A common method for the determination of several calcium channel blockers using an HPLC system with ultraviolet detection

We report a common HPLC method for the single or simultaneous determination of four calcium channel blockers (CCB), namely diltiazem (DTZ), verapamil (VER), nifedipine (NIF) and nitrendipine (NIT) and their active metabolites demetildiltiazem and deacetildiltiazem (MA and M1), norverapamil (NOR), and dehydronifedipine (DHN). DHN was first synthesised in our laboratory and different pH values of the mobil phase were subsequently prepared and tested for chromatographic separation. The detection system and the environmental light conditions were optimised. The best separations of all analytes were obtained using a C₁₈ column and a mobile phase of methanol, 0.04 M ammonium acetate, acetonitrile and triethylamine (2:2:1:0.04 v/v). Quantitation was performed using imipramine (IMI) as the internal standard. For DTZ and its metabolites (M1 and MA), the wavelength chosen was 237 nm; for VER and its metabolite NOR, it was 210 nm; and, finally for NIF and its metabolite DHN and NIT it was 216 nm. When a simultaneous analysis was carried out the wavelength was of 230 nm. The optimum pH were 7.90 and 7.10 when the separation of NIT and DTZ or VER and NIF were carried out, respectively, and 7.90 when a simultaneous separation was carried out. The detection limit of the assay was less than 8 ng ml⁻¹ for all compounds, with coefficients of variation less than 7% (for inter- and intra-day) over the concentration range of 1–1000 ng ml⁻¹. The retention times were less than 11 min. When NIF or NIT were studied, it was necessary to use a sodium vapour lamp in order to avoid the photodegradation which takes place under daylight conditions.     

Nonreductive Enantioselective Ring Opening of N-(Methylsulfonyl)dicarboximides with Diisopropoxytitanium α,α,α′,α′-Tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanolate

The bicyclic and tricyclic meso-N-(methylsulfonyl)dicarboximides 1a–f are converted enantioselectively to isopropyl [(sulfonamido)carbonyl]-carboxylates 2a–f by diisopropoxytitanium TADDOLate (75–92% yield; see Scheme 3). The enantiomer ratios of the products are between 86:14 and 97:3, and recrystallization from CH₂Cl₂/hexane leads to enantiomerically pure sulfonamido esters 2 (Scheme 3). The enantioselectivity shows a linear relationship with the enantiomer excess of the TADDOL employed (Fig.3). Reduction of the ester and carboxamide groups (LiAlH₄) and additional reductive cleavage of the sulfonamido group (Red-Al) in the products 2 of imide-ring opening gives hydroxy-sulfonamides 3 and amino alcohols 4 , respectively (Scheme 4). The absolute configuration of the sulfonamido esters 2 is determined by chemical correlation (with 2a,b ; Scheme 6), by the X-ray analysis of the camphanate of 3e (Fig. 1), and by comparative ¹⁹F-NMR analysis of the Mosher esters of the hydroxy-sulfonamides 3 (Table 1). A general proposal for the assignment of the absolute configuration of primary alcohols and amines of Formula HXCH₂CHR¹R², X = O, NH, is suggested (see 11 in Table 1). It follows from the assignment of configuration of 2 that the Re carbonyl group of the original imide 1 is converted to an isopropyl ester group. This result is compatible with a rule previously put forward for the stereochemical course of reactions involving titanium TADDOLate activated chelating electrophiles ( 12 in Scheme 7). A tentative mechanistic model is proposed ( 13 and 14 in Scheme 7).     

High Performance Varistor Discs Obtained from Chemically Synthesized Doped Zinc Oxide Powder

The ceramic microstructure, the chemical homogeneity of specific dopants and the mechanical integrity of a varistor disc are critical parameters in determining the transient voltage suppression features of these devices. The material properties and overall quality of the starting ceramic powders used to produce such components are essential in achieving the desired properties. The present work describes a novel chemical method developed to produce doped zinc oxide powders and an industrial scale manufacturing process for the production of final varistor blocks for surge arrester applications. The results are compared with those obtained when using standard varistor powder made by the mixed oxide route is used. All the fundamental electrical properties of the discs have been determined and correlated with the relevant manufacturing steps.     

Determination of copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, and iron in calcium fluoride and other fluoride-containing samples by means of direct solid sampling GF-AAS

Direct solid sampling graphite furnace AAS (SS-GF-AAS) provides an advantageous alternative to the conventional AAS which requires wet digestion of the samples. This method is suitable for trace element determination in calcium fluoride and other fluoride-containing samples. Matrix effects were studied by using calibration standards, certified reference materials with different matrices and by means of three-dimensional calibration. 3D calibration is suitable for selection of calibration samples for more reliable analyses. Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Fe were determined by means of calibration with variation of sample weight using certified reference materials and suitable fluoride-containing calibration samples. Received: 25 July 1997 / Revised: 15 December 1997 / Accepted: 20 December 1997     

Production and purification of CGTase of alkalophylicBacillus isolated from Brazilian soil

Alkalophylic bacilli that produce cyclodextringlycosyltransferase (CGTase) were isolated from Brazilian soil, with a scheme of two plating steps. In the first step, the bacterial isolate forms a halo in the cultivation medium that contains γ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexing dyes. The CGTase of an isolate was purified 157-fold by biospecific affinity chromatography, with β-CD showing a mol wt of 77,580 Daltons. It produces a γ- to β-CD ratio of 0.156 and a small amount of α-CD, using maltodextrin 10% as substrate, at 50°C, pH 8.0 and 22 h reaction time, reaching 21.4% conversion of the substrate to cyclodextrins. In the second screening step, the isolates chosen give larger halos with β-CD complexing dyes, and smaller halos with β-CD complexing dyes, leading to a 30% improvement in γ-CD selectivity, although at lower total yield for cyclodextrins (11.5%).     

Flow-injection spectrofluorimetric determination of ethylenethiourea

A flow-injection configuration is proposed for the fluorimetric determination of ethylenethiourea. The procedure is based on the inhibitory effect of ethylenethiourea on the oxidation of thiamine to thiochrome by mercury(II). A linear calibration graph was obtained between 0.1 and 2.0 μg mL^–1, with a sampling rate of 40 samples per hour and a relative standard deviation of about 1.11%. The usefulness of the method was tested for the determination of ethylenethiourea residues in water, milk, potatoes, pear, grape and apple. Received: 26 January 1998 / Revised: 6 April 1998 / Accepted: 9 April 1998     

Chlorobiphenyls in sewage sludge; comparison of extraction methods

Six extraction methods for the analysis of PCBs (CB-28, CB-52, CB-101, CB-118, CB-138, CB-153 and CB-180) in sewage sludge were tested. A certified reference material (CRM 392) was used for the evaluation of the performance of the methods. Soxhlet-Dean-Starch with toluene as solvent, Soxhlet with hexane:acetone (2:3), cold digestion/saponification with 2 mol/L KOH in methanol followed by partition with hexane, and sonicated liquid-solid extraction with hexane:acetone (1:1) produced accurate results (97%, 93%, 104%, and 88%, respectively) with acceptable precisions (6.2%, 6.8%, 15% and 12%, respectively). Results in close agreement with the certified value for all congeners were obtained by treatment with BF₃-methanol prior to partition with dichloromethane. However, this is a tedious procedure and involves the use of hazardous compounds. Cyclic steam distillation produced results with an accuracy of around 80% and a good precision (5.2%). The very low consumption of solvents and other expensive chemicals by this technique and the possibility of analyzing the extract directly without clean-up make it an interesting alternative to the more sophisticated methods. Column elution with dichloromethane was found to be less efficient (61%), but it is a rapid, direct method with a low consumption of solvents and it may therefore serve as screening method. Received: 29 April 1997 / Revised: 30 July 1997 / Accepted: 6 August 1997     

Efficiency of decomposition procedures for the determination of some elements in soils by atomic spectroscopic methods

Nine decomposition procedures for soil samples, such as via acid mixtures and fusion in open systems and microwave and autoclave dissolution (in closed systems under elevated temperature and pressure) were assessed using certified soil reference materials. The determination of various elements in solutions was performed by FAAS and ICP-OES and the results were compared with certified values and with direct current arc OES analysis. Received: 3 March 1997 / Revised: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 3 June 1997     

An enzyme-immunoassay for the detection of the mycotoxin zearalenone by use of yolk antibodies

The development of an enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of the Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (ZON) is described. In contrast to the common antibody isolation from mammal serum, chicken were immunized in order to isolate specific antibodies from the egg yolk. Five weeks after the start of the immunization a titer of 1:76 000 resulted from three injections without any adverse effects for the animals. Utilizing the indirect competitive assay format ZON could be detected in a concentration range between 10 and 200 μg/L. Received: 3 January 1998 / Revised: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 20 March 1998