Absolute Conformation and Configuration of (2S, 3S)-3-Acetoxy-5-(dimethylaminoethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one Chloride (Dilthiazem Hydrochloride)

Resolution of racemic cis-3-(2-aminophenylthio)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid ( 2 ) via the cinchonidine salt 3 , and brucine salt 4 , isolation of the calcium salts (+)- and (?)- 5 , as well as their cyclization to enantiomeric 1,5-benzothiazepines (+)- and (?)- 1 , are described. X-Ray single-crystal analysis reveals (2S, 3S) absolute configuration of (+)- 1 on the basis of tentative comparison of CD data with those for the 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative (+)- 8 of known absolute configuration.     

A Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Method for the Identification of Anthraquinones: the Case of Historical Lakes

This study deals with the identification of anthraquinoid molecular markers in standard dyes, reference lakes, and paint model systems using a micro-invasive and nondestructive technique such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). Red anthraquinoid lakes, such as madder lake, carmine lake, and Indian lac, have been the most widely used for painting purposes since ancient times. From an analytical point of view, identifying lakes in paint samples is challenging and developing methods that maximize the information achievable minimizing the amount of sample needed is of paramount importance. The employed method was tested on less than 0.5 mg of reference samples and required a minimal sample preparation, entailing a hydrofluoric acid extraction. The method is fast and versatile because of the possibility to re-analyze the same sample (once it has been spotted on the steel plate), testing both positive and negative modes in a few minutes. The MALDI mass spectra collected in the two analysis modes were studied and compared with LDI and simulated mass spectra in order to highlight the peculiar behavior of the anthraquinones in the MALDI process. Both ionization modes were assessed for each species. The effect of the different paint binders on dye identification was also evaluated through the analyses of paint model systems. In the end, the method was successful in detecting madder lake in archeological samples from Greek wall paintings and on an Italian funerary clay vessel, demonstrating its capabilities to identify dyes in small amount of highly degraded samples.

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Reaction of lupane and oleanane triterpenoids with Lawesson's reagent

The reactions of selected triterpenic oxo compounds with Lawesson's reagent were investigated. We examined sulfurization of some oxygen compounds and for these reactions several hindered ketones, one aldehyde, α-hydroxyketones, esters, or anhydrides were chosen. We synthesized 15 new sulfur derivatives, including thioketone 16, dimeric sulfides 17-19, and thiaderivatives 20-22. We also observed unusual transformations, which afforded oxathiaphosphinines 23a, 23b, and dithiaphospholanes 24. The prepared compounds failed to demonstrate any significant cytotoxic activity.     

Use of itaconic acid-based polymers for solid-phase extraction of deoxynivalenol and application to pasta analysis

Molecular modelling and computational design were used to identify itaconic acid (IA) as a functional monomer with high affinity towards deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium-toxin frequently occurring in cereals. IA-based polymers were photochemically synthesised in dimethyl formamide (porogen) using ethylenglycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker and 1,1′-azo-bis(cyclohexane carbonitrile) as initiator, and the relevant binding interactions with DON in solvents with different polarity were investigated. The performances of the non-imprinted IA-based polymer (blank polymer, BP) and the corresponding molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) were compared using DON as a template. Both BP and MIP were able to bind about 90% DON either in toluene, water or water containing 5% polyethylene glycol. Non-imprinted polymers with different molar ratios of IA to cross-linker were evaluated as adsorbents for solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up and pre-concentration of DON from wheat and pasta samples prior to HPLC analysis. Samples were extracted with PBS/0.1 M EDTA solution and cleaned up through a cartridge containing blank IA-based polymer. The column was washed with PBS (pH 9.2) and the toxin was eluted with methanol and quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with UV detector (λ = 220 nm), using methanol:water:acetic acid (15:85:0.1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Effective removal of matrix interferences was observed only for pasta with DON recoveries higher than 70% (RSD < 7%, n = 3) at levels close to or higher than EU regulatory limit.     

Recognition of homo-polynucleotides containing adenine by a phenanthridinium bis-uracil conjugate in aqueous media

Among novel bis-nucleobase-phenanthridinium conjugates bis-uracil analogue stabilized significantly more effective poly-dA-poly-dT and poly-AH(+)-poly-AH(+) than adenine analogue and reference compound . For the alternating poly-dAdT-poly-dAdT however, the binding preference is lost, pointing to the importance of specific interactions of uracils of with homopolynucleotides containing consecutive adenines.     

Monitoring of Bioprocess by Thin-Layer Chromatography in a Horizontal Rotating Tubular Bioreactor for Removal of Heavy Metals

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC -     

Elongated Thrombin Binding Aptamer: A G‐Quadruplex Cation‐Sensitive Conformational Switch

Aptamer‐based biosensors offer promising perspectives for high performance, specific detection of proteins. The thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) is a G‐quadruplex‐forming DNA sequence, which is frequently elongated at one end to increase its analytical performances in a biosensor configuration. Herein, we investigate how the elongation of TBA at its 5′ end affects its structure and stability. Circular dichroism spectroscopy shows that TBA folds in an antiparallel G‐quadruplex conformation with all studied cations (Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Sr²⁺ and the [Ru(NH₃)₆]^2+/3+ redox marker) whereas other structures are adopted by the elongated aptamers in the presence of some of these cations. The stability of each structure is evaluated on the basis of UV spectroscopy melting curves. Thermal difference spectra confirm the quadruplex character of all conformations. The elongated sequences can adopt a parallel or an antiparallel structure, depending on the nature of the cation; this can potentially confer an ion‐sensitive switch behavior. This switch property is demonstrated with the frequently employed redox complex [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺, which induces the parallel conformation at very low concentrations (10 equiv per strand). The addition of large amounts of K⁺ reverts the conformation to the antiparallel form, and opens interesting perspectives for electrochemical biosensing or redox‐active responsive devices.     

Riemannian manifolds with two circulant structures

We consider a three-dimensional Riemannian manifold equipped with two circulant structures—a metric g and a structure q, which is an isometry with respect to g and the third power of q is minus identity. We discuss some curvature properties of this manifold, we give an example of such a manifold and find a condition for q to be parallel with respect to the Riemannian connection of g.     

Overcoming interference from the alumina matrix on the determination of arsenic at 189 nanometers using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is described enabling to eliminate the spectral interference from alumina matrix onto As determination at the wavelength 189 nm by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium background correction. Matrix modification was performed by the addition of ammonium fluoride to protect the formation of aluminium oxide implicated in causing spectral interference and to increase volatility of alumina matrix via the formation of AlF₃. Pre-treating of the pyrolytic graphite platform with a solution of rhodium and citric acid has enabled to stabilize the analyte up to temperature of 1300 °C at which most of AlF₃ could be removed from the graphite furnace. The application of 2 μg of Rh + 20 μg of citric acid + 200 μg of NH₄F has enabled an accurate and interference-free determination of As up to 40 μg of Al in the form of AlCl₃ as verified by analytical recoveries study and resulted in characteristic mass and LOD value in the original sample 15 pg and 50 ng g⁻¹, respectively (10-μL aliquots of sample).