Surface polyion complex gel with poly(vinylphosphonic acid) and poly(N‐vinylamide)s

The surface polyion complex gel (sPIC gel), which possesses chemically bonded nonionic gel moiety, was designed using N‐vinylacetamide (NVA), N‐vinylforamide (NVF), and vinyl phosphonic acid (VPA). Taking advantage of the property of NVF as vinylamine (VAm) precursor, the cationic moiety was introduced only onto the surface of poly(NVA‐co‐NVF), producing surface hydrolyzed poly(NVA‐co‐NVF‐co‐VAm), and the successive polymerization of VPA inside the gel successfully produced sPIC gel. The swelling ratio of the sPIC gel was investigated under various pH conditions, and compared with that of the fully polyion complex gel (PIC gel), using totally hydrolyzed poly(NVA‐co‐VAm). The swelling ratio of sPIC gel ranged between 14 and 25, while that of the PIC gel ranged between 2 and 5. The anionic compound, AR, showed a sustained release from sPIC gel at pH 2, due to the electrostatic interactions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 562–566     

An Amino‐Acid‐Based Self‐Healing Hydrogel: Modulation of the Self‐Healing Properties by Incorporating Carbon‐Based Nanomaterials

An amino‐acid‐based (11‐(4‐(pyrene‐1‐yl)butanamido)undecanoic acid) self‐repairing hydrogel is reported. The native hydrogel, as well as hybrid hydrogels, have been thoroughly characterized by using various microscopic techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and by using rheological experiments. The native hydrogel exhibited interesting fluorescence properties, as well as a self‐healing property. Interestingly, the self‐healing, thixotropy, and stiffness of the native hydrogel can be successfully modulated by incorporating carbon‐based nanomaterials, including graphene, pristine single‐walled carbon nanotubes (Pr‐SWCNTs), and both graphene and Pr‐SWCNTs, within the native gel system. The self‐recovery time of the gel was shortened by the inclusion of reduced graphene oxide (RGO), Pr‐SWCNTs, or both RGO and Pr‐SWCNTs. Moreover, hybrid gels that contained RGO and/or Pr‐SWCNTs exhibited interesting semiconducting behavior.     

Microchip electrophoretic separation for the fast diagnosis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in cattle

We report a diagnostic method for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) infection in cattle using a nested PCR and microchip electrophoresis (ME). A. phagocytophilum causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis and granulocytic ehrlichiosis, which are emerging tick‐borne zoonotic diseases. Nested PCR was used to amplify genomic DNA samples extracted from cattle blood. The amplified PCR products were analyzed under a sieving gel matrix of 0.7% poly(ethyleneoxide) (M_r=8 000 000) in a conventional glass microchip. In the ME assay, A. phagocytophilum was analyzed within 35 s with a relative standard deviation of 1.30% (n=5) using a programmed field strength gradient (PFSG) as follows: 615.3 V/cm for 0–24 s, 66.7 V/cm for 24–34 s, 615.3 V/cm for 34–100 s. The ME‐PFSG assay was clinically validated by comparing the 16S rRNA gene levels obtained by this method with those measured using conventional slab gel electrophoresis performed with ten cattle blood samples suspected of A. phagocytophilum infection. In contrast to slab gel electrophoresis, the proposed ME‐PFSG methodology had increased sensitivity (200–450 pg/μL), a faster analysis time (<35 s), and required a smaller sample volume (～162 fL).     

Direct Electrochemistry of Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilized in a Low Molecular Weight Gel

The ternary system of dodecylpyridinium bromide (DDPB)/acetone/H₂O with appropriate composition can form a gel spontaneously and the gel is stable in hydrophobic ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim]PF₆). Based on the gelation phenomenon we observed, the low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) was first tried to immobilize horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, the UV‐Vis spectra and the bioactivity measurement indicate that the gel is suitable for the immobilization of HRP. The direct electrochemistry of the HRP‐gel modified GCE (HRP‐gel/GCE) in [Bmim]PF₆ shows a pair of well‐defined and quasi‐reversible redox peaks with the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) being 14.4 s^?1, indicating that the direct electron transfer between HRP and GCE is fast. The HRP‐gel/GCE is stable and reproducible. Also the electrode exhibits good electrocatalytic effect on the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), showing good promise in bioelectrocatalysis.     

Efficient gel‐type electrolyte with bismaleimide via in situ low temperature polymerization in dye‐sensitized solar cells

This study reports the characteristics of gel‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), fabricated with gel‐type electrolyte containing poly‐1,1′‐(methylenedi‐4,1‐phenylene)bismaleimide (PBMI), or poly‐1,1′‐(3,3′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl)bismaleimide (PDBBMI), or poly‐N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylene)bismaleimide (PMPBMI), prepared by in situ polymerization of the corresponding monomer without an initiator at 30 °C. Incorporating 0.3 wt % content of exfoliated alkyl‐modified nanomica (EAMNM) into PBMI‐gelled electrolyte leads to higher short‐circuit current density (J_sc = 17.14 mA cm^?2) and efficiency (η = 7.02%) than that of neat PBMI‐gel electrolyte (J_sc = 15.32 mA cm^?2, η = 6.41%). Incorporating 0.3 wt % EAMNM into PBMI‐gelled electrolyte results in remarkably stable device performance under continuous light soaking under one sun (100 mW cm^?2) at 55 °C. The efficiency of DSSCs based on PBMI/0.3 wt % EAMNM‐gelled electrolyte drops by only 1.7% (η = 6.93%) after 500 h of continuous light soaking. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Preparation of chitosan‐graft‐(β‐cyclodextrin) based sol‐gel stationary phase for open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography

A novel open‐tubular CEC column coated with chitosan‐graft‐(β‐CD) (CDCS) was prepared using sol‐gel technique. In the sol‐gel approach, owing to the 3D network of sol‐gel and the strong chemical bond between the stationary phase and the surface of capillary columns, good chromatographic characteristics and unique selectivity in separating isomers were shown. The column efficiencies of 55 000～163 000 plates/m for the isomeric xanthopterin and phenoxy acid herbicides using the sol‐gel‐derived CDCS columns were achieved. Good stabilities were demonstrated that the RSD values for the retention time of thiourea and isoxanthopterin were 1.3 and 1.4% (run to run, n = 5), 1.6 and 2.0% (day to day, n = 3), 2.9 and 3.1% (column to column, n = 3), respectively. The sol‐gel‐coated CDCS columns have shown improved separations of isomeric xanthopterin in comparison with CDCS‐bonded capillary column.     

Biodegradable and stimuli sensitive amphiphilic graft copolymers and their sol–gel phase transition behavior

pH and temperature‐sensitive biodegradable poly(β‐aminoester)‐graft‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PBAE‐g‐PCL‐b‐mPEG) amphiphilic graft copolymers with different molecular weights were synthesized. The structure of these copolymers was adjusted by varying the feed ratios of ε‐caprolactone to methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s (mPEG), amine and diacrylate monomer amounts and the molecular weight of mPEG. Aqueous solutions of these copolymers formed micelles at lower concentrations; however, the concentrated solutions showed a reversible sol–gel transition property depending on both pH and temperature changes under representative physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37°C). The effects of the molecular weight of pH‐sensitive poly(β‐aminoester) block and mPEG group, the hydrophobic to hydrophilic block ratio (PCL/mPEG) and the concentration of the copolymer on the sol–gel transition were investigated. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography measurements were used to characterize the structure of the synthesized copolymers. The self‐assemble behavior and critical micelle concentration of the amphiphilic copolymers were estimated in phosphate buffer solution using fluorescence spectroscopy. The gelling behavior was measured by using tube inversion method. At pH 7.4, all copolymer solutions prepared 20 wt% concentration indicated sol–gel transition with increasing temperature. In vitro degradation experiments displayed that the synthesized graft copolymers mostly degraded hydrolytically within 20 days under physiological conditions. In order to investigate the potential application of synthesized hydrogels in drug delivery, Methylene Blue was used and approximately 70% of the loaded amount was released in 120 hr. The findings indicate that obtained graft copolymers can be used as injectable biodegradable carriers for pharmaceutical drugs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simple Organic Salts Having a Naphthalenediimide (NDI) Core Display Multifunctional Properties: Gelation,Anticancer and Semiconducting Properties

Following a supramolecular synthon rationale, a dicarboxylic acid derivative having a naphthalenediimide (NDI) core, namely, bis‐N‐carboxymethyl naphthalenediimide ( NDI‐G ), was reacted with n‐alkyl amines with varying alkyl chain lengths to generate a new series of primary ammonium dicarboxylate (PAD) salts. The majority of the salts (≈85 %) were found to gel various polar solvents. The gels were characterized by dynamic rheology and high‐resolution electron microscopy. Single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction analyses were used to study the supramolecular synthon present in one of the gelator salts (i.e., S8 ). Charge‐transfer (CT)‐induced gelation with donor molecules such as anthracene methanol ( Ant ) and pyrene ( Py ) was also possible with S8 . The CT complex ( S8.Ant ) displayed anticancer activity as probed by cell migration assay on the highly aggresive breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB‐231 . The DMSO gel of S8.Ant also displayed semiconducting behavior. To the best of our knowledge, simple organic salts with an NDI core that display such mulitifunctional properties are hitherto unknown.     

Steroidal Alkaloids from Veratrum maackii Regel with Genotoxicity on Brain‐Cell DNA in Mice

Two new steroidal alkaloids, 23‐methoxycyclopamine 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ) and isoecliptalbine ( 2 ), were isolated from the root and rhizoma of Veratrum maackii Regel , together with five known compounds, i.e., verussurine ( 3 ), verabenzoamine ( 4 ), verazine ( 5 ), isoverazine ( 6 ), and verazinine ( 7 ). Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data, as well as by comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 – 7 could cause DNA damage in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of mice in a dose‐dependent manner by using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).     

Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) triblock copolymers: Synthesis and self‐assembly in aqueous solutions

Nontoxic and biodegradable poly(?‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(?‐caprolactone) triblock copolymers were synthesized by the solution polymerization of ?‐caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol). The chemical structure of the resulting triblock copolymer was characterized with ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography. In aqueous solutions of the triblock copolymers, the micellization and sol–gel‐transition behaviors were investigated. The experimental results showed that the unimer‐to‐micelle transition did occur. In a sol–gel‐transition phase diagram obtained by the vial‐tilting method, the boundary curve shifted to the left, and the gel regions expanded with the increasing molecular weight of the poly(?‐caprolactone) block. In addition, the hydrodynamic diameters of the micelles were almost independent of the investigated temperature (25–55 °C). The atomic force microscopy results showed that spherical micelles formed at the copolymer concentration of 2.5 × 10^?4 g/mL, whereas necklace‐like and worm‐like shapes were adopted when the concentration was 0.25 g/mL, which was high enough to form a gel. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 605–613, 2007     

Selective Pre-concentration and Solid Phase Extraction of Mercury（Ⅱ） from Natural Water by Silica Gel-loaded （E）-N-（1-Thien-2＇-ylethylidene）-1,2-phenylenediamine Phase

Silica gel-loaded （E）-N-（1-thien-2＇-ylethylidene）-1,2-phenylenediamine （TEPDA） phase was synthesized based on physical adsorption approaches. The stability of a chemically modified TEPDA especially in concentrated hydrochloric acid that was then used as a recycling and preconcentration reagent allowed the further uses of silica gel-loaded immobilized TEPDA phase. The application of this silica gel-loaded phase to sorption of a series of metal ions was performed by using different controlling factors such as the pH of the metal ion solution and the equilibration shaking time by the static technique. This difference was interpreted on the basis of selectivity incorporated in these sulfur containing silica gel-loaded TEPDA phases. Hg（Ⅱ） was found to exhibit the highest affinity towards extraction by these silica gel-loaded TEPDA phases. The pronounced selectivity was also confirmed by the determined distribution coefficients （Kd） of all the metal ions, showing the highest value reported for mercury（Ⅱ） extraction by the silica gel immobilized TEPDA phase. The potential applications of the silica gel immobilized TEPDA phase to selective extraction of mercury（Ⅱ） from aqueous solution were successfully accomplished and preconcentration of low concentration of Hg（Ⅱ） （30 pg·mL^-1） from natural tap water with a preconcentration factor of 200 for Hg（Ⅱ） off-line analysis was conducted by cold vapor atomic absorption analysis.     

Steroidal Alkaloids from Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f. with Genotoxicity on Brain Cell DNA in Mice

Two new steroidal alkaloids, 2β‐hydroxyverdine ( 1 ) and tomatillidine 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), were isolated from the root and rhizome of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz .) Loes . f., together with four known compounds, i.e., 16‐O‐(2‐methylbutyroyl)germine ( 3 ), veramitaline ( 4 ), jervine ( 5 ), and veratroylzygadenine ( 6 ). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with data in literature. Compounds 1 – 6 exhibited genotoxicity on brain cell DNA of the cerebellum and cerebral cortex in mice, evaluated by using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).     

Rapid analysis of N‐linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins (ovalbumin,ribonuclease B and fetuin) by reversed‐phase ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Rapid, selective and sensitive determination of N‐linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins (ovalbumin, ribonuclease B and fetuin) was performed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with fluorescence (FL) and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐TOF‐MS). The asparaginyl‐oligosaccharide moiety was first liberated from each glycoprotein by pronase E (a proteolitic enzyme). The oligosaccharide fractions separated by gel‐permeation chromatography were labeled with 1‐pyrenesulfonyl chloride (PSC, a fluorescence reagent), separated by UPLC in a short run time, and then detected by FL and TOF‐MS. The PSC‐labeled oligosaccharides were selectively identified from the FL detection and then sensitively determined by ESI‐TOF‐MS. As the results, 15, eight and four kinds of N‐linked oligosaccharides were detected from ovalbumin, ribonuclease B and fetuin, respectively. Because the present method is rapid (within 9 min), selective and sensitive (approximate 60 fmol, S/N = 5), the determination of N‐linked oligosaccharides in various glycoproteins seems to be possible. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of Monolithic Ti‐incorporated Mesoporous Silica Materials via Tartaric Acid Templated Sol‐gel Process

Monolithic and transparent Ti‐incorporated mesoporous silica materials of large size (e.g. 2 mm) in dimension have been prepared with tartaric add (TA) as template via sol‐gel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBT). The materials are characterized by infrared (IR), nitrogen adsorption‐desorption isotherms, powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the monolithic materials exhibit large specific surface areas (ca. 1200 mVg) and pore volumes (ca. 0.900 cm³/g).     

Preparation of linear and hyperbranched fluorinated poly(aryl ether‐thioether) through para‐fluoro‐thiol click reaction

The para‐fluoro‐thiol “click” reaction (PFTCR) was utilized to prepare linear and hyperbranched fluorinated poly (aryl ether‐thioether). For this purpose, 1,2‐bis(perfluorophenoxy)ethane was prepared and reacted with 1,6‐hexandithiol and trimethylolpropane tris(3‐mercaptopropionate), respectively. While hyperbranched polymers were prepared using 0.5 M concentrations of starting materials at room temperature, the linear polymer syntheses were performed at different reaction temperatures and concentrations. The resulting polymers were mainly characterized by NMR measurements and a very distinct fluorine signals regarding meta‐ and ortho‐ positions in the ¹⁹F NMR were found for both polymer topologies. In addition to NMR analyses, both linear and hyperbranched polymers were further characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1853–1859     

Single‐chain nanoparticles with well‐defined structure via intramolecular crosslinking of linear polymers with pendant benzoxazine groups

Controlled intramolecular collapse of linear polymer chains with crosslinkable groups is an efficient way to prepare single‐chain nanoparticles in the size range of 5–20 nm. However, the nature of the crosslinking group is critical. In present study, poly(styrene‐co‐chloromethyl styrene) [P(St‐co‐CMS)] was synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and then was converted into polystyrene azide (PS? N₃). Polystyrene containing benzoxazine side groups [P(St‐co‐BS)], which can be used as the precusor for the later intramolecular collapse, was obtained from PS? N₃ and 3‐(4‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl)‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e][1,3]oxazine (P‐APPE) via the method of click chemistry. The sub‐20 nm polymeric nanoparticles with well‐defined structure via thermally intramolecular crosslinking of P(St‐co‐BS) were prepared. The structure change from the linear polymers to the single‐chain nanoparticles was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The morphology and the dimension of the nanoparticles were characterized by using transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results reveal that the size of the nanoparticles can be regulated by changing the molecular weight of the precursors and the amount of pendant benzoxazine groups by the use of controlled polymerization techniques. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of graft copolymers onto styrenic polymer backbone via “grafting from” raft process

A new synthetic methodology is developed for preparing graft copolymers via RAFT polymerization method by the “R group approach” onto styrenic polymers. In this approach, latent sites of the styrenic polymer was brominated first and then converted into macro‐RAFT agents with pyrazole and thio dodecyl as the Z groups. This was used to synthesize graft copolymer such as polystyrene‐graft‐polymethyl methacrylate (PS‐g‐PMMA), polystyrene‐graft‐poly(isobornyl acrylate), polystyrene‐graft‐poly[2‐(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PS‐g‐PAEMA), and poly(para‐methoxystyrene)‐graft‐polystyrene (P(p‐MS)‐g‐PS). The polymers are characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR, IR, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The morphology of PS‐g‐PMMA in THF was investigated using AFM and island‐like features were noticed. The AFM studies of the PS‐g‐PAEMA graft copolymers revealed the formation of globules and ribbon‐like morphological features. The PS‐g‐PAEMA graft copolymers form complex with Fe(III) in dimethylformamide and the AFM studies suggest the formation of globular superstructures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Phenolic Derivatives from Fruits of Dipteryx lacunifera Ducke and Evaluation of Their Antiradical Activities

The fruits of Dipteryx lacunifera, known as ‘fava de morcego’ and ‘garampara’, comprise pleasant tasting kernels that contain high amounts of fatty acids (mainly oleic acid) and are commonly consumed by inhabitants of the northeast of Brazil. In the present study, the crude EtOH extract of the fruit kernels was separated into hexane‐, Et₂O‐, AcOEt‐, and H₂O‐soluble fractions. The Et₂O fraction was found to exhibit the highest 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity in vitro, and was subjected to further fractionation. Column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH‐20, followed by preparative HPLC‐C₁₈, afforded (?)‐eriodictyol ( 1 ), (?)‐butin ( 2 ), luteolin ( 3 ), 3′,4′,7‐trihydroxyflavone ( 4 ), butein ( 5 ), and sulfuretin ( 6 ). The antiradical activities of compounds 1, 2, 4 , and 6 , together with the positive controls rutin, butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), were evaluated with the DPPH assay and were found to decrease in the order rutin> 4 > 1 > 6 > 2 >TBHQ>BHT.     

Surfactant Hydrogels for the Dispersion of Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Catalysts

Novel hydrogel phases based on positively charged and zwitterionic surfactants, namely, N‐[p‐(n‐dodecyloxybenzyl)]‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium bromide (pDOTABr) and p‐dodecyloxybenzyldimethylamine oxide (pDOAO), which combine pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were obtained, thus leading to stable dispersions and enhanced cross‐linked networks. The composite hydrogel featuring a well‐defined nanostructured morphology and an overall positively charged surface was shown to efficiently immobilise a polyanionic and redox‐active tetraruthenium‐substituted polyoxometalate (Ru₄POM) by complementary charge interactions. The resulting hybrid gel has been characterised by electron microscopy techniques, whereas the electrostatic‐directed assembly has been monitored by means of fluorescence spectroscopy and ζ‐potential tests. This protocol offers a straightforward supramolecular strategy for the design of novel aqueous‐based electrocatalytic soft materials, thereby improving the processability of CNTs while tuning their interfacial decoration with multiple catalytic domains. Electrochemical evidence confirms that the activity of the catalyst is preserved within the gel media.     

Separation and purification of 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes and bibenzyls from Pholidota chinensis by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography

Stilbenoids are the main components of leaves and stems of Pholidota chinensis. In the present investigation, high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was used for the separation and purification of two classes of stilbenoids, namely, bibenzyls and 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes, on a preparative scale from whole plants of P. chinensis with different solvent systems after silica gel column chromatography fractionation. n‐Hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.2:1:1:0.8, v/v/v/v) was selected as the optimum solvent system to purify 1‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1′,2′‐ethanediol ( 1 ), coelonin ( 2 ), 3,4′‐dihydroxy‐5,5′‐dimethoxybibenzyl ( 3 ), and 2,?7‐?dihydroxy‐?3,?4,?6‐?trimethoxy‐?9,?10‐?dihydrophenanthrene ( 4 ). While 2,7‐dihydroxy‐3,4,6‐trimethoxy‐?9,?10‐?dihydrophenanthrene ( 5 ), batatasin III ( 6 ), orchinol ( 7 ), and 3′‐O‐methylbatatasin III ( 8 ) were purified by n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.6:0.8:1.2:0.4, v/v/v/v). After the high‐speed counter‐current chromatography isolation procedure, the purity of all compounds was over 94% assayed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical structure identification of all compounds was carried out by mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. To the best of our knowledge, the current investigation is the first study for the separation and purification of bibenzyls and 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography from natural resources.