Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction: A New Mechanistic View for Thioureas Revealed by ESI‐MS(/MS) Monitoring and DFT Calculations

A Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction catalyzed by thiourea was monitored by ESI‐MS(/MS) and key intermediates were intercepted and characterized. These intermediates suggest that thiourea acts as an organocatalyst in all steps of the MBH reaction cycle, including the rate‐limiting proton‐transfer step. DFT calculations, performed for a model MBH reaction between formaldehyde and acrolein with trimethylamine as base and in the presence or the absence of thiourea, suggest that thiourea accelerates MBH reactions by decreasing the transition‐state (TS) energies through bidentate hydrogen bonding throughout the whole catalytic cycle. In the rate‐limiting proton‐transfer step, the thiourea acts not as a proton shuttle, but as a Brønsted acid stabilizing the basic oxygen center that is formed in the TS.     

Optimizing the peak capacity per unit time in one-dimensional and off-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography for the separation of complex peptide samples

To obtain the best compromise between peak capacity and analysis time in one-dimensional and two-dimensional (2D) liquid chromatography (LC), column technology and operating conditions were optimized. The effects of gradient time, flow rate, column temperature, and column length were investigated in one-dimensional reversed-phase (RP) gradient nano-LC, with the aim of maximizing the peak per unit time for peptide separations. An off-line two-dimensional LC approach was developed using a micro-fractionation option of the autosampler, which allowed automatic fractionation of peptides after a first-dimension ion-exchange separation and re-injection of the fractions onto a second-dimension RP nano-LC column. Under the applied conditions, which included a preconcentration/desalting time of 5 min, and a column equilibration time of 12.5 min, the highest peak capacity per unit time in the 2D-LC mode was obtained when applying a short (10 min) first-dimension gradient and second-dimension RP gradients of 20 min duration. For separations requiring a maximum peak capacity of 375, one-dimensional LC was found to be superior to the off-line strong cation-exchange/×/RPLC approach in terms of analysis time. Although a peak capacity of 450 could be obtained in one-dimensional LC when applying 120-min gradients on 500-mm long columns packed with 3-μm particles, for separations requiring a peak capacity higher than 375 2D-LC experiments provide a higher peak capacity per unit time. Finally, the potential of off-line 2D-LC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection is demonstrated with the analysis of a tryptic digest of a mixture of nine proteins and an Escherichia coli digest.     

CBB staining protocol with higher sensitivity and mass spectrometric compatibility

Various CBB‐based methods for staining proteins separated by 2‐D gel electrophoresis were compared with regard to sensitivity and resolution. A modified Kang's CBB staining protocol, which we have modified, includes phosphoric acid in a concentration of 8% instead of the original 2%. This proved to be the best approach. Protein amounts as low as 2 ng and ∼2300 spots in the gel can be detected by employing this protocol. The modified procedure takes less time to carry out. Moreover, this practice is more sensitive and resolves more protein spots than most protocols reported to date and is compatible with subsequent mass spectrometric analysis.     

Salen-type compounds of calcium and strontium

Salen complexes of the heavy alkaline-earth metals, calcium and strontium, were prepared by the reaction of various salen(t-Bu)H(2) ligands with the metals in ethanol. Six new calcium and strontium compounds, [Ca(salen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(2)(thf)] (1), [Ca(salen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(2)] (2), [Ca(salpen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(3)] (3), [Ca(salophen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(thf)] (4), [Sr(salen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(3)] (5), and [Sr(salophen(t-Bu))(HOEt)(thf)(2)] (6), were formed in this way with the quatridentate Schiff-base ligands N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine (salen(t-Bu)H(2)), N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,3-propanediamine (salpen(t-Bu)H(2)), and N,N'-o-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine (salophen(t-Bu)H(2)). Initially, ammonia solutions of the metals were combined with the salen(t-Bu)H(2) ligands, and in the reaction of strontium with salen(t-Bu)H(2), the unusual tetrametallic cluster [(OC(6)H(2)(t-Bu)(2)CHN(CH(2))(2)NH(2))Sr(mu(3)-salean(t-Bu)H(2))Sr(mu(3)-OH)](2) (7) was produced (salean(t-Bu)H(4) = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine). In this compound, the imine bonds of the salen(t-Bu)H(2) ligand were reduced to form the known ligands salean(t-Bu)H(4) and (HO)C(6)H(2)(t-Bu)(2)CHN(CH(2))(2)NH(2). Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 7 were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data for 1 (C(44)H(74)CaN(2)O(6)): triclinic space group P(-)1, a = 8.3730(10) A, b = 14.8010(10) A, c = 18.756(2) A, alpha = 72.551(10) degrees, beta = 81.795(10) degrees, gamma = 78.031(10) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 5 (C(38)H(64)SrN(2)O(5)): monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, a = 23.634(3) A, b = 8.4660(10) A, c = 24.451(3) A, beta = 101.138(10) degrees, Z = 4. Crystal data for 6 (C(46)H(67)N(2)O(5)Sr): orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 10.5590(2) A, b = 16.2070(3) A, c = 26.7620(6) A, Z = 4. Crystal data for 7 (C(98)H(156)N(8)O(8)Sr(4)): triclinic space group P(-)1, a = 14.667(1) A, b = 15.670(1) A, c = 18.594(2) A, alpha = 92.26(1) degrees, beta = 111.84(1) degrees, gamma = 117.12(1) degrees, Z = 4.     

Reaction of gold(III) oxo complexes with alkenes. Synthesis of unprecedented gold alkene complexes, [Au(N,N)(alkene)][PF6]. Crystal structure of [Au(bipy(ip))(eta2-CH2=CHPh)][PF6] (bipy(ip) = 6-isopropyl-2,2'-bipyridine)

Gold alkene complexes [Au(bipyR)(eta2-alkene)][PF6] (bipyR = 6-alkyl-2,2'-bipyridine) have been obtained by reaction of gold(III) oxo complexes [Au2(bipyR)2(mu-O)2][PF6]2 with alkenes. The crystal structure of the styrene adduct [Au(bipy(ip))(eta2-CH2=CHPh)][PF6] (bipy(ip) = 6-isopropyl-2,2'-bipyridine) has been solved by X-ray analysis.     

A new HPLC method for serum neopterin measurement and relationships with plasma thiols levels in healthy subjects

Neopterin, a pyrazinopyrimidine compound, serves as a marker of cellular immune system activation, and it can be used as a prognostic predictor for certain types of diseases. We propose a new simple HPLC method to measure serum neopterin with highly sensitive fluorimetric detection. After TCA serum protein precipitation, the supernatant was diluted five times, injected into a C18 reversed-phase column and eluted at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min by an isocratic water-acetonitrile (99:1) mobile phase. The natural fluorescence of the molecule was detected at excitation wavelength 353 nm and emission 438 nm. In these conditions the neopterin retention time was about 4 min. Our proposed method was compared with a validated chromatographic separation, and the obtained data of the serum neopterin from 35 healthy volunteers were analysed by Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman test. Neopterin measurement in healthy subjects was also employed to investigate on its potential relationships with plasma thiols levels.     

Applications on the monitoring of oxidative modification of LDL by capillary electrophoresis: a comparison with spectrophotometer assay

The aim of this work is the application of Stocks and Miller capillary electrophoresis (CE) method in order to evaluate the human LDL susceptibility to Cu²⁺-induced oxidation. Lipid peroxidation determines a change in the relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of lipoprotein that can be monitored by capillary electrophoresis using uncoated fused silica capillaries and tricine-methylglucamine as electrophoretic buffer.We have evaluated the differences in the susceptibility to oxidation of LDL subjected to different preparations (dialysis or gel filtration, after ultracentrifugation, to remove EDTA), and different storage (4 °C for 1 week or lyophilization) by measuring REM and lipid hydroperoxides (ROOH) with a spectrophotometer assay. Our results indicate that gel filtration is a more convenient procedure than dialysis for the isolation of LDL and that lyophilised samples are less prone to oxidation than those stored at 4 °C. Moreover, REM appears to be a more sensitive and easier method than spectrophotometer assay both to monitor the oxidative modification of LDL and to evaluate oxidative state of native LDL.     

N^N^C platinum(II) and palladium(II) cyclometallates of 6,6′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine, L: Crystal and molecular structure of [Pd(L-H)Cl]

Reaction of K₂[PtCl₄] or Na₂[PdCl₄] with 6,6′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine, L, gives the cyclometallated species [Pt(L-H)Cl], 1, and [Pd(L-H)Cl], 2, respectively, where L-H is a terdentate N^N^C anionic ligand originated by direct activation of a C(sp²)-H bond. The crystal structure of 2 has been solved by X-ray diffraction and compared to that of the analogous complex [Pd(L′-H)Cl] L′ = 6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine. The second phenyl ring in 2 entails a considerable distortion of the coordination around the metal. A similar distortion is also to be expected in the analogous compound 1, due to the almost equal covalent radii of palladium(II) and platinum(II).From the complexes 1 and 2 the chloride can be displaced with AgBF₄ and substituted by CO or PPh₃ to give the corresponding cationic species. By reaction of 1 with Na[BH₄] substitution of H⁻ for Cl⁻ can be achieved: the rare hydrido complex [Pt(L-H)H], stabilized only by nitrogen ligands, was isolated in the solid state and fully characterized in solution. It is noteworthy that in the case of the 6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine the analogous terminal hydride [Pd(L′-H)H] is unstable. In platinum chemistry the reaction of 6-substituted 2,2′-bipyridines is known to give either N^N^C or N′^C(3) rollover cyclometallation, depending on the nature of the metal precursor. In the case of 6,6′-Ph₂-2,2′-bipy cyclometallation was also shown to undergo multiple C-H activation giving the C^N^C pincer complex [Pt(L-2H)(DMSO)]. The latter species can be related to complex 1: indeed its reaction with HCl produces complex 1 and [Pt(L-H)(DMSO)Cl], a rollover species with a pendant phenyl substituent.     

Counterion influence on the N–I–N halogen bond

A detailed investigation of the influence of counterions on the [N–I–N]⁺ halogen bond in solution, in the solid state and in silico is presented. Translational diffusion coefficients indicate close attachment of counterions to the cationic, three-center halogen bond in dichloromethane solution. Isotopic perturbation of equilibrium NMR studies performed on isotopologue mixtures of regioselectively deuterated and nondeuterated analogues of the model system showed that the counterion is incapable of altering the symmetry of the [N–I–N]⁺ halogen bond. This symmetry remains even in the presence of an unfavorable geometric restraint. A high preference for the symmetric geometry was found also in the solid state by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Molecular systems encompassing weakly coordinating counterions behave similarly to the corresponding silver(i) centered coordination complexes. In contrast, systems possessing moderately or strongly coordinating anions show a distinctly different behavior. Such silver(i) complexes are converted into multi-coordinate geometries with strong Ag–O bonds, whereas the iodine centered systems remain linear and lack direct charge transfer interaction with the counterion, as verified by ¹⁵N NMR and DFT computation. This suggests that the [N–I–N]⁺ halogen bond may not be satisfactorily described in terms of a pure coordination bond typical of transition metal complexes, but as a secondary bond with a substantial charge-transfer character.