Organofluorine Isoselenocyanate Analogues of Sulforaphane: Synthesis and Anticancer Activity.

A series of previously unknown sulforaphane analogues with organofluorine substituents bonded to the sulfinyl sulfur atom, an isoselenocyanate moiety in place of the isothiocyanate group, the central sulfur atom in various oxidation states, and different numbers of methylene groups in the central alkyl chain were synthesized and fully characterized. All new compounds were tested for their biological properties in vitro and demonstrated much higher anticancer activity against two breast cancer cell lines than that shown by native sulforaphane; at the same time, the compounds were less toxic for normal cells. The influence of the particular structural changes in the molecules on the cytotoxicity is discussed.

New enantiomeric fluorine-containing derivatives of sulforaphane: synthesis, absolute configurations and biological activity.

Three pairs of enantiomers of the unknown sulforaphane analogs bearing organofluorine substituents bonded to the sulfinyl sulfur atom and having different number of methylene groups in the central carbon chain were synthesized and fully characterized, including determination of their absolute configurations. All the new compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxicity against melanoma cells to show increased activity in comparison with the natural sulforaphane. The influence of the particular structural changes in the molecule on the cytotoxicity is discussed.

First optically active selenurane oxide: resolution of C(2)-symmetric 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi [3h,2,1]-benzoxaselenole oxide.

The enantiomers of the first optically active selenurane oxide ever reported, C(2)-symmetric 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi[3h,2,1]-benzoxaselenole oxide, were isolated via enantioselective liquid chromatography of the racemate or by spontaneous resolution that occurs during the slow evaporation of its acetonitrile solution or the slow crystallization from the same solvent.

Simultaneous analysis of biologically active aminoalkanephosphonic acids.

A new approach for simultaneous analysis of biologically active aminoalkanephosphonic acids, namely glyphosate, phosphonoglycine, phosphonosarcosine, phosphonoalanine, phosphono-beta-alanine, phosphonohomoalanine, phosphono-gamma-homoalanine and glufosinate, is presented. This includes a preliminary 31p NMR analysis of these amino acids, their further derivatization to volatile phosphonates (phosphinates) by means of trifluoroacetic acid-trifluoroacetic anhydride-trimethyl orthoacetate reagent and subsequent analysis of derivatization products using MS and/or GC-MS (chemical ionization and/or electron impact ionization).

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of phosphocarnitine enantiomers.

Racemic phosphocarnitine 3 has been synthesized starting from diethyl 3-chloro-2-oxopropanephosphonate 4 in three steps involving reduction of 4 to the corresponding 2-hydroxyphosphonate 5, conversion of the latter to phosphonic acid 6, and final reaction with trimethylamine, affording the trimethylammonium salt of 3. Baker's yeast reduction of 4 and enzymatic kinetic resolution of (+/-)-5 afforded the enantiomerically pure precursors of phosphocarnitine, (R)-(+)-5 and (S)-(-)-5, which were converted to (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-phosphocarnitine 3, respectively.

Novel approach for the simultaneous analysis of glyphosate and its metabolites.

A novel approach for the simultaneous analysis of glyphosate (PMG), and aminomethylphosphonic (AMPA, GlyP), N-methylaminomethylphosphonic (MAMPA. SarP) and methylphosphonic (MPA) acids is presented. This includes a preliminary 31P NMR analysis of mixtures of PMG, MPA, AMPA and MAMPA, their further derivatization to volatile phosphonates by means of the trifluoroacetic acid-trifluoroacetic anhydride-trimethyl orthoacetate reagent and subsequent MS [chemical ionization (CI) MS, GC-CI-MS, GC-electron impact ionization MS] and/or GC-flame ionization detection (FID) analysis of the products of derivatization. The detection limits of PMG, AMPA, MAMPA and MPA by means of GC-CI-MS and GC-FID were determined. The calibration graphs (GC-FID) for these derivatives were in the range 0.1 to 100 nmol linear and sufficiently reproducible for quantitative determinations. The applicability of the method was demonstrated during the analysis of water samples fortified with PMG, AMPA and MAMPA, characterized by recoveries of >95%.