Lacidipine,a potential peroxynitrite scavenger: investigation of activity by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Inflamed tissues are often characterised by the production of *NO and O(2)(-) radicals, which are known to react at an extremely fast rate to produce peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). This highly oxidising entity reacts with protein-bound tyrosine to give 3-nitrotyrosine, which is considered a biochemical marker of peroxynitrite-induced damage. Lacidipine is a calcium antagonist indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. In the present work, electrospray mass spectrometry with and without liquid chromatography was used to evaluate the capability of lacidipine and two other related molecules as ONOO(-) scavengers. This capability is compared with that associated with a number of commercial polyphenols described in the literature as efficient scavengers of this cytotoxic agent. The use of mass spectrometry provided rapid quantitative assessment of both the nitration and its reduction, and showed that lacidipine possesses a reasonable capability for reducing in vitro nitration of superoxide dismutase.     

Axially Dissymmetric Diphosphines in the Biphenyl Series: Synthesis of (6,6′-Dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)(‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and Analogues via an ortho-Lithiation/Iodination Ullmann-Reaction Approach

The new axially dissymmetric diphosphines (R)- and (S)-(6,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenyl phosphine) ((R)- and (S)- 5a ; ‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and the analogues (R)- and (S)- 5b and 5c have been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. These ligands have become readily available by a synthetic scheme which employs, as key steps, an ortho-lithiation/iodination reaction of the (m-methoxyphenyl)diprienylphosphine oxides 8 and a subsequent Ullmann reaction of the resulting iodides 9 to provide the racemic bis(phosphine oxides) 10 . The bis(phosphine oxides) 10 subsequently are resolved with (?)-(2R,3R)- and (+)-(2S,3S)-O-2,3-dibenzoyltartaric acid and reduced to diphosphines 5 . The Ullmann reaction constitutes a new and efficient route to 2,2′-bis(phosphinoyl)-substituted biphenyl systems. Absolute configurations were established for (R)- 5a by X-ray analysis of the derived Pd complex (R,R)- 17a , and for 5b and 5c by means of ¹H-NMR comparisons of the derived Pd complexes 16 or 17 , respectively, and by means of CD comparisons. The MeO-BIPHEP diphosphine 5a proved to be as efficient as the previously described BIPHEMP diphosphine ((6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)) in enantioselective isomerizations and hydrogenations.     

Un nouveau type d'alcaloïdes isoquinoleiques,les bisaporphines

The structures of Beccapoline and Beccapolinium, two new isoquinoline alkaloids from $\text{Polyathia beccarii}$, Annonaceae, have been elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. They are the first examples of natural bisaporphines.     

Mechanism of the grafting of organosilanes on mineral surfaces

Summary The grafting of minerals by alkenylchlorosilanes leads to organomineral derivatives which are superficially covered by unsaturated organic groups. These groups may be of value when the grafted mineral is used as a reinforcing agent in a polymeric matrix. In this case, the unsaturated grafted groups copolymerize with an organic monomer to build up a composite material. It is therefore of importance to preserve the unsaturated character of the alkenyl-silane during the grafting reactions. It is shown that in certain synthesis conditions, the hydrochloric acid present in the reaction medium adds to the alkenyl-groups. For instance, in the grafting of methylvinyl-dichlorosilane, this reaction is of minor importance, whereas in the case of allyldimethylchlorosilane, no allyl groups are grafted as such on the mineral surface.

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Zusammenfassung Die Pfropfung von silicatischen Mineralen mit Alkenylchlorosilanen führt zu organischen Derivaten, deren Oberfläche mit ungesättigten organischen Gruppen bedeckt ist. Diese Gruppen können Vorteile bieten, wenn die so behandelten Minerale als Fül-stoffe oder Verstärker in einer Polymermatrix eingesetzt werden. Die ungesättigten Gruppen können miteinem organischen Monomer kopolymerisieren und ein echtes Verbundmaterial bilden. Die Pfropfung muß allerdings so geführt werden, daß der ungesättigte Charakter der Alkenylsilane erhalten bleibt. In der Arbeit werden experimentelle Bedingungen dafür berichtet.

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With 2 figures

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Part 1: Nature and role of the hydrolysis products of the methylvinyldichlorosilane in the grafting of silicates in hydrochloric acid and isopropanolThis journal 256, 135 (1978).     

Modeling of submicrometer aerosol penetration through sintered granular membrane filters

We present a deep-bed aerosol filtration model that can be used to estimate the efficiency of sintered granular membrane filters in the region of the most penetrating particle size. In this region the capture of submicrometer aerosols, much smaller than the filter pore size, takes place mainly via Brownian diffusion and direct interception acting in synergy. By modeling the disordered sintered grain packing of such filters as a simple cubic lattice, and mapping the corresponding 3D connected pore volume onto a discrete cylindrical pore network, the efficiency of a granular filter can be estimated, using new analytical results for the efficiency of cylindrical pores. This model for aerosol penetration in sintered granular filters includes flow slip and the kinetics of particle capture by the pore surface. With a unique choice for two parameters, namely the structural tortuosity and effective kinetic coefficient of particle adsorption, this semiempirical model can account for the experimental efficiency of a new class of "high-efficiency particulate air" ceramic membrane filters as a function of particle size over a wide range of filter thickness and texture (pore size and porosity) and operating conditions (face velocity).     

Tetramethylcyclopentadienylselenium derivatives

Bis(1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)selane (1) has been prepared by the reaction of tetramethylcyclopentadienyllithium (Cp(t)Li) with selenium bis(diethyldithiocarbamate). Treatment of Cp(t)Li with elemental selenium, followed by air oxidation, led to loss of the allylic hydrogen atom, and formation of the novel tricyclic compound 1,4,5,6,7,10,11,12-octamethyltricyclo[7.3.0.0]-2,8-diselenadodeca-3,5,9,11-tetraene (2). The sulfur analogue of 2 has been obtained by a similar procedure. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been determined, and the molecular geometry observed for has been probed using DFT calculations.     

Fine-tuning water exchange on Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylates) by modulation of steric crowding

In the objective of optimizing water exchange rate on stable, nine-coordinate, monohydrated Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylate) complexes, we have prepared monopropionate derivatives of DOTA4- (DO3A-Nprop4-) and DTPA5- (DTTA-Nprop5-). A novel ligand, EPTPA-BAA(3-), the bisamylamide derivative of ethylenepropylenetriamine-pentaacetate (EPTPA5-) was also synthesized. A variable temperature 17O NMR study has been performed on their Gd(III) complexes, which, for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)] has been combined with multiple field EPR and NMRD measurements. The water exchange rates, k(ex)(298), are 8.0 x 10(7) s(-1), 6.1 x 10(7) s(-1) and 5.7 x 10(7) s(-1) for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2-, [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)], respectively, all in the narrow optimal range to attain maximum proton relaxivities, provided the other parameters (electronic relaxation and rotation) are also optimized. The substitution of an acetate with a propionate arm in DTPA5- or DOTA4- induces increased steric compression around the water binding site and thus leads to an accelerated water exchange on the Gd(III) complex. The k(ex) values on the propionate complexes are, however, lower than those obtained for [Gd(EPTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(TRITA)(H2O)]- which contain one additional CH(2) unit in the amine backbone as compared to the parent [Gd(DTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(DOTA)(H2O)]-. In addition to their optimal water exchange rate, [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- has, and [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- is expected to have sufficient thermodynamic stability. These properties together make them prime candidates for the development of high relaxivity, macromolecular MRI contrast agents.     

The complete symmetrization of quantum operators: new thoughts on an old problem

The complete symmetrization with respect to x, p _x,... of the operators associated with dynamical properties can sometimes lead to results different from those obtained by the conventional quantum formalism based on the rule op (A ²)=(op A)². For example, angular momentum operators M _z ² and M ² are modified by the additive constants ²/2 and 3 ²/2 respectively (M ²0 for electron in the ground state of H atom, rotator never at rest, but spectra unchanged); the average quadratic dispersion of energy is different from zero. These results can be interpreted by assuming that the system is never strictly isolated but communicates with the other systems of the universe by means of electromagnetic interactions. Quantum mechanics would give only average values over a sufficiently long time and would exhibit a quasi-ergodic character. Examples supporting this possibility are given, in particular that of arsines for which quantum forecasts correspond to average values over one year.Dedicated to Professor J. Koutecký on the occasion of his 65th birthday