Stabilization energies of the hydrogen-bonded and stacked structures of nucleic acid base pairs in the crystal geometries of CG, AT, and AC DNA steps and in the NMR geometry of the 5'-d(GCGAAGC)-3' hairpin: Complete basis set calculations at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels

Stabilization energies of the H-bonded and stacked structures of a DNA base pair were studied in the crystal structures of adenine-thymine, cytosine-guanine, and adenine-cytosine steps as well as in the 5'-d(GCGAAGC)-3' hairpin (utilizing the NMR geometry). Stabilization energies were determined as the sum of the complete basis set (CBS) limit of MP2 stabilization energies and the Delta E(CCSD(T)) - Delta E(MP2) correction term evaluated with the 6-31G*(0.25) basis set. The CBS limit was determined by a two-point extrapolation using the aug-cc-pVXZ basis sets for X = D and T. While the H-bonding energies are comparable to those of base pairs in a crystal and a vacuum, the stacking energies are considerably smaller in a crystal. Despite this, the stacking is still important and accounts for a significant part of the overall stabilization. It contributes equally to the stability of DNA as does H-bonding for AT-rich DNAs, while in the case of GC-rich DNAs it forms about one-third of the total stabilization. Interstrand stacking reaches surprisingly large values, well comparable to the intrastrand ones, and thus contributes significantly to the overall stabilization. The hairpin structure is characterized by significant stacking, and both guanine...cytosine pairs possess stacking energies larger than 11.5 kcal/mol. A high portion of stabilization in the studied hairpin comes from stacking (similar to that found for AT-rich DNAs) despite the fact that it contains two GC Watson-Crick pairs having very large H-bonding stabilization. The DFT/B3LYP/6-31G** method yields satisfactory values of interaction energies for H-bonded structures, while it fails completely for stacking.     

A comparison of performance of various analytical columns in pharmaceutical analysis: conventional C18 and high throughput C18 zorbax columns

New improved types of analytical columns Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (75 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 3.5 microm) and Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 1.8 microm) have been tested for determination of estradiol (active substance), methylparaben, propylparaben (preservatives) and estrone (degradation product) and compared with the conventional C18 columns (250 mm x 3.0 mm i.d., 5.0 microm). The Zorbax columns differ with their particle size, column length and ODS (octadecylsilica) type as well. Higher flow-rates (up to about 2.5 ml min(-1)) could be applied regardless to back-pressure. The analysis - previously done at 40 degrees C - could be performed even at ambient temperature. Analytical run was shortened to 3.5 min (from 12 min used for the conventional C18 column) with the same or better retention characteristics. System suitability data for all Zorbax columns show the advantages of these columns for the practical use in routine quality control of pharmaceuticals, particularly from the point of view of speed of analysis and solvent consumption.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with ferrocene-modified arene ligands: synthesis and electrochemistry

A series of arene-ruthenium complexes of the general formula [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₂R}L] with R=OH, CH₂OH, OC(O)Fc, CH₂OC(O)Fc (Fc=ferrocenyl) and L=PPh₃, (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, or bridging 1,1^′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, have been synthesized. Two synthetic pathways have been used for these ferrocene-modified arene-ruthenium complexes: (a) esterification of ferrocene carboxylic acid with 2-(cyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)ethanol, followed by condensation with RuCl₃ · nH₂O to afford [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₂OC(O)Fc}]₂, and (b) esterification between ferrocene carboxylic acid and [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}L] to give [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OC(O)Fc}L]. All new compounds have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}(PPh₃)] shows that the presence of a CH₂CH₂CH₂OH side-arm allows [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}(PPh₃)] to form an intramolecular hydrogen bond with a chlorine atom. The electrochemical behavior of selected representative compounds has been studied. Complexes with ferrocenylated side arms display the expected cyclic voltammograms, two independent reversible one-electron waves of the Ru(II)/Ru(III) and Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couples. Introduction of a ferrocenylphosphine onto the ruthenium is reflected by an additonal reversible, one-electron wave due to ferrocene/ferrocenium system which is, however, coupled with the Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox system.     

Capillary ion chromatography

This review summarizes progress in capillary ion chromatography. Theoretical aspects and practical limitations of packed and open tubular capillary columns are considered. Applications of packed and open tubular capillary IC are described. Emerging technologies such chip-scale IC and the use of monolithic columns are discussed.     

Utilization of cleavage of the [1]benzofuro[2,3‐e][1,2,4]triazine ring for the synthesis of oxygen,nitrogen and sulfur derivatives of [1,2,4]triazine

A series of 6‐azacytosines 4a‐4k and 5a‐5c were prepared by nucleophilic cleavage of furan ring of [1]benzofuro[2,3‐e][1,2,4]triazine derivative 1 . Some of them were used for the preparation of derivatives of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐d][1,2,4]triazine ( 6a‐6d ) and tetrazolo[1,5‐d][1,2,4]triazine (7). The reaction of 1 with hydrogen sulfide afforded the corresponding 6‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐5‐thioxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐tri‐azin‐3(2H)‐one ( 8 ), while with hydrogen selenide 6‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐one ( 9 ) was formed. The prepared compounds were tested for biological activity.     

The synthesis of 4‐amino‐3‐(2‐pyridyl)pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazine and some of its derivatives

A mixture of both geometrical isomers of hydrazones 3a‐3e was obtained by the coupling reactions of pyrazole‐3‐diazonium salts 2a‐2d and benzenediazonium chloride 2e with 2‐pyridylacetonitrile 1 . Hydrazones 3a‐3d were cyclized to the corresponding 4‐amino‐3‐(2‐pyridyl)pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazines 4a‐4d.     

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium complexes of naphthalene-1,8-dithiolates, biphenyl 2,2'-dithiolates, and related ligands

Titanocene 1,8-dithiolato-naphthalene and titanocene 2,2'-dithiolato biphenyl are produced by the reaction of naphtho[1,8-cd]-1,2-dithiole [or the biphenyl] with titanocene dicarbonyl (Ti(II)) in toluene at room temperature. The pro-ligands 2,7-di(tert-butyl)naphtho[1,8-cd]-1,2-dithiole, 5,6-dihydroacenaphtho[5,6-cd]-1,2-dithiole, 4,5-dithioacephenanthrylene, and 13,14-dithiapicene have been used in similar reactions with titanocene dicarbonyl to investigate the effect of steric bulk and of varying the naphthalene backbone on the final complex. The resulting Cp(2)TiS(2)Ar complexes (Ar = naphthalene) have been shown by temperature-dependent (1)H NMR spectroscopy to exist in solution in an envelope conformation with the six-membered TiS(2)C(3) rings undergoing inversion on the NMR time scale while the similar Cp(2)TiS(2)Ar complexes (Ar = biphenyl, binaphthalene) interconvert more rapidly. Titanocene 2,2'-disulfinato biphenyl has been synthesized by the salt elimination reaction of titanocene dichloride (Ti(IV)) and the disodium salt of biphenyl 2,2'-disulfinic acid. Finally, the effect of using pro-ligands where the sulfur atoms have been mono- or di-oxidized has been studied, and an interesting oxygen elimination reaction is observed for the S=O fragments but not for the SO(2) groups. All complexes have been characterized spectroscopically and seven X-ray structures are reported.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (purin-6-yl)phenylalanines and their nucleosides, a novel type of purine-amino acid conjugates

[Chemical reaction: See text] Enantiomerically or diastereomerically pure 4-(purin-6-yl)phenylalanines, a novel type of stable amino acid-purine conjugates, were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of protected 4-boronophenylalanines or 4-(trimethylstanyl)phenylalanines with diverse 6-halopurines (9-benzyl-6-halopurines and 9-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-6-halopurines as well as acyl- and silyl-protected 6-halopurine ribonucleosides and 2-deoxyribonucleosides). Free purine bases and nucleosides bearing (S)- or (R)-phenylalanine in position 6 were obtained after complete deprotection of the products of cross-coupling reactions. Reactivity trends for both of these cross-coupling and deprotection protocols have been compared in terms of practicability, efficiency, and stereoselectivity.     

Advanced statistical evaluation of the complex formation constants from electrophoretic data II: Diastereomeric ion-pairs of (R,S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine and tert-butylcarbamoylquinine

Intermolecular association and ion-pair formation, respectively, between a cationic chiral selector, viz. o-9-(tert-butylcarbamoyl) quinine (CQN), and the both enantiomers of anionic N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine, (R)-DNB-Leu and (S)-DNB-Leu, were investigated by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). Thus, binding constants of the both diastereomeric ion-pairs, (R) and (S)-DNB-Leu/CQN associates, were determined by different experimental setups and correction of nonlinear effects. A reciprocal setup was employed for the high-affinity (S)-enantiomer, and the experimental mobility data obtained for CQN at variable (S)-DNB-Leu concentrations in the background electrolyte were linearized and evaluated by advanced statistical model. A binding constant of K_S=125.1 l mol⁻¹ was afforded. The constant for the (R)-enantiomer, which is outside the range suitable for direct affinity CE, was obtained from indirect affinity CE utilizing the separation of the DNB-Leu racemate at a single appropriate CQN concentration in the BGE (resolution method) taking advantage of the known constant for the (S)-enantiomer yielding a binding constant of K_R=2.51 l mol⁻¹. Thereby, the so-called “constant time method” was adopted for the required precise measurement of the effective mobilities of the both enantiomers. A combined approach of reciprocal affinity CE with racemic DNB-Leu as additive and the resolution method confirmed the results. The resulting constants evidence excellent enantioselectivity of the tert-butylcarbamoyl derivative of the cinchona alkaloid quinine as chiral selector for N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) derivatives of amino acids.     

Biocompatible hydrogels based on chitosan,cellulose/starch,PVA and PEDOT:PSS with high flexibility and high mechanical strength

Fabricating mechanically strong hydrogels that can withstand the conditions in internal tissues is a challenging task. We have designed hydrogels based on multicomponent systems by combining chitosan, starch/cellulose, PVA, and PEDOT:PSS via one-pot synthesis. The starch-based hydrogels were homogeneous, while the cellulose-based hydrogels showed the presence of cellulose micro- and nanofibers. The cellulose-based hydrogels demonstrated a swelling ratio between 121 and 156%, while the starch-based hydrogels showed higher values, from 234 to 280%. Tensile tests indicated that the presence of starch in the hydrogels provided high flexibility (strain at break?>?300%), while combination with cellulose led to the formation of stiffer hydrogels (elastic moduli 3.9–6.6 MPa). The ultimate tensile strength for both types of hydrogels was similar (2.8–3.9 MPa). The adhesion and growth of human osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was higher on hydrogels with cellulose than on hydrogels with starch, and was higher on hydrogels with PEDOT:PSS than on hydrogels without this polymer. The metabolic activity of cells cultivated for 3 days in the hydrogel infusions indicated that no acutely toxic compounds were released. This is promising for further possible applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering or in wound dressings.

Graphical abstract