A further study on the chiral separation power of a soluble neutral β-cyclodextrin polymer

Enantiomeric separation of some basic compounds, namely selegiline, amphetamine, and clenbuterol, was studied by capillary electrophoresis using an uncharged β-cyclodextrin polymer added to the background electrolyte at pH 2.5. Both complexation and resolution were influenced by the concentration of the chiral polymer confirming our previous results obtained in our earlier work for a wide number of pharmaceutical compounds. In this further study, we examined the influence of different organic additives to the background electrolyte on the enantioselectivity of the chiral selector, also using an extended number of analytes. In most cases, the use of an organic additive resulted in a decrease of resolution. However opposite to that, in some cases, e.g. ephedrine, the organic solvent proved to be essential to achieve enantiomeric resolution. Furthermore the influence of the capillary temperature on the resolution of the analytes was evaluated. Increase of temperature had a deleterious effect on the resolution of the enantiomers. For ephedrine, however, relatively high temperature (50 °C) proved to be advantageous, for the resolution of the optical isomers.     

Chlorotrimethylsilane promoted asymmetric Michael reaction of chiral enamines of α-alkyl β-keto esters

By the promotion of chlorotrimethylsilane, asymmetric Michael reaction of the chiral enamines (2) of α-alkyl β-keto esters (1) with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl acrylate proceeded to afford, after hydrolysis, either enantiomer of the corresponding adducts (4) in a good enantioselectivity.     

Comparative Interaction Studies of Quercetin with 2-Hydroxyl-propyl-β-cyclodextrin and 2,6-Methylated-β-cyclodextrin

Quercetin (QUE) is a well-known natural product that can exert beneficial properties on human health. However, due to its low solubility its bioavailability is limited. In the present study, we examine whether its formulation with two cyclodextrins (CDs) may enhance its pharmacological profile. Comparative interaction studies of quercetin with 2-hydroxyl-propyl-β-cyclodextrin (2HP-β-CD) and 2,6-methylated cyclodextrin (2,6Me-β-CD) were performed using NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and in silico molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Using T1 relaxation experiments and 2D DOSY it was illustrated that both cyclodextrin vehicles can host quercetin. Quantum mechanical calculations showed the formation of hydrogen bonds between QUE with 2HP-β-CD and 2,6Μe-β-CD. Six hydrogen bonds are formed ranging between 2 to 2.8 Å with 2HP-β-CD and four hydrogen bonds within 2.8 Å with 2,6Μe-β-CD. Calculations of absolute binding free energies show that quercetin binds favorably to both 2,6Me-β-CD and 2HP-β-CD. MM/GBSA results show equally favorable binding of quercetin in the two CDs. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows moderate binding of quercetin in 2HP-β-CD (520 M⁻¹) and 2,6Me-β-CD (770 M⁻¹). Thus, we propose that both formulations (2HP-β-CD:quercetin, 2,6Me-β-CD:quercetin) could be further explored and exploited as small molecule carriers in biological studies.     

Copper-catalyzed tandem intramolecular cyclization/coupling reaction: solvent effect on reaction pathway

In this study, we developed direct methods for the synthesis of 3-substituted indoles from o-alkynylanilines by utilizing a copper-catalyzed tandem intramolecular cyclization/coupling reaction under mild and simple reaction conditions. Our investigation revealed that choice of the aprotic polar solvents and additives such as camphorsulfonic acid is critical in this reaction.     

Studies of an inclusion complex of a redox-active barbiturate with β-cyclodextrin

The effects of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the spectral properties and electrochemical behaviour of barbitone sodium were studied using electrochemical and optical techniques. The apparent changes in the UV-visible absorption spectrum and fluorescence quenching of the barbiturate upon addition of β-CD afford clear evidence of the inclusion complex formation of β-CD in aqueous solutions. The redox acitivity of barbitone sodium in both the absence and presence of β-CD was assessed by an electrochemical method in 0.05 M potassium nitrate-nitric acid (pH 1.8) solution. While the complexation reaction remains is equilibrium, the apparent formation constant of the inclusion complex could be obtained by either spectral or electrochemical methods. Quantitative evaluation of the data gave 326 l mol⁻¹ under equilibrium conditions at 20°C. Possible conclusions are discussed on the basis of environmental changes around the barbiturate molecules on inclusion.     

Retention of some monoamine oxidase inhibitory drugs on a β-cyclodextrin polymer-coated silica column

The retention of seventeen monoamine oxidase inhibitory drugs (mono- and disubstituted derivatives of propargylamine) was determined on a β- cyclodextrin polymer (β-CDP)-coated silica column using methanol-0.05 M K₂HPO₄ (6:4, v/v) as the eluent. The inclusion complex formation between the drugs and a water-soluble β-cyclodextrin polymer was studied by charge-transfer chromatography carried out on reversed- phase TLC layers. The capacity factors were correlated with the various physico-chemical parameters and with the inclusion complex-forming capacity of the monoamine oxidase inhibitory drugs. Calculations indicated that the inclusion complex-forming capacity of the drugs does not influence their retention on a β-CDP column, that is, the water-soluble and water-insoluble β-CDPs show different retention characteristics. The specific hydrophilic adsorption surface of the solutes significantly influences the retention in HPLC. The results suggest that the selectivity of the β-CDP-coated silica support may be different from that of the traditional alkyl-bonded reversed-phase columns.     

Efficient synthesis of 3‐arylaminopyrroline‐2‐ones by the tandem reaction of anilines and β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters

A concise and efficient synthetic approach to 3‐arylaminopyrroline‐2‐ones from anilines and β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters in boiling dichloromethane has been developed. This protocol possesses many advantages such as short reaction time, high isolated yields, and expanding substrate scopes. According to the isolated intermediates and controlled reactions, the reaction was tentatively proposed to involve the Michael addition/condensation and subsequent intramolecular cyclization. The structures of the title compounds were unambiguously confirmed by various spectral data such as X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Spectral characteristics of tramadol in different solvents and β-cyclodextrin

Effect of solvents and β-cyclodextrin on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of tramadol drug has been investigated and compared with anisole. The solid inclusion complex of tramadol with β-CD is investigated by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), DSC and semiempirical methods. The thermodynamic parameter (ΔG) of inclusion process is determined. A solvent study shows (i) the spectral behaviour of both tramadol and anisole molecules is similar to each other and (ii) the cyclohexanol group in tramadol is not effectively conjugated with anisole group. However, in β-CD, due to space restriction of the CD cavity, a weak interaction is present between the above groups in tramadol. β-Cyclodextrin studies show that tramadol forms 1:2 inclusion complex with β-CD. A mechanism is proposed for the inclusion process.     

The structure of higher order C60-fullerene-γ-cyclodextrin complexes

C₆₀ inclusion complexes in γ-cyclodextrin are studied by molecular mechanics and semi-empirical methods with the aim of comparing measured and calculated induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra. Low energy geometries of the complexes are generated by Monte Carlo simulations, also accounting for solvation effects by an aqueous environment. The ICD spectrum of the complex is then obtained from an exciton model based on semi-empirical calculations of the transition energies and the corresponding transition moments. Highly symmetric, tightly bound complexes of two γ-cyclodextrins and buckminsterfullerene are found as the most probable structures. The main bands of the experimentally derived ICD spectrum are assigned to the excitation transitions of the chromophore and are discussed in comparison to calculations on the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of C₆₀.     

Synthesis of novel highly water-soluble 2:1 cyclodextrin/fullerene conjugates involving the secondary rim of β-cyclodextrin

Two novel fullerene[60]-cyclodextrin conjugates have been prepared, they display the highest solubility in water reported to date. This is the first synthesis of such conjugates in which the linker is attached to the secondary rim of β-CD.     

Synthesis of novel ferrocene-containing 1,3-thiazinan-2-imines: One-pot reaction promoted by ultrasound irradiation

A simple one-pot synthesis of new ferrocene-containing 1,3-thiazinan-2-imines from 3-arylamino-1-ferrocenylpropan-1-ols and phenyl isothiocyanate has been developed. The key intermediate β-hydroxy thioureas were generated in situ using ultrasound irradiation and subsequent cyclization was achieved by the addition of acetic acid. The scope of the reaction towards various 3-arylamino-1-ferrocenylpropan-1-ols has been explored and the corresponding 3-aryl-6-ferrocenyl-N-phenyl-1,3-thiazinan-2-imines were obtained in moderate to high yields (52–90%).