Optimization of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight collision-induced dissociation using poly(ethylene glycol)

Details of the optimization of the collision-induced dissociation (CID) process, using a collision cell on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, are described using poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 (PEG 1000) as a model analyte. The effects of collision gas identity (helium, air, and argon), as well as collision gas pressure, on the resulting MS/MS data were investigated. With PEG 1000, helium was found to give the best results with respect to signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The optimum pressure for each gas was found to be in the range where the precursor ion signal was attenuated to approximately 30-50% for helium and 40-60% for argon. The effect of cation choice (Li, Na, and K) on the CID of PEG was also studied. CID spectra were produced for each, but PEG cationized with lithium was found to produce the spectra with the highest S/N ratio. The MALDI-TOF CID spectra that were generated for PEG were compared with the high-energy and low-energy MS/MS spectra obtained from a sector mass spectrometer and from a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, respectively. The results observed for PEG confirm that CID on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is a high-energy MS/MS technique.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4,4-disubstituted-2-imidazoli-dinones: potent NK1 antagonists

[structure: see text] A highly efficient and practical synthesis of 4,4-Disubstituted-2-Imidazolidinones utilizing a "self-reproduction of the center of chirality" strategy is described.     

Design and synthesis of aromatic inhibitors of anthranilate synthase

Aromatic analogues of chorismate were synthesised as potential inhibitors of anthranilate synthase. Molecular modelling using GOLD2.1 showed that these analogues docked into the active site of Serratia marcescens anthranilate synthase in the same conformation as chorismate. Most compounds were found to be micromolar inhibitors of S. marcescens anthranilate synthase. The most potent analogue, 3-(1-carboxy-ethoxy)-4-hydroxybenzoate (K(I) 3 microM), included a lactyl ether side chain. This appears to be a good replacement for the enol-pyruvyl side chain of chorismate.     

Multiple nitrene insertions into metal-sulfur bonds of dithiocarbamate complexes: synthesis of sulfido-amido and zwitterionic tetraamido complexes

The iodine(III) reagent, PhI[double bond, length as m-dash]NTs, acts as a source of the nitrene fragment NTs, which undergoes facile insertion into the metal-sulfur bonds of a range of dithiocarbamate complexes. Addition of two equivalents of PhI=NTs to [M(S(2)CNR2)2] affords sulfido-amido complexes [M{SC(NR2)SNTs}2](M=Ni, Cu), which insert two further nitrene fragments to afford zwitterionic tetraamido complexes [M{TsNSC(NR2)SNTs}2](M=Co, Ni, Cu). Crystallographic studies have been carried out on both types of complex allowing possible resonance hydrids of the new ligand types to be assessed.     

Selective cleavage of P-N bonds and the conversion of rhodium N-pyrrolyl phosphine complexes into diphosphoxane-bridged dimers

Rhodium(I) complexes trans-[RhCl(CO)(PR(2)[NC(4)H(3)C(O)Me-2])(2)] (R = Ph, NC(4)H(4)) react with water to give the diphosphoxane-bridged dimers [Rh(2)Cl(2)(CO)(2)(mu-PR(2)OPR(2))(2)] following cleavage of the P-N bonds to the 2-acetyl-N-pyrrolyl groups. The two dimers have been crystallographically characterized and show a number of structural differences, with the PPh(2)OPPh(2) compound possessing semibridging chloride and carbonyl ligands whereas the P(NC(4)H(4))(2)OP(NC(4)H(4))(2) compound contains only terminal chlorides and carbonyls. No evidence for cleavage of the P-N bonds involving the unfunctionalized N-pyrrolyl groups in trans-[RhCl(CO)(P[NC(4)H(4)](2)[NC(4)H(3)C(O)Me-2])(2)] was observed.     

Dynamic light scattering studies of poly(ethylene oxide) adsorbed on Laponite: layer conformation and its effect on particle stability

Dynamic light scattering has been used to determine the hydrodynamic thickness of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) adsorbed on synthetic anisotropic clay particles (Laponite) as a function of molecular weight. The layer thicknesses, and their increase with molecular weight, indicate that the conformation of the adsorbed layer is very compact and is much smaller than those normally observed for polymer adsorption on flat interfaces. The aggregation kinetics of the polymer coated particles in 5 mM NaCl was analyzed in a quantitative manner, revealing that the potential barrier to aggregation is strongly enhanced when polymer is present.     

Transport and kinetics at microheterogeneous electrodes: Part V. The methylviologen/platinum system

Results are reported for the reaction of methylviologen radical cation, MV⁺ with platinum colloidal particles, studied by stopped flow spectrophotometry. The rate of the reaction depends on the gaseous pretreatment of the particles. For particles reduced by hydrogen, the kinetics are usually first order with respect to MV⁺. The reaction is also first order in the concentration of platinum, and is inhibited in a first order manner by the product MV²⁺. This inhibition suggests that MV²⁺ is adsorbed on the particle surfaces, and this has been confirmed by ac, ring—disc electrode studies on macroscopic platinum electrodes. At high concentrations of MV⁺ some deviation from first order kinetics is observed. These results are all explained by a kinetic model in which either the desorption of MV²⁺ or the adsorption of MV⁺ is the rate limiting process. The rate of consumption of MV⁺ on an oxidised surface is an order of magnitude faster than that on the reduced surface. Ring—disc studies show that this is because the MV⁺ is not producing H₂ but is reducing the surface oxide. The results are shown to fit a simple model which takes into account this titration of the oxide layer. The model also explains why the rate on partially oxidised surfaces will appear to have an order greater than one in [Pt].     

Transparent conducting oxides: texture and microstructure effects on charge carrier mobility in MOCVD-derived CdO thin films grown with a thermally stable, low-melting precursor

A series of low-melting, thermally stable cadmium metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) precursors have been synthesized, structurally and spectroscopically characterized, and implemented in growth of highly conductive and transparent CdO thin films. One member of the series, bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato)(N,N-diethyl-N',N'-dimethyl-ethylenediamine)cadmium(II), Cd(hfa)(2)()(N,N-DE-N',N'-DMEDA), represents a particularly significant improvement over previously available Cd precursors, owing to the low melting point and robust thermal stability. High-quality CdO films were grown by MOCVD on glass and single-crystal MgO(100) between 300 and 412 degrees C. Film growth parameters and substrate surface have large effects on microstructure and electron carrier transport properties. Enhanced mobilities observed for highly biaxially textured films grown on MgO(100) vs glass are attributed, on the basis of DC charge transport and microstructure analysis, to a reduction in neutral impurity scattering and/or to a more densely packed grain microstructure. Although single-grained films grown on MgO(100) exhibit greater mobilities than analogues with discrete approximately 100 nm grains and similar texture, this effect is attributed, on the basis of charge transport and Hall effect measurements as well as optical reflectivity analysis, to differences in carrier concentration rather than to reduced grain boundary scattering. Unprecedented conductivities and mobilities as high as 11,000 S/cm and 307 cm(2)/V.s, respectively, are obtained for epitaxial single-grained films (X-ray diffraction parameters: fwhm(omega) = 0.30 degrees, fwhm(phi) = 0.27 degrees ) grown in situ on MgO(100) at a relatively low temperature (400 degrees C).