Detection of Amadori compounds by capillary electrophoresis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is reported for the first time as an alternative and powerful analytical method for the characterization and monitoring of N-substituted 1-amino-1-deoxyketoses (Amadori compounds). It allows rapid separation and identification of Amadori compounds, while benefiting from the well-known advantages of MS, such as specificity and sensitivity. Amadori compounds of several amino acids, such as glycine, valine, isoleucine, methionine, proline, and phenylalanine, as well as a cysteine-derived compound, were separated and/or discriminated using CE-MS/MS under standard conditions. The technique may also be useful to study the stability and degradation kinetics of other labile charged Maillard intermediates that play an important role in food and medical science.     

Determination of microquantities of thiosulfate by kinetic method

A new redox indicator reaction between Cu(2+), Mn(2+) and S(2)O(3)(2-) in the presence of 2,2'-bicinchoninic acid is investigated. Optimum reaction conditions are determined. The influence of nonaqueous solvents on the reaction rate is studied. It is shown that in the presence of acetone the S(2)O(3)(2-) determination limit is lowered 0.005 mug ml(-1). Random errors lie within the limits allowable at the determination of microconcentrations. To raise the sensitivity of the determination of S(2)O(3)(2-) in some inorganic salts (KCl, KNO(3), CsNO(3)), this impurity was concentrated by low-temperature directed crystallisation. Metrologic characteristics of the developed technique are presented.     

Uncertainty in Measurements and Chemical Analysis

Standard documents introducing the notion of uncertainty in measurements into the common practice of assessing the results of chemical analysis are considered and criticized.     

Use of the mathematical apparatus of two-component spectrophotometry for the simultaneous catalymetric determination of two anions

Previously studied reactions of aluminum(III) with Xylenol Orange and of cobalt(III) with nitroso-R salt in weakly acidic solutions were proposed for the simultaneous catalymetric determination of carbonate and borate ions and carbonate and phosphate ions, respectively. It was demonstrated that the mathematical apparatus of two-component spectrophotometry is suitable for processing the results of analysis.Translated from Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 1, 2005, pp. 7–10.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mikhailova, Belikov, Blank.     

Enantioselective synthesis of an aziridinomitosane and selective functionalizations of a key intermediate

An enantioselective synthesis of mitosane core (-)-1 has been achieved. Key steps include a rapid assembly of a key eight-membered-ring intermediate employing ring-closing metathesis. Kinetic resolution of an advanced secondary alcohol was then accomplished by using a peptide-based asymmetric acyl transfer catalyst that was discovered from a parallel screen of catalyst candidates. Optically pure material was then converted to the mitosane core, which was the subject of additional studies on the selective modification to produce several substituted compounds containing a mitosane ring system.     

Effect of trace amounts of water on organic solvent transport through gamma-alumina membranes with varying pore sizes

The transport behavior of toluene and n-hexane in gamma-alumina membranes with different pore diameters was studied. It was shown that the permeability of water-lean hexane and toluene is in agreement with Darcy's law down to membrane pore diameters of 3.5 nm. The presence of molar water fractions of 5-8 x 10(-4) in these solvents led to a permeability decrease of the gamma-alumina layer by a factor of 2-4 depending on pore size. In general, a lower permeability was found for hexane than for toluene. Moreover, in the presence of water a minimum applied pressure of 0.5-1.5 bar was required to induce net liquid flow through the membrane. These phenomena were interpreted in terms of capillary condensation of water in membrane pores with a size below a certain critical diameter. This is thought to lead to substantial blocking of these pores for transport, so that the effective tortuosity of the membrane for transport of hydrophobic solvents increases.     

Selective pervaporation of water through a nonselective microporous titania membrane by a dynamically induced molecular sieving mechanism

Pervaporation experiments were performed on microporous titania membranes using several binary liquids containing 2-20 wt % water. The membrane was nonselective in the separation of water from alcohols and p-dioxane but showed a remarkably high selectivity in the separation of water from ethylene glycol/water mixtures with < or =15 mol % water. The absence of selectivity under most conditions is explained by the large pore size (0.9 nm) of microporous titania. The high selectivity for water in the separation from ethylene glycol can be explained by the formation of a hydrogen-bonded network of ethylene glycol in the micropores, which blocks transport of ethylene glycol, while water can still permeate through. These networks are disrupted by water at higher concentrations, leading to full loss of membrane selectivity.     

Large‐scale extrusion processing and characterization of hybrid nylon‐6/SiO2 nanocomposites

Solution impregnations, pulltrusion and film stacking are widely used methods to prepare thermoplastic composite materials. Extruders are used to melt the polymer and to incorporate fibers into the polymer in order to modify physical properties. In this article, the compounding of colloidal silica nanoparticles filled polyamide‐6 (PA‐6) is achieved using a twin‐screw extruder, which has a significant market share due to its low cost and easy maintenance. The experiments were performed at 250 rpm and the bulk throughput was 6 kg h^?1 with a pump pressure of 30 bars. The composites were characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As determined by WAXD, the PA‐6 showed higher amounts of γ‐phase when compared to other synthesis methods such as in situ polymerization. TEM pictures showed that the silica particles aggregated nevertheless, upon addition of 14% (w/w) silica the E‐modulus increased from 2.7 to 3.9 GPa indicating that an effective mechanical coupling with the polymer was achieved. The behavior, illustrated with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) curves, indicated that in general when a filled system is compared to unfilled material, the values of the moduli (E′ and E″) increased and tan δ decreased. Determination of molecular mass distribution of the samples by means of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to a refractive index (RI), viscosity (DV) and light scattering (LS) detector revealed that the addition of silica did not decrease the average molecular weight of the polymer matrix, which is of importance for composite applications. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Die Molekül- und Kristallstrukturen von (CO)4 W(μ-S-t-C4H9)2W(CO)4, η7-C7H7W(μ-SC6H4CH3)3W(CO)3 und η7-C7H7W(μ-S-n-C4H9)3W(CO)(μ-S-n-C4H9)2W(CO)4

Molecular and Crystal Structures of (CO)₄W(μ-S-t-C₄H₉)₂W(CO)₄, η⁷-C₇H₇W(μ-SC₆H₄CH₃)₃W(CO)₃ and η⁷-C₇H₇W(μ-S-n-C₄H₉)₃W(CO)(μ-S-n-C₄H₉)₂W(CO)₄ The molecular structures of the two binuclear complexes (CO)₄W(μ-S-t-C₄H₉)₂W(CO)₄ and η⁷-C₇H₇W(μ-SC₆H₄CH₃)₃W(CO)₃ and of the tungsten cluster η⁷-C₇H₇W(μ-S-n-C₄H₉)₃W(CO)-(μ-S-n-C₄H₉)₂W(CO)₄ respectively are described. In the nonlinear trinuclear cluster the central tungsten atom is connected to the two tungsten atoms by two and three μ-S-n-C₄H₉ bridges respectively and additionally by one W? W bond each. The coordination sphere of the W atoms is completed by a η⁷-C₇H₇ ring and four CO groups respectively; the central tungsten carries an additional CO group.     

Dithiol proteins as guardians of the intracellular redox milieu in parasites: old and new drug targets in trypanosomes and malaria-causing plasmodia

Parasitic diseases such as sleeping sickness, Chagas' heart disease, and malaria are major health problems in poverty-stricken areas. Antiparasitic drugs that are not only active but also affordable and readily available are urgently required. One approach to finding new drugs and rediscovering old ones is based on enzyme inhibitors that paralyze antioxidant systems in the pathogens. These antioxidant ensembles are essential to the parasites as they are attacked in the human host by strong oxidants such as peroxynitrite, hypochlorite, and H2O2. The pathogen-protecting system consists of some 20 thiol and dithiol proteins, which buffer the intraparasitic redox milieu at a potential of -250 mV. In trypanosomes and leishmania the network is centered around the unique dithiol trypanothione (N1,N8-bis(glutathionyl)spermidine). In contrast, malaria parasites have a more conservative dual antioxidative system based on glutathione and thioredoxin. Inhibitors of antioxidant enzymes such as trypanothione reductase are, indeed, parasiticidal but they can also delay or prevent resistance against a number of other antiparasitic drugs.