Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the determination of Viagra and its metabolite (UK-103,320) in human serum

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was investigated for the determination of Viagra (sildenafil citrate, SC) and its metabolite (UK-103,320) in human serum in a concentration range of clinical interest. For MEKC, human serum samples spiked with SC and UK were obtained directly after elution with methanol from a tC18 cartridge. The extract was evaporated and regenerated in a solution 1 mM of phosphate buffer (pH 12.3) which contained a methanol percentage of 20% that was analyzed using phosphate buffer (pH 12.3, 10 mM) containing 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as separation electrolyte and a fused-silica capillary. This method gave satisfactory interday precision with respect to migration times relative standard deviation (RSD < 1%) and linear responses for the concentration ranges investigated (0.50-3.50 mg L(-1) for the compound SC and 0.90-4.60 mg L(-1) for UK). An intraday RSD (n = 5 graphs) between the slopes of the calibration graphs was acceptable (6.40%) for SC and (3.37%) for UK. A satisfactory interday precision between slopes was also obtained (RSD 4.10% for SC and a RSD 2.72% for UK) which demonstrated the ruggedness of this method. Detection limits (S/N = 3) were about 200 ng/mL for both compounds in human serum. MEKC was shown as a good method with regards to simplicity, precision and sensitivity.     

Extraction of Am(III) in the presence of lanthanides and yttrium by benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate from acidic nitrate solutions

We have investigated the effect of coextraction of lanthanides and yttrium on the distribution coefficients D_Am in the extraction of americium by benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate (BDMLNNO₃) from nitrate solutions. In the coextraction of lanthanides, the extraction of Am(NO₃)₃ is suppressed, which is markedly manifested in the extraction of light lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr); of the series of lanthanides their extraction is the highest. The effect of nitric acid and the possibility of separation of lanthanides and americium by the application of three-stage multiple extraction is discussed.     

Preparation of trout liver microsomes for iron speciation in P-450 enzymes by AE–FPLC with ICP–(ORS)MS detection

Cytochromes P-450 are members of a superfamily of hemoproteins involved in the oxidative metabolism of various physiological and xenobiotic compounds in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The multiplicity of this group of enzymes has been widely studied by chromatographic techniques, mainly high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Because these enzymes are membrane-bound proteins, sample preparation for chromatographic separation of P-450 enzymes requires a solubilization step. The sample-preparation procedures are critical, because detergents affect not only the efficiency of protein solubilization but also their further chromatographic resolution. Trout liver microsomes have been taken here as a model sample to investigate iron speciation in cytochrome P-450. Trouts were treated intraperitoneally with -naphthoflavone, a potent inducer of some P-450 enzymes, and a microsomal suspension containing 7.4±0.1 nmol mL^–1 P-450 enzymes was obtained by ultracentrifugation. Lubrol PX was selected as detergent for solubilization, resulting in about 90% solubilization recovery. The solubilized cytochromes P-450 were further separated by AE–FPLC, with UV detection, or coupled to ICP–MS with an octapole reaction system, ICP–(ORS)MS (monitoring Fe signals at masses 54, 56, and 57). A sampling procedure and chromatographic conditions are developed and were successfully applied to iron speciation in trout liver P-450 enzymes. ICP–(ORS)MS detection of P-450 enzymes is Fe-specific and so will give accurate information on the prosthetic group of the protein, which can constitute an advantageous alternative to classical methods for detection of these hemoproteins.     

Analysis of organic acids in wines by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been a major point of development in many wine laboratories in recent years. It enables almost instant analysis of several properties of wine, usually with very good precision and accurate results. Nevertheless, validation procedures should not be forgotten and should be fully performed. Recovery experiments were performed by spiking wine samples with different amounts of organic acids (tartaric, malic, lactic, acetic and citric—the most prominent in wines). After FTIR analysis of the total acidity and of each organic acid concentration, recoveries were calculated. For total acidity recovery results were, in general, good and very close to 100% (64–111%). On the other hand, for individual organic acid concentrations, the recovery results were lower than 100% (11–73%) for all spiking additions. These results could be explained by spectroscopic interferences between the organic acids. Because they have similar infrared spectra, it is not easy to distinguish between them and, therefore, to achieve accurate calibration. When total acidity, with a different infrared spectrum from the other abundant compounds in the wine, was taken as a single property the recovery results were acceptable.     

A density functional theory study on the electrocyclization of 1,2,4,6-heptatetraene analogues: converting a pericyclic to a pseudopericyclic reaction

A comprehensive B3LYP/6-31+G* study on the electrocyclization of 1,2,4,6-heptatetraene analogues was conducted. Starting from the cyclization of (2Z)-2,4,5-hexatrienal, a pericyclic disrotatory process favored by the assistance of a electron lone pair, we incorporated small modifications in its molecular structure to obtain a truly pseudopericyclic process. To this purpose electronegative atoms (fluorine and nitrogen) were added to give a more electrophilic character on the carbon atom which is attacked by the electron lone pair of the oxygen atom. The complete pathway for each reaction was determined, and changes in magnetic properties were monitored with a view to estimating the aromatization associated with each process. This information, together with the energetic and structural results, allowed us to classify the reactions as pseudopericyclic or pericyclic. Among all studied reactions only one was a truly pseudopericyclic process and another was a borderline case. The features of this unequivocally pseudopericyclic case were analyzed in depth.     

Synthesis of isomeric β-haloethylthienopyrroles

The preparation of ethyl 4-(2-bromoethyl)thieno[2,3-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylate and ethyl 6-(2-bromoethyl)thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylate by reaction of t-butyl 2-(2-thienyl)carbazate and t-butyl 2-(3-thienyl)carbazate with ethyl-5-bromo-2-oxopentanoate are described.     

Combining thermal analysis with other techniques to monitor the decomposition of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide)

The pyrolysis behaviour of Nomex, poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fibres under argon has been investigated up to a temperature of 1173 K with different methods to get direct information on the progressive changes taking place in the solid material and its carbon fibre residues. The main stages of the pyrolytic degradation of the fibres were determined by thermal analysis (TG and DTA) and their chemical and morphological evolution through the different steps was subsequently followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, respectively, on samples treated to various temperatures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal studies on metal complexes of 5-nitroso-pyrimidine derivatives

The following cadmium(II) complexes of deprotonated 6-amino-5-nitroso-uracil (AH), deprotonated 6-amino-3-methyl-5-nitroso-uracil (BH) and neutral 6-amino-1-methyl-5--nitroso-uracil (CH) have been prepared and their thermal behaviour studied by TG and DSC techniques: CdA₂ · 3 H₂O, CdB₂ · 2 H₂O, CdB₂ and CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O.Dehydration processes of these complexes take place in only one step and the enthalpy values associated with them are comprised in the 42.7–80.5 kJ · mole^–1 H₂O range. The pyrolytic reactions finish in the 630–900 C temperature range, remaining as final residue in the case of CdA₂ · 3 H₂O, CdB₂ · 2 H₂O and CdB₂ complexes, cadmium oxide. The pyrolytic decomposition of CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O complex does not yield any residue, due to the elimination of cadmium chloride.

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Zusammenfassung Folgende Cadmium(II)-Komplexe von deprotoniertem 6-Amino-5-nitrosouracil (AH), deprotoniertem 6-Amino-3-methyl-5-nitroso-uracil (BH) und neutralem 6-Amino-1-methyl-5-nitroso-uracil (CH) wurden hergestellt: CdA₂ · 3 H₂O, CdB₂· 2 H₂O, CdB₂ und CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O. Das thermische Verhalten dieser Komplexe wurde mittels TG und DSC untersucht. Die Dehydratisierung der Komplexe verlÄuft in nur einem Schritt. Die Enthalpiewerte für diese Prozesse liegen im Bereich von 42.7–80.5 kJ · mol^–1 H₂O. Die pyrolytischen Reaktionen verlaufen im Temperaturbereich von 630–900C zu Ende, wobei im Falle der Komplexe CdA₂ · 3 H₂O, CdB₂ · 2 H₂O und CdB₂ Cadmiumoxid als Rückstand zurückbleibt. Die pyroytische Zersetzung von CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O verlÄuft wegen der Flüchtigkeit von CdCl₂ rückstandslos.

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CdA₂ · 3 H₂O, CdB₂ · 2 H₂O, CdB₂ CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O, A — 6--5-, B — 6--3--5- CH — 6--1--5- . . 42.7–80.5 · ^–1. 630–900, . CdCl₂(CH)₂ · 2 H₂O - , .

     

Ab initio analytical potential energy surface and quasiclassical trajectory study of the O(+)((4)S)+H(2)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+))-->OH(+)(X (3)Sigma(-))+H((2)S) reaction and isotopic variants

An analytical potential energy surface (PES) representation of the O(+)((4)S)+H(2)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+)) system was developed by fitting around 600 CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ ab initio points. Rate constant calculations for this reaction and its isotopic variants (D(2) and HD) were performed using the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method, obtaining a good agreement with experimental data. Calculations conducted to determine the cross section of the title reaction, considering collision energies (E(T)) below 0.3 eV, also led to good accord with experiments. This PES appears to be suitable for kinetics and dynamics studies. Moreover, the QCT results show that, although the hypotheses of a widely used capture model are not satisfied, the resulting expression for the cross section can be applied within a suitable E(T) interval, due to errors cancellation. This could be a general situation regarding the application of this simple model to ion-molecule processes.     

Global optimization of ionic Mg(n)F(2n) (n=1-30) clusters

The global optimization basin-hopping (BH) method has been used to locate the global minima (GM) of Mg(n)F(2n) (n=1-30) clusters using a Born-Mayer-type potential. Some of the GM were particularly difficult to find, requiring more than 1.5 x 10(4) BH steps. We have found that both the binding energy per MgF2 unit and the effective volume of the GM isomers increase almost linearly with n, and that cluster symmetry decreases with cluster size. The data derived from the BH runs reveal a growing density of local minima just above the GM as n increases. Despite this, the attraction basin around each GM is relatively large, since after all their atomic coordinates are randomly displaced by values as high as 2.0 bohrs, the perturbed structures, upon reoptimization, relax back to the GM in more than 50% of the cases (except for n=10 and 11). The relative stabilities derived from energy second differences suggest that n=8,10,13,15, and 20 are probably the magic numbers for these systems. Mass spectrum experiments would be very useful to clarify this issue.