A multicommuted flow system for sequential spectrophotometric determination of hydrosoluble vitamins in pharmaceutical preparations

A multicommuted flow system is proposed for spectrophotometric determination of hydrosoluble vitamins (ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavine and pyridoxine) in pharmaceutical preparations. The flow manifold was designed with computer-controlled three-way solenoid valves for independent handling of sample and reagent solutions and a multi-channel spectrophotometer was employed for signal measurements. Periodic re-calibration as well as the standard addition method was implemented by using a single reference solution. Linear responses (r=0.999) were obtained for 0.500-10.0 mg l⁻¹ ascorbic acid, 2.00-50.0 mg l⁻¹ thiamine, 5.00-50.0 mg l⁻¹ riboflavine and 0.500-8.00 mg l⁻¹ pyridoxine. Detection limits were estimated as 0.08 mg l⁻¹ (0.5 μmol l⁻¹) ascorbic acid, 0.8 mg l⁻¹ (2 μmol l⁻¹) thiamine, 0.2 mg l⁻¹ (0.5 μmol l⁻¹) riboflavine and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ (0.9 μmol l⁻¹) pyridoxine at 99.7% confidence level. A mean sampling rate of 60 determinations per hour was achieved and coefficients of variation of 1% (n=20) were estimated for all species. The mean reagent consumption was 25-fold lower in relation to flow-based procedures with continuous reagent addition. Average recoveries between 95.6 and 100% were obtained for commercial pharmaceutical preparations. Results agreed with those obtained by reference methods at 95% confidence level. The flow system is suitable for application in quality control processes and in dissolution studies of vitamin tablets.     

Sequencing membrane proteins by tandem mass spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is an attractive technique for sequencing membrane proteins because it can be applied to peptides in mixtures that are difficult to separate chromatographically. To evaluate the suitability of MS/MS sequencing for membrane proteins and to develop protocols for the preparation of the cleaved peptides, we employed the well characterized apoproteins of bacteriorhodopsin and bovine rhodopsin, i.e. bacterioopsin and opsin, respectively. Without separation, nine out of ten peptides resulting from cyanogen bromide cleavage of bacterioopsin were detected by fast atom bombardment MS, the single undetected fragment being a tetrapeptide that was presumably hidden in the low-m/z matrix background. Furthermore, MS/MS was used to confirm the sequence of all the peptides detected with m/z values below 3.5 kDa (40% of the protein). Bovine opsin was analyzed in a similar fashion. Tandem MS/MS has thus allowed the sequencing of substantial portions of two integral membrane proteins by the analysis of unseparated peptide mixtures, demonstrating for the first time that this technique can obviate some of the most serious difficulties associated with sequencing membrane proteins, namely the difficult-to-achieve separation of the ‘sticky’ peptide fragments.     

Aqueous solution chemistry of [Mo3CuSe4]n+ (n = 4, 5) and [W3CuQ4]5+ (Q = S, Se) clusters

The triangular cluster [Mo3Se4(H2O)9]4+ reacts with Cu turnings to give a new heterometallic cuboidal cluster [Mo3CuSe4(H2O)10]4+(purple; UV/Vis lambda(epsilon): 352(3907), 509(2613)). The reaction of [Mo3Se4(H2O)9]4+ with CuCl afforded the 5+ cube [Mo3CuSe4(H2O)10]5+(red; UV/Vis lambda(epsilon): 356(5406), 500(3477)). In contrast, [W3Se4(H2O)9]4+ both with Cu and CuCl gives the 5+ cube, [W3CuSe4(H2O)10]5+(yellow-green; UV/Vis lambda(epsilon): 312(5327), 419(3256) and 628(680)). Cyclic voltammetry of [M3CuQ4(H2O)10]5+ in 2 M HCl (M = Mo, W; Q = S, Se) shows a reversible one-electron reduction wave for the Mo clusters, but no reduction occurs for the W clusters prior to H+ reduction. In HCl solutions, Cl is coordinated to the Cu site of the clusters, alongside some less extensive coordination to Mo and W, and for [W3(CuCl)S4(H2O)6Cl3]+, isolated as the supramolecular adduct with cucurbit[6]uril, [W3(CuCl)S4(H2O)6Cl3]2Cl2 x C36H36N24O12 x 12H2O, the crystal structure was determined (Cu-W 2.856(4) angstroms, W-W 2.7432(15) angstroms, Cu-Cl 2.167(13) angstroms).     

A Comparative Analysis of the Changes During Evaporation of Three Different Commercial Emulsion of Unknown Composition

Optical microscope and centrifugation were used to observe the structure change during evaporation of three different commercial emulsions of unknown composition. The degree of evaporation under an infrared lamp at 70°C was determined from the changed weight of a microscope slide with the emulsion on a defined area and thickness. The results revealed information as to which kind of structure would appear after evaporation.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of paracetamol and caffeine in pharmaceutical formulations using a boron-doped diamond electrode

A simple and highly selective electrochemical method was developed for the single or simultaneous determination of paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, acetaminophen) and caffeine (3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione) in aqueous media (acetate buffer, pH 4.5) on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode using square wave voltammetry (SWV) or differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Using DPV with the cathodically pre-treated BDD electrode, a separation of about 550 mV between the peak oxidation potentials of paracetamol and caffeine present in binary mixtures was obtained. The calibration curves for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine showed an excellent linear response, ranging from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ to 8.3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for both compounds. The detection limits for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine were 4.9 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ and 3.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine in several pharmaceutical formulations (tablets), with results similar to those obtained using a high-performance liquid chromatography method (at 95% confidence level).     

Spatial optical filter sensor based on hollow-core silica tube

A spatial optical filter based on a hollow-core silica tube is proposed. Because of the hollow-core dimensions, it is possible to obtain a periodical spatial filter ranging from 1200 to 1700 nm with a channel spacing of 2.64 THz. The bandwidth is approximately 5.32 nm, and the isolation loss is ~30 dB. The optical losses are approximately ~0.67 dB/mm for a wavelength of 1500 nm. The 40 mm long spatial optical filter is tested as a sensing element and subjected to different physical parameters. The spatial optical filter is wavelength sensitive to strain and temperature, while for refractive-index variations there is an optical power dependency. This fiber structure can be used as a sensing element for extreme conditions, such as in very high temperature environments, where it presents a sensitivity of 27.5 pm °C(-1).     

Low-energy electron diffraction and induced damage in hydrated DNA

Elastic scattering of 5-30 eV electrons within the B-DNA 5'-CCGGCGCCGG-3' and A-DNA 5'-CGCGAATTCGCG-3' DNA sequences is calculated using the separable representation of a free-space electron propagator and a curved wave multiple scattering formalism. The disorder brought about by the surrounding water and helical base stacking leads to a featureless amplitude buildup of elastically scattered electrons on the sugar and phosphate groups for all energies between 5 and 30 eV. However, some constructive interference features arising from diffraction are revealed when examining the structural waters within the major groove. These appear at 5-10, 12-18, and 22-28 eV for the B-DNA target and at 7-11, 12-18, and 18-25 eV for the A-DNA target. Although the diffraction depends on the base-pair sequence, the energy dependent elastic scattering features are primarily associated with the structural water molecules localized within 8-10 A spheres surrounding the bases and/or the sugar-phosphate backbone. The electron density buildup occurs in energy regimes associated with dissociative electron attachment resonances, direct electronic excitation, and dissociative ionization. Since diffraction intensity can be localized on structural water, compound H2O:DNA states may contribute to energy dependent low-energy electron induced single and double strand breaks.     

Generalization of the Copper to Late‐Transition‐Metal Transmetallation to Carbenes beyond N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Carbene transition‐metal complexes have become a prevalent family of catalysts enabling numerous organic transformations. Their facile synthetic access is a matter of great importance. To this end, the Cu^I‐NHC transfer methodology has emerged as a powerful alternative presenting attractive advantages over other methods. Herein, we report the remarkable ability of copper to transfer not only NHCs but also other types of carbenes such as abnormal NHCs (aNHCs), cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs), and mesoionic carbenes (MICs) to various transition metal precursors.