New chalcanonol glycoside from the seeds of saw palmetto: antiproliferative and antioxidant effects

A new chalcanonol glycoside dimer, bis-O-[(I-4′) → (II-6′)]-α-hydroxyphloretin-2′-O-β-glucoside (1), in addition to six known compounds, namely ( ? )-epicatechin (2) and ( ? )-epiafzelechin (3), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), protocatechuic acid (5), methylgallate (6), β-sitosterol (7) and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside (8), was isolated from the seeds of saw palmetto. The structures of the isolated compounds were established from the analysis of their MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The antiproliferative activities of the isolated compounds towards PC3, the human prostate cancer cells were investigated. Amongst the isolated compounds, the new compound and the sterolic derivatives showed antiproliferative effects. Screening of the antioxidant effects of the isolated compounds by 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical assay revealed that the isolated phenolics were active free radical scavengers.     

PARAFAC Decomposition of Three‐Way Kinetic‐Spectrophotometric Spectral Matrices Based on Phosphomolymbdenum Blue Complex Chemistry for Nitrite Determination in Water and Meat Samples

Abstract

A three‐way analytical methodology experimentally based on kinetic‐spectrophotometric and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) chemometrics analysis was assessed for the quantification of nitrite in water and meat samples. This method is based on the reduction of phosphomolybdic acid to phosphomolymbdenum blue complex by sodium sulfide. The obtained phosphomolymbdenum blue complex is oxidized by the addition of nitrite and this causes a reduction in intensity of the blue color. Three‐way data matrices were generated by acquisition of ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) spectra (600–900 nm) as a function of the time and of different relative concentration of the nitrite (0.10–2.10 µg mL^?1). The PARAFAC trilinear model, without restrictions, was used in the data analysis. A full decomposition of the data matrices was obtained (spectra, concentration, and time profile). It was shown that kinetic methods coupled to three‐way chemometrics analytical methods can be used for the development of robust sensors for the analysis of nitrite in water and meat samples. The accuracy of the method, evaluated through the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), was 0.0515 and 0.1181 for nitrite by PARAFAC and partise least squares (PLS) models respectively. The results with the PARAFAC model are better than those of the PLS model, according to results, it being possible to recover the spectra and kinetic profiles, as well as the initial concentration of nitrite with good accuracy.     

Cytotoxic constituents from Vicia monantha subsp. monantha seeds

Chemical investigation of Vicia monantha subsp. monantha Retz. revealed isolation of one new hydroxy- fatty acid (6) identified as (6-Z, 10-E)-9-hydroxy henicosa-6,10-dienoic acid in addition to six known metabolites; hexadecanoic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), β-amyrin (3), β-sitosterol-glucoside (4), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl tetradecanoate (5) and (Z)-9-hydroxypentadec-6-enoic acid (7). The cytotoxic effect of the isolated compounds was assessed by MTT assay using lung cancer A-549, prostate cancer PC3, breast cancer MCF-7, colon cancer HCT-116 and liver cancer HepG2 cell lines. Only compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 cells where compound 2 was the most active with IC₅₀ value of 22.61 μg/mL. In addition, compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 showed promising cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 21.03, 15.42, 10.089, and 11.34 μg/mL, respectively.     

Sassarandainol: a new neolignan and anti-inflammatory constituents from the stem of Sassafras randaiense

A new neolignan, (R)-( ? )-sassarandainol (1), together with 10 known compounds (2–11), was isolated from the stem of Sassafras randaiense. The structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques. Among these isolates, γ-tocopherol (5), subamolide B (7) and β-sitosterone (9) exhibited moderate iNOS inhibitory activity on nitrite production induced (%) value of 30.51, 28.68 and 16.96, respectively.     

Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loiseleur) essential oil from Spain: determination of aromatic profile by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry,antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory bioactivities

Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loiseleur) essential oils (EOs), from Abrial, Super and Grosso cultivars, cultivated and extracted in the South East of Spain, were analysed by using GC/MS to determine their composition, in both relative (peak area) and absolute (using standard curves) concentrations. Linalool (34–47%), linalyl acetate (17–34%), camphor (4–9%) and eucalyptol (3–7%) were determined as the main molecules. This characterisation was completed with the enantioselective gas chromatography, where ( ? )-linalool, (+)-camphor and ( ? )-linalyl acetate were determined as the main components. Antioxidant activity was evaluated positively by several methods: activity against free radicals, chelating and reducing power, probably due to linalool and linalyl acetate. Mild inhibitory activity on lipoxygenase was observed supporting potential anti-inflammatory activity, mainly due to linalool and camphor. These properties support the potential use of L. × intermedia essential oils as natural cosmetic and natural pharmaceutical ingredient to fight several skin diseases.     

Supramolecular inclusion of a pillared double-layered host by an anion-directed second-sphere coordination

In this paper, we have illustrated the utilisation of a second-sphere coordination approach to construct supramolecular inclusion solids with varieties of guest molecules. A flexible molecule N,N,N′,N′-tetra-p-methylbenzyl-ethylenediamine (L1) bearing doubly protonated H-bond donors was designed, capable of forming N–H…Cl hydrogen bonds with a crystallographically unique chloride anion, to construct an anion-directed ligand. The pillared double-layered host framework was constructed by an anion-directed ligand and primary coordination sphere [CoCl₄]^2 ?  through weak C–H…Cl hydrogen-bonding interactions. A variety of guest molecules, such as p-anisaldehyde, 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)benzene, can be included, leading to the formation of novel supramolecular inclusion solids: [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₈H₈O₂]·0.25[CH₃OH] (1) and [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₁₂H₂₀O₄]·0.5[CH₃OH] (2).

We have presented herein the utilisation of a second-sphere coordination approach to construct supramolecular inclusion solids with a variety of guest molecules. A novel type of a pillared double-layered host framework was constructed by a second-sphere coordination between the anion-directed ligand (L1 = N,N,N′,N′-tetra-p-methylbenzyl-ethylenediamine) and [CoCl₄]^2 ?  through weak C–H…Cl hydrogen-bonding interaction, and a variety of guest molecules, such as p-anisaldehyde, 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)benzene, can be included, leading to the formation of supramolecular inclusion solids: [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₈H₈O₂]·0.25[CH₃OH] (1) and [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₁₂H₂₀O₄]·0.5[CH₃OH] (2)

     

New adduct of abietane-type diterpene from Salvia leriifolia Benth.

A new adduct of abietane-type diterpene, salvialeriicone (1), was isolated from Salvia leriifolia Benth., along with a new chemical entity nor-abietane diterpene, 2-isopropyl-8,8-dimethyl-7,8-dihydrophenanthrene-1,4,5(6H)-trione (2). Their structures were determined using mass spectrometry, and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.     

Multivariate methods on the excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopic data of diesel-kerosene mixtures: a comparative study

Quantitative determination of kerosene fraction present in diesel has been carried out based on excitation emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) along with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and N-way partial least squares regression (N-PLS). EEMF is a simple, sensitive and nondestructive method suitable for the analysis of multifluorophoric mixtures. Calibration models consisting of varying compositions of diesel and kerosene were constructed and their validation was carried out using leave-one-out cross validation method. The accuracy of the model was evaluated through the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) for the PARAFAC, N-PLS and unfold PLS methods. N-PLS was found to be a better method compared to PARAFAC and unfold PLS method because of its low RMSEP values.     

Silica‐Supported Sodium Hydrogen Sulfate Catalyzed Facile Transformation of p‐Hydroxybenzyl Alcohols to p‐Hydroxybenzyl Ethers and Thioethers

Abstract

The heterogeneous catalyst, silica‐supported sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO₄ · SiO₂) has been found to be highly efficient in carrying out the transformation of p‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols at room temperature to p‐hydroxybenzyl ethers and thioethers in very high yields.     

Metal complexes with N-(trifluoromethylbenzyl)iminodiacetate chelators (x-3F ligands). Part I. Copper(II) chelates of p-3F,m-3F,and o-3F with or without imidazole-like ligands

Eight Cu(II) complexes with N-(p-, m- or o-trifluoromethylbenzyl)iminodiacetate chelators (x-3F ligands) have been synthesized to promote C–F/H interligand interactions involving the F₃C-group: {[Cu(μ₂-p-3F)(H₂O)]·3H₂O]}_n (1), [Cu(m-3F)(H₂O)₂] (2), [Cu(p-3F)(Him)(H₂O)] (3), [Cu(m-3F)(Him)(H₂O)] (4), [Cu(o-3F)(Him)(H₂O)] (5), [Cu₂(p-3F)₂(H5Meim)₂(H₂O)₂] (6), [Cu(m-3F)(H5Meim)(H₂O)] (7), and [Cu(o-3F)(H5Meim)(H₂O)] (8) [Him and H5Meim = imidazole and the “remote” tautomer 5-methylimidazole, respectively]. The compounds were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, electronic spectra and coupled thermogravimetric + FT-IR methods. The conformation of the iminodiacetate chelating moiety (IDA group) is fac-NO + O(apical) in 1 and mer-NO₂ in 2–8. The fac-IDA conformation observed in 1 is related to its polymeric structure and the coordination of a O’-carboxylate donor, from an adjacent complex unit, trans to the Cu–N(IDA) bond. The mer-IDA conformation in 2 is in agreement with similar compounds with an aqua ligand trans to the corresponding Cu–N(IDA) bond. As expected, the ternary complexes 3–8 feature a mer-IDA conformation. Some of the studied complexes exhibit disorder in the –CF₃ group and C–H?F interligand interactions along with conventional N–H?O and O–H?O interactions. The thermal decomposition of all studied compounds under air flow produces variable amounts of trifluorotoluene.     

Synthesis of Quinolines from N-Tosyl-1-azadienes

A route to aryl-substituted quinolines from N-tosyl 1-azadienes is described. The key steps are a [4 + 2] cycloaddition with benzyne followed by base treatment of the 1,4-dihydroquinoline product. The N-tosyl 1-azadienes were prepared from readily accessible cinnamaldehyde and chalcone substrates by condensation with p-TsNH₂.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.     

Evaluation of variation matrix arrays by parallel factor analysis

PARAFAC is one of the most widely used algorithms for trilinear decomposition. The uniqueness properties of the PARAFAC model are very attractive regardless of whether one is interested curve resolution or not. The fact that PARAFAC provides one unique solution simplifies interpretation of the model. But in three‐way data arrays the uniqueness condition can only be expected when k_A + k_B + k_C ≥ 2F + 2, where F is the number of components and k's are the Kruskal ranks of loadings A to C. As much as second order instruments produce data of varying complexity depending upon the nature of the analytical techniques being combined, with some three‐way data it is possible for patterns generated by the underlying sources of variation to have sufficient independent effects in two modes, yet nonetheless be proportional in a third mode. For example, in three‐way data for spectrophotometric titrations of weak acids or bases (pH‐wavelength‐sample), a rank deficiency may occur in two modes, that is closure rank deficiency in the pH mode and proportionality rank deficiency in the sample direction because each analyte will have acidic and basic forms that are linear combinations in the sample mode. The goal of the present paper is to overcome the non‐uniqueness problem in the second order calibration of monoprotic acids mixtures. The solution contains two steps: first each pH‐absorbance matrix is pretreated by subtraction of the first spectrum from each spectrum in the data matrix. This pretreated data matrix is called the variation matrix. Second, by stacking the variation matrices, a three‐way trilinear variation data array will be obtained without the proportional linear dependency problem that can be resolved uniquely by PARAFAC. It is shown, although unique results are not guaranteed by the Kruscal's condition for the original three‐way data, this condition is fulfilled for pretreated three‐way data. Hence, the variation array may be uniquely decomposed by the PARAFAC algorithm. Studies on simulated as well as real data array reveal the applicability of the proposed method to this kind of problem in the second order calibration of monoprotic acids. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Novel Organosiliconsulfur-Containing Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles Sonocatalyzed by LaxSr1−xFeyCo1−yO3 Nanoperovskites

Abstract

The one-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles by use of a series of La_xSr_1 ? xFe_yCo_1 ? yO₃ perovskites as catalysts is described. The La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.34Co_0.66O₃ nanocatalyst had the greatest activity in the heterogeneous cyclocondensation of an aldehyde, benzil, ammonium acetate, and a primary aromatic amine in water under ultrasonic irradiation. Some of the derivatives generated during this work were utilized as substrates for the synthesis in good yields of novel multifunctional tetrasubstituted imidazoles with Me₃Si, C=S, and SH groups, via nucleophilic attack of tris(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium (TsiLi) at the carbon of carbon disulphide.     

Automated resolution of overlapping peaks in chromatographic data

Parallel factor analysis 2 (PARAFAC2) has been shown to be a powerful tool for resolution of complex overlapping peaks in chromatographic analyses. It is particularly useful because of its ability to handle shifts in the elution time mode and peak shape changes. Like all curve resolution techniques, PARAFAC2 will only find chemically meaningful parameters (elution time profiles and mass spectra) if the correct number of factors are determined. So far, the primary way to determine an appropriate number of factors, when using PARAFAC2, is to calculate models with different number of factors and then inspect the models manually. This approach is time consuming, and the result may be biased because of the manual assessment of the model quality, making PARAFAC2 inaccessible for analytical chemists in general. Here, we develop a method that can determine an appropriate number of factors in an automated way. The automation is based on a number of model diagnostics (quality criteria) collected from models with different numbers of factors. Combining these diagnostics, it is possible to assess what the appropriate number of components is. In this work, only gas chromatography–mass spectrometry data are considered. However, it will most likely be fairly straightforward to expand the work to also cover liquid chromatography data (with a multivariate detector). Automating the model quality evaluation of the PARAFAC2 model enables both the inexperienced and trained user to perform comprehensive and advanced analysis of chromatographic data with a minimum of manual work. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Chemometrics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Synthesis of Di- and Tri-Substituted Imidazole-4-carboxylates via PBu3-Mediated [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

Some new di- and trisubstituted imidazole-4-carboxylates were prepared from amidoacetic acids 3 in the present report. The key step to establish such imidazole-4-carboxylates stemmed from the PBu₃-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition between in situ–generated Δ2-oxazolinone 4 and ethyl cyanoformate6. Our results indicated that trisubstituted imidazoles 7–20 were afforded in better yields than those of disubstituted imidazoles 21–27.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.     

Headspace Single Drop Microextraction for the Analysis of Fire Accelerants in Fire Debris Samples

Fire accelerants such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel have commonly been used in arson cases. Improved analytical methods involving the extraction of fire accelerants are necessary to increase sample yield and to reduce the number of uncertain findings. In this study, an analytical method based on headspace single drop microextraction (HS-SDME) followed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) has been developed for the analysis of simulated fire debris samples. Curtain fabric was used as the sample matrix. The optimized conditions were 2.5 μL benzyl alcohol microdrop exposed for 20 min to the headspace of a 10 mL aqueous sample containing accelerants placed in 15-mL sample vial and stirred at 1500 rpm. The extraction method was compared with the solvent extraction method using n-hexane for the determination of fire accelerants. The HS-SDME process is driven by the concentration difference of analytes between the aqueous phases containing the analyte and the organic phase constituting the microdrop of a solvent. The limit of detection of HS-SDME for kerosene was 1.5 μL. Overall, the HS-SDME coupled with GC-FID proved to be rapid, simple and sensitive and a good alternative method for the analysis of accelerants in fire debris samples.     

Studies on the photochemical oxidation of N,N-diacyl-1,4-dihydropyrazine derivatives

The photochemical oxidation of N,N-diacyl-1,4-dihydropyrazines was investigated by irradiation from a medium-pressure mercury lamp. The main products of the photooxygenation were isolated and unambiguously confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra, ¹³C NMR spectra, H-H, C-H correlation spectra, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis. The complicated NMR spectra of main products were studied by variable-temperature NMR experiments. The mechanism of the photooxygenation of N,N-diacyl-1,4-dihydropyrazines is suggested to be a [2 + 2] cycloaddition of oxygen to the double bond.     

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of three main taxoids in the twigs of Taxus × media using multi-objective response surface methodology

A multi-objective response surface methodology (RSM) based on a desirability function analysis (DFA) was used to model and optimize the operational parameters of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of three main taxoids in the twigs of Taxus × media. Liquid–solid ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time, and ultrasonic power were chosen as four independent variables, with three objective variables considered: the extraction yields of 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DAB III), cephalomannine and paclitaxel. Under the predicted conditions with the highest “desirability’’, compared with the predicted value, the goodness of fit for the experiment extraction yields of 10-DAB III, cephalomannine and paclitaxel was 97.36, 100.81, and 97.46%, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis, and verification test indicated a satisfactory correlation between the experimental data and predicted values. These results showed that RSM and DFA were good methods to solve the problem of multi-objective optimization.     

FeCl3 · 6H2O-Catalyzed Acceleration of the Acylation of Sodium Azide with N-Acylbenzotriazoles

Catalyzed by ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl₃ · 6H₂O), the acylation of sodium azide with N-acylbenzotriazoles was greatly accelerated in a mixed solvent of acetone and water. Thus, good to excellent yields of a variety of acyl azides were obtained at room temperature in a short time. Furthermore, because of the complete conversion of N-acylbenzotriazoles and the easy removal of the by-product, purification by column chromatography was no longer required, which made the protocol suitable for large-scale preparation.

Microwave-Accelerated Ruthenium-Catalyzed [2π + 2π] Cycloadditions of Dimethylacetylene Dicarboxylate with Norbornenes

An efficient and convenient procedure has been developed for the ruthenium-catalyzed [2π + 2π] cycloadditions of dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate with norbornenes. Reaction is significantly accelerated in microwave conditions, while the commonly used benzene solvent was replaced by environmentally benign tetrahydrofuran.