Comparative fingerprint analyses of extracts from the root bark of wild Hippocratea excelsa and “Cancerina” by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A simple high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the identification and comparison of quinone‐methide triterpenes in wild Hippocratea excelsa and “cancerina” to establish the chromatographic profile of these compounds in root bark. The essential chromatographic conditions for this method are based on a gradient system with a reversed‐phase column (C₁₈) using proportions of water, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran as mobile phases to correctly separate the signals at 254 and 420 nm and compare the signals to those reported in the literature. The chromatograms exhibit good resolution and precision. Statistical analysis showed that the chromatographic profiles of wild H. excelsa and cancerina do not exhibit significant differences (p0.05) in their area proportions or relative retention times. The method developed in this study is suitable for the identification of the major chemotaxonomic markers of the Celastraceae family and can be used for quality control of this herbal root bark, which has uses today in Mexican folk medicine.     

Evaluation of the quality consistency of powdered poppy capsule extractive by an averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method in combination with antioxidant activities and two compounds analyses

A novel averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method was proposed and successfully applied to monitor the quality consistency of alkaloids in powdered poppy capsule extractive. Averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method provided accurate qualitative and quantitative similarities for chromatographic fingerprints of Chinese herbal medicines. The stability and operability of the averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method were verified by the parameter r . The average linear qualitative similarity (improved based on conventional qualitative “Similarity”) was used as a qualitative criterion in the averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method, and the average linear quantitative similarity was introduced as a quantitative one. was able to identify the difference in the content of all the chemical components. In addition, was found to be highly correlated to the contents of two alkaloid compounds (morphine and codeine). A simple flow injection analysis was developed for the determination of antioxidant capacity in Chinese Herbal Medicines, which was based on the scavenging of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical by antioxidants. The fingerprint–efficacy relationship linking chromatographic fingerprints and antioxidant activities was investigated utilizing orthogonal projection to latent structures method, which provided important pharmacodynamic information for Chinese herbal medicines quality control. In summary, quantitative fingerprinting based on averagely linear‐quantified fingerprint method can be applied for monitoring the quality consistency of Chinese herbal medicines, and the constructed orthogonal projection to latent structures model is particularly suitable for investigating the fingerprint–efficacy relationship.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Stereospecific C−H Coupling of Benzamides with Epoxides

A Ni(OAc)₂‐catalyzed C?H coupling of 8‐aminoquinoline‐derived benzamides with epoxides has been developed. The reaction proceeds with concomitant removal of the 8‐aminoquinoline auxiliary to form the corresponding 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarins directly. Additionally, the nickel catalysis is stereospecific, and the cis‐ and trans‐epoxides are converted into the corresponding cis‐ and trans‐dihydroisocoumarins with retention of configuration, which is complementary to previously reported palladium catalysis. Moreover, while still preliminary, the C ?H functionalization is also achieved in the presence of modified NiCl₂ catalysts.     

Catalytic and Atom‐Economic C −C Bond Formation: Alkyl Tantalum Ureates for Hydroaminoalkylation

Atom‐economic and regioselective C ?C bond formation has been achieved by rapid C?H alkylation of unprotected secondary arylamines with unactivated alkenes. The combination of Ta(CH₂SiMe₃)₃Cl₂, and a ureate N,O‐chelating‐ligand salt gives catalytic systems prepared in situ that can realize high yields of β‐alkylated aniline derivatives from either terminal or internal alkene substrates. These new catalyst systems realize C?H alkylation in as little as one hour and for the first time a 1:1 stoichiometry of alkene and amine substrates results in high yielding syntheses of isolated amine products by simple filtration and concentration.     

Pentaatomic planar tetracoordinate silicon with 14 valence electrons: A large‐scale global search of (n + m = 4; q = 0, ±1, −2; X,Y = main group elements from H to Br)

Designing and characterizing the compounds with exotic structures and bonding that seemingly contrast the traditional chemical rules are a never‐ending goal. Although the silicon chemistry is dominated by the tetrahedral picture, many examples with the planar tetracoordinate‐Si skeletons have been discovered, among which simple species usually contain the 17/18 valence electrons. In this work, we report hitherto the most extensive structural search for the pentaatomic ptSi with 14 valence electrons, that is, (n + m = 4; q = 0, ±1, ?2; X, Y = main group elements from H to Br). For 129 studied systems, 50 systems have the ptSi structure as the local minimum. Promisingly, nine systems, that is, , HSiY₃ (Y = Al/Ga), Ca₃SiAl^?, Mg₄Si^2?, C₂LiSi, Si₃Y₂ (Y = Li/Na/K), each have the global minimum ptSi. The former six systems represent the first prediction. Interestingly, in HSiY₃ (Y = Al/Ga), the H‐atom is only bonded to the ptSi‐center via a localized 2c–2e σ bond. This sharply contradicts the known pentaatomic planar‐centered systems, in which the ligands are actively involved in the ligand–ligand bonding besides being bonded to the planar center. Therefore, we proposed here that to generalize the 14e‐ptSi, two strategies can be applied as (1) introducing the alkaline/alkaline‐earth elements and (2) breaking the peripheral bonding. In light of the very limited global ptSi examples, the presently designed six systems with 14e are expected to enrich the exotic ptSi chemistry and welcome future laboratory confirmation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Preparation and evaluation of o‐phenanthroline immobilized on a hybrid silica monolith modified with ionic liquids for reversed‐phase pressurized capillary electrochromatography

A novel o‐phenanthroline‐immobilized ionic‐liquid‐modified hybrid monolith for capillary electrochromatography was synthesized based on chloropropyl‐silica, which was prepared by the in situ polymerization of tetramethoxysilane and 3‐chloropropyltrimethoxysilane via a sol–gel process. The morphology of the hybrid monolith was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and relatively stable anodic electroosmotic flow was observed under a broad pH ranged from pH 3.0 to 9.0. The separation mechanism was investigated by separating four neutral molecules (toluene, dimethylformamide, formamide, and thiourea). The obtained hybrid monolith possessed an obviously reversed‐phase retention mechanism, but when the acetonitrile content in the mobile phase was >90% v/v, a weak hydrophilic mechanism was observed on the resultant o‐phenanthroline‐modified chloropropyl‐silica hybrid monolith. The reproducibility of the column was also investigated by measuring relative standard deviations of the migration time for four neutral molecules. Relative standard deviations of run to run (n = 3), day to day (n = 3), and column to column (n = 3) were in the range of 0.4–0.7, 0.9–2.1, and 1.4–3.3%, respectively. Basic separations of various polar analytes including phenols and aromatic amines were successfully achieved.     

Theoretical prediction of the optical rotation of chiral molecules in ordered media: A computational study of (Ra)‐1,3‐dimethylallene, (2R)‐2‐methyloxirane,and (2R)‐N‐methyloxaziridine

A theoretical procedure has been developed and implemented to calculate the optical rotation of chiral molecules in ordered phase via origin‐independent diagonal components , of the optical activity tensor and origin‐independent components , for , of the mixed electric dipole‐electric quadrupole polarizability. Origin independence was achieved by referring these tensors to the principal axis system of the electric dipole dynamic polarizability at the same laser frequency ω. The approach has been applied, allowing for alternative quantum mechanical methods based on different gauges, to estimate near Hartree–Fock values for three chiral molecules, (2R)‐N‐methyloxaziridine C₂NOH₅, (2R)‐2‐methyloxirane (also referred to as propylene oxide) C₃OH₆, and ( )‐1,3‐dimethylallene C₅H₈, at two frequencies. The theoretical predictions can be useful for an attempt at measuring correspondent experimental values in crystal phase. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous identification and quantification of cardiovascular drugs applied to the detection of substandard and falsified drugs

The counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals has been detected since about 1990 and has alarmingly continued to pick up steam. We have been recently involved in an evaluation program of some of the most commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs in Africa, for analysing an important number of tablets or capsules obtained from different places in seven African countries. A reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously control the identity and the quantity of acenocoumarol, amlodipine, atenolol, captopril, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and simvastatin in tablets. Their separation was performed on a Kinetex® C₁₈ (100 mm × 2.1 mm inside diameter, 2.6 μm) column using a gradient elution of 20 mM ammonium formate buffer and acetonitrile (90:10 10:90 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The analytes were detected using electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry in both positive and negative modes with multiple reaction monitoring. Tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation patterns of captopril, furosemide and acenocoumarol, up to now not detailed in the literature, were also studied to assist in the selection of the most relevant transitions towards the objectives. The developed method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, trueness, precision, limits of detection and quantification. It has been successfully applied to the control of oral forms of seven cardiovascular drugs collected in African countries.     

Validated high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of the inhibitor of cancer cell invasion (E)‐N‐benzyl‐6‐[2‐(3, 4‐dihydroxy benzylidene)hydrazinyl]‐N‐methylpyridine‐3‐sulfonamide in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

In this study, a reliable method for the quantitation of (E )‐N ‐benzyl‐6‐[2‐(3, 4‐dihydroxy benzylidene)hydrazinyl]‐N ‐methylpyridine‐3‐sulfonamide (JW‐55) in rat plasma was developed and validated using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Plasma samples were deproteinized; sildenafil was used as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column. The mobile phase, 0.02 m ammonium acetate buffer:acetonitrile (48:52, v /v), was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min at room temperature, and the column eluent was monitored using an ultraviolet detector at 280 nm. The retention times of JW‐55 and sildenafil were ~5.9 and 7.7 min, respectively. The detection limit of JW‐55 in rat plasma was 0.03 μg/mL. Pharmacokinetic parameters of JW‐55 were evaluated after intravenous and oral administration of JW‐55 (10 mg/kg) in rats. After oral administration, the F value was approximately 73.7%.     

A Large Scale Separation of Taxanes from the Bark Extract of Taxus yunnanesis and 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR Assignments for 7‐epi‐10‐Deacetyltaxol

A large‐scale separation of paclitaxel from semi‐purified bark extract of Taxus yunnanesis was investigated. The chromatographic behavior of paclitaxel and two dose editing analogues, cephalomannine and 7‐epi‐10‐deacetyltaxol were systematically studied on a C₁₈ bonded phase column with different mobile phase in reverse phase mode. According to the notably different selectivity of the methanol and acetonitrile with water in the mobile phase and the most important requirement of capacity in preparative chromatography, the optimum suitably mobile phase used in a large‐scale isolation of paclitaxel and 7‐epi‐10‐deacetyltaxol on a preparative C₁₈ column was given. Cephalomannine was eliminated by ozonolysis and after then separated throughout a normal phase silica column. The whole large‐scale process for high purity paclitaxel from the bark extract of Taxus yunnanesis consisted of a preliminary purification with Biotage FLASH 150i system based on a prepacked normal phase silica cartridge followed by using a C₁₈ Nova‐pak? column in Waters PrepLC? 4000 preparative HPLC system. The structure of 7‐epi‐10‐deacetyltaxol was elucidated by 2D NMR technologies of TOCSY, DQF‐COSY, HMQC and HMBC, etc.     

Photochemical Reaction Between 1,2‐Naphthoquinone and Adenine in Binary Water‐Acetonitrile Solutions

The photochemical reaction between 1,2‐naphthoquinone (NQ ) and adenine was investigated using nanosecond time‐resolved laser flash photolysis. With photolysis at 355 nm, the lowest triplet state T₁ of NQ was produced via intersystem crossing from its singlet excited state. The triplet‐triplet absorption of the state contributes three bands of transient spectra at 374, 596 and 650 nm, respectively, in pure acetonitrile and binary water‐acetonitrile solutions. In the presence of adenine, the observation of ⁺ (at 363 nm) and radical (at 343 and 485 nm) indicates a multistep mechanism of electron transfer process followed by a proton transfer between ³NQ * and adenine. By fitting with the Stern‐Volmer relationship, the quenching rate constant k _q of ³NQ * by adenine in binary water‐acetonitrile solutions (4/1, volume ratio, v/v) is determined as 1.66 × 10⁹ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹. Additionally, no spectral evidence confirms the existence of electron transfer between ³NQ * with thymine, cytosine and uracil.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure of Ruthenium 1,2－Naphthoquinone－1－oxime Complex and Its Mediated C－－C Coupling Reactions of Ter－minal Alkynes

Substituted decarbonylation reaction of ruthenium 1,2‐naphthoquinone‐1‐oxime (1‐nqo) complex, cis‐, cis‐[Ru| ζ²‐N(O)C₁₀‐H₆O|₂(CO)₂] (1), with acetonitrile gave cis‐, cis‐[Ru | ζ²‐ N(O)C₁₀H₆O|₂(CO)(NCMe)] (2). Complex 2 was fully characterized by ¹H NMR, FAB MS, IR spectra and single crystal X‐ray analysis. Complex 2 maintains the coordination structure of 1 with the two naphthoquinonic oxygen atoms, as well as the two oximato nitrogen atoms located cis to each other, showing that there is no ligand rearrangement of the 1‐nqo ligands during the substitution reaction. The carbonyl group originally trans to the naphthoquinonic oxygen in one 1‐nqo ligand is left in its original position [O(5)‐Ru‐C(1), 174.0(6)°], while the other one originally trans to the oximato group of the other 1‐nqo ligand is substituted by NCMe [N(1)‐Ru‐N(3), 170.6(6)°]. This shows that the carbonyl trans to oximato group is more labile than the one trans to naphthoquinonic O atom towards substitution. This is probably due to the comparatively stronger ± back bonding from ruthenium metal to the carbonyl group trans to naphthoquinonic O atom, than the one trans to oximato group, resulting in the comparatively weaker Ru–‐CO bond for the latter and consequently easier replacement of this carbonyl. Selected coupling of phenylacetylene mediated by 2 gave a single trans‐dimerization product 3, while 2 mediated coupling reaction of methyl propiolate produced three products: one trans‐dimerization product 4 and two cyclotrimeric products 5 and 6.     

A theoretical study on the stability difference of the borane and carborane C2Bn−2Hn (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters

In order to study the electronic structure and structural stability of borane and carborane C₂B_n?2H_n (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters, especially the stability difference between the borane and carborane C₂B₃H₅. The frontier orbital energy levels of the borane and carborane C₂B_n?2H_n (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters are calculated at CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVXZ//B3LYP/def2‐TZVPP level. The results are further analyzed by qualitative frontier orbital method based on the cap–ring interaction. The results reveal that: (1) the larger E_gap(HOMO‐LUMO energy gap) of carborane C₂B_n?2H_n (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters than borane (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters originates from the more effective cap–ring orbital overlap of carborane C₂B_n?2H_n (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters than that of borane (5 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters; (2) the smallest E_gap of the borane results from the highest energy level of the ring symmetry‐adapted linear combination orbital of cluster; and (3) the largest E_gap of the carborane C₂B₃H₅ is induced by the most effective cap–ring orbital interaction of C₂B₃H₅ cluster. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solid‐phase extraction of matrine and oxymatrine from Sophora Flavescens Ait using amino‐imidazolium polymer

A new, polymer‐confined, ionic liquid sorbent was developed by a process involving polymerization and modification. The obtained particles were successfully used as a special sorbent in SPE process to isolate matrine and oxymatrine from Sophora Flavescens Ait. Different washing and elution solvents, such as ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile and methanol/triethylamine (90:10, v/v), were evaluated. Compared with the C₁₈ and NH₂ sorbents, the amino‐imidazolium polymer sorbent exhibited higher selectivity. Quantitative analysis was carried out by using a C₁₈ column. The two compounds exhibited good linearity from 5×10^?3 to 0.50 mg/mL (r²>0.99). The bound amounts between target compounds and proteins were obtained by this sorbent. After three recycles of amino‐imidazolium polymer, the extract amounts of the target compounds were not significantly decreased.     

Ligand‐Enabled Enantioselective C –H Activation of Tetrahydroquinolines and Saturated Aza‐Heterocycles by RhI

The first rhodium(I)‐catalyzed enantioselective intermolecular C –H activation of various saturated aza‐heterocycles including tetrahydroquinolines, piperidines, piperazines, azetidines, pyrrolidines, and azepanes is presented. The combination of a rhodium(I) precatalyst and a chiral monodentate phosphonite ligand is shown to be a powerful catalytic system to access a variety of important enantio‐enriched heterocycles from simple starting materials. Notably, the C –H activation of tetrahydroquinolines is especially challenging due to the adjacent C −H bond. This redox‐neutral methodology provides a new synthetic route to α‐N‐arylated heterocycles with high chemoselectivity and enantioselectivity up to 97 % ee.     

Toward a Better Determination of Infrared Molar Absorptivities and Dimer Formation Constants in Self‐association Through Hydrogen Bonding: 3‐Ethyl‐2‐methyl‐3‐pentanol in Tetrachloroethylene as an Example

The monomer–dimer self‐association of the dilute 3‐ethyl‐2‐methyl‐3‐pentanol in tetrachloroethylene in the very dilute state was studied by infrared spectroscopy at several temperatures. The solute was deliberately chosen so that higher oligomers were suppressed by the steric hindrance arising from bulky groups on both sides of hydroxyl group. Two linear utility equations were derived to treat, respectively, the integrated absorbance of the monomer band, A _m, and of the dimer band, A _d, as functions of the initially prepared solute concentration, [B ]₀. The respective molar absorptivities were obtained by fitting these equations to the data. Unlike previous methods, the dimerization constant (K ) can be obtained from either A _m or A _d. Any discrepancy between these two values of K serves as a measure of the quality of the data. The values of K at different temperatures were employed to calculate the standard enthalpy and entropy of dimerization by using a van't Hoff plot. The dimer is predominantly in the cyclic form where both hydroxyl protons are hydrogen‐bonded. This is inferred from the following observations: (1) the spectrum displays only two bands between 3300 and 3750 cm⁻¹; (2) the constancy of as a function of [B ]₀ ; and (3) the linearity of both plots [B ]₀/A _m vs. A _m , and [B ]₀/A _d vs. .     

Tripodale Bis(2,6‐iminophosphoranyl)pyridin‐Liganden: Eisen‐ und Cobalt‐Komplexe mit Potential in der Ethen‐Polymerisation

Tripodal Bis(2,6‐iminophosphoranyl)pyridine Ligands: Iron and Cobalt Complexes with a Potential in Ethene Polymerisation By Staudinger Reaction of bis‐2,6‐diphenylphosphanyl‐pyridine with aryl‐, alkyl‐ and silylazides tripodal ligands L = 2,6‐(Ph₂P=NR)₂C₅H₃N (R = Ph 1 a , Mes 1 b , Ad  1 c , SiMe₃ 1 d ) are synthesized. The reaction of ligand 1 b  with equimolar amounts of [CoCl₂(THF)₂] and [FeCl₂(THF)_1.5] in THF does not lead to the expected neutral complexes [(k³‐L)MCl₂] but to coordination compounds of the composition L₂(CoCl₂)₃ ( 2 a ) und L(FeCl₂)₂ ( 3 ). By using acetonitrile as solvent or by crystallisation of 2 a from hot acetonitrile the cationic complex [(k³‐L)CoCl(MeCN)]Cl ( 2 b ) is formed as a second product. The molecular structure 2 b has been characterized by an X‐ray single crystal structure analysis (triclinic, P1, Z = 2, a = 1299.8(1), b = 1488.8(2), c = 1674.2(2) pm, α = 82.911(13)°, β = 76.715(12)°, γ = 72.758(11)°). A preliminary test with 3 shows, that coordination compounds of the ligand system introduced here have potential as catalysts in methyl alumoxane mediated ethene polymerisation.     

Stereoselectivity in Diphos Addition to Molybdenum Complex with Pyridine‐2‐thionate (pyS) and η3‐Methallyl Coordinated Ligands

The conformational isomers endo‐ and exo‐[Mo{η³‐C₃H₄(CH₃)}(η²‐pyS)(CO)(η²‐diphos)] (diphos: dppm = {bis(diphenylphosphino)methane}, 2 ; dppe = {1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane}, 3 ) are prepared by reacting the double‐bridged pyridine‐2‐thionate (pyS) complex [Mo{η³‐C₃H₄(CH₃)}(CO)₂]₂(η¹:η²:μ‐pyS)₂, 1 with diphos in refluxing acetonitrile. Stereoselectivity of the methallyl, C₃H₄(CH₃), ligand improves the formation of the exo‐conformation of 2 and 3 . Orientations and spectroscopy of these complexes are discussed.     

Seven 5‐benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles: unexpected isomorphisms,and hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular structures in zero,one and two dimensions

5‐Benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₃N₃, (I), and its 5‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]‐, C₂₁H₂₂F₃N₃, (III), and 5‐(4‐bromobenzyl)‐, C₂₀H₂₂BrN₃, (V), analogues, are isomorphous in the space group C2/c, but not strictly isostructural; molecules of (I) form hydrogen‐bonded chains, while those of (III) and (V) form hydrogen‐bonded sheets, albeit with slightly different architectures. Molecules of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₁H₂₅N₃, (II), are linked into hydrogen‐bonded dimers by a combination of N—H...π(arene) and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, while those of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐chlorobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂ClN₃, (IV), form hydrogen‐bonded chains of rings which are themselves linked into sheets by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. Simple hydrogen‐bonded chains built from a single N—H...O hydrogen bond are formed in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐nitrobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂N₄O₂, (VI), while in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₃H₂₉N₃O₃, (VII), which crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in the space group P, pairs of molecules are linked into two independent centrosymmetric dimers, one generated by a three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond and the other by a two‐centre N—H...O hydrogen bond.