Prediction of solvents suitable for crystallization of small organic molecules

Selection of suitable solvent is essential for crystallization of pharmaceuticals. Based on chemical structures of 6397 compounds and 15 single solvents that were used to obtain their single crystals, correlations between the molecular characteristics and the solvents have been investigated by cheminformatics methods. Decision-tree and Bayesian-probability methods have been applied to make classification models. These two models are complementary in character in the present case. It has been proven that the prediction of the solvent rankings for particular compounds by use of the classification models is satisfactory from the practical point of view. The present study has demonstrated that cheminformatics methods could greatly help rational crystallization of small organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals.     

Optimization of hydrolase efficiency in organic solvents

The application of hydrolases in organic solvents for synthetic purposes is a procedure routinely adopted in organic chemistry, especially for the preparation of chiral building blocks. Numerous studies have shed light on several aspects of the mechanism of hydrolase action in low-water environments. Procedures suitable to improve the catalytic efficiency of enzymes and productivity of the synthetic processes have been reported. These fundamental and applied investigations have made hydrolase-catalyzed reactions in organic solvents of industrial interest. In this article we describe and discuss various approaches adopted to optimize the performance of hydrolases in organic media, with special emphasis on the formulation of the biocatalysts which, under proper conditions, can display an activity equal to that displayed in aqueous buffers.     

Recent progress on immobilization of enzymes on molecular sieves for reactions in organic solvents

Enzymes exhibit high selectivity and reactivity under normal conditions but are sensitive to denaturation or inactivation by pH and temperature extremes, organic solvents, and detergents. To extend the use of these biocatalysts for practical applications, the technology of immobilization of enzymes on suitable supports was developed. Recently, these immobilized biomolecules have been widely used and a variety of immobilization supports have been studied. The majority of these supports cover diverse kinds of materials such as natural or synthetic polyhydroxylic matrives, porous in organic carriers, and all kinds of functional polymers. Microporous molecular sieve, zeolite, has attracted extensive interest in research because of its distinctive physical properties and geochemistry. Recently, with the discovery of a new family of mesoporous molecular sieves, MCM-41, this series of materials shows great potential for various applications. Molecular sieves involve such a series of materials that can discriminate between molecules, particularly on the basis of size. As support materials, they offer interesting properties, such as high surface areas, hydrophobic or hydrophilic behavior, and electrostatic interaction, as well as mechanical and chemical resistance, making them attractive for enzyme immobilization. In this article, different types of molecular sieves used in different immobilization methods including physical adsorption on zeolite, entrapment in mesoporous and macroporous MCM series, as well as chemically covalent binding to functionalized molecular sieves are reviewed. Key factors affecting the application of this biotechnology are discussed systematically, and immobilization mechanisms combined with newly developed techniques to elucidate the interactions between matrixes and enzyme molecules are also introduced.     

Interaction of superhydrophobic materials with aqueous solutions and organic solvents

The interaction of a fluorine-containing superhydrophobic (SHP) coating on the surface of a siloxane rubber with aqueous solutions and organic solvents was studied by wettability analysis. The long-term durability of the coating against the damaging action of atmosperic precipitates saturated with salt ions, acid rains, as well as a number of organic solvents was demonstrated. The resistance of the coating to highly alkaline media is lower than to a neutral medium because of the hydrolysis of Si—O—Si bonds and amide groups. The low resistance of the fluorine-containing SHP coating to acetone is due to the swelling of the substrate and mechanical destruction of the fluoroorganic component.     

Crosslinked integrally skinned asymmetric polyaniline membranes for use in organic solvents

Solvent stable integrally skinned asymmetric nanofiltration membranes were prepared from polyaniline. These membranes were made by phase inversion and then crosslinked using two different chemical crosslinkers, α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene and glutaraldehyde. The resultant membranes were found to be stable in various organic solvents including acetone, methanol, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethyl formamide. Nanofiltration experiments carried out in acetone and dimethyl formamide showed that the membranes gave stable permeate fluxes and good separation performances in the nanofiltration range. Molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the membranes was found to be between 150 and 250 g mol⁻¹. These membranes were also found to be stable for operations at elevated temperatures up to 70 °C and possibly higher. Furthermore, no fillers or preservative agents are required to maintain the membranes in a dry state thereby increasing the ease of handling.     

Role of water in determining organic reactivity in aqueous binary solvents

Kinetic data for organic reactions in various binary water-organic solvent mixtures were collected and quantitatively analysed in terms of linear-free-energy relationships by using tert-butyl chloride (2-chloro-2-methylpropane) solvolysis as the reference system. Linear similarity plots for these kinetic data were determined for solvent systems ranging from pure water mixtures up to considerable amount of cosolvent, and 161 similarity coefficients were calculated from slopes of these plots. The existence of these linear plots demonstrated that the solvent effects are of some common nature in all analysed reaction mixtures independent of the reaction type and the cosolvent used. Therefore it was concluded that the observed effects could be connected to the specific solvating properties of water, which govern reactivity even in significant dilution of water by an organic cosolvent. This conclusion was supported by the linear interrelationship between the slopes of similarity plots of different reactions, and hydrophobicity parameters log P of the reacting compounds. The relative solvent effects observed in binary water-organic solvent mixtures were for the first time directly related to the structure of reacting compounds.      

A method for detecting water in organic solvents

The potent dehydrating ability of difluoro(aryl)-lambda (3)-iodanes is exploited to develop a convenient (19)F-NMR-based aquametry method that is more sensitive than coulometric Karl Fischer titration. The key difluoro(aryl)-lambda (3)-iodane reagents are synthesized readily from commercially available and inexpensive precursors.     

Inorganic analysis in organic solvents : 8-hydroxyquinaldine as a reagent for the determination of copper

A new method is descibed forthe determination of copper. Fom a suitable solution, copper is extracted as its 8-hydroxyquinaldine complex into chloroform. The solution is diluted with an equal volume of benzene and passed through an activated alumina chromatographic column, whereupon all the 8-hydroxyquinaldates, except that of chromium, are adsorbed. Copper is eluted completely by developing the column with a 0.5% solution of 8-hydroxyquinaldine in that solvent mixture. The optical density of the cluate is measured at 400 mμ with respect to the solvent. Iron, molybdenum and vanadium interfere, but interference due to iron and molybdenum is readily overcome by a simple preliminary treatmont.     

A test method for determining water in organic solvents

A test procedure is developed for determining water in acetone, dioxane, isobutanol, ethanol, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate in the ranges 0.5–12; 0.5–10; 0.5–8; 0.5–6, and 0.5–4 vol %, respectively. Determination is based on the measurement of the acidity of a solution obtained upon adding citric acid or sodium hydrogen sulfate to organic solvents using an indicator test strip containing Congo red. The relative standard deviation of the results of analysis is 0.05–0.1; the duration of analysis is about 30 min.     

A potentiometric enzyme electrode for monitoring in organic solvents

A potentiometric enzyme electrode is described for monitoring reactions in organic solvents. By use of an enzyme deposited on magnetic particles which are attracted to the tip of the electrode by means of a magnetic field, it is possible to produce an electrode in which the enzyme can easily be exchanged. As an example, studies of the chymotrypsin-catalyzed ester synthesis in diisopropyl ether and in toluene at varying water contents are reported. The results are consistent with those obtained from batch experiments. Operational behaviour and signal stability of the system makes this kind of potentiometric enzyme electrode attractive for monitoring bioorganic processes.     

Thermochemistry of copper(II) ion solvation in aqueous organic solvents

The integral heat effects of CuCl₂ dissolution in aqueous DMSO, aqueous ethanol and aqueous acetone solutions at 298. 15 K in the electrolyte concentration range 0.001–0.01M were measured by means of calorimetry. ΔH _sol ⁰ values were obtained by extrapolation to zero electrolyte concentration. Literature data were used to determine the thermodynamic characteristics of Cu²⁺ transfer from water to aqueous organic solvents.     

Synthesis of methylated resveratrol and analogues by Heck reactions in organic and aqueous solvents

The Heck reaction under phosphane free conditions using oxime-derived palladacycles or Pd(OAc)₂ as catalysts is a general methodology for the synthesis of methoxylated (E)-stilbene derivatives. Couplings can be performed either with (dicyclohexyl)methylamine as base and TBAB in aqueous DMA or in neat water and with Et₃N as base in DMA in air and under thermal and microwave conditions. The arylation of different styrenes are performed with 3,5-dimethoxyiodobenzene to afford a series of important biologically active (E)-stilbene derivatives containing the 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety, including resveratrol, piceatannol and pinosilvine, which are efficiently prepared with high regioselectivity and total stereoselectivity (TON up to 10⁴).     

Dissociation and degradation of thiol-modified DNA on gold nanoparticles in aqueous and organic solvents

Gold nanoparticles functionalized with thiol-modified DNA have been widely used in making various nanostructures, colorimetric biosensors, and drug delivery vehicles. Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made to improve the stability of such functionalized nanoparticles. The stability of the gold-thiol bond in this system, however, has not been studied in a systematic manner. Most information on the gold-thiol bond was obtained from the study of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In this study, we employed two fluorophore-labeled and thiol-modified DNAs. The long-term stability of the thiol-gold bond as a function of time, salt, temperature, pH, and organic solvent has been studied. We found that the bond spontaneously dissociated under all tested conditions. The dissociation was favored at high salt, high pH, and high temperature, and little DNA degradation was observed in our system. Most organic solvents showed a moderate protection effect on the gold-thiol bond. The stability of the gold-thiol bond in the DNA system was also compared with that in SAMs. While there are many similarities, we also observed opposite trends for the salt and ethanol effect. This study suggests that the purified DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles should be freshly prepared and used in a day or two. Long-term storage should be carried out at relatively low temperature in low salt and slightly acidic buffers.     

Temperature-dependence of the solubility of some acetanilide derivatives in several organic and aqueous solvents

The thermodynamic functions free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of solution, were evaluated from the solubility data of acetanilide, acetaminophen, and phenacetin, determined at several temperatures in water, octanol, isopropyl myristate, and chloroform. These three organic solvents mutually saturated with water, and finally, in cyclohexane. In the aqueous media, the solubility was determined at pH 7.4 and ionic strength 0.15?mol?L^?1. The excess free energy and the activity coefficients of the solutes were also determined. The solubility for acetanilide and phenacetin was higher in organic media such as octanol and chloroform than is those obtained in the aqueous media and cyclohexane, while for acetaminophen the solubility was higher in octanol than those obtained in the other solvents.     

Supported molecular catalysts for the heterogeneous CO2 electroreduction

The thorough understanding of homogeneous catalysis has triggered intense research activities on the immobilization of molecular catalysts for the heterogeneous CO₂ electroreduction. Herein, we discuss recent advances in the heterogeneous field with focus on the intrinsic effect coming from the catalyst structure and the extrinsic effect exerted by the catalyst immobilization strategy and support material on the catalytic performance.     

Acceleration of bromide mediated benzoylperoxide oxidations of secondary alcohols in aqueous organic solvents

The efficiency of the bromide mediated benzoylperoxide oxidation of 2° alcohols to ketones was greatly improved by the addition of water. The aqueous oxidation protocol allows also the direct use of off-the-shelf benzoylperoxide reagent without an otherwise necessary and potentially dangerous drying procedure. The oxidation of cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, 1-phenyl-ethanol and three menthol isomers occurred in good to excellent yields. The oxidation reaction tolerated N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) as the solvent, which resulted in a slightly lower oxidation rate than acetonitrile. Chemoselective oxidation of vicinal diols to α-hydroxy ketones did not succeed under the aqueous organic conditions employed as over-oxidation and bromination side-reactions were observed. The impact of water content, solvent, oxidant source and type of alcohol substrates employed was investigated.     

Effects of organic solvents on the partitioning of enzymes in aqueous two-phase systems

Organic solvents (ethylene glycol, glycerol, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethylformamide, dioxane, methanol and propanol-2, as well as sucrose and urea) have been included in aqueous two-phase (liquid-liquid) systems comprised of water, dextran and poly(ethylene glycol). The concentration of the organic solvent was in most cases 20% (w/w). The influence of these solvents on the phase-forming properties, the volume ratio, the freezing point and the partitioning of a polymer-bound ligand, Procion Red HE-3B poly(ethylene glycol), has been studied. The partition coefficients for alkaline phosphatase decrease with ethylene glycol, glycerol, sucrose and urea (factors of 0.25-0.5), but increase with the other substances (factors of 1.2-1.6). The temperature effects on the partitioning of alkaline phosphatase from calf intestine as well as of phosphofructokinase from yeast in systems containing ethylene glycol have been studied and compared with partitioning in standard systems, not containing solvents. The possible uses of the above systems for partitioning studies of enzymes are discussed.