Rapid determination of phenoxy acid residues in rice by modified QuEChERS extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method for the analysis of phenoxy acid herbicide residues in rice, based on the use of liquid extraction/partition and dispersive solid phase extraction (dispersive-SPE) followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS), is reported. 5% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile as the extraction solvent and inclusion of citrate buffer helped partitioning of all the analytes into the acetonitrile phase. The extract was then cleaned up by dispersive-SPE using C18 and alumina neutral as selective sorbents. Further optimization of sample preparation and determination allowed recoveries of between 45 and 104% for all 13 phenoxy acid herbicides with RSD values lower than 13.3% at 5.0 μg kg⁻¹ concentration level. Limit of detections (LODs) of 0.5 μg kg⁻¹ or below were attained for all 13 phenoxy acids. Quantitative analysis was done in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using two combinations of selected precursor ion and product ion transition for each compound. This developed method produced relatively higher recoveries of the acid herbicides with a smaller range of variation and less susceptibility to matrix effects, than the original QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method.     

Poly(N,N′-dibromo-N-ethyl-benzene-1,3-disulfonamide), N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide and novel poly(N,N′-dibromo-N-phenylbenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) as powerful reagents for benzylic bromination

N,N,N′,N′-Tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA], poly(N,N′-dibromo-N-ethyl-benzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBBS], and novel poly(N,N′-dibromo-N-phenylbenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBPS] can be used for bromination of benzylic positions in solvent.     

Structural characterization of triorganotin(IV) complexes with sodium fusidate and DFT calculations

Three new complexes of the steroid sodium fusidate (sodium 2-[(1S,2S,5R,6S,7S,10S,11S,13S, 14Z,15R,17R)-13-(acetyloxy)-5,17-dihydroxy-2,6,10,11-tetramethyl tetracyclo[8.7.0.0^2,7.0^11,15] heptadecan-14-ylidene]-6-methylhept-5-enoate = (NaFusidate, NaFA)]), with triorganotin(IV) moieties have been prepared and investigated by conventional techniques as FTIR, Mössbauer, ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. The isolated compounds showed stoichiometries organotin(IV)/fusidate 1/1, R₃Sn(IV)FA (R = Me, FA1; Bu, FA2; Ph, FA3). The ligand coordination sites were determined by FTIR spectroscopic measurements. In the complexes, the carboxylate group of the fusidate ligand behaves as monodentate monoanionic donor, binding the Sn(IV) through one oxygen atom.On the basis of C-Sn-O_COO angles, calculated through the rationalization of the ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer parameter nuclear quadrupole splitting, it has been confirmed that, in all the solid state complexes, the Sn(IV) was tetracoordinated in a distorted tetrahedral structure.Further data from ¹¹⁹Sn CP-MAS spectra confirmed the distorted tetrahedral arrangement.In MeOH solution, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy showed monomeric complexes, where the carboxylate group mainly acts as monodentate ester-type ligand, and the occurrence of a coordinated solvent molecule to the tin center, as validated by non-relativistic NMR DFT study.     

Discontinuous crack growth in poly (vinyl fluoride) by mechanochemical ageing in sodium hydroxide

The mechanochemical degradation of poly (vinyl fluoride) (PVDF) was studied in sodium hydroxide solution (soda) in the presence of various gradients of imposed mechanical deformation. Compact tension (CT) and low-necked tensile specimens were used to study ageing in soda (pH 14) at 90 °C during up to 35 days. This made it possible to impose various strain fields during ageing. An image correlation method was used to estimate the displacement fields at the surface of the specimen during the mechanical tests. PVDF degradation in soda usually results in a reddish brown colouring and is essentially localised in the “fairly deformed zones” (30% < ?₁ < 70%). For more important strains (?₁ > 70%), no colouration is observed and the degradation is stopped by limitation of the soda diffusion in the material [1] and [2]. In the presence of an imposed strain field, there is a level of mechanochemical degradation “Stress Corrosion Cracking” (SCC) in soda for which the formation of microcracks is observed within a layer of exposed surface of degraded polymer. Cracking always starts at the border of the zone coloured by chemical degradation. The mechanical deformation in this bordering zone is approximately ?₁ ≈ 30%. The cracking continues via a discontinuous propagation of propagations and crack arrests usually called “stick-slip”. The fracture surfaces are marked by a succession of distinct coloured striations representing a temporary crack arrests characteristic of discontinuous crack growth. Cracking can stop with the elimination of one of the two combined causes of SCC, mechanical or chemical.     

The perturbing effect of cholesterol on the interaction between labdanes and DPPC bilayers

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the effect of cholesterol on the perturbation of DPPC bilayers induced by eight bioactive structurally related labdanes isolated from the resin ‘ladano’ of Cistus creticus subsp. creticus (Cistaceae) or semisynthesized from the mother compounds. Labdanes themselves induced profound modifications in DPPC bilayer organization and thermotropic properties that were altered when cholesterol was incorporated in equimolar amounts to the labdanes. The present work shows that, up to 10 mol% of the equimolar mixture of cholesterol and the labdanes, the modifications evoked on DPPC bilayer organization are in accordance to these induced by the labdanes themselves. When the concentration exceeded 20 mol%, cholesterol influence dominated while the effect of the labdanes was suppressed and their interaction with the bilayer was probably prevented. The degree by which cholesterol modulated the labdane interaction with the bilayer depended on their structural characteristics that determine their localization in the bilayer interior. Polar groups that force the labdanes to localize themselves at the interfacial region broadened the concentration range by which labdanes interacted with the DPPC bilayer even in the presence of high concentration of cholesterol where cholesterol-rich domains are preferentially formed. On the other hand, labdanes possessing functional groups that promote their deeper penetration in the bilayer interior compete with cholesterol in a high extent for the same localization sites resulting in their possible elimination from the bilayer when the concentration of cholesterol present exceeds the 20 mol%.     

A Baylis-Hillman/ozonolysis route towards (±) 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) and analogues

The Baylis-Hillman reaction between 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethanal and 3-buten-2-one followed by desilylation gave rise to the corresponding α-methylene-β,γ-dihydroxy ketone further converted by reductive ozonolysis of the carbon-carbon double bond into racemic 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD), a significant molecule in bacterial cell-cell communication systems. The same sequence applied to other substrates allowed the preparation of chain elongated analogues and 5-O-acylated derivatives of DPD.     

Tonkinensines A and B, two novel alkaloids from Sophora tonkinensis

Tonkinensines A (1) and B (2), two novel cytisine-type alkaloids that feature the skeleton with a linkage to pterocarpan, were isolated from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially X-ray crystal diffraction and CD spectral analysis. The proposed biosynthetic pathway was also discussed. Both 1 and 2 were tested in HeLa and MDA-MB-231 tumor cell lines, and compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activity.     

Disparate orientation of [1]rotaxanes

A novel [1]rotaxane 2 has been synthesized employing a 4-methyl-benzenesulfonyl and an azobenzene modified β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) at the 2 position, through self-inclusion complexation and Suzuki-coupling capping in aqueous solution. Disparate absorption, induced circular dichroism (ICD) properties from its isomer [1]rotaxane 1, prepared from the isomeric β-CyD modifier at the 6 position, and the photoisomerization of [1]rotaxane 2 were thoroughly investigated.     

Eunicellin-based diterpenoids from the cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex

Eight new eunicellin-base diterpenoids, klysimplexins A-H (1-8), were isolated from a cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The structure of 1 was further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and the application of modified Mosher's method. Metabolites 2 and 8 were found to be cytotoxic toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines.     

Magnetic coupling in EE and EO azido-bridged binuclear copper complexes: Synthesis,structure and magnetic studies

Four azide bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(L^X)₂(N₃)₂](ClO₄)₂, with L^X = substituted N,N-bis[(3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-yl)-methyl]benzylamine, [X = H (1), OMe (2), Me (3) and Cl (4)] have been synthesized, out of which complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized structurally. In Complex 1 the two bridging azide ligands have connected the two metal centers in an end-on (EO) fashion with aSP (asymmetric Square Pyramidal) geometry and showed an weak antiferromagnetic interaction (J = −3.34 cm⁻¹). On the contrary, in complex 2, the two metal centers have been connected in end-to-end (EE) fashion exhibiting moderately strong ferromagnetic interaction (J = +19.7 cm⁻¹). Cyclic voltammetric studies performed on all the four complexes show a reasonably good correlations when E_1/2 for Cu^IICu^II → Cu^IICu^III and Cu^IICu^III → Cu^IIICu^III oxidations are plotted against σ (substituent constants) with ρ = −0.182 (R² = 0.92) and −0.684 (R² = 0.99) respectively.     

PS-SNAP, a practical polymer-supported nitrosation reagent in organic synthesis

PS-SNAP was designed and evaluated as a practical nitrosating polymer-supported reagent for the nitrosation of sec-amines. Nitrosated dialkyl amines, alkyl anilines, and bis-anilines were obtained in good yields and high purities after shaking the corresponding amines in the presence of an excess of the newly described reagent followed by simple filtration and removal of solvents.     

Synthesis of non-THF analogs of acetogenin toward simplified mimics

Acetogenin analogs in which the bis-adjacent THF ring was replaced with an enantioselectively synthesized 1,2-cyclopentanediol bis-ether skeleton were synthesized to obtain simplified mimics, and their inhibitory effect on mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) was examined. The results clearly demonstrate that the 1,2-cyclopentanediol bis-ether motif can substitute for the bis-THF ring while maintaining very potent inhibitory activity at the nanomolar level.     

Studies on the synthesis of phorboxazole B: stereoselective synthesis of the C28-C46 segment

A stereoselective synthesis of C28-C46 segment of phorboxazole B is described. Key features of the synthetic route involved the use of 1,3-asymmetric induction of Mukaiyama aldol reaction to construct the stereogenic center at C35, and the employment of metalated oxazole chemistry to prepare the ketal 6.     

Design and synthesis of boron containing 2,4-disubstituted-phthalazin-1(2H)-one and 3,7-disubstituted-2H-benzo[b][1,4] oxazine derivatives as potential HGF-mimetic agents

We synthesized boron containing 2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioaborolan-2-yl)phenyl) phthalazin-1(2H)-one 3 and 7-methyl-3-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl)-2H-benzo[b][1,4] oxazine 8. The reaction of compound 2 with B₂pin₂ using potassium acetate as the base and Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ as the catalyst, produced the corresponding boron-containing derivative 3 as a white solid in 65% yield. Alternatively, we have synthesized compound 8 as a yellow solid in 59% yield using the Miyaura borylation reaction. The potassium trifluoro(4-(-methyl-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazine-3-yl)phenylborate 9 was then obtained after treatment of 8 with aqueous solution of KF₂H in methanol as white solid product in 60% yield. The biological activities of the synthetic compounds are currently being evaluated.     

Hydroalumination of silylacetylenes: a novel and highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)-telluro(silyl)ketene acetals and their applications in Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions

The hydroalumination of silylacetylenes with DIBAL-H followed by the addition of n-butyllithium generated in situ the (Z)-β-vinylorganosilane alanates intermediates, which were trapped with butyltellurenyl bromide (C₄H₉TeBr), furnishing exclusively the (E)-1-butyltelluro-1-tri(organyl)silyl-2-organyl-1-alkenes in 45-70% yields. These telluro(silyl)ketene acetals were utilized as substrates in Sonogashira cross-coupling Pd-catalyzed reactions, furnishing the (Z)-1,4-diorganyl-2-tri(organyl)silyl-1-buten-3-ynes with total control of regio- and stereochemistry in 62-80% yield.     

Synthesis of 3-iodothiophenes via iodocyclization of (Z)-thiobutenynes

A simple synthesis of 3-iodothiophenes was demonstrated using a wide range of (Z)-thioenynes. The key step in the iodocyclofunctionalization was the selective reduction of the triple bond in (Z)-thioenynes by the addition of iodine as an electrophilic agent. The 3-iodothiophenes were obtained in good to excellent yields of 61–92%. The 3-iodothiophenes were used as substrates in Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions to obtain thiophene acetylenes.     

Ion-supported PhI-catalyzed cyclization of N-methoxy-2-arylethanesulfonamides with mCPBA

The ion-supported PhI-catalyzed cyclization of N-methoxy-2-arylethanesulfonamides with mCPBA was carried out to form the corresponding N-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2,1-benzothiazine-2,2-dioxides in moderate to good yields in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. Here, reactive hypervalent iodine compounds, that is, ion-supported [(hydroxy)(tosyloxy)iodo]benzenes, were formed in situ and reacted with N-methoxy-2-arylethanesulfonamides to form the corresponding N-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2,1-benzothiazine-2,2-dioxides in an electrophilic manner on the aromatic ring. Moreover, ion-supported PhI could be efficiently reused to provide the products in good yields. The same ion-supported PhI-catalyzed cyclization of N-methoxy-3-phenylpropionamide and N-methoxy-4-phenylbutyramide with mCPBA was carried out to form the corresponding N-methoxy benzolactams in moderate yields in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.     

Efficient synthesis of trypsin inhibitor SFTI-1 via intramolecular ligation of peptide hydrazide

Cyclic peptide trypsin inhibitor SFTI-1 was synthesized via intramolecular ligation of a linear peptide hydrazide with high yield. This cyclization strategy did not cause epimerization at the C-terminal Arg residue. CD spectrum and NMR spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that well-folded SFTI-1 could be obtained via standard oxidative folding process. Thus, we present a simple and cost-efficient strategy for the synthesis of SFTI-1.     

Chronoamperometric study and X-ray analysis of Ru(II)-pdto (1,8-bis-(2-pyridyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane) complexes with substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines

This work presents cyclic voltammetry and double potential step chronoamperometry experiments corresponding to the electrochemical reduction of the substituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands in the coordination compounds [Ru(pdto)(1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (1), [Ru(pdto)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (2), [Ru(pdto)(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (3), [Ru(pdto)(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (4) and [Ru(pdto)(3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (5). These studies were performed in order to evaluate the stability of the electrogenerated chemical species. An EC_i mechanism for all the complexes was proposed and the rate constant value (k₁) for the chemical coupled reaction was estimated. The stability is discussed in terms of the rate constant value (k₁) and the π*-acceptor properties.