Addition of thiols to ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate

Ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate 1 readily adds aliphatic and aromatic thiols and aminothiols at the double bond in the presence of catalytic amounts of alkylamines and ammonia to give 3-thiolation products. Thiolacetic acid reacts with ester 1 in the absence of a catalyst at 100 °C.     

Selective enrichment of aminothiols using polysorbate 20-capped gold nanoparticles followed by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence

In this article, we report a simple method for selective enrichment of aminothiols using Tween 20-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prior to capillary electrophoresis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF). Compared to citrate-capped AuNPs, Tween 20-capped AuNPs exhibit the ability to disperse in a highly saline solution and selectively extract aminothiols through the formation of Au–S bonds. After extraction and centrifugation, 1 mM thioglycollic acid (TGA) was utilized to remove aminothiols that attached to the NP surfaces. After a solution of 8.0 mL aminothiols were extracted using 2× AuNPs (200 μL), the extracted aminothiols derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde at pH 12.0 were detected by CE-LIF. As a result, the limits of detection at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 for homocysteine (HCys), glutathione (GSH), and γ-glutamycysteine (Glu-cys) are 4013.2, 79.8, and 382.8 pM, respectively. The use of this probe provided approximately 11-, 282-, and 21-fold sensitivity improvements for HCys, GSH, and Glu-cys, respectively. A practical analysis of HCys, GSH, and Glu-cys in human urine sample has been accomplished by this present method.     

An improved method for simultaneous analysis of aminothiols in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Altered levels of aminothiols in biological fluids are thought to be an important risk indicator for several diseases, and reliable methods for the accurate determination of aminothiols concentrations in plasma are thus required. In this paper ammonium 5-bromo-7-fluorobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulphonate (SBD-BF) is proposed as a convenient fluorogenic derivatizating reagent for the determination of aminothiols (cysteine, cysteinylglycine, homocysteine and glutathione) by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The reactions of SBD-BF with aminothiols at room temperature are about three-times faster than those of ammonium 7-fluorobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulphonate (the most frequently employed reagent) at 60 °C. The derivatives of SBD-BF with cysteine, cysteinylglycine, homocysteine and glutathione are easily separated by HPLC and their calibration curves show excellent linearity over the range 0.05–20 μmol/L with excellent r² values for all analytes. SBD-BF reacts with thiols under mild conditions, i.e. at 25 °C over about 30 min, and is proposed as a suitable fluorogenic reagent for thiol derivatization to be introduced in analytical clinical chemistry. The detection limits of Cys, Cys-Gly, Hcy and GSH at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5 were 0.1 μM for Cys, 0.01 μM for Cys-Gly and Hcy, and 0.02 μM for GSH. Furthermore, validation parameters of the proposed method are quite satisfactory. As an application of this method the determination of thiol derivatives in human plasma was carried out on a number of samples.     

Nonionic surfactant‐capped gold nanoparticles for selective enrichment of aminothiols prior to CE with UV absorption detection

In this study, we describe the use of Tween 20‐capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as selective probes for the extraction of aminothiols from an aqueous solution. Tween 20 molecules noncovalently attached to the surface of AuNPs to form Tween 20–AuNPs were used for the selective extraction of aminothiols through the formation of Au–S bonds. After extraction and centrifugation, the aminothiols were detached from the surface of the AuNPs by adding DTT in a high concentration. We used this probe in combination with CE and UV absorption detection. On‐line concentration and separation of the released aminothiols were performed by using 1.6% v/v poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) as an additive in CE. Under optimal extraction and stacking conditions, the LOD at a S/N of 3 were 28, 554, and 456 nM for glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), and homocysteine (HCys), respectively. In comparison with the normal injection without the extraction procedure, approximately 2280‐, 998‐, and 904‐fold improvements in the sensitivity were observed for GSH, Cys, and HCys, respectively. We have validated the application of our method on the basis of the analysis of GSH and HCys in human urine samples. It is believed that this approach has significant potential to be extended to clinical diagnosis.     

A Native‐Chemical‐Ligation‐Mechanism‐Based Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Aminothiols

Thiol‐containing amino acids (aminothiols) such as cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) play a key role in various biological processes including maintaining the homeostasis of biological thiols. However, abnormal levels of aminothiols are associated with a variety of diseases. The native chemical ligation (NCL) reaction has attracted great attention in the fields of chemistry and biology. NCL of peptide segments involves cascade reactions between a peptide‐α‐thioester and an N‐terminal cysteine peptide. In this work, we employed the NCL reaction mechanism to formulate a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy for the design of ratiometric fluorescent probes that were selective toward aminothiols. On the basis of this new strategy, the ratiometric fluorescent probe 1 for aminothiols was judiciously designed. The new probe is highly selective toward aminothiols over other thiols and exhibits a very large variation (up to 160‐fold) in its fluorescence ratio (I₄₅₈/I₆₀₃). The new fluorescent probe is capable of ratiometric detection of aminothiols in newborn calf and human serum samples and is also suitable for ratiometric fluorescent imaging of aminothiols in living cells.     

Oxidation of aminothiols by molecular oxygen catalyzed by copper ions. Stoichiometry of the reaction

Catalysis of oxidation of aminothiols by copper ions was studied depending on the structure of aminothiols and pH of the medium. The catalytic reaction proceeds in the inner coordination sphere of Cu⁺. At pH 7—9, oxidation of bidentate aminothiols involves reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂. At pH 9—13, oxidation of chelating aminothiols is accompanied by reduction of O₂ to H₂O, whereas oxidation of weak-chelating aminothiols still proceeds by the former mechanism. In this process, the thiolate anions coordinated to the Cu⁺ ions lose one electron each and are oxidized to amino disulfides, which go from the inner sphere of the Cu⁺ complex into a solution. Procedures developed for the determination of amino disulfides, the chemiluminescence determination of H₂O₂ in the presence of aminothiols as luminescence quenchers, and a modified polarographic procedure for the determination of O₂ allowed us to establish that oxidation of aminothiols is not accompanied by catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ that formed.     

HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for simultaneous quantitation of eight plasma aminothiols: Application to studies of diabetic nephropathy

It was reported that Hcy was related to the development of kidney disease, but it remains unknown whether Hcy is an independent biomarker for diabetic nephropathy. Analytical method for simultaneous determination of aminothiols among the Hcy metabolic cycle is desirable to discover other potential biomarkers. A high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was established for simultaneous quantitation of Cysteine (Cys), total homocysteine (tHcy), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), cystathionine (Cysta), methionine (Met), glutathione (GSH) and cysteinylglycine (Cys-gly) in plasma with N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (MPG) as internal standard. The method had simple pretreatment without derivatization and the chromatograms show better separation of the eight aminothiols and the analytic time was 20 min. The results demonstrated that it provided an excellent linearity for all analytes over their respective concentration ranges and illustrated excellent precision and plasma recovery as well. Then, the method was applied in the case-control study of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). In conclusion, it is an effective method to quantitate the concentrations of aminothiols in the human plasma. SAH and SAM were suggested as better potential biomarkers of DM and DN.     

Thermodynamic properties of glycolic acid and glycolide

The values of combustion and formation enthalpy for glycolic acid (I) and glycolide (II) were determined by calorimetry. The temperature dependence of vapor pressures of I and II was obtained using the transpiration method, and the sublimation enthalpies were obtained. The enthalpy of melting of I was found by differential scanning calorimetry. Stable conformers were determined by the ab initio (DFT) method, and combinations of the fundamental oscillations and inertia momenta of I and II conformers were calculated. The full and relative energies of the compounds most stable conformers were found by a composite G3MP2 method, and the enthalpies of formation of I and II in the gaseous state were estimated. The values of the thermodynamic properties in the ideal gas state were determined over the range of 0–1500 K. A thermodynamic analysis was performed for the process of preparation of II from I and the formation of polyglycolide (III) from I and II.     

Direct Electron Capture Gas Chromatography of 2,3-Dihydro-2,2-Dimethyl-3-Oxo-7-Benzofuranyl N-Methylcarbanate: A Metabolite of Carbofuran Insecticide

Abstract

An electron capture gas chromatographic method utilizing a short glass column of 3% OV-210 at 155°C, has been developed for the direct quantitative determination of 3-oxocarbofuran (3, 3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-7-benzofurariyl N-methylcarbamate). The method is rapid, convenient, and does not require the formation of a derivative. Sensitivity permits the detection of quantities as low as 1 ppb in water samples. There was little response to 3-hydroxycarbofuran, 10 ng producing only a small peak. There was no response to carbofuran.     

GLC Determination of Pseudoephedrine and Related Ephedrines in Serum as The Heptafluorobutyryl Derivatives

Abstract

A method capable of determining therapeutic blood levels of pseudoephedrine in man is described. The procedure involves partial purification by extraction, formation of the heptafluorobutyryl derivative, and electron capture detection of the prepared derivatives. Serum levels of pseudoephedrine in man are presented. Chemical reactivity, stability and gas chromatographic properties of the ephedrine derivatives are discussed.     

Analysis of urine for cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and homocysteine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A new analytical method is proposed for simultaneous determination, by liquid chromatography, of the three main urinary thiols–cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and homocysteine. To measure the total amount of these thiols urine is reduced with sodium borohydride, to convert disulfides to thiols which are then derivatized with 2-chloro-1-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate. Separation and quantitation of the 2-S-quinolinium thiol derivatives formed were achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography with detection at 355 nm. Validation showed the method enabled reliable simultaneous determination of these aminothiols in urine. The calibration graphs for each analyte, obtained by use of normal urine spiked with increasing amounts of cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and homocysteine, were linear (R ²≥0.997) over the range covering most practical situations. The recovery of the assay was 98–100% and sensitivity was 0.12–0.25 μmol L⁻¹. The method was applied to 91 different samples of normal urine to establish reference values for the aminothiols, normalized on creatinine.     

RADIATION CHEMISTRY OF AMINOALKYITHIOIS

Abstract

Radiation chemistry of aminoalkylthiols and some derivatives (aminoalkyl-S-thiophosphates and aminoalkyl-S-thiosulfates among which are most effective radioprotectors) in aqueous solutions has been studied in order to establish the relation between the structure of these compounds and their radiation-chemical properties. Increase in the number of methylene groups between the sulfur atom and nitrogen atom in the aminothiol molecule from 2 to 4 and substitution of the amino group hydrogene by an alkyl radical has been found to be without appreciable effect both on the “spectra” of radiolisis products and rate constants for interaction of H, e^? _aq and OH with aminothiols     

Separation and Gas Chromatographic Determination of Free Styrene in Unsaturated Polyester Resins

Abstract

A rapid and efficient method for the separation and determination of free styrene in unsaturated polyester resin samples by gas chromatography was developed. A 10 cm pre-column connected to 1.2 m analytical column, both packed with 20 % carbowax 20M was used at 100°C with isobutylbenzene as an internal standard. Analysis time was two minutes with an accuracy of 0.3 %.     

STUDIES OF MECHANISM OF 2-METHYLTHIOPHENE AND THIOPHENE FORMATION FROM N-PENTANE AND HYDROGEN SULPHIDE USING 14C

Abstract

The mechanism of 2-methylthiophene formation from n-pentane and hydrogen sulphide over Cr-containing oxide catalyst is studied by using the Kinetic-Isotope method. The experiments were carried out in pulse system in He as a carrier gas (535° and 3 atm.) using ¹⁴C-labelled pentene and n-pentane. The reaction products were analyzed by radiochromatography. It is shown the 2-methylthiophene formation from n-pentane and hydrogen sulphide proceeds largely via consecutive dehydrogenation of n-pentane to pentenes, pentadiene followed by interaction with hydrogen sulphide. Thiophene is largely as a result of C₄-hydrocarbon interaction with hydrogen sulphide. A general scheme of the mechanism of 2-methylthiophene and thiophene formation is suggested.     

Simple synthesis of imidazo[1,2-A]pyridine derivatives bearing 2-aminonicotinonitrile or 2-aminochromene moiety

A simple and general method for the synthesis of new imidazopyridines bearing an aminopyridinyl, chromenyl, or quinolinyl moiety in the C2 position was developed. The Knoevenagel reaction between imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 1 and malononitrile resulted in the formation of starting material 2. Subsequently, intramolecular cyclization between the cyano group of 2 and acetophenones, naphtols, hydroxyquinolines, or phenols, gave 3, 4, 5, and 6 compounds, respectively. This is a simple, reproducible, and environmentally friendly method of synthesizing substituted imidazopyridines using water as a solvent or under solvent-free conditions.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Ipratropium Bromide in Liquid for Nebulization

ABSTRACT

Three simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of ipratropium bromide (IPB) in liquid for nebulization are described. Method A, is based on the formation of a charge transfer complex with iodine. The reaction product is measured spectrophotometrically at 278 nm. Method B, is based oh the formation of an ion – association complex between the drug and an acidic dye, Bromocresol green (BCG), which is extractable into chloroform and has an absorption maximum at 418 nm. Method C, uses derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of IPB by measuring the D₂-value at 232 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 1-10, 2-16 and 5-30 μg ml^? for method A, B and C, respectively. The optimum conditions for the formation of the charge transfer or ion-association complexes were optimized. The proposed methods were applied for the determination of IPB in liquid for nebulization. Evaporation to dryness and extraction of the residue with isopropanol, were performed before application of methods A & B. Mean percentage recoveries were found to be 99.67 ± 0.79, 99.26 ± 1.06 and 100.21 ± 0.85 for method A, B, and C, respectively.     

Determination of total homocysteine in human serum by capillary gas chromatography with sulfur-specific detection by double focusing ICP-MS

A selective and sensitive method for determination of total homocysteine (Hcy) in human serum, by gas chromatography coupled to ICP–MS(HR), has been developed. After reduction of the sample with sodium borohydride the liberated Hcy and other aminothiols, such as cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met), were converted to their N-trifluoroacetyl (TFA)-O-isopropyl derivatives and these were injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with an HP-5 capillary column. Detection was carried out by means of a double-focusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (DF-ICP–MS) monitoring ³²S at m/m (resolving power)=3000. The transfer line used to transport the analytes from the GC column to the ICP–MS had previously been developed in our laboratory. The different parameters affecting the derivatisation process were optimised, as were the instrumental operating conditions. This optimised GC–ICP–MS(HR) method was successfully applied to the determination of total homocysteine in human serum—values obtained were in agreement with data reported in the literature. Quantitative recoveries and good precision were obtained for spiked human serum, demonstrating the suitability of the method for quantitative determination of total homocysteine in serum.     

GC-FID optimization and validation for determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and methamphetamine in ecstasy tablets

A methodology for the determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methamphetamine (MA) in seized tablets using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) is described. The chromatographic conditions, i.e. gas flow rates and temperatures for the column, injector and detector were optimized. The optimum chromatographic conditions were as follows: a CP-SIL 24 CB WCOT fused silica capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 0.25 μm film thickness), N₂ carrier gas flowing at 2.6 mL/min, injector temperature at 290°C and detector temperature at 300°C. The oven temperature was ramped from 80°C at a rate of 20°C/min to final temperature of 270°C (1 min). All analytes were well separated within 7 min with an analysis time of 10.5 min. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 3.125–200 μg/mL for MDMA and 6.25–200 μg/mL for MDA and MA (r > 0.990). The intra- and inter-day precisions for determining all analytes were 2.32–10.38% RSD and 1.15–9.77% RSD, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies ranged from −19.79 to +17.51% DEV and −6.84 to +5.2% DEV, respectively. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) were 3.125 μg/mL for MDMA and 6.25 μg/mL for MDA and MA. All analytes were stable at room temperature during 24 h but significant loss occurred after 2-month storage at −20°C. The method was shown to be useful for determining the purity of MDMA in seized tablets.     

Photocatalyzed reaction of indole in an aqueous suspension of titanium dioxide

The photocatalyzed oxidation of indole (1) in an aqueous suspension of titanium dioxide has been investigated and an attempt has been made to identify the products formed during the photooxidation process by gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC–MS) analysis. Photolysis of an aqueous solution of indole (1) in the presence of titanium dioxide and oxygen led to the formation of 2,3-dihydroindole-2-one (6) and 1H-indole-2,3-dione (7). A probable pathway for the formation of these products has been proposed.     

A Sampling and Analytical Method for Ethylene Glycol in Air

Abstract

A personal sampling and analytical method for ethylene glycol aerosol and vapor in air was developed and tested. The personal sampler contains a glass fiber filter followed by two sections of silica gel. Samples are analyzed by gas chromatography. Ethylene glycol vapor at concentrations ranging from 4.2 to 327 mg/m³ for 3-L air samples can be measured. Ethylene glycol can evaporate from the filter during air sampling at 25 °C and enter the silica gel tube.