In memoriam: Boris Dubrovin

Letters in Mathematical Physics -     

Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry Enables N2 Borylation by Formal 1,3-Addition of a B−H Bond in the Coordination Sphere of Tungsten

The first example of a formal 1,3-B−H bond addition across the M−N≡N unit of an end-on dinitrogen complex has been achieved. The use of Piers’ borane HB(C₆F₅)₂ was essential to observe this reactivity and it plays a triple role in this transformation: 1) electrophilic N₂-borylation agent, 2) Lewis acid in a frustrated Lewis pair-type B−H bond activation, and 3) hydride shuttle to the metal center. This chemistry is supported by NMR spectroscopy and solid-state characterization of products and intermediates. The combination of chelate effect and strong σ donation in the diphosphine ligand 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane was mandatory to avoid phosphine dissociation that otherwise led to complexes where borylation of N₂ occurred without hydride transfer.     

Rapid and sensitive ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography method for quantification of antichagasic benznidazole in plasma: application in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study

Benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox are the only drugs available for treating Chagas disease. In this work, we validated a bioanalytical method for the quantification of BNZ in plasma aimed at improving sensitivity and time of analysis compared with the assays already published. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the method in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study after administration of a single oral dose of BNZ in Wistar rats. A Waters® Acquity UHPLC system equipped with a UV–vis detector was employed. The method was established using an Acquity® UHPLC HSS SB C₁₈ protected by an Acquity® UHPLC HSS SB C₁₈ VanGuard guard column and detection at 324 nm_. The mobile phase consisted of ultrapure water–acetonitrile (65:35), and elution was isocratic. The mobile phase flow rate was 0.55 mL/min, the volume of injection was 1 μL, and the run time was just 2 min. The samples were kept at 25°C until injection and the column at 45°C for the chromatographic separation. The sample preparation was performed by a rapid protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The linear concentration range was 0.15–20 µg/mL. The pharmacokinetic parameters of BNZ in rats were determined and the method was considered sensitive, fast and suitable for application in pharmacokinetic studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.