Automated sample preparation using in-tube solid-phase microextraction and its application -- a review

Sample preparation, such as extraction, concentration, and isolation of analytes, greatly influences their reliable and accurate analysis. In-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a new effective sample preparation technique using an open tubular fused-silica capillary column as an extraction device. Organic compounds in aqueous samples are directly extracted and concentrated into the stationary phase of capillary columns by repeated draw/eject cycles of sample solution, and they can be directly transferred to the liquid chromatographic column. In-tube SPME is an ideal sample preparation technique because it is fast to operate, easy to automate, solvent-free, and inexpensive. On-line in-tube SPME-performed continuous extraction, concentration, desorption, and injection using an autosampler, is usually used in combination with high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This technique has successfully been applied to the determination of various compounds such as pesticides, drugs, environmental pollutants, and food contaminants. In this review, an overview of the development of in-tube SPME technique and its applications to environmental, clinical, forensic, and food analyses are described.     

OBSERVATION OF THE PICOSECOND TIME-RESOLVED SPECTRUM OF SQUID BATHORHODOPSIN AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Difference spectra between squid rhodopsin and its bathorhodopsin at room temperature were measured ca. 150 ps and ca. 500 ps after the excitation at 347.2 nm by a double-beam picosecond time-resolved spectrometer. The spectra measured showed a red shift of the isosbestic point between squid rhodopsin and its bathorhodopsin and a lower ΔA_max/ΔA_min value compared with those measured at low temperatures by conventional spectrophotometry.     

1H-NMR Relaxation of Water Molecules in the Aqueous Microcrystalline Cellulose Suspension Systems and Their Viscosity

An intensive study for aqueous microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) suspensions was carried out in view of the relationship between a viscosity and a 1H spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of water. An investigation was carried out for four suspension systems with the different particle size distributions. The proton mole ratio () of bound water against MCC particles and T2 of bound water (T2,b) were evaluated from the T2 values obtained by Carr-Purcell- Meiboom-Gill (C.P.M.G) method and those by solid echo method, respectively. As a result of these analyses, the T2,b value for the aqueous MCC suspension was evaluated as 5 × 10–3 s and it was found that the system having a larger tended to show a higher viscosity. By relating the above results to the observation of the suspensions by an optical microscope, it was concluded that a network formed by MCC particles plays an important role in generating a high viscosity of MCC suspension, and that an averaged mobility of water molecules is sensitively affected by the network structure.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed formal cope rearrangement of allenyl silyl enol ethers

[reaction: see text] On treatment of 5-siloxyhexa-1,2,5-trienes with a catalytic amount of W(CO)(6) under photoirradiation, formal Cope rearrangement proceeded to give 2-siloxyhex-1-en-5-ynes in good yield. The electrophilic activation of the allenyl moiety by W(CO)(5) triggers the intramolecular attack of the silyl enol ether in a 6-endo manner to produce a cyclohexenyl tungsten species. Carbon-carbon bond cleavage occurs by electron donation from the anionic W(CO)(5) into the silyloxonium moiety to afford the products with regeneration of the W(CO)(5)(L).     

Furopyridines. X. Synthesis of tricyclic heterocycles,furo[2,3-b:4,5-c']-, furo[3,2-b:4,5-c']-, furo[2,3-c:4,5-c']- and furo[3,2-c:4,5-c']dipyridine

This paper describes the synthesis of four tricyclic heterocycles, furo[2,3–6:4,5-c']- ( 5a ), furo[3,2-b:4,5-c']- ( 5b ), furo[2,3-c:4,5-c']- ( 5c ) and furo[3,2-c:4,5-c']dipyridine ( 5d ). Starting with 2-formylfuropyridines ( 1a-d ), β-(2-furopyridyl)acrylic acids 2a-d were obtained by condensing with malonic acid. The acrylic acids were converted to the acid azides by reaction with ethyl chloroformate and the subsequent reaction with sodium azide. Heating of the acid azides at 230–240° with diphenylmethane and tributylamine gave tricyclic pyridinones 3a-d , which were converted to the respective chloro derivatives 4a-d by reaction with phosphorus oxychloride. Reduction of the chloro compounds over palladium-charcoal yielded compounds 5a-d respectively. All the compounds 2 to 5 were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral data. The H and ¹³C nmr and electronic spectral features of the furodipyridines were discussed comparing with those of the parent furopyridines.     

Synthesis of functionalized hydroquinones via [Cp*RuCl2]2-catalyzed cocyclization of alkynes, alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and carbon monoxide

[reaction: see text] Catalytic [2 + 2 + 1 + 1] cocyclization reaction of an alkyne, an alkene, and two molecules of carbon monoxide, leading to functionalized hydroquinones, was studied. Using [Cp*RuCl2]2 as a catalyst, we found that a variety of electron-deficient alkenes, such as alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, esters, amides, and nitriles, can be employed as an alkene coupling partner to give the corresponding hydroquinones.     

Furopyridines. V. A simple synthesis of furo[2,3-c]pyridine and its 2-and 3-methyl derivatives

A simple synthesis of furo[2,3-c]pyridine and its 2- and 3-methyl derivatives from ethyl 3-hydroxyisonicotinate ( 2 ) is described. The hydroxy ester 2 was O-alkylated with ethyl bromoacetate or ethyl 2-bromopropionate to give the diester 3a or 3b . Cyclization of compound 3a afforded ethyl 3-hydroxyfuro [2,3-c]pyridine-2-carboxylate ( 4 ) which was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give furo[2,3-c]pyridin-3(2H)-one ( 5a ). Cyclization of 3b gave the 2-methyl derivative 5b . Reduction of 5a and 5b with sodium borohydride yielded the corresponding hydroxy derivative 6a and 6b , respectively, which were dehydrated with phosphoric acid to give furo[2,3-c]pyridine ( 7a ) and its 2-methyl derivative 7b . 4-Acetylpyridin-3-ol ( 8 ) was O-alkylated with ethyl bromoacetate to give ethyl 2-(4-acetyl-3-pyridyloxy) acetate ( 9 ). Saponification of compound 9 , and the subsequent intramolecular Perkin reaction gave 3-methylfuro[2,3-c]pyridine ( 10 ). Cyclization of 9 with sodium ethoxide gave 3-methylfuro[2,3-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, which in turn was decarboxylated to give compound 10 .     

ESTIMATION OF AN INDEX OF HYDROPHOBICITY OF DNA INTERIOR USING 5-METHOXYPSORALEN AS A FLUORESCENT PROBE

The index of hydrophobicity of DNA interior was estimated by measuring fluorescence spectra of psoralen derivatives associated with DNA. The environment around 5-MOP associated with DNA was as hydrophobic (D_k = 34) as methanol, suggesting that the molecules reside at the space between the base-pairs in B-form DNA. This is also true for 8-MOP. Thus, planar and aromatic molecules of 5- and 8-MOP are more stable in the interior of DNA than in aqueous medium due to hydrophobic affinity.     

Diarylurea-linked zinc porphyrin dimer as a dual-mode artificial receptor: supramolecular control of complexation-facilitated photoinduced electron transfer

A novel porphyrinic receptor 1 in which two zinc porphyrins are bridged by two diarylurea linkers was developed for recognition of a viologen derivative (hexyl viologen, HV). The electronic absorption spectra as well as the 1H NMR experiments revealed that the HV molecule was bound to the cleft in 1 mainly through carbonyl dipole-charge interactions to afford a 1:1 complex. From the steady-state fluorescence spectroscopic study, the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from 1 to HV was extremely facilitated by the receptor-substrate complexation. The receptor 1 also formed a 1:1 complex with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) through two Zn-N coordination interactions, and, using DABCO as an inhibitor, we suppressed the PET reaction via the substrate exchange.     

Thalidomide as a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and its structural development

Thalidomide has been found to exhibit weak nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-inhibitory activity. Structural development studies of thalidomide showed that some N-2,6-dimethylphenylhomophthalimide analogs possess NOS-inhibiting activity.