Determination of acid dissociation constants of flavin analogues by capillary zone electrophoresis

Acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of nine kinds of flavin analogues as molecular catalyst candidates were determined by CZE. Although some of the analogues are instable and degradable under the light exposure or in alkaline aqueous solutions, the effective electrophoretic mobility of the flavin analogue of interest has been measured with the residual substance. The pK_a values of the flavin analogues were analyzed through the changes in the effective electrophoretic mobility with varying pH of the separation buffer. One or two steps pK_a values were determined by the analysis. One of the degraded species from the flavin analogues, lumichrome, was also detected in the CZE analysis, and its pK_a values were also determined. While coexisting impurities generated over the storage conditions were found in some analogues, the pK_a values of the target analogues were successfully determined with the help of the CZE separations. A pressure-assisted CZE was utilized for the determination or the estimation of the pK_a values of such analogues as possessing carboxylic acid moiety.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis of basic drugs in non-aqueous acetonitrile with buffers based on a conventional pH scale

Summary The pK _a ^* values of 10 nitrogen-containing basic drugs in non-aqueous acetonitrile were determined from the pH^* dependence of their electrophoretic mobilities. The pH^* scale in the organic solvent was established using background electrolytes with known conventional pK _a ^* values, making further calibration with reference pH electrodes unnecessary. In acetonitrile the pK _a ^* values of analytes (or their conjugated cation acids, BH⁺, respectively) were 5.2±8.9 pK units>those in water. The observed change in pK _a ^* values of cationic analytes was, however, much less than the known respective change for neutral acids type HA. From the pK _a ^* values and the actual mobilities, it is possible to predict pH^* conditions to enable separation of analytes, and this was demonstrated for two pairs of common drugs.     

Determination of thermodynamic pKa values of benzimidazole and benzimidazole derivatives by capillary electrophoresis

Thermodynamic pK_a values for benzimidazole and several substituted benzimidazoles were determined by CE. Electrophoretic mobilities of benzimidazoles were determined by CE at different pH levels and ionic strengths. The dependence of electrophoretic mobilities on pH was used to obtain pK_a values at different ionic strengths. Extrapolations to zero ionic strength were used to determine the thermodynamic pK_a values. Using this method the thermodynamic pK_a values of 15 benzimidazoles were determined and found to range from 4.48 to 7.38. Results from the CE measurements were compared with spectrophotometric measurements which were evaluated at wavelengths where the highest absorbance difference for varying pH was recorded. The two analytical techniques were in good agreement.     

Determination of chromatographic dissociation constants of some carbapenem group antibiotics and quantification of these compounds in human urine

The dissociation constant values (_s^spK_a) of some carbapenem group drugs (ertapenem, meropenem, doripenem) in different percentages of methanol–water binary mixtures (18, 20 and 22%, v/v) were determined from the mobile phase pH dependence of their retention factor. Evaluation of these data was performed using the NLREG program. From calculated pK_a values, the aqueous pK_a values of these subtances were calculated by different approaches. Moreover, the correlation established between retention factor and the pH of the water–methanol mobile phase was used to determine the optimum separation conditions. In order to validate the optimized conditions, these drugs were studied in human urine. The chromatographic separation was realized using a Gemini NX C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particles) and UV detector set at 220 and 295 nm. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of separations of alkyl-substituted phenolate anions by capillary zone electrophoresis

Anions of alkylphenols have very similar electrophoretic mobilities in CZE owing to their very small differences in size and the narrow range of their pK_a values. By studying electrophoretic mobility as a function both of pH and of the amount of acetonitrile in the electrolyte solution, optimum separation conditions were determined. It was possible to separate a group of methyl-substituted phenols, including several positional isomers. Mixtures containing n-propyl and isopropyl phenols and 1°, 2°, and 3° butylphenols could be resolved.     

Determination of pKa values of some hydroxylated benzoic acids in methanol-water binary mixtures by LC methodology and potentiometry

An accurate estimation of pK_a values in methanol-water binary mixtures is very important for several separation techniques such as liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis that use these solvent mixtures. In this study, the pK_a values of 11 polyphenolic acids have been determined in methanol-water binary mixtures (10%, 20% and 30% (v/v)) by potentiometry, liquid chromatography (LC) and LC-DAD methodology.The results show a similar trend for the pK_a values of all the studied compounds, as they increase with increasing concentration of organic modifier, which allows a linear relationship between pK_a values and mole fraction of methanol to be obtained. The pK_a values obtained in aqueous medium have been compared with those given in the literature, and also with the values predicted by the SPARC on-line pK_a calculator. The data obtained have been used to test the feasibility of an estimation of dissociation constants in a methanol-water medium from the relationship between pK_a values and the organic cosolvent fraction in the mixtures.     

Determination of the deprotonation constants of seleno-DL-cystine and seleno-DL-methionine and implication to their separation by HPLC

We have determined the deprotonation constants (pK_a) of seleno-DL -cystine and seleno-DL -methionine together with those of DL -cystine and DL -methionine for comparison, by potentiometric measurements. In the case of seleno-DL -cystine, the difference between the pK_a values for the two amino groups was found to be only slightly lower than that observed for DL -cystine itself. In contrast, the difference between the two pK_a values for the carboxylic groups was found to be much smaller for seleno-DL -cystine than for DL -cystine. In both seleno-amino-acids, the zwitterionic species appear to be dominant in the pH range between 4 and 7, while positively charged protonated species are found to be present at pH values lower than 4. Based on a knowledge of the ionic species distributions as a function of pH, we have proposed an interpretation for the chromatographic separation of selenocystine and selenomethionine by HPLC. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of thermodynamic pKa values of pharmaceuticals from five different groups using capillary electrophoresis

A determination of the thermodynamic acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of 22 frequently used pharmaceuticals using capillary electrophoresis in aqueous media is presented in this work. The investigated pharmaceuticals belong to different pharmacological groups: macrolides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, β‐lactams, tetracyclines, and other miscellaneous pharmaceuticals. The electrophoretic mobilities of the investigated analytes were monitored in a pH range from 2.00 to 10.82. The data were fitted with an appropriate mathematical model using a nonlinear regression analysis to obtain pK_a values. Experimentally obtained data were well described by the mathematical model chosen for each analyte that was confirmed by r² values higher than 0.99 for most of the investigated analytes. Extrapolations to zero ionic strength were used to determine the thermodynamic pK_a values. Experimentally obtained acid dissociation constants were interpreted using structural formulae of investigated analytes and the moieties corresponding to specific pK_a were identified.     

CE determination of the thermodynamic pKa values and limiting ionic mobilities of 14 low molecular mass UV absorbing ampholytes for accurate characterization of the pH gradient in carrier ampholytes-based IEF and its numeric simulation

Fourteen low molecular mass UV absorbing ampholytes containing 1 or 2 weakly acidic and 1 or 2 weakly basic functional groups that best satisfy Rilbe's requirement for being good carrier ampholytes (ΔpK_a = pKa_monoanion ‒ pKa_monocation < 2) were selected from a large group of commercially readily available ampholytes in a computational study using two software packages (ChemSketch and SPARC). Their electrophoretic mobilities were measured in 10 mM ionic strength BGEs covering the 2 < pH < 12 range. Using our Debye-Hückel and Onsager-Fuoss laws-based new software, AnglerFish (freeware, https://echmet.natur.cuni.cz/software/download ), the effective mobilities were recalculated to zero ionic strength from which the thermodynamic pK_a values and limiting ionic mobilities of the ampholytes were directly calculated by Henderson-Hasselbalch equation-type nonlinear regression. The tabulated thermodynamic pK_a values and limiting ionic mobilities of these ampholytes (pI markers) facilitate both the overall and the narrow-segment characterization of the pH gradients obtained in IEF in order to mitigate the errors of analyte ampholyte pI assignments caused by the usual (but rarely proven) assumption of pH gradient linearity. These thermodynamic pK_a and limiting mobility values also enable the reality-based numeric simulation of the IEF process using, for example, Simul (freeware, https://echmet.natur.cuni.cz/software/download ).     

Isotachophoretic determination of mobility and pKa by means of computer simulation : V. Evaluation of mo and pKa of twenty-eight dipeptides and assessment of separability

Isotachophoretic qualitative indices, R_E, for twenty-eight dipeptides were measured in the range pH 7.4–9.6. The absolute mobility, m_o, and pK_a values were evaluated by the use of the least-squares method, utilizing a simulation of the isotachophoretic steady state. The m_o values were newly evaluated and the pK_a values were in good agreement with literature values. By comparison of the evaluated m_o and pK_a values of the dipeptides with those of the constituent amino acids, simple relationships were found which may be used to estimate the m_o and pK_a values of other dipeptides. The separability of the dipeptides was also evaluated by considering the differences between their simulated effective mobilities. It is concluded that isotachophoresis is very convenient for the separation of dipeptides and their constituent amino acids.     

Capillary electrokinetic fractionation mass spectrometry (CEkF/MS): Technology setup and application to metabolite fractionation from complex samples coupled at‐line with ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectrometry

Capillary electrokinetic fractionation (CEkF) is investigated as a new, simple, and robust approach for semipreparative and analytical sample analysis based on pK_a‐dependant pH‐driven electrophoretic mobility. CEkF was optimized with contactless conductivity detection and conducted with 10 kV reverse voltage for 10 min, then coupled on/at‐line to ESI/MS. We propose a semi‐empirical model with 14 representative compounds based on the correlation between sample/medium pH regulating the partial charge, the electrokinetic loading of the capillary and intensity (I) of analytes. According to the model, an empirical function (I = f (pH)) could be derived to calculate the acid dissociation constant (pK_a) of various model compounds based on their pH‐dependant MS intensity profiles with the RSD < 4.05. Using the ultrahigh‐resolution of ion cyclotron resonance Fourier transform MS, the pK_a model was further illustrated in real samples into the structure prediction of important compounds in wine over two vintages. The established CEkF was successfully used to selectively fractionate sulfur compounds from the complex wine samples at pH 1.66. The proposed CEkF approach should allow in the future the simultaneous pK_a evaluation of multiple constituents without complicated separation out of a complex mixture in metabolomics or environmental chemistry.     

Polynuclear Branched Tetrazole Systems. 2. New 2-(5-Tetrazolyl)ethylpodands and Their NH-Acidity

Nine new polynuclear 2-(5-tetrazolyl)ethyl podands have been obtained by the azidation of the corresponding nitriles. Using Bjerrum distribution functions, the values of pK _a ¹, pK _a ², pK _a ³, and pK _a ⁴ have been determined by a potentiometric method for 14 polynuclear tetrazoles in aqueous and aqueous methanolic solution. The found values lie in the range from 3.5 to 7.5 pH units. The overall rules and the sequence of the ionization of the spatially separated tetrazole fragments in these podand systems are discussed.     

Determination of acidity constants of enolisable compounds by capillary electrophoresis

Research on the structure–activity relationships of molecules with acidic carbon atoms led us to undertake a feasibility study on the determination of their acidity constants by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The studied molecules had diverse structures and were tetronic acid, acetylacetone, diethylmalonate, Meldrums acid, 3-methylrhodanine, nitroacetic acid ethyl ester, pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione, 3-oxo-3-phenylpropionic acid ethyl ester, 1-phenylbutan-1,3-dione, 5,5-dimethylcyclohexan-1,3-dione and homophthalic anhydride. The pK_a range explored by CE was therefore very large (from 3 to 12) and pK_a values near 12 were evaluated by mathematical extrapolations. The analyses were carried out in CZE mode using a fused silica capillary grafted (or not) with hexadimethrine. Owing to the electrophoretic behaviour of these compounds according to the pH, their acidity constants could be evaluated and appeared in perfect agreement with the literature data obtained, a few decades ago, by means of potentiometry, spectrometry or conductimetry. The pK_a of homophthalic anhydride and 3-methylrhodanine were evaluated for the first time.     

Determination of acidity constants of pyridines,imidazoles, and oximes by capillary electrophoresis

The acidity constant in the form of pK_a is one of the most important physicochemical quantities. There are prediction tools available for calculating the pK_a, but they only deliver precise calculated values for a relatively small set of chemicals. For complex structures with multiple functional groups in particular, the error in the predicted pK_a is high due to the application domain of the corresponding models. Thus, we aim to enlarge the dataset of experimentally determined pK_a values using capillary electrophoresis. We, therefore, selected various pyridines, imidazoles, and oximes to determine the pK_a values using the internal standard approach and the classical method. Especially oximes were not investigated in the past, and predictions for them include larger errors. Thus, our experimentally determined values could contribute to an improved understanding of various functional groups impacting the pK_a values and serve as additional datasets to develop improved pK_a prediction tools.     

Determination of pKa values of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug‐oxicams by RP–HPLC and their analysis in pharmaceutical dosage forms

In this study, pK_a values were determined by using the dependence of the capacity factor on the pH of the mobile phase for four ionizable substances, namely, tenoxicam, piroxicam, meloxicam, and naproxen (I.S.). The effect of the mobile phase composition on the ionization constant was studied by measuring the pK_a at different ACN concentrations, ranging from 30 to 40%. The adequate condition for the chromatographic determination of these compounds in pharmaceutical dosage forms was established based on the different retention behaviors of the species. An octadecylsilica Nucleosil C18 column (150×4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used for all the determinations. The chromatographic separation of oxicams was carried out using acetonitrile (ACN)/water at 35% v/v, containing 65 mM phosphoric acid and UV detection at a wavelength of 355 nm. The method developed was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of these drug compounds in laboratory‐prepared mixtures and their commercial pharmaceutical dosage forms. Each analysis requires no longer than 12 min.     

Determination of the pKa of Benzophenones by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Electrophoretic behavior of seven benzophenones as a function of the buffer pH was investigated, and their pK_a values were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis. The determination of pK_a allows us to rationalize the influence of the buffer pH on the migration behavior of benzophenones. The results reveal that both the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bond and the favorable π‐electronic delocalization decrease the degree of the acid dissociation of the hydroxyl groups of hydroxybenzophenones. However, the introduction of a hydroxyl group at the 4‐position or at the 2′‐position of the aromatic ring of hydroxybenzophenones would decrease greatly their pK_a1 values. Thus the presence of this type of hydrogen bonding also plays an important role in the acid dissociation of these hydroxybenzophenones.     

Determination of acidity constants,ionic mobilities,and hydrodynamic radii of carborane-based inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been applied for determination of the thermodynamic acidity constants (pK_a) of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups, the actual and limiting ionic mobilities and hydrodynamic radii of important compounds, eight carborane-based inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases, which are potential new anticancer drugs. Two types of carboranes were investigated, (i) icosahedral cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) ion with sulfamidoalkyl moieties, and (ii) 7,8-nido-dicarbaundecaborate with sulfonamidoalkyl side chains. First, the mixed acidity constants, pK_a^mix, of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups of the above carboranes and their actual ionic mobilities were determined by nonlinear regression analysis of the pH dependences of their effective electrophoretic mobility measured by capillary electrophoresis in the pH range 8.00−12.25, at constant ionic strength (25 mM), and constant temperature (25°C). Second, the pK_a^mix were recalculated to the thermodynamic pK_as using the Debye–Hückel theory. The sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups were found to be very weakly acidic with the pK_as in the range 10.78−11.45 depending on the type of carborane cluster and on the position and length of the alkyl chain on the carborane scaffold. These pK_as were in a good agreement with the pK_as (10.67−11.27) obtained by new program AnglerFish (freeware at https://echmet.natur.cuni.cz ), which provides thermodynamic pK_as and limiting ionic mobilities directly from the raw CE data. The absolute values of the limiting ionic mobilities of univalent and divalent carborane anions were in the range 18.3−27.8 TU (Tiselius unit, 1 × 10⁻⁹ m²/Vs), and 36.4−45.9 TU, respectively. The Stokes hydrodynamic radii of univalent and divalent carborane anions varied in the range 0.34−0.52 and 0.42−0.52 nm, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene and phenylenediamine positional isomers using capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with amperometric detection

In general capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation models, o‐, m‐, and p‐phenylenediamine isomers can be separated in a weak acidic running buffer for their pK_a values being 4.52, 5.64, 6.04, respectively, while o‐, m‐, and p‐dihydroxybenzene isomers can be separated in a weak basic buffer for their pK_a values being 9.40, 9.40 and 10.04, respectively. So, it is hard to find a suitable running buffer at a fixed pH in normal CZE for simultaneous separation of these two groups of positional isomers. In this paper, a novel method based on alternately running two different pH buffers in CZE coupled with amperometric detection (CZE‐AD) was designed to simultaneously determine these two groups of positional isomers. It is found that when two different pH running buffers were employed alternately under appropriate order and time, the six analytes could be separated perfectly in less than 20 min and the detection limits were as low as 10^–7 mol/L. Furthermore, the effects of working electrode potential, pH and concentration of running buffer, separation voltage and injection time on CZE–AD were investigated. Experimental results demonstrated that the introduced method was practical to simultaneously determine two groups of positional isomers with different pK_a and had some advantages of high sensitivity, good repeatability and small sample requirement.     

Acidity of Several Anilinium Derivatives in Pure Tetrahydrofuran

The acidity constant (pK _a) of eleven substituted anilinium ions and the dissociation constants of their perchlorate salts (pK _salt) were determined in pure tetrahydrofuran by potentiometry and conductometry. The pK _a values of the studied aniliniums extend downward the range of previously determined pK _a values. The resolution of acid strength for cationic acids in tetrahydrofuran was compared with those obtained in other amphiprotic and aprotic solvents. It is shown that the resolution in tetrahydrofuran is higher than the ones in water and methanol, similar to those in acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide and isobutylmethylketone, but lower than those in acetonitrile and nitromethane.