Development of novel NMR pulse sequences

To elucidate the structures of orgamc molecules in solution using pulse FT NMR, heteronuclear pulse sequence experiments to probe carbon-13 (13C) and proton (1H) spin systems are invaluable. The one-dimensional insensitive nucleus detected PENDANT experiment finds popular use for structure determination via one-bond 13C-1H scalar couplings. PENDANT facilitates the desired increase in 13C signal-to-noise ratio, and unlike many other pulse sequence experiments (e.g., refocused INEPT and DEPT), allows the simultaneous detection of 13C quaternary nuclei. The tlrst chapter herein details the characterisation of PENDANT and the successful rectification of spectral anomalies that occur when it is used without proton broadband decoupling. Multiple-bond (long-range) l3C-1H scalar coupling correlations can yield important bonding information. When the molecule under scrutiny is devoid of proton spectral crowding, and more sensitive 'inverse' pulse sequence experiments are not available, one may use insensitive nucleus detected long-range selective one-dimensional correlation methods, rather than more time consuming and insensitive multidimensional analogues. To this end a novel long-range selective one-dimensional correlation pulse sequence experiment has been invented. Based on PENDANT, the new experiment is shown to rival the popular selective INEPT technique because it can determine the same correlations while simultaneously detecting isolated 13C quaternary nuclei. INEPT cannot facilitate this, potentially leaving other important quaternary nuclei undetected. The novel sequence has been modified further to yield a second novel experiment that simultaneously yields selective 13C transient nOe data. Consequently, the need to perform the two experiments back-to-back is conveniently removed, and the experimental time reduced. Finally, the SNARE pulse sequence was further developed. SNARE facilitates the reduction of experimental time by accelerating the relaxation of protons upon which pulse sequences, to which SNARE is appended, relies. It is shown, contrary to the original publication, that reiaxation time savings can be derived from negative nOes.

Solvent induced NMR chemical shifts that arise from molecular encounters

Recently Homer and Percival have postulated that intermolecular van der Waals dispersion forces can be characterized by three mechanisms. The first arises via the mean square reaction field < R1; 2> due to the transient dipole of a particular solute molecule that is considered situated in a cavity surrounded by solvent molecules; this was characterized by an extended Onsager approach. The second stems from the extra cavity mean square reaction field < R2; 2> of the near neighbour solvent molecules. The third originates from square field electric fields E2BI due to a newly characterized effect in which solute atoms are `buffeted' by the peripheral atoms of adjacent solvent molecules. The present work concerns more detailed studies of the buffeting screening, which is governed by sterically controlled parameter (2T - T)2, where and are geometric structural parameters. The original approach is used to characterise the buffeting shifts induced by large solvent molecules and the approach is found to be inadequate. Consequently, improved methods of calculating and are reported. Using the improved approach it is shown that buffeting is dependent on the nature of the solvent as well as the nature of the solute molecule. Detailed investigation of the buffeting component of the van der Waals chemical shifts of selected solutes in a range of solvents containing either H or Cl as peripheral atoms have enabled the determination of a theoretical acceptable value for the classical screening coefficient B for protons. 1H and 13C resonance studies of tetraethylmethane and 1H, 13C and 29Si resonance studies of TMS have been used to support the original contention that three (< R1; 2> , < R2; 2> and E2BI) components of intermolecular van der Waals dispersion fields are required to characterise vdW chemical shifts.

The use of driven equilibrium conditions in the measurement of NMR relaxation times

The further development of the use of NMR relaxation times in chemical, biological and medical research has perhaps been curtailed by the length of time these measurements often take. The DESPOT (Driven Equilibrium Single Pulse Observation of T1) method has been developed, which reduces the time required to make a T1 measurement by a factor of up to 100. The technique has been studied extensively herein and the thesis contains recommendations for its successful experimental application. Modified DESPOT type equations for use when T2 relaxation is incomplete or where off-resonance effects are thought to be significant are also presented. A recently reported application of the DESPOT technique to MR imaging gave good initial results but suffered from the fact that the images were derived from spin systems that were not driven to equilibrium. An approach which allows equilibrium to be obtained with only one non-acquisition sequence is presented herein and should prove invaluable in variable contrast imaging. A DESPOT type approach has also been successfully applied to the measurement of T1. T_1's can be measured, using this approach significantly faster than by the use of the classical method. The new method also provides a value for T1 simultaneously and therefore the technique should prove valuable in intermediate energy barrier chemical exchange studies. The method also gives rise to the possibility of obtaining simultaneous T1 and T1 MR images. The DESPOT technique depends on rapid multipulsing at nutation angles, normally less than 90^o. Work in this area has highlighted the possible time saving for spectral acquisition over the classical technique (90^o-5T_1)_n. A new method based on these principles has been developed which permits the rapid multipulsing of samples to give T_1 and M_0 ratio information. The time needed, however, is only slightly longer than would be required to determine the M_0 ratio alone using the classical technique. In ^1H decoupled ^13C spectroscopy the method also gives nOe ratio information for the individual absorptions in the spectrum.

Towards NIR emission: 2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)pyridine as versatile ligand for the synthesis of two new families of cationic and neutral Ir(III) complexes.

In the last decades, cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes have drawn a large interest for their unique properties: they are excellent triplet state emitters, thus the emission is phosphorescent in nature; typically high quantum yields and good stability make them good candidates for luminescent materials. Moreover, through an opportune choice of the ligands, it is possible to tune the emission along the whole visible spectra. Thanks to these interesting features, Ir(III) complexes have found different applications in several areas of applied science, from OLEDs to bioimaging. In particular, regarding the second application, a remarkable red-shift in the emission is required, in order to minimize the problem of the tissue penetration and the possible damages for the organisms. With the aim of synthesizing a new family of NIR emitting Ir(III) complexes, we envisaged the possibility to use for the first time 2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)pyridine as bidentate ligand able to provide the required red-shift of the emission of the final complexes. Exploiting the versatility of the ligand, I prepared two different families of heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes. In detail, in the first case the 2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)pyridine was used as bis-chelating N^N ligand, leading to cationic complexes, while in the second case it was used as cyclometalating C^N ligand, giving neutral complexes. The structures of the prepared molecules have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Moreover, the neutral complexes’ emissive properties have been measured: emission spectra have been recorded in solution at both room temperature and 77K, as well as in PMMA matrix. DFT calculation has then been performed and the obtained results have been compared to experimental ones.

(E)-2-[2-(2-Aminofenil)vinil]-1-metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona como precursor de novos compostos heterociclicos

Esta dissertação reporta a síntese de novos derivados de 4-quinolonas com potencial atividade biológica e está dividida em 3 capítulos. No primeiro capítulo é feita uma breve introdução aos compostos do tipo 4quinolona, azepina e indol, focando a nomenclatura, atividade biológica e métodos de síntese mais comuns deste tipo de compostos, e é apresentada a nomenclatura dos compostos sintetizados ao longo deste trabalho. No segundo capítulo são descritas as metodologias desenvolvidas para obtenção dos compostos pretendidos. Foram sintetizados novos derivados de 4-quinolonas via reações de N-metilação seguida de ciclização in situ da (E)-N(2-acetilfenil)-3-(2-nitrofenil)acrilamida, via reações de redução da 1-metil-2-[2(2-nitrofenil)vinil]quinolin-4(1H)-ona e reações de halogenação da 1-metil-2-[2(2-nitrofenil)vinil]quinolin-4(1H)-ona e da 2-[2-(2-aminofenil)vinil]-1metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona. Posteriormente, fizeram-se estudos de reatividade da 1-metil-2-[2-(2-nitrofenil)vinil]quinolin-4(1H)-ona e da 2-[2-(2-aminofenil)vinil]-3bromo-1-metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona. Na reação de redução in situ seguida de ciclização intramolecular da 1-metil-2-[2-(2-nitrofenil)vinil]quinolin-4(1H)-ona obteve-se a 2-(1H-indol-2-il)-1-metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona. Partindo da 2-[2-(2aminofenil)vinil]-3-bromo-1-metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona via reações de BuchwaldHartwig obteve-se a 11-metil-5H-benzo[6,7]azepino[3,2-b]quinolin-6(11H)-ona. Novas N-[2-(2-(3-bromo-1-metil-4-oxo-1,4-di-hidroquinolin-2il)vinil)fenil]alquilamidas foram obtidas via reações de acilação da 2-[2-(2aminofenil)vinil]-3-bromo-1-metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona em piridina seca usando diferentes cloretos de acilo. Numa tentativa de ciclização intramolecular da N[2-(2-(3-bromo-1-metil-4-oxo-1,4-di-hidroquinolin-2-il)vinil)fenil]-hexanamida via reação de Ullmann intramolecular foi obtida a 2-(1-hexanoil-1H-indol-2-il)-1metilquinolin-4(1H)-ona. Após a descrição detalhada das metodologias de síntese são apresentadas as principais conclusões deste trabalho e perspectivas futuras. Por último, no terceiro capítulo, são apresentados os procedimentos experimentais usados para obtenção dos compostos sintetizados e os dados relativos à sua caracterização estrutural, que foi sendo discutida ao longo do segundo capítulo. Os compostos sintetizados foram caracterizados por espetroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear monodimensional (1H e 13C) e bidimensional (HSQC, HMBC) e por espetrometria de massa e sempre que possível por espetrometria de massa de alta resolução.

Síntese de novas 3,4-diidropirimidin-2(1H)-onas graxas e estudo da atividade antitumoral

Neste trabalho foi realizada a síntese de novas 3,4-diidropirimidinonas funcionalizadas com diferentes cadeias graxas. Para a síntese destes compostos os β-cetoésteres graxos foram obtidos a partir da transesterificação do acetoacetato de metila na presença dos álcoois palmítico (2a), esteárico (2b) e oleico (2c), utilizando como catalisador I2 e ácido sulfâmico (NH3SO3). Os compostos foram obtidos com rendimentos de 97%, 90% e 60%, respectivamente. Após, a reação multicomponente de Biginelli foi realizada na presença de InCl3 utilizando os β- cetoésteres graxos 3a-c, os aldeídos aromáticos, benzaldeído, 3-hidroxi benzaldeído e 4-dimetilaminobenzaldeído, na presença de uréia ou tiouréia, levando às 3,4- diidropirimidinonas graxas 5-substituídas 6-11a-c em rendimentos que variaram entre 60–94%. Todos os compostos, ainda inéditos na literatura, foram caracterizados por espectroscopia de infravermelho (IV) e ressonância magnética nuclear de hidrogênio (RMN ¹H) e carbono (RMN ¹³C). A análise do efeito das novas 3,4-diidropirimidin-2(1H)-onas graxas pelo método do MTT na linhagem de glioma C6 rato e UG-138 humana demonstrou uma maior diminuição da viabilidade celular para os compostos graxos contendo as cadeias palmítica e oleica derivados da tiouréia e do 3-hidroxi benzaldeído, respectivamente. Comportamento semelhante foi observado para os compostos contendo as cadeias palmítica e oleica, porém derivados da uréia. Uma diminuição significativa da viabilidade celular, porém em menor grau, foi observada para os compostos graxos contendo as cadeias palmítica e oleica derivados da uréia e do benzaldeído. Os resultados mostraram até o momento que os derivados graxos contendo a cadeia oleica na posição 5 do anel diidropirimídinico derivado do 3- hidroxi benzaldeído e da tiouréia apresentaram maior atividade na diminuição da viabilidade celular de linhagem de glioma.

Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid in first-episode psychosis : a 1H-MRS study

Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that has been used in a range of neuropsychiatric conditions with some benefits. However, its mechanism of action is unknown. Here, we investigate its effects on in vivo brain metabolism in first-episode psychosis (FEP). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T was performed in the temporal lobes of 24 FEP patients before and after 12 weeks of treatment in the context of a larger double-blind, placebo-controlled E-EPA augmentation study. Treatment group effects for glutathione (F1,12=6.1, p=0.03), and a hemisphere-by-group interaction for glutamine/glutamate (F1,20=4.4, p=0.049) were found. Glutathione increased bilaterally and glutamate/glutamine increased in the left hemisphere following E-EPA administration. Improvement in negative symptoms correlated with metabolic brain changes, particularly glutathione (r=-0.57). These results suggest that E-EPA augmentation alters glutathione availability and modulates the glutamine/glutamate cycle in early psychosis, with some of the metabolic brain changes being correlated with negative symptom improvement. Larger confirmatory studies of these postulated metabolic brain effects of E-EPA are warranted.

A 1H-MRS investigation of the medial temporal lobe in antipsychotic-naïve and early-treated first episode psychosis

Schizophrenia is associated with significant brain abnormalities, including changes in brain metabolites as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). What remains unclear is the extent to which these changes are a consequence of the emergence of psychotic disorders or the result of treatment with antipsychotic medication. We assessed 34 patients with first episode psychosis (15 antipsychotic naïve) and 19 age- and gender-matched controls using short-echo MRS in the medial temporal lobe bilaterally. Overall, there were no differences in any metabolite, regardless of treatment status. However, when the analysis was limited to patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder, significant elevations of creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr/PCr) and myo-inositol (mI) were found in the treated group. These data indicate a relative absence of temporal lobe metabolic abnormalities in first episode psychosis, but suggest that some treatment-related changes in mI might be apparent in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses. Seemingly illness-related Cr/PCr elevations were also specific to the diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and seem worthy of future study.

A study of water binding, mobility and dehydration in contact lens hydrogels using NMR

Hydrogel polymers are used for the manufacture of soft (or disposable) contact lenses worldwide today, but have a tendency to dehydrate on the eye. In vitro methods that can probe the potential for a given hydrogel polymer to dehydrate in vivo are much sought after. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been shown to be effective in characterising water mobility and binding in similar systems (Barbieri, Quaglia et al., 1998, Larsen, Huff et al., 1990, Peschier, Bouwstra et al., 1993), predominantly through measurement of the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), the spinspin relaxation time (T2) and the water diffusion coefficient (D). The aim of this work was to use NMR to quantify the molecular behaviour of water in a series of commercially available contact lens hydrogels, and relate these measurements to the binding and mobility of the water, and ultimately the potential for the hydrogel to dehydrate. As a preliminary study, in vitro evaporation rates were measured for a set of commercial contact lens hydrogels. Following this, comprehensive measurement of the temperature and water content dependencies of T1, T2 and D was performed for a series of commercial hydrogels that spanned the spectrum of equilibrium water content (EWC) and common compositions of contact lenses that are manufactured today. To quantify material differences, the data were then modelled based on theory that had been used for similar systems in the literature (Walker, Balmer et al., 1989, Hills, Takacs et al., 1989). The differences were related to differences in water binding and mobility. The evaporative results suggested that the EWC of the material was important in determining a material's potential to dehydrate in this way. Similarly, the NMR water self-diffusion coefficient was also found to be largely (if not wholly) determined by the WC. A specific binding model confirmed that the we was the dominant factor in determining the diffusive behaviour, but also suggested that subtle differences existed between the materials used, based on their equilibrium we (EWC). However, an alternative modified free volume model suggested that only the current water content of the material was important in determining the diffusive behaviour, and not the equilibrium water content. It was shown that T2 relaxation was dominated by chemical exchange between water and exchangeable polymer protons for materials that contained exchangeable polymer protons. The data was analysed using a proton exchange model, and the results were again reasonably correlated with EWC. Specifically, it was found that the average water mobility increased with increasing EWe approaching that of free water. The T1 relaxation was also shown to be reasonably well described by the same model. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this work is that the hydrogel EWe is an important parameter, which largely determines the behaviour of water in the gel. Higher EWe results in a hydrogel with water that behaves more like bulk water on average, or is less strongly 'bound' on average, compared with a lower EWe material. Based on the set of materials used, significant differences due to composition (for materials of the same or similar water content) could not be found. Similar studies could be used in the future to highlight hydrogels that deviate significantly from this 'average' behaviour, and may therefore have the least/greatest potential to dehydrate on the eye.

Photo-cross-linked poly(D,L-lactide)-based networks. Structural characterization by HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy and hydrolytic degradation behavior

To date, biodegradable networks and particularly their kinetic chain lengths have been characterized by analysis of their degradation products in solution. We characterize the network itself by NMR analysis in the solvent-swollen state under magic angle spinning conditions. The networks were prepared by photoinitiated cross-linking of poly(dl-lactide)−dimethacrylate macromers (5 kg/mol) in the presence of an unreactive diluent. Using diffusion filtering and 2D correlation spectroscopy techniques, all network components are identified. By quantification of network-bound photoinitiator fragments, an average kinetic chain length of 9 ± 2 methacrylate units is determined. The PDLLA macromer solution was also used with a dye to prepare computer-designed structures by stereolithography. For these networks structures, the average kinetic chain length is 24 ± 4 methacrylate units. In all cases the calculated molecular weights of the polymethacrylate chains after degradation are maximally 8.8 kg/mol, which is far below the threshold for renal clearance. Upon incubation in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C, the networks show a similar mass loss profile in time as linear high-molecular-weight PDLLA (HMW PDLLA). The mechanical properties are preserved longer for the PDLLA networks than for HMW PDLLA. The initial tensile strength of 47 ± 2 MPa does not decrease significantly for the first 15 weeks, while HMW PDLLA lost 85 ± 5% of its strength within 5 weeks. The physical properties, kinetic chain length, and degradation profile of these photo-cross-linked PDLLA networks make them most suited materials for orthopedic applications and use in (bone) tissue engineering.