Alkylation of catechol with methanol to guaiacol over sulphate-modified zirconia solid acid catalysts

A series of sulphate-promoted ZrO₂ solid acid catalysts with different contents of SO₄ ²⁻ were calcined at 450°C in air for 4 h and tested for the liquid-phase alkylation of catechol to guaiacol in a fixed-bed down-flow reactor. The 5 wt.% SO₄ ²⁻ on ZrO₂ showed the best conversion (82%) and selectivity for guaiacol (84%) at 200°C and 1 bar pressure. A smooth correlation was observed between the catalytical activity and surface acidity of sulphated zirconia. Based on our results, a surface mechanism is proposed.     

Direct Synthesis of Chiral 3‐Arylsuccinimides by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Maleimides

Chiral rhodium catalysts comprising 2,5‐diaryl‐ substituted bicyclo[2.2.1]diene ligands L1 – L10 were utilized in the enantioselective 1,4‐addition reaction of arylboronic acids to N‐substituted maleimides. In the presence of 2.5 mol % of Rh^I/ L2 , enantioenriched conjugate addition adducts were isolated in 72–99 % yields with 86–98 % ee. This protocol offers a convenient method to access a variety of 3‐arylsuccinimides in a highly enantioselective manner. Maleimides with readily cleavable N‐protecting groups were tolerated enabling the synthesis of useful synthetic intermediates. Pyrrolidine 4 , a biologically active compound, and pyrrolidine 5 , an ent‐precursor to an HSD‐1 inhibitor, were synthesized to demonstrate the utility of this method.     

Liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of two plant based insecticide synergists dillapiole and dihydrodillapiole

A reversed-phase LC method for the determination of two plant based insecticide synergists dillapiole (5-allyl 6,7-dimethoxy 1,3-benzodioxole) and dihydrodillapiole (5-n-propyl 6,7-dimethoxy-1,3-benzodioxole) is reported. The resolution of dillapiole and dihydrodillapiole has been achieved on RP-18 column using methanol-water (90:10, v/v) as mobile phase and a photodiode array detector at 207 nm. The response was linear in the range of 25-250 microg. The developed isocratic RP-LC method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. It has been applied for individual or simultaneous detection, monitoring and quantification of dillapiole and dihydrodillapiole from treated French bean Phaseolus sp.     

Molecular complexes of ketaconazole and oxatomide with p-chloranil: spectroscopic and spectrofluorimetric studies

The molecular complexes of the donors ketaconazole (KTZ) and oxatomide (OXA) drugs with 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (p-chloranil, p-CHL) have been investigated spectroscopically (UV-vis, FT-IR and 1H NMR) and spectrofluorimetrically in different solvents and temperatures. The stoichiometry of the complexes was found to be 1:1. The data are discussed in terms of formation constant, molar extinction coefficient, oscillator strength, dipole moment, ionization potential, dissociation energy and thermodynamic parameters. The results indicated that the formation of molecular complex is spontaneous and endothermic. The fluorescence quenching studies indicated that the interaction of the donors is spontaneous and the fluorescence quenching increased with an increase in the intensity of complexation with the acceptor.     

Spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) with 7-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid

Uranium(VI) and 7-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid form a 1:2 complex with λ_max at 355 nm, in aqueous medium at pH 6.6. A procedure for accurate spectrophotometric determination of hexavalent uranium with 7-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid has been described. Optimum conditions, including the effect of pH, time, temperature, order of addition of the reagents, and excess of the reagent have been studied. Range for adherance to Beer's law, effective photometric range, molar absorptivity, and Sandell sensitivity have also been reported as 1–38 ppm, 5.7–28.5 ppm, 6575 and 0.036 μg of uranium/cm² respectively. The method has been compared with some other methods for determination of uranium spectrophotometrically, with regard to their sensitivities. Interferences of various ions in the measurement of the color have been investigated, and the tentative structure of the colored species in solution has been proposed.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of new pillared layered ethylenediphosphonates of molybdenum(VI), A2[Mo2O5(O3PCH2CH2PO3)] (A = NH4, Tl, Cs, Rb) and K(H3O)[Mo2O5(O3PCH2CH2PO3)

New ethylenediphosphonates of molybdenum, A[Mo2O5(O3PCH2CH2PO3)] (A = NH4 (1), Tl (2), Cs (3), Rb (4)), and K(H3O)[Mo2O5(O3PCH2CH2PO3)] (5), have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic, and thermal studies. These compounds consist of pillared anionic layers [Mo2O5(O3PCH2CH2PO3)]2-, with A+, K+, and H3O+ ions in the interlayer region as well as in the cavities within the anionic layers. Single-crystal X-ray structures of compounds 1 and 5 have been determined. They crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmca with Z = 8 and have the following unit cell parameters. For 1, a = 25.60(1), b = 10.016(4), and c = 9.635(3) angstroms and for 5, a = 25.63(1), b = 10.007(2), and c = 9.512(1) angstroms.     

MSn,LC‐MS‐TOF and LC‐PDA studies for identification of new degradation impurities of bupropion

Three new degradation impurities of bupropion were characterized through high performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detection and to time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Bupropion was subjected to the ICH prescribed stress conditions. It degraded to seven impurities (I–VII) in alkaline hydrolytic conditions which were optimally resolved on an XTerra C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with a ternary mobile phase comprising ammonium formate (20 mm , pH 4.0), methanol and acetonitrile (75:10:15, v/v). The degradation impurities (III–V and VII) were characterized on the basis of mass fragmentation pattern of drug, accurate mass spectral and photodiode array data of the drug and degradation impurities. Compound V was found to be a known degradation impurity [1‐hydroxy‐1‐(3‐chlorophenyl)propan‐2‐one], whereas III, IV and VII were characterized as 2‐hydroxy‐2‐(3′‐chlorophenyl)‐3,5,5‐trimethylmorpholine, (2,4,4‐trimethyl‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐yl)(3‐chlorophenyl)‐methanone and 2‐(3′‐chlorophenyl)‐3,5,5‐trimethylmorphol‐2‐ene, respectively. Compound III was a known metabolite of the drug. This additional information on the degradation impurities can help in the development of a new stability‐indicating assay method to monitor the stability of the drug product during its shelf‐life as well as in development of a drug product with increased shelf‐life. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal characterization and compatibility studies of itraconazole and excipients for development of solid lipid nanoparticles

The current study was performed to investigate possible interactions between triazole antifungal drug itraconazole (ITR) with selected excipients commonly used for development of solid lipid nanoparticles. The excipients included common lipids (glyceryl behenate (Compritol 888 ATO?), glyceryl monostearate, stearic acid, and cetyl palmitate), charge inducers (dicetyl phosphate and stearlyamine), and surfactants (sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate). Differential scanning calorimetry, isothermal stress testing, Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis, optical microcopy, and X-ray powder diffraction analysis were performed for assessing the compatibility between the drug and the excipients. Results of the study suggest that the stearic acid exhibited drug–excipient interactions, whereas all other excipients used in the study were found to be compatible with ITR.     

Microsatellite instability and its correlation with clinicopathological features in a series of thyroid tumors prevalent in iodine deficient areas

Thyroid tumors display diverse spectrum of histopathological groups with geographic variation in its prevalence. Influence of iodine deficiency (a major causative factor) in its etiology, prevalence, or aggressiveness is debatable which reflects the existence of various genetic events in pathogenesis. The present study was undertaken to study the role of Microsatellite instability (MSI) or LOH (loss of heterozygosity), an indicator of defective mismatch repair system as a genetic change and to explore it as a prognostic marker in thyroid tumors. Tumor tissues from total thyroidectomy surgical specimens and blood (matched control) of 36 patients from iodine deficient areas (10 benign; 26 malignant) were obtained after their consent. Urinary iodine analysis was done by alkali ash method for which 10 ml of urine was collected from 18 patients before surgery. Genomic DNA, isolated from tumor tissue and blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using mono and dinucleotide markers - BAT-26, BAT-40, TGF(RII, IGFIIR, hMSH3, BAX, D2S123, D9S283, D9S851 and D18S58. PCR products were analysed on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gel followed by autoradiography. Of total, 66.6% of tumors [70% (7/10) benign and 65.4% malignant cases (17/26)] showed MSI/LOH. Strong association of MSI/LOH with low iodine (P = 0.01) and with AMES risk groups i.e. age (P = 0.02), tumor size (P = 0.04) and metastases (P = 0.002) in thyroid tumors was observed. This may help in predicting the biological behaviour and strengthening the hypothesis that iodine deficiency has influence on MSI in thyroid tumors. Our results further substantiate the risk group classification and help in deciding the treatment modality in particular patient.