Adsorption of heptane-toluene binary mixtures on a hydrophobic polymer surface.

Polymer coatings offer a means to modulate the adsorption of molecules onto solid surfaces by offering a surface functionality, charge, roughness, and hydrophobicity that is different from the underlying substrate. One application is to provide anti-fouling functions for metal surfaces. Understanding solvent-surface interactions is an essential component to gaining mechanistic insight into the adsorption process.

Phenol-selective mass spectrometric analysis of jet fuel.

Bromobenzyl compounds react selectively with phenols via the Williamson ether synthesis. An imidazolium charge-tagged bromobenzyl compound can be used to reveal phenol impurities in jet fuel by analysis via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The complex matrix as revealed by Cold EI GC/MS analysis is reduced to a few simple sets of compounds in the charge-tagged ESI mass spectrum, primarily substituted phenols and thiols.

Selective mass spectrometric analysis of thiols using charge-tagged disulfides.

A simple chemical derivatization technique was developed for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in which thiols and disulfides may be selectively analyzed in a complex matrix and easily characterized. These reagents enhance detection of thiols and disulfides solely due to the nature of the charge-tag derivatization agent and therefore does not require an isotopically labelled substrate. The charged disulfides readily and exclusively react with thiols in a complex matrix in a short amount of time.

Study of alkyl phosphates in industrial petroleum mixtures by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Dialkyl phosphate esters used as gellants in some oil well fracturing processes for conventional oil production can result in contamination of the collected crude. Though the exact mechanism is unclear, such compounds form volatile phosphorus that compromises refinery processes. Our initial research involved producing a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic method (GC × GC) for the detection and quantification of alkyl phosphate esters in petroleum samples, which surpassed the current method employed in sensitivity and speciation capabilities.

Studies on the stereoselective synthesis of C-allyl glycosides.

An investigation was carried out to explore the use of sulfoxide donors as common precursors to stereoisomeric C-glycoconjugates of glycoprotein and glycolipid tumor antigens. A study focusing on the effects of reaction conditions and substrate structure on the stereoselectivity of allylation was carried out. Although conditions were realized to selectively afford alpha-allylation products in good to excellent yields, the search for conditions favoring beta-selectivity proved less successful.

Development of co- and post-translational synthetic strategies to C-neoglycopeptides.

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of stable, C-linked analogues of glycopeptides is being investigated with two complementary synthetic strategies, co-translational and post-translational glycopeptide synthesis. The key feature of the present approach lies in an effective olefin cross-metathesis reaction that allows formation of both glycoamino acids and glycopeptides.

Design and synthesis of a new class of nonmacrocyclic alkali metal host compounds.

A new class of nonmacrocyclic metal ion hosts has been examined that features a polyspirocyclic framework that offers a 1,3,5-triaxial presentation of ligating centers. These compounds are easily synthesized and exploit stereoelectronic influences to preorganize the metal ion binding site. While compounds bearing oxygen substituents (X = OH, OMe) failed to show appreciable binding of alkali metals, the aminated host (X = NHBn) exhibitied strong binding with association constants (K(a)) greater than 10(7)-10(8) as measured by picrate extraction analysis.

Microbial aldolases and transketolases: new biocatalytic approaches to simple and complex sugars.

Enzymes have become exceedingly valuable tools in organic synthesis as the reactions they catalyze generally proceed under mild conditions and in high stereo- and regioselectivity. Advances in microbiology and genetic engineering have greatly increased the availability of various enzymes. One of the most useful applications of enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformations is in the synthesis of water-soluble, polyfunctional organic molecules such as carbohydrates.

A selective cholesterol-dependent induction of H+/OH- currents in phospholipid vesicles by amphotericin B.

The effect of amphotericin B on the proton/hydroxide permeability of small unilamellar vesicles has been investigated by using potential-dependent paramagnetic probes. Amphotericin B at 1-10 molecules/vesicle causes a modest 4-8-fold increase in the background H+/OH- permeability of egg phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) vesicles. However, in the presence of cholesterol, amphotericin B promotes a dramatic increase in the H+/OH- permeability of more than 2 orders of magnitude.