Chitosan-mediated in situ biomolecule assembly in completely packaged microfluidic devices

We report facile in situ biomolecule assembly at readily addressable sites in microfluidic channels after complete fabrication and packaging of the microfluidic device. Aminopolysaccharide chitosan's pH responsive and chemically reactive properties allow electric signal-guided biomolecule assembly onto conductive inorganic surfaces from the aqueous environment, preserving the activity of the biomolecules. A transparent and nonpermanently packaged device allows consistently leak-free sealing, simple in situ and ex situ examination of the assembly procedures, fluidic input/outputs for transport of aqueous solutions, and electrical ports to guide the assembly onto the patterned gold electrode sites within the channel. Both in situ fluorescence and ex situ profilometer results confirm chitosan-mediated in situ biomolecule assembly, demonstrating a simple approach to direct the assembly of biological components into a completely fabricated device. We believe that this strategy holds significant potential as a simple and generic biomolecule assembly approach for future applications in complex biomolecular or biosensing analyses as well as in sophisticated microfluidic networks as anticipated for future lab-on-a-chip devices.     

Manipulation of reaction pathways in redox transmetallation-ligand exchange syntheses of lanthanoid(II)/(III) aryloxide complexes

Redox transmetallation/ligand exchange reactions of lanthanoid metals (Ln), Hg(C6F5)2 and HOAr(OMe) (Ar(OMe) = C6H2-2,6-Bu(t)-4-OMe), in thf (tetrahydrofuran) gave, for Ln = Yb, [Yb(OAr(OMe))2(thf)3], and for Ln = Sm, a mixture of [Sm(II)(OAr(OMe))2(thf)3] and mainly [Sm(III)(Ar(OMe))3(thf)] x thf. X-Ray structure determinations show the divalent complexes to have distorted square-pyramidal stereochemistry with transoid thf and OAr(OMe) ligands in the basal plane. Treatment of [Yb(OAr(OMe))2(thf)3] with diethyl ether or PhMe at room temperature gave [Yb(OAr(OMe))2] or [Yb(OAr(OMe))2] x 0.5 PhMe. For lanthanoids Ln = Nd, Er or Y, the reactions with Hg(C6F5)2 and HOAr(OMe) yielded complex product mixtures, from one of which the novel erbium aryloxide fluoride cage [Er3(OAr(OMe))4(mu2-F)3(mu3-F)2(thf)4] x thf x 0.5 C6H14 was isolated. The cage core consists of a triangle of Er atoms joined to two mu3-fluoride ligands and three further mu2-fluorides bridge adjacent Er atoms. One of the Er atoms is six-coordinate with additionally two OAr(OMe) ligands whilst the other two have one OAr(OMe) and two thf ligands and are seven coordinate. Substitution of Hg(C6F5)2 by Hg(CCPh)2 in the redox transmetallation/ligand exchange reactions gave the new derivatives [Ln(OAr(OMe))3(thf)] x thf (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho) in good yields whilst Ln = Yb gave [Yb(OAr(OMe))2(thf)3]. Recrystallisation of [Sm(OAr(OMe))3(thf)] x thf from dme (1,2-dimethoxyethane) yielded [Sm(OAr(OMe))3(dme)]. Structural characterisation of [Ln(OAr(OMe))3(thf)] x thf (Ln = Nd, Ho) and [Sm(OAr(OMe))3(dme)] showed monomeric four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral and five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal complexes respectively. For the smaller lanthanoids Ln = Y, Er or Lu, reactions with Hg(CCPh)2 and HOAr(OMe) gave the mixed aryloxide/alkynide complexes [Ln(OAr(OMe))2(CCPh)(thf)2]. Oxidation of the divalent ytterbium aryloxide [Yb(OAr(OMe))2(thf)3] by Hg(CCPh)2 in thf gave the analogous [Yb(OAr(OMe))2(CCPh)(thf)2]. The erbium alkynide [Er(OAr(OMe))2(CCPh)(thf)2] x 0.25 C6H14 has distorted square-pyramidal stereochemistry with transoid OAr(OMe) and thf ligands in the basal plane and a rare (for Ln) terminal alkynide ligand in the apical position. The reactive Lu-C bond in the [Lu(OAr(OMe))2(CCPh)(thf)2] complexes could be slowly cleaved by free HOAr(OMe) in hydrocarbon solvents, yielding Lu(OAr(OMe))3 species and fortuitous partial hydrolysis of [Er(Ar(OMe))2(CCPh)(thf)2] gave the dimeric [Er(OAr(OMe))2(mu-OH)2]2.     

The synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of 2-phosphanylethylcyclopentadienyl complexes of cobalt, rhodium and iridium

2-Phosphanylethylcyclopentadienyl lithium compounds, Li[C(5)R'(4)(CH(2))(2)PR(2)] (R = Et, R' = H or Me, R = Ph, R' = Me), have been prepared from the reaction of spirohydrocarbons C(5)R'(4)(C(2)H(4)) with LiPR(2). C(5)Et(4)HSiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2), was prepared from reaction of Li[C(5)Et(4)] with Me(2)SiCl(2) followed by Me(2)PCH(2)Li. The lithium salts were reacted with [RhCl(CO)(2)](2), [IrCl(CO)(3)] or [Co(2)(CO)(8)] to give [M(C(5)R'(4)(CH(2))(2)PR(2))(CO)] (M = Rh, R = Et, R' = H or Me, R = Ph, R' = Me; M = Ir or Co, R = Et, R' = Me), which have been fully characterised, in many cases crystallographically as monomers with coordination of the phosphorus atom and the cyclopentadienyl ring. The values of nu(CO) for these complexes are usually lower than those for the analogous complexes without the bridge between the cyclopentadienyl ring and the phosphine, the exception being [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (Cp' = C(5)Me(4)), the most electron rich of the complexes. [Rh(C(5)Et(4)SiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2))(CO)] may be a dimer. [Co(2)(CO)(8)] reacts with C(5)H(5)(CH(2))(2)PEt(2) or C(5)Et(4)HSiMe(2)CH(2)PMe(2) (L) to give binuclear complexes of the form [Co(2)(CO)(6)L(2)] with almost linear PCoCoP skeletons. [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] are active for methanol carbonylation at 150 degrees C and 27 bar CO, with the rate using [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] (0.81 mol dm(-3) h(-1)) being higher than that for [RhI(2)(CO)(2)](-) (0.64 mol dm(-3) h(-1)). The most electron rich complex, [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (0.38 mol dm(-3) h(-1)) gave a comparable rate to [Cp*Rh(PEt(3))(CO)] (0.30 mol dm(-3) h(-1)), which was unstable towards oxidation of the phosphine. [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))I(2)], which is inactive for methanol carbonylation, was isolated after the methanol carbonylation reaction using [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)]. Neither of [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] (M = Co or Ir) was active for methanol carbonylation under these conditions, nor under many other conditions investigated, except that [Ir(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] showed some activity at higher temperature (190 degrees C), probably as a result of degradation to [IrI(2)(CO)(2)](-). [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] react with MeI to give [M(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(C(O)Me)I] (M = Co or Rh) or [Ir(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))Me(CO)]I. The rates of oxidative addition of MeI to [Rh(C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PPh(2))(CO)] are 62 and 1770 times faster than to [Cp*Rh(CO)(2)]. Methyl migration is slower, however. High pressure NMR studies show that [Co(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] and [Cp*Rh(PEt(3))(CO)] are unstable towards phosphine oxidation and/or quaternisation under methanol carbonylation conditions, but that [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(CO)] does not exhibit phosphine degradation, eventually producing inactive [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))I(2)] at least under conditions of poor gas mixing. The observation of [Rh(Cp'(CH(2))(2)PEt(2))(C(O)Me)I] under methanol carbonylation conditions suggests that the rhodium centre has become so electron rich that reductive elimination of ethanoyl iodide has become rate determining for methanol carbonylation. In addition to the high electron density at rhodium.     

Excited carrier dynamics of alpha-Cr2O3/alpha-Fe2O3 core-shell nanostructures

In this work alpha-Cr(2)O(3)/alpha-Fe(2)O(3) core-shell polycrystalline nanostructures were synthesized by using alpha-Cr(2)O(3) nanoparticles as seed crystals during aqueous nucleation. The formation of alpha-Fe(2)O(3) polycrystallites on alpha-Cr(2)O(3) surfaces was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The excited-state relaxation dynamics of as-grown core-shell structures and "pure" alpha-Fe(2)O(3) particles of the same size were measured with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The results show the carrier lifetimes decay within a few picoseconds regardless of sample. This is likely due to fast recombination/trapping of carriers to defects and iron d-states.     

Complete spectroscopic structural characterization of novobiocin,isonovobiocin, decarbamylnovobiocin, 2″-(o-Carbamyl)novobiocin,and novobiocin-2″,3″-carbonate

The rigorous structural characterization of novobiocin, is reported using mass spectrometric, infrared and nmr spectroscopic analysis. Complete nmr assignments are reported. Previous reports in the literature had left some quaternary carbon resonances unassigned. Isonovobiocin and decarbamylnovobiocin, although known in the literature for a number of years, have never been completely characterized. Mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways and complete ¹H and ¹³C nmr assignments are reported for these congeners for the first time. The mass spectral fragmentation pathway and nmr assignments are also reported for 2″-(O-carbamyl)novobiocin although the nmr assignments at lower field were reported previously. The structural characterization of novobiocin-2″,3″-carbonate observed in the Test Assay procedure used for Novobiocin is reported for the first time.     

Segregation of Solutes in Two-Phase Mixtures

Fractions of indium solutes in each phase of a mixture of two binary phases were measured using perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays. Measurements of phase fractions were made on Pd₃Ga₇–PdGa, PdGa–Pd₅Ga₃, and FeAl₂–FeAl mixtures as a function of composition. The phase fractions were analyzed using a thermodynamic model that takes into account differences between energies of solute atoms in the two phases. From the model, segregation coefficients were obtained for the systems studied. Also, earlier measurements on Ni₂Al₃–NiAl were reanalyzed. Large differences are found among the segregation coefficients. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of a trace by-product of the synthesis of the protease inhibitor tipranavir (PNU-140690)

Tipranavir^TM (PNU-140690) is a protease inhibitor under clinical investigation for the treatment of human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). During scale-up synthesis of clinical quantities of the bulk drug, a colored, transient by-product of the final coupling reaction was observed. Quantities of this colored, transient chemical species were too low (<<0.1%) for characterization by conventional spectroscopic methods. It was, however, possible to isolate sufficient material for characterization based on mass spectrometry and submicro inverse-detection gradient (SMIDG) nmr methods by methanol stripping of silica gel that had been used in purification of bulk drug. This process afforded an enriched feedstock from which small quantities of this highly colored and unstable (halflife < 18 hours in methanol and < 10 minutes in acetone) trace contaminant could be isolated by semi preparative reversed phase hplc. The impurity was identified as an unstable Zincke salt formed by the condensation of two molecules of the anilino precursor and the pyridine used as a base in the final step of the synthetic process. Following identification of this impurity, efforts were undertaken to engineer it out of the synthetic process.     

New procedure for generating valence and Rydberg orbitals

A previously proposed procedure for generating approximate valence, Rydberg, and continuum orbitals from spectral data is extended to two-valence electron systems. Oscillator strengths and photoionization cross sections are reported for the respective 1s²2s² →1s²2s np and 1s²2s²→1s²2s ep transitions of Be, B⁺, C⁺⁺, N⁺⁺⁺, 0⁺⁴, Ne⁺⁶, Mg⁺⁸, Al⁺⁹, and Si⁺¹⁰. Comparisons show a high level of agreement with Hartree-Fock oscillator strengths, but the accuracy of the cross sections is uncertain.