Nitrosyl derivatives of tricobaltcarbon clusters

The nitrosyl clusters PPN[YCCo₃(CO)₇(NO)] (Y = Me, Ph, COOH, (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄)) have been prepared in high yield from the reaction of YCCo₃(CO)₉ with PPN(NO₂) in THF, acetone or acetonitrile. Spectroscopic evidence indicates the structure of the nitrosyl anions is derived from that of YCCo₃(CO)₉ by the replacement of two CO ligands on one cobalt atom by a linear, terminal nitrosyl group. The nitrosyl metallates are extremely sensitive to oxidation and attempts to protonate the anions resulted in the reformation of the parent YCCo₃(CO)₉, molecules. The oxidative electrochemistry of the ferrocene complex, PPN[(C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄CCo₃(CO)₇(NO)] is also discussed.     

ortho-metallation reactions involving some triphenyl phosphite complexes of osmium

Osmium triphenylphosphine complexes, OsH₄(PPh₃)₃, OsH₂ (CO)(PPh₃)₃ and OsHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ react with triphenyl phosphite in boiling organic solvents to yield triphenyl phosphite derivatives which subsequently undergo ortho-metallation reactions.     

A simplified device for protein identification by microcapillary gradient liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simplified device and procedure have been developed for microcapillary gradient liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This procedure has proved useful in identifying low level quantities of proteins from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel bands. Microelectrospray needles are packed with reversed-phase resin and function both as a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column and a nanospray mass spectrometer tip when interfaced between an HPLC and ion trap mass spectrometer. Variable submicroliter flow rates are generated by flow splitting between the microelectrospray capillary and an HPLC system. A manual injector is used to inject a protein digest mixture that binds to the column and is then washed at a high flow rate (2 microL/min post split). Gradient elution of bound peptides was initiated by the injection of a filled loop of 70% v/v methanol (5 microL) concomitant with a reduction of flow rate (0.1 microL/min post split). This forms a diffusion-dependent gradient of variable length (typically 15-30 min in length) depending upon the final flow rate. Chromatographic separations of a standard solution digest demonstrate that this diffusion-dependent gradient provides reasonable separations such that multiple peptide identifications by MS/MS can be obtained. Application of this methodology to the analysis of several in-gel-digested gel-separated proteins is presented to demonstrate its utility.     

Dose and timing of the first light fraction in two-fold illumination schemes for topical ALA-mediated photodynamic therapy of hairless mouse skin

A fractionated illumination scheme in which a cumulative fluence of 100 J cm(-2) is delivered in two equal light fractions separated by a dark interval of 2 h has been shown to considerably increase the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-photodynamic therapy (PDT). The efficacy of such a scheme is further increased if the fluence of the first light fraction is reduced to 5 J cm(-2). We have investigated the relationship between the PDT response and the kinetics of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence in the SKH1 HR hairless mouse for first fraction fluences below 5 J cm(-2) delivered 4 h after the application of ALA and 10 J cm(-2) delivered 2 h after the application of ALA. Illumination is performed using 514 nm at a fluence rate of 50 mW cm(-2). Reducing the fluence of the first fraction to 2.5 J cm(-2) does not result in significantly different visual skin damage. The PDT response, however, is significantly reduced if the fluence is lowered to 1 J cm(-2), but this illumination scheme (1 + 99 J cm(-2)) remains significantly more effective than a single illumination of 100 J cm(-2). A first light fraction of 10 J cm(-2) can be delivered 2 h earlier, 2 h after the application of ALA, without significant reduction in the PDT response compared with 5 + 95 J cm(-2) delivered 4 and 6 h after the application of ALA. The kinetics of PpIX fluorescence are consistent with those reported previously by us and do not explain the significant increase in PDT response with a two-fold illumination scheme. Histological sections of the illuminated volume showed a trend toward increasing extent and depth of necrosis for the two-fold illumination scheme in which the first light fraction is 5 J cm(-2), compared with a single illumination scheme.     

Rapid computer simulation of ESR spectra. Conventional ESR of axially symmetric 14N-nitroxide spin labels

A computer algorithm is presented for the simulation of the effect of molecular tumbling on ESR spectra, and is applied to simulation of the conventional ESR signal (the absorption signal detected at the first harmonic of the modulation frequency and in-phase with the modulation frequency, in the limit of low microwave and modulation power) of axially symmetric ¹⁴N-nitroxide spin labels. The algorithm is extremely fast and is economical in terms of computer memory requirements.     

Silver-catalysed hydroamination: synthesis of functionalised pyrroles

It has been shown that functionalised pyrroles can be efficiently prepared using a two-step sequence. This sequence involves the propargylation of secondary enaminones using n-BuLi and propargyl bromide, followed by intramolecular hydroamination catalysed by silver nitrate. The hydroamination can be carried out at room temperature (overnight) or in a domestic microwave oven (60 s).