A new convenient synthesis of N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates

Easily accessible N-acyl-2-triphenylphosphonioglycinate tetrafluoroborates react smoothly with trimethylphosphite in the presence of methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide to give N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates in good or very good yields. The dimethoxyphosphorylglycinates may be isolated by column chromatography, or used directly for the Wadsworth-Emmons synthesis of α,β-dehydro-α-amino acids in a one-pot procedure without purification.     

O-atom transport catalysis by atomic cations in the gas phase: reduction of N2O by CO

Atomic cations (26), M+, have been shown to lie within a thermodynamic window for O-atom transport catalysis of the reduction of N2O by CO and have been checked for catalytic activity at room temperature with kinetic measurements using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. Only 10 of these 26 atomic cations were seen to be catalytic: Ca+, Fe+, Ge+, Sr+, Ba+, Os+, Ir+, Pt+, Eu+, and Yb+. The remaining 16 cations that lie in the thermodynamic window (Cr+, Mn+, Co+, Ni+, Cu+, Se+, Mo+, Ru+, Rh+, Sn+, Te+, Re+, Pb+, Bi+, Tm+, and Lu+) react too slowly at room temperature either in the formation of MO+ or in its reduction by CO. Many of these reactions are known to be spin forbidden and a few actually may lie outside the thermodynamic window. A new measure of efficiency is introduced for catalytic cycles that allows the discrimination between catalytic cations on the basis of the efficiencies of the two legs of the catalytic cycle. Also, a potential-energy landscape is computed for the reduction of N2O by CO catalyzed by Fe+(6D) that vividly illustrates the operation of an ionic catalyst.     

Existence of doubly charged lead monohydrate: experimental evidence and theoretical examination

Despite reports to the contrary, doubly charged lead monohydrate is a stable species against both proton and charge transfers. [Pb(H(2)O)](2+) has been observed as a minor product in the ligand-exchange reaction of [Pb(CH(3)CN)](2+) with H(2)O after collisional activation. Density functional theory has been used to examine reaction profiles of [Pb(H(2)O)(n)](2+) where n = 1, 2, and 3.     

Mixed Azines of Naloxone with Dihydromorphinone Derivatives

The mixed azines 4 and 5 were prepared by reaction of naloxazone ( 2 ) with either oxymorphone ( 6 ) or 14-O-methyloxymorphone ( 7 ) and tested in vitro using opioid receptor binding assays and in vivo using the AcOH-writhing test in mice. Compound 4 was found to be a partial agonist, while compound 5 was a potent opioid agonist with higher potency than morphine.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatisation and fluorescence detection for sensitive determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk and cheese

A new HPLC method with fluorescence detection using pyridinium hydrobromide perbromide as a post-column derivatising agent has been developed to determine aflatoxin M1 in milk and cheese. The detection limits were 1 ng/kg for milk and 5 ng/kg for cheese. The calibration curve was linear from 0.001 to 0.1 ng injected. The method includes a preliminary C18-SPE clean-up and the average recoveries of Aflatoxin M1 from milk and cheese, spiked at levels of 25-75 ng/kg and 100-300 ng/kg, respectively, were 90 and 76%; the precision (RSDr) ranged from 1.7 to 2.6% for milk and from 3.5 to 6.5% for cheese. The method is rapid, easily automatable and therefore useful for accurate and precise screening of aflatoxin M1 in milk and cheese.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of Levetiracetam in human plasma: comparison of different sample clean-up procedures

An accurate and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic method using diode array detection for the determination of the novel antiepileptic, Levetiracetam, has been developed. Three clean-up procedures for the analysis of Levetiracetam in human plasma were implemented and evaluated, namely solid-phase extraction, deproteinization by addition of organic solvents and formation of insoluble salts. Adenosine was used as the internal standard for all three sample pretreatment procedures. Among the several cartridges used for solid-phase extraction, the hydrophilic-lypophilic balance (Oasis) HLB) phase provides the best extraction yield of Levetiracetam, together with high precision. With the two other clean-up procedures involving plasma deproteinization by addition of methanol or zinc sulphate, lower sensitivity and precision of the assays were obtained. However, they are cheaper and faster when compared with the solid-phase extraction procedure.     

Effects of irradiation on trans fatty acids formation in ground beef

In order to give the consumer the assurance that meat processed by irradiation is a safe product, a great deal of research has been developed in the world. The effect of irradiation on the hygienic quality of meat and meat products is considered as related to the control of meat-borne parasites of humans; elimination of pathogens from fresh meat and poultry; and elimination of pathogens from processed meat. Lipid oxidation and associated changes are the major causes of the quality deterioration of meat during storage. Irradiation of lipids induces the production of free radicals, which react with oxygen, leading to the formation of carbonyls, responsible for alterations in food nutritional and sensorial characteristics. Trans fatty acids are present in ground beef and can also be formed during its processing. Interestingly, the trans fatty acids, due to their chemical and physical characteristics, show more resistance to the oxidizing process. This property motivated us to investigate the level of the trans fatty acids, as well as the level of oxidation in irradiated ground beef. Irradiation of ground beef was performed by gamma rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. The applied radiation doses were 0; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.0; 5.0; 6.0; 7.0 and 8.0 kGy. Lipid peroxidation in terms of TBA number and carbonyl content was monitored during storage. The sample characteristics and trans fatty acids composition were measured, following irradiation and after 60 and 90 days of storage at –10°C.     

Vibrational spectra and structure of “staircase” carbonyl π-complexes of transition metals

FTIR spectra have been studied for staircase cyclopentadienyl complexes containing two or three metal carbonyl fragments bound by the metal-carbon bond Cp(CO)₂Fe-CpmMn(CO)₃ (1), Cp(CO)₂Fe-CpmFe(CO)₂CH₂Ph (2), Cp(CO)₂Fe-Cpm(CO)₂Fe-CpmMn(CO)₃ (3), Cp(CO)₂Mo-Cpm(CO)₂Fe-CpmMn(CO)₃ (4), Cp(CO)₃W-Cpm(CO)₂Fe-CpmMn(CO)₃ (5), Cp(CO)₂Fe-Cpm(CO)₂Fe-BmCr(CO)₃ (6), Cr(CO)₃Bm-CpmFe(CO)₂CH₂Ph (7), where Cp = ₅-C₅H₅, Cpm = ¹⁵-C₅H₄, Bm = ¹⁶-C₆H₅. Temperature-dependent FTIR spectra were measured inn-pentane solutions over a wide temperature range and in the low-temperature solid matrices of argon and nitrogen. Rotamers, formed due to rotation about the metal-carbon -bond, were found in solutions and matrices. A molecular mechanics calculation of1 proved the possibility of such rotation.Translated fromIzyestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1952–1956, November, 1994.The authors are grateful to the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project code No 93-03-18592) and to the International Science Foundation (project code No MEQ000).     

Aqueous dispersions of single-wall and multiwall carbon nanotubes with designed amphiphilic polycations

Poor solubility of single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NTs) in water and organic solvents presents a considerable challenge for their purification and applications. Macromolecules can be convenient solubilizing agents for NTs and a structural element of composite materials for them. Several block copolymers with different chemical functionalities of the side groups were tested for the preparation of aqueous NT dispersions. Poly(N-cetyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide-co-N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide-co-4-vinylpyridine) was found to form exceptionally stable NT dispersions. It is suggested that the efficiency of macromolecular dispersion agents for NT solubilization correlates with the topological and electronic similarity of polymer-NT and NT-NT interactions in the nanotube bundles. Raman spectroscopy and atomic force and transmission electron microcopies data indicate that the polycations are wrapped around NTs forming a uniform coating 1.0-1.5 nm thick. The ability to wind around the NT originates in the hydrophobic attraction of the polymer backbone to the graphene surface and topological matching. Tetraalkylammonium functional groups in the side chains of the macromolecule create a cloud of positive charge around NTs, which makes them hydrophilic. The prepared dispersions could facilitate the processing of the nanotubes into composites with high nanotube loading for electronic materials and sensing. Positive charge on their surface is particularly important for biological and biomedical applications because it strengthens interactions with negatively charged cell membranes. A high degree of spontaneous bundle separation afforded by the polymer coating can also be beneficial for NT sorting.