Ultratrace analysis of uracil and 5‐fluorouracil by molecularly imprinted polymer brushes grafted to silylated solid‐phase microextraction fiber in combination with complementary molecularly imprinted polymer‐based sensor

Main inborn errors of metabolism diagnosable through uracil (Ura) analysis and the therapeutic monitoring of toxic 5‐fluorouracil (5FU) in dihydro pyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficient patients require a sensitive, reproducible, selective and accurate method. In this work, an artificial receptor in the format of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) brush ‘grafted to’ the surface of sol–gel immobilized on cost‐effective homemade solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fibers, individually imprinted with either of Ura and 5FU, was used in combination with a voltammetric sensor duly modified with the same MIP. This combination provided up to 10‐ and 8.4‐fold preconcentrations of Ura and 5FU, respectively, which was more than sufficient for achieving stringent detection limits in the primitive diagnosis of uracil disorders and fluoropyrimidine toxicity in DPD‐deficient patients. The proposed method permits the assessment of Ura and 5FU plasma concentrations with detection limits pf 0.0245 and 0.0484 ng mL^?1 (RSD = 1.0–2.5%, S/N = 3), respectively, without any problems of non‐specific false‐positives and cross‐reactivities in complicated matrices of biological samples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluoroaryl-substituted ketiminate complexes of aluminum

The ketiminate complex AlCl[OC(Me)CHC(Me)N(p-C₆H₄F)]₂ (4) has been prepared from the β-aminoenone, OC(Me)CHC(Me)N(H)(p-C₆H₄F) (3) by lithiation of 3 with n-BuLi, followed by reaction with AlCl₃ and by the reaction of 3 with Me₂AlCl. A second compound, [AlCl₂{OC(Me)CHC(Me)N(H)(p-C₆H₄F)}₄][AlCl₄] (5), was also isolated from the AlCl₃ reaction. The structures of 4 and 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Odd-even variations in the wettability of n-alkanethiolate monolayers on gold by water and hexadecane: a molecular dynamics simulation study

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate odd-even chain length dependencies in the wetting properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-alkanethiols [CH3(CH2)n-1SH] on gold by water and hexadecane. Experimentally, the contact angle of hexadecane on the SAMs depends on whether n is odd or even, while contact angles for water show no odd-even dependence. Our MD simulations of this system included a microscopic droplet of either 256 water molecules or 60 hexadecane molecules localized on an n-alkanethiolate SAM on gold with either an even or odd chain length. Contact angles calculated for these nanoscopic droplets were consistent with experimentally observed macroscopic trends in wettability, namely, that hexadecane is sensitive to structural differences between odd- and even-chained SAMs while water is not. Structural properties for the SAMs (including features such as chain tilt, chain twist, and terminal methyl group tilt) were calculated during the MD simulations and used to generate IR spectra of these films that compared favorably with experimental spectra. MD simulations of SAMs in contact with slabs of water and hexadecane revealed that the effects of these solvents on the structure of the SAM was restricted to the chain terminus and had no effect on the inner structure of the SAM. The density profiles for water and hexadecane on the SAMs were different in that water displayed a significant depletion in its density at the liquid/SAM interface from its bulk value, while no such depletion occurred for hexadecane. This difference in contact may explain the lack of an odd-even variation in the wetting characteristics of water on these surfaces, because the water molecules are positioned further away from the surface and, therefore, are not sensitive to the structural differences in the average orientations for the terminal methyl groups in odd- and even-chained SAMs. In contrast, the differences in the wetting properties of hexadecane on the odd- and even-chained SAMs may reflect the closer proximity of these molecules to the SAM surface and a resulting greater sensitivity to the differences in the terminal methyl group orientations in the SAMs. SAM-solvent interaction energies were calculated during the MD simulations, yielding interaction energies that differed on the even- and odd-chained surfaces by approximately 10% for hexadecane and negligibly for water, in accord with estimates using experimental wetting results.     

Dialkyl aluminium amides: new reagents for the conversion of C=O into C=NR functionalities

A new methodology for the preparation of alpha-diimines and beta-aminoenones has been devised and represents an alternative route to these and related nitrogenous ligands bearing highly electronegative substituents.     

Alga-mediated facile green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Photophysical,catalytic and antibacterial activity

A facile, convenient and green method has been employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using dried biomass of a green alga, Chlorella ellipsoidea. The phytochemicals from the alga, as a mild and non-toxic source, are believed to serve as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed from the appearance of a surface plasmon resonance band at 436 nm and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The transmission electron microscopy images showed the nanoparticles to be nearly spherical in shape with different sizes. A dynamic light scattering study revealed the average particle size to be 220.8 ± 31.3 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the occurrence of alga-derived phytochemicals attached to the outer surface of biogenically accessed silver nanoparticles. The powder X-ray diffraction study revealed the face-centred cubic crystalline structure of the nanoparticles. The as-synthesized biomatrix-loaded AgNPs exhibited a high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the hazardous pollutant dyes methylene blue and methyl orange. The catalytic efficiency was sustained even after three reduction cycles. A kinetic study indicated the degradation rates to be pseudo-first order with the degradation rate being 4.72 × 10⁻² min⁻¹ for methylene blue and 3.24 × 10⁻² min⁻¹ for methyl orange. The AgNPs also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against four selected pathogenic bacterial strains.     

Preparation and Characterization of Antimony and Arsenic Tricyanide and Their 2,2′‐Bipyridine Adducts

The arsenic(III) and antimony(III) cyanides M(CN)₃ (M=As, Sb) have been prepared in quantitative yields from the corresponding trifluorides through fluoride–cyanide exchange with Me₃SiCN in acetonitrile. When the reaction was carried out in the presence of one equivalent of 2,2′‐bipyridine, the adducts [M(CN)₃ ? (2,2′‐bipy)] were obtained. The crystal structures of As(CN)₃, [As(CN)₃ ? (2,2′‐bipy)] and [Sb(CN)₃ ? (2,2′‐bipy)] were determined and are surprisingly different. As(CN)₃ possesses a polymeric three‐dimensional structure, [As(CN)₃ ? (2,2′‐bipy)] exhibits a two‐dimensional sheet structure, and [Sb(CN)₃ ? (2,2′‐bipy)] has a chain structure, and none of the structures resembles those found for the corresponding arsenic and antimony triazides.     

An efficient approach for the synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives catalyzed by novel sulfated choline based heteropolyanion at room temperature

A new zwitterionic salt, sulfated choline based heteropolyanion, which was reported earlier by our group, has been found to be very effective for the synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives at room temperature. The heteropolyanion based on sulfated ionic liquid (HIL) showed promising features for the reaction, such as shorter reaction time, high product yields (about 90–95%), simple work up, easy removal, and reusability of the catalyst for several times without significant loss in its efficiency. This has made the protocol sustainable and economic.     

Development of a Creatinine Sensor Based on a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer‐Modified Sol‐Gel Film on Graphite Electrode

An electrochemical creatinine sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)‐modified sol‐gel film on graphite electrode was developed. The surface coating of MIP over sol‐gel was advantageous to obtain a porous film with outwardly exposed MIP cavities for unhindered selective rebinding of creatinine from aqueous and biological samples. A fast differential pulse, cathodic stripping voltammetric response of creatinine can be obtained after being preanodized the sensor in neutral medium containing appropriate amount of creatinine at +1.8 V versus SCE for 120 s. A linear response over creatinine concentration in the range of 1.23 to 100 μg mL^?1 was exhibited with a detection limit of 0.37 μg mL^?1 (S/N=3).     

Development and validation of stability indicating analytical method for Ilaprazole

The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a rapid and simple stability indicating analytical method for estimating Ilaprazole. Ilaprazole was subjected to different stress conditions prescribed by International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) such as hydrolysis, oxidation, photolytic and dry heat degradation conditions. The drug was very susceptible to degradation under hydrolysis and photolytic conditions, less susceptible to oxidation and stable under dry heat degradation condition. An acceptable separation of drug and its degradants was achieved by using a C-18 column and mobile phase composed of ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.2)—acetonitrile (55: 45, v/v). Flow rate was 1 mL/min and detection wavelength was set at 303 nm. Retention time of drug was found to be 6.6 min and analysis can be completed within 10 min. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, LOD and LOQ as per ICH. The method was linear (R² = 0.996) in the range of 2.5–250 μg/mL. The recovery was in the range from 99.2–100.2%.