Synthesis and Characterization of GaIII,YIII, and LuIII Complexes with Etifenin and Analogues

Complexes of etifenin ( 1a ), disofenin ( 1b ), and mebrofenin ( 1c ) with Ga^III, Y^III, and Lu^III were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Stability and protonation constants of the complexes of 1a were determined by potentiometry and distribution diagrams were calculated. It was shown that the Y^III and Lu^III species are most stable as bis chelates at higher pH, whereas the Ga^III complex degrades at pH < 4.5.     

Structural Changes of β-Casein Induced by Temperature and pH Analysed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy,and Chemometrics

This study investigated structural changes in β-casein as a function of temperature (4 and 20 °C) and pH (5.9 and 7.0). For this purpose, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used, in conjunction with chemometric analysis. Both temperature and pH had strongly affected the secondary structure of β-casein, with most affected regions involving random coils and α-helical structures. The α-helical structures showed great pH sensitivity by decreasing at 20 °C and diminishing completely at 4 °C when pH was increased from 5.9 to 7.0. The decrease in α-helix was likely related to the greater presence of random coils at pH 7.0, which was not observed at pH 5.9 at either temperature. The changes in secondary structure components were linked to decreased hydrophobic interactions at lower temperature and increasing pH. The most prominent change of the α-helix took place when the pH was adjusted to 7.0 and the temperature set at 4 °C, which confirms the disruption of the hydrogen bonds and weakening of hydrophobic interactions in the system. The findings can assist in establishing the structural behaviour of the β-casein under conditions that apply as important for solubility and production of β-casein.     

六、七、八元瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物的相互作用

利用紫外吸收光谱、荧光光谱以及¹H NMR方法详细考察了六、七、八元瓜环(Q[6], Q[7], Q[8])与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用和体系pH对其作用的影响. 实验结果表明, 3种瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用强弱、作用比例以及作用模式与体系的酸度密切相关: 在“高”或“低”pH条件下, 未观察到瓜环与这些客体的明显作用; 在介于“高”与“较高”或“低”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 形成1∶1的包结配合物; 而在介于“较高”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 可形成1∶2的包结配合物. 对于不同的瓜环-客体作用体系, 相应的pH范围各不相同. 本文利用简便的实验方法, 测试了这些pH值及其范围. 根据测定的结果, 结合瓜环以及客体的结构特征, 对体系主客体在不同的酸度区域表现出的不同作用模式进行了探讨.     

H2O2-mediated oxidation of zero-valent silver and resultant interactions among silver nanoparticles, silver ions, and reactive oxygen species

The H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) over a range of pH (3.0-14.0) is investigated here, and an electron charging-discharging model capable of describing the experimental results obtained is developed. AgNPs initially react with H(2)O(2) to form Ag(+) and superoxide, with these products subsequently reacting to reform AgNPs (in-situ-formed AgNPs) via an electron charging-discharging mechanism. Our experimental results show that the AgNP reactivity toward H(2)O(2) varies significantly with pH, with the variation at high pH (>10) due particularly to the differences in the reactivity of H(2)O(2) and its conjugate base HO(2)(-) with AgNPs whereas at lower pH (3-10) the pH dependence of H(2)O(2) decay is accounted for, at least in part, by the pH dependence of the rate of superoxide disproportionation. Our results further demonstrate that the in-situ-formed AgNPs resulting from the superoxide-mediated reduction of Ag(+) have a different size and reactivity compared to those of the citrate-stabilized particles initially present. The turnover frequency for AgNPs varies significantly with pH and is as high as 1776.0 min(-1) at pH 11.0, reducing to 144.2 min(-1) at pH 10.0 and 3.2 min(-1) at pH 3.0.     

pH-dependence of 31P-NMR spectroscopic parameters of monofluorophosphate,phosphate, hypophosphate,phosphonate, phosphinate and their dimers and trimers

³¹P-NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants of nine inorganic phosphorus compounds composed of different structural units or oxidation numbers P^V, P^IV, P^III, and P^I were measured in the pH-range 3 ～ 11. A concise map of NMR data providing the pH-dependence of the chemical shift (δ-pH map) was set up to be used for identifying phosphorus compounds under varying pH-conditions. Chemical shifts of monofluorophosphate, as well as most phosphorus compounds of oxidation numbers 5 and 4, were greatly dependent on pH, in contrast to the less or negligible pH-dependence of phosphorus compounds of oxidation numbers 1 and 3. Monofluorophosphate gave the parameters: δ=+1.3±0.2 ppm and ¹J_PF=870±0.2 Hz, that remained unchanged at pH>6, but varied at pH<6. The practical use of the δ-pH map was shown with a few kinetic experiments in which monofluorophosphate was enzymatically hydrolyzed by alkaline phosphatase (EC3.1.3.1) at pH 7.2 and non-enzymatically at pH 3.     

Thermodynamic, kinetic and pH studies on the reactions of NCS-, N3-, and CH3CO2- with Fusarium galactose oxidase

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the X- = NCS-, N3-, and CH3CO2- replacement of H2O/OH- at the CuII exogenous site of the tyrosyl-radical-containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GOaseox) from Fusarium (NRR 2903), have been studied by methods involving UV-vis spectrophotometry (25 degrees C), pH range 5.5-8.7, I = 0.100 M (NaCl). In the case of N3- and CH3CO2- previous X-ray structures have confirmed coordination at the exogenous H2O/OH- site. From the effect of pH on the UV-vis spectrum of GOaseox under buffer-free conditions, acid dissociation constants of 5.7 (pK1a; coordinated H2O) and 7.0 (pK2a; H+Tyr-495) have been determined. At pH 7.0 formation constants K(25 degrees C)/M-1 are NCS- (480), N3- (1.98 x 10(4)), and CH3CO2- (104), and from the variations in K with pH the same two pKa values are seen to apply. No pK1a is observed when X- is coordinated. From equilibration stopped-flow studies rate constants at pH 7.0 for the formation reaction kf(25 degrees C)/M-1 s-1 are NCS- (1.13 x 10(4)) and N3- (5.2 x 10(5)). Both K and kf decrease with increasing pH, consistent with the electrostatic effect of replacing H2O by OH-. In the case of the GOaseox Tyr495Phe variant pK1a is again 5.7, but no pK2a is observed, confirming the latter as acid dissociation of protonated Tyr-495. At pH 7.0, K for the reaction of four-coordinate GOaseox Tyr495Phe with NCS- (1.02 x 10(5) M-1) is more favorable than the value for GOaseox. Effects of H+Tyr-495 deprotonation on K are smaller than those for the H2O/OH- change. The pK1a for GOasesemi is very similar (5.6) to that for GOaseox (both at CuII), but pK2a is 8.0. At pH 7.0 values of K for GOasesemi are NCS- (270 M-1), N3- (4.9 x 10(3)), and CH3CO2- (107).     

Whey protein soluble aggregates from heating with NaCl: physicochemical, interfacial, and foaming properties

Whey protein isolate was heat-treated at 85 degrees C for 15 min at pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 in the presence of NaCl in order to generate the highest possible amount of soluble aggregates before insolubility occurred. These whey protein soluble aggregates were characterized for composition, hydrodynamic diameter, apparent molecular weight, zeta-potential, surface hydrophobicity index, activated thiol group content, and microstructure. The adsorption kinetics and rheological properties (E', etad) of these soluble aggregates were probed at the air/water interface. In addition, the gas permeability of a single bubble stabilized by the whey protein soluble aggregates was determined. Finally, the foaming and foam-stabilizing properties of these aggregates were measured. The amount of whey protein soluble aggregates after heat treatment was increased from 75% to 95% from pH 6.0 to pH 7.0 by addition of 5 mM to 120 mM NaCl, respectively. These soluble aggregates involved major whey protein fractions and exhibited a maximum of activated thiol group content at pH > 6.6. The hydrodynamic radius and the surface hydrophobicity index of the soluble aggregates increased from pH 6.0 to 7.0, but the molecular weight and zeta-potential decreased. This loss of apparent density was clearly confirmed by microscopy as the soluble aggregates shifted from a spherical/compact structure at pH 6.0 to a more fibrillar/elongated structure at pH 7.0. Surface adsorption was faster for soluble aggregates formed at pH 6.8 and 7.0 in the presence of 100 and 120 mM NaCl, respectively. However, interfacial elasticity and viscosity measured at 0.01 Hz were similar from pH 6.0 to 7.0. Single bubble gas permeability significantly decreased for aggregates generated at pH > 6.6. Furthermore, these aggregates exhibited the highest foamability and foam liquid stability. Air bubble size within the foam was the lowest at pH 7.0. The coarsening exponent, alpha, fell within predicted values of 1/3 and 1/2, except for very dry foams where it was 1/5.     

Layered hydroxide nickel benzoates: Hydrothermal synthesis, structure characterization, and exfoliation reaction

Mussel adhesive proteins have received considerable attention due to their ability to bind strongly to many surfaces under water. Key structural features of these proteins include a large number of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-ALANIN (DOPA) and positively charged lysine residues. We elucidate the effects of solution pH, in the pH range 3-9, on adsorption kinetics, adsorbed amount, and layer structure on silicon oxynitride by employing Dual Polarization Interferometry. As a comparison, the cationic globular protein lysozyme was also investigated. The zeta-potential of the silicon oxynitride substrate was determined as a function of pH, and the isoelectric point was found to be below pH 3. Mefp-1 is positively charged at pH<10, and thus, the protein is expected to have an electrostatic attraction for the surface at all pH values investigated. The adsorbed amount and the initial adsorption rate were found to increase with solution pH, and no significant desorption occurred due to rinsing with pure water. The layer thickness after rinsing was 3-4 nm, except at pH 3, where the adsorption was limited to a small amount. Covalent cross-linking of the Mefp-1 layer with NaIO(4) resulted in a small but significant compaction and increase in refractive index of the layer. The results are discussed in terms of the role of DOPA and electrostatic interactions for the adsorption of Mefp-1 to silicon oxynitride.     

Determination of Nitrate,Nitrite, and Phosphate at 214 NM by Reverse PhaseHPLC

Abstract

Nitrate and nitrite can be determined by reverse phase HPLC, using 1:1 methanol-water at pH 3.0 as the mobile phase and UV detection at 214 nm. Phosphate can be determined using 1:1:1 methanol-water-isopropyl alcohol at pH 3.0. At a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, these anions elute within 5 min. A comparison of the mobile phases 1:1 methanol-water and Low UV PIC A reagent, indicates that 1:1 methanol-water yields 10 fold greater sensitivity to nitrate and 2 fold less to nitrite. The use of 1:1 methanol-water for the extraction of nitrate and nitrite from soil results in 19% higher recovery than in the case of water alone.     

Preparation,characterization, and potential application of an immobilized glucose oxidase

A simple, one-step process, using 0.25Mp-benzoquinone dissolved in 20% dioxane at 50°C for 24 h was applied to the activation of polyacrylamide beads. The activated beads were reacted with glucose oxidase isolated fromAspergillus niger. The coupling reaction was performed in 0.1M potassium phosphate at pH 8.5 and 0–4°C for 24 h. The protein concentration was 50 mg/mL. In such conditions, the highest activity achieved was about 100 U/g solid. The optimum pH for the catalytic activity was shifted by about 1 pH unit in the acidic direction to pH 5.5. Between 35 and 50°C, the activity of the immobilized form depends on the temperature to a smaller extent than that of the soluble form. Above 50°C, the activity of immobilized glucose oxidase shows a sharper heat dependence. The enzyme-substrate interaction was not profoundly altered by the immobilization of the enzyme. The heat resistance of the immobilized enzyme was enhanced. The immobilized glucose oxidase is most stable at pH 5.5. The practical use of the immobilized glucose oxidase was tested in preliminary experiments for determination of the glucose concentration in blood sera.     

Assessing effects of pH,metal ion and natural organic matter on identification and determination of reduced glutathione by cathodic stripping voltammetry

The effects of pH, metal ions (i.e. Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺) and natural organic matter (i.e. Suwannee River natural organic matter standard [SRNOM]) on determination of thiol (i.e. reduced glutathione [GSH]) by cathodic stripping voltammetry were evaluated. pH was the most critical parameter to influence GSH voltammogram (i.e. peak shape, position and height). In presence of Cu and Cd, secondary peaks were found at [metal]/GSH > 1 due to formation of GSH complexes at pH = 8.0 (Cu and Cd) and 2.5 (Cu only). On the other hand, Pb showed negligible influence on GSH voltammogram at pH 8.0 and 2.5 within [Pb]/[GSH] = 0.01–2.0. Zn significantly reduced GSH peak height at pH 2.5 at [Zn]/[GSH] = 0.01–2.0. SRNOM peak significantly overlapped with GSH peak at pH 8.0 and [SRNOM] > 1 mg L^?1 but was clearly separated from the GSH peak at pH 2.5. However, at pH 2.5, the presence of metal ions and/or SRNOM significantly underestimated GSH concentration (recovery = 21–69%), likely due to metal complexation with GSH and/or SRNOM adsorption onto Hg electrode. The effects of metal ions were minimised by the addition of EDTA. The interference induced by SRNOM adsorption was reduced as the [SRNOM] was reduced to 1 mg L^?1 and the recovery was improved to 98%.     

Structure-activity relationship of the free-radical-scavenging reaction by vitamin E (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-Tocopherols) and ubiquinol-10: pH dependence of the reaction rates

The reaction rates (ks) of vitamin E (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocopherols, TocH), ubiquinol-10, and related antioxidants (tocol, ubiquinol-0, and hydroquinone) with aroxyl (ArO(.-)) radical have been measured in micellar solution by stopped-flow spectrophotometer. The ks values increased in the order of hydroquinone < tocol < delta-TocH < ubiquinol-0 < gamma-TocH approximately beta-TocH < ubiquinol-10 < alpha-TocH at pH 4 approximately 8. The antioxidants which have lower oxidation potentials showed higher reactivities. The ks values of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocopherol, and tocol remained constant between pH 4 and 10, and decreased rapidly at pH 11 approximately 12 by increasing pH value. From the pH dependence of ks values, the pKa values (= 13.1 approximately 12.6) have been determined for these tocopherols. The ks values of ubiquinol-10 also remained constant between pH 4 and 9, and increased rapidly at pH 9.5. Ubiquinol-10 is dibasic acid and can exist in three different molecular forms, depending on the pH value. By comparing the ks values with the mole fraction of each molecular form of ubiquinol-10, the reaction rate ks1 (= 1.21 x 10(5) M(-1)s(-1)) for the undissociated form, ks2 (= 1.04 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1)) for monoanion and ks3 (= 0 M(-1)s(-1)) for dianion, and the pKa1 and pKa2 values (= 11.4 and 12.7) were determined. The ks2 value is 8.6 times as large as the ks1 value. Similar analyses were performed for ubiquinol-0 and hydroquinone. It was found that the relative ratio of ks values (100:21:20:2.9) of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocopherols in micellar dispersion has good correlation with the relative biopotency ratios for rat fetal resorption, rat hemeolysis, and chicken muscle dystrophy. The relative antioxidant activities of alpha-tocopherol and ubiquinol-10 have been discussed based on the ks values obtained and their concentrations in serum and several tissues (heart, muscle, liver, kidney, and brain).     

Kinetics and mechanism of base-catalysed degradations of substituted aryl-N-hydroxycarbamates, their N-methyl and N-phenyl analogues

The kinetics and mechanism of the degradation reactions of substituted phenyl N-hydroxycarbamates and their N-methyl and N-phenyl analogues have been studied at pseudo-first-order reaction conditions in aqueous buffers and sodium hydroxide solutions at 20 [degree]C and 60 [degree]C and at I= 1 mol[middle dot]l(-1). The dependence of log k(obs) on pH for phenyl N-hydroxycarbamates at pH < 9 and pH > 13 is linear with the unit slope; at pH 10-12 log k(obs) is pH independent. The Bronsted coefficient [small beta](lg) is about -1 (pH 7-13) and -1.53 (pH > 13) indicating that the degradation reaction of phenyl N-hydroxycarbamates follows an E1cB mechanism giving the corresponding phenol/phenolate and HO-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]O. The latter species undergoes further decomposition to give carbonate, nitrogen and ammonia as final products. In contrast to the phenyl N-hydroxycarbamates the N-methyl derivatives at pH 7-9 undergo degradation to the corresponding phenol/phenolate, carbonate and methylamine via a concerted mechanism ([small beta](lg) is about -0.75). The only exception is 4-nitrophenyl N-hydroxy-N-methylcarbamate in which the predominant break down pathway proceeds via the Smiles rearrangement to give sodium N-methyl-(4-nitrophenoxy)carbamate. At pH > 9 the reaction of N-hydroxy-N-methylcarbamates is kinetically complex: the dependence of absorbance on time is not exponential and it proceeds as a consecutive two-step reaction. N-Hydroxy-N-phenylcarbamate under the same conditions undergoes degradation to phenol, carbonate, aniline and azoxybenzene.     

Determination of zirconium,thorium and scandium with 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone

Zirconium is quantitatively precipitated by 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone and is separated from scandium in 1 N hydrochloric acid solution. Thorium is separated at pH 0.5 from uranium(VI), cerium(IV), lanthanum, yttrium and scandium. Scandium is quantitatively precipitated by this reagent in the pH range 1.4–2.0 and at pH 1.5 equivalent amounts of lanthanum do not interfere; small amounts of yttrium cause interference.     

Separation of Ribose-5-phosphate,Ribose-1-phosphate,Deoxyribose-1-phosphate by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Spectrophotometric Determination Using 2-Cyanoacetamide

Abstract

A simple procedure for separation of ribose-5-phosphate, deoxyribose-1-phosphate and ribose-1-phosphate is based on high performance liquid chromatography using reversed phase 4 × 300 mm “μ Bondapak/NH₂” column. The column is equilibrated with 0.13 M borate buffer (pH 7.5) followed by gradient elution of ribose-5-phosphate, deoxyribose-1-phosphate and ribose-1-phosphate using water, 0.05 M borate buffer containing 0.1 M MgCl₂ (pH 9.6) and 0.05 M sodium acetate-acetic acid buffer containing 0.1 M MgCl₂ (pH 5.0) as eluants respectively. Eluates of borate complex “μ Bondapak/NH₂” column are brought to pH 9.6 by the addition of 1 N KOH and enzymatically hydrolysed with alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) to release the free pentoses. The free pentoses are mixed with a reagent solution prepared from aqueous solution of 2% cyanoacetamide and 0.6 M borate buffer (pH 9.6), and the mixture is boiled for 10 minutes and the absorbance of the product is measured at 276 nm using a spectrophotometer.     

The kinetics of ozone decomposition in water,the influence of pH and temperature

The influence of pH on the kinetics of ozone decomposition in water was studied. Over the pH range 1–8, the kinetics was well described by a second-order reaction equation. Starting with approximately pH 3, the pH dependence of the logarithm of the constant at 19°C corresponded to the equation logk= −2.66 + (0.49 ± 0.03)pH. The activation energy of ozone decomposition was found to be 76.0 ± 8.3 kJ/mol.     

New DTPA-derived bis-naphthalenophanes: fluorescence,protonation, and complexation with aromatic amines

Two fluorescent, water-soluble bis-naphthalenophane isomers with six carboxylate arms, abbreviated as (bis-dtpa14nap)H₆ and (bis-dtpa15nap)H₆, were synthesized, which consist of two 1,4- or 1,5-substituted naphthalene rings interlinked by two diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) chains through amide-linkages. Both DTPA-based macrocycles exhibit intense excimer and monomer emission bands, which sensitively respond to pH in three protonation steps; more sensitive is the 1,4-naphthyl isomer. The full pH-emission profiles have confirmed that the mono-protonated anion (bis-dtpanap)H₅ ^? is the major protonation species at the physiological pH. Fluorometric titrations at pH 7.2 have proven that the 1,4-naphthalenophane anion forms 1:1-complexes with cationic phenethylamine (formation constant, 5700 M^?1) and histamine (3000 M^?1), excluding tryptamine cation, whereas the 1,5-isomer does not react with any of the three amines. The primary binding forces are electrostatic interactions between the CH₂CO₂ ^? arms of 1,4-naphthalenophane and the CH₂CH₂NH₃ ⁺ chain of an aromatic amine. The resulting ion-pair is stabilized by encapsulation of the guest molecule in 1,4-napthalenophane cavity, while the 1,5-isomer cannot encapsulate. NMR studies have demonstrated that 1,4-napthalenophane has a higher freedom in reorientation of naphthalene rings. Such geometrical properties controlled by selection of naphthalene units are the feature of the new naphthalenophanes, and are responsible for the pH?emission profiles and the complexation.     

Formation kinetics and stability studies on the lanthanide complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid by capillary electrophoresis

In this study, the kinetic behaviors of four lanthanide ions, Sm(3+), Dy(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+), when mixed with a polyazamacrocyclic chelating agent 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), were investigated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in the pH range of 2.0-6.0. At pH 2.0, the formation rate of DOTA-metal complex is extremely low as very little complex was detected after 5 days reaction, whereas almost no free DOTA was found in the mixture of metal ion and DOTA after 4 min at pH 6.0. The second-order kinetic association rate constants of the four lanthanide ions chelates at pH 4.2 were calculated as 1.44 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1), 5.20 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1), 4.56 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1) and 4.54 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1) at 25 degrees C with CE, respectively. In addition, the stability constants of the four lanthanide ions with DOTA were determined by CE at pH 3.0 where approximately 80-90% of the metal ions were associated with DOTA at 25 degrees C. The measured stability constants (log K(f)) of the four DOTA-metal complexes were 23.36, 23.93, 23.39 and 23.06, respectively, and correlated well with published data obtained by different methods. The percentage of metal ion bound with DOTA was evaluated as a function of reactant concentration in pH 6.0 buffer. After adding excess strong acid (0.1 M HCl) to each solution of DOTA-metal was formed at pH 6.0, no released DOTA was detected after 24 h; thus, dissociation of these lanthanide complexes did not occur under strongly acidic conditions. The Ln(DOTA)(-) species for the four DOTA-metal complexes were characterized by electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and the results correlated with proposed structures.     

Decomposition kinetics of the N-bromoaminoacids,N-bromoalanine,N-bromo-2-aminobutyric acid,and N-bromonorvaline

A kinetic study of the decomposition reactions of N-bromoalanine, N-bromo-2-aminobutyric acid, and N-bromonorvaline shows them to be first-order with respect to N-bromoaminoacid concentration and independent of both excess aminoacid and pH over the interval pH 9–11. In this pH range the mean rate constants at 298 K were 1.20 × 10^?3 s^?1, 1.37 × 10^?3 s^?1 and 1.28 × 10^?3 s^?1, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A 31P NMR Study of the Stability of Carboxyifosfamide and Carboxycyclophosphamide,Two Metabolites of Ifosfamide and Cyclophosphamide

Abstract

Ifosfamide (IF) and cyclophosphamide (CP) are two phosphorated anticancer agents used in the treatment of solid tumours. Several phosphorated metabolites, among them carboxyifosfamide (CXIF) and carboxycyclophosphamide (CXCP), were detected and quantified by ³¹P NMR in urine from patients treated with IF or CP. In agreement with other authors [1], we observed a great inter-patient variability in the urinary excretion of CXIF in patients treated with IF [2]. This variability was attributed to a genetic polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of CXCP or CXIF [1,3]. Since CXCP and CXIF are unstable, we thought that the inter-individual variability could also be due to a degradation during the storage of urine samples. A ³¹P NMR study of the stability of CXIF and CXCP in urine as a function of time, pH (7 and 5.5) and storage temperature (25°C, 8°C, ?20°C, ?80°C) demonstrated that (i) CXCP and CXIF are more stable at pH 7 than at pH 5.5, (ii) CXCP is more stable than CXIF at both pH, (iii) the degradation decreases with temperature but still occurs at ?20°C and even ?80°C. For an accurate quantification of these compounds, the storage of urine samples must be done at ?80°C immediately after collection and not exceed 1 month at pH 7 whereas, at pH 5.5, the assay must be carried out in the few days following the sampling. To identify the degradation products of CXCP and CXIF, the time course of hydrolysis (between pH 2 and 7) of these compounds was monitored by ³¹P NMR. The structure of each compound formed was determined by mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR after their isolation (except compound A too unstable to be isolated). The results are reported in the following schemes.