Physicochemical properties of enhanced-fluidity liquid solvents

Enhanced fluidity (EF) liquid mixtures are advantageous as mobile phases for the separation of moderate to polar compounds in liquid chromatography (reversed-phase, normal, size exclusion, size exclusion, and chiral separations). The low viscosities and high diffusivities of EF mixtures allow highly efficient separations to be achieved in a small amount of time. The best use of enhanced-fluidity liquids is only possible when their physicochemical properties are known. Herein, the techniques used to measure the physicochemical properties (phase diagram, diffusivity, solvent strength and pH) of EF liquids are described. For each technique, the experiment design and the care necessary to insure the quality of the collected data are described. Finally, the impact of the measured physicochemical properties on the chromatography is also highlighted.     

Platination of [3-X-7,8-Ph2-7,8-nido-C2B9H8] (X=Et, F): Synthesis and characterisation of slipped and 1,2→1,7 isomerised products

The reaction of the labelled carborane ligand [3-Et-7,8-Ph₂-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₈]²⁻ with a source of {Pt(PMe₂Ph)₂}²⁺ affords non-isomerised 1,2-Ph₂-3,3-(PMe₂Ph)₂-6-Et-3,1,2-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (1). The analogous reaction between [3-F-7,8-Ph₂-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₈]²⁻ and {Pt(PMe₂Ph)₂}²⁺ yields 1,8-Ph₂-2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-4-F-2,1,8-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (3). Compound 1 has a heavily slipped structure (Δ 0.72 Å), which to some degree obviates the need for C atom isomerisation. However, that it is a kinetic product of the reaction is evident from the fact that it reverts to isomerised 1,8-Ph₂-2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-4-Et-2,1,8-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (2) slowly at room temperature but more rapidly with gentle warming. The heteroatom and labelled-B atom positions in the isomerised compounds 2 and 3 may be explained most simply by the rotation of a CB₂ face of an intermediate based on the structure of 1. Compounds 1–3 were characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques.     

Determination of 19-norandrosterone in CCQM-P68. NIST results using an isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) participated in an international interlaboratory study under the auspices of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM) for the determination of 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) in urine, the principal metabolite of nandrolone and certain other synthetic testosterone substitutes banned for use by the World Antidoping Agency (WADA). Prior to this study, NIST developed a candidate reference measurement procedure based upon isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. This method was applied to a urine sample distributed to the participants in the study by the Australian National Measurement Institute, Pymble, Australia (NMIA). The NIST results were in very good agreement with those from the other participants, all of whom used methods based upon gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All known significant sources of uncertainty were evaluated, resulting in a relative expanded uncertainty of less than 5% (coverage factor k = 2).     

Three 4‐amino­quinolines of anti­malarial interest

The structures of three compounds with potential anti­malarial activity are reported. In N,N‐diethyl‐N′‐(7‐iodo­quinolin‐4‐yl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine, C₁₅H₂₀IN₃, (I), the mol­ecules are linked into ribbons by N—H⋯N and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. In N‐(7‐bromo­quinolin‐4‐yl)‐N′,N′‐diethyl­ethane‐1,2‐diamine dihydrate, C₁₅H₂₀BrN₃·2H₂O, (II), two amino­quino­line mol­ecules and four water mol­ecules form an R₅⁴(13) hydrogen‐bonded ring which links to its neighbours to form a T5(2) one‐dimensional infinite tape with pendant hydrogen bonds to the amino­quinolines. The phosphate salt 7‐chloro‐4‐[2‐(diethyl­ammonio)ethyl­amino]quinolinium bis­(dihydrogen­phosphate) phospho­ric acid, C₁₅H₂₂ClN₃²⁺·2H₂PO₄⁻·H₃PO₄, (III), was prepared in order to establish the protonation sites of these compounds. The phosphate ions form a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded sheet, while the amino­quino­line cations are linked to the phosphates by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds from each of their three N atoms. While the conformation of the quinoline region hardly varies between (I), (II) and (III), the amino side chain is much more flexible and adopts a significantly different conformation in each case. Aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions are the only supramolecular inter­actions seen in all three structures.     

Comparison of total folate concentrations in foods determined by microbiological assay at several experienced U.S. commercial laboratories

Analysis of total folate concentration measured by microbiological assay in a variety of foods submitted in a routine manner to experienced laboratories that regularly perform folate analysis on fee-for-service basis was evaluated. Homogenates of fresh strawberries, frozen spinach, orange juice, frozen meat and vegetable pizza, dry macaroni, and dried pinto beans were prepared and stored under conditions previously determined to maintain stability of folate content. An aliquot of each composite and of 3 certified reference materials were sent on each of 4 occasions to 4 laboratories. Results for macaroni and pizza, the only folic acid-fortified foods, had considerably lower between-laboratory variation (CV(B)) with CV(B) of 9-11% versus >45% for other foods. Mean total folate ranged from 14 to 279 microg/100 g for a mixed vegetable reference material, from 5 to 70 microg/100 g for strawberries, and from 28 to 81 microg/100 g for wholemeal flour. Only 1 laboratory reported using a tri-enzyme extraction, and all laboratories used folic acid fortified foods as internal control materials. Users of commercial total folate analysis should understand the uncertainty in values determined by microbiological assay, particularly for foods containing primarily naturally occurring folate, which may not be apparent when replicate samples are not submitted for analysis.     

Tetramethylcyclopentadienylselenium derivatives

Bis(1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)selane (1) has been prepared by the reaction of tetramethylcyclopentadienyllithium (Cp(t)Li) with selenium bis(diethyldithiocarbamate). Treatment of Cp(t)Li with elemental selenium, followed by air oxidation, led to loss of the allylic hydrogen atom, and formation of the novel tricyclic compound 1,4,5,6,7,10,11,12-octamethyltricyclo[7.3.0.0]-2,8-diselenadodeca-3,5,9,11-tetraene (2). The sulfur analogue of 2 has been obtained by a similar procedure. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been determined, and the molecular geometry observed for has been probed using DFT calculations.     

Amidrazones. VII. Formation of s-triazines by thermolysis of N1-benzyl-substituted amidrazone ylides

The preparation of ylides of the general structure is described. Thermolysis of 14a (R = CH₃, R' = H, Ar = C₆H₅) gave dimethylamine and 2,4-dimethyl-6-phenyl-s-triazine. Thermolysis of ylides 14b (R = C₆H₅; R' = CH₃, Ar = C₆H₅) and 14c (R = C₆H₅, R' = CH₃, Ar = p-tolyl) gave dimethylamine, ArCH = NCH₃ and 1-methyl-2-Ar-4,6-diphenyl-1,2-dihydro-s-triazines ( 19a,b ). Triazines 19a and 19b were also prepared by condensation of N-methylbenzamidine with benzaldehyde and p-tolualdehyde, respectively. Thermolysis of 14d (R = C₆H₅, R¹ = CH₂C₆H₅,Ar = C₆H₅) gave 1-benzyl-2,4,6-triphenyl-1,2-dihydro-s-triazine ( 19c ) and N-benzylidenebenzylamine. Mechanistic aspects of these reactions are discussed.     

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of dinuclear platinum(II) complexes containing bis(thioalkyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) ligands

A series of novel, dinuclear (2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)platinum(ii) complexes containing bis(thioalkyl)-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)(carborane) ligands were prepared and characterised, and their preliminary anti-cancer characteristics have been determined in vitro; the complexes are the first examples of bis-intercalator complexes containing a boron-rich carborane cage.     

Palladium salicylaldimine complexes containing boronate esters

Reactions of salicylaldehydes with boronate ester derivatives of aniline have been examined. Addition of these Schiff base ligands to palladium acetate or Na₂PdCl₄ afforded novel boron-containing trans-bis(N-arylsalicylaldiminato) palladium complexes.Condensation of salicylaldehyde (2-HOC₆H₄C(O)H) with H₂NC₆H₄Bpin (pin=1,2-O₂C₂Me₄) afforded the boron-containing Schiff bases, 2-HOC₆H₄C(H)=NC₆H₄Bpin (1–3a). Similar reactivity with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde gave the corresponding Schiff bases (1-3b) and (1-3c), respectively. Reaction of Schiff bases (2) and (3) with palladium acetate or Na₂PdCl₄ afforded complexes of the type PdL₂ (4,5), where L=deprotonated Schiff base. The molecular structure of the nitro-salicylaldehyde 4-Bpin palladium complex (5b) was characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. All new palladium compounds have been characterized fully and tested for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus.     

In-lens cryo-high resolution scanning electron microscopy: methodologies for molecular imaging of self-assembled organic hydrogels.

The micro- and nanoarchitectures of water-swollen hydrogels were routinely analyzed in three dimensions at very high resolution by two cryopreparation methods that provide stable low-temperature specimens for in-lens high magnification recordings. Gemini surfactants (gS), poly-N-isopropylacrylamides (p-NIP Am), and elastin-mimetic di- (db-E) and triblock (tb-E) copolymer proteins that form hydrogels have been routinely analyzed to the sub-10-nm level in a single day. After they were quench or high pressure frozen, samples in bulk planchets were subsequently chromium coated and observed at low temperature in an in-lens field emission SEM. Pre-equilibrated planchets (4-40 degrees C) that hold 5-10 microl of hydrogel facilitate dynamic morphological studies above and below their transition temperatures. Rapidly frozen samples were fractured under liquid nitrogen, low-temperature metal coated, and observed in-lens to assess the dispersion characteristics of micelles and fragile colloidal assemblies within bulk frozen water. Utilizing the same planchet freezing system, the cryoetch-HRSEM technique removed bulk frozen water from the hydrogel matrix by low-temperature, high-vacuum sublimation. The remaining frozen solid-state sample faithfully represented the hydrogel matrix. Cryo- and cryoetch-HRSEM provided vast vistas of hydrogels at low and intermediate magnifications whereas high magnification recordings and anaglyphs (stereo images) provided a three-dimensional prospective and measurements on a molecular level.