Numerical simulation of two-phase partition chromatography in microchannels for moderated log P measurements

A finite element simulation has been used in order to study the partition chromatography process of one species between an aqueous mobile phase and an organic stationary phase located at the bottom of a rectangular microchannel. The transient model incorporates convection--diffusion of the species in the water phase coupled to the diffusion in the stationary organic phase by the way of the partition kinetics at the interface. The time evolution of the injected species concentration is analyzed versus the velocity of the mobile phase, the detecting position and the thickness of the stationary phase. The comparison of simulation results with both experimental data and analytical model confirm its validity. These simulations show that thin channels can be used to measure log P of molecules from their retention time. Finally, we have shown how the sample velocity can be optimized for a given geometry of the channel and diffusion coefficient of the species.     

Use of vibrational spectroscopy to study protein and DNA structure,hydration, and binding of biomolecules: A combined theoretical and experimental approach

We report on our work with vibrational absorption, vibrational circular dichroism, Raman scattering, Raman optical activity, and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy to study protein and DNA structure, hydration, and the binding of ligands, drugs, pesticides, or herbicides via a combined theoretical and experimental approach. The systems we have studied systematically are the amino acids (L ‐alanine, L ‐tryptophan, and L ‐histidine), peptides (N‐4271 acetyl L ‐alanine N′‐methyl amide, N‐acetyl L ‐tryptophan N′‐methyl amide, N‐acetyl L ‐histidine N′‐methyl amide, L ‐alanyl L ‐alanine, tri‐L ‐serine, N‐acetyl L ‐alanine L ‐proline L ‐tyrosine N′‐methyl amide, Leu‐enkephalin, cyclo‐(gly‐L ‐pro)₃, N‐acetyl (L ‐alanine)_n N′‐methyl amide), 3‐methyl indole, and a variety of small molecules (dichlobenil and 2,6‐dochlorobenzamide) of relevance to the protein systems under study. We have used molecular mechanics, the SCC‐DFTB, SCC‐DFTB+disp, RHF, MP2, and DFT methodologies for the modeling studies with the goal of interpreting the experimentally measured vibrational spectra for these molecules to the greatest extent possible and to use this combined approach to understand the structure, function, and electronic properties of these molecules in their various environments. The application of these spectroscopies to biophysical and environmental assays is expanding, and therefore a thorough understanding of the phenomenon from a rigorous theoretical basis is required. In addition, we give some exciting and new preliminary results which allow us to extend our methods to even larger and more complex systems. The work presented here is the current state of the art to this ever and fast changing field of theoretical spectroscopic interpretation and use of VA, VCD, Raman, ROA, EA, and ECD spectroscopies. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Salt removal during Off-Gel electrophoresis of protein samples

The Off-Gel technology was recently described for protein fractionation in a solution placed on top of an immobilized pH gradient gel. In addition, this process was found to remove salts from the biological samples to analyze. This desalting effect is studied experimentally in a conductometric prototype cell. A simplified analytical model is developed to understand this process and a good agreement is found with the conductivity measurements. To illustrate the desalting of a biological sample, a 1 mg.mL(-1) solution of beta-lactoglobulin A in 0.1 M NaCl is subjected to electrophoresis in a single compartment Off-Gel cell. The analysis of the resulting sample by ESI-MS demonstrates the effective removal of salt. A finite element diffusion-migration model is also used to illustrate how the nonuniformity of the electric field in the cell, associated with the salt migration, can slow down the desalting process.     

Dynamics of mononuclear cadmium beta-lactamase revealed by the combination of NMR and PAC spectroscopy

The two metal sites in cadmium substituted beta-lactamase from Bacillus cereus 569/H/9 have been studied by NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (15)N, and (113)Cd) and PAC spectroscopy ((111m)Cd). Distinct NMR signals from the backbone amides are identified for the apoenzyme and the mononuclear and binuclear cadmium enzymes. For the binuclear cadmium enzyme, two (113)Cd NMR signals (142 and 262 ppm) and two (111m)Cd PAC nuclear quadrupole interactions are observed. Two nuclear quadrupole interactions are also observed, with approximately equal occupancy, in the PAC spectra at cadmium/enzyme ratios < 1; these are different from those derived for the binuclear cadmium enzyme, demonstrating interaction between the two metal ion binding sites. In contrast to the observation from PAC spectroscopy, only one (113)Cd NMR signal (176 ppm) is observed at cadmium/enzyme ratios < 1. The titration of the metal site imidazole (N)H proton signals as a function of cadmium ion-to-enzyme ratio shows that signals characteristic for the binuclear cadmium enzyme appear when the cadmium ion-to-enzyme ratio is between 1 and 2, whereas no signals are observed at stoichiometries less than 1. The simplest explanation consistent with all data is that, at cadmium/enzyme ratios < 1, the single Cd(II) is undergoing exchange between the two metal sites on the enzyme. This exchange must be fast on the (113)Cd NMR time scale and slow on the (111m)Cd PAC time scale and must thus occur in a time regime between 0.1 and 10 micros.     

Pervaporative separation of ethanol from an alcohol—ester quaternary mixture

As part of a research project focusing on the development of a sustainable biocatalytic process for production of chiral secondary alcohols, the pervaporative separation of ethanol from ethanol/ethyl acetate/1-methoxy-2-propanol/1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate-mixtures through a commercial PVA-based membrane was investigated. Separation behavior of this mixture was studied in a range of mol fractions (10–70%), temperatures relevant for biocatalytic conversions (35–55 °C) and downstream pressures (35–200 mbar).

Pervaporation of the non-diluted multicomponent mixture was shown to be strongly influenced by interactions between the permeants and the membrane. Investigation of these interactions contributed to the understanding of the mass transport mechanism of this mixture. Overall, high fluxes were obtained, but small differences between the fastest permeating species were found. The fastest permeating species was ethanol, ethyl acetate or 1-methoxy-2-propanol depending on the feed composition.     

The configuration and solid state conformation of 3,7-dihydroxy-1,5-bis(p-bromophenyl)octahydro-1,5-diazocine

The crystal structure of 3,7-dihydroxy-1,5-bis(p-brornophenyl)octahydro-1,5-diazocine ( 4 ) has been determined from the three dimensional x-ray diffraction data. This infers a similar structure for 3,7-dihydroxy-1,5-diphenyloetahydro-1,5-diazocine ( 1 ). The molecules are in a twist crown conformation and the configuration of the hydroxyl groups on the 3,7-positions is cis.     

Dual WO3 based sensors to selectively detect DMMP in the presence of alcohols

A size selective approach to improving selectivity in semiconducting metal oxides (SMO) sensors was obtained by tailoring the architecture of WO₃ powders. The key for achieving high selectivity is based on using a dual sensor configuration where the response on a porous WO₃ powder sensor was compared to the response on a nonporous WO₃ powder sensor. Detection selectivity between methanol and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) is obtained because the access of a gas molecule in the interior pore structure of WO₃ is size dependent leading to a size dependant magnitude change in the conductivity of SMO sensor.     

Scytalidamides A and B, new cytotoxic cyclic heptapeptides from a marine fungus of the genus Scytalidium

Two new cyclic heptapeptides have been isolated from the culture broth of a marine fungus, Scytalidium sp., collected from the Bahamas. The planar structures of scytalidamides A (1) and B (2) were assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, while the absolute configuration of the amino acid residues in both molecules was determined by application of the advanced Marfey's method. The absolute stereochemistry of the uncommon 3-methylproline moiety in scytalidamide B (2) was confirmed by isolation and CD measurements, as well as application of the advanced Marfey's method. Scytalidamides A (1) and B (2) showed moderate in vitro cytotoxicity toward HCT-116 human colon adenocarcinoma with IC(50) values of 2.7 and 11.0 microM, respectively.     

Fictive temperature, cooling rate, and viscosity of glasses

The physical correlation between the fictive temperature dependence of the cooling rate of the melts and the temperature dependence of the equilibrium viscosity has been found by doing differential scanning calorimetric and viscometric measurements on a silicate melt, and by performing finite element simulations of the fiber drawing from that melt. This correlation is governed by a correlation factor Kc (in Pa K) which is constant and universal for silicate glasses. The factor Kc is obtained in the cooling rate range from 10(-2) to 10(6) K/s and is in good agreement with that theoretically predicted. The physical feature of the correlation is discussed in the paper. When the fictive temperature equals the actual temperature, a linear relation exists between the cooling rate and the Maxwell relaxation rate, the slope of which depends on the fragility of the glass melts. The Avramov equation is extended to describe the cooling rate dependence of the fictive temperature. The cooling rate equation contains only one adjusting parameter, i.e., the fragility parameter alpha.     

Parallel kinetic resolution of racemic aldehydes by use of asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions

[reaction: see text] A racemic aldehyde can undergo parallel kinetic resolution (PKR) by simultaneous reaction with two different chiral phosphonates, differing either in the structure of the chiral auxiliary or in the structure of the phosphoryl group (i.e., one (E)- and one (Z)-selective reagent). This strategy allows conversion of a racemic aldehyde to two different, synthetically useful chiral products with essentially doubled material throughput and similar or improved selectivities as compared to conventional kinetic resolution.