Quantitation of unbound sunitinib and its metabolite N-desethyl sunitinib (SU12662) in human plasma by equilibrium dialysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, selective, and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of unbound sunitinib and its active metabolite N‐desethyl sunitinib in plasma. Plasma and post‐dialysis buffer samples were extracted using a liquid–liquid extraction procedure with acetonitrile–n‐butylchloride (1:4, v/v). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters X‐Terra® MS RP₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (60:40, v/v) containing formic acid (0.1%, v/v) using an isocratic run, at a flow‐rate of 0.2 mL/min. Analytes were detected by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the selective reaction monitoring mode. Linear calibration curves were generated over the ranges 0.1–100 and 0.02–5 ng/mL for sunitinib and 0.2–200 and 0.04–10 ng/mL for N‐desethyl sunitinib in plasma and in phosphate‐buffered solution, respectively. The values for both within‐day and between‐day precision and accuracy were well within the generally accepted criteria for analytical methods. The analytical range was sufficient to determine the unbound and total concentrations of both analytes. The method was applied for measurement unbound concentrations in addition to total concentrations of sunitinib and its metabolite in plasma of a cancer patient receiving 50 mg daily dose. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ligand-free copper-catalyzed arylation of amidines

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of amidine salts were utilized to synthesize monoarylated amidines in moderate to high yields with ligand-free conditions. DMF was the superior solvent for the N-arylation of benzamidines, while MeCN was used in the formation of N-aryl amidines in moderate to high yield.     

Thermal investigation of heavy crude oil by simultaneous TG–DSC–FTIR and EDXRF

Present study investigates thermal behavior of two heavy crude oils with different °API values by simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry–fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG–DSC–FTIR), and an evaluation of the chemical element levels present in the oils’ ashes was done by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. TG and DSC curves were obtained for two samples in nitrogen atmosphere. Among all inorganic components evaluated, the highest concentration in the two oils was SO₃. Thus this study may contribute to a better understanding of the thermal behavior of heavy crude oils and their composition.     

Assessment of 4-nitrogenated benzyloxymethyl groups for 2'-hydroxyl protection in solid-phase RNA synthesis

The search for a 2'-OH protecting group that would impart ribonucleoside phosphoramidites with coupling kinetics and coupling efficiencies comparable to those of deoxyribonucleoside phosphoramidites led to an assessment of 2'-O-(4-nitrogenated benzyloxy)methyl groups through solid-phase RNA synthesis using phosphoramidites 2a-d, 12a, and 14a. These phosphoramidites exhibited rapid and efficient coupling properties. Particularly noteworthy is the cleavage of the 2'-O-[4-(N-methylamino)benzyloxy]methyl groups in 0.1 M AcOH, which led to U19dT within 15 min at 90 degrees C. [reaction: see text]     

Reactivity studies of oxo-Mo(IV) complexes containing potential hydrogen-bond acceptor/donor phenolate ligands

Reactivity studies of oxo-Mo(IV) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R-κ(2)O,O'} (R = Me, Et, OMe, OEt, OPh, NHPh), containing chelated hydrogen-bond donor/acceptor phenolate ligands are reported. Hydrolysis/oxidation of Tp(iPr)MoO(2-OC(6)H(4)CO(2)Ph-κ(2)O,O') in the presence of methanol yields tetranuclear [Tp(iPr)MoO(μ-O)(2)MoO](2)(μ-OMe)(2) (1), while condensation of Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)Me-κ(2)O,O'} and methylamine gives the chelated iminophenolate complex, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe-κ(2)O,N} (2), rather than the aqua complex, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe-κO}(OH(2)). The oxo-Mo(IV) complexes are readily oxidized by dioxygen or hydrogen peroxide to the corresponding cis-dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoO(2){2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}; in addition, suitable one-electron oxidants, e.g., [FeCp(2)]BF(4) and [N(C(6)H(4)Br)(3)][SbCl(6)], oxidize the complexes to their EPR-active (g(iso) ≈ 1.942) molybdenyl counterparts (3, 4). Molybdenyl complexes such as Tp(iPr)MoOCl{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R} (5) and Tp(iPr)MoOCl(2) also form when the complexes react with chlorinated solvents. The ester derivatives (R = OMe, OEt, OPh) react with propylene sulfide to form cis-oxosulfido-Mo(VI) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoOS{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}, that crystallize as dimeric μ-disulfido-Mo(V) species, [Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}](2)(μ-S(2)) (6-8). The crystal structures of [Tp(iPr)MoO(μ-O)(2)MoO](2)(μ-OMe)(2), Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe}, Tp(iPr)MoOCl{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)NHPh}·{2-HOC(6)H(4)C(O)NHPh}, and [Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}](2)(μ-S(2)) (R = OMe, OEt) are reported.     

Targeted lipidomics using electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

There is an increasing need to be able to conduct quantitative lipidomics analyses as a complement to proteomics studies. The highest specificity for proteomics analysis can be obtained using methodology based on electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). For lipidomics analysis it is often necessary to be able to separate enantiomers and regioisomers. This can be very challenging when using methodology based on conventional reversed-phase chromatography. Normal-phase chromatography using chiral columns can provide dramatic improvements in the resolution of enantiomers and regioisomers. However, conventional ESI- and APCI-MS/MS has limited sensitivity, which makes it difficult to conduct studies in cell culture systems where only trace amounts of non-esterified bioactive lipids are present. The use of electron capture APCI-MS/MS overcomes this problem. Enantiomers and regioisomers of diverse bioactive lipids can be quantified using stable isotope dilution methodology coupled with normal-phase chiral chromatography and electron capture APCI-MS/MS. This methodology has allowed a lipidomics profile from rat epithelial cells maintained in culture to be delineated and allowed the effect of a non-selective lipoxygenase inhibitor to be assessed.     

Mixed thread/paper‐based microfluidic chips as a platform for glucose assays

A novel microfluidic thread/paper‐based analytical device (μTPAD) to detect glucose through a colorimetric assay is described. The μTPAD was fabricated from nylon thread trifurcated into three channels terminating at analysis sites comprised of circular zones of chromatography paper, which have previously been spotted with glucose of different concentrations. A solution of glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and potassium iodide (KI) is transported via capillary action to the analysis sites where a yellow‐brown color is observed indicating oxidation of iodide to iodine. The device was then dried, scanned, and analyzed yielding a correlation between yellow intensity and glucose concentrations. Both a flat platform constructed mainly of tape, and a cone platform constructed from tape and polyvinyl chloride, are described. Studies to quantitate glucose in artificial urine showed good correlation using the μTPAD.     

Amine-directed intramolecular hydroacylation of alkenes and alkynes

Medium-ring heterocycles are prepared via an amine-directed, rhodium(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroacylation. The presence of an allyl substituent on the amine accelerates the reaction and increases product yields.     

Disordered spheres with extensive overlap in projection: image simulation and analysis

This article simulates highly overlapped projections of spherical particles that are distributed randomly in space. The size and number of the features in the projections are examined as well as how these features change with particle size and concentration. First, there are discernable features in projection even when particles overlap extensively, and the size of these discernable features is the expected size of an individual particle. Second, the number of features increases with specimen thickness at a rate of t(0.543) when the specimen thickness is below a critical value and becomes independent of specimen thickness at higher thicknesses. A criterion is established for the critical thickness based on particle size and particle volume fraction. When the specimen thickness is known and smaller than the critical thickness, a single representative transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (or scanning TEM) image exhibiting extensive particle overlap can be used to determine the size and number density of the spherical particles.     

Context-dependent behavior of the enterocin iterative polyketide synthase; a new model for ketoreduction

Heterologous expression and mutagenesis of the enterocin type II polyketide synthase (PKS) system suggest for the first time that the association of an extended set of proteins and substrates is needed for the effective production of the enterocin-wailupemycin polyketides. In the absence of its endogenous ketoreductase (KR) EncD in either the enterocin producer "Streptomyces maritimus" or the engineered host S. lividans K4-114, the enterocin minimal PKS is unable to produce benzoate-primed polyketides, even when complemented with the homologous actinorhodin KR ActIII or with EncD active site mutants. These data suggest that the enterocin PKS requires EncD to serve a catalytic and not just a structural role in the functional PKS enzyme complex. This strongly implies that EncD reduces the polyketide chain during elongation rather than after its complete assembly, as suggested for most type II PKSs.