Chiral separation of N-imidazole derivatives, aromatase inhibitors, by cyclodextrin-capillary zone electrophoresis. Mechanism of enantioselective recognition

Baseline separation of ten new, substituted [1-(imidazo-1-yl)-1-phenylmethyl)] benzothiazolinone and benzoxazolinone derivatives with one chiral center was achieved using cyclodextrin-capillary zone electrophoresis (CD-CZE). A method for the enantiomeric resolution of these compounds was developed using neutral CDs (native alpha-, beta-, gamma-CDs or alpha-, beta-, gamma-hydroxypropyl (HP)-CDs) as chiral selectors. Operational parameters including the nature and concentration of the chiral selectors, pH, ionic strength, organic modifiers, temperature, and applied voltage were investigated. The use of neutral CDs provides enantiomeric resolution by inclusion of compounds in the CD cavity. The HP-alpha-CD and HP-beta-CD were found to be the most effective complexing agents and allowed efficient enantiomeric resolutions. Optimal separation of N-imidazole derivatives was obtained using 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing either HP-alpha-CD or HP-beta-CD (7.5-12.5 mM) at 25 degrees C, with an applied field of 0.50 kV.cm(-1) giving resolution factors Rs superior to 1.70 with migration times of the second enantiomer less than 13 min. The same enantiomer migration order observed for all molecules can be related to a close interaction mechanism with CDs. The influence of structural features of the solutes on Rs and tm was studied. The lipophilic character (log kw) of the solutes and the apparent and averaged association constants of inclusion complexes for four compounds with the six different CDs led us to rationalize the enantioseparation mechanisms. The conclusions were corroborated with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on CDs.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol and cyclic diglycerols, by-products of technical glycerol, in wine: interlaboratory study

The aim of the present study was to provide the official wine control authorities with an internationally validated method for the determination of 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol (3-MPD) and cyclic diglycerols (CycDs)-both of which are recognized as impurities of technical glycerol-in different types of wine. Because glycerol gives a sweet flavor to wine and contributes to its full-body taste, an economic incentive is to add glycerol to a wine to mask its poor quality. Furthermore, it is known that glycerol, depending on whether it is produced from triglycerides or petrochemicals, may contain considerable amounts of 3-MPD in the first case or CycDs in the second. However, because these compounds are not natural wine components, it is possible to detect glycerol added to wine illegally by determining the above-mentioned by-products. To this end, one of the published methods was adopted, modified, and tested in a collaborative study. The method is based on gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of diethyl ether extracts after salting out with potassium carbonate. The interlaboratory study for the determination of 3-MPD and CycDs in wine was performed in 11 laboratories in 4 countries. Wine samples were prepared and sent to participants as 5 blind duplicate test materials and 1 single test material. The concentrations covered ranges of 0.1-0.8 mg/L for 3-MPD and 0.5-1.5 mg/L for CycDs. The precision of the method was within the range predicted by the Horwitz equation. HORRAT values obtained for 3-MPD ranged from 0.8 to 1.7, and those obtained for CycDs ranged from 0.9 to 1.3. Average recoveries were 104 and 109%, respectively.     

Rapid analysis of triterpenic acids by liquid chromatography using porous graphitic carbon and evaporative light scattering detection

An original system which uses Porous Graphitic Carbon as support and a mixture of organic solvents as mobile phase is proposed for the analysis of triterpenic acids by liquid chromatography. The separation of betulinic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and 18alpha- and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acids was carried out within a short time and monitored by evaporative light scattering detection as universal detection method. Molecular modelling studies show that the main contribution to the selectivity comes from the electrostatic interaction characterised by the dipole moment of the products.     

Identification by Electron Probe Microbeam Analysis of Submicron Borides in Joints of Nickel Base Superalloys

The phases formed at the interface between an intermetallic (NiAl) and a nickel base superalloy joined by combustion synthesis were investigated, particularly the eutectic phases. Owing to their small size, the characterisation of these phases using a Castaings electron microprobe encounters difficulties. The analysis volume size is generally too large to differentiate the phases from their surrounding matrix, even by using low accelerating voltage. Moreover, the eutectic phases contain boron, which is difficult to characterise by EPMA. Independently of the phases shape, the characterisation can be solved by viewing this complex system as a surrounding matrix and a multi layer system. The results of these simulations revealed the presence of two categories of borides: the eutectic boride MM₂B₂ (M=Mo and M=Co, Cr) and the solid solution boride [Cr_1–x (Mo, W)_x]B.     

The first suberate lanthanum(III) complex without uncoordinated water

catena‐Poly­[[aqua­lanthanum(III)]‐μ‐(8‐carboxy­octanoato)‐μ‐octanedioato], [La(C₈H₁₂O₄)(C₈H₁₃O₄)(H₂O)]_n, is, to our knowledge, the first reported rare‐earth complex containing a flexible long‐chain ligand that crystallizes without water of crystallization. The layered polymeric structure is built from infinite chains of one‐edge‐sharing LaO₈(H₂O) polyhedra, connected through the carbon backbone chains of the ligands. The two chemically different ligands act in the same coordination modes, exhibiting chelating bonds and μ‐1,1‐bridging monodentate linkage, and adopting the same extended conformation. In the relatively limited hydrogen‐bonding network, a very strong hydrogen bond between the deprotonated and protonated ligand ends stabilizes the framework.     

Reactions of solute species at an electrode modified with titanocene functionalized polypyrrole film: ferrocene and titanocene dichloride

We have studied for the first time the ability of a conducting polymer film, p(Tc3Py), representing a polypyrrole matrix with covalently attached titanocene dichloride (TcCl₂) centers, to serve as an intermediator for the electron charge transport between the electrode and the reaction sites of solute reactants. The standard potential of the first of these electroactive species, ferrocene (Fc), is in the range where the polymer matrix is in its slightly oxidized state so that solute Fc species give a reversible response at the surface of this modified electrode. Another solute reactant, TcCl₂, was studied in solutions in which it demonstrates a (quasi)reversible behavior at bare electrode surfaces, THF+TBAPF₆ and AN+TEACl. The standard redox potential of this species belongs to the range of the electroactivity of immobilized TcCl₂ centers (where the matrix is in its non-conducting state) so that the electron charge has to be transported via stepwise redox reactions between neighboring centers inside the film. The combination, solute reactant+film, results in a greater CV current compared to the response of the film in background solution or of the solute species at the bare electrode surface. This current for THF solution even exceeds the sum of separate currents for the film and the reactant. This finding is attributed to a catalytic effect of solute species as redox intermediators for the transformation of immobilized electroactive centers leading to a greater degree of the film reduction. The presence of solute TcCl₂ species results in a much greater stability of immobilized centers (compared to the corresponding reactant-free solution), both in the course of CV with the passage of the range of their response and in experiments with the film holding at the potential within this range. This holding leads to an almost constant current related to the reaction of solute species at the film/solution interface. Our estimate shows that immobilized centers undergo above 10,000 reversible transformations (without an observed tendency to the degradation) to ensure the passage of this current. The conclusion has been drawn that immobilized TcCl₂ centers are able to serve as sufficiently stable redox intermediators for the electron charge transport across the film, a prerequisite for the catalytic applications of such films.Abbreviations AN acetonitrile - THF tetrahydrofuran - Cp cyclopentadienyl, C₅H₅ - Cp cyclopentadienyl radical, C₅H₄ - Fc ferrocene, Cp₂Fe - TcCl₂ titanocene=bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride, Cp₂TiCl₂ or its radical CpCpTiCl₂ - PPy polypyrrole - Tc3Py titanocene-propyl-pyrrole, Cl₂TiCpCp(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄ - p(Tc3Py) polymer obtained from Tc3Py - TBAPF₆ tetrabuthylammonium hexafluorophosphate - TEACl tetraethylammonium chlorideDedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Dehydrogenation versus oxygenation in two-electron and four-electron reduction of dioxygen by 9-alkyl-10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridines catalyzed by monomeric cobalt porphyrins and cofacial dicobalt porphyrins in the presence of perchloric acid

Dehydrogenation of 10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrH(2)) by dioxygen (O(2)) proceeds efficiently, accompanied by the two-electron and four-electron reduction of O(2) to produce H(2)O(2) and H(2)O, which are effectively catalyzed by monomeric cobalt porphyrins and cofacial dicobalt porphyrins in the presence of perchloric acid (HClO(4)) in acetonitrile (MeCN) and benzonitrile (PhCN), respectively. The cobalt porphyrin catalyzed two-electron reduction of O(2) also occurs efficiently by 9-alkyl-10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridines (AcrHR; R = Me, Et, and CH(2)COOEt) to yield 9-alkyl-10-methylacridinium ion (AcrR+) and H(2)O(2). In the case of R = Bu(t) and CMe(2)COOMe, however, the catalytic two-electron and four-electron reduction of O(2) by AcrHR results in oxygenation of the alkyl group of AcrHR rather than dehydrogenation to yield 10-methylacridinium ion (AcrH+) and the oxygenated products of the alkyl groups, i.e., the corresponding hydroperoxides (ROOH) and the alcohol (ROH), respectively. The catalytic mechanisms of the dehydrogenation vs the oxygenation of AcrHR in the two-electron and four-electron reduction of O(2), catalyzed by monomeric cobalt porphyrins and cofacial dicobalt porphyrins, respectively, are discussed in relation to the C(9)-H or C(9)-C bond cleavage of AcrHR radical cations produced in the electron-transfer oxidation of AcrHR.     

Surface plasmon near-field imaging of very thin microstructured polymer layers

We report on the near-field imaging of microstructured polymer layers deposited on an homogeneous metal thin film on which a surface plasmon mode is excited. The microstructures in the polymer layers are designed by electron beam lithography, and the near-field imaging is performed with a photon scanning tunneling microscope (PSTM). We show that, despite their very small height, the microstructures can be conveniently imaged with a PSTM thanks to the field enhancement at the surface of the metal thin film supporting the surface plasmon. The influence of the illumination conditions on the contrast of the PSTM images is discussed. In particular, we show that both the field enhancement and the near-field intensity distribution around the microstructures depend dramatically upon the illumination conditions, leading to the conclusion that the PSTM is well suited for spatially resolved near-field surface plasmon sensing purposes.