Synthesis and Mass Spectral Characterization of Poly(amic methyl ester) Oligomers

Asymmetrical diaromatic guanidinium/2-aminoimidazolinium derivatives: synthesis and DNA affinity

In this paper we report the synthesis of three families of new amidine-based aromatic derivatives as potential DNA minor groove binding agents for the treatment of cancer. The preparation of monoguanidine, mono-2-aminoimidazoline, and asymmetric diphenylguanidine/2-aminoimidazoline derivatives (compounds 1a-c to 8a-c) is presented. The affinity of these substrates and of a family of mono- and bis-isoureas (previously prepared in Rozas' laboratory) for DNA was evaluated by means of DNA thermal denaturation measurements. In particular, compounds 2c, 5c, 6c, 7c, and 8c were found to bind strongly both to natural DNA and to adenine-thymine oligonucleotides, showing a preference for the adenine-thymine base pair sequences.

Tandem mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers

The detailed characterization of macromolecules plays an important role for synthetic chemists to define and specify the structure and properties of the successfully synthesized polymers. The search for new characterization techniques for polymers is essential for the continuation of the development of improved synthesis methods. The application of tandem mass spectrometry for the detailed characterization of synthetic polymers using the soft ionization techniques matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which became the basic tools in proteomics, has greatly been increased in recent years and is summarized in this perspective. Examples of a variety of homopolymers, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethylene glycol), as well as copolymers, e.g. copolyesters, are given. The advanced mass spectrometric techniques described in this review will presumably become one of the basic tools in polymer chemistry in the near future.