A novel approach for speciation of airborne chromium by convective-interaction media fast-monolithic chromatography with electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrometric detection

A new analytical procedure using an anion-exchange separation support based on convective-interaction media (CIM) was developed for the speciation of chromium. The separation of Cr(VI) was performed on a weak anion-exchange CIM diethylamine (DEAE) fast-monolithic chromatographic disc. Buffer A (0.005 mol dm(-3) TRIS-HCl, pH 8.0) and buffer B (buffer A plus 3 mol dm(-3) NH4NO3) were employed in the separation procedure. The separated chromium species were determined 'off-line' by ETAAS in 0.5 cm3 fractions. The applicability of the CIM DEAE-ETAAS procedure was investigated for the determination of airborne Cr(VI) at a plasma cutting workplace. Aerosols were collected on polycarbonate membrane filters of 8 and 0.4 microm pore size (inhalable and respirable aerosols). Alkaline extraction of filters in a heated ultrasonic bath was applied to leach chromium. Good repeatability of measurement (+/-3.0%) of the alkaline extracts was obtained for Cr(VI). The LOD (3s) was found to be 0.30 microg m(-3) Cr(VI), when 0.25 m3 of air was collected on the filter. The validation of the procedure was performed by spiking filters with Cr(VI) and by the analysis of the standard reference material CRM 545, Cr(VI) in welding dust loaded on a filter. Good recoveries for spiked samples (101-102%) and good agreement between Cr(VI) found and the reported certified value for CRM 545 were obtained. The extracts were also analysed by the FPLC-ETAAS technique. Good agreement between two techniques (r2 = 0.9978) confirmed the reliability of the CIM DEAE-ETAAS procedure developed. The main advantage of the procedure lies in the speed of the chromatographic separation (chromatographic run completed in 15 min).     

Synthesis of 5H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indoles and their benzofurane analogues utilizing an intramolecular Heck-type reaction

The title ring systems were prepared from pyridazin-3(2H)-one precursors in novel, efficient pathways. 2-Methylbenzo[b]furo[2,3-d]pyridazin-1(2H)-one was synthesized via a regioselective nucleophilic substitution reaction of a 2-methyl-4,5-dihalopyridazin-3(2H)-one with phenol followed by an intramolecular Heck-type reaction. The same molecule and its 6-phenyl analogue were also prepared via reaction of 2-methyl-5-iodopyridazin-3(2H)-one or 2-methyl-5-chloro-6-phenylpyridazin-3(2H)-one, respectively, with 2-bromophenol or 2-iodophenol followed by Pd-catalyzed cyclodehydrohalogenation. Moreover, a new approach for the synthesis of 2-methyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indol-1-ones was also elaborated utilizing a Heck-type ring closure reaction on 5-[(2-bromophenyl)amino]-2-methylpyridazin-3(2H)-ones which were obtained via Buchwald-Hartwig amination of 2-methyl-5-halopyridazin-3(2H)-ones with 2-bromoaniline.     

Small change in a G-rich sequence,a dramatic change in topology: new dimeric G-quadruplex folding motif with unique loop orientations

NMR study has shown that DNA oligonucleotide d(G(3)T(4)G(4)) adopts an asymmetric bimolecular G-quadruplex structure in solution. The structure of d(G(3)T(4)G(4))(2) is composed of three G-quartets, overhanging G11 residue and G3, which is part of the loop. Unique structural feature of d(G(3)T(4)G(4))(2) fold is the orientation of the two loops. Thymidine residues T4-T7 form a diagonal loop, whereas T15-T18 form an edge type loop. The G-quadruplex core of d(G(3)T(4)G(4))(2) consists of two stacked G-quartets with syn-anti-anti-anti alternation of dG residues and one G-quartet with syn-syn-anti-anti alternation. Another unusual structural feature of d(G(3)T(4)G(4))(2) is a leap between G19 and G20 over the middle G-quartet and chain reversal between G19 and G20 residues. The presence of one antiparallel and three parallel strands reveals the hitherto unknown G-quadruplex folding motif consisting of antiparallel/parallel strands and diagonal as well as edge type loops. Further examination of the influence of different monovalent cations on the folding of d(G(3)T(4)G(4)) showed that it forms a bimolecular G-quadruplex in the presence of K+, Na+, and NH4+ ions with the same general fold.     

Unfunctionalized,alpha-epimerizable nonracemic ketones and aldehydes can be accessed by crystallization-induced dynamic resolution of imines

This paper describes an operationally simple deracemization process of aldehydes and ketones. This new crystallization-induced dynamic resolution (CIDR) protocol allows for nearly complete conversion of the racemic mixture into one enantiomer. Crystallization of imines derived from racemic ketones or aldehydes 1 and trans-(1R,2R)-1-amino-6-nitroindan-2-ol (2) afforded diastereomerically pure, crystalline imines 3. Biphasic hydrolysis of 3 then affords recovered 2 and enantiomerically enriched 1 in high yield and er (substrate, yield/ee: 2-methylcyclohexanone, 97%/92; 2-ethylhexanal, 94%/98; 2-methylcyclopentanone, 94%/98; 2-cyclohexylcyclohexanone, ND/98; 3-methyl-2-pentanone, ND/76). The scope, limitations, and industrial perspective of this process are discussed. This highly effective CIDR process is likely due to pi-stacking of 2 and a hydrogen bonding of the imine with the free hydroxyl of 2 in the solid state.     

Novel tandem hydration/cyclodehydration of alpha-thiocyanatoketones to 2-oxo-3-thiazolines. Application to thiazolo[5,4-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-dione synthesis

Novel tandem hydration of alpha-thiocyanatoketones to thiocarbamates followed by in situ cyclodehydration to fused 2-oxo-3-thiazolines is described. The reaction is applied to the synthesis of [1,3]thiazolo[5,4-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones (4). Concentrated sulfuric acid was found to be critical for the reaction as both corresponding 2,3-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-3-yl thiocyanates (2) and S-(2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-3-yl) thiocarbamates (3) rapidly hydrolyze in the presence of water to 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones (1).     

T1? in nuclear quadrupole resonance: a theoretical study

A new NQR method of measuring the spectral density of slow motions in solids is proposed. It is shown that also in NQR a 90 ° phase shift of a resonant rf magnetic field following a 90 ° pulse locks the nuclear magnetization in a ‘rotating frame’ similarly as in NMR. The spin-lattice relaxation time T_1? of the locked magnetization is calculated in general for an arbitrary spin. It is assumed that the fluctuations of the EFG tensor dominate the spin-lattice relaxation. The calculations show that T_1? depends on the spectral density J(ω) of the electric quadrupole fluctuations at the NQR frequencies, and also at a low frequency Ω. Here kHz depends on the orientation of the rf magnetic field in the principal-axis system of the EFG tensor. The term containing in the expression for T_1?⁻¹ depends on the orientation of the rf magnetic field in the principal-axis system of the EFG tensor, only through the orientation dependence of Ω. This term vanishes when the electric quadrupole fluctuations do not modulate the frequency of the NQR transition excited by the rf magnetic field. Two particular examples: are worked out in details.     

Nonpeptidic Selective Inhibitors of the Chymotrypsin‐Like (β5 i) Subunit of the Immunoproteasome

Elevated expression of the immunoproteasome has been associated with autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and various types of cancer. Selective inhibitors of the immunoproteasome are not only scarce, but also almost entirely restricted to peptide‐based compounds. Herein, we describe nonpeptidic reversible inhibitors that selectively block the chymotrypsin‐like (β5i) subunit of the human immunoproteasome in the low micromolar range. The most potent of the reversibly acting compounds were then converted into covalent, irreversible, nonpeptidic inhibitors that retained selectivity for the β5i subunit. In addition, these inhibitors discriminate between the immunoproteasome and the constitutive proteasome in cell‐based assays. Along with their lack of cytotoxicity, these data point to these nonpeptidic compounds being suitable for further investigation as β5i‐selective probes for possible application in noncancer diseases related to the immunoproteasome.     

Constrained trace-optimization of polynomials in freely noncommuting variables

The study of matrix inequalities in a dimension-free setting is in the realm of free real algebraic geometry. In this paper we investigate constrained trace and eigenvalue optimization of noncommutative polynomials. We present Lasserre’s relaxation scheme for trace optimization based on semidefinite programming (SDP) and demonstrate its convergence properties. Finite convergence of this relaxation scheme is governed by flatness, i.e., a rank-preserving property for associated dual SDPs. If flatness is observed, then optimizers can be extracted using the Gelfand–Naimark–Segal construction and the Artin–Wedderburn theory verifying exactness of the relaxation. To enforce flatness we employ a noncommutative version of the randomization technique championed by Nie. The implementation of these procedures in our computer algebra system NCSOStoolsis presented and several examples are given to illustrate our results.     

Microwave catalysis through rotationally hot reactive species

In this contribution we propose a novel physical mechanism for microwave catalysis based on rotationally excited reactive species and verify its validity through a computer simulation of a realistic chemical reaction-neutral ester hydrolysis. This nonequilibrium system is formally described by introducing rotational temperature, which is higher than the translational temperature. A Born-Oppenheimer surface was constructed on the density functional theory level and applied to a modified Monte Carlo scheme. The simulation gave a reduced activation free energy when the rotational temperature was higher than the translational temperature, which constitutes a catalytic effect. For example, our calculation predicts that with rotational and translational temperatures of 310 and 300 K, respectively, the reaction should proceed 4.5 times faster than when both temperatures are 300 K. Moreover, this microwave catalytic effect is less pronounced at higher temperatures, which may have serious implications for the interaction of microwaves with living organisms in the context of widespread mobile telephony.     

Proton dynamics in the strong chelate hydrogen bond of crystalline picolinic acid N-oxide. A new computational approach and infrared, raman and INS study

Infrared, Raman and INS spectra of picolinic acid N-oxide (PANO) were recorded and examined for the location of the hydronic modes, particularly O-H stretching and COH bending. PANO is representative of strong chelate hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) with its short O...O distance (2.425 A). H-bonding is possibly well-characterized by diffraction, NMR and NQR data and calculated potential energy functions. The analysis of the spectra is assisted by DFT frequency calculations both in the gas phase and in the solid state. The Car-Parrinello quantum mechanical solid-state method is also used for the proton dynamics simulation; it shows the hydron to be located about 99% of time in the energy minimum near the carboxylic oxygen; jumps to the N-O acceptor are rare. The infrared spectrum excels by an extended absorption (Zundel's continuum) interrupted by numerous Evans transmissions. The model proton potential functions on which the theories of continuum formation are based do not correspond to the experimental and computed characteristics of the hydrogen bond in PANO, therefore a novel approach has been developed; it is based on crystal dynamics driven hydronium potential fluctuation. The envelope of one hundred 0 --> 1 OH stretching transitions generated by molecular dynamics simulation exhibits a maximum at 1400 cm-1 and a minor hump at approximately 1600 cm-1. These positions square well with ones predicted for the COH bending and OH stretching frequencies derived from various one- and two-dimensional model potentials. The coincidences with experimental features have to be considered with caution because the CPMD transition envelope is based solely on the OH stretching coordinate while the observed infrared bands correspond to heavily mixed modes as was previously shown by the normal coordinate analysis of the IR spectrum of argon matrix isolated PANO, the present CPMD frequency calculation and the empirical analysis of spectra. The experimental infrared spectra show some unusual characteristics such as large temperature effects on the intensity of some bands, thus presenting a challenge for theoretical band shape treatments. Our calculations clearly show that the present system is characterized by an asymmetric single well potential with no large amplitudes in the hydronium motion, which extends the existence of Zundel-type spectra beyond the established set of hydrogen bonds with large hydronic vibrational amplitudes.