Effects in high-performance liquid chromatography of a high pH in the mobile phase on poly(methyloctylsiloxane) immobilized by gamma-radiation on titanium-grafted silica

Effects of high-pH environments on a stationary phase prepared by gamma-radiation immobilization of poly(methyloctylsiloxane) on titanium-grafted silica were investigated by HPLC testing with standard sample mixtures. The HPLC parameters indicate good stationary phase stability to 10000 column volumes each of mobile phases with pH of 7, 9 and 12. At pH 13, the efficiency decreases slowly, although reasonably good separations are still possible until increasing flow resistance no longer allows easy passage of the mobile phase.     

Stereoselective conjugate addition of benzyl phenylsulfonyl carbanions to enoates derived from d-mannitol

The conjugate addition of benzylic phenylsulfonyl carbanions (2a'-d') to enoates derived from d-(+)-mannitol (E- or Z-1a-c) was studied using THF and THF/HMPA as solvent. Under kinetic conditions (-78 degrees C), enoate E-1a,b led to a mixture of syn-(R,S) and anti-(S,S) adducts (55/45), and syn-(R,S) adducts were the main product obtained ( approximately 90/10) from enoate Z-1a. Under thermodynamic conditions (-78 degrees C to room temperature) syn-(R,S) adducts were also preferentially formed ( approximately 90/10), despite the geometry at the double bond in the acceptor. Enoate 1c (E/Z = 57/43), bearing an additional benzyl group at the alpha-position, also reacted with carbanions 2'a,b, under thermodynamic conditions, leading to syn-adducts in excellent de (control at the three newly generated stereogenic centers). The adducts were quantitatively transformed into the corresponding beta-gamma-disubstituted gamma-butyrolactones and alpha,beta,gamma-trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones. (1)H NMR studies (NOE and J-coupling) of these lactones allowed us to determine their configuration at the newly generated chiral centers. The reduction of the C-S bond in adducts syn-(R,S) with Na/Hg, followed by treatment of the resulting products in aqueous acid media, led to enantioenriched beta-benzyl-gamma-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactones. The conformational equilibrium of enoates E- and Z-1b was evaluated by theoretical calculations (ab initio, MP2/6-31G), and a mechanistic rationale was proposed to explain the observed stereoselectivities.     

A new steroidal saponin from Agave attenuata

A new steroidal saponin was isolated from the leaves of Agave attenuata. Its structure was established as (3beta,beta,25S)-spirostan-3-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The structural identification was performed using detailed analyses of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (COSY, HETCOR, and COLOC) and chemical conversions. The hemolytic activity of the steroidal saponin was evaluated using an in vitro assay.     

Optimization of acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse and investigations on its fermentability for the production of xylitol by Candida guilliermondii

The dilute-acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse was optimized using a statistical experimental design resulting in hydrolysates containing 57.25 g/L of xylose, which were fermented with a high inoculum concentration (10 g/L of the yeast Candida guilliermondii IM/UFRJ 50088). The addition of urea reduced the time of conversion (t _C) to 75 h (without nitrogen source addition t _C>127 h), and, consequently, improving the rates of xylitol bioproduction. Fermentator experiments, using the optimized conditions, resulted in enhanced conversion rates, reducing t _C to 30 h. The stability of the yeast in the hydrolysate was also verified in a 480-h cultivation.     

Partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis

Partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis (PFACE) is used to examine the binding interactions between two model biological systems: D-Ala-D-Ala terminus peptides to the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin (Van) from Streptomyces orientalis, and arylsulfonamides to carbonic anhydrase B (CAB, EC 4.2.1.1, bovine erythrocytes). Using these two systems, modifications in the PFACE technique are demonstrated including flow-through PFACE (FTPFACE), competitive flow-through PFACE (CFTPFACE), on-column ligand synthesis PFACE (OCLSPFACE), and multiple-step ligand injection PFACE (MSLIPFACE). In PFACE small plugs of sample are injected into the capillary column and an equilibrium is established between receptor and ligand during electrophoresis. Binding constants are then obtained by Scatchard analysis using changes in the migration time of the receptor/ligand on changing the concentration of the ligand/receptor. Data demonstrating the quantitative potential of these methods are presented. This review focuses on the unique capabilities of the different PFACE techniques as applied to two model biological systems.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II) with diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone)

Diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone) has been used as a sensitive reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of tin. This reagent forms an orange-yellow complex with stannous ion at pH 3.5–7.0 (λ_max = 455 nm, ? = 2.25 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1/cm^?1 while no reaction is observed with quadrivalent tin. The colored complex extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone has been used for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II). The molar absorption in the organic solvent is 3.54 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1 cm^?1 and the compound shows its maximum absorbance at 455 nm. The interferences of foreign ions have been determined.     

The binding ability of iron bonded to porphodimethene: structural, magnetic, and electronic relationship to iron porphyrin complexes

The availability of the parent compound, meso-hexaethylporphodimetheneiron(II), [(Et6N4)Fe] (2), of this report results from a novel synthetic methodology that makes [Et6N4Li2] (1) easily available. The major focus is on how the axial positions, which are the key reactive sites in metalloporphyrins, and the electronic configuration of the metal can be affected by the breakdown of the aromaticity of the porphyrin skeleton and by the nonplanar conformation of the ligand. DFT calculations indicate a 3B1(dz2)1(dyz)1 ground state for 2 versus the 3A2(dxz)1(dyz)1 ground state in the porphyrin analogue. The intermediate-spin state (S = 1) of 2 changed drastically upon addition of one or two axial ligands, as hexacoordination is preferred by iron(II). The hexacoordinate complexes [(Et6N4)Fe(L)(L')] (L = L' = THF, 3; L = L' = Py, 4; L = PhNO, L' = Py, 14) have been isolated and structurally characterized. Strong-field ligands lead to a low-spin diamagnetic state for iron(II), namely for complexes 4-7, 9, and 14, whereas 3 is a typical d6 high-spin complex, as is the pentacoordinate [(Et6N4)Fe(CN)]Bu4N (8). The structural analysis showed common features for 6, 7, 9, and 14: i) a small displacement of the metal from the N4 plane, and ii) an N4 cavity, larger than that in the corresponding porphyrins, affecting the Fe-N bond lengths. The 1H NMR spectrum is quite diagnostic of the two-fold symmetry in the diamagnetic hexacoordinate complexes, revealing either a D2h or a C2v symmetry. The CO stretching frequency (1951 cm(-1)) in complex 6 probes the good electron density at the metal. The one-electron oxidation of 2 led to pentacoordinate iron(III) derivatives [(Et6N4)Fe(Cl)] (10), [(Et6N4)2Fe2(mu-O)] (11), and [(Et6N4)2Fe2(mu-p-OC6H4-O)] (12). Complex 10 is a typical high-spin iron(III) (5.85muB at 298 K), while 11 and 12 behave as antiferromagnetic coupled iron(III) (J = -9.4cm(-1), 12, and J = -115cm(-1), 11). In complexes 10, 11, and 12 iron is sitting in a quite distorted square pyramidal geometry, in which the ligand displays a very distorted roof conformation with different degrees of ruffling. Distinctive structural and magnetic features have been found for the nitrosyl derivative [(Et6N4)Fe-NO], which has a low-spin state (S = 1/2) and the following structural parameters: Fe-N-O, 147.3(2) degrees; Fe-N, 1.708(2) A; N-O, 1.172(3) A. A comparative structural, magnetic, and theoretical analysis of the compounds listed above has been made with the analogous porphyrin derivatives. The detailed structural investigation has been mapped through the X-ray analysis of 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 14.     

Determination of lithium in pharmaceutical formulations used in the treatment of bipolar disorder by flow injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection

In this work, a flow injection system with spectrophotometric detection was developed for the determination of lithium in pharmaceutical formulations used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Reaction between Quinizarine (1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone) and Li(I) ion in alkaline medium containing dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was explored for this purpose. The flow system was optimized regarding to its chemical (DMSO, Quinizarine and NaOH concentrations and sample pH) and physical parameters (sample loop volume, carrier flow rate and reactor length) in order to establish better conditions in terms of sensitivity and sampling frequency. The results obtained showed that the concentration of DMSO in the reagent solution presents remarkable influence on the magnitude of analytical signal. Chemical species that could be found in the formulations such as Na(I), K(I), Mg(II), Ca(II), Ti(IV), Cl⁻, CO₃²⁻ e sodium dodecylsulfate were tested as possible interfering ions. Among them, only non-monovalent cations presented noticeable interference on lithium signal. However, they were not found in concentrations high enough to cause interference in the determination of lithium in the samples. Sample preparation was performed by sonicating a slurry prepared by dispersing 100 mg of powdered sample in 15 mL of 0.10 mol L⁻¹ HCl solution. Results obtained by developed methodology were not statistically different from those obtained by flame emission spectrometry. In the optimized conditions the method presented a linear range of 5-40 mg L⁻¹ and a relative standard deviation of 3.6% at 5 mg L⁻¹ Li concentration. Detection and quantification limits were 0.54 and 1.8 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Sampling frequency, calculated as the time interval passed between two consecutive injections, was 60 samples per hour. The methodology was successfully applied in the determination of lithium in three commercial samples.     

Reduction of (imine)Pt(IV) to (imine)Pt(II) complexes with carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides

A novel method is reported for generation of the difficult-to-obtain (imine)Pt(II) compounds that involves reduction of the corresponding readily available Pt(IV)-based imines by carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides, Ph3P=CHCO2R, in nonaqueous media. The reaction between neutral (imino)Pt(IV) compounds [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ON=CR1R2]2] [R1R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5, (Me)C(Me)=NOH], [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ONR2]2] (R = Me, Et, CH2Ph), (R1 = H; R2 = Ph or C6H4Me; R3 = Me) as well as anionic-type platinum(IV) complexes (Ph3PCH2Ph)[PtCl5[NH=C(Me)ON=CR2]] [R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5] and 1 equiv of Ph3P=CHCO2R (R = Me, Et) proceeds under mild conditions (ca. 4 h, room temperature) to give selectively the platinum(II) products (in good to excellent isolated yields) without further reduction of the platinum center. All thus prepared compounds (excluding previously described Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes) were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C[1H], 31P[1H] and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray single-crystal diffractometry, the latter for [PtCl2[NH=C(Me)ON=CMe2]2] [crystal system tetragonal, space group P4(2)/n (No. 86), a = b = 10.5050(10) A, c = 15.916(3) A] and (Ph3PCH2CO2Me)[PtCl3(NCMe)] [crystal system orthorhombic, space group Pna2(1) (No. 33), a = 19.661(7) A, b = 12.486(4) A, c = 10.149(3) A]. The reaction is also extended to a variety of other Pt(II)/Pt(IV) couples, and the ylides Ph3P=CHCO2R are introduced as mild and selective reducing agents of wide applicability for the conversion of Pt(IV) to Pt(II) species in nonaqueous media, a route that is especially useful in the case of compounds that cannot be prepared directly from Pt(II) precursors, and for the generation of systematic series of Pt(II)/Pt(IV) complexes for biological studies.     

A theoretical study of radical-only and combined radical/carbocationic mechanisms of arachidonic acid cyclooxygenation by prostaglandin H synthase

Prostaglandin H synthase catalyzes the oxygenation of arachidonic acid into the cyclic endoperoxide, prostaglandin G₂ (PGG₂), and the subsequent reduction of PGG₂ to the corresponding alcohol, prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂), the precursor of all prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Both radical abstraction by a neighboring tyrosyl radical and combined radical/carbocationic models have been proposed to explain the cyclooxygenase part of this reaction. We have used density functional theory calculations to study the mechanism of the formation of the cyclooxygenated product PGG₂. We found an activation free energy for the initial hydrogen abstraction by the tyrosine radical of 15.6 kcal/mol, and of 14.5 kcal/mol for peroxo bridge formation, in remarkable agreement with the experimental value of 15.0 kcal/mol. Subsequent steps of the radical-based mechanism were found to happen with smaller barriers. A combined radical/carbocation mechanism proceeding through a sigmatropic hydrogen shift was ruled out, owing to its much larger activation free energy of 36.5 kcal/mol. Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00214-003-0476-9. Electronic Supplementary MaterialSupplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Electronic Supplementary Material: Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at