Rapid determination of underivatized pyroglutamic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine and other relevant amino acids in fermentation media by LC-MS-MS

Determination of amino acids in a complex matrix without derivatization is advantageous, however, difficulties are found in both the detection and the separation of those compounds. In this study, a rapid and reliable LC-MS-MS method for the quantitation of underivatized amino acids in exocellular media was established. Injections were made directly after centrifugation of the samples, without further preparation. The separation of seven underivatized amino acids was achieved on a reversed-phase C18 column with pentadecafluorooctanoic acid as a volatile ion-pair reagent, and the specific detection of most amino acids was achieved by MS-MS of the specific transitions [M + H]+-->[M + H - 46]+. The calibration curves of all analytes were linear over the range of 1.0-1000 microg ml(-1) and the detection limits ranged from 0.1 to 5 ng ml(-1), with an injection volume of 20 microl. The inter-day and intra-day precisions ranged from 2.6 to 5.7% and 4.8 to 8.2%, respectively; the mean recoveries of the seven analytes were 81-104%, 91-107% and 93-101% respectively at the spiked level of 10, 40 and 200 microg ml(-1). A large number of fermentation samples were analysed using this method. The technique is simple, rapid, selective and sensitive, and shows potential for the high-throughput quantitation of amino acids from other biological matrices.     

A simple reliable approximation for isotropic intermolecular forces. A critical test using HH(3Σu+) as a model

A simple semi-empirical approximation for the exchange energy (E_x), coupled with a tractable representation of the Coulomb energy (E_C), has been found to yield very accurate results for the isotropic part of the interaction energy (E_int = E_x + E_C) between two closed shell systems. The expression for E_int is based on the knowledge of the first order Coulomb energy and the first three terms in the asymptotic long range expansion of the second order Coulomb energy for the interaction and contains but one adjustable parameter which occurs in E_x. The usefulness of this approach for evaluating E_int is tested critically by using the non-bonded H(1s)H(1s) (³Σ_u⁺) interaction as a model (accurate values of the total interaction energy, the exchange energy, and various orders of Coulomb energies, are available for a wide range of R for this system). The results obtained for both E_int and (dE_int/dR) are inremarkable agreement with the exact results of Kotos and Wolniewicz for R > 3 a_o. Since the law of corresponding states for inert gas pairs holds equally well for the HH(³Σ_u⁺) interaction, our analysis of this simple system yields valuable information on the reliability of the approach for other van der Waals dimers.     

Swallowtail porphyrins: synthesis, characterization and incorporation into porphyrin dyads

The incorporation of symmetrically branched tridecyl ("swallowtail") substituents at the meso positions of porphyrins results in highly soluble building blocks. Synthetic routes have been investigated to obtain porphyrin building blocks bearing 1-4 swallowtail groups. Porphyrin dyads have been synthesized in which the zinc or free base (Fb) porphyrins are joined by a 4,4'-diphenylethyne linker and bear swallowtail (or n-pentyl) groups at the nonlinking meso positions. The swallowtail-substituted Zn(2)- and ZnFb-dyads are readily soluble in common organic solvents. Static absorption and fluorescence spectra and electrochemical data show that the presence of the swallowtail groups slightly raises the energy level of the filled a(2u)(pi) HOMO. EPR studies of the pi-cation radicals of the swallowtail porphyrins indicate that the torsional angle between the proton on the alkyl carbon and p-orbital on the meso carbon of the porphyrin is different from that of a porphyrin bearing linear pentyl groups. Regardless, the swallowtail substituents do not significantly affect the photophysical properties of the porphyrins or the electronic interactions between the porphyrins in the dyads. In particular, time-resolved spectroscopic studies indicate that facile excited-state energy transfer occurs in the ZnFb dyad, and EPR studies of the monocation radical of the Zn(2)-dyad show that interporphyrin ground-state hole transfer is rapid.     

Synthesis, Structure and Characterization of [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2][{Cu(2,2'-bpy)2}2W12O40(H2)]·4H2O

An organic-inorganic compound [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2][{Cu(2,2'-bpy)2}2W12O4o(H2)]·4H2O (Mr = 4048.00) was prepared from the hydrothermal reaction of Na2WO4·2H2O, CuCl2·2H2O,2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bpy) and H2O at 160 ℃ for 4 days. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a = 18.9196(8), b = 20.4212(8), c = 21.8129(9)(A), β=96.992(3)°, V= 8365.0(6) (A)3, Dc= 3.214 g/cm3, Z = 4,μ(MoKα) = 17.269 mm-1 and F(000) = 7324.Of the 119837 total reflections, 17315 were unique (Rint = 0.0489). The final R = 0.0385 and wR =0.0770 for 11142 observed reflections with I ＞ 2σ(I). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the structure is composed of [{Cu(2,2'-bpy)2}2W12O40(H2)]2- anions, discrete [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2]2 cations and lattice water molecules, and the anion is made up of a {W12O40(H2)}6- α-Keggin core decorated with two {Cu(2,2'-bpy)2}2 groups through bridging oxygen atoms.     

基于快速扫描光学延迟线谐振扫描的相位调制方法

提出利用快速扫描光学延迟线(Rapid Scanning Optical Delay Line,RSOD)作为光学相干层析成像(Optical Coherence Tomography,OCT)系统的相位调制器,并采用正弦驱动方式(谐振扫描)来提高扫描频率,进而实现高频相位调制的方法.介绍了基于RSOD相位调制器的干涉信号包络解调方法,分析了大振镜低频率线性驱动、小振镜高频线性驱动和大振镜高速正弦驱动三种实施方案对OCT性能的影响,并针对谐振扫描方案中轴向扫描的非线性提出了图像畸变定量校正的方法.结果表明:RSOD大振镜谐振扫描的模式能够兼顾系统成像速度、成像范围以及系统信噪比的要求,是一种行之有效的相位调制方法.     

能量选择中子成像技术及其应用

能量选择中子成像技术是利用特定范围波长(能量)的中子进行成像。在热/冷中子范围内(<25meV),能量选择中子成像技术主要基于布拉格边效应和衍射机制,相比常规中子成像技术不但可以显著提高图像对比度,而且能分析应变、应力、织构。在超热中子范围内(>1eV),能量选择中子成像技术主要基于中子共振吸收,中子截面随能量变化是同位素特有的,存在明显的共振吸收峰,因此可以进行同位素的“指纹”识别。能量选择中子成像技术在工程、材料、化学、物理、生物、考古等众多科研领域中有着非常广阔的应用前景。     

A general electron donor–acceptor complex for photoactivation of arenes via thianthrenation

General photoactivation of electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes between arylsulfonium salts and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane with visible light or natural sunlight was discovered. This practical and efficient mode enables the production of aryl radicals under mild conditions, providing an unrealized opportunity for two-step para-selective C–H functionalization of complex arenes. The novel mode for generating aryl radicals via an EDA complex was well supported by UV-vis absorbance measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance titration experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The method was applied to the regio- and stereo-selective arylation of various N-heterocycles under mild conditions, yielding an assembly of challengingly linked heteroaryl–(hetero)aryl products. Remarkably, the meaningful couplings of bioactive molecules with structurally complex drugs or agricultural pharmaceuticals were achieved to display favorable in vitro antitumor activities, which will be of great value in academia or industry.

General photoactivation of EDA complexes between arylsulfonium salts and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane was discovered. This practical mode enables the generation of aryl radicals for C–H functionalization of arenes.