Ion channels from linear and branched bola-amphiphiles

The synthesis and characterization of the ion channel activity of three new bola-amphiphiles is described. These compounds are conceptually derived from a previously reported bis-cyclophane bola-amphiphile through opening of the cyclophanes to acyclic structures and were found to readily form ion channels in planar bilayer membranes as assessed by bilayer clamp single-channel analysis. All three compounds behaved very similarly: the dominant channels formed by all three are Ohmic with specific conductance of 10 +/- 1 pS (NaCl electrolyte) and 39 +/- 1 pS (CsCl electrolyte). Single-ion permeability ratios, determined from dissymmetric electrolyte experiments, showed the selectivity P(Cs(+)) > P(Na(+)) > P(Cl(-)). Less frequently, lower conductance channels were also observed to act independently of the dominant channels. The lifetimes of the dominant channels range from 70 to 280 ms for the three compounds with some very long-lived openings (20-40 s) observed for two of the three. The lower conductance states have shorter lifetimes. This study demonstrates that bis-macrocyclic compounds are not essential for channel formation by bola-amphiphiles, and opens a new class of channel-forming compounds for structure-activity optimization.     

Solid phase extraction, multidimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry determination of four novel aroma powerful ethyl esters. Assessment of their occurrence and importance in wine and other alcoholic beverages

A method for the quantitative determination of four powerful aromatic ethyl esters recently identified in some wines has been developed, validated and applied to the determination of these compounds in different samples of wine, whisky and brandy. Ethyl 2-, 3-, and 4-methylpentanoate and ethyl cyclohexanoate are extracted from 100ml of sample by solid phase extraction (SPE) on a 200mg LiChrolut EN bed. Major compounds are eliminated by rinsing with a water-methanol (50:50) solution containing 1% sodium bicarbonate, and analytes are eluted with 1.5ml of dichloromethane. Fifty microlitres of this extract are then injected in a multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectromety (GC-GC-MS) system. Recoveries in the SPE are quantitative. Method repeatability is satisfactory (5-12% for a 5-10ngl(-1) level, and less than 7% for 25-50ngl(-1) level), the method linearity holds along the whole range of occurrence of analytes (2-2700ngl(-1)), and the signal is independent on the matrix. Method detection limits are below 1ngl(-1) in all cases. Results suggest that these compounds are formed by the slow esterification with ethanol of the corresponding acids formed by different microorganisms. The levels of these compounds are above the corresponding thresholds in most samples of aged wines or distillates, but are particularly high in some sweet wines, whiskeys and brandies where they may constitute the most important contributors to the sweet-fruity notes reaching concentrations up to 85-350 times higher than the corresponding odor thresholds.     

Liquid crystalline compounds in the thiophene series. VIII. Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline vinylenes with thiophene moieties and carbaldehyde groups

New thermotropic liquid crystal compounds, with one and two mesogenic groups, have been synthesized and characterized. The structural elements of the compounds consist of thiophene ring systems, vinylene units and, for some compounds, carbaldehyde groups. Mesogenic groups involving three thiophene ring systems are normally not liquid crystalline. Only in the case of E,E-5-[5-(5-butyl-2-thienylvinyl)-2-thienylvinyl]-2-thiophenecarbaldehyde could a monotropic nematic phase be easily observed. By replacing thiophene ring systems in the core with a benzene ring system, or by attaching one carbaldehyde group at the moieties, or by doubling the mesogenic groups via an alkylene spacer, the temperature ranges of the mesophases of the compounds with thiophene ring systems can be enlarged or liquid crystal phases induced. The small values for δS_NI, which have been observed for the low molecular weight compounds, indicate a very low order in the nematic phases.     

Separation of acidic and basic compounds in capillary electrochromatography with polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns

Methacrylate-based monolithic columns with electroosmotic flow (EOF) or very weak EOF are prepared by in situ copolymerization in the presence of a porogen in fused-silica capillaries pretreated with a bifunctional reagent. Satisfactory separations of acidic and basic compounds on the column with EOF at either low or high pH are achieved, respectively. With sulfonic groups as dissociation functionalities, sufficient EOF mobility still remains as high as 1.74 x 10(-4) cm2 s(-1) V(-1) at low pH. Under this condition, seven acidic compounds are readily separated within 5.7 min. Moreover, at high pH, the peak shape of basic compounds is satisfactory without addition of any masking amines into running mobile phase since the secondary interaction between the basic compounds and the monolithic stationary phase are minimized at high pH. Reversed-phase mechanism for both acidic and basic compounds is observed under investigated separation conditions. In addition, possibilities of acidic and basic compound separations on a monolithic column with extremely low EOF are discussed.     

Simultaneous determination of N-unsubstituted and N-substituted nitroazoles and criteria for their identification-II Chromatographic separation and polarographic determination of nitropyrazoles

The N-unsubstituted nitropyrazoles have an imino hydrogen atom, in contrast to the N-substituted derivatives, and react with hydroxide to give nitropyrazole anions. The strongly negative shift of E(1 2 ) for these anions makes possible simultaneous polarographic determination of any pair of compounds, one of which is an N-unsubstituted nitropyrazole and the other a corresponding N-substituted derivative. Simultaneous polarographic determination of three compounds [3(5)-, 3- and 5-nitropyrazoles] is also possible with 0.1M sodium hydroxide as supporting electrolyte, but only when DeltaE(1 2 ) between the N-substituted isomers is at least 100 mV. In this case adequate DeltaE(1 2 ) is caused by the different electron densities of the nitro-groups of isomers. In the medium mentioned it is possible to determine simultaneously even four compounds [1-, 3(5)-, 3- and 5-nitropyrazoles], because the E(1 2 ) value of 1-nitropyrazole does not change with pH, contrary to other nitropyrazoles. Developers for the chromatographic separation are proposed. Some criteria are given for the distinction of the N-unsubstituted- and the corresponding N-substituted nitropyrazoles. The structures of two new compounds have been determined. Methods are recommended for the simultaneous identification and determination of the compounds appearing together in the reaction mixtures during the substitution of the imino hydrogen atom, or during the rearrangements of the 1-nitropyrazoles to the N-unsubstituted ones.     

Measurement of catecholamines, their precursor and metabolites in human urine and plasma by solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence derivatization

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination in human urine and plasma of catecholamines, their precursor and metabolites [amino compounds (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, normetanephrine, metanephrine, 3-methoxytyramine and L-DOPA), acidic compounds (3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid) and alcoholic compounds (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethyleneglycol)]. Urine (0.5 ml) containing 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (internal standards) is deproteinized with perchloric acid, and the resulting solution is fractionated by solid-phase extraction on a strong cation-exchange resin cartridge (Toyopak IC-SP S) into two fractions (amine fraction and acid-alcohol fraction), which include 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, respectively. Plasma (0.7 ml) is deproteinized in the presence of 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine (internal standard) in the same manner, and the resulting solution is directly used as an acid-alcohol fraction, while an amine fraction is obtained as for urine. Each fraction is subjected to the previously established ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography with post-column derivatization involving coulometric oxidation followed by fluorescence reaction with 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The detection limits, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5, of the compounds measured in urine are 300 pmol/ml for the two mandelic acids, 2-7 pmol/ml for the other acidic and alcoholic compounds, 12 pmol/ml for L-DOPA and 0.6-2 pmol/ml for the other amino compounds; the corresponding values for plasma samples are 80, 0.5-3, 10 and 0.6-3 pmol/ml, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of NSO-heterocycles, homocycles and their metabolites in groundwater of tar oil contaminated sites using LC with diode array UV and fluorescence detection

For monitoring groundwater at tar oil contaminated sites a simple method of analysis was developed for the simultaneous detection of several NSO heterocyclic compounds, homocyclic compounds, mobile two- and three-cyclic PAHs and selected metabolites. The groundwater samples are enriched using SPE with polymer material at pH 4. Chromatographic separation and detection is performed by LC with diode array UV or fluorescence detection. The recoveries of 25 selected compounds were mostly between 80-110% and the detection limits were 0.4-2.4 microg/L for UV detection and for the fluorescence detectable compounds 0.4-140 ng/L. The method was successfully applied to groundwater samples from a wood preserving facility. Especially benzo(b)thiophene showed an increasing dominance downgradient of the source. Detection of metabolites, such as 1-hydroxyiso-, 2-hydroxyquinoline and 2-hydroxy-4-methylquinoline, 2-naphthoic acid, and 1-indanone, indicating in situ biodegradation, was confirmed by LC-ESI-MS analysis.     

The synthesis and transition temperatures of 5-(4-alkyl- and 4-alkoxy-phenyl)-2-cyanobenzo[b]furans and a 5-(4'-alkylbiphenyl-4-yl)-2-cyanobenzo[b]furan: a comparison with their biphenyl and terphenyl analogues

The synthesis and transition temperatures of a series of 5-(4-alkyl- and 4-alkoxy-phenyl)2-cyanobenzo[b]furans and a 5-(4'-alkylbiphenyl-4-yl)-2-cyanobenzo[b]furan are presented. The 2-cyanobenzo[b]furans show similar mesophase types to the analogous biphenyl and terphenyl compounds, which are obtained by replacing the benzo[b]furan unit with a phenyl ring. The transition temperatures for the 2-cyanobenzo[b]furan compounds are always higher than for their biphenyl and terphenyl counterparts, but they are much lower than for the corresponding phenylnaphthalenes. Five mesogenic benzo[b]furans without a cyano group were prepared as intermediates and these compounds have lower clearing points than their biphenyl analogues.     

Comparison of sulphur-mode and tin-mode flame photometric detectors for the gas chromatographic determination of organotin compounds

A comparison of sulphur-mode (393 nm) and tin-mode (610 nm) flame photometric detectors for the gas chromatographic determination of butyl- and phenyltin compounds is described. The chromatographic peaks of the butyl- and phenyltin compounds were well separated, and high sensitivity was achieved in both modes; however, the tin-mode was more specific for tin compounds than the sulphur-mode. The absolute detection limits with the sulphur-mode and the tin-mode were 3.9-7.6 pg and 2.6-5.1 pg as tin, respectively. The application of the tin-mode gas chromatographic method to the determination of organotin compounds in fish is presented. For this application, organotins are extracted (as chloride) with hydrochloric acid and n-hexane-benzene (3:2, containing 0.05% tropolone) and the extracts are pentylated by a Grignard reagent prior to gas chromatography. The absolute recoveries of butyl- and phenyltin compounds added to fish samples ranged from 68.5 to 84.4% (the coefficients of variation were less than 6.6% for all substances, n = 8). Significant amounts of three organotin compounds (di- and tributyltin and triphenyltin) in fish samples were detected by this method. This technique may have application for other organotin compounds and the monitoring of butyl- and phenyltin compounds in the environment.     

Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry: a powerful approach for the sensitive and rapid multiclass determination of pesticides and transformation products in water

In this paper we will show the results of our research on the direct simultaneous determination of multi-class pesticides and transformation products with different polarities and acid-base properties by applying an on-line trace enrichment coupled to the chromatographic system supplied with electrospray interface (SPE-LC-MS/MS method). The specific chromatographic separation allows the correct determination of almost fifty compounds (37 pesticides and 10 transformation products) using very low sample volume and very little sample handling. Recoveries between 70-120% were obtained for all compounds in drinking and groundwater, meanwhile in surface water 44 compounds were correctly quantified. Relative standard deviations lower than 15% were obtained for all compounds. Even at the lowest concentration level tested (25 ng L(-1)) 40 compounds presented satisfactory recoveries and repeatability. The use of methanol as organic modifier and the increase of injection volume are also studied. The applicability of the developed method to a monitoring programme is demonstrated by applying it to the analysis of hundreds of samples.     

The determination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in air, natural waters, marine organisms, and sediments

A gas Chromatographic procedure is described for the determination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, natural waters, aquatic organisms and sediments. Air samples are passed through activated carbon traps and the chloro compounds are later desorbed by heating in a current of nitrogen. Chloro compounds are stripped from water samples by bubbling with nitrogen and from bio-materials and sediments by heating in a current of nitrogen. In each instance, the chlorinated compounds are trapped in copper columns packed with Chromosorb coated with silicone oil, and cooled to -78°. The chloro compounds are subsequently swept off these columns into a gas chromatographic column with a current of argon. Detection of the Chromatographic peaks is performed with an electron-capture detector. The procedure gives near quantitative recoveries of a range of chlorinated hydrocarbons from natural samples.     

Determination of selenium in drugs by oxygen flask combustion and ion chromatography

A method is described for the determination of trace selenium (impurities in medicinal organic compounds) by ion chromatography (IC) after oxygen flask combustion. All selenium compounds formed by oxygen flask combustion are converted to selenate ion by heating with nitric acid and potassium permanganate. The selenate ion is then determined by IC, using a simple recycle system to eliminate interfering ions. The detection limit of selenium is 0.4 nmol in 50 mg of sample. The recoveries of selenium added to seven drugs are ca. 95-103% with relative standard deviations of 1-6%.     

Synthesis and Toxicity Assessments Some Para-methoxy Chalcones Derivatives

Chalcones is a very interesting compounds because it is known to have various of biological activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, antimalarial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant. Moreover, natural and synthetic compounds of chalcones have roles as precursors for other compounds. Therefore, many chalcones become model structures of target compounds by researcher. In this research, methoxy chalcones derivatives have been synthesized using stirrer method and using base catalyst NaOH. The synthesized results obtained are (E)-3-(4-isoprophylphenyl)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (1), (E)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)-3-p-tolylprop-2-en-1-one (2) and (E)-3-(3-bromophenyl)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (3). The purity of all compounds have been tested using TLC, melting point test, analytical HPLC. Then they are characterized using UV, FTIR, ¹H-NMR and MS spectroscopy. The toxicity assessments of the novel compounds were done by Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method. The all compounds showed very good activity with LC₅₀ value<200 μg/mL.     

A μ(1,1)- or μ(1,3)-carboxylate bridge makes the difference in the magnetic properties of dinuclear Mn(II) compounds

Six new dinuclear Mn(II) compounds with carboxylate bridges have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction: [{Mn(phen)(2)}(2)(μ-RC(6)H(4)COO)(2)](ClO(4))(2) with R = 2-Cl (1), 2-CH(3) (2), 3-Cl (3), 3-CH(3) (4), 4-Cl (5) and 4-CH(3) (6). Compounds 1 and 2 show two μ(1,3)-carboxylate bridges in a syn-anti mode while compounds 3-6 present a very uncommon coordination mode of the carboxylate ligand: the μ(1,1)-bridge. The magnetic properties of these compounds are very sensitive to the bridging mode of the carboxylate ligands. While compounds 1 and 2 (μ(1,3)-bridge) display antiferromagnetic interactions, with J values of -1.41 and -1.66 cm(-1), respectively, compounds 3-6 (μ(1,1)-bridge) show ferromagnetic interactions, with J values of 1.01, 0.98, 1.04 and 1.06 cm(-1), respectively. It is worth noting that compounds 3-6 are the first of their class to be magnetically characterized. The EPR spectra at 4 K for compounds with antiferromagnetic coupling (1 and 2) are more complex than those for compounds with a ferromagnetic interaction (3-6). Quite good simulations can be obtained with the ZFS parameters of the Mn(II) ion D(Mn) ~ 0.095 cm(-1) and E(Mn) ~ 0.025 cm(-1) for compounds 1 and 2 and D(Mn) ~ 0.060 cm(-1) and E(Mn) ~ 0.004 cm(-1) for compounds 3-6.     

Synthesis and aldose reductase-inhibitory activity of benzo[b]furan derivatives possessing a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group

Various benzo[b]furan derivatives with a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group were prepared and evaluated for aldose reductase-inhibitory potency. Most of the compounds displayed significant inhibitory activities (IC50, 10(-8)-10(-7) M). Among the test compounds, the compounds having a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group at the 3- or 4-position exhibited the greatest inhibitory potency. Structure-activity trends of the tested compounds are discussed.     

Development of a high-throughput method for the determination of organochlorinated compounds, nitromusks and pyrethroid insecticides in indoor dust

Investigation of chemical exposure inside the homes and offices where people spend the majority of their lives has only recently begun. These chemicals are degraded much more slowly than outdoor because they are more protected from sunlight, severe environmental conditions and microbial activity. Hence, indoor dust has been recognized as an important exposure pathway for organic contaminants. Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides widely used in domestic environment for numerous applications and also in agriculture. Chlorobenzenes are a family of compounds used as intermediates in the production of a wide range of household consumer products. Nitromusks are a kind of synthetic musks used in the production of cleaning agents, detergents, and personal care products. A high-throughput method for the determination of these compounds in indoor dust samples has been developed. Microwave-assisted solvent extraction was used as the extraction technique whereas quantification of compounds was carried out by gas chromatography with micro-electron-capture detection. Several cleanup procedures were tested and finally a non-classical "on batch" procedure was selected, which allows increasing the throughput of the analysis while decreasing sample manipulation. Extraction conditions were optimized using a multifactorial experimental design approach. Quantitative recovery (84-103%) was achieved for all compounds and method precision was satisfactory. Limits of detection ranged from 0.22 ng g(-1) for lindane to 40 ng g(-1) for 1,4-dichlorobenzene. Standard reference material SRM 2585 was analyzed and the obtained values were in good agreement with the reported reference values for organochlorinated compounds and nitromusks. Pyrethroids and polychlorobenzenes have been analyzed for the first time in this reference material and some of them have been found. In addition, real samples collected in houses of north-western Spain have been analyzed by the proposed method and 17 of the 22 target compounds have been detected in the samples.     

DFT study of the C-Cl bond dissociation enthalpies and electronic structure of substituted chlorobenzene compounds

Quantum chemical calculations were used to estimate the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for 13 substituted chlorobenzene compounds. These compounds were studied by employing the hybrid density functional theory methods (B3LYP, B3PW1, B3P86) with 6-31G** and 6-311G** basis sets. It was demonstrated that B3P86/6-311G** method is the best method for computing the reliable BDEs for substituted chlorobenzene compounds which contain the C-Cl bond. It was found that the C-Cl BDE depends strongly on a computational method and basis set used. Substitution effect on the C-Cl BDE of substituted chlorobenzene compounds is further discussed. It is shown that the effects of substitution on the C-Cl BDE of substituted chlorobenzene compounds are very insignificant. Frontier orbital energy gap of studied compounds was also investigated. From the data on frontier orbital energies gap, we estimated the relative thermal stability of substituted chlorobenzene compounds.     

Three New Compounds Based on 4,4'-Azo-1,2,4-triazol-5-one: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Thermal Properties

A series of guanidine salts of 4,4'-azo-1,2,4-triazol-5-one with guanidine(1), aminoguanidine(2), diaminoguanidine(3) and triaminoguanidine(4) was prepared. Compounds 2-4 were characterized by infrared(IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermal decomposition processes of compounds 1-4 were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and all the compounds showed good thermal stability up to 190℃. Moreover, these four guanidine salts are more unstable with the increasing number of amino groups. Thermal stability parameters(T_e,0 and T_b) and thermodynamic functions(ΔS^≠, ΔH^≠ and ΔG^≠) for compounds 1-4 were calculated. The constant-volume combustion heats(Δ_cU) for compounds 2-4 were determined and tended to increase with the increase of the number of amino groups. The calculated standard molar enthalpies of formation(Δ_fH⁰m) of compounds 2-4 are -541.04, -178.67 and -83.08 kJ/mol, respectively. The impact sensitivities results indicate that these four energetic salts are less sensitive than 1,3,5-trinitrotriazacyccohexane(RDX) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitrotetraqza-cyclo-octane(HMX).     

Determination of paraquat and diquat in human body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) in human whole blood and urine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) with positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI). The compounds were extracted with Sep-Pak C18 cartridges from whole blood and urine samples containing ethyl paraquat as an internal standard. The separation of PQ and DQ was carried out using ion-pair chromatography with heptafluorobutyric acid in 20 mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile gradient elution for successful coupling with MS. Both compounds formed base peaks due to [M-H]+ ions by HPLC/ESI-MS and the product ions produced from each [M-H]+ ion by HPLC/MS/MS. Selective reaction monitoring (SRM) showed much higher sensitivity for both body fluids. Therefore, a detailed procedure for the detection of compounds by SRM with HPLC/MS/MS was established and carefully validated. The recoveries of PQ and DQ were 80.8-95.4% for whole blood and 84.2-96.7% for urine. The calibration curves for PQ and DQ showed excellent linearity in the range of 25-400 ng ml(-1) of whole blood and urine. The detection limits were 10 ng ml(-1) for PQ and 5 ng ml(-1) for DQ in both body fluids. The intra- and inter-day precision for both compounds in whole blood and urine samples were not greater than 13.0%. The data obtained from the determination of PQ and DQ in rat blood after oral administration of the compounds are also presented.