Derivatization of sialic acids for stabilization in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and concomitant differentiation of α(2 → 3)‐ and α(2 → 6)‐isomers

Sialylated carbohydrates usually decompose by loss of sialic acid when ionized by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) as the result of the labile carboxylic proton. Stabilization has previously been achieved by forming methyl esters with methyl iodide, a procedure that eliminates the labile proton. In this paper, we describe an alternative procedure for methyl ester formation that provides information on the sialic acid linkage directly from the MALDI spectrum. The sugars were desalted, dissolved in methanol, and treated with 4‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT‐MM). After removal of the solvent, the products were transferred directly to the MALDI target and examined from 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. Small amounts of N‐glycans derived from biological sources benefited from an additional clean‐up stage involving Nafion 117. α(2 → 6)‐Linked sialic acid produced only methyl esters whereas α(2 → 3)‐linked sialic acids were converted into their lactones providing a 32 Da difference in mass. Negative ion collision‐induced decomposition (CID) mass spectra of these neutralized glycans provided information, in many cases, on the antenna of N‐linked glycans to which the variously linked sialic acids were attached. The method was applied to N‐linked glycans released from bovine fetuin and porcine thyroglobulin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae Scenedesmus dimorphus biomass by GC–MS with one‐step esterification of free fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids

Algae can synthesize, accumulate and store large amounts of lipids in its cells, which holds immense potential as a renewable source of biodiesel. In this work, we have developed and validated a GC–MS method for quantitation of fatty acids and glycerolipids in forms of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae biomass. Algae Scenedesmus dimorphus dry mass was pulverized by mortar and pestle, then extracted by the modified Folch method and fractionated into free fatty acids and glycerolipids on aminopropyl solid‐phase extraction cartridges. Fatty acid methyl esters were produced by an optimized one‐step esterification of fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids with boron trichloride/methanol. The matrix effect, recoveries and stability of fatty acids and glycerolipids in algal matrix were first evaluated by spiking stable isotopes of pentadecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid and glyceryl tri(hexadecanoate‐2,2‐d₂) as surrogate analytes and tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard into algal matrix prior to sample extraction. Later, the method was validated in terms of lower limits of quantitation, linear calibration ranges, intra‐ and inter‐assay precision and accuracy using tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard. The method developed has been applied to the quantitation of fatty acid methyl esters from free fatty acid and glycerolipid fractions of algae Scenedesmus dimorphus .     

Determination of 18 phenolic acids in tobacco and rhizosphere soil by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for the determination of free and bound phenolic acids in tobacco plant and soil was developed. A simple solid‐phase extraction, which used Polar Enhanced Polymer column as stationary phase and methanol as mobile phase, was used for the clean‐up of bound phenolic acids, and a liquid‐phase extraction using chloroform as solvent was used to purify free phenolic acids. With our method, 18 phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil of continuous cropping flue‐cured cultivar k326 were separated and determined within 6 min with recoveries of 82–107% and relative standard deviations (n = 5) of 1.1–4.8%. Results showed that free phenolic acids accounted for 0–9, 92–100, and 69–100% of total phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil, cultivar k326 roots and leaves, respectively. Results also revealed that p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, p‐coumaric acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and syringic acid were the predominant phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil of cultivar k326, and continuous cropping of cultivar k326 in the same farmland could lead to the accumulation of these phenolic acids in soil except syringic acid. The determination of phenolic acids provided detailed information for evaluating their source and characteristics in continuous cropping tobacco plant and soil.     

Analysis of the traditional medicine YiGan San by the fragmentation patterns of cadambine indole alkaloids using HPLC coupled with high‐resolution MS

YiGan San (YGS) has long been used in traditional Japanese and Chinese folk medicine and serves as a potent and novel therapeutic agent to treat Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, a rapid and sensitive method based on HPLC coupled with diode‐array detection and quadrupole TOF MS (Q‐TOF‐MS) was designed to reveal the chemical constituents of YGS. Thirty‐six compounds were identified and assigned in YGS, including 14 alkaloids, nine γ‐lactones, six flavonoids, three triterpenoid saponinares, two small molecular organic acids, and two other types of compounds. In addition, the accurate fragment weight and MS/MS fragmentation reactions of a subtype indole alkaloid in Uncariae ramulus cum uncis were summarized for the first time to realize rapid identification without reference substances. For the first time, 11 major constituents were comprehensively quantified with a HPLC coupled with triple‐quadrupole MS method. A three‐section switch was used to realize such multicomponent identification. The contents of saikosaponin B₂ and isoliquiritin, which produce anti‐inflammatory and antidepressant‐like effects, were extremely different, up to 700 times, in two sources of YGS. The developed qualitative and quantitative method was proved to be precise, accurate, and reproducible.     

C3‐Symmetric Trisimidazoline‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromolactonization of Internal Alkenoic Acids

A method for conducting enantioselective bromolactonization reactions of trisubstituted alkenoic acids, using the C₃‐symmetric trisimidazoline 1 and 1,3‐dibromo‐5,5‐dimethyl hydantoin as a bromine source, has been developed. The process generates chiral δ‐lactones that contain a quaternary carbon. The results of studies probing geometrically different olefins show that (Z)‐olefins rather than (E)‐olefins are favorable substrates for the process. The method is not only applicable to acyclic olefin reactants but can also be employed to transform cyclic trisubstituted olefins into chiral spirocyclic lactones. Finally, the synthetic utility of the newly developed process is demonstrated by its application to a concise synthesis of tanikolide, an antifungal marine natural product.     

Hypervalent Iodine Catalyzed Cyclization of Aryl‐Substituted Alkanoic Acids

A novel and efficient procedure was developed for direct preparation of aryl‐substituted lactones from corresponding aryl‐substituted alkanoic acids, catalyzed by the in situ generated hypervalent iodine intermediate from iodobenzene (PhI). In this protocol, aryl‐substituted alkanoic acids were treated with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) and KBr in the presence of a catalytic amount of PhI in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol at room temperature for 24 h, resulting in corresponding aryl lactones in moderate‐to‐good yields.     

Facile Synthesis of Monofluoro γ-Lactones and Pyrrolidine Derivatives via Electrophilic Fluorination of Allenoic Acids and Amides

A convenient method to synthesize a series of monofluoro γ-lactones and pyrrolidine derivatives in moderate to good yields via the electrophilic fluorination of γ-allenoic acids and tosylamides using Selectfluor was developed.     

How to distinguish between cinnamoylshikimate esters and chlorogenic acid lactones by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MSⁿ; n = 2–3) has been used to characterize and distinguish chlorogenic acid lactones from cinnamoylshikimate esters. This is the first time when an LC–MSⁿ method has been developed to distinguish between these two isomeric classes of compounds formed in particular in food processing from chlorogenic acids at elevated temperature through loss of water. The structures of regioisomeric chlorogenic acid lactones and shikimate esters have been assigned on the basis of LC–MSⁿ patterns of fragmentation, relative hydrophobicity, and fragmentation analogy with the synthetic standards of dimethoxycinnamic, ferulic, and caffeic acid containing monoacyl chlorogenic acid lactones and shikimate esters. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of multiple phytohormones in fruits by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by precolumn fluorescent labeling

Plant hormone determination in food matrices has attracted more and more attention because of their potential risks to human health. However, analytical methods for the analysis of multiple plant hormones remain poorly investigated. In the present study, a convenient, selective, and ultrasensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of multiple classes of plant hormones has been developed successfully using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by precolumn fluorescent labeling. Eight plant hormones in fruits including jasmonic acid, 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid, indole‐3‐acetic acid, 3‐indolybutyric acid, 3‐indolepropionic acid, gibberellin A₃, 1‐naphthylacetic acid, and 2‐naphthaleneacetic acid were analyzed by this method. The conditions employed for dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction were optimized systematically. The linearity for all plant hormones was found to be >0.9993 (R² values). This method offered low detection limits of 0.19–0.44 ng/mL (at a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3), and method accuracies were in the range of 92.32–103.10%. The proposed method was applied to determine plant hormones in five kinds of food samples, and this method can achieve a short analysis time, low threshold levels of detection, and a high specificity for the analysis of targeted plant hormones present at trace level concentrations in complex matrices.     

Novel π2s+π2a Electrocyclization of Triethylenic‐Malonic Acids Exemplified for a One‐Pot Synthesis of New γ‐Dilactones cis‐Fused with a Cyclopentene

A new, easy and rapid synthesis of γ‐dilactones is cis‐fused with a cyclopentenic ring via cyclization of 7‐chlorotriethylenic‐malonic acids. The key step implicates an intramolecular cyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation, according to an electrocyclic π_2s + π_2a conrotatory process. This cyclopentenyl cation led to unstable γ‐lactones intermediates that are rearrange to more stable isomers. δ‐lactones (6Z and 6E‐(3‐chlorobut‐2‐en‐2‐yl)‐5‐methyl‐3,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one) were obtained as secondary products. Mechanistic pathways were considered. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by elemental and spectral data.     

Solid‐state NMR spectroscopic studies on the interaction of sorbic acid with phospholipid membranes at different pH levels

²H, ³¹P, and ¹H‐magic‐angle‐spinning (MAS) solid‐state NMR spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate the interaction between sorbic acid, a widely used weak acid food preservative, and 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DMPC) bilayers under both acidic and neutral pH conditions. The linewidth broadening observed in the ³¹P NMR powder pattern spectra and the changes in the ³¹P longitudinal relaxation time (T₁) indicate interaction with the phospholipid headgroup upon titration of sorbic acid or decanoic acid into DMPC bilayers over the pH range from 3.0 to 7.4. The peak intensities of sorbic acid decrease upon addition of paramagnetic Mn²⁺ ions in DMPC bilayers as recorded in the ¹H MAS NMR spectra, suggesting that sorbic acid molecules are in close proximity with the membrane/aqueous surface. No significant ²H quadrupolar splitting (Δν_Q) changes are observed in the ²H NMR spectra of DMPC‐d₅₄ upon titration of sorbic acid, and the change of pH has a slight effect on Δν_Q, indicating that sorbic acid has weak influence on the orientation order of the DMPC acyl chains in the fluid phase over the pH range from 3.0 to 7.4. This finding is in contrast to the results of the decanoic acid/DMPC‐d₅₄ systems, where Δν_Q increases as the concentration of decanoic acid increases. Thus, in the membrane association process, sorbic acids are most likely interacting with the headgroups and shallowly embedded near the top of the phospholipid headgroups, rather than inserting deep into the acyl chains. Thus, antimicrobial mode of action for sorbic acid may be different from that of long‐chain fatty acids. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Epoxidation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Double Bonds by Dioxirane Reagent: Regioselectivity and Lipid Supramolecular Organization

The use of dimethyldioxirane (DMD) as the epoxidizing agent for polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. With fatty acid methyl esters, this is a convenient method for avoiding acidic conditions, using different solvents, and simplifying the isolation procedures, with less contamination due to by‐products. The reagent was also tested with free fatty acids in water. In this case, the supramolecular organization of fatty acids influenced the reaction outcome, and the epoxidation showed interesting regioselective features. The C?C bonds closest to the aqueous‐micelle interface is the most favored for the interaction with dimethyldioxirane. The preferential epoxidation of linoleic acid (= (9Z,12Z)‐octadeca‐9,12‐dienoic acid) to the 9,10‐monoepoxy derivative was achieved, with a high yield and 65% regioselectivity. In case of arachidonic acid (= (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐eicosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenoic acid) micelles, the regioselective outcome with formation of the four possible monoepoxy isomers was studied under different conditions. It resulted to be a convenient synthesis of ‘cis‐5,6‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid’ (= 3‐[(2Z,5Z,8Z)‐tetradeca‐2,5,8‐trienyl]oxiran‐2‐butanoic acid), whereas in reverse micelles, epoxidation mostly gave ‘cis‐14,15‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (= (5Z,8Z,11Z)‐13‐(3‐pentyloxiran‐2‐yl)trideca‐5,8,11‐trienoic acid).     

Ultra‐performance convergence chromatography for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis Kitagawa as quality control markers

A rapid ultra‐performance convergence chromatography method was developed for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis as quality control markers. Quantitative analysis indicated the presence of two major bioactive compounds: diterpenoid acids continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid. Using a Torus 1‐aminoanthracene column, continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid were separated in less than 8 min. The method was validated with respect to precision, accuracy, and linearity according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The optimized method exhibited a good linear correlation (r ² > 0.996), excellent precision (RSD < 1.0%), and acceptable recoveries (99.97–100.26%). Limits of detection for continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid were 0.068 and 0.097 μg/mL, respectively, while their corresponding limits of quantitation were 0.207 and 0.295 μg/mL. The system performance of ultra‐performance convergence chromatography was compared with that of conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography with respect to analysis time and efficiency. The proposed method was found to be reliable and convenient for the quantitative analysis of continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid in A. continentalis from South Korea and A. pubescens from China. This study is expected to serve as a guideline for the quality control of Aralia continentalis .     

An LC method for monitoring medium-chain fatty acid permeation through CaCo-2 cell monolayers

A simple method was developed for monitoring the permeation of medium-chain fatty acids of C8 (octanoic acid) and C10 (decanoic acid) through CaCo-2 cell monolayers by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The detection was made based on the electrochemical reduction prepeak of quinone caused by acids, requiring the fabrication of a two-channel HPLC-ECD system. In one channel, acetonitrile–water (7:3, v/v) was used as a mobile phase to separate acids by a C30 column. In the other channel, acetonitrile–water (7:3, v/v) containing 6 mmol/L 3,5-di-t-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and 20 mmol/L LiClO₄ was used as a quinone solution to detect acids by an electrochemical cell with a glassy carbon working electrode. In this HPLC-ECD system, eluted acids were mixed with the quinone solution in a post column fashion to obtain current signals caused by acids. The peak area was found to be linearly related to the acid amount ranging from 25 to 1,000 pmol (r > 0.992). The detection limits of octanoic acid and decanoic acid were 7.5 and 8.8 pmol, respectively. Octanoic acid and decanoic acid spiked into cell culture media samples were extracted with acetonitrile and their recoveries were more than 89.5% with an RSD of less than 8.2%. This method was applied to the permeation experiment of octanoic acid and decanoic acid with CaCo-2 cell monolayers formed on the Transwell? system. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. This work was partly presented at The Physical Pharma Forum 2008 on March 24, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.     

Kinetic Study of the Bromine-Catalyzed Isomerization of Methyl- and Chloro-Maleic Acids in Aqueous Ce(IV)-Br -H2SO4 Medium

Methylmaleic (citraconic, CTA) acid and methylfumaric (measaconic, MSA) acid in aqueous sulfuric acid solution undergo bromine-catalyzed reversible cis-trans isomerization in the presence of ceric and bromide ions. The positional isomerization of CTA or MSA to itaconic acid (ITA) is not observed. The method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to study the kinetics of this catalyzed isomerization. The major catalytic species is best expressed as the Br^?₂ · radical anion. Under suitable catalytic conditions, there is a tendency for the [MSA]/[CTA] ratio to reach an equilibrium value of 4.10 at 25° for the CTA+Br^?₂ · ? MSA+Br^?₂ · reaction. Chloromaleic (CMA) and chlorofumaric (CFA) acids undergo similar isomerization with an equilibrium [CFA]/[CMA] ratio of 10.3 at 25°. The isomerization of maleic acid (MA) to fumaric acid (FA) is essentially irreversible with 50 as the lower limit of the equilibrium [FA]/[MA] ratio. The substituent has an important effect on the reversibility of this catalyzed isomerization of butenedicarboxylic acids. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH° and ΔS° at 25° for the CTA+Br^?₂ · ? MSA+Br^?₂ · reaction were found to be ?5.1±0.7 kj/mol and ?6.0±3.3 J/mol K, respectively. The present method gives a plausible way to measure the differences in enthalpy and entropy between the trans- and cis-isomers of butenedicarboxylic acids (CRCO₂H=CR'CO₂H) in aqueous solution.     

An efficient FeCl3‐promoted O‐alkyl cleavage of esters to carboxylic acids

A reliable and practical procedure for FeCl₃‐promoted ester cleavage has been developed. Lewis acids including TiCl₄, ZnO and FeCl₃ etc. were investigated as promoters for O‐alkyl cleavage of carboxylic acid ester. Under optimal reaction conditions, FeCl₃ (1.5 equiv.) was found to possess the highest activity and efficiently enhanced dealkylation of aryl esters, alkyl esters and aromatic heterocyclic esters to give their corresponding carboxylic acids in 54–98% yield, the method provides a complementary access to dealkylation of ester under neutral condition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study on fatty acid composition of olive (Olea europaea L.), with emphasis on phytosterol contents

The present study was designed to determine the fatty acid composition and phytosterol contents of Turkish native olive cultivars, namely Kilis Yağlık and Nizip Yağlık cv. In this context, olive fruits from 34 locations were sampled and then screened for their components in comparison. Fifteen different fatty acids were found in both olive oils. In the order of abundance, the most important ones were oleic acid (18:1) > palmitic acid (16:0) > linoleic acid (18:2) > stearic acid (18:0). Significant differences were observed in the contents of oleic acid (18:1), palmitic acid (16:0), linoleic acid (18:2) but not for stearic acid content in comparison both oils (p < 0.01). There were significant differences in terms of unsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.01). The seven phytosterols – cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β ‐sitosterol, Δ‐5‐avenasterol, Δ‐7‐stigmastenol and Δ‐7‐avenasterol – were studied in both oil sources. The predominant sterols were β ‐sitosterol, Δ5‐avenasterol and campesterol in the samples analysed. However, no significant differences were found in the levels of the phytosterols between the two olive cultivars.     

Conjugate Addition of a Silyl Ketene Acetal to α,β‐Unsaturated Lactones

Abstract

Conjugate addition of a silyl ketene acetal [Me₂C?C (OMe)OSiMe₃] to α,β‐unsaturated lactones (namely, 5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, 2(5H)‐furanone as Michael acceptor) occurs efficiently at room temperature in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst, tetra‐n‐butyl ammonium bibenzoate (TBABB), in THF as well as Lewis acid catalysts such as Yb(OTf)₃ and I₂ in CH₂Cl₂, giving the corresponding 1,4‐adducts in excellent yields.     

Thermodynamic and structural study of complexation of phenylboronic acid with salicylhydroxamic acid and related ligands

Stability constants of boronate complexes with a highly efficient bioconjugation ligand salicylhydroxamic acid, its derivatives and some structurally related compounds were determined by potentiometric and spectroscopic titrations at variable pH allowing one to obtain detailed stability – pH profiles and to identify the optimum pH for complexation with each ligand. The N,O‐binding of salicylhydroxamic acid via condensation of boronic acid with phenolic OH and hydroxamic NH groups was established by crystal structure determination of isolated complexes with phenylboronic and 4‐nitrophenylboronic acids. Although this type of binding is impossible for N‐methylated salicylhydroxamic acid it still forms stable boronate complexes supposedly involving unusual 7‐membered –O‐B‐O‐ cycle supported by ¹H NMR studies. Hydroxamic acids lacking ortho‐OH group and salicyloyl hydrazide form less stable boronate complexes, which nevertheless possess stabilities similar to those of catechole complexes and may be useful for conjugation applications. In contrast to other ligands, which form tetrahedral anionic complexes, salicylamidoxime forms tetrahedral, but neutral boronate complex with high stability in weakly acid solutions. The highest affinity in neutral and acid solutions surpassing that of salicylhydroxamic acid is observed with 2,6‐dihydroxybenzhydroxamic acid (K_obs = 5.2 × 10⁴ at pH 7.4). Fairly stable mono‐ and bisboronate complexes are formed with 2,5‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzdihydroxamic acid, which also possesses intense fluorescence and may serve as a boronic acid sensor with detection limit 4 μM. Results presented in this study provide quantitative basis for rational applications of hydroxamic acid derivatives in bioconjugation and sensing.     

Melt polycondensation of L‐lactic acid with Sn(II) catalysts activated by various proton acids: A direct manufacturing route to high molecular weight Poly(L‐lactic acid)

Poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) was produced by the melt polycondensation of L ‐lactic acid. For the optimization of the reaction conditions, various catalyst systems were examined at different temperature and reaction times. It was discovered that Sn(II) catalysts activated by various proton acids can produce high molecular weight PLLA [weight‐average molecular weight (M_w ) ≥ 100,000] in a relatively short reaction time (≤15 h) compared with simple Sn(II)‐based catalysts (SnO, SnCl₂ · 2H₂O), which produce PLLA with an M_w of less than 30,000 after 20 h. The new catalyst system is also superior to the conventional systems in regard to racemization and discoloration of the resultant polymer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1673–1679, 2000