Synthesis of (S)-naproxen-benzotriazole and its application as chiral derivatizing reagent for microwave-assisted synthesis and indirect high performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomers of penicillamine, cysteine and homocysteine

(S)-Naproxen-benzotriazole was synthesized by the reaction of (S)-naproxen with 1H-benzotriazole using coupling reagent dicyclohexyl carbodiimide and 4-dimethylamino pyridine (DCC/DMAP). It was used as chiral derivatizing reagent for microwave irradiated synthesis of diastereomers of penicillamine, cysteine and homocysteine. The diastereomers were separated by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography using gradient elution of triethylammonium phosphate (pH 3.5)-acetonitrile (30-65% within 30 min). The method was validated for accuracy, precision, and limit of detection.     

An intramolecular charge transfer state of carbonyl carotenoids: implications for excited state dynamics of apo-carotenals and retinal

Excited state dynamics of two apo-carotenals, retinal and 12'-apo-β-carotenal, were studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. We make use of previous knowledge gathered from studies of various carbonyl carotenoids and suggest that to consistently explain the excited-state dynamics of retinal in polar solvents, it is necessary to include an intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) state in the excited state manifold. Coupling of the ICT state to the A(g)(-) state, which occurs in polar solvents, shortens lifetime of the lowest excited state of 12'-apo-β-carotenal from 180 ps in n-hexane to 7.1 ps in methanol. Comparison with a reference molecule lacking the conjugated carbonyl group, 12'-apo-β-carotene, demonstrates the importance of the carbonyl group; no polarity-induced lifetime change is observed and 12'-apo-β-carotene decays to the ground state in 220 ps regardless of solvent polarity. For retinal, we have confirmed the well-known three-state relaxation scheme in n-hexane. Population of the B(u)(+) state decays in <100 fs to the A(g)(-) state, which is quenched in 440 fs by a low-lying nπ* state that decays with a 33 ps time constant to form the retinal triplet state. In methanol, however, the A(g)(-) state is coupled to the ICT state. This coupling prevents population of the nπ* state, which explains the absence of retinal triplet formation in polar solvents. Instead, the coupled A(g)(-)/ICT state decays in 1.6 ps to the ground state. The A(g)(-)/ICT coupling is also evidenced by stimulated emission, which is a characteristic marker of the ICT state in carbonyl carotenoids.     

Protein adhesion of block copolymer surfaces

Atomic force microscopy studies on the adhesion between various novel poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(acrylic acid)-based block copolymers and the proteins fibronectin and bovine serum albumin are presented for the first time. Random, diblock, and triblock copolymers exhibit distinct adhesion profiles although their chemical compositions are identical, implying that biomaterial nanomorphology can be used to control protein–polymer interactions and potentially cell adhesion.     

Enantioresolution of Some β-Blockers and a β2-Agonist Using Ligand Exchange TLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Cu(II) complexes of l-threonine, l-serine, and l-tartaric acid were prepared and used as ligand exchange reagents for enantiomeric...     

High resolution morphology and electrical characterization of aged Li-ion battery cathode

Understanding the changes that take place in an aged Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cathode is vital to improving battery storage capabilities. High resolution imaging using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and current measurement capabilities are used to determine the difference in surface morphology as well as conductance between unaged and aged cathode. Upon aging, agglomeration of LiFePO(4) particles with nanocrystalline deposits is observed and the samples show lower conductance and hence increased resistance. The data identifies potential degradation mechanisms which reduce the conductivity of the cathode leading to poor cycling performance of the battery.     

Lewis base catalysis by thiourea: N-bromosuccinimide-mediated oxidation of alcohols

In recent times, (thio)urea derivatives have become synonymous with hydrogen bonding owing to their extensive applicability as small molecule organocatalysts. In this paper, another activation mode by thiourea derivatives, namely via Lewis base catalysis, is disclosed for the NBS-mediated oxidation of alcohols. The mild reaction conditions employed here is suitable for chemoselective oxidation of secondary alcohol in the presence of primary alcohol.     

Amino acids as chiral selectors in enantioresolution by liquid chromatography

Amino acids are unique in terms of their structural features and multidimensional uses. With their simple structures and the ready availability of both enantiomers, amino acids not only serve as a chiral pool for synthesis but also provide an inexpensive pool for resolution studies. There has been no attempt to review the application of amino acids as chiral selectors for chromatographic enantioresolution of pharmaceuticals and other compounds. The present paper deals with application of l-amino acids and complexes of l-amino acids with a metal ion, particularly Cu(II), as an impregnating reagent in thin-layer chromatography or as a chiral ligand exchange reagent or a chiral mobile phase additive in both thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Enantiomeric resolution of β-blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, amino acids (and their derivatives) and certain other compounds is discussed.     

HPLC enantioresolution of (R,S)-baclofen using three newly synthesized dichloro-s-triazine reagents having amines and five others having amino acids as chiral auxiliaries

Enantioresolution of (R,S)-baclofen was accomplished using a newly synthesized set of three chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) having amines [(S)-(-)-α,4-dimethylbenzylamine, (-)-cis-myrtanylamine and (R)-(-)-1-cyclohexylethylamine] as chiral auxiliaries in cyanuric chloride and another set of five CDRs having amino acids (L-Leu, D-Phg, L-Val, L-Met and L-Ala) as chiral auxiliaries. These eight CDRs were used for synthesis of diastereomers of (R,S)-baclofen under microwave irradiation. The diastereomers were separated on a reversed-phase C(18) column using mixtures of methanol with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid with UV detection at 230 nm. Chromatographic data obtained for the two sets of diastereomers were compared among themselves and among the two groups. The method was validated for limit of detection, linearity, accuracy and precision.     

Critical micelle concentration and self-aggregation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in aqueous glycine and glycylglycine solutions at different temperatures

Conductivities, densities and ultrasonic speeds measurements of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) in aqueous solutions of glycine (Gly) and glycylglycine (Gly-Gly) have been made at various temperatures. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), the degree of ionization (??) of the micelles, standard free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of the micellization process (??G _m ^° , ??H _m ^° , and ??S _m ^° ) for the present systems were estimated at different temperatures. The CMC values of HTAB in aqueous Gly and Gly-Gly were also evaluated by density and ultrasonic speed measurements. Apparent molar volumes, (V _?), apparent molar volumes at infinite dilution, (V _? ^° ), apparent molar compressibilities, (K _?), of HTAB in the pre- and post-micellar regions, and volume change on micellization (??V _? ^m ) were also estimated. Large positive values of T??S _m ^° and small negative values of ??H _m ^° suggest that micellization process is driven primarily by entropy increase. The increase in ??V _? ^m and K _? with rise in temperature is indicative of less compact micellar structure of HTAB in presence of amino acid additives. These data suggest that amino acids are solubilised probably in the palisade layer of the micelle.     

Preparation and TSL studies in Tb activated LiMgPO4 phosphor

LiMgPO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphor was synthesized by solid state reaction. The thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curve of Tb doped LiMgPO₄ exhibits a main TSL peak at 170 °C with shoulders at 100 and 260 °C on either side of this peak. The TSL sensitivity of the phosphor was found to be about 2.5 times that of CaSO₄:Dy phosphor. TSL emission and photoluminescence (PL) studies show that Tb³⁺ ion acts as luminescence centre in this phosphor. The kinetic parameters, namely activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s) associated with the main glow peak have been determined using peak shape method. The activation energy and frequency factor obtained are 1.35 ± 0.03 eV and (6.53 ± 0.43) × 10¹⁴ s^?1 respectively. The paper discusses the dosimetric characteristics like dose response, fading, energy response and minimum detectable dose and results thereof.