Synthesis of (3-Indolylsulfanyl)alkanecarboxylic Acids

A method was developed for preparation of (3-indolylsulfanyl)alkanecarboxylic acids from 1H-, 1-methyl(benzyl)-, 2-methylindoles, thiourea, iodine, and halocarboxylic acids.     

Enantiomeric separation of halocarboxylic acids by capillary gas chromatography

The direct determination of the enantiomeric purity of halocarboxylic acids is described. The method used involves gas chromatographic separation of the corresponding tert-butylamides on deactivated glass or fused-silica capillaries coated with Chirasil-Val. Both the influence of the amide moiety on enantiomeric resolution and tailing, and the racemization during formation of the amide derivatives were studied.     

An unexpected reaction of 2-vinyloxyethyl isothiocyanate with halocarboxylic acids

Reactions of 2-vinyloxyethyl isothiocyanate with aliphatic halocarboxylic acids give rise to their 1-(2-isothiocyanatoethoxy)ethyl esters in quantitative yields. An unusual rearrangement of 1-(2-isothiocyanatoethoxy)ethyl chloro(bromo)acetate and 3-bromopropanoate to 5-aza-7-chloro(bromo)-4-oxo-3-thiaheptanoic and to 6-aza-8-bromo-5-oxo-4-thiaoctanoic acids, respectively, was observed. Monohalocarboxylic acids and their esters were shown to readily alkylate l,3-oxazolidine-2-thione to form the same thiaheptanoic and thiaoctanoic acids and their esters.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 350–354, February, 1993.     

Alkylation of 1-Alkyl-3-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]pyrazoles with Halocarboxylic Acids Esters

A preparative method for the synthesis of 1-alkyl-3-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazoles was developed. The alkylation of the obtained compounds with halocarboxylic acid esters was also investigated. A principal possibility of creating libraries of compounds based on pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole derivatives was shown.     

"Designer acids": combined acid catalysis for asymmetric synthesis

Lewis and Brønsted acids can be utilized as more‐effective tools for chemical reactions by sophisticated engineering (“designer acids”). The ultimate goal of such “designer acids” is to form a combination of acids with higher reactivity, selectivity, and versatility than the individual acid catalysts. One possible way to take advantage of such abilities may be to apply a “combined acids system” to the catalyst design. The concept of combined acids, which can be classified into Brønsted acid assisted Lewis acid (BLA), Lewis acid assisted Lewis acid (LLA), Lewis acid assisted Brønsted acid (LBA), and Brønsted acid assisted Brønsted acid (BBA), can be a particularly useful tool for the design of asymmetric catalysis, because combining such acids will bring out their inherent reactivity by associative interaction, and also provide more‐organized structures that allow an effective asymmetric environment.     

Inhibitory Effects of Fatty Acids on the Activity of Mushroom Tyrosinase

The effects of fatty acids, octanoic acid, (2E, 4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid, hexanoic acid, (2E)-but-2-enoic acid, and butyric acid on the activities of mushroom tyrosinase have been investigated. The results showed that the fatty acids can potently inhibit both monophenolase activity and diphenolase activity of tyrosinase, and that the unsaturated fatty acids exhibited stronger inhibitory effect against tyrosinase than the corresponding saturated fatty acids, and the inhibitory effects were enhanced with the extendability of the fatty acid chain. For the monophenolase activity, the fatty acids could not only lengthen the lag period, but also decrease the steady-state activities. For the diphenolase activity, fatty acids displayed reversible inhibition. Kinetic analyses showed that octanoic acid and hexanoic acid were mixed-type inhibitors and (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid and (2E)-but-2-enoic acid were noncompetitive inhibitors. The inhibition constants have been determined and compared.     

A novel derivatization reagent possessing a bromoquinolinium structure for biological carboxylic acids in HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS

A novel bromoquinolinium reagent, i.e. 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐3‐bromoquinolinium bromide (APBQ), was synthesized for the analysis of carboxylic acids. A simple and practical precolumn derivatization procedure using the APBQ in RP chromatography and MS (HPLC‐MS) has been developed using bile acids and free fatty acids, as the representative carboxylic acids in biological samples. The APBQ efficiently reacted with carboxylic acids at 60°C for 60 min in the presence of N,N‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and pyridine as the activation reagents. Because the APBQ possesses a bromine atom in the structure, the identification of a series of carboxylic acids was easily achieved due to the characteristic bromine isotope pattern in the mass spectra. The APBQ also has a quaternary amine structure, thus the positively charged derivatives are predominate for the highly sensitive detection of carboxylic acids. The APBQ was successfully applied to the selective determination of biological carboxylic acids in human plasma. The bile acids (chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid) and several saturated (stearic acid and palmitic acid) and unsaturated free fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) were reasonably determined by HPLC‐MS under the proposed procedure. Based on the results of analyses of human plasma and saliva, the proposed procedure using APBQ seems to be applicable for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of a series of carboxylic acids in biological samples.     

GC Analysis of the Fatty Acid Composition of Yak Kidney

To obtain valuable information for development of potential commercial products from yak kidney, which is usually treated as waste, the fatty acid composition of kidneys from yak reared in Gansu province, China, was investigated by gas chromatography. Fifteen different fatty acids were identified. The major fatty acids are oleic acid (33.3%), stearic acid (20.2%), and palmitic acid (18.4%). More interestingly, several important and essential fatty acids were also identified, including conjugated linoleic acid (2.94%), omega-3 fatty acids, for example docosahexaenoic acid (1.47%), eicosapentaenoic acid (1.11%) and alpha linolenic acid (0.37%), and omega-6 fatty acids, for example arachidonic acid (2.86%) and linoleic acid (1.98%). The results show that the fatty acid composition of yak kidney is of reasonable value and is suitable for further development of possible commercial products. This is the first report of the fatty acid profile of yak kidney.

     

Studies on the Ion-Exchange Chromatographic Separation of L-Ascorbic Acid and Oxalic Acid

L-Ascorbic acid and oxalic acid could be successfully separated with a column of 8% cross-linked sulfonated polystyrene cation-exchange resin in hydrogen form, and eluted with 0.01% aqueous solution of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or phosphoric acid. Among the mineral acids used, nitric acid showed the best separatory effect. The minimum detectable quantities of the acids were 0.05 μg and 0.5 μg per 0.5 ml sample solution for L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid, respectively. Under this condition, the acids could be detected by using automatic UV-monitor apparatus.     

Die analytische anwendung der kohlendioxyddestillationUntersuchung von dekarboxylierungsreaktionen in wässriger lösung

Carboxylic acids which decompose spontaneously on boiling or by oxidation in aqueous solutions can be determined by titration of the carbon dioxide formed after distillation as described previously. Acetonedicarboxylic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid are determined by spontaneous decarboxylation. Hydrolysis must precede the determination for acetoacetic ester, phenylethylcyanoacetic ethyl ester and for carbonic acid esters. Oxidative decarboxylation allows determinations of glyoxylic acid, aldonic acids, sugar dicarboxylic acids, formic acid, oxalic acid and α-amino acids. The titration of the carbon dioxide formed can be done with 0.1 or 0.01 N solutions. The interference of atmospheric carbon dioxide is avoided by the use of pentane as a sealing liquid.     

Reactions of 4-chloroacetoacetic esters with thioureas

Several heterocyclic acetic acids and esters were synthesized by allowing the appropriate thiourea, ethylenethiourea or trimethylenethiourea to react with 4-chloroacetoacetic esters, followed by acid hydrolysis to the hydrochlorides of the free acids. Both esters and acids of 2-aminothiazole-4-acetic acid, 5,6-dihydro-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-3-acetic acid and 6,7-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-c]pyrimidine-3-acetic acid were obtained.     

Determination of 18 phenolic acids in tobacco and rhizosphere soil by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for the determination of free and bound phenolic acids in tobacco plant and soil was developed. A simple solid‐phase extraction, which used Polar Enhanced Polymer column as stationary phase and methanol as mobile phase, was used for the clean‐up of bound phenolic acids, and a liquid‐phase extraction using chloroform as solvent was used to purify free phenolic acids. With our method, 18 phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil of continuous cropping flue‐cured cultivar k326 were separated and determined within 6 min with recoveries of 82–107% and relative standard deviations (n = 5) of 1.1–4.8%. Results showed that free phenolic acids accounted for 0–9, 92–100, and 69–100% of total phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil, cultivar k326 roots and leaves, respectively. Results also revealed that p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, p‐coumaric acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and syringic acid were the predominant phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil of cultivar k326, and continuous cropping of cultivar k326 in the same farmland could lead to the accumulation of these phenolic acids in soil except syringic acid. The determination of phenolic acids provided detailed information for evaluating their source and characteristics in continuous cropping tobacco plant and soil.     

Simultaneous Quantification of Organic Acids in Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) and Untargeted Chemotyping Using Methyl Chloroformate Derivatisation and GC-MS

Sixteen organic acids were quantified in peel and pulp of Amber, Laird’s Large and Mulligan cultivars of tamarillo using GC-MS. Fourteen of these compounds had not previously been quantified in tamarillo. An untargeted metabolomics approach was used in parallel to identify and quantify 64 more metabolites relative to the internal standard, indicating abundances of glutamic acid, pro-line, aspartic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid as well as lower concentrations of several other essential fatty acids and amino acids. The main findings were that total organic acid concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in pulp than in peel, with the highest concentration seen in Mulligan pulp (219.7 mg/g DW). Remarkably, after citric acid, the potent bactericide itaconic acid was the second most abundant organic acid. At least 95% of organic acids in tamarillo were one of these two acids, as well as cis-aconitic, malic and 4-toluic acids. Differences between cultivar chemotypes were as substantial as differences between tissues. These results suggest that the bitter flavour of the peel does not result from organic acids. The combination of targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative investigation of nutrients and flavours is efficient and informative.     

Liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet absorbance detection,electrospray ionization,collision‐induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry on a triple quadrupole for the on‐line characterization of polyphenols and methylxanthines in green coffee beans

Liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector, electrospray ionization, collision‐induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐DAD/ESI‐CID‐MS/MS) on a triple quadrupole (QqQ) has been used to detect and characterize polyphenols and methylxanthines in green coffee beans: three phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid and dimethoxycinnamic acid), three isomeric caffeoylquinic acids (M_r 354), three feruloylquinic acids (M_r 368), one p‐coumaroylquinic acid (M_r 338), three dicaffeoylquinic acids (M_r 516), three feruloyl‐caffeoylquinic acids (M_r 530), four p‐coumaroyl‐caffeoylquinic acids (M_r 500), three diferuloylquinic acids (M_r 544), six dimethoxycinnamoyl‐caffeoylquinic acids (M_r 544), three dimethoxycinnamoyl‐feruloylquinic acids (M_r 558), six cinnamoyl‐amino acid conjugates, three cinnamoyl glycosides, and three methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine and theophylline). Dimethoxycinnamic acid, three isomers of dimethoxycinnamoyl‐caffeoylquinic acids and another three of dimethoxycinnamoyl‐feruloylquinic acids, as well as the three cinnamoyl glycosides, had not previously been reported in coffee beans. Structures have been assigned on the basis of the complementary information obtained from UV‐visible spectra, relative hydrophobicity, scan mode MS spectra, and fragmentation patterns in MS² spectra (both in the positive and negative ion modes) obtained using a QqQ at different collision energies. A structure diagnosis scheme is provided for the identification of different isomers of polyphenols and methylxanthines. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectra of some 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridinecarboxylic acids. Further evidence of a N-H interaction for loss of carbon dioxide

Mass spectra of 3-acetamido-, 3-methoxy-, and 4-methoxy-2-pyridinecarboxylic acids, 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 4-nitro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid N-oxide, 2-chloro- and 2-nitro-x-pyridinecarboxylic acids (X = 3 and 5), 2-chloro- and 2-nitro-4-pyridinecarboxylic acids, and 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid are reported. The 2-pyridinecarboxylic acids lost carbon dioxide (M-44) as has been reported. The 3-pyridinecarboxylic acids showed no definite trend in fragmentation; however, the 4-pyridinecarboxylic acids lost OH (M-17) first. This change in fragmentation pat-tern is due to an interaction of the ring nitrogen and carboxyl group in the 2-pyridinecarboxylic acids which is not present in the 4-pyridinecarboxylic acids.     

Differential modulation of cellular death and survival pathways by conjugated bile acids

Background  

The liver-derived McNtcp.24 cells transport bile acids and show distinctive responses to the two classes of conjugated bile acids. Whereas taurine-conjugated bile acids are non-toxic, glycine-conjugated bile acids efficiently induce apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine if the differential sensitivity is limited to cells that normally transport bile acids and if bile acid binding proteins could reduce bile acid-mediated apoptosis. The apical sodium/bile acid co-transporter (asbt) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to establish active bile acid transport in a non-liver-derived cell model (CHO.asbt). A high-affinity bile acid binder was expressed in McNtcp.24 cells.     

OH-radical induced degradation of hydroxybenzoic- and hydroxycinnamic acids and formation of aromatic products—A gamma radiolysis study

The OH-radical induced degradation of hydroxybenzoic acids (HBA), hydroxycinnamic acids (HCiA) and methoxylated derivatives, as well as of chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid was studied by gamma radiolysis in aerated aqueous solutions. Primary aromatic products resulting from an OH-radical attachment to the ring (hydroxylation), to the position occupied by the methoxyl group (replacement –OCH₃ by ?OH) as well as to the propenoic acid side chain of the cinnamic acids (benzaldehyde formations) were analysed by HPLC–UV and LC–ESI–MS. A comparison of the extent of these processes is given for 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, isovanillic acid, syringic acid, cinnamic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid. For all cinnamic acids and derivatives benzaldehydes were significant oxidation products. With the release of caffeic acid from chlorogenic acid the cleavage of a phenolic glycoside could be demonstrated. Reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Investigation and radiometric determination of saturated and unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

Investigations have been carried out on the precipitation of calcium salts of saturated and unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and of aromatic dicarboxylic acids. The optimum ethanol/water solvent ratio has been studied at which the sodium, ammonium or triethylammonium salts of the acids have a good solubility, whereas the calcium salts are poorly soluble and can be precipitated. Based on these investigations the radiometric determination of formic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, methacrylic acid, oleic acid, and o-, m- and p-phthalic acids has become possible. A linear correlation has been found between the solubilities of the calcium salts of o-, m- and p-phthalic acids and the dielectric constant of the solvent mixture. CaCl₂ solution labelled with⁴⁵CaCl₂ was used for the titrations, with a solvent composition identical to that of the solution to be titrated. Radiometric titrations were carried out in 0.05M solutions for dicarboxylic acids, and in 0.1M solutions for monocarboxylic acids. For palmitic and stearic acids titrations were also carried out in the 0.01M concentration range. The equipment used for titrations was capable of detecting isotopes of soft β-radiation.     

Novel photopolymerizations initiated by alkyl radicals generated from photocatalyzed decarboxylation of carboxylic acids over oxide semiconductor nanoparticles: Extended photo-Kolbe reactions

Polymerizations of vinyl acetate are photocatalyzed by TiO₂ nanoparticles in presence of carboxylic acids including propionic acid, n-butyric acid and pivalic acid. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis using ¹³C-labeled n-butyric acid as the probing molecule demonstrates that the polymerization of vinyl acetate is initiated by alkyl radicals generated from photocatalytic decarboxylation of the carboxylic acid. A universal mechanism is established with extending the photo-Kolbe reaction from acetic acid to the carboxylic acids with longer chains. Kinetics studies find that n-butyric acid has higher initiation rate than acetic acid, indicating more efficient decarboxylation for butyric acid than acetic acid in their aqueous solutions. It is proved that carboxylates participate in the decarboxylation. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra are obtained with aqueous solutions of the carboxylic acids in contact with a layer of the TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the observations are discussed with respect to the interaction between the TiO₂ and carboxylic acids.     

Photochemical addition of amino acids and peptides to homopolyribonucleotides of the major DNA bases

Abstract— The photochemical quantum yields for addition of glycine and the L-amino acids commonly occurring in proteins (excluding proline) to polyadenylic acid, polycytidylic acid, polyguanylic acid and polyribothymidylic acid have been determined in deoxygenated phosphate buffer at Λ 254 nm and pH 7, using a fluorescamine assay technique. Polyadenylic acid was reactive with eleven of the twenty amino acids tested, with phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamine, lysine and asparagine having the highest quantum yields. Polyguanylic acid reacted with sixteen amino acids; phenylalanine, arginine, cysteine, tyrosine, and lysine displayed the largest quantum yields. Polycytidylic acid showed reactivity with fifteen amino acids with lysine, phenylalanine, cysteine, tyrosine and arginine having the greatest quantum yields. Polyribothymidylic acid, reactive with fifteen of nineteen amino acids surveyed, showed the highest quantum yields for cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, lysine and asparagine. None of the polynucleotides were reactive with aspartic acid or glutamic acid.
The quantum yields for photoaddition of eighteen dipeptides of the form glycyl X (X being one of the amino acids commonly occurring in proteins, including proline), and of L-alanyl-L-tryptophan, L-seryl-L-seryl-L-serine, L-threonyl-L-threonyl-L-threonine, L-cystine- bis -glycine, and N_α-acetyllysine to polyadenylic acid, polycytidylic acid and polyguanylic acid were measured. All of these were found to add photochemically to each of these polymers. Polyribothymidylic acid, tested with eleven of these peptides and with N_α-acetyllysine, was found to be reactive with all.