Development of a general separation strategy by countercurrent chromatography using sanshools from Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin as a case study

Three kinds of sanshools were separated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin by high-speed countercurrent chromatography. Sanshools are a series of amide compounds extracted from the Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Due to similar structures, polarities, and dissociation constants, it was challenging to select an appropriate solvent system for their complete separation by countercurrent chromatography. To address this challenge, a solvent-system-selection strategy was proposed to identify a relatively suitable solvent system. Additionally, a separation procedure incorporating multi-elution modes selection was established to separate similar compounds in a logical order. Ultimately, a solvent system comprising n-hexane:ethyl acetate:methanol:water in a ratio of 19:1:1:5.67 was selected. Three amide compounds with high purity were obtained through the use of recycling elution mode to improve separation resolution: hydroxy-ε-sanshool (8.4 mg; purity: 90.64%), hydroxy-α-sanshool (326.4 mg; purity: 98.96%), and hydroxy-β-sanshool (71.8 mg; purity: 98.26%) were obtained from 600 mg sanshool crude extract. The summarized solvent-system-selection strategy and separation procedure incorporating multi-elution modes may instruct countercurrent chromatography users, particularly novices, seeking to separate compounds with highly similar chemical properties.     

Extraction and isolation of diphenylheptanes and flavonoids from Alpinia officinarum Hance using supercritical fluid extraction followed by supercritical fluid chromatography

In this paper, an off-line combination method of supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography was developed for the selective extraction and isolation of diphenylheptanes and flavonoids from Alpinia officinarum Hance. The enrichment of target components was successfully achieved using supercritical fluid extraction with the following conditions (8% ethanol as co-solvent at 45°C and 30 MPa for 30 min). Taking full advantage of the complementarity of supercritical fluid chromatography stationary phases, a two-step preparative supercritical fluid chromatography strategy was constructed. The extract was firstly divided into seven fractions on a Diol column (250 × 20 mm internal diameter, 10 μm) within 8 min by gradient elution increasing from 5% to 20% modifier (methanol) at 55 ml/min and 15 MPa. Then the seven fractions were separated by using a 1-AA or a DEA column (250 × 19 mm internal diameter, 5 μm) at 50 ml/min and 13.5 MPa. This two-step strategy showed superior separation ability for structural analogs. As a result, seven compounds, including four diphenylheptanes and three flavonoids with high purity, were successfully obtained. The developed method is also helpful for the extraction and isolation of other structural analogs of traditional Chinese medicines.     

3-(2,4-二羧基苯基)-2,6-二羧基吡啶原位脱羧构筑两个配位聚合物的结构及磁性

通过水热法合成了2个配位聚合物:[Cu(H2dpcp)2]n(1)和[Mn2(Hdpcp)2(H2O)2·2H2O]n(2)[H3dpcp=5-(2,4-二羧基苯基)-2-羧基吡啶],H3dpcp由3-(2,4-二羧基苯基)-2,6-二羧基吡啶(H4dpdp)原位脱羧生成。X-射线单晶衍射测得2个化合物都属于单斜晶系,化合物1结晶在P21/c空间群,a=0.639(13)nm,b=1.835(4)nm,c=1.115(2)nm,β=102.29(3)°,Z=2;化合物2结晶在C2/c空间群,a=3.126(6)nm,b=1.004(2)nm,c=1.080(2)nm,β=93.73(3)°,Z=4。化合物1以配体H2dpcp-桥连Cu( Ⅱ)形成一维链状结构。化合物2通过Hdpcp2-桥连Mn( Ⅱ)形成二维层状结构,并进一步通过氢键作用形成三维超分子结构。负的Weiss常数θ表明化合物2存在反铁磁耦合作用。     

Solvent free synthesis of trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols by cross Aldol reaction

Exceedingly fast preparation of trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols has been accomplished from methyl ketones and trifluoromethyl ketones under solvent free conditions by cross Aldol reaction. The reaction was achieved in the presence of common inorganic base by grinding method at ambient temperature to give β-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxyl ketones in high yields (up to 95%).     

Small‐Sized Tungsten Nitride Particles Strongly Anchored on Carbon Nanotubes and their Use as Supports for Pt for Methanol Electro‐oxidation

The anchoring of small‐sized WN (tungsten nitride) nanoparticles (NPs) with good dispersion on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offers an effective means of obtaining promising materials for use in electrocatalysis. Herein, an effective method based on grinding treatment followed by a nitridation process is proposed to realize this goal. In the synthesis, a solution containing H₄[SiO₄(W₃O₉)₄] (SiW₁₂) and CNTs modified with polyethylenimine (PEI‐CNTs) was ground to dryness. Small‐sized WN NPs were anchored onto the CNTs with good dispersion after calcination under NH₃. Under hydrothermal assembly conditions (absence of grinding), WN particles of larger size and with inferior dispersion were obtained, demonstrating the important role of the grinding process. The benefit of the small‐sized WN has been demonstrated by using WN/CNTs as a support for Pt to catalyze the methanol electro‐oxidation reaction. The mass activity of Pt‐WN/CNTs‐G‐70 (where G denotes the grinding treatment, and 70 is the loading amount (%) of WN in the WN/CNTs) was evaluated as about 817 mA mg^?1_Pt, better that those of commercial Pt/C (340 mA mg^?1_Pt) and Pt/CNTs (162 mA mg^?1_Pt). The Pt‐WN/CNTs‐G also displayed good CO tolerance. In contrast, Pt‐WN/CNTs prepared without the grinding process displayed an activity of 344 mA mg^?1_Pt, verifying the key role of grinding treatment in the preparation of WN/CNTs with good co‐catalytic effect.     

Synergetic Spin Crossover and Fluorescence in One‐Dimensional Hybrid Complexes

Hybrid materials integrated with a variety of physical properties, such as spin crossover (SCO) and fluorescence, may show synergetic effects that find applications in many fields. Herein we demonstrate a promising post‐synthetic approach to achieve such materials by grafting fluorophores (1‐pyrenecarboxaldehyde and Rhodamine B) on one‐dimensional SCO Fe^II structures. The resulting hybrid materials display expected one‐step SCO behavior and fluorescent properties, in particular showing a coupling between the transition temperature of SCO and the temperature where the fluorescent intensity reverses. Consequently, synergetic effect between SCO and fluorescence is incorporated into materials despite different fluorophores. This study provides an effective strategy for the design and development of novel magnetic and optical materials.     

Prevention of postoperative tendon adhesion by biodegradable electrospun membrane of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)

An electrospun poly(lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) membrane was prepared and used to perform the anti-adhesion of Achilles tendon. Throughout the experiments, the membrane showed an appropriate degradation rate, and the p H values of degradation media were maintained at around 7.4. Simultaneously, the excellent biocompatibility of the membrane in vitro and in vivo was confirmed by live/dead and histopathological analyses. Meanwhile, the membrane can reduce tendon adhesion significantly and promote functional recovery effectively. The encouraging results were further demonstrated by hematoxylin and eosin(HE), and Masson's trichrome stainings, and type I collagen immunohistochemical analysis. It was concluded that the model treated with the electrospun PLGA membrane was significantly better with respect to the adhesion prevention and tissue repair than that without treatment. Considering the results of degradation and adhesion prevention efficacy, the electrospun PLGA membrane would be a great candidate for the prevention of postoperative tendon adhesion.     

Ascorbic acid amperometric sensor using a graphene-wrapped hierarchical TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposite

An ascorbic acid (AA) amperometric sensor was fabricated based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a reduced graphene oxide-wrapped hierarchical TiO₂ (RGO—TiO₂) nanocomposite. The RGO—TiO₂ nanocomposite was synthesized via the facial wet chemical method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric techniques were employed to investigate its electrocatalytic performance towards the AA oxidation. The combined advantages of RGO and TiO₂ provide the electrode with higher current response and lower oxidation potential compared with those of bare GCE and TiO₂ modified GCE. The proposed electrode can be used for the determination of AA in the wide concentration range from 1 to 1500 µM with the detection limit of 0.5 µM. The proposed electrode was successfully used to determine AA in vitamin C tablets and spiked fruit juice.     

辛弗林衍生物的合成

以苯甲醚为起始原料,与乙酰氯发生付-克酰基化后脱甲基得到4-羟基苯乙酮,然后与液溴进行α-溴代得到2-溴-1-(4-羟苯基)乙酮,再与叔丁胺进行胺化得到1-(4-羟基苯基)-2-(叔丁基氨基)乙酮,最后用氢硼化钠还原合成目标产物1-(4-羟基苯基)-2-(叔丁基氨基)乙醇,总收率约为42.3%。     

Nucleophilic β‐Carbon Activation of Propionic Acid as a 3‐Carbon Synthon by Carbene Organocatalysis

Direct β‐carbon activation of propionic acid (C₂H₅CO₂H) by carbene organocatalysis has been developed. This activation affords the smallest azolium homoenolate intermediate (without any substituent) as a 3‐carbon nucleophile for enantioselective reactions. Propionic acid is an excellent raw material because it is cheap, stable, and safe. This approach provides a much better solution to azolium homoenolate synthesis than the previously established use of acrolein (enal without any substituent), which is expensive, unstable, and toxic.