Direct capillary electrophoretic determination of three chemotherapeutic drugs in human urine

Summary Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been used for direct determination of 6-thioguanine, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in human urine, by use of a fused-silica capillary (60.2 cm×75 μm i.d.). Separation was performed after hydrodynamic injection for 7 s; the separation potential and capillary temperature were 25 kV and 35°C, respectively. A 45mm borate buffer solution (pH 9.2) was used as separation electrolyte. Under these conditions the analysis takes approximately 10 min and interday precision of migration times and corrected peak areas is satisfactory. A linear response over the concentration range 3.0–20.0 mg L¹ was observed for the three chemotherapeutic drugs in diluted human urine. Detection limits (s/n=3) for 6-thioguanine and methotrexate were approximately 1.60 mg L¹ in diluted human urine; that for fluorouracil was 2.60 mg L¹. A 2-ml volume of human urine was diluted with 2-mL of water and introduced directly into the electrophoresis system. CZE was shown to be a good method with regard to simplicity, satisfactory precision, and sensitivity. This method resulted in especially excellent recoveries for determination of methotrexate in all the different urine samples analysed (n=10).     

Surface and volume non-invasive methods for the structural monitoring of the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia,Northern Italy)

Abstract

Structural analysis of marble statues, carried out by non-invasive and in situ methods, is crucial to define the state of conservation of the artworks and to identify the deterioration phenomena that can affect them. In this work, we combined in situ non-destructive techniques, ultrasonic tomography (US), ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UV-IF) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia, Italy). The US revealed the presence of some metallic pivots, associated with areas of high sound velocity; moreover, a more degraded area has been identified in the lower part of the bass-relief. The acquired UV-IF image confirmed the presence of surface degradation, allowing a preliminary evaluation of the extension of a fracture, from surface to bulk. In addition, the different materials (both original and/or integrations) that compose the studied surface have been identified. The XRF has contributed to define the nature of the inorganic materials applied during undocumented previous restoration works on the surface as filler for lacunae.     

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra. Semi empirical AM1 and PM3; MP2/DZV and DFT/B3LYP-6-31G(d) ab initio calculations for dimethylterephthalate (DMT)

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of dimethylterephthalate (DMT), as microcrystalline powder, have been investigated. The vibrational spectra were calculated using the AM1 and PM3 semi empirical procedures, and the M?ller-Plesset (MP2/DZV), and the Becke-Lee, Yang and Parr gradient-corrected correlation functional: B3LYP/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. On this basis, and assisted with the FT-IR and Raman spectra of the terephthalic acid, an assignment of the vibrational spectra of dimethylterephthalate was proposed. In the calculations, remarkable differences concerning the assignments of the vibrational spectra were noted between the AM1 and PM3 methods. Also, the ab initio procedure shows differences in interpreting the spectra compared with the semi empiric procedures, and among themselves. Calculated geometrical parameters were compared with the experimental values of dimethylterephthalate, diethylterephthalate and terephthalic acid.     

Amplified quenching of a conjugated polyelectrolyte by cyanine dyes

The conjugated polyelectrolyte PPESO3 features a poly(phenylene ethynylene) backbone substituted with anionic 3-sulfonatopropyloxy groups. PPESO3 is quenched very efficiently (KSV > 10(6) M(-1)) by cationic energy transfer quenchers in an amplified quenching process. In the present investigation, steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy are used to examine amplified quenching of PPESO3 by a series of cyanine dyes via singlet-singlet energy transfer. The goal of this work is to understand the mechanism of amplified quenching and to characterize important parameters that govern the amplification process. Steady-state fluorescence quenching of PPESO3 by three cationic oxacarbocyanine dyes in methanol solution shows that the quenching efficiency does not correlate with the Forster radius computed from spectral overlap of the PPESO3 fluorescence with the cyanines' absorption. The quenching efficiency is controlled by the stability of the polymer-dye association complex. When quenching studies are carried out in water where PPESO3 is aggregated, changes observed in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (HMIDC) indicate that the polymer templates the formation of a J-aggregate of the dye. The fluorescence dynamics in the PPESO3/HMIDC system were probed by time-resolved upconversion and the results show that PPESO3 to HMIDC energy transfer occurs on two distinctive time scales. At low HMIDC concentration, the dynamics are dominated by an energy transfer pathway with a time scale faster than 4 ps. With increasing HMIDC concentration, an energy pathway with a time scale of 0.1-1 ns is active. The prompt pathway (tau < 4 ps) is attributed to quenching of delocalized PPESO3 excitons created near the HMIDC association site, whereas the slow phase is attributed to intra- and interchain exciton diffusion to the HMIDC.     

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of organic substrates using (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane in the presence of a fluoride anion II. A convenient route to aryltrifluoromethyl-sulfides, -sulfoxides and -sulfones

Aryltrifluoromethyl-sulfides, -sulfoxides and -sulfones can be prepared by trifluoromethylation of the corresponding arylsulfenyl, -sulfinyl and -sulfonyl halides using (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane in the presence of fluoride sources, such as TASF [tris(dimethylamino)sulfonium difluorotrimethylsilicate].     

Ultrafast photophysics of the isolated indole molecule

The relaxation dynamics of the isolated indole molecule has been tracked by femtosecond time-resolved ionization. The excitation region explored (283-243 nm) covers three excited states: the two ππ* L(b) and L(a) states, and the dark πσ* state with dissociative character. In the low energy region (λ > 273 nm) the transients collected reflect the absorption of the long living L(b) state. The L(a) state is met 1000-1500 cm(-1) above the L(b) origin, giving rise to an ultrafast lifetime of 40 fs caused by the internal conversion to the lower L(b) minimum through a conical intersection. An additional ~400 fs component, found at excitation wavelengths shorter than 263 nm, is ascribed to dynamics along the πσ* state, which is likely populated through coupling to the photoexcited L(a) state. The study provides a general view of the indole photophysics, which is driven by the interplay between these three excited surfaces and the ground state.     

Covalently functionalized hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets by nitrene addition

The covalent functionalization of exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets by nitrene addition is described. Integration of functionalized h-BN nanosheets within a polycarbonate matrix is demonstrated and was found to afford significant increases in mechanical properties. This integration methodology was further extended by the covalent modification of the h-BN nanosheets with polymer chains of a polycarbonate analogue, and the integration of the polymer modified h-BN within the polymer matrix.     

Pyrrolodiazines. 2. Structure and Chemistry of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Its Azomethine Ylides

A new synthesis of the pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine system from pyrrole is described. In light of the ab initio calculations carried out on this heterocyclic system some of its basic chemistry was investigated and included electrophilic substitution, addition of organolithium reagents, metalation with lithium diisopropylamide and subsequent reaction with electrophiles, and formation of salts by quaternization of the nonbridgehead nitrogen. N-ylides obtained from these salts undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with suitable dipolarophiles to give dipyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines, pyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrrolo[2,1-c]pyrazines, and heterobetaines. Examples of intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions are also reported.