Analysis of Organic Acids in Physiological Fluids by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Most organic acids in physiological fluids are carboxylic acids or their glycine or glucuronide conjugates. Also included are hydroxyl compounds, such as phenols or cresols. By definition, compounds with a primary amino group, detectable by conventional amino acid analysers, are excluded. Organic acids are produced continuously in the body as intermediates in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and fats, and of drugs and food additives. They do not accumulate in the body, since they are rapidly converted to non-acidic end products or excreted as water soluble metabolites i n urine. However, if they are produced in excess, or if their metabolism is prevented by an inherited enzyme defect, concentrations increase in the tissues, blood and urine. Examples of excessive production are during fasting ketosis, in which acetoacetic and 3-hydroxybutyric acids and a range of dicarboxylic acids derived from breakdown of fatty acids accumulate, and lactic acidosis, secondary to hypoxia, when increases in lactic, pyruvic and 2-hydroxybutyric acids are common.     

Functionalized cis- and trans-fused bicyclic alpha-amino acids via stereoselective double annulation and dequaternization reactions

Fused bicyclic alpha-amino acids can be prepared by a double Michael reaction of p-anisyl ethynyl ketone and a tethered diacid, cyclization via hydrogenation or hydration of a CN group, and oxidation of the p-anisyl group. The substitution level of the alpha-amino acids can be adjusted by decyanation or decarboethoxylation of the intermediates. Bicyclic alpha-amino acids prepared in this way include cis- and trans-perhydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids and cis-perhydro-2-pyrindine-3-carboxylic acids of various substitutions and oxidation levels. The bicyclic alpha-amino acids may be regarded as functionalized and conformationally restricted analogues of proline, pipecolic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid, or glutamic acid.     

Chromatographic determination of amino acids in foods

Amino acids in foods exist in a free form or bound in peptides, proteins, or nonpeptide bonded polymers. Naturally occurring L-amino acids are required for protein synthesis and are precursors for essential molecules, such as co-enzymes and nucleic acids. Nonprotein amino acids may also occur in animal tissues as metabolic intermediates or have other important functions. The development of bacterially derived food proteins, genetically modified foods, and new methods of food processing; the production of amino acids for food fortification; and the introduction of new plant food sources have meant that protein amino acids and amino acid enantiomers in foods can have both nutritional and safety implications for humans. There is, therefore, a need for the rapid and accurate determination of amino acids in foods. Determination of the total amino acid content of foods requires protein hydrolysis by various means that must take into account variations in stability of individual amino acids and resistance of different peptide bonds to the hydrolysis procedures. Modern methods for separation and quantitation of free amino acids either before or after protein hydrolysis include ion exchange chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. Chemical derivatization of amino acids may be required to change them into forms amenable to separation by the various chromatographic methods or to create derivatives with properties, such as fluorescence, that improve their detection. Official methods for hydrolysis and analysis of amino acids in foods for nutritional purposes have been established. LC is currently the most widely used analytical technique, although there is a need for collaborative testing of methods available. Newer developments in chromatographic methodology and detector technology have reduced sample and reagent requirements and improved identification, resolution, and sensitivity of amino acid analyses of food samples.     

Chalcogenocarbonic Acids and Their Anions

Carbonic acids in which the oxygen has been wholly or partly replaced by sulfur, selenium, and/or tellurium are known as “chalcogenocarbonic acids”. The aim of the present article is to review existing knowledge of these acids and so establish a basis for further systematic syntheses. The anions required for the synthesis of chalcogenocarbonic acids will also be briefly characterized.     

Synthesis of isocoumarins and alpha-pyrones via tandem Stille reaction/heterocyclization

A general route to alpha-pyrones and 3-substituted isocoumarins from (Z)-iodovinylic acids 1a-f or 2-iodobenzoic acids 4a-c is described, including compounds bearing a substituent on the aromatic ring. Treatment of (Z)-beta-iodovinylic acids 1a-f or 2-iodobenzoic acids 4a-c with various allenyltributyltin reagents in the presence of palladium acetate, triphenylphosphine, and tetrabutylammonium bromide in dimethylformamide provided good yields of the corresponding alpha-pyrones 3a-k or 3-substituted isocoumarins 5a-g via tandem Stille reaction and 6-endo-dig oxacyclization.     

Polymerization of N-substituted lactams

This study deals with a comparison of the rates and activation parameters of the polymerizations of N-methyl and N-benzoyl derivatives of lactams containing 4, 9 or 13 ring atoms initiated by carboxylic acids, amino acids, strong protonic acids or Lewis acids. The respective polymerization mechanisms of substituted and unsubstituted lactams are discussed. The initiators mentioned above lead to the polymerization mechanisms with activated monomer in most cases. The use of stable carbenium cations results in a new type of polymerization of N-benzoyl lactams with a cationic propagation centre on the chain.     

Hydroxamic acids as colorimetric reagents

Thirty-three hydroxamic acids and three N-substituted hydroxamic acids or structurally similar compounds have been studied as possible colorimetric reagents for metal ions. They were tested with 78 ions under varying conditions of acidity and basicity. Aliphatic, substituted aliphatic, aromatic, substituted aromatic, and heterocyclic hydroxamic acids were represented in the compounds studied. An attempt was made to correlate the activity towards metal ions with variations in the molecular structure of the hydroxamic acids. The studies with C-substituted hydroxamic acids indicate that the preferential formation of a colour or a precipitate depends on pH, the solvent, and reagent concentration, and is not a function of the presence or absence of a substituent on the nitrogen atom. A number of the compounds offer promise of being useful colorimetric reagents under proper reaction conditions.     

Efficient esterification of carboxylic acids and phosphonic acids with trialkyl orthoacetate in ionic liquid

An operationally simple, inexpensive, efficient, and environmentally friendly esterification of various carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids, and phosphinic acids with triethyl orthoacetate or trimethyl orthoacetate under neutral conditions in a typical room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, was successfully carried out to provide the corresponding ethyl esters or methyl esters in high yields.     

Capillary GLC fatty acid fingerprints of seed lipids—a tool in plant chemotaxonomy?

The fatty acid composition of the seed lipids of plants, in contrast to leaf lipids, may contain highly specific unusual fatty acids, which are often correlated to plant family. For example, petroselinic acid is typical for the Apiacea family, cyclopropene fatty acids are typical for the Malvaceae family, and cyclopentene-ring containing fatty acids for the Flacourtiaceae family. Other fatty acids may be characteristic for certain sub-families or only for certain species of plants within a family or genus. γ-Linolenic acid, Δ5–18:3 and Δ5–20:3 fatty acids and others may occur in several plant families, but are still linked to certain related species only. They can be analyzed by high-resolution capillary GLC. Particularly interesting is the situation in the family Ranunculaceae. GLC fingerprints of fatty acids are shown that may indicate a closer or less close relationship between species within this family.     

Amino acids as chiral selectors in enantioresolution by liquid chromatography

Amino acids are unique in terms of their structural features and multidimensional uses. With their simple structures and the ready availability of both enantiomers, amino acids not only serve as a chiral pool for synthesis but also provide an inexpensive pool for resolution studies. There has been no attempt to review the application of amino acids as chiral selectors for chromatographic enantioresolution of pharmaceuticals and other compounds. The present paper deals with application of l-amino acids and complexes of l-amino acids with a metal ion, particularly Cu(II), as an impregnating reagent in thin-layer chromatography or as a chiral ligand exchange reagent or a chiral mobile phase additive in both thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Enantiomeric resolution of β-blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, amino acids (and their derivatives) and certain other compounds is discussed.     

Glycidyl Esters of Aromatic Acids

Abstract

The reaction of substituted benzoic acids, dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic, terephthalic, and isophthalic acids, and the sodium or potassium salts of these acids with equimolar or excess epichlorohydrin in the presence of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride has been studied using various solvents such as toluene, dioxane, monochlorobenzene, and tetrachloroethylene. Use of the free carboxylic acids gave only fair to low yields of glycidyl esters, while sodium or potassium salts of the carboxylic acids gave excellent yields of materials of high oxirane content. The epoxidation of chlorohydrin esters of these acids by the dehydrochlorination was also studied using various dehydrochlorinating reagents such as NaOH, KOH, Na₂CO₃, and NaAlO₂ in such solvents as water, dichloromethane, dioxane, and monochlorobenzene at various temperatures. Reaction time, reaction temperature, and water content were found to influence the yield of glycidyl esters. It is suggested that the reaction path involves nucleophilic attack upon the terminal position of the epoxide or epichlorohydrin. The resulting alkoxide then reacts further to give either a glycidyl ester or a chlorine-containing by-product, the predominant course depending upon reaction conditions.     

New Naturally Occurring Amino Acids

The majority of the 500 or so naturally occurring amino acids known today were discovered during the last 30 years, for example during the search for new antibiotics in the culture media of microorganisms, or as components of the antibiotics in fungi, seeds, in numerous plants and fruits, and in the body fluids of animals. Some 240 of these amino acids occur free in nature, some only as intermediates in metabolism. This article provides an overview of the developments that have taken place in this area since 1956 when the last review appeared. Summary accounts are presented, dealing with new unsaturated amino acids, cyclopropane- and cyclobutane-amino acids, heterocyclic amino acids, halogen-containing amino acids sulfur-, selenium- and phosphorus-containing amino acids as well as aliphatic amino acids. In a few cases, e. g. betalamic acid and muscaflavin, the biosynthesis is described in detail.     

Transition metal-catalyzed syntheses of organic acids by chelation-promoted regioselective double bond insertion

The rhodium- or nickel-catalyzed reaction of vinylic halides with alkali salts of 3-butenoic acids leads to regioselective formation of dienoic acids, containing 3,5-conjugated double bonds. Monoarylacetylenes also react with 3-butenoic acids in a rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of the same acids. The stereochemistries of the acids and the nature of the by-products are discussed in the light of the proposed mechanisms.     

Rapid determination of amino acids in foods by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry

This study describes a rapid and sensitive analytical method for the determination of amino acids in foods and drinks. The method entailed dilution or extraction of amino acids from foods using the mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (50:50, v/v). Chromatographic separation of underivatized amino acids was performed using a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography within a runtime of 6 min. Both hydrophobicity and charge of the side chain played important roles on the elution order of amino acids under the chromatographic conditions. High-resolution mass spectrometry allowed qualitative and quantitative detection of amino acids in complex food matrices. Its response was found linear over a concentration range of 0.25-10 μg/ml. The method could be successfully applied to various foods and drinks to profile individual amino acids. Mean percentage recoveries of amino acids from different matrices were 88.5% or higher with residual standard deviation of less than 5.0%.     

聚苯胺修饰电极酸碱示波电位滴定法——Ⅰ.水溶液中的酸碱滴定

示波电位滴定具有终点直观、仪器便宜、操作简便、快速、准确等特点。本文将对氢离子响应敏锐、使用寿命长、制备简单的聚苯胺修饰电极(PAME)^[4,5]应用于酸碱示波电位滴定中,使电位突跃更加明显,化学计量点更易判断(与双铂电极体系比较),可滴定多元弱酸、弱碱、混合酸和混合碱.与pH玻璃电极比较,具有阻抗低,响应灵敏、迅速,终点电位突跃大,不易损坏,不需预处理,制备简单等特点.     

Acidimétrie dans les solvants organiques

The relative strengths of acids vary from one solvent to another according to the value of the dielectric constant and the acidic or basic properties of the solvent.Some simple rules explain in a rational manner all the known acidimetric reactions in organic solvents 1. The relative strength of uncharged acids (HF, HNO₂, R.COOH) remains constant, that of acids charged positively (NH₄+), salts of amines and hydrated cations such as Al(H₂O)₃⁴⁺ increases, and that of acids charged negatively (acid salts of diacids, etc.) decreases with decreasing dielectric constant of the solvent.However, for values of this constant below twenty the relative strength of positively charged acids no longer varies, while that of negatively charged acids tends to increase. 2. If the solvent has acidic or basic properties, there cannot exist in solution acids or bases stronger than the solvent itself that is, the range of strengths of the acids is limited as compared with what it is in an inert solvent.These rules allow of prediction of the strength of acids in a given solvent and consequently , of the determinations which can be carried out in it.     

Reductive acetylation of nitrocarboxylic acids of the thiophene and furan series or their esters

The corresponding 4-acetylamino-2-thiophenecarboxylic acids or their esters were produced by the action of reduced iron on solutions of 4-nitro-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, its derivatives, or their esters in a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride. Esters of 5-acetylamino-2-thiophenecarboxylic or 5-acetylamino-2-furancarboxylic acids are formed from esters of 5-nitro-2-thiophenecarboxylic or 5-nitro-2-furancarboxylic acids. Free 5-nitro-2-thiophenecarboxylic and 5-nitro-2-furancarboxylic acids are entirely decomposed under the conditions of reductive acetylation by iron. The ester of 5-acetylamino-3-thiophenecarboxylic acid was obtained from the methyl ester of 5-nitro-3-thiophenecarboxylic acid.     

Chiral lariat ethers as membrane carriers for chiral amino acids and their sodium and potassium salts

Four chiral lariat ethers 8–11 containing a (p-methoxyphenoxy) methyl side arm were used for chiral discrimination of amino acids in their zwitterionic form or as potassium and sodium salts in transport across a bulk chloroform membrane with satisfactory selectivity. The carriers that were employed exhibited different transport selectivity relative to the amino acids and their salts under study. The d/l selectivity strongly depends on the amino acids or their salts, and in some cases reverse selectivity has been obtained. The best selectivity was obtained in the case of tyrosine and its potassium salts for all carriers. The transport rates of amino acids and their salts were found to be controlled by factors such as the structure of the carriers and amino acids or their salts. Among these factors, it was also found that the side arm of the lariat ethers plays an important role in the transport process. As a consequence, the main goal of our investigation was to separate the chiral amino acids through liquid membranes.     

Chromatographic techniques in inborn errors of metabolism

Chromatography has played a pivotal role in the advances made during the last 30 years in our knowledge of inborn errors of metabolism. This review discusses the application of some of these techniques to the analysis of organic acids and acylcarnitines. The separation of organic acids needed a comprehensive approach that would permit all of the many organic acids present in urine or other complex mixtures to be extracted, analysed and identified in a single run. This required analytical methods of great resolving power, wide linear range and universal detectors such as gas chromatography (GC), or GC coupled with mass spectrometry. Sample preparation was another problem that has been tackled by a variety of approaches. Organic solvents have been employed widely for the extraction of organic acids from physiological fluids. Unfortunately, recoveries of the different organic acids by this method are sometimes less than quantitative and variable depending on the compound. Other methods, such as the use of DEAE-Sephadex columns, have the advantage of resulting in close to 100% recoveries, but are more tedious. Liquid partition chromatography on short silicic acid columns has also been recommended as a useful clean-up step prior to GC, permitting both the identification and quantitation of organic acids in urine, plasma or amniotic fluid. Although many derivatization procedure have been used to prepare organic acids for gas chromatography, the most common is trimethylsilylation. Oxo acids are usually reacted with one of several commonly used reagents to form oximes. GC analysis of organic acids was initially done using packed columns with methylsilicone-based, non-polar stationary phases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impact of PAMAM G2 and G6 dendrimers on bovine serum albumin (fatty acids free and loaded with different fatty acids)

Dendrimers are a new class of nanotechnological polymers suitable for drug targeting, microarray systems or detoxication. The present study is devoted to a detailed analysis of binding between PAMAM dendrimers and bovine serum albumin (fatty acid free or loaded with oleic, linoleic, oleic+linoleic or oleic+linoleic+arachodonic acids) by measuring zeta-potential, fluorescence quenching, fluorescence anisotropy and electron paramagnetic resonance. Addition of PAMAM G2 and G6 dendrimers to protein solutions resulted in attachment to the protein molecule. The PAMAM dendrimers also competed with BSA for fatty acids if two or three fatty acids were loaded per protein. This can lead to the extraction of fatty acids from BSA to the PAMAM dendrimer.