Chiral separation of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and its analogue on molecular imprinting monolithic columns by HPLC

Two molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) monolithic columns with (S)-(-)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and (R)-(+)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol as the templating molecules, respectively, have been prepared by in situ polymerization using 4-vinylpyridine and ethylene dimethacrylate as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. The columns with good flow-through properties were obtained by changing the molar ratio of the functional monomer and the template molecule. The effects of mobile-phase composition on separation of enantiomers were systematically investigated. The results indicate that hydrophobic interaction in aqueous solution and hydrogen-bonding interaction in ACN between the enantiomers and polymers could play important roles in the retention and resolution. The effects of chromatographic conditions, such as flow rate, column temperature, sample loading, on the enantioseparation were also studied. Further, these two MIP columns show a cross-reactivity.     

Molecular potential-energy surfaces for chemical reaction dynamics

This paper reviews the construction of molecular potential-energy surfaces by an interpolation method which has been developed over the last several years. The method uses ab initio quantum chemistry calculations of the molecular electronic energy in an automated procedure to construct global potential- energy surfaces which can be used to simulate chemical reactions with either classical or quantum dynamics. The methodology is explained and several applications are presented to illustrate the approach. Received: 22 February 2002 / Accepted: 2 May 2002 / Published online: 6 November 2002 Correspondence to: M. A. Collins e-mail: collins@rsc.anu.edu.au Acknowledgements. The methods described in this overview are the result of collaborations with former members of my group, in particular with Josef Ischtwan, Meredith Jordon, Keiran Thompson and Ryan Bettens. I am also indebted for inspiration gained from many discussions with my colleagues Leo Radom and Donghui Zhang (National University of Singapore). This work has been supported by the Supercomputer Facility of the Australian National University and the Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing.     

Molecular determinants in the bioactivation of the dopaminergic neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

Summary Nineteen analogs of the dopaminergic neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) have been used as probes to study the structural parameters that influence MAO-catalyzed oxidation. In this study, the efficiency of enzyme-catalyzed substrate oxidation was found to be unrelated to parameters such as the ionization potential, dipole moment, net atomic charge at C5 and the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the tetrahydropyridine moiety. Conformational analysis revealed that substitution at the C2 position of MPTP yields atropisomers. It is suggested that one of these atropisomers would be either inactive or substantially less active than the other. Therefore, the relative oxidative efficiency and toxicity of these compounds reported earlier may have been significantly underestimated. Based on the conformational analysis and other data, a rudimentary model of the MAO substrate site has been developed which partially explains the substrate specificities of MAO A and MAO B.Each substrate binding site can be divided into two regions, (a) an amine-binding pocket (for the tetrahydropyridine moiety), and (b) a bulky substituent region (for the phenyl group and its substituents). The length of the substrate binding site (measured along the long axis of MPTP) is approximately 8.5 Å, and the width of the amine-binding pocket is approximately 2.5 Å (from C3 to C5). The bulky substituent region contains a central area for binding the phenyl group of MPTP. This central area is flanked by two hydrophobic pockets, P2 and P3. In MAO A, the pocket P2-A is oriented 45–135° relative to the plane of the tetrahydropyridine moiety, with a radius of 3.1 Å from C2 of the phenyl ring. The radius of a similar but smaller pocket, P2-B, in MAO B, is approximately 2.7 Å. In MAO B, the pocket P3-B (radius 2.36 Å from C3) is larger than a similar pocket P3-A (radius 1.70 Å from C3) in MAO A. The foregoing characterization suggests that differences in the size and topography of both of the substituent pockets play an important role in determining the substrate specificities of these two isozymes.     

Adsorption of water molecules in slit pores

We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the adsorption of water in attractive and repulsive slit pores, where the slit and a bulk region are in contact with each other. Water structure, surface force and adsorption behavior are investigated as a function of the overall density in the bulk region. The gas–liquid transition in both types of pores occurs at similar densities of the bulk region.     

Reagentless system for sulphite determination based on polyaniline

A new reagentless system for sulphite (or sulphur dioxide) determination is reported based on the use of an organic conducting polymer, polyaniline, and its absorbance variation at 550 nm, depending on the sulphite concentration. After chemical polymerisation of aniline a very thin film of polyaniline is obtained. Although the response is not fully reversible, each film can be used for at least 10 measurements for low analyte concentrations (up to 0.5 mg l⁻¹) and five measurements for higher sulphite concentrations. Moreover, the reproducibility, ease of preparation and low cost of the films, permit the use of a new disposable system for each measurement. When the change in absorbance at 550 nm was measured for 210 s (stabilisation time), the system showed a linear response, which ranged from 0.025 to 1.50 mg l⁻¹ of sulphite. A theory with regard to the reaction mechanism between the polyaniline films and sulphite is also proposed. The system was applied to sulphite determination in wine samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by the Official Method of Analysis (iodometric titration).     

一种测定蛋白质的分子吸收光谱分析新体系

使用四溴荧光素(TBFS)作为蛋白质的染色剂,建立了一种测定蛋白质的分子吸收光谱分析新体系———BSA 四溴荧光素,体系十分简单,BSA浓度在0.11～60.0μg·ml-1范围符合比耳定律;测定15.0μg·ml-1BSA溶液10次,求得相对标准偏差为1.26%,桑德尔灵敏度为0 094μg·cm-2。可直接用于血清样品中蛋白质的测定,测得质量控制血清样品中蛋白质质量为35.4±2.4mg,与标准值36.9mg吻合。回收率在97.0%～108.3%之间,结果满意。     

Asymmetric enolate alkylation via templation with chiral synthetic receptors

C₃-Symmetric chiral receptors have been developed for enantioselective alkylation of sodium enolates of active methylene compounds. It has been demonstrated that a 1:1 binding complex forms between these receptors and sodium enolates in THF-d₈/CD₃CN by ¹H NMR titration experiments. Moderate enantiomeric enrichment of the benzylation product of 2-acetylcyclohexanone has been demonstrated using this strategy. Templation of enolate alkylation by synthetic receptors represents a new approach to asymmetric induction.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 38. Mitt.: Zur Assoziation von Gallenpigmenten

The long standing problem of solvent dependent absorption spectra of certain bile pigments such as bilirubindimethylester has been solved by measurement of molecular masses by means of vapour pressure osmometry. Using this method and the investigation of the concentration and temperature dependence of the absorption spectra on several model compounds an association equilibrium for pigments of the rubinoid structural type could be confirmed. Moreover the optical properties of the coexisting species and the corresponding equilibrium constants could be deduced by spectroscopic techniques. Verdinoid pigments lacking free carboxylic functions on the other hand tend to be monomeric in solution. A heteroassociated species involving equimolar amounts of a verdinoid and a rubinoid pigment could be verified existing on adsorbents like silicagel.

37. Mitt.:Falk, H., Thirring, K., Tetrahedron, im Druck.     

Ground-state energy of a quantum chain with competing interactions

We show rigorously that the ground state of a quantum chain with competing ferromagnetic nearest and antiferromagnetic next nearest interactions undergoes a transition from ferromagnetic to helical type, in the isotropic case, for a certain value of the relevant ratio of coupling constants. Boundaries of the phase diagram are also determined in the anisotropic case. The stability of a special quantum state (corresponding to a classical modulated phase of =/3) is analyzed by an extension of Holstein-Primakoff arguments, along a line of constant ratio of couplings, showing in particular a sequence of (instability) gaps. Finally, a natural adaptation of a variational wave function due to Huse and Elser is used to study several portions of the phase diagram, with very good agreement with previous theoretical results.     

One-Pot Formation of Carbonates from the Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds with Samarium Diiodide and Methyl Chloroformate

Treatment of carbonyl compounds with SmI₂ and methyl chloroformate in the presence of molecular sieves provides the cyclic carbonates or biscarbonates of pinacols. This one-pot reaction proceeds rapidly even with aliphatic ketones. The stereochemistry obtained by this procedure is different from that of conventional pinacolic couplings.