Estimation of diffusion parameters in functionalized silicas with modulated porosity. Part II: pore network modeling

In this work, the pore structure of those five (5) silicas SiO2-X (see Part I) which have suffered gradual functionalization with functional groups X of increasing length (X = psi, [triple bond]Si-H, [triple bond]Si-CH2OH, [triple bond]Si-(CH2)3OH, [triple bond]Si-(CH2)11CH3), is modeled as a three-dimensional cubic network of cylindrical pores. Those hybrids organic-inorganic SiO2-X samples are characterized by different extent of pore blocking effects. The pores of samples are represented in a 9 x 9 x 9 lattice by the nodes as well the bonds that are interconnected in a so-called dual site-bond model, DSBM, network. The pore network is developed using a Monte Carlo statistical method where the cylindrical pores (nodes and bonds) are randomly assigned into the lattice, until matching of the theoretical results to the experimental data of N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. Thus, a visual picture of the porous solid is possible. This realistic network is used next in order to study the steady-state gas transport (Knudsen gas-phase and viscous diffusion) properties for the examined materials and how flow processes depend on the morphology of the pore structure. The pore diffusivity Dp and total permeability P of each porous medium is determined based on theoretical calculations and the structural statistical parameters, such as porosity epsilonp, tortuosity factor tau and connectivity c of pores is discussed with the corresponding experimental data described in Part I of this work. The results indicate clearly that the diffusion model made it possible to predict pore effective diffusivity in these porous media in very good agreement with the corresponding experimental results for all the examined solids (Part I). The pore diffusivity increases significantly as the value of the pore connectivity increases but the transport properties of the network are influenced strongly at lowest connectivity. Also the predicted tortuosity factor is related inversely to the extent of interconnection of pores in these solids, which indicates that the influence of pore branching to the tortuosity factor of the pore network decreases, as connectivity increases.     

Dynamic equilibrium of a supramolecular dimeric rhomboid and trimeric hexagon and determination of its thermodynamic constants

A supramolecular dimeric rhomboid and its trimeric counterpart, a hexagon, are generated by design via the directional bonding methodology of self-assembly. The different-sized supramolecular macrocycles formed by Pt-coordination undergo a concentration- and temperature-dependent dynamic equilibrium. The two structures are characterized by multinuclear NMR and ESI-MS. Extensive study of the dynamic equilibrium of the two species in solution is performed to obtain its thermodynamic properties. By varying the ionic strength, mu, of the solutions, the true thermodynamic equilibrium constant, K, is determined at each experimental temperature (K(253) = 36 +/- 7, K(273) = 18 +/- 6, K(293) = 10 +/- 3, K(313) = 9 +/- 2, K(333) = 5 +/- 2, and K(353) = 3.0 +/- 0.2). By applying these values of true K at the respective temperatures to the van't Hoff equation extended with the entropy term, the standard enthalpy and entropy changes are determined for the equilibrium: with Delta H degrees = -18 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) and Delta S degrees = -43 +/- 4 J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively, for the forward reaction (rhomboid to hexagon) of the equilibrium. The rhomboid is selectively crystallized, and its crystal structure is determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure reveals a significant amount of porosity as well as distortion of the rhomboid from planarity, leading to channels that can be observed from two viewing positions of the packing.     

Comprehensive coupled reversed-phase reversed-phase separations of a complex isomeric mixture

Using predictions based on results obtained from Information Theory and Factor Analysis for the two-dimensional separation of a complex isomeric mixture, a practical experimental comprehensive coupled reversed phase-reversed phase chromatographic system was developed. In total four reversed phase-reversed phase systems were studied, each of which theory predicted would be able to resolve essentially equal numbers of components. However, in practice only one of these coupled systems realised the theoretical potential. This system employed as the first dimension, a C18 stationary phase with methanol as the mobile phase and as the second dimension, carbon clad zirconia as the stationary phase and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. In this system, 27 of the 32 isomers of a mixture of oligostyrenes were resolved. Failure of the remaining coupled systems to achieve the theoretical potential was attributed to high solute crowding, low efficiency of separation space utilisation and long analysis times in the second dimension.     

Kinetics of aquation and anation of ruthenium(II) arene anticancer complexes, acidity and X-ray structures of aqua adducts

The aqua adducts of the anticancer complexes [(eta(6)-X)Ru(en)Cl][PF(6)] (X=biphenyl (Bip) 1, X=5,8,9,10-tetrahydroanthracene (THA) 2, X=9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA) 3; en=ethylenediamime) were separated by HPLC and characterised by mass spectrometry as the products of hydrolysis in water. The X-ray structures of the aqua complexes [(eta(6)-X)Ru(en)Y][PF(6)](n), X=Bip, Y=0.5 H(2)O/0.5 OH, n=1.5 (4), X=THA, Y=0.5 H(2)O/0.5 OH, n=1.5 (5 A), X=THA, Y=H(2)O, n=2 (5 B), and X=DHA, Y=H(2)O, n=2 (6), are reported. In complex 4 there is a large propeller twist of 45 degrees of the pendant phenyl ring with respect to the coordinated phenyl ring. Although the THA ligand in 5 A and 5 B is relatively flat, the DHA ring system in 6 is markedly bent (hinge bend ca. 35 degrees ) as in the chloro complex 3 (41 degrees ). The rates of aquation of 1-3 determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy at various ionic strengths and temperatures (1.23-2.59x10(-3) s(-1) at 298 K, I=0.1 M) are >20x faster than that of cisplatin. The reverse, anation reactions were very rapid on addition of 100 mM NaCl (a similar concentration to that in blood plasma). The aquation and anation reactions were about two times faster for the DHA and THA complexes compared to the biphenyl complex. The hydrolysis reactions appear to occur by an associative pathway. The pK(a) values of the aqua adducts were determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy as 7.71 for 4, 8.01 for 5 and 7.89 for 6. At physiologically-relevant concentrations (0.5-5 microM) and temperature (310 K), the complexes will exist in blood plasma as >89 % chloro complex, whereas in the cell nucleus significant amounts (45-65 %) of the more reactive aqua adducts would be formed together with smaller amounts of the hydroxo complexes (9-25 %, pH 7.4, [Cl(-)]=4 mM).     

Poly-N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (polyDuramide): a novel,hydrophilic, self-coating polymer matrix for DNA sequencing by capillary electrophoresis

A replaceable polymer matrix, based on the novel monomer N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (HEA), has been synthesized for application in DNA separation by microchannel electrophoresis. The monomer was found by micellar electrokinetic chromatography analysis of monomer partitioning between water and 1-octanol to be more hydrophilic than acrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Polymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution. The weight-average molar mass of purified polymer was characterized by tandem gel permeation chromatography-multiangle laser light scattering. The steady-shear rheological behavior of the novel DNA sequencing matrix was also characterized, and it was found that the viscosity of the novel matrix decreases by more than 2 orders of magnitude as the shear rate is increased from 0.1 to 1000 s(-1). Moreover, in the shear-thinning region, the rate of change of matrix viscosity with shear rate increases with increasing polymer concentration. Poly-N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (PHEA) exhibits good capillary-coating ability, via adsorption from aqueous solution, efficiently suppressing electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a manner comparable to that of poly-N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Under DNA sequencing conditions, adsorptive PHEA coatings proved to be stable and to maintain negligible EOF for over 600 h of electrophoresis. Resolution of DNA sequencing fragments, particularly fragments > 500 bases, in PHEA matrices generally improves with increasing polymer concentration and decreasing electric field strength. When PHEA is used both as a separation matrix and as a dynamic coating in bare silica capillaries, the matrix can resolve over 620 bases of contiguous DNA sequence within 3 h. These results demonstrate the good potential of PHEA matrices for high-throughput DNA analysis by microchannel electrophoresis.     

A novel route to substituted 4-methylene-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles mediated by hafnium(IV) chloride

Heating alkyl vinyl ketones and N-tert-butylarylmethylideneamine N-oxides in the presence of HfCl4 results in the formation of 4-methylene-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles in good yield.     

Cationic tetrakis(nucleobase)complexes of PtII as metalloligands and potential building blocks for molecular architectures

Three cationic tetrakis(nucleobase) complexes of Pt(II) have been synthesized: [Pt(Hmhyp-N7)4](NO3)2.H2O 1, [Pt(Hegua-N7)4](NO3)2.2KNO(3).5H2O and trans-[Pt(Hmcyt-N3)2(Hegua-N7)2](NO3)2 3 (Hmhyp = 9-methylhypoxanthine, Hegua = 9-ethylguanine, Hmcyt = 1-methylcytosine). The X-ray crystal structure of has been determined. All three cationic compounds rapidly react with Hg(II), but gel formation prevented an adequate characterization of the products formed. However, a Cu(II) adduct of was isolated in crystalline form and characterized crystallographically. [{(H2O)Cu(Hmhyp)4Pt}2Cu(ClO4)4)](ClO4)2(NO3)4.6H2O crystallizes in a centrosymmetric Cu-Pt-Cu-Pt-Cu chain structure with Cu-Pt separations of 2.791(1)A(outside) and 3.8980(9)A(inside). Two of the three Cu(II) ions are bound via exocyclic O(6) sites of the Hmhyp nucleobases. At neutral and moderate alkaline pH both and form virtually insoluble precipitates, which redissolve at strongly alkaline pH to give eventually anionic [Pt(L)4]2- species (L = mhyp, egua). Finally, interacts with complementary Hmcyt to give Watson-Crick associates, as demonstrated by 1H NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d(6).     

The nucleophilic addition of alpha-metallated 1,3-dioxanes to planar chiral cationic eta3-allylmolybdenum complexes. Synthesis of (2E,5S,6R,7E)-6-methyl-8-phenylocta-2,7-dienoic acid methyl ester, a key component of the Cryptophycins

Two adjacent stereogenic centres and a pendant alkene were constructed via nucleophilic addition of a 1,3-dioxan-4-ylcopper(I) reagent to a cationic eta3-allylmolybdenum complex as part of a synthesis of (2E,5S,6R,7E)-6-methyl-8-phenylocta-2,7-dienoic acid, a key component of the Cryptophycins. Oxidative addition of Mo(CO)(4)(THF)(2) to allyl benzoates provides an efficient synthesis of eta3-allylmolybdenum(dicarbonyl) complexes.     

Multilaboratory trial for determination of ceftiofur residues in bovine and swine kidney and muscle,and bovine milk

A multilaboratory trial for determining ceftiofur-related residues in bovine and swine kidney and muscle, and bovine milk was conducted following regulatory guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine. The methods convert all desfuroylceftiofur-related residues containing the intact beta-lactam ring to desfuroylceftiofur acetamide to establish ceftiofur residues in tissues. Four laboratories analyzed 5 sets of samples for each tissue. Each sample set consisted of a control/blank sample and 3 control samples fortified with ceftiofur at 0.5 Rm, Rm, and 2 Rm, respectively, where Rm is the U.S. tolerance assigned for ceftiofur residue in each tissue/matrix: 0.100 microg/mL for milk, 8.0 microg/g for kidney (both species), 1.0 microg/g for bovine muscle, and 2.0 microg/g for swine muscle. Each sample set also contained 2 samples of incurred-residue tissues (one > Rm and one < Rm) from animals treated with ceftiofur hydrochloride. All laboratories completed the method trial after a familiarization phase and test of system suitability in which they demonstrated > 80% recovery in pretrial fortified test samples. Results showed that the methods met all acceptable performance criteria for recovery, accuracy, and precision. Although sample preparation was easy, solid-phase extraction cartridge performance must be carefully evaluated before samples are processed. The liquid chromatography detection system was easily set up; however, the elution profile may require slight modifications. The procedures could clearly differentiate between violative (> Rm) and nonviolative (< Rm) ceftiofur residues. Participating laboratories found the procedures suitable for ceftiofur residue determination.     

Inhibition and substrate recognition – a computational approach applied to HIV protease

We have developed a computational approach in which an inhibitor's strength is determined from its interaction energy with a limited set of amino acid residues of the inhibited protein. We applied this method to HIV protease. The method uses a consensus structure built from X-ray crystallographic data. All inhibitors are docked into the consensus structure. Given that not every ligand-protein interaction causes inhibition, we implemented a genetic algorithm to determine the relevant set of residues. The algorithm optimizes the q2 between the sum of interaction energies and the observed inhibition constants. The best possible predictive model resulting has a q2 of 0.63. External validation by examining the predictivity for compounds not used in derivation of the model leads to a prediction accuracy between 0.9 and 1.5 log10 unit. Out of 198 residues in the whole protein, the best internally predictive model defines a subset of 20 residues and the best externally predictive model one of 9 residues. These residues are distributed over the subsites of the enzyme. This approach provides insight in which interactions are important for inhibiting HIV protease and it allows for quantitative prediction of inhibitor strength.