(K4Li4)Al8Ge8O32·8H2O: an Li+‐exchanged potassium aluminogermanate with the zeolite gismondine (GIS) topology

The title compound, lithium potassium dialuminium di­ger­man­ium octaoxide dihydrate, (K,Li)‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS (GIS is gismondine), is the result of a 50% Li⁺ exchange into the K‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS structure. The (K,Li)‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS structure was determined from a 4 × 4 × 2 µm octahedral single crystal at the ESRF synchrotron X‐ray source. The ion exchange results in a symmetry transformation from I2/a for K‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS to C2/c for (K,Li)‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS. The structural change is due to disordering of K⁺ ions with Li⁺ ions along the [001] channel and ordering of water molecules in the [101] channels. The distance between sites partially occupied by K⁺ ions increases from 2.19 (3) Å in K‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS to 2.94 (3) Å in (K,Li)‐(Al,Ge)‐GIS. The Li⁺ ions occupy positions along the twofold axis at the intersection of the eight‐membered‐ring channels in a twofold coordination with water mol­ecules. For the four closest framework O²⁻ anions, the Li⃛O distances are 3.87 (4) Å.     

Volumetric Properties of the Nucleoside Thymidine in Aqueous Solution at T = 298.15 K and p = (10 to 100) MPa

Sound speeds have been measured for aqueous solutions of the nucleoside thymidine at T = 298.15 K and at the pressures p = (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100) MPa. The partial molar volumes at infinite dilution, $ V_{2}^{\text{o}} $ , the partial molar isentropic compressions at infinite dilution, $ K_{S,2}^{\text{o}} $ , and the partial molar isothermal compressions at infinite dilution, $ K_{T,2}^{\text{o}} $ $ \{ K_{T,2}^{\text{o}} = - (\partial V_{2}^{\text{o}} /\partial p)_{T} \} $ , have been derived from the sound speeds at elevated pressures using methods described in our previous work. The $ V_{2}^{\text{o}} $ and $ K_{T,2}^{\text{o}} $ results were rationalized in terms of the likely interactions between thymidine and the aqueous solvent. The $ V_{2}^{\text{o}} $ results were also compared with those calculated using the revised Helgeson–Kirkham–Flowers (HKF) equation of state.     

Femtosecond electron-transfer reactions in mono- and polynucleotides and in DNA

Quenching of redox active, intercalating dyes by guanine bases in DNA can occur on a femtosecond time scale both in DNA and in nucleotide complexes. Notwithstanding the ultrafast rate coefficients, we find that a classical, nonadiabatic Marcus model for electron transfer explains the experimental observations, which allows us to estimate the electronic coupling (330 cm(-1)) and reorganization (8070 cm(-1)) energies involved for thionine-[poly(dG-dC)](2) complexes. Making the simplifying assumption that other charged, pi-stacked DNA intercalators also have approximately these same values, the electron-transfer rate coefficients as a function of the driving force, DeltaG, are derived for similar molecules. The rate of electron transfer is found to be independent of the speed of molecular reorientation. Electron transfer to the thionine singlet excited state from DNA obtained from calf thymus, salmon testes, and the bacterium, micrococcus luteus (lysodeikticus) containing different fractions of G-C pairs, has also been studied. Using a Monte Carlo model for electron transfer in DNA and allowing for reaction of the dye with the nearest 10 bases in the chain, the distance dependence scaling parameter, beta, is found to be 0.8 +/- 0.1 A(-1). The model also predicts the redox potential for guanine dimers, and we find this to be close to the value for isolated guanine bases. Additionally, we find that the pyrimidine bases are barriers to efficient electron transfer within the superexchange limit, and we also infer from this model that the electrons do not cross between strands on the picosecond time scale; that is, the electronic coupling occurs predominantly through the pi-stack and is not increased substantially by the presence of hydrogen bonding within the duplex. We conclude that long-range electron transfer in DNA is not exceptionally fast as would be expected if DNA behaved as a "molecular wire" but nor is it as slow as is seen in proteins, which do not benefit from pi-stacking.     

Development of HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of environmental phenols in human urine

We present a sensitive method for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 4-tert-octylphenol (t-OP), ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), four parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl parabens) and five chlorophenols (2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-triclorophenol), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and triclosan (TCS)), in human urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) mass spectrometry (MS). Samples were processed using enzymatic deconjugation of glucuronides followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) on a C18 cartridge and the eluate was concentrated. Analytes were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and then detected by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) MS and quantified by isotope dilution method. We describe details for optimisation of each step of the procedure. The sample treatment steps are straightforward and not labour-intensive and, therefore, permit a high sample throughput with excellent prospects for automation. This method shows low inter-day variation, and detection limits for most of the compounds are below 1 ng/mL in 1 mL of urine. The method accuracy was also verified by the analysis of proficiency testing urine samples.     

Development,Validation and Application of an ICP-SFMS Method for the Determination of Metals in Protein Powder Samples,Sourced in Ireland,with Risk Assessment for Irish Consumers

A method has been developed, optimised and validated to analyse protein powder supplements on an inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS), with reference to ICH Guideline Q2 Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology. This method was used in the assessment of twenty-one (n = 21) elements (Al, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Pt, Sn, Ti, Tl, V) to evaluate the safety of thirty-six (n = 36) protein powder samples that were commercially available in the Irish marketplace in 2016/2017. Using the determined concentrations of elements in samples (µg·kg⁻¹), a human health risk assessment was carried out to evaluate the potential carcinogenic and other risks to consumers of these products. While the concentrations of potentially toxic elements were found to be at acceptable levels, the results suggest that excessive and prolonged use of some of these products may place consumers at a slightly elevated risk for developing cancer or other negative health impacts throughout their lifetimes. Thus, the excessive use of these products is to be cautioned, and consumers are encouraged to follow manufacturer serving recommendations.     

Regioselective coupling reactions of 2,4-diaminopyridine derivatives with aryl halides: the synthesis of elaborated pyridines

The development of a synthetically useful, regioselective cross-coupling of 2,4-diaminopyridines with aryl and heteroaryl halides is reported. Selectivity for coupling through either amine is controlled by a simple change in the reaction conditions. Cross-coupling through the 2-amino group predominates in the presence of a palladium catalyst, whilst the 4-amino coupled product predominates in the absence of palladium.