Enantioseparation of chiral aromatic acids by multiple dual mode counter‐current chromatography using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector

This work concentrates on extending the utilization of multiple dual mode (MDM) counter‐current chromatography in chiral separations. Two aromatic acids, 2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐naphthyl)propionic acid (NAP) and 2‐phenylpropionic acid (2‐PPA), were enantioseparated by MDM counter‐current chromatography using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) as chiral selector. The two‐phase solvent systems consisting of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer pH 2.67 containing 0.1 mol/L HP‐β‐CD (7.5:2.5:10 for NAP and 7:3:10 for 2‐PPA, v/v/v) were used. Conventional MDM and modified MDM were compared according to peak resolution under current separation mechanism. The influence of elution time after the first‐phase inversion and number of cycles for MDM were investigated. Peak resolution of NAP and 2‐PPA increased from 0.62 to 1.05 and 0.72 to 0.84, respectively, using optimized MDM conditions. Being an alternative elution method for counter‐current chromatography, MDM elution greatly improved peak resolution in chiral separations.     

An interesting two‐phase solvent system and its use in preparative isolation of aconitines from aconite roots by counter‐current chromatography

Two‐phase solvent system plays crucial role in successful separation of organic compounds using counter‐current chromatography (CCC). An interesting two‐phase solvent system, composed of chloroform/ethyl acetate/methanol/water, is reported here, in which both phases contain sufficient organic solvents to balance their dissolving capacities. Adjusting the solvent system to get satisfactory partition coefficients (K values) for target compounds becomes relatively simple. This solvent system succeeded in sample preparation of aconitine (8.07 mg, 93.69%), hypaconitine (7.74 mg, 93.17%), mesaconitine (1.95 mg, 94.52%) from raw aconite roots (102.24 mg, crude extract), benzoylmesaconine (34.79 mg, 98.67%) from processed aconite roots (400.01 mg, crude extract), and yunaconitine (253.59 mg, 98.65%) from a crude extract of Aconitum forrestii (326.69 mg, crude extract).     

Application of supercritical fluid extraction coupled with counter–current chromatography for extraction and online isolation of unstable chemical components from Rosa damascena

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) coupled with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for the extraction and online isolation of the unstable compounds from Rosa damascene in a single extraction and separation operation in two stages. The solvent systems of SFE/HSCCC were optimized with the help of multiexponential function model. At the first stage, the upper phase of the solvent system of n‐butanol–tert‐butyl methyl ether–acetonitrile–0.1% aqueous TFA (1.7:1.0:0.8:4.0, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE entrainer and the HSCCC stationary phase, and the target compounds were eluted with the corresponding lower phase to separate the hydrophobic compounds. At the second stage, the upper phase of the solvent system of n‐hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (3.2:1.0:2.8:2.6, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE entrainer and the HSCCC stationary phase, followed by elution with the corresponding lower phase to separate the moderate hydrophobic compounds. Six compounds including formononetin, delphinidin, cyaniding, 5,6,4′‐trihydroxy‐7,8‐dimethoxy flavone, 5,3′‐dihydroxy‐7,8‐dimethoxy flavone, and 5‐hydroxy‐6,7,8,3′,4′‐pentamethoxy flavone were successfully separated in one extraction–separation operation within 300 min. The targeted compounds were identified by MS and NMR spectroscopy. This research has opened up great prospects for industrial application of SFE/HSCCC to the extraction and separation of unstable compounds.     

A rapid and convenient method for preparative separation of three indissolvable polyphenols from Euphorbia pekinensis by the flexible application of solvent extraction combined with counter‐current chromatography

A rapid and convenient method was established to preparatively isolate the three ellagic acid types of compounds, which were the main polyphenols in Euphorbia pekinensis, by flexibly applying solvent extraction combined with counter‐current chromatography (CCC). The total extract (extracted using 95% ethanol) of E. pekinensis was pretreated by two simple steps before CCC isolation, following the procedure: the total extract was extracted by classical solvent extraction using petroleum ether and ethyl acetate, respectively, and then the ethyl acetate extract was suspended using 95% ethanol, after being allowed to stand overnight, the sediment was obtained. Partial sediment (100 mg) was then directly separated by CCC with a two‐phase solvent system composed of chloroform‐95% ethanol‐water‐85% formic acid (50:50:50:5, v/v/v/v). About 22 mg of 3,3′‐dimethoxy ellagic acid (1), 12 mg of 3,3′‐di‐O‐methyl‐4‐O‐(β‐d ‐xylopyranosyl)ellagic acid (2), and 35 mg of ellagic acid (3) with purities of 96.0, 95.2, and 95.4% were obtained respectively in one step within 4 h. After being purified by washing with methanol, the purities of the three compounds obtained were all above 98%. The purities were determined by HPLC and their chemical structures were further identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The recoveries were calculated as 84.6, 85.7, and 89.5%, respectively. The result demonstrated that the present isolation method was rapid, economical and efficient for the preparative separation of polyphenols from E. pekinensis.     

锌电极放电过程及失效机制数值分析

锌-空气电池是一种高能量的电池体系.实验表明, 在大功率工作条件下, 锌电极的材料利用率随电流密度的增加而急剧下降. 为探索其在大功率工作条件下的放电机理, 本文针对这一过程建立了一维数学模型, 通过数值求解模拟多个物理量如离子浓度、传递电流密度、电极孔隙度、固体氧化锌等在电极内部的分布变化情况, 在此基础上分析电极的性能. 数值结果分析表明, 固体氧化锌对电极内质量传输过程的限制是导致电极失效的根本原因. 其析出时间及在电极内部的集中分布位置对电极性能有显著影响; 而仅当其体积分数超过30%-35%的范围后才开始显著限制传质过程. 讨论了电极的优化措施, 模拟表明更高的溶液电导率,更大的电极孔隙度有利于增加大功率工作条件下电极的材料利用率. 但最重要的是保持电极内部氢氧根离子的浓度在一个较高的值,对于封闭式电极可以通过补液实现, 理想情况为设计一个电解液循环式的锌电极.     

Joint Destruction of Cadmium and Copper at Alternating Current Electrolysis in Sodium Hydroxide Solution

The dependence of the metal oxidation rate on the current density and temperature of joint destruction in sodium chloride was studied. It is established that the dependence of the oxidation rate of copper is linear and generally do not differ from the dependencies established at individual oxidation of copper in the solution of sodium chloride with concentration 46.5% wt. In contrast to the oxidation rate of copper, the oxidation rate dependence of cadmium has extreme character and the oxidation rate of cadmium at its joint oxidation of copper increased in 2-3 times indicating that the mutual influence of electrodes at the electrochemical process with alternating current. Thus, the obtained dependences can predict operating electrolysis parameters a obtain copper-cadmium oxide system of the given composition.     

Cell Membrane-camouflaged Multi-functional Dendritic Large Pore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Combined Photothermal Therapy and Radiotherapy of Cancer

Combining photothermal therapy and radiotherapy(PTT-RT) with reducing tumor hypoxia acts as an important antitumor modality. However, it is a great challenge to realize photothermal therapy, radiotherapy and exogenous oxygen supply in one nanosystem. To realize a combination of the three functions, we fabricated a red blood cell membrane(RBCm)-camouflaged, red blood cell content(RBCc) and the copper sulfide(CuS) co-loaded dendritic large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticle(DLMSN/CuS/RBCc/ RBCm). The cell membrane coating endowed the nanoparticles with good stability in the physiological environment, and CuS allowed the nanoparticle exhibiting good photothermal and radiosensitization properties. RBCc loaded nanoparticle DLMSN/CuS/RBCc enhanced superior anti-tumor effect than DLMSN/CuS during combined PTT-RT therapy because the introduction of RBCc increased the exogenous oxygen supply. The in vitro study further demonstrated that the combination of photothermal therapy and radiotherapy induced superior antitumor efficacy than single therapy. Our work thus presents a unique multifunctional nanoscale platform favorable for combined PTT and RT.     

Interplay of Hückel and Möbius Aromaticity in Metal-Metal Quintuple Bonded Complexes of Cr,Mo, and W with Amidinate Ligand: Ab initio DFT and Multireference Analysis**

The aromaticity of metal-metal quintuple bonded complexes of the type M₂L₂ (M=Cr, Mo, and W; L=amidinate) are studied employing gauge including magnetically induced ring current (GIMIC) analysis and electron density of delocalized bonds (EDDB). It is found that the complexes possess two types of aromaticity: i) Hückel aromaticity through delocalization of ligand π electrons with metal-metal δ-bond-forming 6 conjugated electrons (4π and 2δ) ring; ii) Craig-Möbius aromaticity through delocalization of π electrons of both the ligands with metal d-orbitals in Craig type orientation forming 10π electrons ring with a double twist. Extended transition state natural orbital chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) and canonical molecular orbital natural chemical shielding (CMO-NCS) analysis confirm the Craig-Möbius type arrangement of the orbitals. Furthermore, the unprecedented Hückel and Möbius type aromaticity is confirmed from the plot of the current pathways using 3D line integral convolution (3D-LIC) plots. The metal-metal bond order also increases down the group as justified from the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) analysis. Due to an increase in the π and δ electron conjugation, both the Hückel and Möbius aromaticity increase down the group.     

Recent progress in separation prediction of counter‐current chromatography

As a liquid‐liquid partition chromatography, counter‐current chromatography has advantages in large sample loading capacity without irreversible adsorption, which has been widely applied in separation and purification fields. The main factors, including partition coefficient, two‐phase solvent systems, apparatus, and operating parameters greatly affect the separation process of counter‐current chromatography. To promote the applications of counter‐current chromatography, it is essential to develop theoretical research to master the principles of counter‐current chromatographic separations so as to achieve predictions before laborious trials. In this article, recent progress about separation prediction methods are reviewed from a point of the steady and unsteady state of the mass transfer process of counter‐current chromatography and its mass transfer characteristics, and then it is divided into three aspects: prediction of partition coefficient, modeling the thermodynamic process of counter‐current chromatography, and modeling the dynamic process of counter‐current chromatography.     

直流电晕充电下环氧树脂表面电位衰减特性的研究

介质材料表面电荷的积累和衰减行为是制约众多高压直流电力设备研制的关键因素. 薄片状介质试样的表面电荷密度与表面电位近似呈线性关系, 因此常通过表面电位衰减行为研究表面电荷的衰减特性. 基于电晕充电、表面电荷沉积和脱陷、介质体内单极性电荷输运等3个物理过程, 建立表面电位动态响应的物理模型. 通过计算环氧树脂的表面电位衰减行为, 得到栅极电压、相对介电常数和体电导率等对其表面电位衰减特性的影响. 栅极电压越高, 表面电位的衰减速度越快; 环氧树脂材料参数典型值(相对介电常数3.93, 体电导率10^-14 S· m^-1)下, 归一化表面电位的衰减速率随时间变化的曲线可拟合为分段幂函数, 其中, 分段幂函数的特征时间、指数系数与栅极电压分别呈幂函数和线性变化关系. 相对介电常数越大, 表面电位的衰减速度越慢; 环氧树脂相对介电常数典型范围(3–4)内, 表面电位衰减时间常数由1720 s增大到2540 s, 两者呈线性关系. 体电导率越大, 表面电位的衰减速度越快; 环氧树脂体电导率典型范围(10^-15–10^-13 S· m^-1)内, 表面电位衰减时间常数由24760 s 减小到260 s, 两者呈幂函数变化关系.