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Accurate determination of pK(a) values is important for proper characterization of newly synthesized molecules. In this work we have used CZE for determination of pK(a) values of new compounds prepared from intermediates, 2, 3 and 4-(2-chloro-acetylamino)-phenoxyacetic acids, by substituting chloride for 2-oxo-pyrrolidine, 2-oxo-piperidine or 2-oxo-azepane. These substances are expected to have a cognition enhancing activity and free radicals scavenging effect. Measurements were performed in a polyacrylamide-coated fused-silica capillary of 0.075 mm ID using direct UV detection at 254 nm. Three electrolyte systems were used for measurements to eliminate effects of potential interactions between tested compounds and components of the BGE. In the pH range 2.7-5.4, chloride, formate, acetate and phosphate were used as BGE co-ions, and sodium, beta-alanine and epsilon-aminocaproate as counterions. Mobility standards were measured simultaneously with the tested compounds for calculations of correct electrophoretic mobilities. Several approaches for the calculation of the pK(a) values were used. The values of pK(a) were determined by standard point-to-point calculation using Henderson-Hasselbach equation. Mobility and pH data were also evaluated by using nonlinear regression. Three parameter sigmoidal function fitted the experimental data with correlation coefficients higher than 0.99. Results from CZE measurements were compared with spectrophotometric measurements performed in sodium formate buffer solutions and evaluated at wavelength where the highest absorbance difference for varying pH was recorded. The experimental pK(a) values were compared with corresponding values calculated by the SPARC online calculator. Results of all three used methods were in good correlation.

A new approach is described for highly sensitive chiral analyses by capillary zone electrophoresis, based on using an on-line combination of two capillaries filled with either chiral selective or achiral background electrolytes (BGE). Thus, the BGEs are selected in such a way that the first capillary provides optimum chiral selectivity and the second one optimum detection sensitivity. Direct chiral separations of enantiomers of mandelic, m-methoxymandelic, 3-phenyllactic and 3-indolelactic acids served as a model example for testing the approach proposed. The analyses were performed in a BGE containing acetate as a coion and L-OH-proline or aspartame as a chiral selector. For high sensitive analyses, an arrangement containing on-line combined chiral and achiral media were tested in one or two capillaries coupled via a bifurcation block. A detection limit as low as 10(-18) moles was reached in the column-coupling system when the direct chiral separation was performed in the first capillary, filled with 20 mM acetate buffer, pH 4.4, containing 8 mM Cu (II) and 16 mM aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester) and separated enantiomers were detected in the second capillary, filled with 20 mM acetate buffer, pH 3.1. The principle described is of general use in cases where the separation and detection of analytes in question require mutually different BGEs to reach the optimum selectivity and sensitivity, respectively.