Liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analysis of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines, homologues of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines

The 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines (HMDAs) are prepared via reductive amination of the corresponding ketone with a series of low molecular weight alkylamines. These amines are homologues of the N-substituted 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDAs). Compounds of the HMDA series have UV absorption properties similar to the MDAs because both series contain the same 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl chromophore. The HMDAs are separated via reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods using a C18 stationary phase and an acidic aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase. The mass spectra of these potential designer drugs are very similar to the spectra of the MDA homologues having the same N-substituent.     

GC-MS identification of amine-solvent condensation products formed during analysis of drugs of abuse.

The use of methanol or ethanol as the injection solvent for the gas chromatographic-mass spectral (GC-MS) analysis of low molecular weight amine drugs of abuse results in the formation of additional components in the sample. Primary amines, such as amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, and phenethylamine, yield imines upon injection as methanol or ethanol solutions. In methanol, the imine formed has a mass that is 12 mass units higher than the parent compound. In ethanol, the products formed have 26 additional mass units. Secondary amines appear to undergo methylation under similar conditions with methanol as the injection solvent. These products are absent from the analysis of equivalent amine samples dissolved in chloroform.     

Directed neuronal differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

Background

We have developed a culture system for the efficient and directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) to neural precursors and neurons.HESC were maintained by manual passaging and were differentiated to a morphologically distinct OCT-4⁺/SSEA-4^- monolayer cell type prior to the derivation of embryoid bodies. Embryoid bodies were grown in suspension in serum free conditions, in the presence of 50% conditioned medium from the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 (MedII).

Results

A neural precursor population was observed within HESC derived serum free embryoid bodies cultured in MedII conditioned medium, around 7–10 days after derivation. The neural precursors were organized into rosettes comprised of a central cavity surrounded by ring of cells, 4 to 8 cells in width. The central cells within rosettes were proliferating, as indicated by the presence of condensed mitotic chromosomes and by phosphoHistone H3 immunostaining. When plated and maintained in adherent culture, the rosettes of neural precursors were surrounded by large interwoven networks of neurites. Immunostaining demonstrated the expression of nestin in rosettes and associated non-neuronal cell types, and a radial expression of Map-2 in rosettes. Differentiated neurons expressed the markers Map-2 and Neurofilament H, and a subpopulation of the neurons expressed tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker for dopaminergic neurons.

Conclusion

This novel directed differentiation approach led to the efficient derivation of neuronal cultures from HESCs, including the differentiation of tyrosine hydroxylase expressing neurons. HESC were morphologically differentiated to a monolayer OCT-4⁺ cell type, which was used to derive embryoid bodies directly into serum free conditions. Exposure to the MedII conditioned medium enhanced the derivation of neural precursors, the first example of the effect of this conditioned medium on HESC.

     

Liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analysis of N-substituted analogues of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine

The C1 to C3 N-alkyl, N,N-dimethyl, and N-hydroxy analogues of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) are identified by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and spectrometric techniques. The compounds are separated using reversed-phase procedures on C18 stationary phase with an acidic (pH 3) aqueous methanol mobile phase. The mass spectra of the compounds are distinctive and reference spectra are provided. The N-hydroxy derivative is unstable at high temperatures and decomposes to MDA and the oxime of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone.     

Determination of benzo[a]pyrene in cigarette smoke condensate by liquid chromatography on amberlite xad-2

A method is described for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene in cigarette smoke condensate which utilizes chromatographic fractionation on Amberlite XAD-2. PAH are initially separated by step-wise gradient elution, progressing from reverse to normal-phase modes of operation. Other separation steps involve automated column chromatography on silica gel and thin-layer chromatography on 20% acetylated cellulose. Benzo[a]pyrene is finally determined by u.v. spectrophotometry and liquid scintillation counting of ¹⁴C—benzo[a]pyrene tracer. Results obtained compare favorably with those of the more traditional liquid—liquid extraction methods.     

NMR studies of the thermal decomposition and branching reactions of aromatic esters

Poly(chlorophydroquinone terephthalate) is an aromatic polyester containing mainly chlorohydroquinone and terephthalate. Thermal stability of this aromatic polyester has been a problem during the processing. In order to characterize the melt reactions of this polyester, the thermal degradation of the model compound chlorohydroquinone dibenzoate was studied. The chlorohydroquinone dibenzoate was characterized by high resolution ¹³C-NMR. All experiments for studyng degradation of chlorohydroquinone dibenzoate were designed to test the following environmental parameters: (1) atmosphere, (2) temperature, (3) time, (4) additives, (5) container material. The analysis of the degradation products were carried out mainly using NMR; in some cases GC/MS and HPLC were also used to aid in separation and identification of the degradation products. The major degradation products produced in various experimental conditions were identified as chlorohydroquinone benzoates, hydroquinone dibenzoate, dichlorohydroquinone dibenzoate, 9-fluorenone, benzoic acid, Fries products, and hydrogen chloride     

Liquid chromatographic determination of the enantiomeric composition of amphetamine prepared from norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine

The stereochemical course of the synthesis of amphetamine from norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine is investigated using liquid chromatography. The results show that the chiral carbon common to both compounds remains unaffected during the reaction sequence. The presence of individual amphetamine enantiomers in the reaction products is determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation on an achiral stationary phase (C18) following precolumn derivatization with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate (GITC). The GITC derivatization procedure allows for the liquid chromatographic separation of the individual enantiomers of amphetamine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, and the intermediate 1-chloro-1-phenyl-2-aminopropanes.     

Carbon-13 NMR of poly(vinyl acetate) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of atactic poly(vinyl acetate) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers are reported and analyzed. Carbon spectra at 22.6 and 62.9 MHz together with use of shift reagents have permitted a more complete assignment than previously reported; in some cases the published assignments are found to be in error.