Substituent-dependent reactivity in the photodimerization of N-substituted dibenz[b,f]azepines

The photoprocesses of a series of N-substituted dibenz[b,f]azepines (iminostilbenes) were studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy, by laser flash photolysis, and by preparative irradiation with NMR analysis. In solutions, 2pi+2pi photodimers of N-cyano and N-acyl dibenzazepines are formed via the triplet state upon acetone- or benzophenone-sensitized energy transfer. T-T absorption spectra were measured and absorption coefficients were determined. The triplet energy transfer is equally efficient for N-alkyl dibenzazepines, which do not dimerize. Excited states of npi* character in the latter cases are discussed to rationalize the different reactivities. In spite of negligible intersystem crossing of 21 dibenzazepine derivatives, photodimers of N-acyl and N-cyano dibenzazepines are formed upon direct excitation in concentrated solutions (0.01-0.1 mol dm(-3)) as well as in the solid state. A selective anti-configuration of the photodimers was found throughout.     

Removal of PCR inhibitors using dielectrophoresis as a selective filter in a microsystem

Diagnostic PCR has been used to analyse a wide range of biological materials. Conventional PCR consists of several steps such as sample preparation, template purification, and PCR amplification. PCR is often inhibited by contamination of DNA templates. To increase the sensitivity of the PCR, the removal of PCR inhibitors in sample preparation steps is essential and several methods have been published. The methods are either chemical or based on filtering. Conventional ways of filtering include mechanical filters or washing e.g. by centrifugation. Another way of filtering is the use of electric fields. It has been shown that a cell will experience a force when an inhomogeneous electric field is applied. The effect is called dielectrophoresis (DEP). The resulting force depends on the difference between the internal properties of the cell and the surrounding fluid. DEP has been applied to manipulate cells in many microstructures. In this study, we used DEP as a selective filter for holding cells in a microsystem while the PCR inhibitors were flushed out of the system. Haemoglobin and heparin - natural components of blood - were selected as PCR inhibitors, since the inhibitory effects of these components to PCR have been well documented. The usefulness of DEP in a microsystem to withhold baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells while the PCR inhibitors haemoglobin and heparin are removed will be presented and factors that influence the effect of DEP in the microsystem will be discussed. This is the first time dielectrophoresis has been used as a selective filter for removing PCR inhibitors in a microsystem.     

Analysis of betamethasone, dexamethasone and related compounds by liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) method has been developed to conclusively differentiate the epimers betamethasone and dexamethasone and various esterification products (betamethasone and dexamethasone 21-acetate, betamethasone and dexamethasone 21-phosphate, betamethasone 17-valerate, betamethasone 21-valerate and betamethasone 17,21-dipropionate) in counterfeit drugs. Good separation with baseline resolution of all epimers or isomers was obtained on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB or Luna C8 column, using a step gradient with mobile phases of 0.05 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile. Betamethasones can also be distinguished by the relative abundance of their m/z 279 ion in the positive electrospray tandem mass spectra. The LC/MS or LC/MS/MS method developed was successfully applied to the analysis of drug product samples, i.e. creams and tablets.     

ICP-AES detection of silicon carbide impurities volatilized in a graphite furnace with the use of carbon tetrachloride vapour

The analytical capability of high-temperature halogenation with carbon tetrachloride vapour in a graphite furnace was investigated for silicon carbide powder with known chemical composition and particle size. Intensity vs heating time curves were determined for analytical lines of Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ti, V and Si constituents, volatilized with and without the presence of CCl₄ vapour in the furnace atmosphere. Igniting 10 mg SiC at 2100 °C for 60 s in chlorinating atmosphere, the evaporated fraction of most of the constituents was higher than 90% (for Al about 50%). The line intensity vs sample mass (4–26 mg) relationships were linear for all impurities studied, while the intensity of silicon line showed a relatively small change with the sample mass. BEC (background equivalent concentration) values for this solid sampling technique (10 mg loaded sample) were 2–20 fold lower than those calculated for the conventional solution sample introduction method.     

Eclipsed Isopropyl Conformations of Two Dimeric Hydrazines

The X-ray structures of 4,10-di-tert-butyl-5,9-diisopropyl-4,5,9,10-tetraazatetracyclo[6.2.2.2(3,6)]tetradecane (s4iPr) and its 4,9-di-tert-butyl-5,10-diisopropyl isomer (a4iPr) are reported. Both compounds are in conformations having their in-N-alkyl groups (directed toward the central CH-CH bond of the molecule) anti to each other, as expected from previous work. The principal feature of interest is that one in-isopropyl group in each compound is in an eclipsed conformation, NN,C(alpha)Me twist angle -0.5(5) degrees for s4iPr and -6.4(4) degrees for a4iPr. Low energy (somewhat less) eclipsed in-isopropyl conformations are predicted by both molecular mechanics (MM2) and semiempirical quantum mechanical (AM1) calculations. The asymmetry of the potentially C(2) symmetric a4iPr because the two in-isopropyl groups are in different rotamers is apparently not a result of crystal packing forces, because a conformation with different isopropyl rotamers is the more stable one by at least 1.0 kcal/mol in solution, determined by (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. This result is not predicted by either calculation method. The "monomer", 2-tert-butyl-3-isopropyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (3), proves to be a poor model for the conformations of 4iPr.     

Direct coupling of capillary supercritical fluid chromatography with double-focusing high resolution mass spectrometry

An integral restrictor interface with jet separator for coupling capillary column supercritical fluid extraction – supercritical fluid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry (SFE-SFC-MS) has been built and used for the analysis of a fatty acid ester, and of polymer additives with a wide range of masses. The mobile phase used was supercritical carbon dioxide; a flame ionization detector (FID) was used in parallel with the mass spectrometer. Different SFC-MS interface operating conditions, e.g. temperature, restrictor position, flow rate, and sample transfer conditions were optimized to obtain good sensitivity and separation for these applications. In addition, the sensitivity of measurements performed with the direct insertion probe and by SFC-MS interface have been compared.     

Photochemical structuring and fixing of structures in binary polymer brush layers via 2pi+2pi photodimerization

Binary polymer brushes grafted to Si wafers were prepared from hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer components, which allow switching the surface properties (as revealed by contact angles) by exposure to varying solvents. The hydrophilic component was poly-2-vinylpyridine; the hydrophobic component was a copolymer of styrene and 2-(4-vinylphenyl)indene containing the photodimerizable phenylindene chromophore. The brushes were prepared via thermal and via photochemical grafting-to methods, which led to distinct layer thicknesses. Structural patterns differing in surface properties were produced and fixed via crosslinking the hydrophobic component by 2pi+2pi photodimerization of phenylindene moieties. The patterns were visually observable.