Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate

A new biocatalytic strategy to obtain the ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate precursor of ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate, an important intermediate in the synthesis of a variety of ACE inhibitors, has been set up. Starting from ethyl 2,4-dioxo-4-phenylbutyrate, a screen of microorganisms has been performed in order to find the best catalyst able to reduce the keto group in the α-position with high chemo- and enantioselectivity. The biotransformation catalyzed by Pichia pastoris CBS 704 gave the best results in terms of conversion and enantioselectivity. The addition of adsorbing resins in the fermentation medium is effective in controlling substrate and product concentration in the medium, thus improving both conversion and enantioselectivity of the biotransformation. Preliminary experiments in a continuous batch reactor with growing culture of P. pastoris will be also presented.     

Funzionali analitici ipergeometrici

Sunto In questa Memoria l'A. introduce il concetto difunzionale analitico ipergeometrico confluente e completo e ne studia le proprietà essenziali. Il lavoro è diviso in tre parti. Nella prima parte dà le definizioni fondamentali di questi operatori e studia un funzionale ipergeometrico che chiama diGauss. Nella seconda parte pone in relazione questi funzionali ipergeometrici con alcune classiche trasformazioni della Analisi Funzionale: operatore diLaplace, integrazione, derivazione, logaritmo funzionale diPincherle, ecc. Nella terza parte dà delle relazioni caratteristiche di questi funzionali e li applica in fine alla rappresentazione di un integrale regolare nell'intorno della origine della equazione differenziale diLamé.     

Eine Methode zum Nachweis und zur Bestimmung von Arsen in organischen Verbindungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Effectiveness of isotopically labelled and non‐isotopically labelled internal standards in the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of sulfur compounds in wines: use of a statistically based matrix comprehensive approach

The effectiveness of isotopically and non‐isotopically labelled internal standards in reducing matrix‐induced effects is evaluated. The question is addressed in the quantitative analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of dimethyl sulphide, chosen as a typical example of volatile sulphur compounds, in wine matrices. When matrix/run effects are not cancelled out the use of a variance component model (VCM) to handle the linear calibrations obtained by regression technique is successful. The method implies the estimation of an overall calibration straight line, which properly takes into account the uncertainty due to different matrices, the calibration run and the measurement error, making the use of an isotopically labelled internal standard not necessary. The obtained results show that the benefits of lowering times and costs for routine analyses compensate for the small increase in uncertainty in the concentration values obtained in the regression analysis and the slight increase in the detection limit. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simple assay for monitoring seven quinolone antibacterials in eggs: Extraction with hot water and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry: Laboratory validation in line with the European Union Commission Decision 657/2002/EC

A simple and rapid method able to determine residues of seven quinolone antibacterials in whole eggs is presented here. This method is based on the matrix solid-phase dispersion technique with hot water as extractant followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. After depositing 1.5 g of an egg sample containing the analytes and the analyte surrogate (norfloxacin) on sand (crystobalite), this material was packed into an extraction cell. Quinolones were extracted by flowing 6 mL of water acidified with 50 mmol/L formic acid through the cell heated at 100 °C. After pH adjustment and filtration of the extract, 100 μL of it was injected into the LC column. MS data acquisition was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode, selecting two precursor ion to product ion transitions for each target compound. Hot water appeared an efficient extracting medium, since absolute recoveries of the analyte in egg at the level of 20 ng/g were 89–103%. Estimated limits of quantification (S/N = 10) were 0.2–0.6 ng/g. Based on the EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, the method was validated in terms of ruggedness, specificity, linearity, within-laboratory reproducibility, decision limit (CCα and detection capability (CCβ). Depending on the particular analyte, CCαs ranged between 0.41 and 2.6 ng/g, while CCβs were 0.64–3.7 ng/g. The method was linear in the 3–30 ng/g range, with typical R² values higher than 0.97. The within-laboratory reproducibility (n = 21) at 6 ng/g level was in the 9.0–12% range. After validation, a depletion study of enrofloxacin and one of its metabolites, i.e. ciprofloxacin, in eggs was conducted.