Determination and confirmation of the amnesic shellfish poisoning toxin, domoic acid, in shellfish from Scotland by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

During 1998 and early 1999, shellfish samples from sites in Scotland were found to contain the amnesic shellfish poisoning toxin, domoic acid (DA). Two different techniques, liquid chromatography (LC) with UV diode-array detection and LC with mass spectrometric (MS) detection, were used to detect and confirm DA in shellfish extracts. The LC/UV method was validated for routine monitoring by recovery experiments on spiked mussel and scallop tissues with a certified mussel tissue used as reference material. Crude extracts of selected samples as well as extracts cleaned with strong anion exchange (SAX) were analyzed by both LC/UV and LC/MS. Good correlation (linear regression r2 = 0.996, slope = 0.93) between the 2 methods was found for cleaned extracts. Analyses of crude extracts by LC/UV produced false-positive results in 2 crab samples, whereas LC/MS analyses gave accurate results. It was concluded that LC/UV is a valid approach for routine monitoring of DA in shellfish when cleanup is performed with a SAX cartridge to prevent false positives. A variety of shellfish species were surveyed for DA content, including Pecten maximus (king scallops), Chlamys opercularis (queen scallop), Mytilus edulis (blue mussels), Cancer pugaris (crab), and Ensis ensis (razor fish). The highest concentration of DA was 105 microg/g in Pecten maximus.     

Ethylene tetramerization: a new route to produce 1-octene in exceptionally high selectivities

Linear alpha-olefins, such as 1-hexene and 1-octene, are important comonomers in the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The conventional method of producing 1-hexene and 1-octene is by oligomerization of ethylene, which yields a wide spectrum of linear alpha-olefins (LAOs). While there exists several processes for producing 1-hexene via ethylene trimerization, a similar route for the selective production of 1-octene has so far been elusive. We now, for the first time, report an unprecedented ethylene tetramerization reaction that produces 1-octene in selectivities exceeding 70%, using an aluminoxane-activated chromium/((R2)2P)2NR1 catalyst system.     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in the Aqueous K+-H+-OH?-CO2-HCO 3? -CO 32? -H2O System: A?Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-carbonate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) hydroxide solid in a wide range of pH (3–13) at two different fixed partial pressures of CO₂(g) (0.003 or 0.03 atm.), and as functions of K₂CO₃ concentrations (0.01 to 5.8 mol⋅kg⁻¹) in the presence of 0.01 mol⋅dm⁻³ KOH and KHCO₃ concentrations (0.001 to 0.826 mol⋅kg⁻¹) at room temperature (22±2 °C) were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-carbonate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, thermodynamic analyses of solubility data, and quantum mechanical calculations) was used to characterize the solid and aqueous species. The Pitzer ion-interaction approach was used to interpret the solubility data. Only two aqueous species [Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻ and Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻] are required to explain Cr(III)-carbonate reactions in a wide range of pH, CO₂(g) partial pressures, and bicarbonate and carbonate concentrations. Calculations based on density functional theory support the existence of these species. The log ₁₀ K° values of reactions involving these species [{Cr(OH)₃(am) + 2CO₂(g)⇌Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻+2H⁺} and {Cr(OH)₃(am) + OH⁻+CO₃²⁻ ⇌Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻}] were found to be −(19.07±0.41) and −(4.19±0.19), respectively. No other data on any Cr(III)-carbonato complexes are available for comparisons.     

A simple cobalt catalyst system for the efficient and regioselective cyclotrimerisation of alkynes

The intermolecular cyclotrimerisation of terminal and internal alkynes can be catalysed by simple cobalt complexes such as a CoBr2(diimine) under mild reaction conditions when treated with zinc and zinc iodide with high regioselectivity in excellent yields.     

Binding H2, N2, H-, and BH3 to transition-metal sulfur sites: synthesis and properties of [RuL(PR3)(N2Me2S2)] Complexes (L=eta2-H2, H-, BH3; R=Cy, iPr)

The reactions of [Ru(N₂)(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] [‘N₂Me₂S₂’=1,2‐ethanediamine‐N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐benzenethiolate)(2?)] [ 1 a (R=iPr), 1 b (R=Cy)] and [μ‐N₂{Ru(N₂)(PiPr₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)}₂] ( 1 c ) with H₂, NaBH₄, and NBu₄BH₄, intended to reduce the N₂ ligands, led to substitution of N₂ and formation of the new complexes [Ru(H₂)(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] [ 2 a (R=iPr), 2 b (R=Cy)], [Ru(BH₃)(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] [ 3 a (R=iPr), 3 b (R=Cy)], and [Ru(H)(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)]^? [ 4 a (R=iPr), 4 b (R=Cy)]. The BH₃ and hydride complexes 3 a , 3 b , 4 a , and 4 b were obtained subsequently by rational synthesis from 1 a or 1 b and BH₃?THF or LiBEt₃H. The primary step in all reactions probably is the dissociation of N₂ from the N₂ complexes to give coordinatively unsaturated [Ru(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] fragments that add H₂, BH₄^?, BH₃, or H^?. All complexes were completely characterized by elemental analysis and common spectroscopic methods. The molecular structures of [Ru(H₂)(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] [ 2 a (R=iPr), 2 b (R=Cy)], [Ru(BH₃)(PiPr₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] ( 3 a ), [Li(THF)₂][Ru(H)(PiPr₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] ([Li(THF)₂]‐ 4 a ), and NBu₄[Ru(H)(PCy₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] (NBu₄‐ 4 b ) were determined by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Measurements of the NMR relaxation time T₁ corroborated the η² bonding mode of the H₂ ligands in 2 a (T₁=35 ms) and 2 b (T₁=21 ms). The H,D coupling constants of the analogous HD complexes HD‐ 2 a (¹J(H,D)=26.0 Hz) and HD‐ 2 b (¹J(H,D)=25.9 Hz) enabled calculation of the H? D distances, which agreed with the values found by X‐ray crystal structure analysis ( 2 a : 92 pm (X‐ray) versus 98 pm (calculated), 2 b : 99 versus 98 pm). The BH₃ entities in 3 a and 3 b bind to one thiolate donor of the [Ru(PR₃)(‘N₂Me₂S₂’)] fragment and through a B‐H‐Ru bond to the Ru center. The hydride complex anions 4 a and 4 b are extremely Brønsted basic and are instantanously protonated to give the η²‐H₂ complexes 2 a and 2 b .     

Solubility of (UO2)3(PO4)2?4H2O in H+-Na+-OH?-H2PO?4-HPO2?4-PO3?4-H2O and Its Comparison to the Analogous PuO2 +2 System

The objectives of this study were to address uncertainties in the solubility product of (UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂⋅4H₂O(c) and in the phosphate complexes of U(VI), and more importantly to develop needed thermodynamic data for the Pu(VI)-phosphate system in order to ascertain the extent to which U(VI) and Pu(VI) behave in an analogous fashion. Thus studies were conducted on (UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂⋅4H₂O(c) and (PuO₂)₃(PO₄)₂⋅4H₂O(am) solubilities for long-equilibration periods (up to 870 days) in a wide range of pH values (2.5 to 10.5) at fixed phosphate concentrations of 0.001 and 0.01 M, and in a range of phosphate concentrations (0.0001–1.0 M) at fixed pH values of about 3.5. A combination of techniques (XRD, DTA/TG, XAS, and thermodynamic analyses) was used to characterize the reaction products. The U(VI)-phosphate data for the most part agree closely with thermodynamic data presented in Guillaumont et al.,⁽¹⁾ although we cannot verify the existence of several U(VI) hydrolyses and phosphate species and we find the reported value for formation constant of UO₂PO⁻₄ is in error by more than two orders of magnitude. A comprehensive thermodynamic model for (PuO₂)₃(PO₄)₂⋅4H₂O(am) solubility in the H⁺-Na⁺-OH⁻-Cl⁻-H₂PO⁻₄-HPO²⁻₄-PO³⁻₄-H₂O system, previously unavailable, is presented and the data shows that the U(VI)-phosphate system is an excellent analog for the Pu(VI)-phosphate system.     

Synthesis and antimalarial effects of 5,6-dichloro-2-[(4-||4-(diethylamino)-i-methylbutyl] amino||-6-methyl-2-pyrirnidinyl)amino] benzimidazole and related benzimidazoles and lH-imidazo[4,5-b] pyridines

A group of fifty-five 2-[(4-11[(dialkylamino)alkyI]amino11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]-benzimidazoles (VII) was synthesized in 3-88% yield by the condensation of the requisite 2-[(2-benzimidazolyl)amino]-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (VI) with the appropriate polyamine in ethanol-hydrochloric acid or neat with excess amine containing potassium iodide. The 2-[(2-benzimidazolyl)amino]-6-methyl-4-pyrirnidinol precursors (V), obtained in 11-51% yield by cyclization of 2-(cyanoamino)-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine with a suitably substituted o-phenylenediamine, were chlorinated with phosphorus oxychloride to give the intermediate 2-[(2-benzimidazolyl)amino]-4-chloro-6-rnethylpyrimidines (VI) (27-99%). Oxidation of 5,6-dichloro-2-[(4-11[4-(diethylamino)-l-methylbutyl] amino 11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl) amino ]benzimidazole ( 29 ) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid gave the distal N⁴'-oxide ( 31 ) (19%). Fusion of 2,3-uiaminopyridine with 2-(cyanoamino)-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine provided 2-[(4-hydroxy-6-tnethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]-lH-imitlazo[4,5-b]pyrimidine (VIII) (30%), which upon chlori-nation with phosphorus oxychloride (63%) followed by amination with i N, N-diethylethylene-diamine afforded 2-(4-11[2-(diethylamino)ethyl] amino 11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-lH-imidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (X) (8%). Thirty-eight of the novel 2-[(4-amino-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]-benzimidazoles possessed “curative” activity against Plasmodium berghei at single subcutaneous doses ranging from 20.640 mg./kg. Orally, thirty-one compounds exhibited suppressive activity against P. berghei comparable with or superior to the reference drugs 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-11[2-(diethylarnino)ethyl]amino 11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)guanidine (I) and quinine hydrochloride, while twelve of them were 5 to 28 times as potent as I and quinine hydrochloride. Eight compounds also displayed strong suppressive activity against P. gallinaceum in chicks. 5,6-Dichloro-2-[(4-112-(diethylamino)ethyl]amino11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl] benzimidazole (18) showed marked activity against a cycloguanil-resistant line of P. berghei, and the most promising member of the series, namely 5,6-dichloro-2-[(4-11[4-(diethylamino)-l-methylbutyl]amino11-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]benzimidazole ( 29 ) (Q = 28), was designated for preclinical toxico-logical studies and clinical trial. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Binding N2, N2H2, N2H4, and NH3 to transition-metal sulfur sites: modeling potential intermediates of biological N2 fixation

In the quest for low-molecular-weight metal sulfur complexes that bind nitrogenase-relevant small molecules and can serve as model complexes for nitrogenase, compounds with the [Ru(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] fragment were found ('N(2)Me(2)S(2)'(2-)=1,2-ethanediamine-N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-benzenethiolate)(2-)). This fragment enabled the synthesis of a first series of chiral metal sulfur complexes, [Ru(L)(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] with L=N(2), N(2)H(2), N(2)H(4), and NH(3), that meet the biological constraint of forming under mild conditions. The reaction of [Ru(NCCH(3))(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] (1) with NH(3) gave the ammonia complex [Ru(NH(3))(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] (4), which readily exchanged NH(3) for N(2) to yield the mononuclear dinitrogen complex [Ru(N(2))(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] (2) in almost quantitative yield. Complex 2, obtained by this new efficient synthesis, was the starting material for the synthesis of dinuclear (R,R)- and (S,S)-[micro-N(2)[Ru(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')](2)] ((R,R)-/(S,S)-3). (Both 2 and 3 have been reported previously.) The as-yet inexplicable behavior of complex 3 to form also the R,S isomer in solution has been revealed by DFT calculations and (2)D NMR spectroscopy studies. The reaction of 1 or 2 with anhydrous hydrazine yielded the hydrazine complex [Ru(N(2)H(4))(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')] (6), which is a highly reactive intermediate. Disproportionation of 6 resulted in the formation of mononuclear diazene complexes, the ammonia complex 4, and finally the dinuclear diazene complex [micro-N(2)H(2)[Ru(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')](2)] (5). Dinuclear complex 5 could also be obtained directly in an independent synthesis from 1 and N(2)H(2), which was generated in situ by acidolysis of K(2)N(2)(CO(2))(2). Treatment of 6 with CH(2)Cl(2), however, formed a chloromethylated diazene species [[Ru(PiPr(3))('N(2)Me(2)S(2)')]-micro-N(2)H(2)[Ru(Cl)('N(2)Me(2)S(2)CH(2)Cl')]] (9) ('N(2)Me(2)S(2)CH(2)Cl'(2-) =1,2-ethanediamine-N,N'-dimethyl-N-(2-benzenethiolate)(1-)-N'-(2-benzenechloromethylthioether)(1-)]. The molecular structures of 4, 5, and 9 were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis, and the labile N(2)H(4) complex 6 was characterized by NMR spectroscopy.     

Toward the development of new photolabile protecting groups that can rapidly release bioactive compounds upon photolysis with visible light

The synthesis and characterization of a new photolabile protecting group (caging group) for carboxylic acids, the 2-(dimethylamino)-5-nitrophenyl (DANP) group, is described. This compound has a major absorption band in the visible wavelength region with a maximum near 400 nm (epsilon400 = 9077 M(-1) cm(-1) at pH 7.4 and 21 degrees C). The caging group is attached through an ester linkage to the carboxyl functionality of beta-alanine, which activates the inhibitory glycine receptor in the mammalian central nervous system. Such caged compounds play an important role in transient kinetic investigations of fast cellular processes. Upon photolysis of DANP-caged beta-alanine, the caging group is released within 5 micros. Quantum yields of 0.03 and 0.002 were obtained in the UV region (308 and 360 nm) and the visible region (450 nm), respectively. Laser-pulse photolysis experiments, using 337 or 360 nm light, were performed with the caged compound equilibrated with HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with cDNA encoding the alpha1 homomeric, wild-type glycine receptor. The experiments demonstrated that neither DANP-caged beta-alanine nor its byproducts inhibit or activate the glycine receptors on the cell surface. Under physiological conditions, the DANP-caged beta-alanine is water-soluble and stable and can be used for transient kinetic measurements.