Exploiting the complementary nature of LC/MALDI/MS/MS and LC/ESI/MS/MS for increased proteome coverage

The goal of this work was to evaluate the improvement in proteome coverage of complex protein mixtures gained by analyzing samples using both LC/ESI/MS/MS and LC/MALDI/MS/MS. Parallel analyses of a single sample were accomplished by interfacing a Probot fractionation system with a nanoscale LC system. The Probot was configured to perform a post-column split such that a fraction (20%) of the column effluent was sent for on-line LC/ESI/MS/MS data acquisition, and the majority of the sample (80%) was mixed with a matrix solution and deposited onto the MALDI target plate. The split-flow approach takes advantage of the concentration sensitive nature of ESI and provides sufficient quantity of sample for MALDI/MS/MS. Hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometers were used to acquire LC/ESI/MS/MS data and LC/MALDI/MS/MS data from a tryptic digest of a preparation of mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes. The mass spectrometers were configured to operate in a data dependent acquisition mode in which precursor ions observed in MS survey scans are automatically selected for interrogation by MS/MS. This type of acquisition scheme maximizes the number of peptide fragmentation spectra obtained and is commonly referred to as shotgun analysis. While a significant degree of overlap (63%) was observed between the proteins identified in the LC/ESI/MS/MS and LC/MALDI/MS/MS data sets, both unique peptides and unique proteins were observed by each method. These results demonstrate that improved proteome coverage can be obtained using a combination of these ionization techniques.     

Efficient pricing of commodity options with early-exercise under the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process

We analyze the efficiency properties of a numerical pricing method based on Fourier-cosine expansions for early-exercise options. We focus on variants of Schwartz? model based on a mean reverting Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, which is commonly used for modeling commodity prices. This process however does not possess favorable properties for the option pricing method of interest. We therefore propose an approximation of its characteristic function, so that the Fast Fourier Transform can be applied for highest efficiency.     

Fluorinated PLGA Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drug Encapsulation and 19F NMR Detection

In the continuous search for multimodal systems with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions, several efforts have been made to develop multifunctional drug delivery systems. In this work, through a covalent approach, a new class of fluorinated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) co-polymers (F-PLGA) were designed that contain an increasing number of magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms. In particular, two novel compounds, F₃-PLGA and F₉-PLGA, were synthesized and their chemical structure and thermal stability were analyzed by solution NMR, DSC, and TGA. The obtained F-PLGA compounds were proven to form in aqueous solution colloidal stable nanoparticles (NPs) displaying a strong ¹⁹F NMR signal. The fluorinated NPs also showed an enhanced ability to load hydrophobic drugs containing fluorine atoms compared to analogous pristine PLGA NPs. Preliminary in vitro studies showed high cell viability and the NP ability to intracellularly deliver and release a functioning drug.     

Reactions of β-keto sulfones with t-butyl aluminum compounds: Reinvestigation of tri-t-butyl aluminum synthesis

t-Butyl derivatives play a significant role in the organometallic chemistry of group 13 metals. It was shown on the basis of reactions of t-Bu₃Al·OEt₂ with [p-RC₆H₄S(O)₂C(H)₂C(Ph) = O] (where R = CH₃, Cl) β-keto sulfones that the structure of the reaction products depends on the purity of the aluminum compound used. In the reactions, in addition to the expected complexes [p-RC₆H₄S(O₂)C(H) = C (Ph)-OAl(t-Bu)₂] [where R = CH₃ ( 2 ); R = Cl ( 4 )] possessing β-keto sulfone ligands, complexes with β-hydroxy sulfone ligands [p-RC₆H₄S(O₂)C(H)₂-C (Ph)-OAl(t-Bu)₂] [where R = CH₃ ( 1 ); R = Cl ( 3 )] were formed. Compounds 1 and 3 were the result of the hydroalumination reaction of the β-keto sulfone ligands with t-Bu₂AlH, which is an impurity of t-Bu₃Al. These compounds are obtained, for the first time, as intermediate products in the hydrogenation reaction of β-keto sulfones. In this work, during t-Bu₃Al·OEt₂ production t-Bu₂AlH·OEt₂ formed as a by-product. Re-examination of reaction conditions of AlCl₃ with t-BuMgCl resulted in a control of the t-Bu₂AlH·OEt₂ by-product content in t-Bu₃Al·OEt₂.     

Palladium(II) halide complexes with 2,5-dimethyl-, 2-amino-, 2-amino-5-methyl-, 2-ethylamino- and 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole

Some palladium(II) halide complexes with 2,5-dimethyl- (DTZ), 2-amino- (ATZ), 2-amino-5-methyl- (MATZ), 2-ethylamino- (EATZ) and 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (MTTZ) have been prepared and studied: PdX₂ · 2L (L = DTZ, ATZ, MATZ : X = Cl, Br, I; L = EATZ: X = Br, I; L = MTTZ: X = I), PdCl₂ · 2.5EATZ, PdCl₂ · 3MTTZ, PdBr₂ · 1.5MTTZ and PdX₂ · L (L = DTZ, ATZ, MATZ, EATZ: X = Cl, Br; L = MTTZ: X = Cl(H₂O), Br). In the PdX₂ · 2L, PdCl₂ · 2.5EATZ and PdCl₂ · 3MTTZ complexes the palladium ions are cis-(2X, 2L)-coordinated, the coordination sites being N_ring for DTZ, NR₂ for ATZ, MATZ, EATZ and C = S for MTTZ. PdBr₂ · 1.5MTTZ may be formulated as cis[PdBr₂-2L] · [PdBr₂ · L]. In the PdX₂ · L complexes the ligand very likely acts as bidentate by using a ring-nitrogen atom as the second coordination site.     

Electron charge density of alkali halides beyond the rigid-ion approximation

The dependence of the electron charge distribution in alkali halides on the lattice constant is examined. It is found that in the case of NaCl the non-rigid behavior of the electron charge density calculated from first principles can be well understood if one starts from the free-ion functions and takes into account the mutual overlap between them. The relevance of our results for the structural properties of alkali halides is pointed out in connection with recent ab-initio calculations.     

Ion exchange and ion transport properties of sulfonated organically modified silica hydrogels

Sulfonated ormosil hydrogels (~80% water) were prepared using tetramethyl orthosilicate as a silica precursor and 2(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethyltrichlorosilane to provide sulfonate functionality for ion-exchange and ion conductivity. Ruthenium(III) hexamine was used as a redox probe in electrochemical studies performed on porous carbon fibre paper electrodes impregnated with the gel. The gel-modified electrodes extracted Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ from solutions in 0.1 M CF₃CO₂Na_(aq) with a partition coefficient of ~36, and with ~100% of the sulfonate sites being accessible for ion exchange. The Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ couple exhibited reversible and facile electrochemistry in the gel, with a Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺ diffusion coefficient of 4.9×10^–8 cm² s^–1 determined by chronoamperometry. This is an order of magnitude higher than the mobility of this complex in Nafion. The hydrogel-modified electrodes were stable for days, and could be repeatedly loaded with Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺.Special Issue to celebrate the 70^th birthday of Professor Zbigniew Galus     

Structural, spectral, and magnetic properties of end-to-end di-mu-thiocyanato-bridged polymeric complexes of Ni(II) and Co(II). X-ray crystal structure of di-mu-thiocyanatobis(imidazole)nickel(II)

Thiocyanatonickel(II) and thiocyanatocobalt(II) complexes of the composition Ni(NCS)(2)(HIm)(2) (1) and Co(NCS)(2)(HIm)(2) (2), where HIm = imidazole, were prepared and studied. In particular, the crystal structure of Ni(NCS)(2)(HIm)(2) was determined by X-ray methods. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 7.720(1) A, b = 5.557(1) A, c = 13.774(3) A, beta = 102.54(3) degrees, and Z = 2. Its structure consists of a one-dimensional polymeric chain in which nickel(II) ions are bridged by two thiocyanate groups bonding in an end-to-end fashion in a trans arrangement. The Ni...Ni distance is 5.557(1) A. The crystal packing is determined by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and ring-stacking interactions. From their X-ray powder-diffraction patterns and IR spectra, the complexes 1 and 2 were found to be mutually isomorphous. The coordination compounds were identified and characterized using elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, and infrared and ligand-field spectra. Both complexes are first examples of ferromagnetically coupled one-dimensional polymeric compounds with double end-to-end thiocyanate bridges. The magnetic properties of the title compounds were investigated over the 1.9-290 K temperature range. The compounds exhibit long-range magnetic ordering with T(c) equal to 5.0 and 5.5 K for 1 and 2, respectively. Their isothermal magnetization was also studied. The magnetostructural properties of the nickel(II) compound obtained are discussed and compared to those of other double end-to-end thiocyanate-bridged nickel(II) complexes.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 4,6-diazaphenanthrene 6-phenacylide

Summary The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 4,6-diazaphenanthrene 6-phenacylide formed in situ from the appropriate quaternary bromide in basic medium were investigated; as dipolarophiles acrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate,n-butyl acrylate and diethyl maleate were used.

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1,3-Dipolare Cycloadditionsreaktionen von 4,6-Diazaphenanthren-6-phenacylid

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die 1,3-dipolaren Cycloadditionen von 4,6-Diazaphenanthren-6-phenacylid untersucht, welches in situ aus dem entsprechenden quaternären Bromid in Gegenwart von Alkali dargestellt wurde. Als Dipolarophile wurden Acrylnitril, Ethylacrylat,n-Buthylacrylat und Diethylmaleat eingesetzt.