Determination of the natural abundance δ15N of nortropane alkaloids by gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry of their ethylcarbamate esters

An important route for the detoxification of tropane alkaloids involves N-demethylation to the nor-compounds followed by further degradation. In order to study the mechanisms of the pertinent reactions, a suitable means to determine the isotope ratios of the substrates and products is required. However, the polarity and functionality of the nortropane compounds makes their analysis as free bases difficult. A method is described which allows both the quantification of nortropane alkaloids and the determination of their natural abundance δ¹⁵N values. The protocol exploits the derivatisation of the alkaloids by reaction with ethyl chloroformate in aqueous medium and the quantitative extraction of the ensuing ethylcarbamate esters. The improved chromatographic properties of these derivatives gives ample separation of the isomeric nortropine and norpseudotropine for measurement of their δ¹⁵N (‰) values by isotope ratio mass spectrometry interfaced to gas chromatography. Adequate separation could not be achieved with the underivatised compounds. Repeatability and precision are sufficient to allow differences in the δ¹⁵N values (∆δ¹⁵N) > 0.8‰ to be measured, with a standard deviation routinely ∼0.3‰. The methodology has been tested by determining the changes in the δ¹⁵N values of nortropine and norpseudotropine during degradation by cell suspension cultures of a Pseudomonas strain expressing a specific capacity for tropine catabolism. The precision and reproducibility are shown sufficient to allow the evolution of the δ¹⁵N values to be followed during the fermentation.     

Reaction of C-silylated alpha-diazophosphines as nucleophiles toward carbonyl compounds: a mechanistic study and application to the synthesis of alkynes and alpha-hydroxyphosphonamides

Diversely substituted alpha-hydroxyphosphonamides and alkynes have been efficiently synthesized through the reaction of C-silylated alpha-diazophosphines with different types of aldehydes (2 equiv) in a neutral medium under very mild conditions. The reaction with some chiral aldehydes is highly diastereoselective leading to phosphonamides as single diastereomers. The novel reaction is influenced by electronic and steric effects being precluded for aromatic aldehydes containing electron-releasing substituents on the phenyl ring and for bulky aliphatic aldehydes. The mechanistic studies of these processes, which are highly exothermic, provide evidence for a nucleophilic attack of the diazophosphine to the aldehyde leading to a betaine that rapidly rearranges to a diazomethylenephosphorane, which has been detected or captured in some instances. The diazomethylenephosphorane reacts with a second molecule of aldehyde according to a Wittig-type condensation, and the rate-determining step of the whole process is believed to be the decomposition of the resultant oxaphosphetane to afford the hydroxyphosphonamide and a diazocumulene. Finally, this intermediate loses molecular nitrogen giving a transient carbene that rapidly evolves toward the alkyne.     

Phase evolution,structural characteristics and mechanism of vesicle formation from a synthetic amphiphile: Controlled morphology by tuning solution phase parameters

We report herein, the aggregation behavior of 3, 4-di(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid-4-hydroxy phenyl ester (DDBE), a synthetic amphiphile and a true non-ionic surfactant system as per the geometrical considerations. The true surfactant nature of the system stems from its hydrophilic-lipophilic-balance (HLB?=?4.7), comparable to that of Span-60, also a true non-ionic surfactant. This compound undergoes spontaneous vesicle formation in THF:water binary solvent mixtures which further underwent fission at lower DDBE concentrations and fusion at higher concentrations, leading to giant vesicles of the order of 3000?nm. These vesicles are sensitive to the polarity of their environment. The predominant mode of interaction as observed from the molecular dynamics simulations were found to be π-π stacking with the phenyl rings of the molecule. Further, the system, upon complete extraction into water, formed spherical aggregates of size 50?nm based on the good solvent-poor solvent combination as the necessary condition for the vesicle formation.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the basicity of phosphino(silyl)carbenes

[reaction: see text] The reactivity of phosphino(trimethylsilyl)carbenes 1 with several organic acids has been examined in order to evaluate the pKa values of the conjugate acids. Carbenes 1 react efficiently with C-organic acids such as 1,3-dimesitylimidazolium chloride, phenylacetylene, acetonitrile, and acetyltrimethylsilane, which have pKa's in DMSO in the range 18-31. However, the reaction of the conjugate acids 1H+ with the anion perturbs the determination of the genuine basicity of 1. Theoretical calculations have been performed in order to quantify the basicity of phosphino(trimethylsilyl)carbenes 1 and to compare them with that of N-heterocyclic carbenes 2. The pKa of 1H+ in DMSO has been computed to be in the 23.0-23.4 range, so that 1 is not strong enough as a base to spontaneously deprotonate organic acids such as phenylacetylene, acetonitrile, or acetyltrimethylsilane. However, its conjugate acid 1H+ is a strong electrophile and easily reacts with the nucleophilic conjugate bases of these acids leading to the formation of the corresponding phosphorus ylides.     

Effects of dissolved gas species on ultrasonic degradation of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid (MCPA) in aqueous solution

Sonochemical degradation of MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid) in dilute aqueous solutions was studied using ultrasound with a frequency of 500 kHz. The effect of gas atmosphere on MCPA degradation was investigated in nitrogen (N(2)), air (O(2)/N(2)), oxygen (O(2)), argon (Ar) and Ar/O(2) (60/40% v/v) atmospheres. For sonochemical degradation of MCPA in N(2), air (O(2)/N(2)), O(2) and Ar atmospheres, the rate enhancement of MCPA decomposition by sonolysis was found to be more effective in an O(2)-enriched atmosphere compared to Ar atmosphere. It was considered that a higher amount of oxidants was formed in a higher O(2) partial pressure, which accelerated MCPA decomposition in a radical reaction system. On the other hand, both dechlorination and total organic carbon (TOC) removal rates were higher in Ar atmosphere, compared to those in O(2)/N(2) atmosphere. It was found that, MCPA was most effectively decomposed by sonication in Ar/O(2) (60/40% v/v) atmosphere, with higher rates of decomposition, dechlorination and TOC removal.     

New chiral polyfunctional cyclobutane derivatives from (−)-verbenone: possible surfactant behaviour

New enantiopure cyclobutane derivatives have been synthesized from a chiral precursor derived from (?)-verbenone. The cyclobutane moiety acts as a chiral platform to afford a γ-amino acid function in a branched side-chain containing an additional stereogenic centre as well as additional C₆ or C₁₆-alkyl chains linked to the ring by means of an amine or an amide function. One of these compounds, obtained as a 1:2 mixture with its TFA salt has been investigated, suggesting behaviour as a good surfactant and its critical micellar concentration has been determined.     

Screening of antioxidant activity and volatile compounds composition of Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub ecotypes grown in Lithuania

Since biological activity of medicinal plants is dependent on cultivation area, climatic conditions, developmental stage, genetic modifications and other factors, it is important to study flora present in different growing sites and geographical zones. This study was focused on screening of antioxidant activity of C. angustifolium harvested in six different locations in Lithuania. The total contents of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. A correlation between radical scavenging activity and total phenolic compounds content was observed (correlation coefficient 0.98). HPLC with online post-column DPPH radical scavenging reaction detection was used for the separation of extracts. Oenothein B, rutin and one unidentified compound were predominant. Volatile compounds were analysed using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Based on the analysis of volatiles, all samples were classified into two chemotypes: (I) with predominant α- and β-caryophyllenes and (II) with predominant anethole.     

Deficient Nucleotide Excision Repair in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are associated with ultraviolet radiation and multiple genetic changes, but the mechanisms leading to genetic instability are unclear. SCC cell lines were compared to normal keratinocytes for sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, DNA repair kinetics and DNA repair protein expression. Relative to normal keratinocytes, four SCC cell lines were all variably sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and, except for the SCC25 cell line, were deficient in global repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, although not 6‐4 photoproducts. Impaired DNA repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was associated with reduced mRNA expression from XPC but not DDB2 genes which each encode key DNA damage recognition proteins. However, levels of XPC or DDB2 proteins or both were variably reduced in repair‐deficient SCC cell lines. p53 levels did not correlate with DNA repair activity or with XPC and DDB2 levels, but p63 levels were deficient in cell lines with reduced global repair. Repair‐proficient SCC25 cells depleted of p63 lost XPC expression, early global DNA repair activity and UV resistance. These results demonstrate that some SCC cell lines are deficient in global nucleotide excision repair and support a role for p63 as a regulator of nucleotide excision repair in SCCs.     

Strategy for choosing extraction procedures for NMR-based metabolomic analysis of mammalian cells

Metabolomic analysis of mammalian cells can be applied across multiple fields including medicine and toxicology. It requires the acquisition of reproducible, robust, reliable, and homogeneous biological data sets. Particular attention must be paid to the efficiency and reliability of the extraction procedure. Even though a number of recent studies have dealt with optimizing a particular protocol for specific matrices and analytical techniques, there is no universal method to allow the detection of the entire cellular metabolome. Here, we present a strategy for choosing extraction procedures from adherent mammalian cells for the global NMR analysis of the metabolome. After the quenching of cells, intracellular metabolites are extracted from the cells using one of the following solvent systems of varying polarities: perchloric acid, acetonitrile/water, methanol, methanol/water, and methanol/chloroform/water. The hydrophilic metabolite profiles are analysed using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We propose an original geometric representation of metabolites reflecting the efficiency of extraction methods. In the case of NMR-based analysis of mammalian cells, this methodology demonstrates that a higher portion of intracellular metabolites are extracted by using methanol or methanol/chloroform/water. The preferred method is evaluated in terms of biological variability for studying metabolic changes caused by the phenotype of four different human breast cancer cell lines, showing that the selected extraction procedure is a promising tool for metabolomic and metabonomic studies of mammalian cells. The strategy proposed in this paper to compare extraction procedures is applicable to NMR-based metabolomic studies of various systems.