Simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of seventeen of the major monoamine neurotransmitters, precursors and metabolites. I. Optimization of the mobile phase using factorial designs and a computer program to predict chromatograms

Utilizing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection and optimization of the mobile phase using factorial designs and a constructed computer program to predict chromatograms, it has been possible to obtain a satisfactory resolution of seventeen of the major monoamine neurotransmitters, precursors and metabolites. A rapid (less than 25 min) isocratic system for the simultaneous determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, homovanillic acid, norepinephrine, normetanephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, epinephrine, metanephrine, vanillylmandelic acid, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in addition to the internal standard isoproterenol is presented. The optimization strategy included selection of variables to optimize by a reduced factorial design a detailed study of these variables by a complete factorial design, theoretical predictions of chromatograms by a constructed computer program and test on the HPLC system. This optimization strategy can easily be applied to any problem of solute separation by liquid chromatography.     

Total spontaneous resolution of chiral covalent networks from stereochemically labile metal complexes

Stereochemically labile copper and zinc complexes with the N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine ligand (dmeda) have been shown to be promising precursors for the total spontaneous resolution of chiral covalent networks. (N,N')-[Cu(NO3)2(dmeda)]infinity crystallises as a conglomerate and yields either enantiopure (R,R)-1 or enantiopure (S,S)-1. A mixed-valence copper(I/II) complex, [{Cu(II)Br2(dmeda)}3(Cu(I)Br)2]infinity (2), which crystallises as a pair of interpenetrating chiral (10,3)-a nets, is formed from CuBr, CuBr2 and dmeda. One net contains ligands with solely (R,R) configuration and exhibits helices with (P) configuration while the other has solely (S,S)-dmeda ligands and gives rise to a net in which the helices have (M) configuration. The whole crystalline arrangement is racemic, because the interpenetrating chiral nets are of opposite handedness. With zinc chloride (R,S)-[ZnCl(dmeda)2]2[ZnCl4] (3) is obtained, which is a network structure, although not chiral. Total spontaneous resolution of stereochemically labile metal complexes formed from achiral or racemic building blocks is suggested as a viable route for the preparation of covalent chiral networks. Once the absolute structure of the compound has been determined by X-ray crystallography, a quantitative determination of the enantiomeric excess of the bulk product can be undertaken by means of solid-state CD spectroscopy.     

A new ligand system based on a bipyridine-functionalized calix[4]arene backbone leading to mono- and bimetallic complexes

The synthesis of a new ligand system for mono- and bimetallic complexes based on a calixarene is described. Ligand BBPC (3, bis(bipyridine)-calix[4]arene) is obtained in three steps in 40% overall yield by first brominating one of the methyl groups of the 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine in two steps and subsequently reacting it with p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene under basic conditions. Reaction of BBPC (3) with 2 equiv of [Rh(NBD)(2)]BF(4) or [Rh(NBD)(CH(3)CN)(2)]BF(4) (NBD = norbornadiene) produces the bimetallic compound BBPC[Rh(NBD)BF(4)](2) (4). Treatment of the ligand with PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) leads to the isolation of the bimetallic complex BBPC[PdCl(2)](2) (5). When the nickel precursor NiBr(2)(DME) (DME = dimethoxyethane) is reacted with BBPC, the bimetallic complex BBPC[NiBr(2)](2) (6) is isolated which, upon crystallization from methanol, gives the mononuclear bis(bipyridine) complex BBPC[NiBr(OMe)] (7). Full characterization includes X-ray structural studies of complexes 4, 5, and 7. The bimetallic compounds 4 and 5 show metal to metal distances of 4.334 A (for 4) and 3.224 A (for 5). For all three complexes, unique molecular packing arrangements were found, based on hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions.     

Simplified quantitative determination of plasma phenytoin: on-line pre-column high-performance liquid immunoaffinity chromatography with sample pre-purification

A method for on-line high-performance liquid immunoaffinity chromatographic analysis of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin) in human plasma is described. The technique is simple and does not require sample preparation or addition of an internal standard, and the phenytoin is eluted from the columns in 12 min. A phenytoin-specific polyclonal immunoglobulin was attached to an organic silane derivative on silica. The immunosorbent was packed into a short liquid chromatography column and installed in a modified high-performance liquid chromatography system for on-line sample pre-purification. Standard curve linearity of plasma phenytoin was obtained at concentrations up to 160 mumol/l. When compared to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography, plasma phenytoin levels gave a correlation coefficient of 0.993. The phenytoin is highly bound to plasma proteins (ca. 87%). When plasma is injected onto the pre-column, a dissociation and partition of phenytoin from plasma proteins to a complete association with on-column insolubilized antibodies results.     

Nucleophilic de-coordination and electrophilic regeneration of "hemilabile" pincer-type complexes: formation of anionic dialkyl, diaryl, and dihydride Pt(II) complexes bearing no stabilizing pi-acceptors

Novel anionic dialkyl, diaryl, and dihydride platinum(II) complexes based on the new "long-arm" hemilabile PCN-type ligand C6H4[CH2P(tBu)2](CH2)2N(CH3)2 with the general formula Li+[Pt(PCN)(R)2]- (R=Me (4), Ph (6) and H (9)) were prepared by reaction of [Pt(PCN)(R)] complexes (obtained from the corresponding chlorides) with an equivalent of RLi, as a result of the opening of the chelate ring. Alkylating agents based on other metals produce less stable products. These anionic d8 complexes are thermally stable although they bear no stabilizing pi acceptors. They were characterized by 1H, 31P[1H], 13C, and 7Li NMR spectroscopy; complex 9 was also characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography, showing that the Li+ ion is coordinated to the nitrogen atom of the open amine arm and to the hydride ligand (trans to the P atom) of a neighboring molecule (H--Li=2.15 A), resulting in a dimeric structure. Complexes 4 and 9 exhibit high nucleophilic reactivity, upon which the pincer complex is regenerated. Reaction of 4 with water, methyl iodide, and iodobenzene resulted in the neutral complex [Pt(PCN)(CH3)] (3) and methane, ethane, or toluene, respectively. Labeling studies indicate that the reaction proceeds by direct electrophilic attack on the metal center, rather than attack on the alkyl ligand. The anionic dihydride complex 9 reacted with water and methyl iodide to yield [Pt(PCN)(H)] (8) and H2 or methane, respectively.     

A temperature-controlled graphite tube furnace for the determination of trace metals in solid biological tissue

A temperature-controlled graphite furnace for atomic-absorption analysis has been built and tested. The temperature of the graphite tube was monitored with an infrared-sensitive detector. Samples were introduced directly or via a separately heated graphite cup. Micro-samples of solid biological tissue were analysed directly for Zn, Mn and Co and the sensitivities for 1% absorption were 0.05,2 and 10 pg respectively. The salt content of the tissue limits the sample sizes, owing to non-specific absorption. The ashing conditions were investigated and found to be especially critical for Zn.     

Selective enzyme amplification of NAD/NADH using coimmobilized glycerol dehydrogenase and diaphorase with amperometric detection

A flow system for substrate recycling of NAD⁺/NADH was set up with an enzyme reactor containing coimmobilized glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH) and diaphorase. The product from the diaphorase catalysis, hexacyanoferrate(II), aws detected amperometrically at a glassy carbon electrode. The amplification factor was 150 for a reactor volume of 100 μ l at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min. With a stopped flow of four minutes, the signal increased another 88 times, resulting in a signal amplification of 13 300 times. Equations are derived for the amplification factor and used for a discussion of the optimization of amplification systems. The K_m for GDH with glycerol as a substrate was found to be 5 × 10⁻³ M at pH 8.0. GDH from Cellulomonas sp. was purified on a gel filtration column and the purified enzyme showed a specificity toward NAD⁺, compared to NADP⁺, that was higher than 99.9%. Due to the NAD⁺ specificity of the purified GDH, the enzyme amplification system reported here could be used in detection systems for enzyme immunoassays when using alkaline phosphatase as a label and NADP⁺ as a substrate. The stability of immobilized GDH and diaphorase is several orders of magnitude better than that of alcohol dehydrogenase, which is the enzyme commonly used for NAD⁺-specific detection in these applications.     

Novel Lewis-base ionic liquids replacing typical anions

We have synthesized two kinds of new Lewis-base ionic liquids (ILs); one is based on the relatively strong Lewis basic acetate anion, and the other is a salt composed of a mono-alkylated diamine such that the Lewis base site is incorporated in the cation. 1-Octyl-4-aza-1-azonia-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide, [C₈dabco]TFSA, and N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium acetate, [p_1,4]OAc, melted into fluid liquids at 26 and 81 °C, respectively. The thermal decomposition of [p_1,4]OAc started at around 150 °C, whereas the thermal stability of [C₈dabco]TFSA was almost equal to that of typical TFSA-based ILs in spite of the Lewis base site. This suggests that if the Lewis base site is incorporated into the cation the IL can maintain higher thermal stability. In addition, as a further result of the presence of the basic nitrogen, [C₈dabco]TFSA can dissolve hydrated Cu(NO₃)₂ whereas the other TFSA-based ILs cannot.