An Inexpensive Laser Raman Spectrometer Based on CCD Detection

We describe an inexpensive modular Raman spectrometer system that can be assembled from commercial components for under $5000. Three typical applications are presented: a demonstration of a vibrational isotope effect, a Raman polarization experiment, and a resonance Raman experiment. This spectrometer system should make it easier to include the important topic of Raman spectroscopy in the undergraduate physical and analytical chemistry laboratory curricula.     

Monodentate sigma-N and Bidentate sigma-N,sigma-N' Coordination of 1,1-Bis((N-p-tolylimino)diphenylphosphoranyl)ethane, CHCH(3)(PPh(2)=NC(6)H(4)-4-CH(3))(2), to Platinum(II)

The new ligand, 1,1-bis((N-p-tolylimino)diphenylphosphoranyl)ethane (1,1-BIPE), 1, has been synthesized by means of a Staudinger reaction of 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (1,1-dppe) with 2 equiv of p-tolylazide. Bridge-splitting reactions of Pt(2)Cl(4)(PR(3))(2) with 1 readily afforded sigma-N monodentate complexes, [PtCl(2)(PR(3)){1,1-BIPE-sigmaN}] (2a, PR(3) = PEt(3); 2b, PR(3) = PMe(2)Ph). Conversion of 2 into the six-membered platinacycle [PtCl(PR(3)){1,1-BIPE-sigmaN,sigmaN'}](+)[X](-) (3) (X = Cl, PtCl(3)(PR(3)), BF(4)) took place after prolonged stirring, its reaction rate being strongly dependent on the type of phosphine (>5 days for 2ain the presence of NaBF(4), 1 h for 2b) and the metal-to-ligand ratio. The compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been fully characterized by (1)H, (31)P{(1)H}, and (13)C{(1)H} NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, or FAB mass spectroscopy. The molecular structures of CHCH(3)(PPh(2)=NC(6)H(4)-4-CH(3))(2) (1) and [PtCl(PMe(2)Ph){(N(pTol)=PPh(2))(2)CHCH(3)}](+)[Cl](-) (3b) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data for 1: space group P2(1)/c with a = 8.9591(5) ?, b = 19.1961(12) ?, c = 21.9740(9) ?, beta = 105.069(4) degrees, V = 3649.1(3) ?(3), and Z = 4. The structure refinement converged to R = 0.080 and R(w) = 0.109. Crystal data for 3b: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c with a = 12.4021(7) ?, b = 16.9705(11) ?, c = 23.760(2) ?, beta = 109.544(5) degrees, V = 4712.7(5) ?(3), and Z = 4. The structure refinement converged to R1 = 0.057, wR2 = 0.122. Variable temperature NMR spectroscopy has revealed that complexes 3 exclusively adopt a twisted boat conformation with the methyl group in equatorial position at low temperature, in agreement with the solid state structure of 3b as determined by X-ray crystallography. Boat-to-boat inversion is assumed to take place at temperatures above 293 K. Furthermore, for 3, hindered rotation of one of the p-tolyl substituents on nitrogen has been established at low temperatures.     

Evaluation of a commercial enzymatic test kit regarding the quantitative analysis of different free fatty acids

The quantitative determination of the total free fatty acids (FFAs) is an important analytical task because FFAs exhibit important physiological effects and are also relevant in many other fields, for instance, in food research. Our aim was to investigate whether a commercially available enzymatic test kit developed for the determination of FFAs in human serum is also suitable to determine different physiological and nonphysiological FFAs and to which extent the impact on the sensitivities (i.e., the accuracy by which a given FFA can be determined) differ. It will be shown that the chain length as well as the double bond content has a significant impact on the sensitivity by which a given FFA can be determined. For instance, palmitic acid (16:0) is determined with an approximately 20 times higher sensitivity in comparison to docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). All data were obtained by measuring the concentrations of the FFAs by gas chromatography, and selected FFAs were also determined in a complex matrix of human serum. It is concluded that this kit is not useful if major alterations of the FFA composition of a complex mixture are expected because the individual FFAs are not detected with the same sensitivities: the concentrations of polyunsaturated FFA determined by this kit are wrong. Figure

The used enzymatic kit detects different free fatty acids with significantly different sensitivities: the number of carbon atoms and the number of double bonds massively contribute to these differences     

A stereodivergent approach to substituted 4-hydroxypiperidines

A stereodivergent route toward both diastereomeric forms of functionalized 4-hydroxypiperidines has been successfully developed. This route involves biocatalytic generation of the enantiopure starting materials followed by functionalization via N-acyliminium ion-mediated CC-bond formation.     

Spermine participates in oxidative damage of guanosine and 8-oxoguanosine leading to deoxyribosylurea formation

Oxidation of single- or double-stranded DNA containing a 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine lesion with the one-electron oxidant Na2IrCl6 in the presence of spermine led to formation of a covalent adduct that was analyzed by gel electrophoresis, HPLC, ESI-MS, and UV-vis. The adduct was labile to heat, exhibiting a t1/2 of 12 h at 37 degrees C, and the ultimate hydrolysis product was characterized as a deoxyribosylurea lesion. Data from model studies with 1,3-diaminopropane vs 1,4-diaminobutane are consistent with initial formation of a C5 spermine adduct from a dehydro-8-oxoguanosine intermediate, followed by rearrangement to a spiroaminal subject to slow hydrolysis at C4 of the purine. Spermine adducts could also be formed from oxidation of the analogous G-containing oligomer from reaction with singlet oxygen, albeit in lower yield. These results are surprising in light of the traditional view that spermine is radioprotective against DNA oxidation.     

Solid-phase synthesis of lidocaine and procainamide analogues using backbone amide linker (BAL) anchoring

New solid-phase strategies have been developed for the synthesis of lidocaine (1) and procainamide (2) analogues, using backbone amide linker (BAL) anchoring. Both sets were prepared starting from a common resin-bound intermediate, followed by four general steps: (i) attachment of a primary aliphatic or aromatic amine to the solid support via reductive amination (as monitored by a novel test involving reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine with residual aldehyde groups); (ii) acylation of the resultant secondary amine; (iii) displacement of halide with an amine; and (iv) trifluoroacetic acid-mediated release from the support. A manual parallel strategy was followed to provide 60 novel compounds, of which two dozen have not been previously described. In most cases, initial crude purities were >80%, and overall isolated yields were in the 40-88% range.     

Polyelectrolyte complex formation between poly(diallyldimethyl-ammonium chloride) and copolymers of acrylamide and sodium-acrylate

 The interaction between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, in this study poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and copolymers of acrylamide and sodium-acrylate differing in their chain length and charge density parameter (ξ) was investigated in relation to the molar charge ratio of anionic to cationic charges (n ₋/n ₊). The molecular weights of the polyelectrolytes used were 2.9·10⁵g/mol for PDADMAC and for the polyacrylamide copolymers 14 ·10⁶g/mol as well as 5·10⁵g/mol obtained by ultrasonic degradation of the high molecular weight copolymers. The charge density parameters of the polyanions used (ξ ^PR ) varied between 0.14 and 0.64. Complexation between PDADMAC and high molecular weight polyanions leads mainly to macroscopic phase separation whereas the degraded polyanions and PDADMAC formed soluble complexes as well as stable dispersions, if charge excess was available. Precipitates and dispersions were characterized by several methods such as element analysis, thermogravimetry, pyrolysis-GC/MS, PEL titration, ζ-potential measurements, determination of turbidity, particle size measurements and determination of carbon content (TOC).  All precipitated complexes include about 20% water and are of 1:1 stoichiometry concerning ionic binding. Investigations of dispersions confirm 1:1 stoichiometry of complex particles stabilized by excess polyelectrolyte and soluble complexes. It was also found that the particle size can be varied via the charge density parameter of the polyanions used in the range of negative charge excess. Received: 21 June 2001 Accepted: 9 October 2001     

Charge transfer at F<Subscript>16</Subscript>CoPc and CoPc interfaces to Au

We analyze the electronic properties of the interfaces between cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), as well as fluorinated cobalt phthalocyanine (F₁₆CoPc), and an Au(100) single-crystal using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and valence band ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. Our data demonstrate that for the monolayers of both materials a charge transfer occurs from the substrate to the center of the organic molecules resulting in a central Co(I) ion. This leads to the conclusion that this effect essentially is fluorination- and ligand-independent.     

Phosphatidylcholine dimers can be easily misinterpreted as cardiolipins in complex lipid mixtures: a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometric study of lipids from hepatocytes

The liver is an important organ that is particularly involved in the lipid metabolism of the organism. Thus, high interest is nowadays focused on the lipid composition of the liver and particularly the liver parenchymal cells, the hepatocytes. Hepatocytes contain common phospholipids (PL) such as phosphatidylcholines, ‐ethanolamines and ‐inositols, for instance, that can be easily analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) even without previous separation of the PL mixture. However, in addition to common PL, hepatocytes possess also significant amounts of cardiolipin (CLP). The MS analysis of this PL is quite challenging because it (a) has a higher mass than common lipids and (b) possesses a higher negative charge. We will show here that caution is required if CLP is analyzed directly from the total lipid extract because PC dimers may be interpreted as cardiolipins if the positive ion MALDI mass spectra are analyzed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.