Metal ion-assisted assembly of one-dimensional polyrotaxanes incorporating cucurbit[6]uril

Three cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6])-based polyrotaxanes [Cu(H₂ C6N4)(CB[6])]Cl₄·12H₂O (1), [Co(H₂ C6N4)(CB[6])]Cl₄·14H₂O (2) and [Ag(C6N4)(CB[6])]NO₃·7H₂O (3) are prepared using N,N′-bis(4-pyridylmethyl)-1,6-hexanediamine (C6N4) threading into CB[6]'s and metal ions' assistance. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that polyrotaxanes 1, 2 and 3 all have 1D chain structure where 1 and 2 are linear and 3 has two shapes, linear and sawtooth, respectively. The effects of guest molecules, metal and counter ions as well as intermolecular weak interactions on the architectures of polyrotaxanes are discussed.     

The Synthesis of Novel Macrocycles,Part V. The Coumarin Crown Ethers and Cation Binding with Fluorescence Spectra

Abstract

The 4-H, 4-methyl and 4-phenyl derivatives of benzo-α-pyrone of 12-crown-4 and 15-crown-5 were synthesised starting from 4-substituted-6,7-dihydroxy- and 7,8-dihydroxybenzo-α-pyrones which reacted with dichloropolyethylene glycols in DMF/water/alkali carbonate. The coumarin-macrocycles were identified by elemental analysis, IR, EI-GC-MS as well as ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The full experimental and spectral data is reported along with ion binding data studied in acetonitrile using fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding of the fluorogenic coumarin-crowns with Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ were recognized as specific alterations on their fluorescence spectra that strongly originated from the structures. The observed CEQFS depending on the bound cation radii and macrocycle size evidenced the rules of cationic recognition of macrocycles. Some 15-crown-5 derivatives exhibited interesting Li⁺ and Na⁺ binding selectivities.     

A Bis(p-tert-butyloctahomotetraoxacalix[8]arene) Capsule with [(UO2)2(OH)2] Links and a Disordered [Rb4(H2O)4] Inner Core

p-tert-Butyloctahomotetraoxacalix[8]arene (LH⁸) reacts with uranyl nitrate hexahydrate in the presence of rubidium hydroxide to give a mixed complex that can be viewed as a tetrauranate dimer [(UO²)⁴(LH⁴)²(OH)⁴] containing four disordered rubidium ions and water molecules. Two uranyl ions are complexed in an “external” fashion by each macrocycle, each of them bound to two phenoxide groups and one ether group, as well as to two bridging hydroxide ions. The latter ensure the formation of a dimeric capsule that contains the disordered set of alkali metal ions. Apart from water molecules, the Rb⁺ ions are bound to the uranyl oxo groups directed towards the inner cavity, and to phenol and ether oxygen atoms from the macrocycle. The resulting octanuclear complex presents an unprecedented geometry evidencing the assembling potential of uranyl ions.

p-tert-Butyloctahomotetraoxacalix[8]arene (LH₈) reacts with uranyl nitrate hexahydrate in the presence of rubidium hydroxide to give a mixed complex that can be viewed as a tetrauranate dimer [(UO₂)₄(LH₄)₂(OH)₄] containing four disordered rubidium ions and water molecules. Two uranyl ions are complexed in an “external” fashion by each macrocycle, each of them bound to two phenoxide groups and one ether group, as well as to two bridging hydroxide ions. The latter ensure the formation of a dimeric capsule that contains the disordered set of alkali metal ions. Apart from water molecules, the Rb^+| ions are bound to the uranyl oxo groups directed towards the inner cavity, and to phenol and ether oxygen atoms from the macrocycle. The resulting octanuclear complex presents an unprecedented geometry evidencing the assembling potential of uranyl ions.     

Lithium adduct as precursor ion for sensitive and rapid quantification of 20 (S)‐protopanaxadiol in rat plasma by liquid chromatography/quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry and application to rat pharmacokinetic study

A novel, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry [LC‐ESI‐(QqLIT)MS/MS] method was developed and validated for the quantification of protopanaxadiol (PPD) in rat plasma. Oleanolic acid (OA) was used as internal standard (IS). A simple protein precipitation based on acetonitrile (ACN) was employed. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Sepax GP‐C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, 5 μM) with a mobile phase consisting of ACN–water and 1.5 μM formic acid and 25 mM lithium acetate (90 : 10, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min for 3.0 min. Multiple‐reaction‐monitoring mode was performed using lithium adduct ion as precursor ion of m/z 467.5/449.4 and 455.6/407.4 for the drug and IS, respectively. Calibration curve was recovered over a concentration range of 0.5–100 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient >0.99. The limit of detection was 0.2 ng/ml in rat plasma for PPD. The results of the intraday and interday precision and accuracy studies were well within the acceptable limits. The validated method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic study of PPD after intravenous and gavage administration to rat. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of [M+Na]+ ions desorbed by fast atom bombardment of ceramides isolated from the starfish Distolasterias nipon

Ten ceramides and four cerebrosides were extracted from the starfish Distolasterias nipon by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. Structural identification was conducted using tandem mass spectrometry of monosodiated ions desorbed by fast atom bombardment. The complete structures of four cerebrosides were determined by a previously reported method. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation (CID) spectral characteristics of ceramides with various structures depend on the number and positions of double bonds on both the N‐acyl and sphingoid chains, the presence of a hydroxyl group or a double bond at the C‐4 position of the sphingoid chain and the presence of an α‐hydroxy group on the N‐acyl chain. The high‐energy CID of the monosodiated ion, [M+Na]⁺, of each ceramide molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the composition of the fatty acyl chains and sphingoid long‐chain bases. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acyl group and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was used for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and hydroxyl groups on the sphingoid base chain. The double‐bond positions were also confirmed by the m/z values of abundant allylic even‐ and odd‐electron ions, and the intensity ratio of the T ion peak relative to the O ion peak. This technique could determine the complete structures of ceramides and cerebrosides in an extract mixture and has great potential for determining other sphingolipids isolated from various biological sources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quadrupole mass filter operation under the influence of magnetic field

This work demonstrates resolution enhancement of a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) under the influence of a static magnetic field. Generally, QMF resolution can be improved by increasing the number of rf cycles an ion experiences when passing through the mass filter. In order to improve the resolution, the dimensions of the QMF or the operating parameters need to be changed. However, geometric modifications to improve performance increase the manufacturing cost and usually the size of the instrument. By applying a magnetic field, a low‐cost, small footprint instrument with reduced power requirements can be realized. Significant improvement in QMF resolution was observed experimentally for certain magnetic field conditions, and these have been explained in terms of our theoretical model developed at the University of Liverpool. This model is capable of accurate simulation of spectra allowing the user to specify different values of mass spectrometer dimensions and applied input signals. The model predicts enhanced instrument resolution R>26 000 for a CO₂ and N₂ mixture with a 200‐mm long mass filter operating in stability zone 3 via application of an axial magnetic field. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.