Enantiomeric separation of FMOC-amino acids by nano-LC and CEC using a new chiral stationary phase, cellulose tris(3-chloro-4-methylphenylcarbamate)

A novel polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase (CSP), cellulose tris(3-chloro-4-methylphenylcarbamate), also known as Sepapak-2 or Lux Cellulose-2, has been evaluated for the enantiomeric separation of FMOC derivatives of amino acids. After mobile-phase optimization in nano liquid chromatography (nano-LC) the column enabled the enantiomeric separation of 19 out of 23 amino acids tested, indicating the high chiral recognition power of this new CSP. Subsequently, a comparison of the driving force employed (pressure or voltage) was carried out comparing nano-LC and CEC under the same conditions. Better peak efficiencies and resolution were observed by using CEC experiments, which enabled the chiral discrimination of 20 out of 23 amino acids tested. Finally, in order to show the potential of this new CSP, the determination of the content and the enantiomeric purity of the non-protein amino acid citrulline in food supplements was performed. For that purpose, the method was optimized, evaluated and applied to different commercial samples.     

A facile and efficient four-step enantioselective synthesis of (+)-vernolepin from (+)-minimolide, the major germacranolide of Mikania minima

Enantiomerically pure (+)-vemolepin was semi-synthesized for the first time using the synthon (6S,7R,8S)-8,14-diacetoxy-15-hydroxygermacra-1(10),4,11(13)-trien-6, 12-olide [(+)-minimolide], the major sesquiterpene lactone of the Argentinean vine Mikania minima. After performing four consecutive reactions (Cope rearrangement, two oxidations, and selective hydrolysis of the acetate groups) on the synthon (+)-minimolide, a (+)-vernolepin yield of ca. 40% was achieved, proving to be a suitable semi-synthetic strategy for the production of quantities between 0.5-1.0 g of (+)-vernolepin. The transformations described here mimetize the biogenetic pathway for the production of (+)-vernolepin in the genus Vernonia. The synthesized (+)-vernolepin, but not its precursors, shows antifungal activity similar to amphotericin B. The semi-synthesis reported here combines affordable and easily available chemical reagents with classical organic methodologies.     

Adsorption of fluorescent R6G dye into organophilic C12TMA laponite films

The absorption and fluorescence properties of rhodamine 6G (R6G) in organophilic laponite (Lap) clay films are studied. For this purpose, organo-Lap clays are synthesized by the incorporation of dodecyltrimethylammonium (C12TMA) as surfactant into the interlayer space of Lap clays. Two organo-Lap clays are prepared: one with moderate surfactant content (around 70% of the total cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the clay) and a second with a high surfactant loading (about 130% CEC). Supported films are elaborated by the spin-coating technique and characterized by several techniques such as atomic force microscopy, elemental CHN analysis, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetry. IR spectroscopy reveals that the intercalation of R6G into organo-Lap films takes place at the detriment of the adsorbed C12TMA molecules. The photophysical properties of R6G monomers in the interlayer space of Lap films are improved by the presence of surfactant molecules. Moreover, organophilic environments can reduce the dye aggregation and favor the formation of fluorescent J-type aggregates, enhancing the fluorescence ability of dye/clay films with high dye contents. This improvement depends on the surfactant content.     

Quantum Monte Carlo for 3d transition-metal atoms

The domain Green's function Monte Carlo method has been used to calculate the ground-state energy of the atoms Sc through Zn. The fixed node approximation with single-configuration explicitly correlated wave functions is used. A comparison with variational Monte Carlo energies is carried out. The quality of the ground-state energies reported here is similar to that achieved for few-electron atoms using similar techniques.     

Simultaneous capillary electrophoretic separation of small anions and cations after complexation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

A new approach for simultaneous separation of small inorganic and organic anions and metal cations by capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated. Metal cations in the sample are transformed into their chelates with EDTA and are separated together with the anions using an anionic separation mode. Simultaneous separation of 19 common anions and cations was achieved in about 6 min with the electrolyte containing 5 mM K2CrO4, 3 mM boric acid, 35 microM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and 12 microM EDTA at pH 8. Limits of detection (s/n = 3) were in the range from 4 ppb for Cl- up to 1250 ppb for Cu-EDTA and RSDs of peak areas ranged from 1.4% for Cl- up to 8.5% for Mn-EDTA chelate. The practical applicability of the method was demonstrated on the analysis of anions and cations in various water samples.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of para-substituted (E)-N-styrylcarbazoles via sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction

A series of new para-substituted (E)-(N)-styrylcarbazoles, i.e., eight (E)-9-[2-(aryl)ethenyl]-9H-carbazoles (5-12) and 1,4-bis[(E)-2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)vinyl]benzene (13), have been synthesized in high yield and stereoselectively by a sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction, i.e., coupling of commercially available 9-vinylcarbazole with vinyltriethoxysilane or divinyltetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of [RuHCl(CO)(PCy₃)₂] (I), followed by Pd (II) catalyzed cross-coupling with para-substituted iodobenzenes.The tandem procedure has facilitated the synthesis of 13. X-ray structures of the intermediate silylvinylcarbazole (4), as well as products 12 and 13 have been obtained.     

Gas chromatographic method for the determination of N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine, a metabolite of N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylformamide, in human urine

A simple method has been developed for the determination of N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine in human urine. Treatment of a urine sample (1 ml) with ethanol (2 ml) and potassium carbonate (1.5 g) produces ethyl N-methylcarbamate, which is extracted into ethanol and measured by packed column gas chromatography with nitrogen-sensitive detection. The limit of quantitation in human urine is 1 microgram/ml and the between-sample coefficient of variation is 5-11%. Simultaneously, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide and formamide can also be determined.     

Luminescent goldI carbenes from 2-pyridylisocyanide complexes: structural consequences of intramolecular versus intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions

Isocyanide [AuX(CNPy-2)] (X = Cl, C6F5, fluoromesityl, 1/2 octafluorobiphenyl) and carbene [AuX{C(NR1R2)(NHPy-2)}] (R1R2NH = primary or secondary amines or 1/2 primary diamine) gold(I) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. For X = Cl, the carbene complexes show aurophilic interactions. The fragment NHPy-2, formed in the carbenes, can give rise to intra- (for primary amines) or intermolecular (for secondary amines) hydrogen bonds, depending on the amine used. These bonds and contacts have been studied in the solid state and in solution. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds are split in an acetone solution, but the intramolecular ones, which close a six-membered ring, survive in solution. Except for the fluoromesityl derivatives, the carbene complexes display luminescent properties.     

Quantum chemical study on the coordination environment of the catalytic zinc ion in matrix metalloproteinases

X-ray analyses of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have shown that the catalytic zinc ion (Zn1) can bind to one to three water molecules in addition to three conserved histidine residues. To estimate the relative stability of the possible Zn1 coordination structures in the active site of the MMPs, we carry out computational analyses on the coordination environment of the Zn1 ion in the gelatinase A enzyme (or matrix metalloproteinase 2; MMP-2). Four-, five-, and six-coordinated complexes representative of the Zn1 site are fully characterized by means of quantum mechanical (QM) methodologies. On one hand, B3LYP/LACVP* minimizations of various cluster models of the MMP-2 active site show that the trigonal bipyramidal geometry is energetically favored in the gas phase and that continuum solvent effects stabilize preferentially the tetrahedral complexes. On the other hand, B3LYP/OPLS-AA hybrid QM/molecular mechanical calculations in the solvated catalytic domain of the MMP-2 enzyme complemented with electrostatic Poisson-Boltzmann calculations show that the mature enzyme presents most likely a Zn1 ion coordinated by three histidine residues and two water molecules, while the active site glutamic acid is negatively charged. In consonance with X-ray diffraction data, other possible Zn1 configurations, a six-coordinated structure with Zn1-water as well as four- and five-coordinated complexes with a Zn1-bound hydroxide, are predicted to be very close in energy.     

Validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of 4-nonylphenol and octylphenol in surface water samples by LC-ESI-MS

4-Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were measured by direct ELISA in both laboratory-fortified and surface water samples collected monthly from 10 rivers. In this procedure, samples were concentrated by solid phase extraction (SPE) using Lichrolut RP-18 sorbent with good recoveries obtained for both LC-MS and ELISA, giving a low level of detection (LOD) at the range of low μg L⁻¹ and good reproducibility. Analysis of 40 surface water samples demonstrated that the ELISA may be a useful screening tool for the determination of the alkylphenols in surface water matrices. The concentration of NP and OP in surface waters ranged from 0.11 to 6.58 μg L⁻¹. A good correlation of results obtained by ELISA and LC-MS within the concentration range of 0.08-6.86 μg L⁻¹ was found in the river samples [R² = 0.924, n = 39]. The influence of various factors on assay determination was also discussed.