Selenium speciation in animal tissues after enzymatic digestion by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A procedure is described for the enzymatic digestion of tuna and mussel samples that allows the determination of selenium species by high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The species were extracted by two-step enzymatic hydrolysis with a non-specific protease (subtilisin). The selenium species were separated on a Spherisorb 5 ODS/AMINO column using two different chromatographic conditions, namely phosphate buffers at pH 2.8 and pH 6.0 as mobile phases. The method determines organic (trimethylselenonium, selenocystine, selenomethionine and selenoethionine) and inorganic selenium species (selenite and selenate), but only organic selenium species were found in the samples. The sum of identified selenium species in the sample was about 30% of the total selenium present in the enzymatic extract despite the fact that recoveries of total hydrolysed selenium were 93-102%. Trimethylselenonium ion and selenomethionine were found in both tuna and mussel samples and an unknown selenium species was also found in tuna samples.     

The structure of a trimolecular liquid: tert-butyl alcohol:cyclohexene:water

The structure of the trimolecular liquid mixture of 2:6:1 cyclohexene, tert-butyl alcohol, and water has been investigated using hydrogen/deuterium substitution neutron scattering techniques, and a three-dimensional structural model refined to be consistent with the experimental data has been built using the technique of Empirical Potential Structure Refinement. The model shows a well-mixed solution of the three molecular components where the competing interactions between the nonpolar cyclohexene and polar water molecules are balanced in the solution leading to largely pure-alcohol-like interactions between the tert-butyl alcohol molecules. Cyclohexene molecules favor direct solvation by alcohol methyl groups while water molecules are accommodated, dispersed throughout the solution, via hydrogen bonding interactions with the alcohol molecule hydroxyl groups. Rare occurrences of direct cyclohexene-water interactions are of the classic hydrophobic hydration type and no evidence is found for microscopic heterogeneity in the trimolecular mixture in contrast to the general findings for binary alcohol-water solutions.     

2',7'-Difluorofluorescein excited-state proton reactions: correlation between time-resolved emission and steady-state fluorescence intensity

The presence of excited-state buffer-mediated proton exchange reactions influences the steady-state fluorescence signals from dyes in solution. Since biomolecules in general have some chemical groups that can act as proton acceptors/donors and are usually dissolved in buffer solutions which can also behave as appropriate proton acceptors/donors, the excited-state proton exchange reactions may result in distorted steady-state fluorescence signals. In a previous paper (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 734-747), we evaluated kinetic and other pertinent parameters for the excited-state proton reactions of the prototropic forms of 2',7'-difluorofluorescein (Oregon Green 488, OG488), recording a fluorescence decay surface at different pH values and acetate buffer concentrations, analyzed by means of global compartmental analysis. In this article we use the rate constants and the corrected pre-exponential factors from the previously recorded fluorescence decay traces to simulate the decay times and associated pre-exponentials at different acetate buffer concentrations and constant pH and compare these theoretically calculated values with new experimental data. We also calculate the steady-state fluorescence intensity vs pH and vs acetate buffer concentration (at constant pH) and compare these calculated emission values with the experimental data previously published. The agreement between the experimental and simulated data is excellent.     

Excited-state dynamics of fac-[ReI(L)(CO)3(phen)]+ and fac-[ReI(L)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)]+ (L = imidazole, 4-ethylpyridine; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) complexes

The nature and dynamics of the lowest excited states of fac-[Re(I)(L)(CO)(3)(phen)](+) and fac-[Re(I)(L)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) [L = Cl(-), 4-ethyl-pyridine (4-Etpy), imidazole (imH); phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] have been investigated by picosecond visible and IR transient absorption spectroscopy in aqueous (L = imH), acetonitrile (L = 4-Etpy, imH), and MeOH (L = imH) solutions. The phen complexes have long-lived Re(I) --> phen (3)MLCT excited states, characterized by CO stretching frequencies that are upshifted relative to their ground-state values and by widely split IR bands due to the out-of-phase A'(2) and A"nu(CO) vibrations. The lowest excited states of the 5-NO(2)-phen complexes also have (3)MLCT character; the larger upward nu(CO) shifts accord with much more extensive charge transfer from the Re(I)(CO)(3) unit to 5-NO(2)-phen in these states. Transient visible absorption spectra indicate that the excited electron is delocalized over the 5-NO(2)-phen ligand, which acquires radical anionic character. Similarly, involvement of the -NO(2) group in the Franck-Condon MLCT transition is manifested by the presence of an enhanced nu(NO(2)) band in the preresonance Raman spectrum of [Re(I)(4-Etpy)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+). The Re(I) --> 5-NO(2)-phen (3)MLCT excited states are very short-lived: 7.6, 170, and 43 ps for L = Cl(-), 4-Etpy, and imH, respectively, in CH(3)CN solutions. The (3)MLCT excited state of [Re(I)(imH)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) is even shorter-lived in MeOH (15 ps) and H(2)O (1.3 ps). In addition to (3)MLCT, excitation of [Re(I)(imH)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) populates a (3)LLCT (imH --> 5-NO(2)-phen) excited state. Most of the (3)LLCT population decays to the ground state (time constants of 19 (H(2)O), 50 (MeOH), and 72 ps (CH(3)CN)); in a small fraction, however, deprotonation of the imH.+ ligand occurs, producing a long-lived species, [Re(I)(im.)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen).-]+.     

Alkynyldiphenylphosphine d8 (Pt, Rh, Ir) complexes: contrasting behavior toward cis-[Pt(C6F5)2(THF)2

The synthesis and characterization of a series of mononuclear d(8) complexes with at least two P-coordinated alkynylphosphine ligands and their reactivity toward cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] are reported. The cationic [Pt(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(3)](CF(3)SO(3)), 1, [M(COD)(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2)](ClO(4)) (M = Rh, 2, and Ir, 3), and neutral [Pt(o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2)] (E = O, 6, and S, 7) complexes have been prepared, and the crystal structures of 1, 2, and 7.CH(3)COCH(3) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The course of the reactions of the mononuclear complexes 1-3, 6, and 7 with cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] is strongly influenced by the metal and the ligands. Thus, treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] gives the double inserted cationic product [Pt(C(6)F(5))(S)mu-(C(Ph)=C(PPh(2))C(PPh(2))=C(Ph)(C(6)F(5)))Pt(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)](CF(3)SO(3)) (S = THF, H(2)O), 8 (S = H(2)O, X-ray), which evolves in solution to the mononuclear complex [(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)Pt(C(10)H(4)-1-C(6)F(5)-4-Ph-2,3-kappaPP'(PPh(2))(2))](CF(3) SO(3)), 9 (X-ray), containing a 1-pentafluorophenyl-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphine)-4-phenylnaphthalene ligand, formed by annulation of a phenyl group and loss of the Pt(C(6)F(5)) unit. However, analogous reactions using 2 or 3 as precursors afford mixtures of complexes, from which we have characterized by X-ray crystallography the alkynylphosphine oxide compound [(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(mu-kappaO:eta(2)-PPh(2)(O)C triple-bond CPh)](2), 10, in the reaction with the iridium complex (3). Complexes 6 and 7, which contain additional potential bridging donor atoms (O, S), react with cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] in the appropriate molar ratio (1:1 or 1:2) to give homo- bi- or trinuclear [Pt(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(mu-kappaE-o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(mu-kappaP:eta(2)-PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)] (E = O, 11, and S, 12) and [(Pt(mu(3)-kappa(2)EE'-o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(mu-kappaP:eta(2)-PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2))(Pt(C(6)F(5))(2))(2)] (E = O, 13, and S, 14) complexes. The molecular structure of 14 has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and the cyclic voltammetric behavior of precursor complexes 6 and 7 and polymetallic derivatives 11-14 has been examined.     

Modular bis(oxazoline) ligands for palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation: unprecedented conformational behaviour of a bis(oxazoline) palladium eta3-1,3-diphenylallyl complex

New families of enantiopure bis(oxazolines) with 4,5-trans (5 a-g) or 4,5-cis (6 c) stereochemistry at the individual rings have been prepared in high yield. Their eta(3)-allyl palladium complexes (8 a-g, 9 c and 10) have been used as catalytic precursors in allylic alkylation reactions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %) for the trans oxazoline derivatives, while Pd/6 c system was inactive. NMR studies on palladium eta(3)-1,3-diphenylallyl intermediates (11 a, c and e) showed the presence of syn/syn- and syn/anti-allyl isomers in solution; this resembles the first example of eta(3)-eta(1)-eta(3) isomerism in Pd allylic complexes containing bis(oxazolines) derived from malonic acid.     

HERPES VIRUS PRODUCTION IN MONKEY KIDNEY AND HUMAN SKIN CELLS TREATED WITH ANGELICIN OR 8-METHOXYPSORALEN PLUS 365 nm LIGHT

Abstract—At an cquimolar concentration of 50 μM the bifunctional furocoumarin, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), is about 36 times more efficient in inhibiting the colony forming ability of CV-I monkey kidney cells than the monofunctional furocoumarin angelicin. In contrast 8-MOP is only 7.5 times more efficient than angelicin for the inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) production in CV-1 cells. This latter factor seems to reflect differences in photoreactivity of the two compounds with host cell DNA.
A substantial recovery of HSV production was seen when cells were infected at different time intervals after treatment with angelicin-plus-light, whereas recovery was very limited after 8-MOP plus light treatment. The recovery process was slow as compared to that observed after UV (254 nm)-irradiation.
The repair capacities of treated normal and xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) skin fibroblasts were estimated by measuring HSV production and unscheduled DNA synthesis. XP-A cells repaired angelicin induced damage less efficiently than did normal cells. Neither cell type showed any repair activity after 8-MOP plus light treatment.     

Organo-Polyoxometalate-Based Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis

Several urea-inserted organo-polyoxometalates (POMs) derived from polyoxotungstovanadate [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₁]⁹⁻ were prepared. The insertion of the carbonyl into the polyoxometallic framework activates the urea toward Hydrogen-bond catalysis. This was shown on the Friedel-Crafts arylation of trans-β-nitrostyrene. Modelling shows that the most stable form of the organo-POMs features a cis-trans arrangement of the two N−H bonds, but that the likely catalytically active trans-trans form is accessible at room temperature. Finally, it is possible that the oxo substituents next to the vanadium atoms may help the approach of the nucleophile via H-bonding.