Detection of DNA fragments separated by capillary electrophoresis based on their native fluorescence inside a sheath flow

A scheme for the separation and detection of native DNA fragments in capillary electrophoresis is presented. A UV laser at 275 nm excites the intrinsic fluorescence of the fragments, which is greatly enhanced at pH 2.8. To provide a compatible system, methylcellulose-based size separation is performed at the identical pH. A sheath-flow arrangement isolates the detection region from the linear polymer for a reduced background level. The performance is an order-of-magnitude enhancement in detectability over absorption detection. We also uncovered a selective degradation/ligation process at these pH conditions that may be useful as additional selectivity for DNA characterization.     

Influence of the Lanthanide Ion and Solution Conditions on Formation of Lanthanide Wells–Dawson Polyoxotungstates

Lanthanide complexes of polyoxometalates, including the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand, have been pioneered by Michael T. Pope, to whom this paper is dedicated. Examination of the solid-state and solution behavior of lanthanide complexes of the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand are reported here to identify trends that will facilitate rational synthesis of hybrid organic lanthanide polyoxometalate complexes. Therefore, combining our data with that obtained by Pope and others a number of trends come into view. It is clear that there are two structural types for the 1:1 or 2:2 [Ln(H₂O)_X(α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁)]₂ ¹⁴⁻ species. The early lanthanides show a “cap to cap” structure that allows the Ln ion to be 9 coordinate and accommodates the longer bond lengths. The mid-late lanthanides show a “cap to belt” structure that allows the lanthanides to be 8 coordinate; this structural type is appropriate for the shorter bond lengths of the later lanthanides. The 1:1⇌1:2 equilibrium, that was observed by Pope for the Ce(III) analog is prevalent for the early- mid lanthanides. This equilibrium is slightly dependent on pH; however, cations have a major influence on this equilibrium. Larger, poorly hydrated cations appear to favor the 1:2 species for the early to mid lanthanides. Cations do not appear to influence the equilibrium for the later lanthanides; for all counterions, the 1:1 species was stable with no trace of the 1:2 species. Stability constants, K1 and K2, for the early to mid lanthanides were measured in this study by a competitive method and compared well with other published stability constant determinations. We suggest that the stability constants are not only dependent on the strength of interaction of the Ln with the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand, but are also significantly influenced by the medium. The medium may bias the equilibria of the early-mid lanthanides and later lanthanides. The log K₁/log K₂ ratios are very close, suggesting that it is difficult to separate the 1:1 and 1:2 Ln: α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ species.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material for this article is available at and is accessible for authorized users.This paper is dedicated to Professor Michael T. Pope in honor of his substantial and sustained contributions to polyoxometalate chemistry and his inspiration to scientists working in the field.     

A sequential stereocontrolled cyclopropane ring formation and semi-pinacol rearrangement

Treatment of an unsaturated 2,3-epoxy alcohol with SnBr₄ leads to a stereoselective formation of a cyclopropane ring, and an α-ketol unit as part of a subsequent ring expansion.     

The use of high-speed differential scanning calorimetry (Hyper-DSC™) to study the thermal properties of carbamazepine polymorphs

The thermal properties of two polymorphs of the drug carbamazepine, Forms I and III, were studied using high-speed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Previously, accurate determination of the heat enthalpy of fusion of Form III has not been possible using DSC at typical heating rates, due to concurrent exothermic recrystallisation to the higher-melting Form I. Here, it is demonstrated that heating rates of 250° C/min altered the kinetics of the melting transition of Form III such that this concurrent exothermic recrystallisation was inhibited. This allowed direct measurement of the enthalpy of the melting endotherm for Form III from a single transition. The enthalpy of this transition was found to be 109.5 J/g. Further investigations were then performed to test the utility of this technique in quantifying relative amounts of Forms I and III in mixtures of the two polymorphs. It was demonstrated that a limit of detection of 1% (w/w) was possible in this system. However, accurate quantification was not possible due to seeding effects initiating recrystallisation to Form I in these mixtures, even at these elevated heating rates. The utility of this novel technique as a fast analytical tool for studying the polymorphic behaviour of metastable polymorphs has been successfully demonstrated.     

Synthesis of periphery-functionalized dendritic molecules using polylithiated dendrimers as starting material

A general method for the functionalization of Si-Cl terminated carbosilane dendritic molecules via organolithium or organomagnesium reagents is described. Quantitative exchange of the bromine atoms of 4-bromophenyl-functionalized dendrimers affords polylithiated species that are valuable starting materials for further functionalization, e.g., into pyridyl alcohols. The latter were successfully applied as catalyst precursors in a ruthenium-mediated ring-closure metathesis reaction.     

Synthesis, structure, and complexation of a large 28-mer macrocycle containing two binding sites for either anions or metal ions

The "one-pot" synthesis and characterization of a large 28-mer macrocycle (H(4)L(2)) with oxamido units capable of complexing guest ions through oxygen or nitrogen donor atoms is reported. Single-crystal structure determination of H(8)L(2)(NO(3))(4) and (Cu(2)[H(2)L(2)](H(2)O)(2))(NO(3))(2) demonstrated that the macrocycle contains two sites capable of complexing two nitrate anions or two copper(II) ions, involving a large structural reorganization in the conformation of the macrocyclic framework on coordination of the copper(II) ions when compared to the nitrate. Electrochemical and magnetic susceptibility measurements on the dinuclear Cu(II) complex and the related mononuclear and trinuclear Cu(II) complexes derived from the related 14-mer macrocycle were carried out and illustrate the role of the oxamido groups in mediating metal-metal interaction and delocalization.     

The direct synthesis of the cyclic sulphamidate of (S)-prolinol: SimultaneousN-protection and activation towards nucleophilic displacement of oxygen.

The preparation of the cyclic sulphamidate of (S)-prolinol has been achieved by reaction with sulphuryl chloride at low temperature. This material has been shown to be susceptible to acid catalysed nucleophilic attack to furnish 2-(NN-dialkylamino)methyl- and 2-(methoxymethy]pyrrolidines after hydrolysis of the intermediate sulphamic acid derivatives.     

Mass Spectral Analyses of Trimethylsilyl Glucuronic Acids

Mass spectral analysis of carbohydrates has become an important tool for the biological chemist^1–3 and the use of mass spectrometers interfaced with gas-liquid chromatographs has provided a convenient method of study for volatile derivatives of carbohydrates. Several groups^4–7 have accomplished separations of the various isomeric trimethylsilyl (TMSi) esters and ethers of the glucuronic acids. The present work utilizes a gas-liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer to examine the previously unreported mass spectra of pertrimethylsilylated glucuronic acids and these spectra are compared to the previously reported⁸ spectra of the pemethylated glucuronic acids.