Charge transfer reactions along a supramolecular redox gradient

A rotaxane scaffold is used to align three photo/electroactive units along a supramolecular redox gradient leading to a cascade of through-space charge transfer reactions.     

Chromatography-free Wittig reactions using a bifunctional polymeric reagent

The first example of a polystyrene bearing two distinct reagent groups has been prepared. This phosphine and amine functionalized material was used in one-pot Wittig reactions with an aldehyde and either an α-halo-ester, -ketone, or -amide. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the polymer, the desired alkene product of these reactions could be isolated in excellent yield in essentially pure form after only filtration and solvent removal.     

Hydrogenation reactions using scCO2 as a solvent in microchannel reactors

We have developed an effective microfluidic system for hydrogenation reactions in scCO(2); the reactions proceeded very rapidly (within 1 second), by making the best use of scCO(2) and utilizing the large specific interfacial area of the microchannel reactor, and high reaction productivity was attained in each channel.     

High-throughput screening of enzyme inhibition using an inhibitor gradient generated in a microchannel

A new rapid microfluidic method for measuring enzyme inhibition is presented. The assay relies upon the creation of a uniform concentration of substrate and a microfluidically generated concentration gradient of inhibitor using a single microchannel and a single initial inhibitor concentration. The IC(50) values of two enzyme inhibitors were determined using the new technique and validated using a conventional microtiter plate assay. Using both experimental and computational simulation techniques, the assay was shown to be sensitive to inhibitor potency and the distribution of inhibitor in the system. The method has the potential to be more accurate than conventional methods because of the comparatively large amount of data that may be collected. Recommendations for use of the assay are provided, including its use for high-throughput screening in drug discovery and general use in measurement of enzyme inhibition.     

Highly efficient continuous flow reactions using singlet oxygen as a "green" reagent

Described is a new method for the efficient in situ production of singlet oxygen in a simple continuous flow photochemical reactor. The extremely large interfacial area generated by running the biphasic mixture in a narrow channel at a high flow rate ensures high throughput as well as fast and efficient oxidation of various alkenes, 1,3-dienes, and thioethers on a preparative scale.     

Trimethylsilyl tetrafluoroborate a convenient reagent for solvolysis reactions

Conversions of cyclopropyl carbinols (or their acetates) and ketones into homoallyl and γ-substituted ketone derivatives, respectively, are accomplished by trimethylsilyl tetrafluoroborate efficiently and under mild conditions.     

Reactions in water: alkyl nitrile coupling reactions using Fenton's reagent

The coupling reaction of water-soluble alkyl nitriles using Fenton's reagent (Fe(II) and H2O2) is described. The best metal for the reaction is iron(II), and the greatest yields are obtained when the concentration of the metal is kept low. Hydrogen-atom abstraction is selective, preferentially producing the radical alpha to the nitrile. In order to increase the production of dinitrile, in situ reduction of iron(III) to iron(II), using a variety of reducing agents, was investigated.     

Allylation reactions of carbonyl compounds using an organosilicon reagent in aqueous media

Allylation reactions of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and reactive ketones using allyltrimethoxysilane in aqueous media proceeded smoothly in the presence of 5 mol% of a CdF2-terpyridine complex; the presence of the ligand plays an important role for the catalytic activity; the catalyst was easily recovered and reused without loss of activity.     

An alternative and facile purification procedure of amidation and esterification reactions using a medium fluorous Mukaiyama reagent

A convenient methodology for the separation of a fluorous by-product using fluorous chemistry is described. A Mukaiyama coupling reagent bearing a medium fluorous tag, between 40% and 60% fluorine by weight, can be effectively separated from non-fluorous components by increasing the water content of the crude reaction mixture and subsequent filtration. Additional fluorous solid phase extraction is not necessary.     

Novel annulation reactions : the direct synthesis of cyclopentanes using a lewis acid activated bisfunctional annulating reagent

In a novel one-pot reaction 3,3-Dimethoxy-1-trimethylstannyl-propane (1) reacts in the presence of Lewis acids with O-silytated enolates in a [3+2] annulation to form fused cyclopentanes possessing a bridgehead hydroxy group.     

Detection of CFTR mutations using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, is one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases with variable incidences and mutation spectra among different ethnic groups. Current commercially available mutation panels designed for the analysis of known recurrent mutations have a detection rate between 38 to 95%, depending upon the ethnic background of the patient. We describe the application of a novel mutation detection method, temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE), to the study of the molecular genetics of Hispanic CF patients. TTGE effectively identified numerous rare and novel mutations and polymorphisms. One interesting observation is that the majority of the novel mutations are splice site, frame shift, or nonsense mutations that cause severe clinical phenotypes. Our data demonstrate that screening of the 27 exons and intron/exon junctions of the CFTR gene by TTGE greatly improves the molecular diagnosis of Hispanic CF patients.     

Kinetics of simultaneously occurring heterogeneous catalytic reactions with a common reagent (competing reactions)

The mutual effect of heterogeneous kinetic reactions with a common reagent is examined on the assumption that the mechanisms of the reactions do not change when they occur simultaneously. It was shown that with certain mechanisms typical of heterogeneous catalysis the simultaneous occurrence of the reactions can lead not only to retardation but also to acceleration of one reaction by the other.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 497–501, July–August, 1990.     

Low temperature recyclable catalyst for Heck reactions using ultrasound

The Heck reaction of iodobenzene with methyl acrylate in NMP as a solvent has been studied using Pd/C as a catalyst in the presence of ultrasound at room temperature. The ultrasound increased the rate of the reaction. The effect of base, solvent and recyclability of catalyst were studied in the presence of ultrasound and without ultrasound. The reaction only takes place in the presence of ultrasound. The catalyst could be recycled using HCOONa-ultrasound.     

DNA hybridization assays using temperature gradient focusing and peptide nucleic acids

Two types of DNA hybridization assays are demonstrated with temperature gradient focusing (TGF) and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). In TGF, the application of a controlled temperature gradient along the length of a microchannel filled with an appropriate temperature-dependent buffer results in the formation of a gradient in both the electric field and electrophoretic velocity. Ionic species move in this gradient and concentrate at a unique point where the total velocity sums to zero. The first assay is a mixing assay in which PNA is allowed to flow through spatially focused DNA targets within a capillary. The second assay detects single base pair mutations (SBPM) by monitoring the fluorescence intensity of PNA/DNA duplexes as a function of temperature within the capillary. The SBPM analysis can be performed in less than 5 min with 100-fold more dilute analyte compared to conventional UV melting measurements.     

DNA mutation detection with chip-based temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis using a slantwise radiative heating system

A simple and robust chip-based temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis (TGCE) system was developed for DNA mutation/single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis using a radiative heating system. Reproducible, stable and uniform temperature gradients were established along a 3 cm length of the electrophoretic separation channel using a single thermostated aluminium heater plate. The heater was slightly slanted relative to the plane of the glass chip at 0.2-1.3 degrees by inserting thin spacers between the plate and chip at one end to produce differences in radiative heating that created the temperature gradient. On-chip TGCE analyses of 4 mutant DNA model samples amplified from plasmid templates, each containing a single base substitution, with a wide range of melting temperatures, showed that mutations were successfully detected under a wide temperature gradient of 10 degrees C and within a short gradient region of about 3 cm (3.3 degrees C cm(-1) gradient). The radiative heating system was able to establish stable spatial temperature gradients along short microfluidic separation channels using simple peripheral equipment and manipulation while ensuring good resolution for detecting a wide range of mutations. Effectiveness of the system was demonstrated by the successful detection of K-ras gene mutations in 6 colon cancer cell lines.     

Detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

Mitochondrial disorders are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases. Common recurrent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations account for the molecular defects of a small proportion of patients. In order to identify mtDNA mutations, comprehensive mutational analysis of the entire mitochondrial genome is necessary. We developed the temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) method to screen for mutations in mtDNA. The entire mitochondrial genome was amplified using 32 pairs of overlapping primers followed by TTGE analysis of the DNA fragments. TTGE method was first validated on 200 DNA fragments containing known mutations or polymorphisms. On TTGE, homoplasmic nucleotide substitutions show a single band shift and heteroplasmic mutations show multiple banding patterns. The known mutations or polymorphisms were correctly identified. TTGE was then used to screen for unknown mutations in the mitochondrial genome. DNA banding patterns, deviated from wild-type, suggestive of either homoplasmic or heteroplasmic mutations, were followed by direct DNA sequencing to identify the mutations. Numerous mutations and polymorphisms were detected. The results demonstrated that TTGE detects and distinguishes heteroplasmic mutations from homoplasmic polymorphisms. It also detects heteroplasmic changes in the background of a homoplasmic polymorphism. Overall, TTGE was proven to be a simple, rapid, sensitive, and effective mutation detection method.     

Determination of sulfonamides and trimethoprim using high temperature HPLC with simultaneous temperature and solvent gradient

A fast HPLC method for the analysis of eight selected sulfonamides (SA) and trimethoprim has been developed with the use of high temperature HPLC. The separation could be achieved in less than 1.5 min on a 50 mm sub 2 microm column with simultaneous solvent and temperature gradient programming. Due to the lower viscosity of the mobile phase and the increased mass transfer at higher temperatures, the separation could be performed on a conventional HPLC system obtaining peak widths at half height between 0.6 and 1.3 s.     

Crystallization of isotactic polypropylene in a temperature gradient

The crystallization of isotactic polypropylene films was investigated in constant and in time-dependent temperature gradients. The temperature gradient influences a spherulitic pattern as well as an internal structure of spherulites. The gradient can accelerate conversion of the melt into spherulites although it has no effect on spherulitic nucleation. The acceleration of the local conversion results from a contribution of spherulites nucleated in colder parts of a sample. The observed effects intensify with the increase of the temperature gradient and they are also enhanced by a higher crystallization temperature. Received: 2 August 2000 Accepted: 21 February 2001     

Fluorescent derivatization of nitrite ions with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene utilizing a pH gradient in a Y-shaped microchannel.

The on-chip derivatization of nitrite ions with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) utilizing a pH gradient formed in a Y-shaped microchannel was investigated. Nitrite ions react with DAN at low pH, and strongly fluoresced at high pH. Therefore, a reaction at low pH followed by the addition of a strong alkaline solution is the usual procedure in a batch scheme. However, a strong alkaline solution, like an NaOH aqueous solution, erodes the wall of the microchannels in substrates made of glass or polymers, and has not been considered suitable for use in microchannels. We first investigated the derivatization reaction and fluorescent properties of nitrite ions with DAN. We found that the on-chip fluorescent derivatization reaction and detection without the addition of an alkaline solution is possible by controlling the pH values of the nitrite solution and the DAN solution to form a suitable pH gradient by utilizing a buffering effect of triethanolamine solution, which is used as an NO2 gas-absorption medium. These results have suggested the feasibility of novel reaction schemes which can provide the desired products due to a controlled pH gradient in the microchannels, as well as the possibility of an on-site monitoring microchip device for ambient NO2.