Reactions of hexamethylditin and trimethyltin sulfide withN-thio-derivatives of phthalimide

The initial formation of organotin derivatives with Sn-S-N bonds in heterolytic reactions of hexamethylditin or trimethyltin sulfide withN-(chlorothio)phthalimide is suggested. Subsequent interaction of these compounds with sulfenyl chloride affordsN, N-thioorN, N-dithiobisphthalimide. Homolytic reaction of hexamethylditin withN, N-dithiobisphthalimide also occursvia an organotin intermediate, which, in the absence of a nucleophilic reagent, eliminates sulfur and converts intoN-trimethylstannylphthalimide.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2111–2114, December, 1993.     

Organic fuelled flames in selective ionization detectors for chromatography

Summary The selectivities of two flame-based ionization detectors identified as a Remote FID (RFID) and a Flame Thermionic Ionization Detector (FTID) have been improved by introducing methane as a fuel for the flame. Both the RFID and FTID feature a detector struture in which the ionization polarizer and collector are located several centimeters downstream of an oxygen-rich flame, rather than immediately adjacent to the flame as in a flame ionization detector. The RFID detects long-lived negative ions produced in the flame by the combustion of lead, tin, phosphorus, or silicon compounds. The FTID re-ionizes and detects neutral electronegative products generated by combustion of nitrogen, halogen, or phosphorus compounds. An organic-fuelled RFID can detect 1 pg Pb (Sn, P)/sec with a selectivity of the order of 10⁶ versus hydrocarbons. An organic fuelled FTID is applicable to detection of compounds at nanogram and higher levels. FTID selectivity for PCB compounds in a transformer oil matrix is of the order of 10⁵1. The improved selectivity achieved by using an organic-fuelled flame is also applicable to the detection of phospholipid and other non-volatile N, P, or Cl compounds using an FID/FTID detector accessory for a TLC/FID analyser.     

Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder alleviates hyperuricemia by regulating the gut microbiome and reversing bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis dysregulation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMetabolic syndrome is closely related to the intestinal microbiota and disturbances in the host metabolome. Hyperuricemia (HUA), a manifestation of metabolic syndrome, can induce various cardiovascular diseases and gout, seriously affecting a patient’s quality of life. Astragalus membranaceus has a long history as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat kidney disease in China and East Asia.Materials and methodsWe compared the therapeutic effect of benzbromarone and two different doses Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder (AMUP) in rats with HUA. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was used to analyze the AMUP metabolism in the plasma, urine, and feces. Further, 16S ribosome RNA sequencing and feces metabolomic were performed to capture the variation of the gut microbiota and metabolites changes before and after drug administration.ResultsAMUP had a notable impact on reducing blood uric acid levels while protecting the liver and kidney. Drug metabolism analysis demonstrated that effective constituent flavonoids are distributed in the blood, whereas saponins remain in the intestine. Gut microbiota analysis showed that low-dose AMUP ameliorated HUA-induced gut dysbiosis by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and increasing that of some beneficial bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Clostridia, Lachnospiraceae, and Muribaculaceae. In addition, HUA-induced changes in metabolite contents in bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis pathways were restored after treatment with AMUP.ConclusionLow-dose AMUP exerts remarkable therapeutic effects on HUA by regulating the gut microbiome and mediating gut metabolism pathways associated with uric acid excretion.     

Detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons using headspace-mass spectrometry and identification of compounds by headspace-fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The direct coupling of a headspace sampler with a mass spectrometer is proposed as a screening tool for the rapid detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons from petroleum and derivatives. The samples are subjected to the headspace generation process, with no prior treatment, and the volatiles generated are introduced directly into the mass spectrometer, thereby obtaining a fingerprint of the sample analysed. Suitable treatment of the signal by chemometric techniques allows unequivocal characterisation of the different types of sample. The use of fast gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector coupled to the headspace sampler allows identification of the major hydrocarbons present in the mineral and organic polluted samples, interpretation of the results obtained, and demonstrates the analytical potential of headspace-mass spectrometry coupling.     

Ab initio calculation of 4-ClC6H4CH2Cl and peculiarities of electron density distribution in this molecule

Ab initio calculation of the 4-ClC₆H₄CH₂Cl molecule was performed by the restricted Hartree-Fock method in the split valence 6–31 G* basis set with complete optimization of its geometry. Populations of p-orbitals of atoms of this molecule were analyzed.³⁵Cl NQR frequencies and asymmetry parameters of the electric field gradient on³⁵Cl nuclei were estimated on the basis of the populations of valent p-orbitals of CI atoms and their components. Good conformity with the experimental values was obtained when only less diffuse components of p-orbitals were used in calculations of populations.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 823–826, April, 1996.     

Zur Entwicklung analytischer Methoden am Beispiel der Elemente Selen und Tellur

Zusammenfassung Anhand von Literaturrecherchen aus den Chemical Abstracts der Jahre 1970–1975, ausgewertet nach dem Stichwort Analyse von Selen und Tellur der CID, Berlin, wird die Entwicklung der Analyse der genannten Elemente nach methodischen und nationalen Gesichtspunkten statistisch ausgewertet. Es zeigt sich eine Zunahme der Atomabsorptionsspektroskopie (AAS) und der Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse (RFA), dagegen eine Abnahme photometrischer und fluorimetrischer Methoden. Die jährliche Gesamtzahl der Publikationen auf diesem Gebiet bleibt in dem untersuchten Zeitraum konstant.Wir danken herzlich der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung für die Gewährung eines Stipendiums (L. F.). Unser Dank gilt ferner Frau Mischevsska für ihre technische Unterstützung.     

Electrochemical Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Room Temperature Ionic Liquid BPPF6 Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

A room temperature ionic liquid N‐butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (BPPF₆) was used as a binder to make an ionic liquid modified carbon paste electrode (IL‐CPE), which showed good characteristics such as simple preparation procedure, fast electrochemical response and good conductivity. The electrochemical oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) on the new IL‐CPE was carefully studied. The oxidation peak potential of AA on the IL‐CPE appeared at 109 mV (vs. SCE), which was about 338 mV decrease of the overpotential compared to that obtained on the traditional carbon paste electrode (CPE) and the oxidation peak current was increased for about four times. The electrochemical parameters of AA on the IL‐CPE were calculated with the charge transfer coefficient (α) and the electrode reaction rate constant (k_s) as 0.87 and 0.800 s^?1, respectively. Based on the relationship of the oxidation peak current and the concentration of AA a sensitive analytical method was established with cyclic voltammetry. The linear range for AA determination was in the range from 1.0×10^?5 to 3.0×10^?3 mol/L with the linear regression equation as I_p (μA)=?2.52–0.064C (μmol/L) (n=13, γ=0.9942) and the detection limit was calculated as 8.0×10^?6 mol/L (3σ). The proposed method was free of the interferences of coexisting substances such as dopamine (DA) and amino acids etc., and successfully applied to the vitamin C tablets determination.     

Stereochemical analysis of N-cyclohexylidene-N-(1-phenylethyl)amine derivatives

The configurational properties of a series of cyclohexylidene imines are discussed on the basis of their 1H, 13C and 15N NMR spectral data.     

Protease sensors for bioimaging

Optical imaging of specific molecular targets and pathways in vivo has recently become possible through continued developments in imaging equipment, reconstruction algorithms, and more importantly the availability of imaging reporter molecules. These reporter molecules encompass photoproteins expressed in vivo and exogenously administered probes detectable by fluorescence and/or bioluminescence imaging. One particularly enticing aspect of optical imaging is the ability to design activatible probes with inherent amplification. This review summarizes our experience in developing novel near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging agents that report on protease activities. These agents are designed to be biocompatible, highly activatible, and able to produce bright NIRF following protease cleavage.