Preparation of inert glass capillary columns coated with UCON 50 HB-5100. An attempt to rediscover industrially produced α, ω-polyethylene/polypropyleneglycol ethers as stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography

Using UCON 50 HB-5100, one of the most successful stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography during the past decade, as an example, we wish to redirect attention to the excellent properties of the polyethylene/polypropyleneglycol ether copolymer coatings. Based on experience gained in work with OH-terminated polysiloxanes, a method is described for preparing inert and relatively temperature stable chemically bonded and crosslinked coatings in a single working step. Methyltrimethoxysilane was used as coupling agent, and trifluoroacetic acid was introduced as an acidic catalyst. The reaction mechanisms involved as well as the influence of additional crosslinking on the column behavior are discussed, particularly with respect of the inertness of the coatings.     

Novel Sterically Crowded and Conformationally Constrained α-Aminophosphonates with a Near-Neutral pKa as Highly Accurate 31P NMR pH Probes. Application to Subtle pH Gradients Determination in Dictyostelium discoideum Cells

In order to discover new ³¹P NMR markers for probing subtle pH changes (<0.2 pH unit) in biological environments, fifteen new conformationally constrained or sterically hindered α-aminophosphonates derived from diethyl(2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate were synthesized and tested for their pH reporting and cytotoxic properties in vitro. All compounds showed near-neutral pK_as (ranging 6.28–6.97), chemical shifts not overlapping those of phosphorus metabolites, and spectroscopic sensitivities (i.e., chemical shifts variation Δδ_ab between the acidic and basic forms) ranging from 9.2–10.7 ppm, being fourfold larger than conventional endogenous markers such as inorganic phosphate. X-ray crystallographic studies combined with predictive empirical relationships and ab initio calculations addressed the inductive and stereochemical effects of substituents linked to the protonated amine function. Satisfactory correlations were established between pK_as and both the 2D structure and pyramidalization at phosphorus, showing that steric crowding around the phosphorus is crucial for modulating Δδ_ab. Finally, the hit ³¹P NMR pH probe 1b bearing an unsubstituted 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ring, which is moderately lipophilic, nontoxic on A549 and NHLF cells, and showing pK_a = 6.45 with Δδ_ab = 10.64 ppm, allowed the first clear-cut evidence of trans-sarcolemmal pH gradients in normoxic Dictyostelium discoideum cells with an accuracy of <0.05 pH units.