Liquid chromatographic retention behaviour and separation of promethazine and isopromethazine on a β-cyclodextrin bonded-phase column

A liquid chromatographic method for the separation of promethazine (PR) and its positional isomer isopromethazine (IPR) is described.PR is an N-substituted phenothiazine with the actions and the uses of the antihistamines (H1-receptor antagonists). IPR is an impurity in the pharmaceutical preparations of PR and must be controlled at a level below 1%. The liquid chromatographic behaviour of PR and IPR on a hydrolytically stable β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) column with respect to mobile phase composition, pH, ionic strength and the nature of the organic modifier was also investigated. Based on the results, conditions were chosen for the isocratic separation of the two isomers. The proposed separation method is simple and rapid and permits the simultaneous determination of PR and IPR. The separation selectivity of a cyclodextrin bonded-phase column was examined. Special attention was devoted to modelling the inclusion complexes of PR and IPR with β-CD in order to predict their optimum orientation within the β-CD cavity.     

Universal behavior of flexible and wormlike polymers using relations derived from the blob theory and the statistical mechanical theory

The variation of the viscometric expansion factor of macromolecular chains, α_η, as a function of the number of blobs of which these chains consist, N/N_c, obeys a universal law, both for wormlike and for flexible polymers. Using also wormlike and flexible polymers, we show that the factor relating the excluded volume parameter, z, to the static expansion factor, α_G, varies with the number of statistical chain segments, in a universal manner. The universalities appear to be valid below chain lengths required for the appearance of a power law, and they do not seem to have an upper limit in molecular weight. For these two universalities concerning flexible and wormlike polymers we use relations derived from the blob theory [Polymer 20 (1979) 1083] and statistical mechanical theory [J. Chem. Phys. 57 (1972) 2843].     

Investigation for the determination of ultra trace amounts of Co2+ complexed with 1,10-phenanthroline by adsorptive voltammetry

Summary The spontaneous adsorption of the Co²⁺ complex with 1,10-phenanthroline on HMDE was utilized for the development of a voltammetric analytical method employing phase selective alternating current, with first harmonic AC₁ in phase, =0°, voltammetry. The dependence of the analytical voltammetric response on physical and chemical parameters in various supporting electrolytes was investigated in detail. Optimum conditions for Co²⁺ determination were established. The method is very sensitive and selective. The determination limit is 205 ng/l Co²⁺ (adsorption time, t_ads=20 min). The precision and accuracy were evaluated: 1.84 g/l Co²⁺, RSD=3.24%, RE=–0.54%; for 205 ng/l Co²⁺, RSD=4.85%, RE=–3.90%. The results showed good reproducibility and reliabiality. The method was applied to natural waters, wines, mussel tissue and aquatic algae certified reference material.     

Use of Mercury Film Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Electrochemical Analysis of DNA

Mercury film plated on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MF/MWNTs/GCE) was used for the analysis of single (ss) and double stranded (ds) DNA, as well as for Jurkat genomic DNAs methylated to different degrees. The results indicated that the DNA molecules adsorbed quite strongly on the MF/MWNTs/GCE surface allowing ex situ adsorption and produce well developed peaks (due to cytosine and adenine) by using adsorptive stripping (Ads, ex situ) square wave voltammetry (SWV). Also, SWV of Jurkat DNA mixtures methylated to different degrees revealed a linear decrease of the peak height with increasing methylation indicating an increase of structural rigidity.     

High-nuclearity Ce/Mn and Th/Mn cluster chemistry: preparation of complexes with [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6]18+ and [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2]18+ cores

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties are reported of the mixed-metal complexes [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6(O2CPh)16(NO3)2(MeOH)2(H2O)2] (1) and [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2(O2CPh)16-(NO3)2(H2O)8] (2), which were both prepared by the reaction of (NBun4)[Mn4O2(O2CPh)9(H2O)] (3) with a source of the heterometal in MeCN/MeOH. Complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c and the triclinic space group P, respectively. Complex 1 consists of 10 MnIII, 2 CeIII, and 2 CeIV atoms and possesses a very unusual tubular [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6]18+ core. Complex 2 consists of 10 MnIV and 6 ThIV atoms and possesses a [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2]18+ core with the metal atoms arranged in layers with a 2:3:6:3:2 pattern. Peripheral ligation around the cores is provided by 16 bridging benzoates, 2 chelating nitrates, and either (i) 2 each of terminal H2O and MeOH groups in 1 or (ii) 8 terminal H2O groups in 2. Complex 1 is the largest mixed-metal Ce/Mn cluster and the first 3d/4f cluster with mixed-valency in its lanthanide component, while complex 2 is the first Th/Mn cluster and the largest mixed transition metal/actinide cluster to date. Solid-state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 establish that they possess S = 4 and 3 ground states, respectively. Ac susceptibility studies on 1 revealed nonzero frequency-dependent out-of-phase (chiM' ') signals at temperatures below 3 K; complex 2 displays no chiM' ' signals. However, single-crystal magnetization vs dc field scans at variable temperatures and variable sweep-rates down to 0.04 K on 1 revealed no noticeable hysteresis loops, except very minor ones at 0.04 K assignable to weak intermolecular interactions propagated by hydrogen bonds involving CeIII-bound ligands. Complex 1 is thus concluded not to be a single-molecule magnet (SMM), and the combined results thus represent a caveat against taking such ac signals as sufficient proof of a SMM.     

A novel catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of germanium ultratraces in the presence of chloranilic acid and the V(IV)·HEDTA complex

A novel, sensitive catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure which can be used to determine trace amounts of germanium is described. The method is based on the interfacial accumulation of the complex formed by Ge(IV) and the product of the reduction of chloranilic acid on the hanging mercury drop electrode or the renewable silver amalgam film electrode, and its subsequent reduction from the adsorbed state followed by the catalytic action of the V(IV)·HEDTA complex. The presence of V(IV)·HEDTA greatly enhances the adsorptive stripping response of Ge. The reduction of the Ge(IV) in the presence of chloranilic acid and V(IV)·HEDTA was investigated in detail and the effects of pH, electrolyte composition, and instrumental parameters were studied. Under optimal conditions, the catalytic peak current of germanium exhibited good linearity for Ge(IV) concentrations in the range of 0.75–60 nM (for 60 s of accumulation at −0.1 V, r² = 0.995) and a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.085 nM). The procedure was successfully applied to determine Ge in water samples.

     

Laminarin Induces Defense Responses and Efficiently Controls Olive Leaf Spot Disease in Olive

Olive leaf spot (OLS) caused by Fusicladium oleagineum is mainly controlled using copper fungicides. However, the replacement of copper-based products with eco-friendly alternatives is a priority. The use of plant resistance-inducers (PRIs) or biological control agents (BCAs) could contribute in this direction. In this study we investigated the potential use of three PRIs (laminarin, acibenzolar-S-methyl, harpin) and a BCA (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24) for the management of OLS. The tested products provided control efficacy higher than 68%. In most cases, dual applications provided higher (p < 0.05) control efficacies compared to that achieved by single applications. The highest control efficacy of 100% was achieved by laminarin. Expression analysis of the selected genes by RT-qPCR revealed different kinetics of induction. In laminarin-treated plants, for most of the tested genes a higher induction rate (p < 0.05) was observed at 3 days post application. Pal, Lox, Cuao and Mpol were the genes with the higher inductions in laminarin-treated and artificially inoculated plants. The results of this study are expected to contribute towards a better understanding of PRIs in olive culture and the optimization of OLS control, while they provide evidence for potential contributions in the reduction of copper accumulation in the environment.     

First Synthesis of the Inherently Chiral Trans-4′ Bisadduct of C59N Azafullerene by Using Cyclo-[2]-dodecylmalonate as a Tether

The multiaddition chemistry of azafullerene C₅₉N has been scarcely explored, and the isolation of pure bisadducts is in its infancy. Encouraged by the recent regioselective synthesis of the inherently chiral equatorial_face bisadduct of C₅₉N, we focused on the isolation of the first trans-4 bisadduct in a simple two-step approach. The first regioselective synthesis of the trans-4 bisadduct of C₅₉N by using cyclo-[2]-dodecylmalonate as a tether is now reported. The newly synthesized bisadduct has C₁ symmetry, as evidenced by ¹³C NMR, while X-ray crystallography validated the trans-4′ addition pattern. Furthermore, the inherently chiral trans-4′ C₅₉N bisadduct was enantiomerically resolved, and the mirror-image relation of the two enantiomers was probed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Finally, UV-Vis and redox assays suggested that the addition pattern has a reflection in the light-harvesting and redox properties of the bisadduct.     

Flow and Sequential Injection Manifolds for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Captopril Based on its Oxidation by Fe(III)

 Two new simple and rapid methods are reported for the accurate and precise spectrophotometric determination of captopril (CPL) using flow (FI) and sequential injection (SI) analysis. The methods are based on the fast oxidation of CPL by Fe(III). The produced Fe(II) reacts with 2,2′-dipyridyl-2-pyridylhydrazone (DPPH) in acidic medium to form a colored complex which is monitored spectrophotometrically at 535 nm. Both methods allow the determination of the analyte up to 1000 mg L⁻¹ at a sampling rate of 120 and 60 injections per hour for FI and SI, respectively. The methods are very precise [s _r=0.8 and 1.2% at 500 mg L⁻¹ CPL (n=12) for FI and SI, respectively] and the 3σ detection limits (c _L=4.0 and 7.0 mg L¹, respectively) are quite satisfactory. Their application to a variety of anti-hypertensive commercial pharmaceutical formulations showed excellent results (relative errors, e _r, < ± 1.6% in all cases compared to an official HPLC method), while common pharmaceutical excipients were found not to interfere. Recovery experiments further verified the accuracy of the developed methods, as the percent recoveries were in the range of 98.1–102.5%. Author for correspondence. E-mail: themelis@chem.auth.gr Received May 9, 2002; accepted January 8, 2003 Published online May 5, 2003     

Surface immobilization of bio-functionalized cubosomes: sensing of proteins by quartz crystal microbalance

A strategy for tethering lipid liquid crystalline submicrometer particles (cubosomes) to a gold surface for the detection of proteins is reported. Time-resolved quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) was used to monitor the cubosome-protein interaction in real time. To achieve specific binding, cubosomes were prepared from the nonionic surfactant phytantriol, block-copolymer, Pluronic F-127, and a secondary biotinylated lipid, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[biotinyl(polyethyleneglycol)-2000], which enabled attachment of the particles to a neutravidin (NAv)-alkanethiol monolayer at the gold surface of the QCM sensor chip. A second set of cubosomes was further functionalized with addition of the glycolipid (G(M1)) to facilitate a specific binding uptake of the protein, cholera toxin B subunit (CT(B)), from solution. QCM-D confirmed the specificity of the cubosome-NAv binding. The analysis of titration experiments, also performed with QCM, suggests that an optimal concentration of cubosomes is required for the efficient packing of the particles at the surface: high cubosome concentrations lead to chaotic cubosome binding onto the surface, sterically inhibiting surface attachment, or require significant reorganization to permit uniform cubosome coverage. The methodology enabled the straightforward preparation of a complex nanostructured edifice, which was then used to specifically capture analyte proteins (cholera toxin B subunit or free NAv) from solution, supporting the potential for development of this approach as a biosensing platform.