Topographical properties of polymer films deposited in capillaries for electrophoretic separations of large organic molecules

Topography and thickness of hydrophilic polymer coatings of fused-silica capillaries for capillary electrophoresis (CE) were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and profilometry. Three hydrogels, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(HEMA)], poly(diethylene glycol monomethacrylate) [poly(DEGMA)], and poly(triethylene glycol monomethacrylate) [poly(TEGMA)], were deposited using two procedures, either by simple physical sorption of the polymers, or by derivatization of the capillary wall surface with glycidyl methacrylate (EPMA) followed by polymerization of the appropriate monomers. The performance of the modified capillaries was tested under CE conditions (decrease in the electroosmotic flow, EOF dependence on pH, separation of milk and standard proteins). It has been found that the most important property of the polymer coating is its thickness, whereas its topography and the degree of its hydrophobicity are less significant. Film deposition by physical adsorption is preferable to polymerization on the derivatized surface.     

Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection and confirmation with electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry

γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a minor metabolite or precursor of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acts as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator via binding to GABA receptors and to specific presynaptic GHB receptors. Based upon the stimulatory effects, GHB is widely abused. Thus, there is great interest in monitoring GHB in body fluids and tissues. We have developed an assay for urinary GHB that is based upon liquid–liquid extraction and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV absorption detection. The background electrolyte is composed of 4 mM nicotinic acid (compound for indirect detection), 3 mM spermine (reversal of electroosmosis) and histidine (added to reach a pH of 6.2). Having a 50 μm I.D. capillary of 40 cm effective length, 1-octanesulfonic acid as internal standard, solute detection at 214 nm and a diluted urine with a conductivity of 2.4 mS/cm, GHB concentrations ≥2 μg/ml can be detected. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were determined to be dependent on urine concentration and varied between 2–24 and 5–60 μg/ml, respectively. Data obtained suggest that LOD and LOQ (both in μg/ml) can be estimated with the relationships 0.83 κ and 2.1 κ, respectively, where κ is the conductivity of the urine in mS/cm. The assay was successfully applied to urines collected after administration of 25 mg sodium GHB/kg body mass. Negative electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry was used to confirm the presence of GHB in the urinary extract via selected reaction monitoring of the m/z 103.1→m/z 85.1 precursor–product ion transition. Independent of urine concentration, this approach meets the urinary cut-off level of 10 μg/ml that is required for recognition of the presence of exogenous GHB. Furthermore, data obtained with injection of plain or diluted urine indicate that CZE could be used to rapidly recognize GHB amounts (in μg/ml) that are ≥ 4 κ.     

Synthesis of 3-hexahelicenol and its transformation to 3-hexahelicenylamines,diphenylphosphine, methyl carboxylate,and dimethylthiocarbamate

A nonphotochemical synthetic route to 3-hexahelicenol is reported. It involves a key [2+2+2] cycloisomerization of CH(3)O-substituted triyne that is readily available from 1-methoxy-3-methylbenzene and 1-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene. Further functional group transformations led to 3-CO(2)CH(3), 3-NH(2), 3-PPh(2), and 3-SC(O)N(CH(3))(2) substituted hexahelicenes.     

Study of perrhenate reduction by capillary electrophoresis

The influence of perrhenate concentration, the concentration of the reducing agent and pH of the reaction mixture on the yield of perrhenate reduction were studied to find a possibility to decrease the stannous chloride concentration in the reaction mixture without negative changes on the yield of perrhenate reduction. Britton-Robinson buffer solutions were selected as the background electrolytes because of their buffering capacity in a wide pH interval. The highest degree of perrhenate reduction was obtained at pH 2 at perrhenate concentrations ranging from 10(-4) to 10(-3) mol/L. The stability of reduced rhenium against pH change from 2 to 5.5 and against dilution of rhenium in the reaction mixture to the concentration suitable for the application in radiotherapy were studied as well. The results obtained by capillary electrophoresis and by thin-layer chromatography with radiometric detection were compared.     

Use of thenoyltrifluoroacetone for the determination of manganese by activation analysis

A new procedure for the substoichiometric extraction of bivalent manganese by thenoyltrifluoroacetone into ethyl acetate has been developed and used in activation analysis. The value of the extraction constant has been found to be 3.1 x 10(-6); the pH range in which the extraction can be performed is 7.8-9.2. The influence of oxalate, citrate, tartrate, fluoride and cyanide ions has been studied. A selective substoichiometric extraction of manganese in the presence of Zr, Hf, Nb, Th, Fe and Sc is possible at pH 8-8.5, tartrate and fluoride being used as masking agents. Copper and cobalt can be screened by ammonia and cyanide respectively. The method has been used for the determination of manganese in biological materials, potassium fluoride and zirconium.     

19F NMR chemical shifts of n-F-alkyl compounds

The examination of ¹⁹F chemical shifts for ca. 650 F-alkylated compounds of general formula CF₃(CF₂)_nCF₂X led to the following conclusions: the CF₂ groups α to X are very sensitive to the nature of X, and are spread over a range of 85 ppm. The effect of the length of the F-alkyl chain decreases rapidly, so that δCF₂(α) can already be considered as characteristic of X for n = 1 or 2 for most practical purposes. Solvent effects (in 9 different solvents having ε = 1.8 to 52.1) were found to be rather small except for the F-alkyl iodides. A chart which indicates the domain in which the CF₂(α) resonance signal is to be expected is given for 42 different series of F-alkylated compounds; it is expected to provide the synthetic chemist with a useful tool for the identification and characterization of such compounds.     

Asymmetric synthesis of [7]helicene-like molecules

[reaction: see text] A new approach to nonracemic [7]helicene-like molecules has been developed. Stereoselective Co(I)-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization of aromatic triynes containing an asymmetric carbon atom produces [7]helicene-like scaffolds in diastereomeric ratios up to 100:0. This central-to-helical chirality transfer can be controlled by the absolute configuration at the asymmetric center and by the presence of carbon substituents.     

Human serum albumin-mediated stereodifferentiation in the triplet state behavior of (S)- and (R)-carprofen

A remarkable stereodifferentiation has been observed in the interaction between the excited triplet state of carprofen (CP) and human serum albumin (HSA). Time-resolved measurements using laser flash photolysis reveal the presence of two components with different lifetimes in triplet decay. This is explained by complexation of CP to the two possible HSA binding sites. The shorter-lived components are ascribed to the CP/HSA complexes in site I, where stereodifferentiation is more important (tauR/tauS ca. 4). This is correlated with formation of a dehalogenated photoproduct upon steady-state photolysis.     

Ultrafast detection of microsatellite repeat polymorphism in endothelin 1 gene by electrophoresis in short capillaries

The methodology and instrumentation for fast denaturing electrophoresis in short capillaries was developed and exemplified by detection of short tandem repeat polymorphism in the endothelin 1 gene. The resolution of two nucleotides, which is required for the detection of a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism, was achieved in a capillary of an effective length of 2.5 cm at a temperature of 600C and an electric field strength of 600 V/cm in 42 s. Thus, the use of denaturing electrophoresis in short capillaries with laser-induced fluorescence detection resulted in a reduction of analysis time by a factor of 200 when compared to the conventional slab gel electrophoresis. The developed methodology and instrumentation is advantageous for an implementation in clinical diagnostics and genetic population screening where fast analytical instrumentation amenable to automation is of paramount importance.     

Simultaneous off-shell excitation of He 23 S by an electron and one or more photons

We report data on the excitation of the 2³ S metastable state in helium by electrons in the presence of an intense laser field. The metastable signal is detected when the electron energy is insufficient to excite this state by itself. The additional energy comes from a pulsed CO₂ laser developing peak intensities in the interaction region in the 10⁸ W× cm^?2 range and requires the absorption of one or more photons. This process involves the active participation of all three bodies: the electron, the photon and the target atom. These data represent the first observation of this process when more than one photon is required.