Multiple-sample probe for solid-state NMR studies of pharmaceuticals

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) is an extremely powerful technique for the analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms. A major limitation of SSNMR is the number of samples that can be analyzed in a given period of time. A solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) probe that can simultaneously acquire up to seven SSNMR spectra is being developed to increase throughput/signal-to-noise ratios. A prototype probe incorporating two MAS modules has been developed and spectra of ibuprofen and aspirin have been acquired simultaneously. This version is limited to being a two-module probe due to large amounts of space required for the tuning elements located next to the MAS modules. A new probe design incorporating coaxial transmission lines and smaller MAS modules has been constructed. This probe allows for close proximity of the MAS modules (within 3 cm), adequate proton decoupling power (>50 kHz), and the capability of remote tuning and sample changing. Spectra of hexamethylbenzene (HMB) have been acquired and show signal-to-noise ratios comparable to existing SSNMR probes. Adamantane line widths are also comparable to conventional probe technology. Decoupling powers of 70 kHz have been achieved using a MAS module suitable for 3 cm spacing between modules. Remote tuning has also been achieved with this new coaxial transmission line design. This probe design can be easily scaled to incorporate multiple MAS modules, which is a limitation of the previous design. The number of modules that can be incorporated is only limited by the number of transmission lines that will fit in a cross-sectional diameter of the bore and the axial field length of the magnet.     

3-Methylglutaric acid as a 13C solid-state NMR standard

The calibration of a solid-state NMR spectrometer requires setting the magic angle, setting the reference and decoupler frequencies, ensuring that the magnetic field is homogeneous across the sample volume, optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio, determining the pi/2 pulse durations, and optimizing the Hartman-Hahn matching condition. Each task has one or more widely accepted standards, such as potassium bromide for setting the magic angle, adamantane for optimizing magnet homogeneity, and hexamethylbenzene or glycine for measuring the signal-to-noise ratio. We show that all of these tasks can be performed using 3-methylglutaric acid (MGA). In the case of high-powered decoupling, the CH(2) and CH carbon peaks of MGA provide an opportunity to evaluate the decoupling in a manner that is superior to any of the commonly used standard compounds. Thus, MGA can be used as a single solid-state NMR standard compound to perform all calibration steps except for magnet shimming.     

Comparison between geometrically focused pulses versus filaments in femtosecond laser ablation of steel and titanium alloys

Kerr self-focusing of high-power ultrashort laser pulses in atmosphere may result in a structure or structures of high intensity that can propagate over long distances with little divergence. Filamentation has garnered significant interest in the nonlinear optics community due to its unique properties. Salient features of filaments include a central region of intense laser power (greater than the ionization threshold of the propagation medium) and a low temperature plasma column that lasts up to nanoseconds in duration after the passage of the laser pulse. Steel and titanium samples are ablated by filaments and by sharply focused sub-picosecond laser pulses. We then performed metrology on the samples to compare the ablation features in addition to modeling of the plasma ablation process. Ablation with filaments leads to a wider range of material responses as compared to ablation with sharply focused pulse. This results in potential complications for applications of filament ablation that depends on the rate of material removal and spectroscopic analysis.     

CIRCE: a dedicated storage ring for coherent THz synchrotron radiation

We present the concepts for an electron storage ring dedicated to and optimized for the production of stable coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) over the far-infrared terahertz wavelength range from 200 μm to about 1 cm. CIRCE (Coherent InfraRed CEnter) will be a 66 m circumference ring located on top of the ALS booster synchrotron shielding tunnel and using the existing ALS injector. This location provides enough floor space for both the CIRCE ring, its required shielding, and numerous beamlines. We briefly outline a model for CSR emission in which a static bunch distortion induced by the synchrotron radiation field is used to significantly extend the stable CSR emission towards higher frequencies. This model has been verified with experimental CSR results. We present the calculated CIRCE photon flux where a gain of 6–9 orders of magnitude is shown compared to existing far-IR sources. Additionally, the particular design of the dipole vacuum chamber has been optimized to allow an excellent transmission of these far-infrared wavelengths. We believe that the CIRCE source can be constructed for a modest cost.     

Collisionally-induced dissociation of purine antiviral agents: mechanisms of ion formation using gas phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

ESI and CID mass spectra were obtained for two purine nucleoside antiviral agents (acycloguanosine and vidarabine) and one purine nucleotide (vidarabine monophosphate) and the corresponding compounds in which the labile hydrogens were replaced by deuterium gas phase exchange. The number of labile hydrogens, x, was determined from a comparison of ESI spectra obtained with N(2) and with ND(3) as the nebulizer gas. CID mass spectra were obtained for [M+H](+) and [M -H](-) ions and the exchanged analogs, [M(Dx)+D](+) and [M(Dx)-D](-), produced by ESI using a Sciex API-IIIplus mass spectrometer. Compositions of product ions and mechanisms of decomposition were determined by comparison of the CID mass spectra of the undeuterated and deuterated species. Protonated purine antiviral agents dissociate through rearrangement decompositions of base-protonated [M+H](+) ions by cleavage of the glycosidic bonds to give the protonated bases with a sugar moiety as the neutral fragment. Cleavage of the same bonds with charge retention on the sugar moiety gives low abundance ions, due to the low proton affinity of the sugar moiety compared to that of purine base. CID of protonated purine bases [B+H](+) occurs through two major pathways: (1) elimination of NH(3) (ND(3)) and (2) loss of NH(2)CN (ND(2)CN). Minor pathways include elimination of HNCO (DNCO), loss of CO, and loss of HCN (DCN). Deprotonated acycloguanosine and vidarabine exhibit the deprotonated base [B-H](-) as a major fragment from glycosidic bond cleavage and charge delocalization on the base. Deprotonated vidarabine monophosphate, however, shows predominantly phosphate related product ions. CID of deprotonated guanine shows two principal pathways: (1) elimination of NH(3) (ND(3)) and (2) loss of NH(2)CN (ND(2)CN). Minor pathways include elimination of HNCO (DNCO), loss of CO, and loss of HCN (DCN). The dissociation reactions of deprotonated adenine, however, proceed by elimination of HCN and (2) elimination of NCHNH (NCHND). The mass spectra of the antiviral agents studied in this paper may be useful in predicting reaction pathways in other heteroaromatic ring decompositions of nucleosides and nucleotides.     

Preparation and Applications of Xanthenylamide (XAL) Handles for Solid-Phase Synthesis of C-Terminal Peptide Amides under Particularly Mild Conditions(1-3)

[[9-[(9-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl)amino]xanthen-2(or 3)-yl]oxy]alkanoic acid (XAL) handles have been prepared by efficient four-step routes from 2- or 3-hydroxyxanthone and coupled onto a range of amino-functionalized supports. The resultant XAL supports are the starting points for solid-phase peptide synthesis by Fmoc chemistry. Upon completion of chain assembly, C-terminal peptide amides are released in excellent yields and purities by use of low concentrations [1-5% (v/v)] of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in dichloromethane, often without a need for added carbocation scavengers. These cleavage conditions allow retention of all or a significant portion of tert-butyl type and related side-chain protecting groups, which subsequently may be removed fully in a solution process carried out at higher acid concentration. XAL supports are particularly useful for the synthesis of acid-sensitive peptides, including tryptophan-containing sequences that are known to be susceptible to yield- and/or purity-reducing alkylation side reactions. The effectiveness of this chemistry was shown with the syntheses of prothrombin (1-9), acyl carrier protein (65-74), Tabanus atratus adipokinetic hormone, fragments of the protein RHK 1, CCK-8 sulfate, and oxytocin. Furthermore, the application of XAL supports for the preparation of fully protected peptide amides has been demonstrated.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED FORMATION OF 8-HYDROXY-2'-DEOXYGUANOSINE AND DNA STRAND BREAKAGE BY A CATIONIC meso-SUBSTITUTED PORPHYRIN

Abstract Cationic porphyrins, known to have a high affinity for DNA, are useful tools with which to probe a variety of interactions with DNA. In this study we have examined both DNA strand scission and oxidative DNA base damage, measured by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation, using a photoactivated cis-dicationic por-phyrin. The data demonstrated a dose-dependent formation for each type of DNA damage. Inhibition of strand scission and 8-OHdG formation with the singlet oxygen scavenger 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and with MgCl₂ and no apparent effect by D₂O suggests that a singlet oxygen mechanism generated in close proximity to the DNA may be responsible for the damage. However, a nearly complete inhibition of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in 75% D₂O and the substantial enhancement of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in a helium atmosphere by photoactivated porphyrin rules out singlet oxygen as a primary mechanism for this process. These data indicate that distinct mechanisms lead to 8-OHdG formation and strand scission activity.