SPE–HPLC–MS/MS method for the trace analysis of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol in rabbit plasma using tetraazacalix[2]arene[2]triazine‐modified silica as a sorbent

Tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines (TSNAs), including N′‐nitrosonornicotine, 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone, N′‐nitrosoanatabine, and N′‐nitrosoanabasine, have been implicated as a source of carcinogenicity in tobacco and cigarette smoke. We present a rapid and effective method comprising SPE based on tetraazacalix[2]arene[2]triazine‐modified silica as sorbent and analysis with HPLC–MS/MS for the determination of TSNAs and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), a metabolite of 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone, in rabbit plasma. The linear dynamic ranges were 10–2000 pg/mL for NNAL and 4–2000 pg/mL for the four TSNAs with good correlation coefficients (>0.9965). The LODs were in the range of 0.9–3.7 pg/mL, and the LOQs were between 2.9 and 12.3 pg/mL. The accuracies of the method were also evaluated and found to be in the range of 90.1–113.3%. This method is promising to be applied to the preconcentration and determination of TSNAs and NNAL in smoke and human body fluids.     

Selective determination of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke by GC coupled to positive chemical ionization triple quadrupole MS

A rapid method for the selective determination of four kinds of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines, N‐nitrosonornicotine, N‐nitrosoanatabine, N‐nitrosoanabasine and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone, in mainstream cigarette smoke was developed by GC coupled to positive chemical ionization triple‐quadrupole MS. After mainstream cigarette smoke was collected on a cambridge filter pad, the particulate matter was extracted with 0.1 M HCL aqueous solution, cleaned by positive cation‐exchange solid extraction, and finally injected into GC–MS/MS using isotopically labeled analogues as internal standards. Excellent linearity was obtained over the concentration range of 0.5–200.0 ng mL^?1 for all tobacco‐specific nitrosamines with values for correlation coefficient between 0.9996–0.9999. Limits of detection of each tobacco specific nitrosamine varied from 0.023–0.028 ng cig^?1, and lower limits of quantification varied from 0.077–0.093 ng cig^?1. The recovery of each tobacco specific nitrosamine was from 90.0–109.0%. The relative standard deviations of the intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were 3.1–5.8 and 3.9–6.6, respectively. This method was applied to reference and domestic cigarettes. The result showed that the method was consistent with traditional methods and can be used as an effective approach for the routine analysis of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines.     

A new liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine

4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone (NNK) is a carcinogenic nitrosamine produced upon curing tobacco. It is present in tobacco smoke and undergoes metabolism to 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL) in the lungs. NNAL undergoes further uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)‐mediated metabolism to give N‐ and O‐glucuronide metabolites, which together with free (non‐conjugated) NNAL are then excreted in the urine. The ability to conduct validated analyses of free and conjugated NNAL in human urine is important in order to assess inter‐individual differences in lung cancer risk from exposure to cigarette smoke. The use of stable isotope dilution (SID) methodology in combination with liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring/mass spectrometry (LC/MRM‐MS) provides the highest bioanalytical specificity possible for such analyses. We describe a novel derivatization procedure, which results in the formation of a pre‐ionized N‐propyl‐NNAL derivative. The increased LC/MS sensitivity arising from this derivative then makes it possible to analyze free NNAL in only 0.25 mL urine. This substantial reduction in urine volume when compared with other methods that have been developed will help preserve the limited amounts of stored urine samples that are available from on‐going longitudinal biomarker studies. The new high sensitivity SID LC/MRM‐MS assay was employed to determine free and conjugated NNAL concentrations in urine samples from 60 individual disease‐free smokers. Effects of inter‐individual differences in urinary creatinine clearance on NNAL concentrations were then assessed and three metabolizer phenotypes were identified in the 60 subjects from the ratio of urinary NNAL glucuronides/free NNAL. Poor metabolizers (PMs, 14 subjects) with a ratio of NNAL glucuronides/free NNAL <2 (mean = 1.3), intermediate metabolizers (IMs, 36 subjects) with a ratio between 2 and 5 (mean = 3.4), and extensive metabolizers (EMs, 10 subjects) with a ratio >5 (mean = 11.1). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a Sensitive Method for the Determination of 4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol in Human Urine Using Solid‐phase Extraction Combined with Ultrasound‐assisted Dispersive Liquid–liquid Microextraction and LC‐MS/MS Detection

An efficient and sensitive analytical method based on molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction (MISPE) and reverse‐phase ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (USA‐DLLME) coupled with LC–MS/MS detection was developed and validated for the analysis of urinary 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), a tobacco‐specific nitrosamine metabolite. The extraction performances of NNAL on three different solid‐phase extraction (SPE) sorbents including the hydrophilic‐lipophilic balanced sorbent HLB, the mixed mode cationic MCX sorbent and the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) sorbent were evaluated. Experimental results showed that the analyte was well retained with the highest extraction recovery and the optimum purification effect on MIP. Under the optimized conditions of MIP and USA‐DLLME, an enrichment factor of 23 was obtained. Good linearity relationship was obtained in the range of 5‐1200 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9953. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.35 pg/mL. The recoveries at three spiked levels ranged between 88.5% and 93.7%. Intra‐ and inter‐day relative standard deviations varied from 3.6% to 7.4% and from 5.4% to 9.7%, respectively. The developed method combing the advantages of MISPE and DLLME significantly improves the purification and enrichment of the analyte and can be used as an effective approach for the determination of ultra‐trace NNAL in complex biological matrices.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers on a silica surface for the adsorption of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke

Tobacco‐specific nitrosamines are one of the most important groups of carcinogens in tobacco products. Using adsorbents as filter additives is an effective way to reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in cigarette smoke. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using nicotinamide as template were grafted on the silica gel surface to obtain MIP@SiO₂ and employed as filter additives to absorb tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke. Four milligrams of MIP@SiO₂ per cigarette was added to the interface between filter and tobacco rod to prepare a binary filter system. The mainstream smoke was collected on an industry‐standard Cambridge filter pad and extracted with ammonium acetate aqueous solution before analysis. Compared to the cigarette smoke of the control group, the levels of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were both reduced, and the adsorption rates of N‐nitrosonornicotine, N‐nitrosoanabasine, N‐nitrosoanatabine, and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridine)‐1‐butanone with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were 20.76, 15.32, 18.79, and 18.01%, and 41.33, 34.04, 37.86, and 35.53%, respectively. Furthermore the content of total particle materials in cigarette smoke with silica gel was decreased evidently but showed no observable change with MIP@SiO₂. It indicated MIP@SiO₂ could selectively reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in the mainstream cigarette smoke with no change to the cigarette flavor.     

UPLC‐MS/MS method for the determination of tobacco‐specific biomarker NNAL,tamoxifen and its main metabolites in rat plasma

Cigarette smoke is known to interact with tamoxifen‐metabolizing enzymes and transporters and potentially affect its treatment outcome. 4‐(N‐ nitrosomethylamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL) is an important metabolite of 4‐(methylnitro‐samino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone (NNK) because it is frequently used as a biomarker to assess human smoke exposure. In order to study the potential pharmacokinetic interaction between cigarette smoke and tamoxifen in rats a UPLC‐MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of NNAL and tamoxifen along with its metabolites in rat plasma has been developed and validated. Analytes were extracted with methanol and separated on a HSS T3 column by a gradient elution with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water. The lower limits of quantitation ranged from 0.05 to 0.62 ng/mL. Precisions showed RSD <15.8% and accuracy in the range 80.6–116.0%. Mean analyte recoveries ranged from 76.9 to 108.4%. The method was successfully applied to study the effects of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), NNK and benzo(a)pyrene pre‐treatment on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites in rats. Significant effects of CSC, NNK, benzo(a)pyrene were observed on pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites. We also found that plasma NNAL levels are statistically significant correlated with plasma 4‐hydroxy‐tamoxifen and endoxifen.     

Magnetic solid‐phase extraction of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines using magnetic graphene composite as sorbent

Tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines are carcinogenic components in mainstream cigarette smoke. To explore tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine release levels in cigarettes, a magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure using magnetic graphene composite as sorbent for fast enrichment of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine was developed. Under optimal conditions, a tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine determination method was successfully proposed by combining magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure and high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The method's limit of detection for tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke ranged from 0.018 to 0.057 ng/cigarette. Good linearities were obtained with correlation coefficients above 0.9992. The accuracies of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in a spiked mainstream cigarette smoke sample were from 89.3 to 109.4%, with a relative standard deviation of less than 11.2%. The proposed method has the merits of rapidity and high sensitivity. Finally, the method was successfully applied to tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine analysis in real samples.     

A sensitive LC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of R‐bambuterol and its active metabolite R‐terbutaline in human plasma and urine with application to a clinical pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of R‐bambuterol and its active metabolite R‐terbutaline in human plasma and urine was established. The inhibition for the biotransformation of R‐bambuterol in plasma was fully investigated. Plasma samples were prepared on ice and neostigmine metilsulfate added as a cholinesterase inhibitor immediately after sample collection. All samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and separated on a C₁₈ column under gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water containing 5 mm ammonium acetate at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The analytes were detected by an API 4000 tandem mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The established method was highly sensitive with the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 10.00 pg/mL for each analyte in plasma. In urine samples, the LLOQs were 20.00 and 500.0 pg/mL for R‐bambuterol and R‐terbutaline, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <12.7 and <8.6% for plasma and urine, respectively. The analytical runtime within 6.0 min per sample made this method suitable for high‐throughput determination. The validated method has been successfully applied to the human pharmacokinetic study of R‐bambuterol involving 10 healthy volunteers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of a LC–MS/MS method developed for the determination of p‐phenylenediamine,N‐acetyl‐p‐phenylenediamine and N,N‐diacetyl‐p‐phenylenediamine in human urine specimens

Cases of poisoning by p‐phenylenediamine (PPD) are detected sporadically. Recently an article on the development and validation of an LC–MS/MS method for the detection of PPD and its metabolites, N‐acetyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (MAPPD) and N,N‐diacetyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (DAPPD) in blood was published. In the current study this method for detection of these compounds was validated and applied to urine samples. The analytes were extracted from urine samples with methylene chloride and ammonium hydroxide as alkaline medium. Detection was performed by LC–MS/MS using electrospray positive ionization under multiple reaction‐monitoring mode. Calibration curves were linear in the range 5–2000 ng/mL for all analytes. Intra‐ and inter‐assay imprecisions were within 1.58–9.52 and 5.43–9.45%, respectively, for PPD, MAPPD and DAPPD. Inter‐assay accuracies were within ?7.43 and 7.36 for all compounds. The lower limit of quantification was 5 ng/mL for all analytes. The method, which complies with the validation criteria, was successfully applied to the analysis of PPD, MAPPD and DAPPD in human urine samples collected from clinical and postmortem cases.     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis and characterization of heterocyclic,and optically active poly(amide‐imide)s incorporating L‐amino acids

N,N′‐Pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐alanine ( 1 ), N,N′‐pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐phenylalanine ( 2 ), and N,N′‐pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐leucine ( 3 ) were prepared from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride with corresponding L ‐amino acids in a mixture of glacial acetic acid and pyridine solution (3/2 ratio) under refluxing conditions. The microwave‐assisted polycondensation of the corresponding diimide‐diacyl chloride monomers ( 5–7 ) with 4‐phenyl‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl) pyridine ( 10 ) or 4‐(p‐methylthiophenyl)‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl) pyridine ( 12 ) were carried out in a laboratory microwave oven. The resulting poly(amide‐imide)s were obtained in quantitative yields, and they showed admirable inherent viscosities (0.12–0.55 dlg^?1), were soluble in polar aprotic solvents, showed good thermal stability and high optical purity. The synthetic compounds were characterized by IR, MS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and specific rotation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A one‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer incorporating [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate and N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide ligands

In the title compound, catena‐poly[[[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]chloridozinc(II)]‐μ‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylato‐[[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]chloridozinc(II)]‐μ‐[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]], [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈O₄)Cl₂(C₂₆H₂₂N₄O₂)₃]_n, the Zn^II centre is four‐coordinate and approximately tetrahedral, bonding to one carboxylate O atom from a bidentate bridging dianionic [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate ligand, to two pyridine N atoms from two N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide ligands and to one chloride ligand. The pyridyl ligands exhibit bidentate bridging and monodentate terminal coordination modes. The bidentate bridging pyridyl ligand and the bridging [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate ligand both lie on special positions, with inversion centres at the mid‐points of their central C—C bonds. These bridging groups link the Zn^II centres into a one‐dimensional tape structure that propagates along the crystallographic b direction. The tapes are interlinked into a two‐dimensional layer in the ab plane through N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the monodentate ligands. In addition, the thermal stability and solid‐state photoluminescence properties of the title compound are reported.     

Online In-Tube Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines in Hair Samples

Active and passive smoking are serious public health concerns Assessment of tobacco smoke exposure using effective biomarkers is needed. In this study, we developed a simultaneous determination method of five tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in hair by online in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). TSNAs were extracted and concentrated on Supel-Q PLOT capillary by in-tube SPME and separated and detected within 5 min by LC–MS/MS using Capcell Pak C18 MGIII column and positive ion mode multiple reaction monitoring systems. These operations were fully automated by an online program. The calibration curves of TSNAs showed good linearity in the range of 0.5–1000 pg mL^–1 using their stable isotope-labeled internal standards. Moreover, the limits of detection (S/N = 3) of TSNAs were in the range of 0.02–1.14 pg mL^–1, and intra-day and inter-day precisions were below 7.3% and 9.2% (n = 5), respectively. The developed method is highly sensitive and specific and can easily measure TSNA levels using 5 mg hair samples. This method was used to assess long-term exposure levels to tobacco smoke in smokers and non-smokers.     

Comparative metabolite profiling of carboxylic acids in rat urine by CE‐ESI MS/MS through positively pre‐charged and 2H‐coded derivatization

A new approach to the selective comparative metabolite profiling of carboxylic acids in rat urine was established using CE‐MS and a method for positively pre‐charged and ²H‐coded derivatization. Novel derivatizing reagents, N‐alkyl‐4‐aminomethyl‐pyridinum iodide (alkyl=butyl, butyl‐d9 or hexyl), containing quaternary amine and stable‐isotope atoms (deuterium), were introduced for the derivatization of carboxylic acids. CE separation in positive polarity showed high reproducibility (0.99–1.32% RSD of migration time) and eliminated problems with capillary coating known in CE‐MS anion analyses. Essentially complete ionization and increased hydrophobicity after the derivatization also enhanced MS detection sensitivity (e.g. formic acid was detected at 0.5 pg). Simultaneous derivatization of one sample using two structurally similar reagents, N‐butyl‐4‐aminomethyl‐pyridinum iodide (BAMP) and N‐hexyl‐4‐aminomethyl‐pyridinum iodide, provided additional information for recognizing a carboxylic acid in an unknown sample. Moreover, characteristic fragmentation acquired by online CE‐MS/MS allowed for identification and categorization of carboxylic acids. Applying this method on rat urine, we found 59 ions matching the characteristic patterns of carboxylic acids. From these 59, 32 ions were positively identified and confirmed with standards. For comparative analysis, 24 standard carboxylic acids were derivatized by chemically identical but isotopically distinct BAMP and N‐butyl‐d9‐4‐aminomethyl‐pyridinium iodide, and their derivatization limits and linearity ranges were determined. Comparative analysis was also performed on two individual urine samples derivatized with BAMP and N‐butyl‐d9‐4‐aminomethyl‐pyridinium iodide. The metabolite profiling variation between these two samples was clearly visualized.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines containing 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl

In a search for new insect growth regulators with unusual biological properties and different activity spectrum, we thought that the preservation of the bioactive unit and the introduction of 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl in N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐dibenzoylhydrazine would enhance their larvicidal activities to a significant degree. Therefore, we designed and synthesized N′‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐[2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl]‐N‐benzoylhydrazine and analogs by two procedures. These novel compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and ¹H NMR. At the same time, N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines were prepared by a new method, and some reactions involved were studied. The preliminary results indicate that some compounds have inhibitory effects against plant pathogenetic bacteria such as early blight of tomato. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sterically‐Directed Consecutive and Size‐Selective Self‐Assembly of Palladium Diphosphane Complexes with an Ar‐BIAN Ligand: Unexpected Formation of Pentameric and Hexameric Aggregates

The coordination properties of N,N′‐bis[4‐(4‐pyridyl)phenyl]acenaphthenequinonediimine (L¹) and N,N′‐bis[4‐(2‐pyridyl)phenyl]acenaphthenequinonediimine (L²) were investigated in self‐assembly with palladium diphosphane complexes [Pd(P^P)(H₂O)₂](OTf)₂ (OTf=triflate) by using various analytical techniques, including multinuclear (¹H, ¹⁵N, and ³¹P) NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (P^P=dppp, dppf, dppe; dppp=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane, dppf= bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene, and dppe=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane). Beside the expected trimeric and tetrameric species, the interaction of an equimolar mixture of [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ ions and L¹ also generates pentameric aggregates. Due to the E/Z isomerism of L¹, a dimeric product was also observed. In all of these species, which correspond to the general formula [Pd(dppp)L¹]_n(OTf)_2n (n=2–5), the L¹ ligand is coordinated to the Pd center only through the terminal pyridyl groups. Introduction of a second equivalent of the [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ tecton results in coordination to the internal, sterically more encumbered chelating site and induces enhancement of the higher nuclearity components. The presence of higher‐order aggregates (n=5, 6), which were unexpected for the interaction of cis‐protected palladium corners with linear ditopic bridging ligands, has been demonstrated both by mass‐spectrometric and DOSY NMR spectroscopic analysis. The sequential coordination of the [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ ion is attributed to the dissimilar steric properties of the two coordination sites. In the self‐assembled species formed in a 1:1:1 mixture of [Pd(dppp)]²⁺/[Pd(dppe)]²⁺/L¹, the sterically more demanding [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ tectons are attached selectively to the pyridyl groups, whereas the more hindered imino nitrogen atoms coordinate the less bulky dppe complexes, thus resulting in a sterically directed, size‐selective sorting of the metal tectons. The propensity of the new ligands to incorporate hydrogen‐bonded solvent molecules at the chelating site was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction studies.     

N,N′‐Bis(2‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide and N,N′‐bis­(3‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide

The mol­ecules of N,N′‐bis­(2‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyl­dicarboxamide, [Fe(C₁₂H₁₁N₂O)₂], contain intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and are linked into sheets by three independent C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The mol­ecules of the isomeric compound N,N′‐bis­(3‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide lie across inversion centres, and the mol­ecules are linked into sheets by a combination of N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions between pyridyl groups.     

Hydrogen‐bonded one‐dimensional networks in 1:1 complexes of N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)aryldiamines with anilic acid

The 1:1 complexes N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­benzene‐1,4‐di­amine–anilic acid (2,5‐di­hydroxy‐1,4‐benzo­quinone) (1/1), C₁₆H₁₄N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (I), and N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­bi­phenyl‐4,4′‐di­amine–anilic acid (1/1), C₂₂H₁₈N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (II), have been prepared and their solid‐state structures investigated. The component mol­ecules of these complexes are connected via conventional N—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of an infinite one‐dimensional network generated by the cyclic motif R(9). The anilic acid molecules in both crystal structures lie around inversion centres and the observed bond lengths are typical for the neutral mol­ecule. Nevertheless, the pyridine C—N—C angles [120.9 (2) and 120.13 (17)° for complexes (I) and (II), respectively] point to a partial H‐atom transfer from anilic aicd to the bispyridyl­amine, and hence to H‐atom disorder in the OHN bridge. The bispyridyl­amine mol­ecules of (I) and (II) also lie around inversion centres and exhibit disorder of their central phenyl rings over two positions.     

Synthesis of New C2‐Symmetric Chiral Bisamides from (1S,2S)‐Cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylic Acid

A series of new C₂‐symmetric (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamides was synthesized from (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarbonyl dichloride and N‐benzyl‐substituted aromatic amines, which were prepared from 2‐aminopyridine, 2‐chloroaniline, and 2‐aminophenol via imine formation with benzaldehyde and subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐Dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis[2‐(benzyloxy)phenyl]cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide was converted to (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide via hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd(OH)₂ on active carbon powder.     

Validation of a liquid chromatography‐triple quadrupole mass spectrometric method for the determination of 5‐nitro‐5′‐hydroxy‐indirubin‐3′‐oxime (AGM‐130) in human plasma and its application to microdose clinical trial

A liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of 5‐nitro‐5′‐hydroxy‐indirubin‐3′‐oxime (AGM‐130) in human plasma to support a microdose clinical trial. The method consisted of a liquid–liquid extraction for sample preparation and LC‐MS/MS analysis in the positive ion mode using TurboIonSpray^TM for analysis. d₃‐AGM‐130 was used as the internal standard. A linear regression (weighted 1/concentration) was used to fit calibration curves over the concentration range of 10–2000 pg/mL for AGM‐130. There were no endogenous interference components in the blank human plasma tested. The accuracy at the lower limit of quantitation was 96.6% with a precision (coefficient of variation, CV) of 4.4%. For quality control samples at 30, 160 and 1600 pg/mL, the between run CV was ≤5.0 %. Between‐run accuracy ranged from 98.1 to 101.0%. AGM‐130 was stable in 50% acetonitrile for 168 h at 4°C and 6 h at room temperature. AGM‐130 was also stable in human plasma at room temperature for 6 h and through three freeze–thaw cycles. The variability of selected samples for the incurred sample reanalysis was ≤12.7% when compared with the original sample concentrations. This validated LC‐MS/MS method for determination of AGM‐130 was used to support a phase 0 microdose clinical trial. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and properties of new soluble aromatic polyamides and polyimides on the basis of N,N′‐bis(3‐aminobenzoyl)‐N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine

A new N‐phenylated amide (N‐phenylamide) unit containing aromatic diamine, N,N′‐bis(3‐aminobenzoyl)‐N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine, was prepared by the condensation of N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine with 3‐nitrobenzoyl chloride, followed by catalytic reduction. Two series of organosoluble aromatic poly(N‐phenylamide‐imide)s and poly(N‐phenylamide‐amide)s with inherent viscosities of 0.58–0.82 and 0.56–1.21 dL/g were prepared by a conventional two‐stage method and the direct phosphorylation polycondensation, respectively, from the diamine with various aromatic dianhydrides and aromatic dicarboxylic acids. All polyimides and polyamides are amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. These polymers could be solution cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with high tensile strengths. These polyimides and polyamides had glass‐transition temperatures in the ranges of 230–258 and 196–229 °C, respectively. Decomposition temperatures of the polyimides for 10% weight loss all occurred above 500 °C in both nitrogen and air atmospheres. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2564–2574, 2002