Reduction of soluble colloidal MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> by <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">DL</Emphasis>-malic acid in the absence and presence of nonionic TritonX-100

Kinetics of oxidation of DL-malic acid by water soluble colloidal MnO₂ (prepared from potassium permanganate and sodium thiosulfate solutions) have been studied spectrophotometrically in the absence and presence of nonionic Triton X-100 surfactant. The reaction is autocatalytic and manganese(II) (reduction product of the colloidal MnO₂) may be the autocatalyst. The order of the reaction is first in colloidal [MnO₂] as well as in [malic acid] both in the absence and presence of the surfactant. The reaction has acid-dependent and acid-independent paths and, in the former case, the order is fractional in [H⁺]. The effect of externally added manganese(II) is complex. The results show that the rate constant increases as the manganese(II) concentration is increased. It is not possible to predict the exact dependence of the rate constants on manganese(II) concentration, which has a series of reactions with other reactants. In the presence of TX-100, the observed effect on k is catalytic up to a certain [TX-100]; thereafter, an inhibitory effect follows. The catalytic effect is explained in terms of the mathematical model proposed by Tuncay et al. (in Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Aspects 149:279 3). Activation parameters associated with the observed rate constants (k_obs/k) have also been evaluated and discussed.     

The Kinetics of Oxidation of L-Tryptophan by Water-Soluble Colloidal Manganese Dioxide

The kinetics of the oxidation of L-tryptophan by water-soluble colloidal MnO₂ (prepared from potassium permanganate and sodium thiosulfate solutions) has been carried out in aqueous perchloric acid medium at different temperatures. Monitoring the disappearance of the MnO₂ spectrophotometrically at 390 nm was used to follow the kinetics. The first-order kinetics with respect to [L-tryptophan] at low concentrations shifted to zero-order at higher concentrations. The reaction followed first-order with respect to [MnO₂] but fractional-order with respect to [HClO₄]. Adding trapping agents enhanced the rate of the reaction. The Arrhenius and Eyring equations were found valid for the reaction between 35°C and 55°C and different activation parameters (E_a, ΔH^#, ΔS^#) have been evaluated. On the basis of various observations and product characterization a plausible mechanism has been envisaged for the reaction taking place at the colloid surface. The results suggest formation of an adsorption complex between L-tryptophan and MnO₂. The complex decomposes in a rate-determining step, leading to the formation of free radical, which again reacts with the colloidal MnO₂ in a subsequent fast step to yield products. Freundlich isotherm is used to explain the adsorption of L-tryptophan on the colloidal MnO₂.     

Interaction of water-soluble calix[4]arene with l-tryptophan studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

The complexing ability of water-soluble calix[4]arene for l-tryptophan (l-try) was investigated by a variety of techniques. The spectrofluorometry titrations were performed at different temperatures to determine stability constants, as well as to evaluate the thermodynamic parameters of the obtained complex. The effect of pH on the complexation process was quantitatively assessed. Moreover, to obtain information about the binding mechanism of the interaction, ¹H NMR studies were carried out. Molecular modeling showed that water-soluble calix[4]arene accommodated part of l-amino acid in its cavity meanwhile the aliphatic chain of l-tryptophan stuck out of the cavity. Based on the experiment data, the association process of complexes was established. The water-soluble calix[4]arene was found to be able to adjust its conformation to fit the size of aromatic l-tryptophan, and the benzene ring of amino acid penetrated into the hydrophobic cavity of calix[4]arene.     

Separation and determination of l-tyrosine and its metabolites by capillary zone electrophoresis with a wall-jet amperometric detection

A method of capillary electrophoresis with wall-jet amperometric detection (AD) has been developed for separation and determination of l-tyrosine (Tyr) and its metabolites, such as Tyramine (TA), p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic (pHPP), homogentisic acid (HGA) and some dipeptides containing Tyr, such as Tyr-Gly-Gly (YGG), Tyr-Arg (YR) and Tyr-d-Arg (Y-d-R). A carbon disk electrode was used as the working electrode and the optimal detection potential was 1.00 V (versus Ag/AgCl). At 18 kV of applied voltage, the seven compounds were completely separated within 20 min in 110 × 10⁻³ mol/L Na₂HPO₄–NaH₂PO₄ buffer (pH 7.10) containing 3 × 10⁻³ mol/L β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Good linear relationship was obtained for all analytes and the detection limits of seven analytes were in the range of 0.95–4.25 ng/mL. The proposed method has been applied to examine the metabolic process of l-tyrosine in rabbit's urine.     

A microcalorimetric sensor for food and cosmetic analyses: l-Malic acid determination

Enzymatic microcalorimetry has been successfully employed in the reliable determination of the l-malic acid concentration in some foods and cosmetic products. The l-malic acid concentration during the wine-making process is particularly useful in order to control the progress of the malo-lactic fermentation. Total acidity, taste and flavour characteristics of wine depend on the l-malic acid quantity still present.To point out the analytical methodology the dehydration process of l-malic acid, in the presence of Fumarase enzyme, has been used. The new method has been compared with a common spectrophotometric one.By the proposed calorimetric method the l-malic acid concentration in different types of food (white and red wines, fruits and soft beverages) has been determined. In some cosmetic products too the l-malic acid was quantified.The method outlined resulted simple, direct and reliable (good accuracy and precision), in particular it does not require any pre-treatment or clean up of the samples, save the dilution in buffer.     

Enthalpic interactions of some α-amino acids with glycol in aqueous solutions at 298.15 K

The enthalpies of mixing of six kinds of aqueous amino acid solutions (Glycine, l-alanine, l-valine, l-serine, l-threonine and l-proline) and aqueous glycol solution and their respective enthalpies of dilution have been determined at 298.15 K using flow microcalorimetry. The experimental data have been analyzed according to the McMillan–Mayer formalism to obtain the heterotactic enthalpic interaction coefficients (h_xy). h_xy coefficients have been discussed from the points of view of solute–solute interactions.     

Magnesium interference and different efficiencies of diastereoisomeric cluster formation in phenylalanine enantiomeric discrimination by the kinetic method

The kinetic method has been applied for determination of d-Phe/l-Phe enantiomeric ratio. Discrimination of enantiomers was inferred from product ion mass spectra of trimeric cluster ions containing the analyte (l,d-Phe), Cu²⁺ as a central metal and l-Trp as a chiral reference ligand. Unsatisfactory quantitative results achieved on an ion trap were rationalized by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The formation of Mg²⁺-containing cluster isobaric to trimeric cluster [Cu(l-Trp)₂Phe]⁺ was observed. Interference like this was identified as a possible reason for deterioration of quantitative low-resolution mass spectrometric analyses of real-world samples based on the kinetic method. Cation-exchanger was used for easy removal of magnesium from a sample and improvement of quantitation.Chiral dependence of formation of the Cu²⁺-containing trimeric cluster was also observed. Heterochiral diastereoisomeric ions were created less effectively.     

Heterogeneous interaction between zwitterions of some l-α-amino acids and ethanol molecule in water at 298.15 K

Dissolution enthalpies of l-α-aminobutyric acid, l-α-isoleucine, l-α-serine, l-α-threonine and l-α-cysteine in water and aqueous ethanol solutions have been measured by calorimetry at a temperature of 298.15 K. The obtained results were used to calculate the enthalpic heterogeneous pair interaction coefficients between zwitterions of amino acids and a molecule of ethanol in water. These values were interpreted in the terms of the hydrophobic or hydrophilic effects of the side chains of amino acids on their interactions with a polar molecule of ethanol in water.     

Syntheses of l-glucosamine donors for 1,2-trans-glycosylation reactions

Two new l-glucosamine donors, that is pent-4-enyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-allyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-β-l-glucopyranoside 16 and ethyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-allyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-1-thio-β-l-glucopyranoside 21 were prepared in 12 steps from l-arabinose. The reaction pathway uses 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-l-glucal 5, and then 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-iodo-α-l-mannopyranosyl azide 8 as intermediates. The latter, together with donors 16 and 21, were used for preparing l-glucosamine neoglycolipids.     

Bulk-modified modified screen-printing carbon electrodes with both lactate oxidase (LOD) and horseradish peroxide (HRP) for the determination of L-lactate in flow injection analysis mode

A screen-printed carbon electrode modified with both HRP and LOD (SPCE–HRP/LOD) has been developed for the determination of l-lactate concentration in real samples. The resulting SPCE–HRP/LOD was prepared in a one-step procedure, and was then optimised as an amperometric biosensor operating at [0, −100] mV versus Ag/AgCl for l-lactate determination in flow injection mode. A significant improvement in the reproducibility (coefficient variation of about 10%) of the preparation of the biosensors was obtained when graphite powder was modified with LOD in the presence of HRP previously oxidised by periodate ion (IO₄⁻). Optimisation studies were performed by examining the effects of LOD loading, periodation step and rate of the binder on analytical performances of SPCE–HRP/LOD. The sensitivity of the optimised SPCE–HRP/LOD to l-lactate was 0.84 nA L μmol⁻¹ in a detection range between 10 and 180 μMol. The possibility of using the developed biosensor to determine l-lactate concentrations in various dairy products was also evaluated.     

Mechanism of the oxidation of d-glucose onto colloidal MnO2 surface in the absence and presence of TX-100 micelles

Aqueous colloidal manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was prepared via titration by using potassium permanganate and sodium thiosulphate in aqueous neutral medium. The kinetics of oxidation of d-glucose onto the surface of colloidal MnO₂ have been studied spectrophotometrically. The results show that the rate of initial stage (nonautocatalytic path) increases with increasing the [d-glucose], [H⁺], and temperature and also upon addition of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100), which indicates that the surfactant enhances the concentration of d-glucose at the surface of the colloidal MnO₂. Hydrogen bonding interaction seemingly arises between –OH groups of d-glucose and oxygen of the ether linkages of polyoxyethylene chain of TX-100. A possible mechanism of the oxidative degradation of d-glucose is discussed in terms of d-glucose/TX-100 and colloidal MnO₂ interaction.     

Production of 6-l-[18F]Fluoro-m-tyrosine in an Automated Synthesis Module for 11C-Labeling

6-l-[¹⁸F]Fluoro-m-tyrosine (6-l-[¹⁸F]FMT) represents a valuable alternative to 6-l-[¹⁸F]FDOPA which is conventionally used for the diagnosis and staging of Parkinson’s disease. However, clinical applications of 6-l-[¹⁸F]FMT have been limited by the paucity of practical production methods for its automated production. Herein we describe the practical preparation of 6-l-[¹⁸F]FMT using alcohol-enhanced Cu-mediated radiofluorination of Bpin-substituted chiral Ni(II) complex in the presence of non-basic Bu₄ONTf using a volatile iPrOH/MeCN mixture as reaction solvent. A simple and fast radiolabeling procedure afforded the tracer in 20.0 ± 3.0% activity yield within 70 min. The developed method was directly implemented onto a modified TracerLab FX C Pro platform originally designed for ¹¹C-labeling. This method enables an uncomplicated switch between ¹¹C- and ¹⁸F-labeling. The simplicity of the developed procedure enables its easy adaptation to other commercially available remote-controlled synthesis units and paves the way for a widespread application of 6-l-[¹⁸F]FMT in the clinic.     

Thiol oxidation at 2-mercaptopyrimidine-appended cobalt phthalocyanine modified glassy carbon electrodes

The electrocatalytic activity of cobalt tetra-2-mercaptopyrimidylphthalocyanine-modified glassy carbon electrode (CoTMPyrPc-GCE) toward gluthathione, l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol has been investigated. CoTMPyrPc-GCE provides a significant improvement on the reported oxidation potential of l-cysteine in pH 4.0 phosphate buffered solution. The oxidation peak potential (E_p), for l-cysteine, was 0.15 V – a relatively lowered oxidation potential compared to reported phthalocyanine complexes. The electrode prepared by drop-dry/thermal annealing method was very stable and sensitive over a long period of time. The stability has been attributed to the thermal annealing and the structure of the mercaptopyrimidine on the periphery of the CoPc.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from the leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium L.

One new triterpenoid saponin,quinquenoside L_(17)(1),was isolated from the leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium L.,and its structure was elucidated as 20-O-[(β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)]-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-dammar-24-ene- 3,6,12,20-tetraol,by the combination analysis of one-dimensional NMR and two-dimensional NMR,mass spectrometry,CD spectrum and chemical evidences.     

DNA binding and oxidative cleavage activity of ternary (l-proline)copper(II) complexes of heterocyclic bases

Ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(l-pro)(B)(H₂O)](NO₃) (1, 2) where l-pro = l-proline, B is a N,N-donor heterocyclic base, viz. 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy, 1), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 2), are synthesized, characterized, and their DNA binding and cleavage activity studied. The bpy complex (1) is structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The complexes show the presence of a distorted square-pyramidal (4 + 1) CuN₃O₂ coordination geometry. Complex [Cu(l-pro)(bpy)(H₂O)](NO₃) (1) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with unit cell parameters: a = 7.082(3) Å, b = 10.483(5) Å, c = 11.581(5) Å, α = 89.700(7)°, β = 83.488(8)°, γ = 84.109(8)° and V = 849.7(7) Å³. The one-electron paramagnetic complexes display a d–d band near 600 nm in water and show a cyclic voltammetric response due to Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple near 0.1 V (versus SCE) in Tris–HCl buffer–0.1 M KCl. Binding interactions of the complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA have been investigated by emission, absorption, viscosity and DNA thermal denaturation studies. The phen complex displays significant binding propensity to the CT DNA giving an order: 2 (phen)  1 (bpy). The bpy complex does not show any apparent binding to the DNA and hence poor cleavage efficiency. Complex 2 shows efficient oxidative cleavage of SC-DNA in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) involving hydroxyl radical species as evidenced from the control data showing inhibition of DNA cleavage in the presence of DMSO and catalase.     

The kinetics of reaction between permanganate and chlorine ions in acid solutions

The reaction between MnO ₄ ^? and Cl^? was studied in acid media at room temperature and ionic strength 1 M. The stoichiometric equation of the reaction has the form MnO ₄ ^? + 8H⁺ + 4Cl^? = Mn³⁺ + 2Cl₂ + 4H₂O. The reaction proceeds in two stages. At the first stage, permanganate ions are consumed to produce one Cl₂ molecule per MnO ₄ ^? ion. At the second stage, the second Cl₂ molecule and the final MnO ₄ ^? reduction product (trivalent manganese) are formed. The first stage is a reaction first-order in MnO ₄ ^? and second-order in H⁺ and Cl^?; its rate constant is (9.8 ± 0.6) × 10^?2l⁴/(mol⁴ min). An analysis of the literature data leads to a value of 18–20 kcal/mol for its activation energy.     

Role of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic surfactant) on the tryptophan–MnO4 reaction

Upon addition of permanganate to a solution of tryptophan (Trp), yellow-brown color species appears within the time of mixing of tryptophan in absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which was stable for some days. Spectroscopic and kinetic evidences suggest the formation of water-soluble colloidal MnO₂ as the most stable reduction product of MnO₄⁻. Carbon dioxide and ammonia are not formed as the oxidation products. Carbon–carbon double bond of indole moiety of Trp is responsible for the fast reduction of permanganate. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide catalyses the permanganate oxidation of Trp with a rate enhancement of ca. 200-fold. Sub- and postmicellar catalytic effect of CTAB ascribed to the association/incorporation/solubilization of both reactants (MnO₄⁻ and Trp) with the CTAB aggregates and into the Stern layer of cationic micelles. Quantitative kinetic analysis of the rate constant–[CTAB] data has been performed on the basis of modified pseudo-phase model of the micelles. A comparison was made of the oxidation rates of different amino acids by permanganate. The order of the effectiveness was as follows: tryptophan  tyrosine  phenylalanine.