Liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric study of the phenolic composition of cocoa (Theobroma cacao)

Liquid chromatography coupled with ionspray mass spectrometry in the tandem mode (LC/MS/MS) with negative ion detection was used for the identification of a variety of phenolic compounds in a cocoa sample. Gradient elution with water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% HCOOH, was used. Standard solutions of 31 phenolic compounds, including benzoic and cinnamic acids and flavonoid compounds, were studied in the negative ion mode using MS/MS product ion scans. At low collisional activation, the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) was observed for all the compounds studied. For cinnamic and benzoic acids, losses of CO(2) or formation of [M - CH(3)](-*) in the case of methoxylated compounds were observed. However, for flavonol and flavone glycosides, the spectra present both the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) of the glycoside and the ion corresponding to the deprotonated aglycone [A - H](-). The latter ion is formed by loss of the rhamnose, glucose, galactose or arabinose residue from the glycosides. Different fragmentation patterns were observed in MS/MS experiments for flavone-C-glycosides which showed fragmentation in the sugar part. Fragmentation of aglycones provided characteristic ions for each family of flavonoids. The optimum LC/MS/MS conditions were applied to the characterization of a cocoa sample that had been subjected to an extraction/clean-up procedure which involved chromatography on Sephadex LH20 and thin-layer chromatographic monitoring. In addition to compounds described in the literature, such as epicatechin and catechin, quercetin, isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-O-glucoside) and quercetin-3-O-arabinose, other compounds were identified for the first time in cocoa samples, such as hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), naringenin, luteolin, apigenin and some O-glucosides and C-glucosides of these compounds.     

A simultaneous TG–DTA study of the thermal decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester (salsalate)

Simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection have been used to study the kinetics and decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester, commercially known as salsalate. Samples of salsalate were heated in the TG–DTA apparatus in an inert atmosphere (100 ml min⁻¹ nitrogen) in the temperature range 30–500 °C. The data indicated that the decomposition of salsalate is a two-stage process. The first decomposition stage (150–250 °C) had a best fit with second-order kinetics with E_a=191–198 kJ/mol. The second decomposition stage (300–400 °C) is described as a zero-order process with E_a=72–80 kJ/mol. The products of the decomposition were investigated in two ways:

(a)Salsalate was heated in a gas chromatograph at various isothermal temperatures in the range 150–280 °C, and the exit gas stream analyzed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This approach suggested that salsalate decomposes with the formation of salicylic acid, phenol, phenyl salicylate, and cyclic oligomers of salicylic acid di- and tri-salicylides.

(b)One gram samples of salsalate were heated in a vessel under nitrogen to 150 °C, and the residues were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The major compound detected was a linear tetrameric salicylate ester.

     

The structure of 1-phenyl-3-benzoylamino-4-benzoylpyrazol-2-in-5-one

Crystal and molecular structure of 1-phenyl-3-benzoylamino-4-benzoylpyrazol-2-in-5-one as a product of the benzoylation of 1-phenyl-3-benzoylaminopyrazol-2-in-5-one was characterised by X-ray single crystal diffraction. It is shown that 1-phenyl-3-benzoylamino-4-benzoylpyrazol-2-in-5-one exists in the solid phase in an NH-tautomeric form, which is stabilised by two intramolecular hydrogen bonds and one intermolecular bond with the solvate dioxane molecule, the latter being used as a solvent for recrystallisation.     

Synthesis of novel 5-substituted pyrazole derivatives as cannabinoid antagonists

A facile seven-step sequence was developed from 4′-bromopropiophenone, utilizing a Suzuki-type coupling with an alkene, to give several novel 5-substituted pyrazole derivatives in overall yields of 11-31%. They are potent CB1 antagonists and have binding affinities similar to SR 141716A. Like SR 141716A, they may prove to be clinically useful for the treatment of obesity.     

Michael additions of benzoins versus Michael-Stetter additions of aldehydes

Triethylamine catalyzed Michael additions of benzoins to chalcone can prevail over the expected Michael-Stetter additions when certain thiazolium ion conjugate bases - prepared $\text{in situ}$ from the pertinent thiazolium salts and triethylamine- are used as catalysts.     

Macrocyclic ligands with potential axial interactions. The preparation of copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of 7,14-o-hydroxyphenyl-5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene

Summary The new macrocyclic ligand 7,14-o-hydroxyphenyl-5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene (1=L) has been prepared and complexes with copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(III) characterised. The nickel(II) complex is a yellow square-planar species, while the purple-red copper(II) complex is probably tetragonal in both the solid state and solution. The complexes appear to have an N-meso arrangement of the chiral nitrogen centres with the HOC₆H₄ groups occupying equatorial sites so that axial interactions with the metal do not occur. A variety oftrans-[CoLX₂]ClO₄ complexes (X=Cl, Br, NO₂, or N₃) have been characterised.     

Observation of difluorinated higher fullerene anions by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry and determination of electron affinities of C60F2 and C70F2

Difluorinated higher fullerenes have been studied by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry. Thermal negative ions C_nF₂⁻ (n=60, 70, 72, 74, 76 and 78) were produced inside the effusion cell as well as the neutral molecules C₆₀F₂ and C₇₀F₂. From the equilibrium constants for the electron exchange reactions between difluorinated fullerenes and their parents electron affinity values were derived for C₆₀F₂ (2.74 eV) and C₇₀F₂ (2.80 eV).     

Kinetics and mechanism of a trans-tetraazamacrocyclic chromium(III) complex oxidation by hexacyanoferrate(III) in strongly alkaline media

Oxidation of the trans-[Cr(cyca)(OH)₂]⁺ complex, where cyca = meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, by [Fe(CN)₆ ]^3- ion in strongly alkaline media, leading to [Cr^V O(cyca_ox )]³⁺ ion, has been studied using electronic and e.p.r. spectroscopy. The kinetics of the Cr^III → Cr^IV transformation have been studied using a large excess of the reductant and OH^- ion over the oxidant. The reaction is a second order process: first order in [Cr^III] and [Fe^III] at constant [OH^-]. The second order rate constant is higher than linearly dependent on the OH^- concentration. The mechanism of the reaction has been discussed. A relatively inert intermediate chromium(V) species was detected based on characteristic bands in the visible region and the e.p.r. signal at g_iso = 1.987 for the systems where an excess of oxidant was used. The hyperfine structure of the main e.p.r. signal is consistent with the d¹ -electron interactions with four equivalent nitrogen nuclei and [Cr^V = O(cyca_ox)]³⁺ formula, where cyca_ox = oxidized cyca, can be postulated for the intermediate Cr^V complex.     

Absorption properties of körbl-catalyst and manganese dioxide

Summary Körbl-catalyst and manganese dioxide absorb chlorine and bromine quantitatively at room temperature. This property is applied to simultaneous microanalytical determination of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine or bromine in compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine or bromine, but not nitrogen or sulphur.

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Zusammenfassung Der Körbl-Katalysator und Mangandioxid absorbieren Chlor und Brom bei Raumtemperatur quantitativ. Sie wurden daher zur gleichzeitigen Bestimmung von C, H sowie Cl oder Br in Verbindungen verwendet, die C, H, O, Cl (oder Br), nicht aber N oder S enthalten.