Anchored palladium bipyridyl complex in nanosized MCM-41: a recyclable and efficient catalyst for the Kumada-Corriu reaction

A palladium bipyridyl complex anchored onto nanosized mesoporous silica MCM-41 catalyzed the cross-coupling of aryl iodides or bromides with Grignard reagents to provide the corresponding biaryls in high yields. The reaction proceeded smoothly with an equal molar amount of substrate and Grignard reagent in the presence of 0.2-0.02 mol % of catalyst in THF at 50 °C or under refluxing conditions. The catalyst prepared may be used in a very low percentage, recovered after reaction, and re-used.     

Chlorinated briarane-type diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta (Ellisellidae)

Four chlorinated metabolites featuring briarane carbon skeletons have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta, which was collected off the coast of southern Taiwan: two new natural products, robustolides D (1) and E (2), and two known metabolites, robustolides F (3) and G (4). The structures of metabolites 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, using 1D and 2D NMR in particular. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of robustolides D (1), F (3), and G (4) were directly established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Robustolide D (1) is the first metabolite of briarane-related natural products found to possess two halogen atoms.     

Measurement of unbound cocaine in blood, brain and bile of anesthetized rats using microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography and verified by tandem mass spectrometry

To investigate the disposition of unbound cocaine in the rat blood, brain and bile, we demonstrate an in vivo multiple sampling microdialysis system coupled with liquid chromatography for cocaine assay and verified by tandem mass spectrometry. Three microdialysis probes were concurrently inserted into the jugular vein, bile duct and brain striatum of each anesthetized rat. After a period of 2 h post-surgical stabilization, cocaine (10 mg kg(-1)) was administered through the femoral vein. Separation of unbound cocaine from various biological fluids was applied to a reversed-phase C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile--10 mm potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (25:75, v/v, pH 4.0) and 0.8% diethylamine at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The UV detector wavelength was set at 235 nm. The results indicate that cocaine penetrates the blood--brain barrier with a rapid distribution. However, unbound cocaine in the bile dialysate was not detectable in the UV detection. We therefore use LC--tandem mass spectrometry to detect the bile fluid after cocaine administration (3 mg kg(-1), i.v.). The results indicate that cocaine goes through hepatobiliary excretion.     

Chemical Constituents from the Root of Antidesma Pentandrum var. Barbatum

Investigation of the root extract of Antidesma pentandrum var. barbatum led to the isolation of seven new compounds, antidesmol ( 1 ), antidesmanins E ( 2 ) and F ( 3 ), antidesnone ( 4 ), antidesnol ( 5 ), barbatumols A ( 6 ) and B ( 7 ), together with 14 known compounds including sodium aristolochate‐I ( 10 ) and aristolochic acid‐I methyl ester ( 11 ).     

Difference in Conversions Between Dimethyl Sulfide and Methanethiol in a Cold Plasma Environment

This study compared the conversion of two malodorous substances, dimethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₃, DMS) and methanethiol (CH₃SH) in a cold plasma reactor. The DMS and CH₃SH were successfully destroyed at room temperature. DMS decomposed less than CH₃SH at the same conditions. In oxygen-free condition, CS₂ and hydrocarbons were the major products, while SO₂ and CO_x were main compounds in oxygen-rich environments. The DMS/Ar plasma yielded more hydrocarbons and less CS₂ than that of CH₃SH/Ar plasma. In the CH₃SH/O₂/Ar plasma, rapid formation of SO and CO resulted in the yields much more amounts of SO₂ and CO₂ than those in the DMS/O₂/Ar plasma; and remained only a trace of total hydrocarbons, CH₂O, CH₃OH, CS₂, and OCS. The major differences between the reaction mechanisms of DMS and CH₃SH were also proposed and discussed.     

Simultaneous determination of berberine in rat blood,liver and bile using microdialysis coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to microdialysis was used for the simultaneous determination of unbound berberine in rat blood, liver and bile for a pharmacokinetic study. Microdialysis probes were simultaneously inserted into the jugular vein toward the right atrium, the median lobe of the liver, and the bile duct of male Sprague-Dawley rats for biological fluid sampling after administration of berberine (10 mg/kg) through the femoral vein. Berberine and dialysates were separated using a Zorbax SB-phenyl column and a mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile-methanol-20 mM monosodium phosphate (pH 3.0) (35:20:45, v/v) together with 0.1 mM 1-octanesulfonic acid. The detection limit for berberine was 10 ng/ml. The concentration-response relationship was linear (r2 > 0.995) over the concentration range 0.05-50 microg/ml; intra-assay and inter-assay precision and accuracy for berberine fell within predefined limits. The disposition of berberine in the blood, liver and bile fluid suggests that berberine might be metabolized in the liver and undergo hepatobiliary excretion.     

Concurrent measurement of unbound genistein in the blood, brain and bile of anesthetized rats using microdialysis and its pharmacokinetic application

Genistein, the major isoflavone in soybeans, has been shown to have a wide range of effects. We used an HPLC-UV combined with microdialysis method to detect unbound genistein in rat blood, brain and bile. Genistein dialysates were eluted with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-water (40:60, v/v, pH 3.5 adjusted by 0.1% acetic acid). Samples were separated using a phenyl (5 microm) column maintained at ambient temperature. The UV detector wavelength was set at 259 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 m/min. The limit of quantitation for genistein was 50 ng/ml. The in vitro recoveries of genistein were 31 +/- 1, 13 +/- 1 and 59 +/- 4% in microdialysis probes of blood, brain and bile, respectively (n = 4). Inter- and intra-assay accuracy and precision of the analysis were less than 10% in the concentration ranges of 0.05-5.0 microg/ml. A small ratio of genistein penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and goes through hepatobiliary excretion after genistein administration (10 or 30 mg/kg, i.v.). The brain-to-blood (AUC(brain)/AUC(blood)) and bile-to-blood (AUC(bile)/AUC(blood)) distribution ratios were 0.04 +/- 0.01 and 1.85 +/- 0.42, respectively for the dosage of genistein 30 mg/kg. After co-administration of cyclosporine, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, the distribution ratios of genistein in brain and bile were not significantly altered. These results suggest that the BBB penetration and hepatobiliary excretion of genistein may not regulated by P-gp.     

Designed helical peptides inhibit an intramembrane protease

gamma-Secretase cleaves the transmembrane domain of the amyloid precursor protein, a process implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and this enzyme is a founding member of an emerging class of intramembrane proteases. Modeling and mutagenesis suggest a helical conformation for the substrate transmembrane domain upon initial interaction with the protease. Moreover, biochemical evidence supports the presence of an initial docking site for substrate on gamma-secretase that is distinct from the active site, a property predicted to be generally true of intramembrane proteases. Here we show that short peptides designed to adopt a helical conformation in solution are inhibitors of gamma-secretase in both cells and enzyme preparations. Helical peptides with all d-amino acids are the most potent inhibitors and represent potential therapeutic leads. Subtle modifications that disrupt helicity also substantially reduce potency, suggesting that this conformation is critical for effective inhibition. Fluorescence lifetime imaging in intact cells demonstrates that helical peptides disrupt binding between substrate and protease, whereas an active site-directed inhibitor does not. These findings are consistent with helical peptides interacting with the initial substrate docking site of gamma-secretase, suggesting a general strategy for the development of potent and specific inhibitors of intramembrane proteases.     

Determination of unbound cefamandole in rat blood by microdialysis and microbore liquid chromatography

To analyze unbound cefamandole in rat blood, a method combing microdialysis with microbore liquid chromatography has been developed. A microdialysis probe was inserted into the jugular vein/right atrium of male Sprague-Dawley rats to examine the unbound cefamandole level in the rat blood following cefamandole administration (50 mg/kg, i.v.). The dialysates were directly submitted to a liquid chromatographic system. Samples were eluted with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-methanol-100 mM monosodium phosphate (pH 5.0; 15:20:65, v/v). The UV wavelength was set at 270 nm for monitoring the analyte. Using the retrograde method, at infusion concentrations of 1 microg/mL of cefamandole, the in vivo microdialysis recoveries were 55.44% for the rat blood (n = 6). Intra- and inter-assay accuracy and precision of the analyses were < or = 10% in the range of 0.1-10 microg/mL. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the recovery-corrected dialysate concentrations of cefamandole vs time data. The elimination half-life (t1/2,beta) was 21.6 +/- 1.6 min. The results suggest that the pharmacokinetics of unbound cefamandole in blood following cefamandole administration (50 mg/kg, i.v., n = 5) fit best to the two-compartmental model.     

A new fabrication process for a microchip electrophoresis device integrated with a three-electrode electrochemical detector

We report here a novel and simple process for the fabrication of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based microchip electrophoresis device, integrated with a screen-printed three-electrode electrochemical detector that does not require a replicate mold. In this approach, a photoresist layer constitutes both an adhesion layer and side walls of 50 mum wide and 50 mum tall microfluidic channels on a screen-printed three-electrode PMMA substrate. Openings were drilled for buffer reservoirs on an additional piece of PMMA, then the final device was bonded in a PMMA/photoresist/PMMA sandwich configuration. This process is inexpensive, less time-consuming, and simpler compared with traditional fabrication methods. The combination of this PMMA-based microchip fabrication together with screen-printed electrode technology holds great promise for the mass production of a single-use micrototal analytical system. Successful determination of uric acid and L-ascorbic acid with the presented system validates its utility. In combination with a suitable electrochemical detector, this device holds much promise for the determination of other analytes in various biological samples for medical and clinical diagnosis.