Synthesis and Hepatic Metabolism of Xanthobilirubinic Acid Regioisomers

Summary.  A set of four regioisomeric dipyrrinone propionic acids has been synthesized and their hepatic metabolism examined in rats: xanthobilirubinic acid and pseudo-xanthobilirubinic acid each with a propionic acid on a pyrrole ring; exo-ψ-xanthobilirubinic acid and endo-ψ-xanthobilirubinic acid, each with a propionic acid transposed to a lactam ring. After intravenous injection all four isomers were excreted to some degree in unchanged form in bile in normal rats. Xanthobilirubinic acid, the structurally closest dipyrrinone to bilirubin, and exo-ψ-xanthobilirubinic acid were excreted almost entirely in unchanged form. However, a small fraction of xanthobilirubinic acid acyl glucuronide was also detected. More extensive acyl glucuronidation was observed for pseudo-xanthobilirubinic acid, and endo-ψ-xanthobilirubinic acid underwent slow metabolism to unidentified more polar products that did not seem to be glucuronides.     

Formation of Peracetic Acid upon Aging of Perborate in Acetic Acid. Kinetics of the Oxidation of S-Phenylmercaptoacetic Acids

Summary.  Upon aging, perborate in glacial acetic acid generates peracetic acid and thus oxidizes S-phenylmercaptoacetic acid rapidly. Perborate dissolved in ethylene glycol, however, does not show the aging effect, and the corresponding oxidation proceeds smoothly. The oxidation is of second order and not acid catalyzed. Boric acid and borate do not influence the oxidation. In the smooth oxidation, is the reactive species. The oxidation of some para-substituted S-phenylmercaptoacetic acids conforms to the Exner relationship, indicating operation of a common mechanism. Also, the oxidation obeys the Hammett equation with a negative reaction constant. However, the oxidation of p-nitro-S-phenylmercaptoacetic acid follows a different kinetic pathway. Received March 15, 2000. Accepted (revised) May 3, 2000     

Si-Containing Amides of Phosphoric Acid

Summary. The first representative of the N-silylmethylamides of phosphoric acid O=P[NMe(CH₂SiMe _n (OEt)_3-n ]₃ have been synthesized by interaction of MeNHCH₂SiMe _n (OEt)_3-n (n = 2, 3) with POCl₃. The interaction of the N,N′,N″-trimethyl-N,N′,N″-tris[(ethoxydimethyl- silyl)methyl]triamide phosphoric acid with BF₃·Et₂O or BCl₃ results in the formation of the N,N′,N″-trimethyl-N,N′,N″-tris[(fluorodimethyl-silyl)methyl]triamide phosphoric acid or N,N′,N″-trimethyl-N,N′,N″-tris[(chlorodimethylsilyl)methyl]triamide phosphoric acid. NMR data show on the tetracoordinate state of silicon in these products. Professor Vadim Aleksandrovich Pestunovich, our chief, teacher and friend died on July 4^th, 2004     

Carnitine and Fatty Acid Oxidation in Sepsis

Summary. Fatty acid oxidation is usually thought of as being a preferred ATP source during sepsis, as shown by the decrease in respiratory quotient in septic patients and animals. However, fatty acid oxidation may be impaired relative to circulating triglyceride levels, resulting in increased cycling between triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids. The rate of fatty acid oxidation is critically dependent on the stage of sepsis. Carnitine may be depleted during sepsis by a combination of muscle wasting, erythrocyte haemolysis, decreased tissue uptake, reduced kidney reabsorption of free carnitine, and increased excretion of acyl-carnitines. Whether there may be any beneficial effects of carnitine supplementation during sepsis, is, as yet, uncertain.     

New Acyclic Dimers of Cholic Acid with Oxamide and Hydrazide Spacers

Summary. Three new acyclic dimers of cholic acid with oxamide and isomeric hydrazide (N,N′-diacylhydrazine) spacers were obtained. The oxamide spacers bind two identical steroidal subunits through position 3 (head-to-head dimer) or position 23 (tail-to-tail dimer). In the case of a third dimer the hydrazine moiety binds two molecules of cholic acid through position 24 (tail-to-tail dimer).     

Competition Between Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding: o-Anisic Acid⋅⋅⋅Formic Acid Heterodimer

Four conformers of the heterodimer o-anisic acid–formic acid, formed in a supersonic expansion, have been probed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Two of these forms have the typical double intermolecular hydrogen-bond cyclic structure. The other two show the o-anisic acid moiety bearing a trans-COOH arrangement supported by an intramolecular O−H⋅⋅⋅O bond to the neighbor methoxy group. In these conformers, formic acid interacts with o-anisic acid mainly through an intermolecular O−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond either to the O−H or to the C=O moieties, reinforced by other weak interactions. Surprisingly, the most abundant conformer in the supersonic expansion is the complex in which the o-anisic acid is in trans arrangement with the formic acid interacting with the O−H group. Such a trans-COOH arrangement in which the intramolecular hydrogen bond dominates over the usually observed double intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction has never been observed previously in an acid–acid dimer.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Sideritis Species

Seed oils of 15Sideritisspecies collected from different regions in Turkey(S. athoa, S. brevidens, S. caesarea, S. condensata, S. congesta, S. dichotoma, S. erythrantha var. cedretorum, S. germanicopolitana ssp. germanicopolitana, S. hololeuca, S. lanata, S. libanotica ssp. violascens, S. lycia, S. niveotomentosa, S. perfoliata, S. phrygia, S. pisidica)were obtained by a Soxhlet apparatus using hexane. The oil yields were found to be between 5.6-36.3%. Fatty acids in the oils were converted to methyl esters and their compositions were determined by GC/MS. The main fatty acid components of the oils from all the species are linoleic (45.4-64.0%), oleic (12.3-26.5%), 6-octadecynoic (4.5-26.8%), palmitic (0.3-9.4%), and linolenic (0.8-2.0%) acids.     

Determination of the Dissociation Constants of Urocanic Acid Isomers in Aqueous Solutions

Summary. (E)- and (Z)-Urocanic acids are endogenous chemicals in the normal mammalian skin. The first and the second thermodynamic dissociation constants (pK _a1 and pK _a2) of urocanic acid isomers were determined using UV spectrophotometry in aqueous solutions. The values with standard deviation (pK _a1 = 3.43 ± 0.12 and pK _a2 = 5.80 ± 0.04) and (pK _a1 = 2.7 ± 0.3 and pK _a2 = 6.65 ± 0.04) were obtained to (E)- and (Z)-urocanic acids, respectively. The second dissociations were studied also by potentiometric titration in aqueous sodium chloride solutions up to the isotonic salt concentration (0.154 mol dm⁻³), and the second thermodynamic dissociation constants as well as activity parameters for both isomers were determined at temperature 25°C and for (E)-urocanic acid also at 37°C. The obtained pK _a2 values were close to those found by UV spectrophotometry. The equations for the calculation of the second stoichiometric dissociation constants of urocanic acid isomers on molality and molarity scale in aqueous sodium chloride solutions were derived. The obtained pK _a1 and pK _a2 values for (Z)-urocanic acid appear to be essentially lower than some previously reported values in literature. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity of Amino Acid Derivatives of the Heteropolytungstophosphoric Acid

Summary. Compounds of phosphotungstic acid (WPA) containing the amino acids alanine (WPA–Ala) or glycine (WPA–Gly) as counter cations were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Cellular toxicity was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method, and the antiviral activity of WPA and the modified WPA compounds was tested against herpes simplex viruses (HSV) type 1 and type 2. Biological assays indicate that the newly synthesized compounds exhibit no evident cytotoxic effects on Vero cells and negligible antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2.     

Kinetic Studies of Picolinic Acid Catalyzed Chromic Acid Oxidation of Cyclohexanone

The chromic acid oxidation of cyclohexanone catalyzed by picolinic acid in water undergoes a change from first-to zero-order dependence in both cyclohexanone and acidity. The mechanism proposed indicates the formation of an intermediate C₁ by picolinic acid and chromic acid. Then C₁ would react with enol form of cyclohexanone to give another intermediate C₂. C₂ finally cleaves into products.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Isomers of the Naturally Occurring 13-Hydroxy-2,4,9-tetradecatrienoic Acid. Part II [1]

Summary. The stereoselective syntheses of four unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids 13S,2E,4E,9E)- 13-hydroxy-2,4,9-tetradecatrienoic acid, (13S,9Z,11E)-13-hydroxy-9,11-tetradecadienoic acid, (13S,9E, 11E)-13-hydroxy-9,11-tetradecadienoic acid, and (13S,2E,4E,9E)-13-hydroxy-2,4,9,11-tetradecatrienoic acid, are described. Wittig reactions, regioselective oxidation of dialcohol 3, and diastereomerization were used.     

Synthesis and Hemolytic Properties of Glycyrrhetic Acid Glycosides

Summary.  The synthesis of monodesmosidic glycyrrhetic acid disaccharides via its diphenylmethyl ester is described. Their hemolytic activity is lower as compared to the corresponding oleanolic aciddisaccharides. The influence of the structure of the aglycon on the hemolytic activity is discussed. Received November 18, 1999. Accepted November 30, 1999     

Asymmetric Synthesis of a Structurally Simplified Analogue of the Antibiotic Heptelidic Acid

Summary.  A structurally simplified analogue of the antibiotic (+)-heptelidic acid was synthesized in ten steps with an overall yield of 9%. Key step was a conjugate addition of a silyl protected vinylcuprate to an asymmetrically shielded enoate, which gave an adduct as a single diastereomer. Transesterification in the presence of triethylamine allowed a selective cleavage of the chiral auxiliary and afforded an enantiomerically pure methyl ester. This easily enolizable β-ketoester was transformed to the trans configurated methylene derivative using a four-step reaction sequence. Finally, the desired epoxylactone was accessible from the methylene derivative by lactone ring formation and successive oxidation in four steps. Received July 13, 2001. Accepted August 16, 2001     

Synthesis and Stereostructure of 3-Amino-5- and -6-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic Acid Diastereomers

Summary. All-endo-3-amino-5-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid and two epimers of 3-amino-6-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid were prepared via 1,3-oxazine or γ-lactone intermediates by the stereoselective functionalization of endo-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives. Their structures were proved by IR and NMR spectroscopy, with the use of HMQC, HMBC, DEPT, and DIFFNOE techniques.     

Absolute Asymmetric Synthesis of an Aspartic Acid Derivative from Prochiral Maleic Acid and Pyridine under Achiral Conditions

The asymmetric synthesis of an aspartic acid derivative, N‐succinopyridine, from prochiral starting materials involving dynamic enantioselective crystallization was accomplished without using any external chiral source. The aza‐Michael addition reaction of prochiral maleic acid and pyridine afforded racemic conglomerate N‐succinopyridine in water. Continuous stirring of the suspension of the reaction mixture with acetic acid promoted gradual deracemization to afford a crystal with an excellent optical purity of 99 % in 71 % yield.     

Preparation of Some Benzyl D-Glucuronatesfrom 4-Methoxybenzylidene Derivatives of D-Glucuronic Acid

Summary.  Because of the low stability of the benzyl ester linkage in benzyl 1,2:3,5-di-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucofuranuronate during the removal of the benzylidene groups by acid hydrolysis and/or hydrogenolysis, 4-methoxybenzylidene groups were used to block the free hydroxyl groups of D-glucuronic acid. Several benzyl esters of D-glucuronic acid were prepared, and their relative rates of acid catalyzed hydrolysis were determined by liquid-chromatographic separation of the reaction mixture and subsequent diode array detection. Received May 22, 2000. Accepted (revised) July 17, 2000     

Stereoselective Partial Synthesis of (+)-Pisiferic Acid

(+)-Pisiferic acid ( 1 ), an antibiotic active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, was synthesized starting from dehydroabietic acid ( 2 ) or abietic acid ( 26 ). The terpene ring system was functionalized and a Barton reaction used to oxidize Me(20). The intermediates of this photochemical reaction were isolated and characterized.     

Studies on the Ion-Exchange Chromatographic Separation of L-Ascorbic Acid and Oxalic Acid

L-Ascorbic acid and oxalic acid could be successfully separated with a column of 8% cross-linked sulfonated polystyrene cation-exchange resin in hydrogen form, and eluted with 0.01% aqueous solution of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or phosphoric acid. Among the mineral acids used, nitric acid showed the best separatory effect. The minimum detectable quantities of the acids were 0.05 μg and 0.5 μg per 0.5 ml sample solution for L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid, respectively. Under this condition, the acids could be detected by using automatic UV-monitor apparatus.     

Inhibition Effect of Hydantoin Compounds on the Corrosion of Iron in Nitric and Sulfuric Acid Solutions

Summary.  The inhibition of corrosion of iron in 2 M nitric acid and 2 M sulfuric acid solutions by substituted phenylhydantoin, thiohydantoin, and dithiohydantoin compounds was measured using thermometric, weight loss, and polarization methods. The three methods gave consistent results. The polarization curves indicated that the hydantoin compounds act as mixed-type inhibitors. The adsorption of the inhibitors were found to obey the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The higher inhibition efficiency of the additives in nitric with respect to sulfuric acid solution may be attributed to the reduced formation of soluble quaternary nitrogen salts in nitric acid medium, favouring adsorption of the parent additive on the metal surface. The obtained results indicate that the corrosion rate of iron in both acids increases with increasing temperature, both in absence and presence of the tested inhibitors. Kinetic-thermodynamic model functions and Temkin isotherm data are compared and discussed. The synergistic effect of halide anions on the inhibition efficiency of the hydantoin compounds was also investigated. Received June 5, 2000. Accepted (revised) September 13, 2000     

Regio-and Stereo-selective Synthesis of Peracetylated Carbohydrate Esters of Aromatic Fatty Acid Using p-Toluenesulfonic Acid as Catalyst

This paper describes an efficient synthesis of carbohydrate fatty acid esters based on a highly stereo‐ and regio‐selective esterification. The suitably protected glycosyl was esterified with stearic acid to give mainly the β‐anomer in good yield using p‐toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst. The structures of these compounds were fully confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, mass spectra and HRMS.