Activation of orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase by phosphite dianion: the whole substrate is the sum of two parts

We report that the binding of phosphite dianion to orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (OMPDC) results in an 80 000-fold increase in kcat/Km for decarboxylation of the truncated substrate, 1-(beta-d-erythrofuranosyl)orotic acid (EO), which lacks a 5'-phosphodianion moiety. The intrinsic binding energy (IBE) of phosphite dianion in the transition state is 7.8 kcal/mol, which represents a very large fraction of the 11.8 kcal/mol IBE of the phosphodianion group of the natural substrate orotidine 5'-monophosphate (OMP). The data give kcat = 160 +/- 70 s-1 for turnover of EO in the active site of OMPDC containing phosphite dianion, which is significantly larger than kcat = 15 s-1 for turnover of OMP. Despite the weaker binding of the individual EO and HPO32- "parts" (KmKd = 0.014 M2) than of OMP (Km = 1.6 x 10-6 M), once bound, OMPDC provides a slightly greater stabilization of the transition state for reaction of the parts than of the whole substrate. Thus, the covalent connection between the reacting portion of the substrate and the nonreacting phosphodianion group is not necessary for efficient catalysis. This implies that a major role of the phosphodianion group of OMP is to provide binding interactions that are used to drive an enzyme conformational change, resulting in formation of an active site environment optimized for transition state stabilization.     

Determination of chloramphenicol in bovine milk by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid confirmatory liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometic method was developed for determination of chloramphenicol in bovine milk. Chloramphenicol was extracted directly from milk by solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge. The extract was further cleaned up on neutral aluminium oxide. Three transition products were monitored in negative ion mode after atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. The detection capability related to the transition product of lowest abundance was 0.03 microg/kg. The mean recovery was 90% at levels of 0.1-0.2 microg/kg. The relative repeatability standard deviations were 4.3, 3.8, and 2.8% at levels of 0.1, 0.2, and 1.0 microg/kg, respectively.     

Matrix-induced peak enhancement of pesticides in gas chromatogrtaphy: Is there a solution?

In this study, it is shown that calibration solution prepared in control matrix extrix extract can be used to compensate for matrix-induced chromatographic response enhancement observed for certain pesticedes. This phenomenon is characterized by enhanced chromatographic response for certain pesticides in the presence of matrix du to reduced analyte loss during injection. Unacceptably high recoveries are seen for affected pesticides when maatrix-free solutions are used for reference and calibration. The effects of matrix concentration on overall enhancement and linear response were determined. When used as reference standards for the determination of recovery, matrix-standard solutions were found to provide acceptable recoveries for pesticides subject to matrix-induced chromatographic response enhancement along with other pesticides. General guidelines are presented for using matrix-standard calibration solutions in pesticide residue analysis.     

Solvent-assisted supercritical fluid extraction for the isolation of semivolatile flavor compounds from the cinnamons of commerce and their separation by series-coupled column gas chromatography

Solvent-assisted supercritical fluid extraction is superior to Soxhlet extraction, solvent extraction at reflux, and simultaneous setam distillation solvent extraction for the isolation of semivolatile compounds from the cinnamons of commerce. Optimized extraction conditions are described using carbon dioxide at 300 atm and 70°C to extract 0.5 g of powdered cinnamon mixed with 4.5 g of anhydrous sodium sulfate to which 1.0 ml of acetonitrile was added at the start of the sequential 30 min static and 30 min dynamic extraction. The semivolatile compounds were collected by solvent trapping in ethyl acetate and analyzed directly by series coupled-column gas chromatography after filtration and partial solvent evaporation. Twenty-one compounds identified by mass spectrometry were quantified in twenty-four samples of cinnamon and cassia purchased in Sri Lanka, Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. True cinnamon is easily distinguished from cassia by the presence of eugenol, absence of δ-cadinene, much lower amounts of coumarin, and larger amounts of benzyl benzoate. Principal component analysis using the relative composition of the twelve major semivolatile compounds provides a clear distinction between true cinnamon and cassia as well as useful interspecies differences which can be used for further classification.     

Two-electron transfer for Tl(aq)(3+)/Tl(aq)(+) revisited. Common virtual [Tl(II)-Tl(II)](4+) intermediate for homogeneous (superexchange) and electrode (sequential) mechanisms

Homogeneous and electrochemical two-electron transfers within the Tl(aq)(3+)/Tl(aq)(+) couple are considered on a common conceptual basis. For the 2 equiv electrochemical reduction of Tl(aq)(3+) to Tl(aq)(+), the intermediate state with a formal reduction potential, E(1) = 1.04 +/- 0.10 V vs the normal hydrogen electrode, was detected, different from the established value of 0.33 V for a Tl(3+)/Tl(2+) couple. Examination of obtained electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode techniques, along with the CV-curve computer simulation procedure) and literature data indicate that the detected formal potential cannot be the property of electrode-adsorbed species, but rather of the covalently interacting dithallium intermediate [Tl(II)-Tl(II)](4+) located at the outer Helmholtz plane. The analysis of microscopic mechanisms, based on the recent hypothesis of H. Taube and the Marcus-Hush theory extended by Zusman and Beratan, and Koper and Schmickler, revealed that the homogeneous process most probably takes place through the superexchange inner-sphere two-electron-transfer mechanism, via an essentially virtual (undetectable) dithallium intermediate. In contrast, the electrochemical process occurs through a sequential mechanism, via the rate-determining step of Tl(aq)(2+) ion formation immediately followed by activationless formation of the metastable (CV-active) dithallium state. The second electrochemical electron-transfer step is fast, and shows up only in the peak height (but not in the shape) of the observed CV cathodic wave. The anodic wave for a microscopically reverse process of the oxidation of Tl(aq)(+) to Tl(aq)(3+) cannot be observed within the considered potential range due to the blocking of through-space electron transfer by the competitor process of ion transfer to the electrode.     

Cyclopropyl alkynes as mechanistic probes to distinguish between vinyl radical and ionic intermediates

[reaction: see text] The reactions of (trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1a, (trans,trans-2-methoxy-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1b, and (trans,trans-2-methoxy-1-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1c, with either aqueous sulfuric acid or tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (or tributyltin hydride) and AIBN have been investigated. Protonation and addition of the silyl (or stannyl) radical occurred at the terminal position of the alkyne giving an alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyl cation or radical, respectively. Under both reaction conditions, 1a yielded products derived from ring opening toward the phenyl substituent. Alkynes 1b and 1c, however, gave different products depending on whether radical or cationic conditions were used. When radical conditions were employed, products derived from regioselective ring opening toward the phenyl substituent were obtained. In contrast, when cationic conditions were employed, products derived from selective ring opening toward the methoxy substituent were isolated. The corresponding alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyllithium derivatives were also synthesized and were found to be stable toward rearrangement. An estimate of the rate constants for ring opening of the alpha-cyclopropylvinyl cations was also made: values of 10(10)-10(12) s(-1) were found for the vinyl cations derived from protonation of the terminal carbon of alkynes 1a-c. Based on these results, cyclopropyl alkynes 1a-c can be classified as hypersensitive mechanistic probes for the detection of vinyl radical or cationic intermediates generated adjacent to the cyclopropyl ring and, in the case of 1b and 1c, the distinction between a radical or cationic intermediate is possible.     

Standard dilution analysis of beverages by microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry

In this work, standard dilution analysis (SDA) is combined with microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP OES) to determine seven elements in coffee, green tea, energy drink, beer, whiskey and cachaça (Brazilian hard liquor). No sample preparation other than simple dilution in HNO₃ 1% v v⁻¹ is required. Due to relatively low plasma temperatures, matrix effects may compromise accuracies in MIP OES analyzes of complex samples. The method of standard additions (SA) offers enhanced accuracies, but is time-consuming and labor intensive. SDA offers a simpler, faster approach, with improved accuracies for complex matrices. In this work, SDA's efficiency is evaluated by spike experiments, and the results are compared to the traditional methods of external calibration (EC), internal standard (IS), and standard additions (SA). SDA is comparable to the traditional calibration methods, and it provides superior accuracies for applications involving ethanol-containing beverage samples. The SDA-MIP OES procedure is effective. Using only two calibration solutions, it may be easily automated for accurate and high sample throughput routine applications.     

The Structure and Thermal Stability of 1,2-Dimethoxycarbonyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene

The X-ray crystal structure of 1,2-dimethoxycarbonyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (1) is reported and the geometry is contrasted to that of cyclopropene (2) and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (3). Ab initio and density functional theory calculations were carried out in order to examine the conformational preference of the ester groups (i.e., s-cis vs. s-trans) and to probe the thermal stability of 1 via a model compound, 1-methoxycarbonyl-3-methylcyclopropene. Experimental activation parameters for the unimolecular isomerization were measured and compared to an analogous dibenzoylcyclopropene derivative.