LC-electron capture-APCI(-)-MS determination of nitrobenzoxadiazole derivatives

Nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) derivatives are determined with limits of detection ranging down to 20 nmol l(-1) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electron capture (EC) ionisation. An atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) interface operated in the negative ion mode is used as ionisation source. Amine derivatives of 4-chloro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBDCl) as well as the isocyanate derivatives of 4-nitro-7-piperazino-2,1,3-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBDPZ) have been analysed using this technique. The parameters favouring electron capture mechanisms have been investigated thoroughly under consideration of the competing mechanism of deprotonation to allow a better understanding of the electron capture process and to improve selectivity of the analysis.     

Hexaphosphapentaprismane: a new gateway to organophosphorus cage compound chemistry

Several independent synthetic routes are described leading to the formation of a novel unsaturated tetracyclic phosphorus carbon cage compound tBu4C4P6 (1), which undergoes a light-induced valence isomerization to produce the first hexaphosphapentaprismane cage tBu4C4P6 (2). A second unsaturated isomer tBu4C4P6 (9) of 1 and the bis-[W(CO)5] complex 13 of 1 are stable towards similar isomerization reactions. Another starting material for the synthesis of the hexaphosphapentaprismane cage tBu4C4P6 (2) is the trimeric mercury complex [(tBu4C4P6)Hg]3 (11), which undergoes elimination of mercury to afford the title compound 2. Single-crystal X-ray structural determinations have been carried out on compounds 1, 2, 9, 11, and 13.     

Single channel recordings of alpha-hemolysin reconstituted in S-layer-supported lipid bilayers.

Previous studies demonstrated that lipid membranes attached to a proteinaceous crystalline surface-layer (S-layer) revealed a prolonged lifetime and showed a reduced tendency to rupture in the presence of membrane active molecules. In addition, comparative studies on folded and S-layer-supported lipid membranes (SsLM) revealed an uniform capacitance of 0.64 +/- 0.04 microF/cm(2) for both composite membranes. In the present study, the feasibility to reconstitute the channel-forming protein alpha-hemolysin (alpha HL) into SsLM at single channel resolution was investigated. Single alpha HL channels could be recorded and the intrinsic properties like unitary conductance, current-voltage characteristics, and closure was found to be similar at both membranes. Thus, the tightly attached S-layer allowed complete reconstitution of alpha HL channels in SsLM.     

Performance of an ultra-low elution-volume 96-well plate: drug discovery and development applications

Recently, sample preparation has been considered to be the major cause of bottlenecks during high-throughput analysis. With the assistance of robotic liquid handlers and the 96-well plate format, more samples can be prepared for subsequent liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. Protein precipitation is still widely used despite potential loss of sensitivity or variable results due to ion suppression. The use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) clearly gives superior results but may not be as cost effective as protein precipitation due to the labor and material costs associated with the process. Here, a novel 96-well SPE plate is described that was designed to minimize the elution volume required for quantitative elution of analytes. The plate is packed with 2 mg of a high-capacity SPE sorbent that allows loading of up to 750 microL of plasma, while the novel design permits elution with as little as 25 microL. Therefore, the plate offers up to a 15-fold increase in sample concentration. The evaporation and reconstitution step that is typically required in SPE is avoided due to the concentrating ability of the plate. Examples of applications in drug discovery/development are shown and results are compared to protein precipitation. Excellent sensitivity and linearity are demonstrated.     

Comparison of the acidity of residual silanol groups in several liquid chromatography columns

The silanol acidity of Waters Resolve C18, Waters Resolve silica, Waters Symmetry C18, Waters Symmetry silica, Waters XTerra MS C18 and underivatized XTerra columns has been measured from the retention of LiNO3 with a methanol/water (60:40) mobile phase buffered to different pH values. The Li+ cation is retained by cationic exchange with the background cation of the mobile phase (Na+) through the ionized silanols. The number of active silanols increases in the order: XTerra MS C18 < Symmetry C18 < underivatized XTerra < Resolve C18 < Resolve silica approximately equal to Symmetry silica. XTerra MS C18 does not present any residual silanol acidity up to s(s)pH 10.0 (pH in 60% methanol) as measured by LiNO3. The underivatized XTerra packing and Symmetry C18 present active silanols only at s(s)pH values higher than 7.0. For the other three columns, two different types of silanols with different acidity (s(s)pKa values about 3.5-4.6 and 6.2-6.8, respectively) have been observed. Symmetry C18 shows evidence of the presence of active basic sites that retain NO3- by anionic exchange.     

Yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as result of UV-irradiation

The yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as a result of UV-irradiation were studied using two different types of xenon lamps (lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2) and lambda>280 nm; I(o)=17.5 mW cm(-2)). Changes in the IR spectra as well as the yellowing of the irradiated wood surfaces show the influence of UV light on the wood modules. The UV-irradiation (72 h; lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2)) decreased the lignin content on the surface by up to 20% of the original values. The colour difference of yellowing (deltaE) exhibited a systematic trend to higher values with increasing irradiation time. Our results show that the photoyellowing (UV-Vis detection) correlates very well with lignin degradation (IR detection). This result is in agreement with the quinone formation as the chromophoric reaction product of lignin decay. The degradation, yellowing, and oxidation kinetics differed only little using different light sources. The absorbed light intensity, which depends on wavelength, the intensity distribution of the light source and the absorption spectrum of lignin, influenced the degradation rate. Under the current experimental conditions, the absorption spectrum of lignin was the most important factor. Therefore, irradiation with lambda>280 nm is useful for rapidly monitoring the UV-degradation of wood     

Three new acid M+ arsenates and phosphates with multiply protonated As/PO4 groups

The crystal structures of caesium dihydrogen arsenate(V) bis[trihydrogen arsenate(V)], Cs(H₂AsO₄)(H₃AsO₄)₂, ammonium dihydrogen arsenate(V) trihydrogen arsenate(V), NH₄(H₂AsO₄)(H₃AsO₄), and dilithium bis(dihydrogen phosphate), Li₂(H₂PO₄)₂, were solved from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. NH₄(H₂AsO₄)(H₃AsO₄), which was hydrothermally synthesized (T = 493 K), is homeotypic with Rb(H₂AsO₄)(H₃AsO₄), while Cs(H₂AsO₄)(H₃AsO₄)₂ crystallizes in a novel structure type and Li₂(H₂PO₄)₂ represents a new polymorph of this composition. The Cs and Li compounds grew at room temperature from highly acidic aqueous solutions. Li₂(H₂PO₄)₂ forms a three‐dimensional (3D) framework of PO₄ tetrahedra sharing corners with Li₂O₆ dimers built of edge‐sharing LiO₄ groups, which is reinforced by hydrogen bonds. The two arsenate compounds are characterized by a 3D network of AsO₄ groups that are connected solely via multiple strong hydrogen bonds. A statistical evaluation of the As—O bond lengths in singly, doubly and triply protonated AsO₄ groups gave average values of 1.70 (2) Å for 199 As—OH bonds, 1.728 (19) Å for As—OH bonds in HAsO₄ groups, 1.714 (12) Å for As—OH bonds in H₂AsO₄ groups and 1.694 (16) Å for As—OH bonds in H₃AsO₄ groups, and a grand mean value of 1.667 (18) Å for As—O bonds to nonprotonated O atoms.     

Spontaneous trans‐Selective Transfer Hydrogenation of Apolar Boron–Boron Double Bonds

The transfer hydrogenation of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐supported diborenes with dimethylamine borane proceeds with high selectivity for the trans‐1,2‐dihydrodiboranes. DFT calculations, supported by kinetic studies and deuteration experiments, suggest a stepwise proton‐first‐hydride‐second reaction mechanism via an intermediate μ‐hydrodiboronium dimethylaminoborate ion pair.