Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) are carcinogenic constituents derived from alkaloids in tobacco. Researchers are actively exploring several avenues to reduce TSNA levels in tobacco products like moist snuff tobacco. The focus of the research presented within is the quantitative analysis of TSNA in tobacco, specifically N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N’-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), and N’-nitrosoanabasine (NAB). Tobacco alkaloids and nitrosamines in tobacco are currently analyzed by different instrumentation due to orders of magnitude difference in their concentrations, chromatographic separation challenges due to structural similarities, and similar mass fragmentation patterns. An analytical column using silica and 1,2-bis(siloxy)ethane hybrid particles of 1.7 µm size is the foundation of a chromatographic separation of NNN, NNK, NAT, NAB, nicotine, nornicotine, anatabine, and anabasine. This is the first rapid and robust quantitative method for the TSNA and their alkaloid precursors using high pH mobile phase conditions with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The suitability of the method is demonstrated by its application to the analysis of reference tobacco materials for cigarettes and moist snuff. In addition, a novel TSNA analytical method was developed using TSNA-specific molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) as the selective extraction element from tobacco extract. The affinity mechanisms between MIP and TSNA were found to have extensive cross-reactivity to structurally similar alkaloids present in tobacco extract. TSNA-specific MIP was demonstrated to have stronger retention for the alkaloids than for the TSNA substrate. The MIP-TSNA interaction was optimized to create the first analytical method to quantify underivatized NNN and NNK from tobacco extracts by HPLC-UV.

Small-molecule DNA interactive compounds are critical as both carcinogens and therapeutic agents. In this research, a synthetic precursor to a known carcinogen, (±)-N’-nitrosonicotine-5’-acetate was synthesized, and its interactions with DNA were evaluated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. A library of skipped benzimidazolium aza-enediynes which selectively target unmethylated cytosines in presence of unmethylated cytosines were synthesized, and their biological properties were evaluated in a nicking assay and cytotoxicity study. Finally, a series of structural analogs to a antineoplastic agent, UK-1, were synthesized via a biaryl coupling at C2 on the benzoxazole. / text