Structure elucidation of β-carotene isomers by HPLC-NMR coupling using a C30 bonded phase

The separation of cis/trans isomers of β-carotene has been performed with a C₃₀ stationary phase employing ¹H NMR spectroscopy as an on-line detection technique. 1D as well as 2D NMR spectra have been recorded in the stopped-flow mode for the predominant chromatographic peaks. Structural assignment of the five identified isomers was performed via comparison of simulated 1D ¹H NMR spectra on the basis of the structures of β-carotene cis/trans isomers with the experimental data, and also by the analysis of the proton-proton connectivities in the 2D NMR spectra of three isomers with the highest concentration. The chromatographic retention behaviour of the isomers agreed well with previously reported data. The advantage of the applied hyphenated coupling technique compared to conventional off-line techniques lies in the fact that chromatographic separation and NMR detection are performed in a closed system, so that reisomerization of the separated compounds is inhibited. Received: 29 May 1996 / Revised: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1996     

The surface and materials science of tin oxide

The study of tin oxide is motivated by its applications as a solid state gas sensor material, oxidation catalyst, and transparent conductor. This review describes the physical and chemical properties that make tin oxide a suitable material for these purposes. The emphasis is on surface science studies of single crystal surfaces, but selected studies on powder and polycrystalline films are also incorporated in order to provide connecting points between surface science studies with the broader field of materials science of tin oxide. The key for understanding many aspects of SnO₂ surface properties is the dual valency of Sn. The dual valency facilitates a reversible transformation of the surface composition from stoichiometric surfaces with Sn⁴⁺ surface cations into a reduced surface with Sn²⁺ surface cations depending on the oxygen chemical potential of the system. Reduction of the surface modifies the surface electronic structure by formation of Sn 5s derived surface states that lie deep within the band gap and also cause a lowering of the work function. The gas sensing mechanism appears, however, only to be indirectly influenced by the surface composition of SnO₂. Critical for triggering a gas response are not the lattice oxygen concentration but chemisorbed (or ionosorbed) oxygen and other molecules with a net electric charge. Band bending induced by charged molecules cause the increase or decrease in surface conductivity responsible for the gas response signal. In most applications tin oxide is modified by additives to either increase the charge carrier concentration by donor atoms, or to increase the gas sensitivity or the catalytic activity by metal additives. Some of the basic concepts by which additives modify the gas sensing and catalytic properties of SnO₂ are discussed and the few surface science studies of doped SnO₂ are reviewed. Epitaxial SnO₂ films may facilitate the surface science studies of doped films in the future. To this end film growth on titania, alumina, and Pt(1 1 1) is reviewed. Thin films on alumina also make promising test systems for probing gas sensing behavior. Molecular adsorption and reaction studies on SnO₂ surfaces have been hampered by the challenges of preparing well-characterized surfaces. Nevertheless some experimental and theoretical studies have been performed and are reviewed. Of particular interest in these studies was the influence of the surface composition on its chemical properties. Finally, the variety of recently synthesized tin oxide nanoscopic materials is summarized.     

Vibrational spectra of Hg3TeO6 and Hg2TeO5

The infrared and Raman spectra of the crystalline hexaoxotellurates Hg3TeO6 and Hg2TeO5 were recorded and discussed on the basis of a site symmetry analysis derived from known structural data. Approximate values for the Te-O bond force constants are reported and some comparisons with related species are made.     

Investigation of homo- and heterodimer alkali metal cation complexes of resorc[4]arenes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Resorc[4]arenes are compounds with interesting properties, mainly because of their ability to form host-guest complexes with the guest located inside the cavity. The size of the guest limits the complexation, as shown by a competition experiment with tetraalkylammonium ions of different size. By electroscopy ionization tandem mass spectrometric experiments on resorc[4]arene heterodimers bearing an alkali metal ion as guest, it was found that there must be two different binding mechanisms for alkali metal ions with high surface charge density (Li(+) and Na(+)) on the one hand compared with those with a lower surface charge density on the other hand (K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)).     

Reinvestigation of the Conformation of Cyclosporin A in Chloroform

New investigations of cyclosporin A in CDCl₃ have been performed to obtain additional and more accurate distance restraints than utilized in our previous studies of cyclosporin A. Build-up rates at 600 MHz using 6 different mixing times at low temperatures (252.5 K) were determined and transformed into distances using the two-spin approximation. With the new distance restraints in the MD simulations using the GROMOS package, we can unambiguously conclude the presence of a βII′-turn. The new structure resembles the X-ray structure more than the structure previously determined, especially regarding the orientation of the MeBmt side chain. In the new structure and in the solid state, the side chain is folded over the backbone (although there are substantial differences in the χ₁ torsion), in contrast to the old structure, where the side chain is extended away from the backbone.     

Synthesis of enantiopure axially chiral C3-symmetric tripodal ligands and their application as catalysts in the asymmetric addition of dialkylzinc to aldehydes

The enantioselective synthesis of a novel-type C(3)-symmetric tripodal ligand that is composed of a central mesitylene-derived core and three functionalized, axially chiral biaryl subunits is described. The triol (M,M,M)-3 is a suitable catalyst for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to various aromatic aldehydes with asymmetric inductions of up to 98% ee.     

Stereochemistry of isoplagiochin C, a macrocyclic bisbibenzyl from liverworts

Cyclic bisbibenzyls, like isoplagiochins C (1) and D (2), are stereochemically intriguing molecules: Although not equipped with any of the traditional stereogenic elements that render molecules conformationally stable per se, they are sometimes isolated in an optically active form and are thus chiral at room temperature. The paper describes quantum chemical calculations, in particular investigations of the conformational space and molecular dynamics simulations, showing that the helicity is a property of the entire molecule, whose ring strain makes the molecule configurationally stable overall, with (formally) three stereogenic elements (two biaryl axes and one helical stilbene unit). Only one of the biaryl axes (the 'upper' one, joining C-12' and C-14) has a stable configuration, leading to a population of four interconverting diastereomers, yet without racemization at room temperature. On the basis of these conformational and dynamic calculations, the circular dichroism spectrum of isoplagiochin C (1) was calculated, leading to the first assignment of the absolute configuration of a cyclic bisbibenzyl. Accordingly, 1 has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable biaryl axis and constitutes a mixture of diastereomers with respect to the other biaryl axis and the helical stilbene unit. From the temperature dependence of the racemization rates, an enantiomerization barrier of 101.6 kJ/mol was determined. Likewise, for the first time for cyclic bisbibenzyls, the enantiomeric ratio of this natural product was determined, by chromatography on a chiral phase with CD-coupling. Accordingly, 1 from Plagiochila deflexa is not enantiomerically pure, but occurs in a 85:15 ratio in favor of the enantiomer that has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable axis.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with additives to 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid

Selected benzoic acid derivatives and related substances were used as additives to 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5DHB) and the performance of the mixtures in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry was investigated. Using benzoic acid derivatives substituted at position 2 and/or 5 or related substances as a co-matrix in the 1–10% range with 2,5DHB results in improved ion yields and signal-to-noise ratio of analyte molecules, especially for the high-mass range. The enhanced performance is prominent for 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid and exists for both proteins and oligosaccharides. It is suggested that the improvement is caused by a disorder in the 2,5DHB crystal lattice allowing ‘softer’ desorption. Charge transfer from matrix ions to additive molecules at the expense of analyte ionization gives a simple explanation for the deteriorating effects of some tested additives.     

A fluorimetric assay for cortisol

A simple, rapid and sensitive fluorimetric assay for the quantitative determination of cortisol is reported. The assay is based on the formation of a fluorescent dye when cortisol is incubated with a mixture of sulfuric acid and acetic acid. The fluorescence spectrum recorded for the resulting dye shows a maximum extinction at 475 nm and a maximum emission at 525 nm. The solvent 2-methyl-4-pentanone was used for extraction and was found to act as a fluorescence amplifier. A limit of detection of 2.7 μM was achieved, making it possible to forego solvent evaporation. The assay suffers minor interference from 11-deoxycortisol which exhibits low fluorescence at λ _ex: 460 nm; λ _em: 505 nm. Typical standard deviations were below 4%. We validated the assay using a biotransformation with recombinant Schizosaccharomyces pombe which regioselectively hydroxylates 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol. The method described herein is suitable for preliminary screening of microorganisms capable of steroid hydroxylation.     

How metallylenes activate small molecules

We have studied the activation of dihydrogen by metallylenes using relativistic density functional theory (DFT). Our detailed activation strain and Kohn–Sham molecular orbital analyses have quantified the physical factors behind the decreased reactivity of the metallylene on going down Group 14, from carbenes to stannylenes. Along this series, the reactivity decreases due to a worsening of the back-donation interaction between the filled lone-pair orbital of the metallylene and the σ*-orbital of H₂, which, therefore, reduces the metallylene–substrate interaction and increases the reaction barrier. As the metallylene ligand is varied from nitrogen to phosphorus to arsenic a significant rate enhancement is observed for the activation of H₂ due to (i) a reduced steric (Pauli) repulsion between the metallylene and the substrate; and (ii) less activation strain, as the metallylene becomes increasingly more predistorted. Using a rationally designed metallylene with an optimal Group 14 atom and ligand combination, we show that a number of small molecules (i.e. HCN, CO₂, H₂, NH₃) may also be readily activated. For the first time, we show the ability of our H₂ activated designer metallylenes to hydrogenate unsaturated hydrocarbons. The results presented herein will serve as a guide for the rational design of metallylenes toward the activation of small molecules and subsequent reactions.

Quantum chemical analyses reveal how model metallylene catalysts activate H₂. This is the first step towards the rational design of metallylenes for the activation of small molecules and subsequent reactions.