEM ranging from 2 to 8689 microg kg(-1)(average = 1593 microg kg(-1), n= 57 determinations).     

New addresses on an addressable virus nanoblock; uniquely reactive Lys residues on cowpea mosaic virus

Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) is a robust, icosahedrally symmetric platform successfully used for attaching a variety of molecular substrates including proteins, fluorescent labels, and metals. The symmetric distribution and high local concentration of the attached molecules generates novel properties for the 30 nm particles. We report new CPMV reagent particles generated by systematic replacement of surface lysines with arginine residues. The relative reactivity of each lysine on the native particle was determined, and the two most reactive lysine residues were then created as single attachment sites by replacing all other lysines with arginine residues. Structural analysis of gold derivatization not only corroborated the specific reactivity of these unique lysine residues but also demonstrated their dramatically different presentation environment. Combined with site-directed cystine mutations, it is now possible to uniquely double label CPMV, expanding its use as an addressable nanoblock.     

Application of central composite design in the optimisation of thermal desorption parameters for the trace level determination of the chemical warfare agent chloropicrin

A quantitative trace-level thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry method was developed for chloropicrin CCl3NO2 using central composite design. Factors influencing the thermal decomposition were elucidated and optimum conditions for maximum response deduced. Four factors were investigated: desorption time, desorption temperature, valve temperature and line temperature. Only valve and line temperature influenced the response. The storage stability of chloropicrin on Tenax TA was investigated. Only the storage conditions affected recovery: no significant loss of chloropicrin was observed for spiked tubes stored in a refrigerator for up to 30 days. The application of central composite design to study thermal degradation of chloropicrin has not been described in the literature. The benefits in adopting this approach are reflected in the limit of detection, 22 ng on the sorbent tube (equivalent to 3.2 ppbv), the lowest atmospheric detection limit reported to date.     

Peridinosterol - a new Δ17-unsaturated sterol from two cultured marine algae

X-ray diffraction analysis of peridinosterol p-bromobenzoate has shown the parent sterol to be E-4α,23R,24R-trimethylcholest-17(20)-en-3β-ol - a new member of the rare Δ¹⁷-unsaturated sterol class. Its possible biosynthetic origin is discussed.     

Studies on Antifungal Agents. Part 25. 1-[(3,5-Bisaryl-2-methylisoxazolidin-3-yl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazoles

The synthesis and antifungal activity of a novel series of 1-[(3,5-bisaryl-2-methylisoxazolidin-3-yl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazoles 6 and 7 (i.e. 8 – 19 ) are discussed. The preparation of 8 – 19 was straightforward and highlighted by a regiospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α-substituted (E)-ketonitrones 4 with appropriate atyrene derivatives 5 that led to a cis/trans-diastereoisomeric mixture of the corresponding triazoles (Scheme). The title compounds were evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity in solid agar cultures against a broad array of yeast and systemic mycoses and dermatophytes. The in vivo activity was determined in an immune-compromised mouse model of systemic candidiasis. While the in vitro activity was evident throughout the series, it was moderate in potency. However, some of the triazole derivatives demonstrated a potent in vivo activity comparable to that of the standard drug ketoconazole. Analogue 12 (PR 988-399) emerged as the best overall compound demonstrating potent antifungal activity in both in vitro and in vivo assays.     

Covalent immobilization of proteases and nucleases to poly(methylmethacrylate)

The increased popularity of microfabricated devices formed from plastics such as poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) will benefit from approaches adding (bio)chemical functionality to such surfaces. Here, various proteases and nucleases have been covalently immobilized to PMMA surfaces and shown to retain their enzymatic activity as monitored by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Immobilized enzymes yield structural information at a level equivalent to or exceeding that obtained from conventional homogeneous solution-based approaches. Such an approach could be used to expand the functionality of polymer-based microfabricated devices for biological mass spectrometry.     

Evaluation of VIDas immuno-concentration Salmonella/VIDAS salmonella immunoassay method for detection of Salmonella in selected foods: collaborative study

The VIDAS Immuno-concentration Salmonella ICS)/VIDAS Salmonella (SLM) immunoassay method for the detection of Salmonella was compared to the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM)/AOAC culture method in a collaborative study. Thirty-two laboratories participated in the evaluation. Each laboratory tested one or more of the 6 test products: milk chocolate, nonfat dry milk, dried whole egg, soy flour, ground black pepper, and ground raw turkey. The 2 methods were in agreement for 1,266 of the 1,440 samples. Of the 174 samples not in agreement, 69 were VIDAS CS/SLM-positive and BAM/AOAC-negative and 105 were VIDAS ICS/SLM-negative and BAM/AOAC-positive.