Evaluation of a retention model in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Modeling the retention in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) was achieved using retention indices obtained in conventional GC. Predicted results were compared with experimental data obtained in the two-dimensional separation of a synthetic hydrocarbon mixture. This proved to be helpful in optimizing the operating conditions of GC x GC separation of a complex petroleum sample and in identifying chemical families.     

Chemical Synthesis of Oligonucleotides Containing N6-Methyladenine Residues in the GATC Site

To investigate by NMR the effects of adenine methylation, a set of oligodeoxynucleotides has been synthesized by phosphotriester or phosphoramidite procedures on silica-gel support. The preparation of fully protected 2′-deoxy-N⁶-methyladenosine 3′-phosphate 4 and (2′-deoxy-N⁶-methyladenosin-3′-O-yl)(methoxy)morpholinophosphine 5 is described. The large-scale chemical synthesis, purification by HPLC, and characterization by MS of these molecules containing N⁶-methyladenine is reported.     

Stereochemical Aspects in the Asymmetric Michael Addition of Chiral Imines to Substituted Electrophilic Alkenes

The Michael-type addition of chiral imines, derived from racemic alpha-substituted cyclanones and optically active 1-phenylethylamine, to electrophilic alkenes, in neutral conditions, constitutes one of the most efficient methods for the stereocontrolled construction of quaternary carbon centers. In order to create an additional stereogenic center at the alpha- or beta-position to the quaternary one, the behavior of a variety of alpha- and beta-substituted alkenyl acceptors was examined. In general, these additions are highly regioselective, the alkylation taking place predominantly, if not exclusively, at the more substituted alpha-side of the imine function; however, in some cases (electrophilic alkenes 28 and 49), significant amounts (10-15%) of regioisomeric adducts were obtained. With the exception of methyl propiolate 52, a remarkable control of the absolute configuration of the adducts were always observed with these Michael acceptors. According to the general rule we have previously proposed, the alkylation process takes place preferentially on the less hindered pi-face of the more substituted secondary enamine, in tautomeric equilibrium with the starting imine. An excellent diastereocontrol was always obtained by using the present alpha- and beta-substituted alkenes. These stereochemical outcomes can be interpreted by invoking that the reaction proceeds through a compact approach of the reactants, the hydrogen atom at the nitrogen center of the enamine being transferred to the alpha-vinylic carbon atom of the acceptor, concertedly with the creation of the C-C bond. In this respect the "endo-approach" 58, in which the electron-withdrawing group of the acceptor faced to the nitrogen atom of the enamine (case of acceptors 10, methyl methacrylate, 24, 28, 43, 47, and 49) largely prevails over the "exo-approach" 59 (case of acceptor 38). This predominant "endo-preference" can be reasonably interpreted in terms of a cooperative effect between steric and stereoelectronic factors.     

Supramolecular H-bonded assemblies of redox-active metallodendrimers and positive and unusual dendritic effects on the recognition of H2PO4-

The DSM polyamine dendrimers dend-DAB-(NH2)x of generations 1 (x = 4) to 4 (x = 32) form H-bonded dendritic assemblies with the phenol AB3 units p-HOC6H4C(CH2CHCH2)3 and p-HOC6H4C{(CH2)3SiCH2NHCOFc}3 (Fc = ferrocenyl), as shown by the shifts of the NH2 and OH signals giving a concentration-dependent common signal between 2.4 and 4.1 ppm in CDCl3. The supramolecular dendrimers efficiently recognize H2PO4- anions with positive and unusual dendritic effects upon electrochemical titration involving half-stoichiometry for G1, a sudden cyclovoltammetry wave change at the equivalent point, and a dramatic intensity decrease of the new wave.     

Biosensors based on highly sensitive acetylcholinesterases for enhanced carbamate insecticides detection

This paper presents the construction of amperometric biosensors for the highly sensitive detection of carbamate insecticides based on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enzyme was immobilised by entrapment in an optimised sol-gel matrix on TCNQ-modified screen-printed electrodes. The enzyme activity was estimated by measuring the thiocholine produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetylthiocholine using TCNQ as mediator. Wild and genetically engineered AChEs from Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) were chosen for their high sensitivity towards insecticides, which substantially improves the LOD compared with cholinesterases from other sources. The wild type and three mutant enzymes were tested against three carbamate insecticides: carbaryl, carbofuran and pirimicard. The best LOD were obtained with the Y370A mutant for carbaryl (1 × 10⁻⁸ M), the E69W mutant for pirimicarb (2 × 10⁻⁸ M) and the I161V mutant for carbofuran (8 × 10⁻¹⁰ M). The biosensors were applied to the analysis of two potable water samples.     

Synthesis of methylenedioxy-bearing 1-aryl-3-carboxylisoquinolines using a modified Ritter reaction procedure

This paper describes original approaches aimed at the preparation of electron-rich 1-aryl-3-carboxylisoquinolines. Our first attempt led to an efficient preparation of 1-hydroxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester starting from bromophthalide via a rearrangement of 2-acetylamino-2-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl)-malonic acid dimethyl ester. However, as its eventual application to the synthesis of methylenedioxy-bearing substrates seemed rather long, a second approach involving an extension of the Ritter reaction to safrole was devised. We thus report that, under proper experimental settings, the use of 54% tetrafluoroboric acid in ether enables a Ritter reaction between safrole and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzonitrile yielding 17% of 7-methyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-7,8-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline. This acidic reagent avoids the extensive decomposition seen when using the classical Ritter reaction conditions (i.e.: concentrated sulfuric acid). Further chemical transformations of this methyl-bearing dihydroisoquinoline led to the methylenedioxy-bearing 1-aryl-3-carboxylisoquinoline. These derivatives are related to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand PK 11195 as well as falcipain-2 inhibitors and other potential antitumor agents.     

The effect of engineered disulfide bonds on the stability of Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase

Background  

Acetylcholinesterase is irreversibly inhibited by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides allowing its use in biosensors for detection of these insecticides. Drosophila acetylcholinesterase is the most sensitive enzyme known and has been improved by in vitro mutagenesis. However, its stability has to be improved for extensive utilization.     

Oxidative additions of alkynyl/vinyl iodides to gold and gold-catalyzed vinylation reactions triggered by the MeDalphos ligand

The hemilabile Ad₂P(o-C₆H₄)NMe₂ ligand promotes fast, quantitative and irreversible oxidative addition of alkynyl and vinyl iodides to gold. The reaction is general. It works with a broad range of substrates of various electronic bias and steric demand, and proceeds with complete retention of stereochemistry from Z and E vinyl iodides. Both alkynyl and vinyl iodides react faster than aryl iodides. The elementary step is amenable to catalysis. Oxidative addition of vinyl iodides to gold and π-activation of alkenols (and N-alkenyl amines) at gold have been combined to achieve hetero-vinylation reactions. A number of functionalized heterocycles, i.e. tetrahydrofuranes, tetrahydropyranes, oxepanes and pyrrolidines were obtained thereby (24 examples, 87% average yield). Taking advantage of the chemoselectivity for vinyl iodides over aryl iodides, sequential transformations involving first a hetero-vinylation step and then a C–N coupling, a C–C coupling or an heteroarylation were achieved from a vinyl/aryl bis-iodide substrate.

The hemilabile Ad₂P(o-C₆H₄)NMe₂ ligand promotes fast, quantitative and irreversible oxidative addition of alkynyl and vinyl iodides to gold.     

The use of ferrocene in organometallic synthesis: A two-step preparation of cyclopentadienyliron acetonitrile and phosphine cations via photolysis of cyclopentadienyliron tricarbonyl or arene cations

UV photolysis of [CpFe^II(CO)₃]⁺ PF6₆^? (I) or [CpFe^II(η⁶-toluene)]⁺ PF₆^?? (II) in CH₃CN in the presence of 1 mole of a ligand L gives the new air sensitive, red complexes [CpFe^II(NCCH₃)₂L]⁺PF₆^? (III, L = PPh₃; IV; L = CO; VIII, L = cyclohexene; IX, L = dimethylthiophene) and the known air stable complex [CpFe^II(PMe₃)₂(NCMe)]⁺ PF₆^? (V). The last product is also obtained by photolysis in the presence of 2 or 3 moles of PMe₃. In the presence of dppe, the known complex [CpFe^II (dppe)(NCCH₃)]⁺ (XI) is obtained. Complex III reacts with CO under mild conditions to give the known complex [CpFe(NCCH₃)(PPh₃)CO]⁺ PF₆^? (X). UV photolysis of I in CH₃CN in the presence of 1-phenyl-3,4-dimethylphosphole (P) gives [CpFe^IIP₃]⁺ PF₆^? (XII); UV photolysis of II in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of 3 moles of PMe₃ or I mole of tripod (CH₃C(CH₂Ph₂)₃) provides an easy synthesis of the known complexes [CpFe^II(PMe₃)₃]⁺ PF₆^? (VII) or [CpFe^IIη³-tripod]⁺ PF₆^t- (XIII). Since I and II are easily accessible from ferrocene, these photolytic syntheses provide access to a wide range of piano-stool cyclopentadienyliron(II) cations in a 2-step process from ferrocene.