Phase relationships and some magnetic properties of spinels in the systems M1−xNixCr2S4 where M = Mn,Fe, Co

Phase relationships between spinel and defect NiAs structures in the systems M_1?xNi_xCr₂S₄ (where M = Mn, Fe, Co) were investigated. It was found that the spinel structure is stable between x = 0 and x = 0.3 when M = Mn or Fe. When M = Co the spinel is formed in the region x = 0 to x ～ 0.4. The apparent stabilization of the defect NiAs phase by Ni²⁺ may be related to the strong sixfold site preference of Ni²⁺. Curie temperatures of all three ferrimagnetic systems increases with increasing Ni²⁺ substitution. This is probably due to higher NiS covalency.     

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quantification of both etoricoxib and valdecoxib in human plasma

A practicable and selective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the determination of two cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, etoricoxib and valdecoxib, in human plasma is presented. The analytical technique is based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) mass spectrometry (Finnigan Mat LCQ ion trap). Mass analysis was performed in the positive ion mode. The ion trap was operated in the tandem MS mode (MS2) and the transitions of etoricoxib (m/z 359.2 --> 280.3) and valdecoxib (m/z 315.1 --> 235.1) were followed by selected reaction monitoring. Retention times of etoricoxib and valdecoxib were 1.05 and 1.08 min, respectively. The method was validated over a linear range 10-2500 and 5-1000 microg/L using the other substrate as internal standard. After validation, the method was used to study the pharmacokinetic pro fi le of etoricoxib or valdecoxib in a healthy volunteer after administration of a single oral dose (valdecoxib, 20 mg; etoricoxib, 90 mg). The presented method was suf fi cient to cover more than 90% of the area under the plasma concentration time curve.     

Interactions of benzoic acid and phosphates with iron oxide colloids using chemical force titration

Colloidal iron oxides are an important component in soil systems and in water treatment processes. Humic-based organic compounds, containing both phenol and benzoate functional groups, are often present in these systems and compete strongly with phosphate species for binding sites on the iron oxide surfaces. Here, we examine the interaction of benzoate and phenolic groups with various iron oxide colloids using atomic force microscopy (AFM) chemical force titration measurements. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-(12-mercaptododecyloxy)benzoic acid and 4-(12-mercaptododecyloxy)phenol were used to prepare chemically modified Au-coated AFM tips, and these were used to probe the surface chemistry of a series of iron oxide colloids. The SAMs formed were also characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy, reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface pK(a) of 4-(12- mercaptododecyloxy)benzoic acid has been determined to be 4.0 +/- 0.5, and the interaction between the tip and the sample coated with a SAM of this species is dominated by hydrogen bonding. The chemical force titraton profile for an AFM probe coated with 4-(12- mercaptododecyloxy)benzoic acid and a bare iron oxide colloid demonstrates that the benzoic acid function group interacts with all three types of iron oxide sites present on the colloid surface over a wide pH range. Similar experiments were carried out on colloids precipitated in the presence of phosphoric, gallic, and tannic acids. The results are discussed in the context of the competitive binding interactions of solution species present in soils or in water treatment processes.     

Evaluation of high-performance liquid chromatography column retentivity using macromolecular probes. II. Silanophilic interactivity traced by highly polar polymers

A new method of HPLC column retentivity testing utilizes polymeric probes instead of conventional sets of low molar mass substances. The procedure allows at least semiquantitative, separate and independent evaluation of adsorption and partition properties of column packings. In this present work, the method is applied for comparison of the polar interactivities of selected silica gel C18 HPLC columns. It is shown that free silanols which remained on the surface of the end-capped silica C18 column packings are accessible for interaction with highly polar macromolecules. High molar mass polymeric test probes are adsorbed on the surface silanols and their retention volumes increase. As result, deviations from regular size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) behavior are observed. The extent of retention volume changes depends on both the nature of polymer probes and on column packing type. Adsorption of macromolecules can be suppressed by addition of a highly polar substance to the mobile phase. The amount of polar additive which is needed to attain regular SEC elution of the polymer probe depends on the column packing type and can be used as a characteristic of silanophilic column interactivity. Courses of dependences of retention volumes on sizes of macromolecules indicate the presence of "U-turn" adsorption which allows two and more silanols situated among C18 groups to be occupied simultaneously with the same macromolecule.     

New beginnings for matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors: identification of high-affinity zinc-binding groups

In an effort to identify promising non-hydroxamate inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), several new zinc-binding groups (ZBGs) based on pyrone, pyrothione, hydroxypyridinone, and hydroxypyridinethione chelators have been examined. Structural studies with tris(pyrazolyl)borate model complexes show that these ligands bind to the MMP active site zinc(II) ion in a bidentate fashion, similar to that found with hydroxamate-based inhibitors. Fluorescence- and colorimetric-based enzyme assays have been used to determine the IC50 values for these ZBGs against MMP-3; mixed O,S-donor ligands were found to be remarkably potent, with IC50 values as much as 700-fold lower than that found for acetohydroxamic acid. Inhibitory activity was found to parallel metal binding affinity as determined in titrations with model complexes. These results demonstrate that MPIs based on new ZBGs are feasible and may indeed improve the overall performance of inhibitors designed against these important medicinal targets.     

Insoluble eggshell matrix proteins--their peptide mapping and partial characterization by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography

Avian eggshell matrix proteins were studied by two analytical approaches. Peptide mapping was done by trypsin and pepsin followed by collagenase cleavage; analyses were carried out by capillary electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Comparison of peptide maps obtained by both methods revealed a complex mixture of peptides in the insoluble layers of the eggshell; it was concluded that there are at least three different insoluble protein/peptide layers in the avian eggshell (cuticle, palisade, and mammillary layer). Partial characterization of peptides in each layer was made by HPLC-mass spectrometry analysis. There is an evidence that the eggshell insoluble proteins contain species susceptible to collagenase cleavage, however, the sequences split by this enzyme probably are not those typical for the main triple-helical core of collagenous proteins. It is proposed that the action of collagenase upon eggshell proteins is caused by the side effect of collagenase described previously with synthetic peptides. Some of the proteins present are probably glycosylated. Fatty acid content in the insoluble eggshell layers (after decalcification) was in the range of 2-4% (which reflected both lipid and lipoproteins bound fatty acids). Porphyrin pigments are dominant in the cuticle layer.     

Synthesis of Pyrimidine Annelated Heterocycles [1]. Regioselective Heterocyclization of 6-Cyclopent-2-enyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethyl-pyrimidine-2,4( 1H, 3H)-dione and 5-Cyclopent-2-enyl-6-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4( 1H, 3H)-dione

Summary. Two hitherto unreported pyrimidine annelated heterocycles were synthesized from 6-cyclopent-2-enyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione and 5-cyclopent-2-enyl-6-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione by reaction with pyridine hydrotribromide or hexamethylenetetramine hydrotribromide. The first one was also obtained by reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid.Received October 28, 2002; accepted October 30, 2002 Published online June 2, 2003     

Role of anions on the crystal structures of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of a tunable butterfly cyclophane macrocycle

Three crystal structures of a ditopic cyclophane ligand (L) in which two 1,5,8,12-tetraamine molecules have been attached through methylene spacers to the ortho positions of a benzene ring are reported. The first one (1) corresponds to the tetraprotonated free macrocycle (H4L4+) having two tetrachlorozincate(II) counteranions (C24H54O2N8Cl8Zn2, a = 9.1890(2) A, b = 14.0120(3) A, c = 15.3180(3) A, alpha = 89.2320(7) degrees , beta = 82.0740(6) degrees , gamma = 83.017(1) degrees , Z = 2.00, triclinic, P); the second one (2) is of a binuclear Cu2+ complex having coordinated chloride anions and perchlorate counteranions (C24H58O14N8Cl4Cu2 a = 9.9380(2) A, b = 30.2470(6) A, c = 53.143(1) A, orthorhombic, F2dd, Z = 18), and the third one (3) corresponds to an analogous Zn2+ complex that has been crystallized using triflate as counteranion (C26H(51.2)O(6.6)N8Cl2F6S2Zn2 a = 8.472(5) A, b = 9.310(5), c = 13.745(5) A, alpha = 84.262(5) degrees , beta = 77.490(5) degrees , gamma = 73.557(5) degrees , triclinic, P, Z = 2). The analysis of the crystallographic data clearly shows that the conformation of the macrocycle and, in consequence, the overall architecture of the crystals are controlled by the anions present in the moiety, pi-pi-stacking associations, and hydrogen bonding interactions. The protonation and stability constants for the formation of the Cu2+ and Zn2+ complexes in aqueous solution have been determined potentiometrically in 0.15 mol dm(-3) NaClO4 at 298.1 K. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding defines the protonation behavior of the compound. Positive cooperativity is observed in the formation of the Cu2+ complexes.     

Conformation of DNA modified by monofunctional Ru(II) arene complexes: recognition by DNA binding proteins and repair. Relationship to cytotoxicity

We analyzed DNA duplexes modified at central guanine residues by monofunctional Ru(II) arene complexes [(eta(6)-arene)Ru(II)(en)(Cl)](+) (arene = tetrahydroanthracene or p-cymene, Ru-THA or Ru-CYM, respectively). These two complexes were chosen as representatives of two different classes of Ru(II) arene compounds for which initial studies revealed different binding modes: one that may involve DNA intercalation (tricyclic-ring Ru-THA) and the other (mono-ring Ru-CYM) that may not. Ru-THA is approximately 20 times more toxic to cancer cells than Ru-CYM. The adducts of Ru-THA and Ru-CYM have contrasting effects on the conformation, thermodynamic stability, and polymerization of DNA in vitro. In addition, the adducts of Ru-CYM are removed from DNA more efficiently than those of Ru-THA. Interestingly, the mammalian nucleotide excision repair system has low efficiency for excision of ruthenium adducts compared to cisplatin intrastrand crosslinks.