Conformational transitions of calixphyrin derivatives monitored by temperature-dependent NMR spectroscopy. Ab initio interpretation of the spectra

Eight meso-aryl calixphyrin derivatives were synthesized and their conformational equilibria and transitions studied with temperature-dependent NMR spectroscopy. On the basis of density functional computations, several conformer species could be identified and observed changes in chemical shifts explained. In some compounds, the aryl group rotation and porphyrin ring flipping could be monitored independently, as their NMR coalescence temperatures were well-separated. Calculated relative conformer energies, transition barriers, and isotropic shieldings agree well with the experimental data. In the meso-substituted porhyrins (calixphyrins) the sp3 carbon atoms perturb their pi-electron system and significantly modify the molecular shape and the flexibility. Even when the conjugation of the pi-electron system was destroyed by the nonplanarity, far-range electronic induction effects still exist and influence chemical shielding and molecular geometry. The aryl functional groups moderately modify the structure of the calixphyrin ring and thus can be used for fine-tuning of the mechanical and chemical properties of these compounds.     

Determination of low levels of fluorine in concentrated phosphoric acid by use of the fluoride electrode

Summary The determination of both high and low fluorine concentrations in concentrated phosphoric acid is complicated by the reaction of hydrofluoric acid with phosphoric acid to form monofluorophosphoric acid (MFP), the formation being favoured at high concentrations of phosphoric acid. Neutralization to pH 6–8, a condition suitable for the determination of fluoride with the fluoride electrode, gives low recoveries, since only free hydrogen fluoride is converted into fluoride ion, while MFP is not. The rates of formation and dissociation of MFP were studied and thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were determined. MFP formed in concentrated phosphoric acid can be hydrolysed completely by treatment of the sample with dilute hydrochloric acid and boiling briefly under reflux. EDTA is added to mask any potentially interfering metal ions. The results obtained for concentrated phosphoric acid, after dilution and prehydrolysis, were satisfactory for all the fluorine levels examined.

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Bestimmung geringer Fluorgehalte in konzentrierter Phosphorsäure mit Hilfe der Fluorid-Elektrode

Zusammenfassung Die Bestimmung hoher und niedriger Fluorkonzentrationen in konz. Phosphorsäure wird durch die Reaktion der Flußsäure mit der Phosphorsäure zu Monofluorphosphorsäure (MPF) behindert, die in konz. Phosphorsäure begünstigt wird. Neutralisierung zu pH 6–8, die für die Bestimmung von Fluorid mit der Fluoridelektrode förderlich ist, gibt zu niedrige Resultate, da nur freier Fluorwasserstoff zu Fluoridion dissoziiert, nicht aber MFP. Die Anteile der Bildung und Dissoziation von MFP wurden untersucht, die thermischen und kinetischen Parameter bestimmt. In konz. Phosphorsäure gebildete MFP kann durch Behandlung der Probe mit verdünnter Salzsäure und kurzes Kochen unter Rückfluß vollständig hydrolysiert werden. Um störende Metallionen zu maskieren wird EDTA zugesetzt. Die nach Verdünnen und Hydrolyse der konz. Phosphorsäure erhaltenen Ergebnisse waren für alle untersuchten Größenordnungen von Fluor befriedigend.

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Presented at the 8th International Microchemical Symposium, Graz, August 25–30, 1980.     

Critical parameters and optimization of a magnesium-selective liquid membrane electrode for application to human blood serum

Summary The selectivity of a new magnesium ionophore (ETH 7025) induced in membranes of different compositions is experimentally studied in view of the ion activities in human serum. The required selectivity coefficient against calcium for the application of an ion-selective magnesium electrode to human serum is calculated for the worst case. Other critical parameters for the application of a liquid PVC-based ion-selective membrane to undiluted human serum discussed are: the sensor lifetime which is related to the lipophilicity of the carrier as well as the ruggedness of the membrane against interactions with components of the relatively lipophilic sample.     

Screening,library-assisted identification and validated quantification of fifteen neuroleptics and three of their metabolites in plasma by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI-LC/MS) is presented for the fast and reliable screening and identification and for the precise and sensitive quantification of 15 neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs and three of their relevant metabolites in plasma. It allows confirmation of the diagnosis of a neuroleptic overdose and monitoring of psychiatric patients' compliance. The neuroleptics amisulpride, bromperidol, clozapine, droperidol, flupenthixol, fluphenazine, haloperidol, melperone, olanzapine, perazine, pimozide, risperidone, sulpiride, zotepine and zuclopenthixol and the pharmacologically active metabolites norclozapine, clozapine N-oxide and 9-hydroxyrisperidone were extracted from plasma using solid-phase extraction and were separated on a Merck LiChroCART column with Superspher 60 RP Select B as the stationary phase. Gradient elution was performed using aqueous ammonium formate and acetonitrile. After screening and identification in the scan mode using the authors' new LC/MS library, the neuroleptics were quantified in the selected-ion mode. The quantification assay was fully validated. It was found to be selective and proved to be linear from sub-therapeutic to over therapeutic concentrations for all analytes. The corresponding reference levels are listed. The accuracy and precision data were within the required limits. The analytes were stable in frozen plasma for at least 1 month. The method was successfully applied to several authentic plasma samples from patients treated or intoxicated with various neuroleptics. The validated LC/MS assay has proved to be appropriate for the isolation, separation, screening, identification and quantification of various neuroleptics in plasma for clinical toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring purposes.     

Cobalt blood levels after total hip replacement (THR): a new follow-up study in Trieste (Italy)

Cobalt and chromium release in patients undergone a metal-on-metal total hip replacement (THR) is a matter recently discussed and whose we do not have enough information about it yet. In literature there is little data and not completely indicative, in the biological fluids and organs the amounts of released metals are different. This is also due to the fact that cobalt and chromium blood levels can change depending on physical and working activity, individual feeding and metabolism. The results obtained confirm the presence of an increase of cobalt inthe blood of patients after total hip replacement, while the chromium levels are almost alike: average values in patients operated are 4.1 +/- 1.5 microg/L for cobalt (0.3 +/- 0.1 microg/L in the control group) and 4.5 +/- 2.9 microg/L for chromium (4.7 +/- 2.4 microg/L in the control group). In spite of the cobalt values stand below the concentration generally considered dangerous, the difference between the two examined groups points out that a risk exists for the health of these patients. These results must be confirmed by further studies, providing better information and more reliable and biocompatible materials.     

Carbocyclische Verbindungen aus Monosacchariden. I. Umsetzungen in der glucosereihe

Carbocyclic Compounds from Monosaccharides. 1. Transformations in the Glucose Series A method for the preparation of pentasubstituted cyclopentanes from monosaccharides is presented, involving two crucial steps, viz. the reductive fragmentation of 5-bromo-5-deoxyglucosides (such as 10, 17 and 23 , see Scheme 3) with Zn or butyl lithium yielding 5,6-dideoxy-hex-5-enoses (such as 11 and 24 , see Schemes 3 and 4), and the subsequent cyclization of these hexenoses with N-methyl- or N-(alkoxyalkyl)hydroxylamines (via the corresponding nitrones) to form cyclopentano-isoxazolidines (see Scheme 2). Thus, the glucosides 17 and 23 were converted diastereoselectively and in good yields into the cyclopentano-isoxazolidines 27 and 45 (Schemes 5 and 7), which were characterized by their transformation into various derivatives. 27 and 45 were correlated through the common derivative 62 . The configuration of the cyclization products were established by pyrolysis of the N-oxide 65 to the enol ether 67 (Scheme 10).     

Preparation d'esters par deshydrogenation d'alcools primaires en phase liquide catalysee par l'oxyde de cuivre - observations preliminaires

Linear primary alcohols with at least 7 carbon atoms are quite quantitatively transformed in esters, by CuO, at temperatures > 170°, without air in liquid phase. Preponderant influence of carbon in position 2 is evidenced. In the same conditions lactones are obtained from diols, and benzylic alcohols undergoes, by hydride transfer, a disproportionation into toluene, benzaldehyde and water.     

Rapid determination of orotic acid in urine by a fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method

Quantification of orotic acid (uracil-6-carboxylic acid) in urine is an important tool to diagnose some inherited diseases, such as urea cycle disorder (OTCD) and hereditary orotic aciduria. New rapid analytical methods are necessary to provide high-throughput orotic acid analyses. A new analytical method has been developed for the rapid analysis of orotic acid in urine by liquid chromatography coupled with ion spray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). After a sample dilution 1:20, the analysis was performed in the selected reaction monitoring mode in which orotic acid was detected through the transition m/z 155 to 111. The retention time was 3.9 min in a 4.5-min analysis. Daily calibration between 0.5-5.0 micromol/L of orotic acid, corresponding to 10-100 micromol/L in urine before the 1:20 dilution, offered consistent linearity and reproducibility. Interassay coefficient of variance (c.v.) was 4.97% at a mean concentration of 10.99 micromol/L. The sensitivity and specificity of tandem mass spectrometry permitted a high volume of analyses of orotic acid. The sample preparation is simple, inexpensive and not time demanding.     

Analogues of Sialic Acids as Potential Sialidase Inhibitors Synthesis of 2-C-Hydroxymethyl Derivatives of N-Acetyl-6-amino-2,6-dideoxy-neuraminic Acid

The intramolecular cycloaddition of the previously described azidoalkene 16 , the related diacetates 7 and 13 , and the monoacetate 8 led diastereoselectivity to the (2R)- and (2S)-configurated hydropyridotriazoles 17 , 9 and 11 , 14 and 15 , and 10 and 12 , respectively (Scheme 1). Thermolysis of 16 gave also the aziridine 18 , its proportion increasing with reaction time. The diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition- is rationalized on the basis of steric interactions and of H? bonds in the transition state. Photolysis in benzene partially transformed 9 into the aziridine 19 . Treatment of 9 with aqueous AcOH gave 19 and the tetrahydrofuran 20 , with AcOH in benzene 20 and the triacetate 23 , and with aqueous H₂SO₄ in THF, the primary alcohol 22 (room temperature) or 19 and 22 (0°). Deacetylation of 9 followed by reaction with pyridinium hydrochloride led to the tetrahydrofuran 21 and the chloride 24 (Scheme 2). The diacetate 22 and the triacetate 23 gave the tripl 25 which was deprotected to 26 . Reduction of the keto-aziridine 18 (NaBH₄) gave the alcohols 27 and 29 which were acetylated to give 28 and 19 , respectively (Scheme 3). Treatment of the aziridine 28 with AcOH in benzene followed by deacetylation gave 30 and hence 31 . AcOH in benzene transformed the triazoline 15 first into the aziridine 32 and hence into 33 , which was deprotected to give the triol 34 and hence 35 . The 2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidines 26 , 31 , and 35 inhibited Vibrio cholerae sialidase with K₁ = 3.8 · 10^?2 M, 3.4 · 10^?3 M, and 1.5 · 10^?4 M, respectively. The conformation of the glycerol side chain of these compounds and of the unbranched piperidines 2–4 deviates from the one of Neu5Ac (and Neu2en5Ac). This finding is rationalized by an H-bond between OH? C(8) and NH? C(6). The conformations and the K₁ values of 26 , 31 , and 35 correlate with each other.     

Wavy graphene sheets from electrochemical sewing of corannulene

The presence of non-hexagonal rings in the honeycomb carbon arrangement of graphene produces rippled graphene layers with valuable chemical and physical properties. In principle, a bottom-up approach to introducing distortion from planarity of a graphene sheet can be achieved by careful insertion of curved polyaromatic hydrocarbons during the growth of the lattice. Corannulene, the archetype of such non-planar polyaromatic hydrocarbons, can act as an ideal wrinkling motif in 2D carbon nanostructures. Herein we report an electrochemical bottom-up method to obtain egg-box shaped nanographene structures through a polycondensation of corannulene that produces a new conducting layered material. Characterization of this new polymeric material by electrochemistry, spectroscopy, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), scanning probe microscopy, and laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry provides strong evidence that the anodic polymerization of corannulene, combined with electrochemically induced oxidative cyclodehydrogenations (Scholl reactions), leads to polycorannulene with a wavy graphene-like structure.

A bottom-up synthesis of wavy graphene structures obtained through an anodic polymerization process, combined with an electrochemically triggered oxidative cyclodehydrogenation, of the bowl-shaped polyaromatic hydrocarbon corannulene.