Phase transfer catalytic system with the third liquid phase

Phase transfer catalysis, a technique to bring the reactants in two immiscible phases together by adding a phase transfer agent, has been employed in the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals in the last few decades. The third liquid phase (catalytic phase) may be formed when phase transfer catalysts (PTC), cannot be dissolved in either organic or aqueous phase. The third phase catalytic systems have the following three advantages, that is, (1) high activity (2) repeated use and (3) separation between the organic phase and the aqueous phase. It is expected that simple new processes can be constructed by applying these three advantages.     

Magnetic microcapsules for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs

To achieve targeted distribution of anticancer drugs with sustained activity, ferromagnetic ethylcellulose microcapsules containing an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (FM-MMC-mc), were prepared by a method based on phase separation principles. Two prototypes of FM-MMC-mc were made: one with the drug as the core and zinc ferrite on its capsular surface (outer type); the other with both the drug and zinc ferrite as the core (inner type). Both preparations provided a sustained-release property and a sensitive response to conventional magnetic force, although certain differences in the release rate of drug, magnetic responsiveness, and particle size were found between the two dosage forms. Animal studies showed that the magnetic microcapsules could be magnetically controlled in the artery and urinary bladder. VX2 tumors in the rabbit hind limb and urinary bladder were successfully treated with magnetic control of FM-MMC-mc. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that the targeting of the microcapsules markedly enhanced the drug absorption into the surrounding tissues for a prolonged period of time. The results indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of the magnetic microcapsules as a targeted drug delivery system.     

Extraction Behavior of Amino Acids by Calix[6]arene Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

A series of calixarene carboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized for the extraction of amino acids. A calix[6]arene carboxylic acid derivative showed the highest extractability to the target tryptophan ester. The main driving forcefor the complexation was the interaction between the ammonium cation of the aminoacid and the oxygen atoms of the host molecule. Stripping of amino acids was alsoaccomplished by contacting the organic solution with a fresh acidic solution. Basedon slope and Job method analyses, it was confirmed that the calix[6]arene formsa 1 : 1 complex with the amino acid ester. The structure of the complex between the calix[6]arene and the amino acid was investigated by ¹H-NMR and CD spectra. The calix[6]arene includes a guest molecule in the cavity, and the inclusion induces the asymmetrization of the host molecule. This host compound functions as a novel recognition tool for amino acids.     

Crystallization in low-energy deposition of titanium ions

To investigate crystallization in the ion beam deposition process, titanium ions were deposited on silicon wafers at 105 and 55 eV. As titanium is an active metal, titanium compounds are formed by absorbing backfilled or residual gas. At energy levels of 105 or 55 eV, titanium crystallizes in a NaCl-type titanium compound with the backfilling of air. In all samples, (110)-oriented crystals grew with a rectangular lattice arrangement of titanium atoms. The open channel <110> of preferentially oriented crystal growth was parallel to the direction of incident ions normal to the substrate surface.     

Detection of a metallo-beta-lactamase (IMP-1) by fluorescent probes having dansyl and thiol groups

A fluorescent probe for the detection of a metallo-beta-lactamase (IMP-1), N-[2-(5-dimethylaminonaphthalen-1-ylsulfonylamino)ethyl]-3- mercaptopropionamide (Dansyl-C2SH), 1, was designed based on combining the inhibitory function of mercaptocarboxylate and a fluorophore. The binding of 1 to IMP-1 was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Compound 1 can act as fluorescent probe for detecting IMP-1 selectively.     

Separation of N2-ethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate and four native deoxyribonucleoside monophosphates using capillary zone electrophoresis with polyethylene glycol as buffer additive

We investigated the separation of five deoxyribonucleoside monophosphates: 2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate (dGMP), 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate (dAMP), 2'-deoxycytosine-5'-monophosphate (dCMP), 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate (dTMP) and a dGMP adduct possessing N2-ethyl-guanine, which has been noted in relation to mutagenesis of alcohol, using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a modifier and the pH of the running solutions can efficiently control the observed separation. Interaction of PEG with analytes was quantitatively evaluated. PEG worked effectively as a hydrophobic selector in these separations. The values of pKa of the acidic-NH-groups in the base moieties of dGMP, dTMP, and the dGMP adduct are close to that of boric acid used as buffer of the running solutions. The control of their charge was facilitated, enabling improved separations. A more sufficient and fast separation was achieved by both optimization of pH of the running solutions and PEG concentration compared with that obtained by pH control alone. On-line concentration using a stacking method followed by the PEG-assisted CZE was briefly studied.     

Direct capillary gas chromatographic analysis and thermal stability of bile acid esters of glucose

Summary This paper deals for the first time with a direct method for analysis of the α and β anomers of bile acid esters of glucose by capillary gas chromatography (CGC) without the need for a hydrolytic step. The bile acid esters were derivatized to their trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers, which in turn were chromatographed on a short (7m) metal capillary column chemically coated with a thin (0.15 μm) film of thermostable, non-polar polydimethylsiloxane. Satisfactory CGC separation of the isomeric bile acid esters was achieved on the column; the β anomers eluted before the corresponding α isomers. Particularly noteworthy is that the α anomers are partially isomerized to the corresponding β anomers, and that both anomers are partially decomposed during CGC analysis, demonstrating the chemical specificity and thermal instability of the bile acid esters.     

Preparation and biological activity of 2-[4-(thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]propionic acid derivatives inhibiting cyclooxygenase.

A series of 2-[4-(thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]propionic acids substituted at various positions were prepared by the reaction of diethyl 2-methyl-2-(4-thiocarbamoylphenyl)malonates with alpha-bromoaldehyde diethyl acetals or alpha-haloketones followed by hydrolysis of esters. The inhibition of prostaglandin H synthetase (cyclooxygenase) was assayed by use of an enzyme preparation from guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Examination of the structure-activity relationship of these compounds indicated that the substitution pattern with halogens at position 3 (R1) of the benzene ring and a methyl group in position 4 (R2) and/or 5 (R3) of the thiazole ring were favorable for inhibitory activity. The compounds bearing bulky alkyl or polar functional groups at the R2 position were weak inhibitors. The potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase were tested for their ability to reduce carrageenin-induced inflammation of rat paws. These derivatives had strong anti-inflammatory activity based on their strong inhibition of cyclooxygenase, with some exceptions, including those with a thiomethyl group at R1.     

Studies on steroids. CCXXXXV. Determination of 5 beta-cholestanoic acids in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with negative ion chemical ionization detection

A method for the determination of 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid (DHCA) and 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid (THCA) in human urine by gas chromatography (GC) in combination with negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectrometry is described. Unconjugated, glycine- and taurine-conjugated DHCA and THCA labelled with 18O and 2H were used as internal standards. 5 beta-Cholestanoic acids in urine were extracted with a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, separated into the unconjugated, glycine- and taurine-conjugated fractions by ion-exchange chromatography on piperidinohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 and, following alkaline hydrolysis of conjugated forms, derivatization into the pentafluorobenzyl ester-dimethylethylsilyl ethers. Subsequent resolution of each fraction into DHCA and THCA was attained by GC on a cross-linked 5% phenylmethylsilicone fused-silica capillary column where 5 beta-cholestanoic acids were monitored with a characteristic carboxylate anion [M-181]- in the NICI mode using isobutane as a reagent gas. The method was applied to separation and determination of 5 beta-cholestanoic acids in urine from a patient with Zellweger syndrome and from healthy volunteers.     

On-line measurement of intramolecular carbon isotope distribution of acetic acid by continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Molecular and intramolecular carbon isotope measurements of acetic acid present in natural environments have been performed by off-line procedures. The off-line method is complicated and time-consuming and requires micromolar to millimolar amounts of sample. This limits geochemical isotopic studies, especially at the intramolecular level, on acetic acid present in natural samples. Here, we examine an on-line measurement of intramolecular carbon isotope distribution of acetic acid using continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) coupled with an on-line pyrolysis system. This is achieved by measurement of the respective carbon isotope ratios of CH4 and CO2 produced by on-line pyrolysis of acetic acid. Results for authentic standards of pure acetic acid demonstrated the practicality of this on-line method, although the carbon isotope ratio of the methyl group could not be determined directly. The precision of the carbon isotope measurements was 0.4 per thousand (1sigma). The carbon isotope distribution determined by the on-line method was identical to that determined by the conventional off-line method within analytical error. The advantages of the on-line method compared with the conventional off-line method are that it is less laborious, requires less analytical time (less than one hour per sample) and, most importantly, uses smaller sample sizes (ca. 10 nanomole). An application of this on-line method to natural geochemical samples will provide an insight into the geochemical cycle of acetic acid.