Capillary electrophoresis for the investigation of two novel aminoalkanol derivatives of 1,7‐diethyl‐8,9‐diphenyl‐4‐azatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6] dec‐8‐ene‐3,5,10‐trione as potential anticancer drugs in water solution and serum

A simple, rapid, capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed and validated for the analysis of two novel aminoalkanol derivatives ( I ) and ( II ) of 1,7‐diethyl‐8,9‐diphenyl‐4‐azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]dec‐8‐ene‐3,5,10‐trione, which were found in earlier studies as potential anticancer drugs. Samples were analyzed to demonstrate the specificity and stability indicating ability of the developed method. The samples were extracted using n‐hexane‐ethyl acetate mixture in the ratio of 90:10. Electrophoretic separation was performed on a eCAP fused silica capillary (37 cm length, 50 µm inside diameter) with a 50 mM tetraborate buffer as a background electrolyte adjusted to pH = 2.5. The separation time of ( I ) and ( II ) was achieved within 7 min. In addition, analysis of the two compounds in the serum was conducted. Limits of detection of ( I ) and ( II ) by UV absorbance at 200 nm were achieved in the range of 87.4–92.1 ng/mL. The sufficient recovery was observed in the range of 90.3–99.8%. The quantification limits for the compounds ( I ) and ( II ) were in the range of 279.71–291.03 ng/mL, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of compounds ( I ) and ( II ) in serum samples.     

Simultaneous determination of flavonoids in chrysanthemum by capillary zone electrophoresis with running buffer modifiers

Despite the separation efficiency of capillary electrophoresis (CE) is much higher than other chromatographic methods, it is sometimes difficult to perfectly separate the complex ingredients in biological samples. One possible and simple way to develop the separation effect in CE is to add some modifiers in the running buffer. In this paper, the suitable running buffer modifiers were explored to simultaneously separate and detect six typical flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin) which are the main active ingredients in chrysanthemum by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection (CZE-AD). It was found that when β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and the mixture of methanol and ethanol were used as running buffer modifiers, a baseline separation of the six analytes could be accomplished in less than 20 min and the detection limits were as low as 10⁻⁷ or 10⁻⁸ g ml⁻¹. Other factors affecting the CZE separation, such as working potential, pH value and ionic strength of running buffer, separation voltage and sample injection time were extensively investigated. Under the optimum conditions, a successful practical application on the determination of chrysanthemum samples confirmed the validity and practicability of this method.     

Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nicotine and minor tobacco alkaloids in electronic cigarette refill liquids and second‐hand generated aerosol

A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in both refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol was developed and validated. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values were 0.3–20.0 and 1.0–31.8 ng/mL, respectively. Within‐laboratory reproducibility was 8.2–14.2% at limit of quantification values and 4.8–12.7% at other concentration levels. Interday recovery was 75.8–116.4%. The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of commercial liquids (n = 95) with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids. Levels of nicotine and its corresponding compounds were also evaluated in generated aerosol. About 47% of samples showed differences above ±10 % of the stated nicotine concentration. About 78% of the “zero nicotine” liquids showed traces in the range of 1.3 ± 0.1–254.0 ± 14.6 μg/mL. Nicotine‐N ′‐oxides, myosmine, and anatabine were the most common minor alkaloids in liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine and N ′‐oxides were detected in all air samples when aerosol was generated from liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine average emissions from electronic cigarette (2.7 ± 0.9 μg/m³) were significantly lower (p < 0.01, t‐test) with respect to conventional cigarette (30.2 ± 1.5 μg/m³).     

Use of Ionic liquids as additives in ion exchange chromatography for the analysis of cations

The behavior of acids (citric acid, nitric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid) as a mobile phase and imidazolium ionic liquids (the bromides, tetrafluoroborates and hexafluorophosphates of 1‐ethyl, 1‐butyl, and 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) as additives in ion exchange chromatography for cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) separation were studied. The results showed that nitric acid and 1‐hexyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium hexafluorophosphate offered the most interesting features in the separation of cations, such as lower retention time and better resolution. The selected optimal conditions were achieved by adding 0.10 mM 1‐hexyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium hexafluorophosphate in 4.0 mM HNO₃ mobile phase for the separation of four cations with the flow rate of 0.9 mL/min at room temperature (25°C). The linear regression equations of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ were S  = 4.4763c  + 0.0209, S  = 3.8903c  – 0.0087, S  = 6.3974c  – 0.0173, and S  = 7.601c  – 0.0339 and the limits of detection of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ were 0.296, 4.98, 0.0970, and 1.22 μg/L, respectively. In this work, four cations in samples were successfully detected.     

Highly fluorinated polymers with sulfonate,sulfamide and N,N‐diethylamino groups for the capillary electromigration separation of proteins and steroid hormones

Highly fluorinated polymers are promising materials in separation methods due to their combination of high chemical and thermally stability, hydro‐ and oleophobicity, and weak intermolecular forces. However, application of these polymers in chromatography is limited because of their low solubility in aqueous‐organic solvents. In our research, the highly fluorinated water soluble polymers with –SO₃⁻N(Et)₄⁺, –SO₂NH₂, and –N(Et)₂ terminal groups were synthesized and applied as additives to the background electrolyte for the separation of steroid hormones and proteins by capillary electromigration methods. It is shown that highly fluorinated polymers can be used both as pseudo‐stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography for high separation efficiency (N  ∼ 200 × 10³) and selectivity (α  ∼  1.1) of uncharged analytes (e.g., steroid hormones), and as dynamic modifiers of fused silica capillary walls. The highest separation efficiency (N  ∼ 1 × 10⁶) and selectivity (α  ∼ 1.3) of steroid hormones was achieved by combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate and fluoropolymer with sulfonate groups in background electrolyte with pH 2. Dynamic wall coatings based on fluoropolymer with –SO₂NH₂ (which are easier and faster to create and wash off) exhibit significantly higher separation efficiency and selectivity compared to capillary electrochromatography on capillary columns based on polymethacrylate polymers.     

Photo‐stimulated “turn‐on/off” molecularly imprinted polymers based on magnetic mesoporous silicon surface for efficient detection of sulfamerazine

In this study, novel photo‐stimulated molecularly imprinted polymers based on magnetic mesoporous carrier surface were developed for selective identification and intelligent separation of sulfamerazine in complex samples. The photosensitive monomer of the molecularly imprinted polymers was azobenzene derivative 5‐[(4‐(methacryloyloxy)phenyl) diazenyl] isophthalic acid with stimulus reaction mechanisms, which has photoisomerization between trans and cis for N=N bonds. Further, the properties of the photo‐stimulated molecularly imprinted polymers were further evaluated through several sets of adsorption experiments. It illustrated that the maximum adsorption amount is 0.45 mmol/L. By ultraviolet spectrophotometry, the material reaches typical characteristic peaks of photo sensitivity, and the cycle time is 16 min. Three adsorption and desorption processes were repeated, the adsorption rate reached 34.4%. Overall, the photo‐stimulated molecularly imprinted polymers can enrich and separate determine sulfamerazine with high selectivity, which have good recovery for real samples.     

Synthesis and investigation of dual pH‐ and temperature‐responsive behaviour of poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]‐grafted gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) aqueous solution with hydrazine monohydrate. The AuNPs were immediately treated with cysteamine to obtain amine‐functionalized nanoparticles (Au‐NH₂). The reaction of Au‐NH₂ with epichlorohydrin and subsequent treatment with sodium hydroxide gave epoxidized AuNPs (Au‐EP). Then, thiol‐capped AuNPs (Au‐SH) were synthesized by reaction of Au‐EP with cysteamine. A ‘grafting to’ approach was utilized to graft bromine‐terminated poly(N ,N ′‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), synthesized via aqueous atom transfer radical polymerization, with various molecular weights (6280, 25 800, 64 200 and 87 600 g mol⁻¹) onto Au‐SH to obtain Au‐P1, Au‐P2, Au‐P3 and Au‐P4 samples, respectively. All samples were exposed to temperature and pH variations, and Z‐average diameter was monitored using dynamic light scattering. According to the results, polymer‐grafted nanoparticles collapsed at lower temperatures with increasing solution pH for all molecular weight ranges due to deprotonation of tertiary amine groups. However, higher molecular weight polymers were more sensitive to pH variation especially in alkaline media. Also, a high degree of agglomeration was observed for Au‐P4 nanoparticles in alkaline media on increasing the temperature to 55 and 65 °C.     

Trinitratobis{N′‐[1‐(2‐pyridyl)ethylidene]isonicotinohydrazide}cerium(III): a three‐dimensional cerium–organic supramolecular structure

The Ce^III ion in the title complex, [Ce(NO₃)₃(C₁₃H₁₂N₄O)₂], is 12‐coordinated by six chelating nitrate O atoms and six donors (2 O and 4 N atoms) of two N′‐[1‐(2‐pyridyl)ethylidene]isonicotinohydrazide ligands, exhibiting a bicapped pentagonal‐antiprism‐type coordination geometry. The title complex possesses C₂ point symmetry and is located on a twofold crystallographic axis. Each molecule is linked with four surrounding molecules by four N—H...N hydrogen bonds, resulting in an extended two‐dimensional layer parallel to the ab plane, while π–π interactions between pyridine rings from neighboring complex molecules connect the two‐dimensional layers into a three‐dimensional cerium–organic supramolecular structure.     

Rapid analysis of tetracaine for a tape stripping pharmacokinetic study using short‐end capillary electrophoresis

A rapid and simple short‐end (reverse) capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed and validated for the separation and quantification of tetracaine in skin using tape samples. The separation was performed in a 485 mm (400 mm to window) × 50 µm internal diameter fused silica capillary using a background electrolyte of phosphoric acid–Tris pH2.5 at –25 kV. The extraction of tetracaine from tape samples was achieved using methanol diluted to 50% with water before injection. Procaine was the internal standard. The migration times for procaine and tetracaine were 1.25 and 1.36 min, respectively. The limit of quantification for tetracaine was 50 µg, with a signal‐to‐noise ratio greater than 10. The calibration curve was linear from 50 to 1200 µg with r² greater than 0.99. The CV for both within‐ and between‐assay imprecision and the percentage inaccuracy for the quality control samples including lower and upper limits of quantitation were <12.1% and <11%, respectively. The absolute mean recovery of tetracaine was >97%. The accuracy and selectivity of this method allowed the rapid measurement of tetracaine in tape samples obtained from a skin tape stripping study of local anaesthetics in healthy subjects. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new polymorph of 2‐methyl‐6‐nitroaniline

A new crystal form of 2‐methyl‐6‐nitroaniline, C₇H₈N₂O₂, crystallizing with Z′ = 2 in the space group P2₁/c, has been identified during screening for salts and cocrystals. The different N—H...O hydrogen‐bonding synthons result in linear V‐shaped chains in the new polymorph, rather than the helical chain arrangement seen in the known form where Z′ = 1. The presence of a second component during crystallization appears to have determined the resultant crystal form of 2‐methyl‐6‐nitroaniline.     

Analysis of six active components in Radix tinosporae by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry has advantages for the analysis of active components in herbs. Here, a rapid nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry method was developed to separate, identify, and quantify palmatin, columbin, cepharanthine, menisperine, magnoflorine, and 20‐hydroxyecdysone in Radix tinosporae . Electrospray ionization MS^1‐3 spectra of the six components were collected and possible cleavage pathways of main fragment ions were elucidated. The conditions that could affect separation, such as the composition of running buffer and applied voltage, were studied, and the conditions that could affect the mass spectrometry detection, such as the composition and flow rate of sheath liquid, the pressure of nitrogen gas, and the temperature and flow rate of the dry gas, were also optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the correlation coefficient was >0.99. The relative standard deviations of migration time and peak areas were <10%. The recoveries were calculated to be 99.31–107.80% in real samples. It has been demonstrated that the proposed method has good potential to be applied to determine the six bioactive components in Radix tinosporae .     

Open tubular capillary column of 50 μm internal diameter with a very high separation efficiency for the separation of peptides in CEC and LC

A specially designed long open tubular capillary column (50 μm internal diameter and 112 cm effective length) was prepared by fabrication of a thin three‐component co‐polymer layer on the inner surface of silica capillary. A pretreated silica capillary was reacted with 4‐(chloromethyl)phenyl isocyanate in the presence of dibutyltin dichloride as catalyst followed by sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate. Then a thin polymer layer was made on the inner surface of capillary by reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer polymerization of styrene, N‐phenylacrylamide, and methacrylic acid. A carefully adjusted formulation of reaction mixture and elaborated procedures were adopted to secure formation of the co‐polymer layer of enhanced separation performance. The co‐polymer immobilized open tubular capillary column was used for the separation of a synthetic mixture of five peptides and excellent separation efficiency (over 1.7 million per column) was obtained in the capillary electrochromatography mode. Such excellent separation efficiencies of ca. 1 m column have not been obtained in the isocratic elution mode so far. The column was also used for separation of the peptides in the liquid chromatography mode to show very good separation efficiency (average 286 700 per column).     

Two polymorphs,with Z′ = 1 and 2, of 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐morpholino­pyrimidine in P21/c,and 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐piperidino­pyrimidine,which is isomorphous and almost isostructural with the Z′ = 2 polymorph

Crystallization of 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐morpholino­pyrimidine, C₈H₁₁ClN₄O, (I), yields two polymorphs, both with space group P2₁/c, having Z′ = 1 (from diethyl ether solution) and Z′ = 2 (from di­chloro­methane solution), denoted (Ia) and (Ib), respectively. In polymorph (Ia), the mol­ecules are linked by an N—H⋯O and an N—H⋯N hydrogen bond into sheets built from alternating R(8) and R(40) rings. In polymorph (Ib), one mol­ecule acts as a triple acceptor of hydrogen bonds and the other acts as a single acceptor; one N—H⋯O and three N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules in a complex chain containing two types of R(8) and one type of R(18) ring. 2‐Amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐piperidino­pyrimidine, C₉H₁₃ClN₄, (II), which is isomorphous with polymorph (Ib), also has Z′ = 2 in P2₁/c, and the mol­ecules are linked by three N—­H⋯N hydrogen bonds into a centrosymmetric four‐mol­ecule aggregate containing three R(8) rings.     

二（胍基）锆配合物的合成和表征

Addition of one equivalent of LiN（i-Pr）2 or LiN（CH2）5 to carbodiimides, RN=C=NR [R=cyclohexyl （Cy）, isopropyl （i-Pr）], generated the corresponding lithium of tetrasubstituted guanidinates {Li[RNC（N R^′2）NR]（THF）}2 [R=i-Pr, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （1）, N（CH2）5 （2）; R=Cy, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （3）, N（CH2）5 （4）]. Treatment of ZrCl4 with freshly prepared solutions of their lithium guanidinates provided a series of bis（guanidinate） complexes of Zr with the general formula Zr[RNC（N R^′2）NR]2Cl2 [R=i-Pr, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （5）, N（CH2）5 （6）; R=Cy, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （7）, N（CH2）5 （8）]. Complexes 1, 2, 5-8 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ^1H NMR spectra. The molecular structures of complexes 1, 7 and 8 were further determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Regioselective Dialkylations of N‐(tert‐Butyl)iminocyclopentane via Deprotonating One‐Pot Procedures

The title compound ( 1 ) was chosen as a model for the α/α′‐regioselectivity of deprotonation and subsequent alkylation adjacent to the C=N bond. With the bulky base lithium N,N‐diisopropylamide (LDA) as a catalyst, the one‐pot deprotonation steps can be performed through titration with methyllithium, using gas‐volumetric observation of the liberated methane. In the first step with ensuing methylation by iodomethane, the primary product is born at −40 °C in its metastable (Z) configuration (kinetic control) and may be either isolated or converted in situ at 30 °C into its thermodynamically favored (E)‐isomer via cis to trans stereoinversion at the N‐atom. Being slow enough on the laboratory time scale, this stereoinversion process can serve to control the regioselectivity of the second deprotonation/alkylation sequence as follows. The α,α′‐products are formed from the intermediate (Z)‐imine, whereas α,α‐products result from the intermediate (E)‐imine; in either case, syn deprotonation (cis to ^tBu at nitrogen) by LDA is apparently disfavored by the ^tBu group, so that anti deprotonation becomes obligatory. If a third one‐pot deprotonation step is too slow with LDA, it may be performed with the stronger base butyllithium/HMPA which, however, reacts regio‐unselectively. Regioselective one‐pot, LDA‐catalyzed deprotonation with alkylation by oxiranes (alone, or alternatingly with iodomethane) opens a short access to spiro‐[2.4]heptan‐4‐ones.     

Matrix solid‐phase dispersion with chitosan‐zinc oxide nanoparticles combined with flotation‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of 13 n‐alkanes in soil samples

In this study, chitosan‐zinc oxide nanoparticles were used as a sorbent of miniaturized matrix solid‐phase dispersion combined with flotation‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the simultaneous determination of 13 n‐alkanes such as C₈H₁₈ and C₂₀H₄₂ in soil samples. The solid samples were directly blended with the chitosan nanoparticles in the solid‐phase dispersion method. The eluent of solid‐phase dispersion was applied as the dispersive solvent for the following flotation‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for further purification and enrichment of the target compounds prior to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Under the optimum conditions, good linearity with correlation coefficients in the range 0.9991 < r² < 0.9995 and low detection limits between 0.08 to 2.5 ng/g were achieved. The presented procedure combined the advantages of chitosan‐zinc oxide nanoparticles, solid‐phase dispersion and flotation‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, and could be applied for the determination of n‐alkanes in complicated soil samples with acceptable recoveries.     

Synthesis of silicon nitride based ceramic nanoparticles by the pyrolysis of silazane block copolymer micelles

Diblock copolymer poly(1,1,3,N,N′‐pentamethyl‐3‐vinylcyclodisilazane)‐block‐polystyrene (polyVSA‐b‐polySt) and triblock copolymer poly(1,1,3,N,N′‐pentamethyl‐3‐vinylcyclodisilazane)‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐poly(1,1,3,N,N′‐pentamethyl‐3‐vinylcyclodisilazane) (polyVSA‐b‐polySt‐b‐polyVSA), consisting of silazane and nonsilazane segments, were prepared by the living anionic polymerization of 1,1,3,N,N′‐pentamethyl‐3‐vinylcyclodisilazane and styrene. PolyVSA‐b‐polySt formed micelles having a poly(1,1,3,N,N′‐pentamethyl‐3‐vinylcyclodisilazane) (polyVSA) core in N,N‐dimethylformamide, whereas polyVSA‐b‐polySt and polyVSA‐b‐polySt‐b‐polyVSA formed micelles having a polyVSA shell in n‐heptane. The micelles with a polyVSA core were core‐crosslinked by UV irradiation in the presence of diethoxyacetophenone as a photosensitizer, and the micelles with a polyVSA shell were shell‐crosslinked by UV irradiation in the presence of diethoxyacetophenone and 1,6‐hexanedithiol. These crosslinked micelles were pyrolyzed at 600 °C in N₂ to give spherical ceramic particles. The pyrolysis process was examined by thermogravimetry and thermogravimetry/mass spectrometry. The morphologies of the particles were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The chemical composition of the pyrolysis products was analyzed by X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4696–4707, 2006     

A novel two‐dimensional metal–organic supramolecular framework including π–π stacking and hydrogen‐bond interactions

[μ‐N,N′‐Bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide‐<!?show [forcelb]><!?tlsb=0.12pt>1:2κ²N:N′]bis{[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide‐κN]diiodidomercury(II)}, [Hg₂I₄(C₁₈H₁₄N₄O₂)₃], is an S‐shaped dinuclear molecule, composed of two HgI₂ units and three N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide (L) ligands. The central L ligand is centrosymmetric and coordinated to two Hg^II cations via two pyridine N atoms, in a syn–syn conformation. The two terminal L ligands are monodentate, with one uncoordinated pyridine N atom, and each adopts a syn–anti conformation. The HgI₂ units show highly distorted tetrahedral (sawhorse) geometry, as the Hg^II centres lie only 0.34 (2) or 0.32 (2) Å from the planes defined by the I and pyridine N atoms. Supramolecular interactions, thermal stability and solid‐state luminescence properties were also measured.     

Hydrogen‐bonding network of N,N′‐bis[2‐(tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy)ethyl]ethylenediammonium dichloride

The title salt, C₁₈H₄₆N₂O₂Si₂²⁺·2Cl⁻, has been synthesized by reaction of N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine with tert‐butyldimethylsilyl chloride. The zigzag backbone dication is located across an inversion centre and the two chloride anions are related by inversion symmetry. The ionic components form a supramolecular two‐dimensional network via N—H...Cl hydrogen bonding, which is responsible for the high melting point compared with the oily compound N,N′‐bis[2‐(tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy)ethyl]ethylenediamine.     

Separation and purification of intermediates for the preparation of naproxen from synthetic mixtures by countercurrent chromatography

Three key intermediates in the preparation of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug naproxen were successfully separated and purified with high purity from synthetic mixtures by countercurrent chromatography with a selected biphasic solvent system. The biphasic solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (9:1:9:1, v/v/v/v) was selected according to partition performance of the three components using thin‐layer chromatography. Fifty milligrams of the synthetic mixture after the three‐step reaction was injected into a preparative countercurrent chromatography separation column and yielded 3.5, 14.0, and 8.0 mg of three key intermediates with 95.0, 99.0, and 98.0% purity, and the recovery of each component was 65.2, 71.2, and 69.6%, respectively. The results indicated that countercurrent chromatography is an efficient alternative and economical method for the separation and purification of intermediate components from synthetic mixtures.