Regio- and Stereoselective Reactions of 17-Phenyl-18,19,20-trinorprostaglandin F(2)(alpha) Isopropyl Ester

Novel prostaglandin F(2)(alpha) derivatives, functionalized at C13 and C14, have been prepared. 17-Phenyl-18,19,20-trinorprostaglandin F(2)(alpha) isopropyl ester [(15S)-1] and its epimer [(15R)-1] were stereoselectively epoxidized, using Sharpless conditions, to produce each of the four diastereomeric epoxides (15S)-2, (15S)-3, (15R)-2, and (15R)-3. Treatment of the four epoxides with LiOH stereospecifically-produced the pentahydroxy substituted analogues 12 and 13. Alternatively, epoxides 2 and 3were allowed to react with thiophenolate ion. The attack of the sulfur nucleophile on the epoxide occurred at either C13 or C14 depending on the stereochemistry of the epoxide and of C15.     

Conjugate addition with 2-pyridylcopper and lithium 2-pyridylcuprates

2-Pyridylcopper/dibutyl sulfide, 2-pyridylcopper/tributylphosphine, lithium di(2-pyridyl)cuprate and lithium (2-pyridyl)(phenyl)cuprate all add the 2-pyridyl group to 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one in good yields. The cuprates also add the 2-pyridyl group to ethyl 3-phenylpropenoate.     

On the statistical independence of various column contributions to band broadening. Part 1: Second moment contributions from statistically independent,longitudinal diffusion in both phases

The total length-based second moment contribution from longitudinal sample diffusion in both phases on a column, σD , is derived by adding individual partial differential contributions to a partial differential equation accounting for the longitudinal diffusion processes only. Although each diffusion-dispersed sample part is equilibrated between two phases, the resulting σ,D (= 2D _mt _m + 2D _st _s) can be interpreted as the sum of two independent contributions in accordance with the variance addition rule. (D _m and D _s are the mean diffusion coefficients and t _mand t _s the mean residence times of the sample in the mobile and stationary phases, respectively.) The same σD expression is derived from the random walk model of Giddings by treating the diffusional process in each phase as statistically independent of the other processes. Under these conditions the broadening contribution from longitudinal diffusion in the mobile phase is shown to be independent of the velocity profile.     

Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein,a molecular tool for improved sequence quality in pyrosequencing

Pyrosequencing is a four-enzyme bioluminometric DNA sequencing technique based on a DNA sequencing by synthesis principle. Currently, the technique is limited to analysis of short DNA sequences exemplified by single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. In order to expand the field for pyrosequencing, the read length needs to be improved and efforts have been made to purify reaction components as well as add single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) to the pyrosequencing reaction. In this study, we have performed a systematic effort to analyze the effects of SSB by comparing the pyrosequencing result of 103 independent complementary DNA (cDNA) clones. More detailed information about the cause of low quality sequences on templates with different characteristics was achieved by thorough analysis of the pyrograms. Also, real-time biosensor analysis was performed on individual cDNA clones for investigation of primer annealing and SSB binding on these templates. Results from these studies indicate that templates with high performance in pyrosequencing without SSB possess efficient primer annealing and low SSB affinity. Alternative strategies to improve the performance in pyrosequencing by increasing the primer-annealing efficiency have also been evaluated.     

Staudinger ligation: a peptide from a thioester and azide

[reaction: see text] The technique of native chemical ligation enables the total chemical synthesis of proteins. This method is limited, however, by an absolute requirement for a cysteine residue at the ligation juncture. Here, this restriction is overcome with a new chemical ligation method in which a phosphinobenzenethiol is used to link a thioester and azide. The product is an amide with no residual atoms.     

Charged-particle multiplicity distribution in 100-GeV/c \bar pd and π− interactions

We present data on \(\bar pn\) and π^? n collisions obtained from an exposure of the 30′' FNAL deuterium filled bubble chamber to a mixed \({{\bar p} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar p} {\pi ^ - }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\pi ^ - }}\) beam with a momentum of 100 GeV/c. We find that in 17±2% of the collisions with the antiproton there is an interaction on the spectator while for the collisions with π^? mesons the corresponding number is 15±2%. The \(\bar pn\) and π^? n multiplicity distributions have average charged multiplicities of 6.46±0.07 and 6.53±0.08 respectively. The average multiplicities for both types of interactions are slightly smaller than those for the corresponding reactions on hydrogen by an amount that is the same as observed at other energies. As an estimate of \(\bar pn\) annihilation we have calculated the difference \(\sigma _n (\bar pn) - \sigma _n (pn)\) for each prong numbern. We find an average multiplicity of 9±1, a value close to that for \(\bar pp\) annihilation at the same energy. combining our data with lower energy \(\bar pn\) annihilation data, we observe that the average negative multiplicity is systematically larger than that for \(\bar pp\) annihilation similar to the difference between neutron and proton target data with other beam projectiles.     

Selective determination of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in indoor air by gas chromatography, positive-ion chemical ionization and collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry with in-source ionization and dissociation was used in positive-ion chemical ionization (PICI) mode for the determination of organophosphate triesters in indoor air. These compounds are widely used as additive flame retardants and plasticizers in different types of materials and have become ubiquitous pollutants in indoor environments. When using collision-induced dissociation in PICI mode the fragmentation of the organophosphate triesters can be performed in a more controllable way than in electron ionization (EI) mode. The developed selected-reaction monitoring method provided high selectivity for the investigated compounds. For 8-h air measurements (corresponding to 1.5 m3 of sampled air) the limit of detection of the method was determined to be in the range 0.1-1.4 ng m(-3), which is comparable with nitrogen-phosphorus detection and about 50-fold lower than when using EI in selected-ion monitoring mode. The presented method was applied to samples from three common indoor environments, in which a number of organophosphate triesters were identified and quantified. The dominating compound was found to be tris(2-chloropropyl) phosphate, which occurred at levels up to 0.8 microg m(-3).     

The coordination chemistry of copper(I) in liquid ammonia, trialkyl and triphenyl phosphite, and tri-n-butylphosphine solution

The coordination chemistry of the solvate complexes of the relatively soft electron-pair acceptor copper(I) has been studied in solution and solid state in seven solvents with strong electron-pair donor properties, liquid ammonia, trimethyl, triethyl, triisopropyl, tri-n-butyl and triphenyl phosphite, and tri-n-butylphosphine. The solvate complexes have been characterised by means of EXAFS and 63Cu NMR spectroscopy, and in some cases also by 65Cu NMR spectroscopy. The copper(I) ion is three-coordinated, most probably in a coplanar trigonal fashion, in liquid ammonia with a mean Cu-N bond distance of 2.00(1) Angstroms. No 63Cu NMR signal has been detected from the ammonia solvated copper(I) ion in liquid ammonia, which supports a three-coordination. The phosphite and phosphine solvated copper(I) ions are tetrahedral with Cu-P bond distances in the range 2.24-2.28 Angstrom in both solution and solid state as determined by EXAFS spectroscopy. The tetrahedral configuration of these complexes has been confirmed by 63Cu and 65Cu NMR spectroscopy through the J(63Cu-31P) and J(65Cu-31P) couplings. The fact that two of the investigated complexes, [Cu(P(OC6H5)3)4]+ and [Cu(P(C4H9)3)4]+, are 63Cu and 65Cu NMR silent is probably caused by a significantly angular distorted tetrahedral configuration.     

In-capillary micro solid-phase extraction and capillary electrophoresis separation of heterocyclic aromatic amines with nanospray mass spectrometric detection

A miniaturised technique to analyse and detect heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs) using micro solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line (in-capillary) to capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation with nanospray (nESI) mass spectrometry (MS) detection has been developed. HAs are mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds formed at low levels in protein-rich food during cooking. Due to the low concentrations of HAs and the high complexity of the matrix in which they exist, sensitive and selective analytical methods are required for quantification. SPE was performed on a packed bed of C₁₈ particles inside the CE capillary, which minimised the dead volume. The on-line coupling of SPE, CE and nESI-MS reduced the time for extraction and identification to less than half an hour, which will allow for screening of several samples per day. The new technique provides short analysis time, low sample and solvent consumption, and HAs in standard solutions were easily detected at 12–17 fmol injections, and in spiked urine samples at 750–810 fmol injections.     

Production of α-keto acids Part I. Immobilized cells ofTrigonopsis variabilis containing D-amino acid oxidase

Whole cells ofTrigonopsis variabilis were immobilized by entrapment in Ca²⁺-alginate and used for the production of α-keto acids from the corresponding D-amino acids. The D-amino acid oxidase within the immobilized cells has a broad substrate specificity. Hydrogen peroxide formed in the enzymatic reaction was efficiently hydrolyzed by manganese oxide co-immobilized with the cells. The amino acid oxidase activity was assayed with a new method based on reversed-phase HPLC. Oxygen requirements, bead size, concentration of cells in the beads, flow rate, and other factors were investigated in a “ trickle-bed ” reactor.