Acid-base equilibria of substituted pyridine N-oxides in methanol

Acid dissociation constants in methanol for eight substituted pyridine N-oxides having a wide range of acid-base properties, [quinoline N-oxide (bi-cyclic amine N-oxide) and pyridine (heterocyclic amine)] have been determined using the potentiometric titration method. A linear correlation between ourmethanol data and aqueous pK _a values from the literature has been found. As in polar aprotic solvents cationic homoconjugation phenomenon has been found to be present for sufficiently basic N-oxides. The tendency of substituted pyridine N-oxides towards cationic homoconjugation in methanol is weaker than in polar aprotic solvents and increases with increasing basicity of N-oxides. It has also been found that, in contrast to polar aprotic solvents, the cationic homoconjugation phenomenon in methanol is much more pronounced for heterocyclic amines than their N-oxides.     

Thermal stability and thermal decomposition of N-oxides

Kinetic manometric studies indicate that the first step in the thermal decomposition of a number of N-oxides is the formation of a cyclic activated complex. There is a correlation between the thermal stability of the compounds studied in the liquid phase and the charge on the oxygen atom of the N-oxide group calculated by the MPDP method. Autocatalysis of gas evolution from halogenopyridine N-oxides is explained by hydrogen halide autocatalysis. The limit of thermal stability for N-oxides is likely to be no greater than 270°C.Biisk Lyceum, Altai Region, Biisk 659302. Kazan' State Technological University, Kazan' 420015. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1573–1576, November, 1995. Original article submitted October 20, 1995.     

Fragmentation of N-oxides (deoxygenation) in atmospheric pressure ionization: investigation of the activation process.

The diagnostic fragmentation of N-oxides resulting from loss of the oxygen atom (MH+ --> MH+-O) in electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectra was investigated. When the temperature of the heated capillary tube was elevated, the ratio of the intensity of the [MH+ -16] fragment to the precursor ion (MH+) increased. This 'deoxygenation' process was associated with thermal activation and did not result from collisional activation in the desolvation region of the API source. Although the extent of 'deoxygenation' is compound-dependent, it can provide evidence for the presence of an N-oxide in a sample and can be used to distinguish N-oxides from hydroxylated metabolites (Ramanathan et al. Anal. Chem. 2000; 72: 1352). To demonstrate the practical application of thermal fragmentation of N-oxides, liquid chromatography (LC)/APCI-MS was used to distinguish an N-oxide drug from its hydroxylated metabolite in an unprocessed rat urine sample, despite the fact that the drug and its metabolite were not fully resolved by HPLC.     

An X-ray and neutron scattering study of the equilibrium between trimethylamine N-oxide and urea in aqueous solution

The interaction of the osmolytes trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and urea in aqueous solutions at 40 °C was investigated by isotopic substitution neutron scattering at a TMAO mole fraction of 0.05 and TMAO/urea concentration ratios of 1?:?2 and 1?:?4. The partial pair distribution functions obtained by the empirical potential structure refinement method are consistent with those obtained previously for similar pure TMAO and 1?:?1 TMAO-urea solutions and indicate that urea progressively replaces the water molecules in the first coordination shell of the TMAO oxygen atom. The apparent association constant for the TMAO?:?urea complex (K(1)) was calculated to be 0.14 M(-1), which is of the same order as the experimental urea-protein binding constants per site reported in the literature. This confirms that the two osmolytes act independently at least in the physiological range.     

A flow injection electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous measurement of trimethylamine and trimethylamine N-oxide in urine

Key metabolites for the diagnosis of the genetic disorder trimethylaminuria are trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). A rapid, automatable flow injection ESI-MS/MS method for their measurement in urine has been developed. The TMA was derivatized with ethyl bromoacetate to form ethyl betaine bromide. The 2 min ESI-MS/MS analysis employed four multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) ion pairs for derivatized TMA (146.1, 118.1), derivatized (2)H(9)-TMA (155.1, 127.1), TMAO (76.1, 58.1) and (2)H(9)-TMAO (85.1, 66.1). In control urine samples (n = 27) referred for suspected metabolic problems TMA was 0.11-1.19 mmol/mol creatinine, TMAO was 13.5-181 mmol/mol creatinine and the TMA/TMAO ratio was 0.0025-0.055. In five patients with diagnosed trimethylaminuria, TMA was 5.3-230 mmol/mol creatinine, TMAO was 0.36-607 mmol/mol creatinine and the TMA/TMAO ratio was 0.20-134.     

Aqueous solvation of amphiphilic solutes: concentration and temperature dependent study of the ultrafast polarisability relaxation dynamics

An understanding of the influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions on the dynamics of solvating water molecules is important in a diverse range of phenomena. The polarisability anisotropy relaxation dynamics of aqueous solutions of the amphiphiles TBA (t-butyl alcohol) and TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) have been measured as a function of concentration and temperature. TMAO is shown to have a greater effect on the picosecond relaxation dynamics of water than TBA. This result is consistent with hydrophilic interactions being mainly responsible for the slowing down the polarisability relaxation in aqueous solutions. The room temperature Raman spectral densities of the two solutions are remarkably similar to that of bulk water, an effect which is tentatively ascribed to the formation of nanoscale structure in the solutions, allowing the formation of bulk-like water pools. The temperature dependent spectral density of TMAO remains similar to that of bulk water at all temperatures, while that for TBA shows a marked decrease in the amplitude of the response usually ascribed to a water-water stretch with increasing temperature. This is discussed in terms of the temperature dependent structure of TBA aggregates in solution.     

The mechanism of carbon dioxide catalysis in the hydrogen peroxide N-oxidation of amines

The reactivity of the peroxymonocarbonate ion, HCO4- (an active oxidant derived from the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen peroxide and bicarbonate), has been investigated in the oxidation of aliphatic amines. Tertiary aliphatic amines are oxidized to the corresponding N-oxides in high yields, while secondary amines give corresponding nitrones. A closely related mechanism for the H2O2 oxidation of tertiary amines catalyzed by CO2 (under 1 atm) and H2O2 at 25 degrees C is proposed. The rate laws for the oxidation of N-methylmorpholine (1) to N-methylmorpholine N-oxide and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (2) to N,N-dimethylbenzylamine N-oxide have been obtained. The second-order rate constants for the oxidation by HCO4- are k1 .016 M(-1) s(-1) for 1 in water and k1=0.042 M(-1) s(-1) for 2 in water/acetone (5:1). The second-order rate constants for tertiary amine oxidations by HCO4- are over 400-fold greater than those for H2O2 alone. Activation parameters for oxidation of 1 by HCO4- in water are reported (DeltaH=36+/-2 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS=-154+/-7 J mol(-1) K(-1)). The BAP (NH4HCO3-activated peroxide) or CO2/H2O2 oxidation reagents are simple and economical methods for the preparation of tertiary amine N-oxides. The reactions proceed to completion, do not require extraction, and afford the pure N-oxides in excellent yields in aqueous media.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of epimeric alkaloid N-oxides from Thalictrum simplex L.

A simple and precise method was developed for the analytical and preparative reversed-phase HPLC separation of a mixture of epimeric pavine N-oxides containing 49.1% of (−)-thalimonine N-oxide A and 50.1% of (−)-thalimonine N-oxide B isolated from Thalictrum simplex L. (Ranunculaceae). A reversed-phase system with Nucleosil C₁₈ analytical and preparative columns and ethanol-1.5% aqueous orthophosphoric acid (15:85) as the mobile phase was used. The epimeric pavine N-oxides were completely separated within 50 min.     

Rapid screening assay of trimethylaminuria in urine with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Trimethyamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are the most important urine parameters for diagnosing and monitoring trimethylaminuria. A rapid, simple, and specific method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was developed to determine the presence of TMA and TMAO in urine samples from patients with trimethylaminuria. Formation of the quaternary tetramethylamino iodide by derivatization of TMA with methyl iodide allows measurement of TMA by MALDI-TOFMS. The method is repeatable and reproducible, with coefficients of variance (CVs)<3%. This new method was used for direct determination of TMA and TMAO in urine specimens obtained from normal children and patients. The proposed method allows for rapid and reliable measurements of TMA and TMAO in urine specimens from patients affected by trimethylaminuria.     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of a new phytochemical drug, fellavine, and its metabolites in human and rat plasma and urine.

The use of a small precolumn instead of an injection loop for the determination of a new phytochemical drug, fellavine, and its metabolites is described. The method combines the direct injection of plasma and urine into the reversed-phase precolumn with separation on a Spheri-5 RP-18 analytical column. Different sorbents in the precolumn were compared. A recovery of fellavine and its metabolites from biological fluids except rat plasma of almost 100% was achieved on Chrompack RP (30-40 microns) and LiChrosorb RP-18 (7 microns). For rat plasma only the last sorbent gave 80% fellavine recovery. The influence of the protein binding on the fellavine recovery was examined. The limit of detection was equal to 0.05 micrograms/ml fellavine for plasma and 0.02 micrograms/ml for urine. To enhance the limit of detection longer precolumns were perferred.     

Protonenresonanzspektren von aromatischen N-Oxiden Berechnung der chemischen Verschiebungen,verursacht durch die Feldeffekte der N?O-gruppe

The proton NMR. spectra of a series of aromatic amines, their N-oxides and the corresponding protonated species are analysed. The results for different protons are expressed in terms of differential chemical shifts of the N-oxide with respect to the corresponding amine or to the hydrocarbon. These data are compared with calculated shielding values obtained according to the theories of McConnell & Buckingham using published data for the magnetic susceptibilities and electric dipoles of the functional groups. The major part of the shielding by the N-oxide group originates from the electric dipole. If one considers resonance structures for the aromatic N-oxides the single bond structure and the double bond structure for the N? O bond are of approximately equal importance.     

Gas Chromatographic Determination of Aqueous Halides

Abstract

Bromide, iodide, and chloride are extracted from aqueous solutions into toluene-alcohol solutions of tetraheptyl-ammonium carbonate. The tetraheptylammonium halides undergo thermal degradation to 1-haloheptanes and triheptylamine. On-column preparation of the haloheptanes is achieved above 150°C. The halocarbons produce gas chromatographic peaks which are used for quantitative analysis of bromide, chloride, and iodide at low ppm levels.     

Isolation of new quinidine metabolites and simultaneous determination of quinidine and its metabolites in blood and urine by direct injection HPLC analysis

Summary New quinidine metabolites, including 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine N-oxide, 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine and their glucuronides, were found in human urine. A quinidine monitoring HPLC method including these metabolites, is proposed by the direct injection of body fluid samples onto the precolumn for deproteinization followed by reverse phase separation in the analytical column with a column switching technique. The recovery of spiked quinidine and its metabolites in plasma was quantitative (98–102%) with good reproducibility (C.V.: 1.6–4.0%). Several clinical samples such as whole blood and urine were analyzed by the present method.     

Thermal oxidative destruction of complexes of heterocyclic N-oxides with Zn(II)tetra-phenylporphyrin

Thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were applied for investigation of molecular complexes of heterocyclic N-oxide with zinc(II)tetraphenylporphyrin. The kinetic characteristics of the process of the thermal oxidative destruction for individual compounds and their molecular complexes have been calculated. The obtained results indicate that the complex formation of ZnTPhP with heteroaromatic N-oxides leads to an increase of the thermal stability both the metalloporphyrin and the ligands. It has been shown that the stability of the molecular complexes of ZnTPhP with heteroaromatic N-oxides depends on basicity of the coordinated ligand.     

Spin density distributions in radical anions of heterocyclic amine N-oxides

The unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) method of Snyder and Amos is used to calculate, in the -electron approximation, the spin density distributions in radical anions of heterocyclic amine N-oxides. The computed spin densities are observed to be in good agreement with the experimental values. The computed spin density distribution of the radical anion of pyridine N-oxide is consistent with the greater susceptibility of pyridine N-oxide relative to pyridine to electrophilic nitration. Also, the calculations are consistent with the lower basicity of the N-oxides relative to the parent bases.     

Influence of TMAO as co-solvent on the gelation of silica-PNIPAm core-shell nanogels at intermediate volume fractions

We study the structure and dynamics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) core-shell nanogels dispersed in aqueous trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) solutions by means of small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). Upon increasing the temperature above the lower critical solution temperature of PNIPAm at 33 °C, a colloidal gel is formed as identified by an increase of I(q) at small q as well as a slowing down of sample dynamics by various orders of magnitude. With increasing TMAO concentration the gelation transition shifts linearly to lower temperatures. Above a TMAO concentration of approximately 0.40 mol/L corresponding to a 1 : 1 ratio of TMAO and NIPAm groups, collapsed PNIPAm states are found for all temperatures without any gelation transition. This suggests that reduction of PNIPAm-water hydrogen bonds due to the presence of TMAO results in a stabilisation of the collapsed PNIPAm state and suppresses gelation of the nanogel.     

Copper(II) complexes of 2-(pyrrolidinomethyl)- and 2-(3-pyrrolinomethyl)pyridine N-oxides

Summary This title pyridine N-oxides have been prepared and their copper(II) complexes isolated as perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate and nitrate salts. The ligands coordinatevia both the pyridine N-oxide oxygen and the amine nitrogen to give bis(ligand) complexes for the perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate salts. The nitrate solids have [CuL(NO₃)₂] stoichiometry with monodentate nitrato-ligands. The spectral properties of these complexes are compared to those of N-alkyl-and N,N-dialkyl2-picolinamine N-oxides as well as other 2-substituted pyridine N-oxides.NATO Fellow on leave from Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University.     

Rapid determination of clenbuterol residues in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line automated sample processing using immunoaffinity chromatography

A liquid chromatographic column-switching system for automated sample pretreatment and determination of clenbuterol in calf urine, using an immunoaffinity precolumn with Sepharose-immobilized polyclonal antibodies against clenbuterol, is described. A second precolumn packed with C18-bonded silica was used for the reconcentration of desorbed clenbuterol prior to the analytical separation. Urine, after 2-fold dilution with buffer (pH 7.4), was loaded directly onto the immuno precolumn, where clenbuterol was trapped by the immobilized antibodies. This immuno precolumn has been used for more than 200 runs with standard solutions and samples. Bound analyte was desorbed with 0.01 M acetic acid and transferred, via the second precolumn, to the analytical column. The total runtime per sample was 35 min. Using a sample load of 27 ml of dilute urine and UV detection at 244 nm, the detection limit was 0.5 ng/ml. The mean recovery of clenbuterol added to a blank urine sample at the 5 ng/ml level was 82 +/- 2% (n = 5) as determined with standard solutions loaded onto the same system. Urine samples from treated animals were analysed and the clenbuterol concentrations were comparable to those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction for sample clean-up.     

Trimethylamine N-oxide stabilizes RNA tertiary structure and attenuates the denaturating effects of urea

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and urea are osmolytes. Osmolytes allow cells to remain viable in harsh or extreme environments. Both TMAO and urea are found in shark and rays at approximate molar ratios of 1:2, respectively. At this ratio TMAO nearly completely counteracts the destabilizing effects that urea has on proteins. We ask whether RNA, which is denatured by urea, is stabilized by TMAO in a manner similar to that seen for proteins. We found that TMAO stabilizes Escherichia coli tRNAfmet tertiary structure and counteracts the denaturing effects of urea at the same ratios found for proteins. Cation binding usually drives RNA tertiary structure formation. These results suggest that tertiary structure stability is not only sensitive to cations but also to the aqueous composition and properties of the solvent. We propose that tertiary structure folding is driven by unfavorable interactions between TMAO and the phosphodiester backbone.     

UV-spectroscopic study of the influence of traces of water on the protolytic equilibria of substituted pyridine N-oxides in aprotic solvents

Using a UV-spectrophotometric method, an attempt has been made to estimate quantitatively the influence of traces of water in aprotic solvents on the acidic-basic equilibria involving heterocyclic N-oxides. The N-oxides under study were pyridine N-oxide (PyO), 4-methoxy-pyridine N-oxide (4-MeOPyO), and 2-, 3-, and 4-picoline N-oxide (2-, 3-, and 4-PicO). For particular N-oxide the UV-spectra of acetonitrile solutions containing the free base and/or its simple or semiperchlorate have been recorded. To carry out the calculations various equilibrium models which include the protolytic equilibrium with water and basic species present in the solvent have been tested using the program STOICHIO which is based on non-linear regression analysis. It turned out that apart from the acidic-basic dissociation of a protonated N-oxide and cationic homoconjugation (the equilibria which are usually considered in such systems) it is absolutely necessary to take into account the protolytic equilibrium between the cationic acid and water present as impurity. Implications concerning investigations of other equilibrium systems in aprotic solvents and, in particular, the quality of the acidity constants for the calibration agents used in potentiometry are discussed.