Measurement of endogenous estrogens: analytical challenges and recent advances

Recent developments in the analysis of endogenous estrogens (including both free and conjugated estrogens) are reviewed. Largely due to urging by some cancer researchers, new demands are now being placed on such measurements in terms of sensitivity, throughput, multi-analyte detection and accuracy. Especially high sensitivity is required for detecting estrogens in serum from postmenopausal women, children and men, where concentrations at the low pg/ml level are encountered, and one would prefer to test much less than 1 ml of serum. Aside from throughput, meeting all of these demands may be beyond the reach of immunoassay, the method that has created and continues to dominate this field. Both HPLC and GC versions of mass spectrometry are emerging that have some potential to improve the testing of physiological samples for endogenous estrogens. The following topics are covered in this review: related analyses (e.g. detection of estrogens in environmental samples such as water, where 1-l samples can be collected to provide ng amounts of estrogens); structure and metabolism of estrogens; biological actions (with an emphasis on their role in cancer); immunoassays; HPLC with electrochemical detection; GC-ECD; and various forms of mass spectrometry.     

ANTHRALIN-DERIVED TRANSIENTS—II. FORMATION OF THE RADICAL BY SPONTANEOUS FRAGMENTATION OF BOTH SINGLET AND TRIPLET STATES OF THE 10,10''-DEHYDRODIMER: RADICAL PAIR MULTIPLICITY EFFECTS

The singlet and triplet states of the anthralin (1,8-dihydroxy-9-anthrone) dehydrodimer have been produced selectively in benzene via pulsed laser excitation and pulse radiolysis respectively. The lifetime of S1 is less than or equal to 30 ps, that of T1 short but unspecified. Both states fragment spontaneously to yield a pair of anthralin radicals. The singlet radical pair predominantly undergoes geminate recombination within the solvent cage. In contrast, the corresponding triplet radical pair undergoes essentially exclusive cage escape to give the anthralin free radical (lambda max 370, 490 and 720 nm) which recombines under normal diffusive conditions. Both recombination processes lead, at least in part, to one or more species which have been assigned as tautomeric forms of the original dimer. The anthralin free radical in benzene is insensitive to the vitamin E model 6-hydroxy-2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman and reacts only slowly with oxygen.     

A Convergent Synthesis of (±)-α- and β-Himachalenes

(±)-α and β-Himachalene, 5 and 6 , have been synthesized in a convergent manner from 3,3-dimethylacrolein ( 9 ), the ester enolate 10 and the silyloxypentadienyllithium 7 . The key steps are the regioselective γ-addition of the dienal 13 to 7 and the intramolecular Diels-Alder addition 15 → 16 . Hydrogenolysis of the diethylphosphate group and functionalization at C (5) completed the synthesis of 5 and 6 .     

A Layer‐by‐Layer Film of Chitosan in a Taste Sensor Application

Chitosan is alternated with sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) to build layer‐by‐layer (LBL) films that are used as sensing units in an electronic tongue. Using impedance spectroscopy as the principle method of detection, an array using chitosan/PSS LBL film and a bare gold electrode as the sensing units was capable of distinguishing the basic tastes – salty, sweet, bitter, and sour – to a concentration below the human threshold. The suitability of chitosan as a sensing material was confirmed by using this sensor to distinguish red wines according to their vintage, vineyard, and brands.

PCA Plot for red wine samples obtained from impedance measurements at 1 kHz for the sensor array comprising a 3‐bilayer chitosan/PSS film and a bare gold electrode.     

Metal ions in biological systems, vol. 2, metal ligand complexes : ed. by H. Sigel, Dekker, New York, 1973, xiv + 294 pages, $25.25

The kinetic isotope effect for β-hydride elimination from alkyliridium(I) complexes has bee found to be k_H/k_D = 2.28 ± 0.20.     

Bimetallic reactivity. One-site addition two-metal oxidation reaction of dioxygen with a bimetallic dicobalt(II) complex bearing five- and six-coordinate sites

The di-Co(2+) complex, [Co(2+)(mu-OH)(oxapyme)Co(2+)(H(2)O)](+), contains an unsymmetrical binucleating ligand (oxapyme) which provides five- and six-coordinate metal sites when a hydroxide bridge is introduced. This complex absorbs 1 equiv of O(2) irreversibly in solution, producing an unstable di-Co(3+) oxygenated product. The oxygenated product has been studied at low temperatures, where its electronic absorption and (1)H NMR spectra were recorded. It is probable that the oxygenation reaction involves a one-site addition two-metal oxidation reaction to produce an end-on-bonded peroxide ligand at the available coordination site, giving the complex [Co(3+)(mu-OH)(oxapyme)Co(3+)(mu(1)-O(2))](+). Addition of 1 equiv of HClO(4) to this oxygenation product gives a stable peroxide complex, [Co(3+)(mu,eta(1):eta(2)-O(2))(oxapyme)Co(3+)](2+), where one of the oxygen atoms bridges the two metals and is sideways bonded to one of the metals. The formation of this stable complex involves expulsion of the OH(-) bridge. Addition of NO(2)(-) to the sideways-bonded peroxide complex leads to the formation of another stable complex, [Co(3+)(mu,eta(1):eta(1)-O(2))(oxapyme)Co(3+)(NO(2))](+), where the peroxide forms a classic di-end-on bridge to the two metals. Both of these complexes have been fully characterized. Addition of acid to this second stable dioxygen complex leads to the release of HNO(2) and the formation of the mu,eta(1):eta(2) sideways-bonded peroxide complex.     

Probing charge-transfer processes in helium nanodroplets by optically selected mass spectrometry (OSMS): charge steering by long-range interactions

Electron impact ionization of a helium atom in a helium nanodroplet is followed by rapid charge migration, which can ultimately result in the localization of the charge on an atomic or molecular solute. This process is studied here for the cases of hydrogen cyanide, acetylene, and cyanoacetylene in helium, using a new experimental method we call optically selected mass spectrometry (OSMS). The method combines infrared laser spectroscopy with mass spectrometry to separate the contributions to the overall droplet beam mass spectrum from the various species present under a given set of conditions. This is done by vibrationally exciting a specific species that exists in a subset of the droplets (for example, the droplets containing a single HCN molecule). The resulting helium evaporation leads to a concomitant reduction in the ionization cross sections for these droplets. This method is used to study the charge migration in helium and reveals that the probability of charge transfer to a solvated molecule does not approach unity for small droplets and depends on the identity of the solvated molecule. The experimental results are explained quantitatively by considering the effect of the electrostatic potential (between the charge and the embedded molecule) on the trajectory of the migrating charge.     

Isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra of unsaturated alcohols

Analysis of the isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra of hexenols, cyclohexenols and various syn/anti pairs of bicyclic and tricyclic homoallylic alcohols shows that: (i) the spectra of the allylic alcohols are dominated by [M + H – H₂O]⁺ and [M + C₄H₉–H₂O]⁺ ions and contain traces of [M + H]⁺ ions; (ii) [M + H]⁺ ions are prominent in the spectra of acyclic and certain cyclic homoallylic alcohols; and (iii) [M + H]⁺ ions dominate the spectra of other acyclic unsaturated alcohols. The [M + H]⁺ ions may result from either: (a) protonation of the hydroxyl group, followed by a very rapid intramolecular proton transfer from the protonated hydroxyl group to the carbon–carbon double bond or internal solvation of the protonated hydroxyl group by the carbon–carbon double bond; and/or (b) direct protonation of the carbon–carbon double bond with significant internal solvation of the resulting carbocation by the hydroxyl group, which may lead to carbon–oxygen bond formation to give a protonated cyclic ether. The consequences of placing various geometric constraints on the possible intramolecular interactions between the hydroxyl group and the carbon–carbon double bond in unsaturated alcohols are explored.     

Preparation and electrochemical behavior of dimeric complexes of Ru2(III12, III12) and Ru2(IV,IV) formed by oxidative dimerization of [RuIII(edta)OH2]−

Electrochemical or chemical oxidation of [Ru^III(edta)OH₂]^? proceeds in successive half- and one-electron steps to yield dimeric complexes of Ru(III$\text{1}\text{2}$) and Ru(IV) believed to contain oxo- or dihydroxo-bridging ligands. Spectral and electrochemical properties of the complexes prepared by oxidative dimerization are described and compared with previous reports of dioxygen and peroxo complexes of Ru^III(edta). The dimeric Ru^IV(edta) complex is shown to exhibit modest activity as a catalyst for the oxidation of water to dioxygen.     

Five- and Six-Coordinate 2-Methyl-2-propanethiolato Complexes of Zirconium(IV): Synthesis and Structures of [Li(DME)(3)][Zr(SCMe(3))(5)] and [(THF)Li](2)Zr(SCMe(3))(6)

Five-coordinate and six-coordinate 2-methyl-2-propanethiolato complexes of zirconium, [Li(DME)(3)][Zr(SCMe(3))(5)] (1) and [(THF)Li](2)Zr(SCMe(3))(6) (2), were obtained from the ZrCl(4)/LiSCMe(3) reaction system. The control of the Zr coordination number, by the ether ligands, THF or DME, bound to Li, is demonstrated by the conversion of 2 into 1 upon dissolution in DME. 1 and 2 were crystallographically characterized. The structures are extensively disordered. Crystal data follow: 1, hexagonal P6(3)/m, a = b = 12.496(3) ?, c = 17.561(9) ?, Z = 2, V = 2375(1) ?(3), R = 5.0%, R(w) = 6.8%; 2, trigonal R32, a = b = 11.813(3) ?, c = 28.37(1) ?, Z = 3, V = 3428(1) ?(3), R = 5.2%, R(w) = 6.4%.