Identification of metabolites of halofantrine, a new candidate anti-malarial drug, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Two previously unknown metabolites of halofantrine, a candidate anti-malarial drug, have been isolated by thin-layer chromatography from the plasma of dogs administered a single oral dose of 60 mg/kg. Their identifies were investigated after trimethylsilylation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry under electron-impact and negative-ion chemical ionization conditions. The structural assignment was further confirmed by using a combination of elemental composition analysis of all the isotope peaks at low mass resolution and isotope pattern matching. These two metabolites were formed by modification of the dibutylaminopropyl side-chain of the parent compound involving deamination and oxidation or reduction.     

The Spirit Is Willing: Nonlinearity, Bifurcations, and Mental Control

In recent years there has been considerable interest in the construction of nonlinear models of the dynamics of human behavior. In this exploratory article we argue that attempts at controlling problematic thoughts, emotions, or behaviors can lead to nonlinearity in mental/behavioral dynamics. We illustrate our model by fitting threshold autoregression models to self-recorded time series of the daily highs in intensity of anxiety and obsessive ruminations, kept by an individual in therapy for this problem. In our discussion, we raise the possibility that bifurcations that occur in this nonlinear model may offer insight into mental control paradoxes.     

Nonlinear decrease of background fluorescence in polymer thin-films - a survey of materials and how they can complicate fluorescence detection in microTAS

Polymers and plastics are receiving increased attention as materials for microfluidics and microTAS applications. Given the ubiquity of fluorescence detection techniques in micro-analytical systems, the fluorescence properties of polymers and plastics should not be overlooked. We survey some commonly available polymer thin-films for their fluorescence behaviour under standardized conditions to determine which materials are most suitable for high-sensitivity fluorescence detection lab chips. The initial fluorescence intensities of some of the materials surveyed were significantly higher than glass and fused silica controls, and decreased over the three hour period with complex kinetics. We then discuss how this has confounded fluorescence detection in our analytical context, and possible mechanisms for the decrease.     

A novel oxygen and/or carbon dioxide-sensitive optical transducer

A novel oxygen (O(2)) and/or carbon dioxide (CO(2))-sensitive transducer for the measurement of both gaseous O(2) and CO(2) over the concentration ranges of O(2), 0-100% and CO(2), 0-10% has been described employing a solution of 10.6 muM fluorescein (FL) and 190 muM potassium hydroxide in a solvent mixtures of 1:1 (v/v) N,N'-diethylaniline (DEA) and N,N-dimethylformamide. Increasing O(2) concentrations cause the absorbance of the solution at a wavelength of 400 nm to increase owing to a contact charge transfer reaction existing between O(2) and DEA molecules, and increasing CO(2) concentrations produce a non-linear fall in absorbance at 520 nm as the colour of FL changes from its orange dianion form to the colourless neutral, lactonic form. Both processes are independent of each other and reversible. The response to changes in O(2) concentrations is in good agreement with Beer-Lambert's law and the response to changes in CO(2) concentrations in non-linear. A fibre optic sensing system based on this solvent-dye solution has been set up for continuous and reversible determination of both gaseous O(2) and CO(2). Possible applications include environmental and physiological monitoring of O(2) over the ranges of 0-100% and CO(2), 0-10%.     

Nonpeptide inhibitors of cathepsin G: optimization of a novel beta-ketophosphonic acid lead by structure-based drug design

The serine protease cathepsin G (EC 3.4.21.20; Cat G), which is stored in the azurophilic granules of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) and released on degranulation, has been implicated in various pathological conditions associated with inflammation. By employing high-throughput screening, we identified beta-ketophosphonic acid 1 as a moderate inhibitor of Cat G (IC(50) = 4.1 microM). We were fortunate to obtain a cocrystal of 1 with Cat G and solve its structure by X-ray crystallography (3.5 A). Structural details from the X-ray analysis of 1.Cat G served as a platform for optimization of this lead compound by structure-based drug design. With the aid of molecular modeling, substituents were attached to the 3-position of the 2-naphthyl ring of 1, which occupies the S1 pocket of Cat G, to provide an extension into the hydrophobic S3 region. Thus, we arrived at analogue 7 with an 80-fold potency improvement over 1 (IC(50) = 53 nM). From these results, it is evident that the beta-ketophosphonic acid unit can form the basis for a novel class of serine protease inhibitors.     

Flexible cofacial binuclear metal complexes derived from alpha,alpha-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene

The tetradentate Schiff-base ligand SIXH2 (alpha,alpha-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene), prepared from salicylaldehyde and m-xylylenediamine, forms cofacial binuclear complexes with Pd and Cu. Of the two isomers possible (trans-syn and trans-anti) for M2(SIX)2, these complexes crystallize exclusively as the trans-anti isomer. In ansolvous Pd2(SIX)2, the metal-containing planes are approximately parallel, with PdPd 4.416(1) A. Pd2(SIX)2 also forms a crystalline solvate, in which the molecules adopt a more open conformation with longer metal-metal distances (5.109(1) and 5.112(1) A). The M...M distance is significantly longer in Cu2(SIX)2 (6.653(1) A), because of conformational changes in the m-xylylene moieties and substantial tetrahedral distortion about Cu.     

Dielectric and13C NMR studies of the carbon monoxide clathrate hydrate

The structure I clathrate hydrate of carbon monoxide has been studied using dielectric measurements and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Broad, weak dielectric absorption curves with maxima at 2.2–3.8 K yieldE _a = 0.14 kJ mol^–1 for the average Arrhenius activation energy associated with the reorientation of the low polarity guest. Except for H₂S this represents the fastest reorienting polar guest known among the clathrate hydrates. The low temperature dielectric absorption curves can best be fitted with a Cole-Davidson asymmetric distribution of relaxation times and activation energies (with = 0.06 at 4 × 10⁶ Hz), which at 10⁷ Hz has been resolved into a double symmetric distribution of discrete relaxation times for CO in the small and large cages. The cross-polarization magic angle spinning¹³C NMR spectra indicate identical chemical shifts for CO in the small and large cages, in contrast to other hydrates. The static spectra show that the CO molecules undergo anisotropic reorientation in the large cages and that there is still considerable mobility at 77 K. One possible model for the anisotropic motion has the CO rapidly moving among sites over each of the 14 faces of the cage with the CO axis orientated towards the cage centre. The cage occupancy ratio at 220 K, _s/ _L = 1.11, indicates slightly greater preference of CO for the small cage.Dedicated to Dr D. W. Davidson in honor of his great contributions to the sciences of inclusion phenomena.