Scale-Up Preparation of Crocins I and II from Gardenia jasminoides by a Two-Step Chromatographic Approach and Their Inhibitory Activity Against ATP Citrate Lyase

Crocins are highly valuable natural compounds for treating human disorders, and they are also high-end spices and colorants in the food industry. Due to the limitation of obtaining this type of highly polar compound, the commercial prices of crocins I and II are expensive. In this study, macroporous resin column chromatography combined with high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was used to purify crocins I and II from natural sources. With only two chromatographic steps, both compounds were simultaneously isolated from the dry fruit of Gardenia jasminoides, which is a cheap herbal medicine distributed in a number of countries. In an effort to shorten the isolation time and reduce solvent usage, forward and reverse rotations were successively utilized in the HSCCC isolation procedure. Crocins I and II were simultaneously obtained from a herbal resource with high recoveries of 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively, and high purities of 98.7% and 99.1%, respectively, by HPLC analysis. The optimized preparation method was proven to be highly efficient, convenient, and cost-effective. Crocins I and II exhibited inhibitory activity against ATP citrate lyase, and their IC₅₀ values were determined to be 36.3 ± 6.24 and 29.7 ± 7.41 μM, respectively.     

Regioselective Short Synthesis of Epiisoborneol Neopentyl Ether as Chiral Auxiliary: An Absolute Configuration Reset

The regio-selective four step synthesis of (1S,2R,3S,4R)-4,7,7-trimethyl-3-(neopentyloxy)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol, as recognized efficient chiral auxiliary, is presented. The strategy based on opening of the key acetal 15 (=(2S,3aR,4S,7R,7aS)-2-tert-butyl-4,8,8-trimethylhexahydro-2H-4,7-methano-1,3-benzodioxole) thus circumvents the poor reactivity of the neopentyl electrophile under alkylation conditions. Following the same strategy, but using the unreported acetal 22 (=(2R,3aS,4S,7R,7aR)-2-tert-butyl-4,8,8-trimethylhexahydro-2H-4,7-methano-1,3-benzodioxole), the corresponding unreported bis-endo alcohol 23 (=(1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-(2,2-dimethylpropoxy)-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol) could be isolated only in poor yield. An alternative regioselective synthesis, including an ultimate endo-reduction remains to be found. Several erroneous chiroptical properties from the literature are corrected.     

Functional copolymer/organo‐MMT nanoarchitectures. XIX. Nanofabrication and characterization of poly(MA‐alt‐1‐octadecene)‐g‐PLA layered silicate nanocomposites with nanoporous core–shell morphology

Novel bioengineering functional copolymer‐g‐biopolymer‐based layered silicate nanocomposites were fabricated by catalytic interlamellar bulk graft copolymerization of L‐lactic acid (LA) monomer onto alternating copolymer of maleic anhydride (MA) with 1‐octadecene as a reactive matrix polymer in the presence of preintercalated LA…organo‐MMT clay (reactive ODA‐MMT and non‐reactive DMDA‐MMT) complexes as nanofillers and tin(oct)₂ as a catalyst under vacuum at 80°C. To characterize the functional copolymer layered silicate nanocomposites and understand the mechanism of in situ processing, interfacial interactions and nanostructure formation in these nanosystems, we have utilized a combination of variuous methods such as FT‐IR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic mechanical (DMA), thermal (DSC and TGA‐DTG), SEM and TEM morphology. It was found that in situ graft copolymerization occurred through the following steps: (i) esterification of anhydride units of copolymer with LA; (ii) intercalation of LA between silicate galleries; (iii) intercalation of matrix copolymer into silicate layers through in situ amidization of anhydride units with octadecyl amine intercalant; and (iv) interlamellar graft copolymerization via in situ intercalating/exfoliating processing. The main properties and observed micro‐ and nanoporous surface and internal core–shell morphology of the nanocomposites significantly depend on the origin of MMT clays and type of in situ processing (ion exchanging, amidization reaction, strong H‐bonding and self‐organized hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfacial interactions). This developed approach can be applied to a wide range of anhydride‐containing copolymers such as random, alternating and graft copolymers of MA to synthesize new generation of polymer‐g‐biopolymer silicate layered nanocomposites and nanofibers for nanoengineering and nanomedicine applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal properties and kinetics of new-generation posterior bulk fill composite cured light-emitting diodes

In this study, the thermal behavior in terms of glass transition (T _g), degradation, and thermal stability of four commercial new-generation posterior bulk fill composites (Surefill SDR, Dentsply; Quixfill, Dentsply; Xtrabase, Voco; and Xtrafill, Voco) activated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The activation energies (E _a) for the decomposition of the dental resins were calculated based on the Kissinger and Doyle kinetic models from the peaks of the endothermic curves obtained when the specimens were heated at four different temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) during DSC. The results show that the Xtrabase composite displayed the highest T _g (120 °C at a 5 °C min^?1 heating rate) and E _a (157.64 kJ mol^?1) values associated with thermal degradation from the main chain of the polymer.     

离子色谱法测定洗涤用品中的氮川三乙酸盐

研究并建立了洗涤用品中氮川三乙酸盐(NTA)的离子色谱测定方法。将洗涤用品样品用超纯水稀释200~500倍,置于磁力搅拌器上搅拌至完全溶解,样品提取液依次过尼龙滤膜和OnGuardII RP固相萃取柱。滤液采用离子色谱-抑制电导检测法分析测定,以IonPac AS11阴离子交换色谱柱分离,以KOH溶液为淋洗液进行梯度洗脱,ASRS-400阴离子型抑制电导检测,外标法定量。方法的线性范围为0.02~10μg/mL,相关系数为0.9998,对氮川三乙酸盐定量限为20 mg/kg,液类洗涤用品在低、中、高3种加标水平的回收率为90.9%~103.2%,相对标准偏差为1.9%~4.1%;粉类产品在低、中、高3种加标水平的回收率为89.3%~105.1%,相对标准偏差为4.1%~6.7%;皂类产品在低、中、高3种加标水平的回收率为96.9%~115.1%,相对标准偏差为2.3%~4.2%。     

固相萃取-气相色谱-串联质谱法测定乳胶儿童用品中15种N-亚硝胺及其前体物的迁移量

建立了同时测定乳胶儿童用品中15种N-亚硝胺及其前体物迁移量的固相萃取-气相色谱-串联质谱(SPEGC-MS/MS)分析方法。以人工唾液作为迁移模拟物,以Chromabond Easy固相萃取柱(填料的主要成分是极性修饰的聚乙烯-二乙烯基苯共聚物)对迁移液中的N-亚硝胺分析物进行净化,采用HP-5 MS UI色谱柱分离,MS/MS在多反应监测模式下进行定性及定量分析。15种N-亚硝胺在5~2 000μg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.998;方法定量限(S/N=10)为0.625~12.50μg/kg,低于欧盟2 009/48/EC指令的限量要求。在低、中、高3个添加水平的回收率为53.8%~116.2%、52.7%~105.1%和49.5%~102.9%;日内精密度分别为1.3%~14.0%(n=6),日间精密度为1.6%~7.6%(n=4)。采用本方法对婴儿奶嘴样品和气球样品进行了测定,其中4件奶嘴和7件气球样品中检出亚硝胺及其前体物,奶嘴和气球中N-亚硝胺的总检出含量分别为0.049 9~0.126mg/kg和0.515~41.2 mg/kg;N-亚硝胺前体物总检出量分别为0.026 4~0.030 0 mg/kg和0.187~12.5mg/kg。     

Synthesis of nanometric β-barium metaborate powder from different borate solutions by ultrasound-assisted precipitation

In this study, the synthesis of barium metaborate powder (BaB₂O₄) was carried out by ultrasound-assisted precipitation using different borate solutions. Different solutions such as borax (Na₂B₄O₇, BD), boric acid (H₃BO₃, BA), and sodium metaborate (NaBO₂, SMB) were used in the synthesis and an ultrasonic immersion horn probe was used as the major source of ultrasound. The effect of reaction temperature and time, pH, and crystallization time on the BaB₂O₄ yield (%) was investigated. The ultrasound-assisted synthesis up to 90 % yield could be achieved using a 0.2 M BD solution at 80 °C, reacting for 5 min at pH 13 followed by 2 h of crystallization. Following crystallization, the obtained powder was heated up to 140, 250, 650, and 750 °C for 2.5 h, and it was shown that β-BaB₂O₄ nanometric powders were obtained after the 750 °C heat treatment.     

液体闪烁计数法测定生物塑料中生物基含量

研究并建立了液体闪烁计数法测量生物塑料中生物基含量。首先将生物塑料样品充分燃烧,通过碳的转移与固定,最终催化合成液态苯。通过液体闪烁计数器对液体苯中的放射性核素14C衰变进行计数,从而计算生物塑料样品中生物基的含量。生物塑料样品加标回收率为98.5%~101%,相对标准偏差为0.2%。方法可用于生物塑料中生物基含量检测。     

New Penta(tetrathiafulvalenyl)[60]fullerenes for Supramolecular Materials

New penta(organo)fullerenes donor–acceptor systems bearing five tetrathiafulvalene recognition units have been synthesized to promote self‐assemblies similar in appearance to shuttlecocks nested into each other thanks to the conical host cavity created around the fullerene together with the π–π and electronic interactions.