Chemical forensic profiling and attribution signature determination of sarin nerve agent using GC-MS, LC-MS and NMR.

Sarin is a highly toxic nerve agent classified by the Chemical Weapon Convention as a Schedule 1 chemical with no use other than to kill or injure. Moreover, in recent times, chemical warfare agents have been deployed against both military and civilian populations. Chemical warfare agents always contain minor impurities that can provide important chemical attribution signatures (CAS) that can aid in forensic investigations. In order to understand the trace molecular composition of sarin, various analytical approaches including GC-MS, LC-MS and NMR were used to determine the chemical markers of a set of sarin samples. Precursor materials were studied and the full characterisation of a synthetic process was undertaken in order to provide new insights into potential chemical attribution signatures for this agent. Several compounds that were identified in the precursor were also found in the sarin samples linking it to its method of preparation. The identification of these CAS contributes critical information about a synthetic route to sarin, and has potential for translation to related nerve agents.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis of Ricinus communis extracts for cultivar identification.

INTRODUCTION: Seeds of Ricinus communis contain the toxic protein ricin, a 64 kD heterodimeric type II ribosome-inactivating protein that has been used in several high-profile poisoning incidents. The ability to determine which cultivar the toxin was isolated from via an LC-MS method would be of significant use to law enforcement and forensic agencies. OBJECTIVE: To analyse via LC-MS and chemometrics (principal components analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial-least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA)) extracts of R. communis to identify compounds specific to a particular cultivar. METHODS: Seeds from eight specimens of six cultivars of R. communis ('carmencita', 'dehradun', 'gibsonii', 'impala', 'sanguineus' and 'zanzibariensis') were extracted using a standard methodology. These extracts were analysed by LC-MS then subjected to chemometric analysis (PCA and OPLS-DA). Identified compounds of importance were subjected to high-resolution Fourier transform (HRFT) MS and MS/MS to elucidate their structures. RESULTS: This analysis identified 17 ions as potential cultivar determinators. Through accurate mass measurement and MS/MS, molecular formulae for 13 ions were determined, including two known and 11 new peptides. CONCLUSION: Unique ions in extracts of 'carmencita', 'dehradun', 'gibsonii', 'impala' and 'zanzibariensis' were identified that would allow an individual cultivar to be distinguished from other cultivars in this study. Although 'sanguineus' extracts contained no unique compounds, a unique LC-MS profile would allow for cultivar assignment.

Update of spectroscopic data for 4-hydroxydictyolactone and dictyol E isolated from a Halimeda stuposa - Dictyota sp. assemblage.

The methanol extract of an assemblage of Halimeda stuposa and a Dictyota sp., yielded three natural products characteristic of Dictyota sp., and one of Halimeda sp. These included the xenicane diterpene 4-hydroxydictyolactone (1), and the diterpenes dictyol E (2), 8a,11-dihydroxypachydictyol A (3) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (4). A minor revision of 1 and new spectroscopic data for 1 and 2 are provided, along with associated anti-cancer activities of compounds.

Metachromins U-W: cytotoxic merosesquiterpenoids from an Australian specimen of the sponge Thorecta reticulata.

Three new merosesquiterpenoids, metachromins U, V, and W (1-3), were isolated from a specimen of the marine sponge Thorecta reticulata collected off Hunter Island, Tasmania, Australia. Structures of the new compounds were elucidated through extensive NMR investigations and comparison with literature values. The cytotoxicities of 1-3 were assessed against a panel of human tumor cell lines (SF-268, H460, MCF-7, and HT-29) and a mammalian cell line (CHO-K1). All compounds were found to have 50% growth inhibition activities in the range 2.1-130 µM, with 2 being the most active (GI50 2.1-10 µM).

Comosusols A-D and comosone A: cytotoxic compounds from the brown alga Sporochnus comosus.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts of the brown alga Sporochnus comosus led to the isolation of five new compounds, comosusols A-D (3-6) and comosone A (7). The structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated using standard one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, as well as comparison with literature values. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was investigated against a panel of human tumor and mammalian cell lines. These assays found eight of the nine compounds had GI(50) values in the 8-63 µM range.

Sesquiterpene benzoxazoles and sesquiterpene quinones from the marine sponge Dactylospongia elegans.

A new sesquiterpene benzoxazole, nakijinol B (3), its acetylated derivative, nakijinol B diacetate (6), and two new sesquiterpene quinones, smenospongines B (4) and C (5), were isolated from the methanol extract of the marine sponge Dactylospongia elegans. Also isolated were the known compounds dactyloquinone B and a 1:1 mixture of ilimaquinone and 5-epi-ilimaquinone. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity against a panel of human tumor cell lines (SF-268, H460, MCF-7, and HT-29) and a normal mammalian cell line (CHO-K1). All compounds were found to have activities in the range 1.8-46 µM and lacked selectivity for tumor versus normal cell lines.

Phenolic glycosides with antimalarial activity from Grevillea "Poorinda Queen".

In search of new antimalarial compounds, three new phenolic glycosides, robustasides E (1), F (2), and G (3), in addition to the known compounds robustaside D (4) and quercetin-7-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-ß-d-galactopyranoside] (5), were identified during chemical investigations of the MeOH extract from the leaves and twigs of Grevillea "Poorinda Queen". The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated through 2D NMR spectroscopy, while the absolute configuration of the sugar was elucidated through chemical degradation and comparison with an authentic standard. Discussed in detail are the isolation and structure elucidation of 1-3, as well as the associated in vitro anitmalarial activities for 1-5. Also discussed are the in vivo anitmalarial and in vitro cytotoxic activities for 1, 3, and 4.

A new diketopiperazine, cyclo-(4-S-hydroxy-R-proline-R-isoleucine), from an Australian specimen of the sponge Stelletta sp.

While investigating the cytotoxic activity of the methanol extract of an Australian marine sponge Stelletta sp. (Demospongiae), a new diketopiperazine, cyclo-(4-S-hydroxy-R-proline-R-isoleucine) (1), was isolated together with the known bengamides; A (2), F (3), N (4), Y (5), and bengazoles; Z (6), C(4) (7) and C(6) (8). The isolation and structure elucidation of the diketopiperazine (1), together with the activity of 1-8 against a panel of human and mammalian cell lines are discussed.

Investigating the chemical impurity profiles of fentanyl preparations and precursors to identify chemical attribution signatures for synthetic method attribution.

From an analytical chemistry standpoint, determining the chemical attribution signatures (CAS) of synthetic reaction mixtures is an impurity profiling exercise. Identifying and understanding the impurity profile and CAS of these chemical agents would allow them to be exploited for chemical forensic information, such as how a particular chemical agent was synthesised. Being able to determine the synthetic route used to make a chemical agent allows for the possibility of batches of the agent, and individual incidents using that agent, to be forensically linked. This information is of particular benefit to agencies investigating the nefarious and illicit use of chemical agents. One such chemical agent of interest to law enforcement and national security agencies is fentanyl. In this study two acylation methods for the final step of fentanyl production, herein termed the Janssen and Siegfried methods, were investigated by liquid chromatography- high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and multivariate statistical analysis (MVA). From these data, fifty-five chemical impurities were identified. Of these, ten were specific CAS for the Janssen method, and five for the Siegfried method. Additionally, analytical data from four different literature methods for production of the fentanyl precursor 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), were compared to the results obtained from the method of production (Valdez) used in this study. Comparison of the LC-HRMS data for these five methods allowed for four Valdez specific impurities to be identified. These may be useful CAS for the Valdez method of ANPP production.

The identification of chemical attribution signatures of stored VX nerve agents using NMR, GC-MS, and LC-HRMS.

The organophosphorous nerve agent VX is classified by the Chemical Warfare Convention (CWC) as a Schedule 1 chemical; namely a substance that is highly toxic with no use that is of benefit to society. Even with this classification, the nefarious use of the Schedule 1 chemical VX has been observed, as demonstrated in 2017 in Malaysia. Therefore, undertaking chemical analysis on samples of VX to identify chemical attribution signatures (CAS) for chemical forensics is required. To further understand the chemical profile of VX, and to aid in the identification of potential CAS, three in house synthesised stocks of VX were investigated. The three VX stocks analysed were synthesised in 2014, 2017 and 2018 using the same method, allowing for a comparison of data between each of the stocks at different stages of storage. As opposed to a majority of literature reports, these agent stocks were not stabilised, nor were they subjected to forced degradation. Using NMR, high resolution (HR) LC-HRMS, GC-(EI)MS and GC-(CI)MS to gain a full insight into the CAS profile, a total of 44 compounds were identified. Of these compounds, 30 were readily identified through accurate mass measurement and NIST library matches. A further seven were identified through extensive LC-HRMS/MS studies, with seven remaining unresolved. Several compounds, identified in minor amounts, were able to be traced back to impurities in the precursor compounds used in the synthesis of VX, and hence may be useful as CAS for source attribution.

De novo sequencing of RCB-1 to -3: peptide biomarkers from the castor bean plant Ricinus communis.

Ricinus communis (also know as the castor bean plant) whose forbears escaped from suburban gardens or commercial cultivation grow wild in many countries. In temperate and tropical climates seeds will develop to maturity, and plants may be perennial. In Australia these plants have become widespread and are regarded as noxious weeds in many localities. The seeds of R. communis contain ricin, a protein toxin which can easily be extracted into an aqueous solution. Ricin is toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and injection. The history of terrorist and anarchist interest in the use of seeds from R. communis has driven the development of strategies for determination of cultivar and geographic location of the source of an extract of wild-grown castor bean seed. This forensic information is of considerable interest to law enforcement and intelligence organizations. During forensic studies of both the metabolome and proteome of extracts from eight specimens of six different cultivars of R. communis ("zanzibariensis" collected from Kenya and Tanzania, "gibsonii", "impala", "dehradun", "carmencita", and "sanguineus" collected from Spain and Tanzania), three peptide biomarkers (designated Ricinus communis biomarkers, or RCB) were identified in both the MALDI and electrospray LC-MS spectra. Two of these peptides (RCB-1 and RCB-2) were present in varying amounts in all cultivars, while RCB-3 was present only in the "carmencita" cultivar. The amino acid sequences of RCB-1 to -3 were determined using LC-MS(n) fragmentation and de novo sequencing on both the intact and the carbamidomethyl modified peptides. The connectivity of the two disulfide bonds that were present in all three RCB were determined using a strategy of partial reduction and differential alkylation using tris-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine with N-ethylmaleimide to reduce and alkylate the most accessible disulfide bond, followed by reduction and alkylation of the remaining disulfide bond with dithiolthreitol and iodoacetamide. The possible functional role of RCB-1 to -3 in R. communis seeds is also discussed.

Detailed NMR, including 1,1-ADEQUATE, and anticancer studies of compounds from the echinoderm Colobometra perspinosa.

From the dichloromethane/methanol extract of the crinoid Colobometra perspinosa, collected south east of Richards Island (Bedara), Family Islands, Central Great Barrier Reef, Australia, 3-(1'-hydroxypropyl)-1,6,8-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone [one of the two stereoisomers of rhodoptilometrin, (1)], 3-propyl-1,6,8-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (3), 2-[(phenylacetyl)amino]ethanesulfonic acid (4), and 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (5) were isolated. Comparison of (1)H- and (13)C-NMR data for rhodoptilometrin (1) with those reported in the literature showed significant differences for some resonances associated with rings A and C. In an attempt to provide accurately assigned (1)H- and (13)C-NMR data, as well as to confirm the structure of 1, a thorough NMR investigation of this compound was undertaken. Measurements included: concentration dependent (13)C, 1D selective NOE, HSQC, HMBC and 1,1-ADEQUATE. The NMR data for 4 and 5 are reported here for the first time, as is their occurrence from the marine environment. The in vitro anticancer activity of the original extract was found to be associated with 1, 3 and 5.

Trace isotope analysis of Ricinus communis seed core for provenance determination by laser ablation-ICP-MS.

The castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, grows wild throughout many regions of Australia. The seeds of the plant contain the schedule 1 chemical agent ricin, a type II ribosomal inhibiting protein. Currently there are limited analytical techniques that can be applied in analysis of the seeds to establish attribution. In this study, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used for the analysis of seeds collected from 68 plants across 38 locations around Australia. Of the 92 elemental isotopes measured, fifteen (24Mg, 27Al, 44Ca, 53Cr, 55Mn, 57Fe, 60Ni, 65Cu, 66Zn, 75As, 85Rb, 88Sr, 98Mo, 138Ba and 202Hg) yielded data that were relevant to all collection sites. Data were further analysed using multivariate statistical analysis which facilitated the potential for the identification of unique provenance isotopes. Furthermore, this analysis indicated that 59Co was present at significant levels in Victorian and Sydney specimens only.

Spermine alkaloids from Albizia adinocephala with activity against Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II.

Crude MeOH extracts from the stem bark and leaves of a Panamanian specimen of Albizia adinocephala (Leguminosae) were found to inhibit the malarial enzyme plasmepsin II. Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of two new bioactive spermine alkaloids, budmunchiamines L4 and L5.

Globoidnan A: a lignan from Eucalyptus globoidea inhibits HIV integrase.

An HTS campaign aimed at the identification of inhibitors of HIV integrase showed that the methanol extract from the buds of a Eucalyptus globoidea was active. Bioassay guided fractionation of this extract resulted in the purification and structural elucidation of the lignan, globoidnan A (1) as the only compound in the extract responsible for the inhibition of HIV integrase. The compound was found to inhibit the combined 3' processing and strand transfer activity of HIV integrase with an IC50=0.64 microM.

Physaloside A, an acylated sucrose ester from Physalis viscosa.

Chemical investigations of the crude MeOH extract of Physalis viscosa led to the identification of the novel acylated sucrose ester physaloside A (1). The structure of 1 was determined by 2D NMR analysis, and the absolute configuration was determined by chemical degradation and comparison with authentic standards.

Cerylimycins [corrected] A and B: antibacterial triterpenes from the new species Tricholoma sp. AU1.

To new triterpenes, trichomycins A (1) and B (2), were purified from the new species Tricholoma sp. AU1 by activity-guided fractionation following their antibacterial activity. The two compounds were found to have a hitherto unreported triterpenoid skeleton. The structures and relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were determined through extensive 2D NMR spectroscopy, while the inhibitory activity of 1 and 2 against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria and a mammalian cell line was determined.

A diketopiperazine dimer from a marine-derived isolate of Aspergillus niger.

The new diketopiperazine dimer 1, as well as the known compounds TMC-256A1 (2), TMC-256C1 (3), and demethylkotanin (4), were isolated from a culture of Aspergillus niger. The gross structure of 1 was determined by 2D NMR studies and comparison with literature data, and the absolute stereochemistry was elucidated by chiral HPLC analysis of the hydrolysis products.