C18‐bound porous silica monolith particles as a low‐cost high‐performance liquid chromatography stationary phase with an excellent chromatographic performance

Ground porous silica monolith particles with an average particle size of 2.34 μm and large pores (363 Å) exhibiting excellent chromatographic performance have been synthesized on a relatively large scale by a sophisticated sol–gel procedure. The particle size distribution was rather broad, and the d(0.1)/d(0.9) ratio was 0.14. The resultant silica monolith particles were chemically modified with chlorodimethyloctadecylsilane and end‐capped with a mixture of hexamethyldisilazane and chlorotrimethylsilane. Very good separation efficiency (185 000/m) and chromatographic resolution were achieved when the C₁₈‐bound phase was evaluated for a test mixture of five benzene derivatives after packing in a stainless‐steel column (1.0 mm × 150 mm). The optimized elution conditions were found to be 70:30 v/v acetonitrile/water with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid at a flow rate of 25 μL/min. The column was also evaluated for fast analysis at a flow rate of 100 μL/min, and all the five analytes were eluted within 3.5 min with reasonable efficiency (ca. 60 000/m) and resolution. The strategy of using particles with reduced particle size and large pores (363 Å) combined with C₁₈ modification in addition to partial‐monolithic architecture has resulted in a useful stationary phase (C₁₈‐bound silica monolith particles) of low production cost showing excellent chromatographic performance.     

Gewellt und eben – La6(C2)‐Oktaederschichten in Lanthancarbidchloriden

Sheets of La₆(C₂) Octahedra in Lanthanum Carbide Chlorides – undulated and plane The reaction of Ln, LnCl₃ (Ln = La, Ce) and C yields the hitherto unknown compounds La₈(C₂)₄Cl₅, Ce₈(C₂)₄Cl₅, La₁₄(C₂)₇Cl₉, La₂₀(C₂)₁₀Cl₁₃, La₂₂(C₂)₁₁Cl₁₄, La₃₆(C₂)₁₈Cl₂₃ and La₂(C₂)Cl. The gold‐ resp. bronze‐coloured metallic compounds are sensitive to moisture. The reaction temperatures are 1030 °C, 1000 °C, 970 °C, 1020 °C, 1020 °C, 1080 °C and 1030 °C in the order of compounds given, which mostly crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 7.756(1) Å, b = 16.951(1) Å, c = 6.878(1) Å, β = 104.20(1)° (La₈(C₂)₄Cl₅), a = 7.669(2) Å, b = 16.784(3) Å, c = 6.798(1) Å, β = 104.05(1)° (Ce₈(C₂)₄Cl₅), a = 7.669(2) Å, b = 16.784(3) Å, c = 6.789(1) Å, β = 104.05(3)° (La₂₀(C₂)₁₀Cl₁₃), a = 7.770(2) Å, b = 47.038(9) Å, c = 6.901(1) Å, β = 104.28(3)° (La₂₂(C₂)₁₁Cl₁₄) and a = 7.764(2) Å, b = 77.055(15) Å, c = 6.897(1) Å, β = 104.26(3)° (La₃₆(C₂)₁₈Cl₂₃), respectively. La₁₄(C₂)₇Cl₉‐(II) crystallizes in Pc with a = 7.775(2) Å, b = 29.963(6) Å, c = 6.895(1) Å, β = 104.21(3)° and La₂(C₂)Cl in C2/c with a = 14.770(2) Å, b = 4.187(1) Å, c = 6.802(1) Å, β = 101.50(3)°. The crystal structures are composed of distorted C₂ centered La‐octahedra which are condensed into chains via common edges. Three and four such chains join into ribbons, and these are connected into undulated layers with Cl atoms between them. The variations of the structure principle are analyzed systematically.     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography: A promising alternative to reversed‐phase liquid chromatography systems for the purification of small protonated bases

The overloaded band profiles of the protonated species of propranolol and amitriptyline were recorded under acidic conditions on four classes of stationary phases including a conventional silica/organic hybrid material in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography mode (BEH‐C₁₈), an electrostatic repulsion reversed‐phase liquid chromatography C₁₈ column (BEH‐C₁₈+), a poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) monolithic column, and a hydrophilic interaction chromatography stationary phase (underivatized BEH). The same amounts of protonated bases per unit volume of stationary phase were injected in each column (16, 47, and 141 μg/cm³). The performance of the propranolol/amitriptyline purification was assessed on the basis of the asymmetry of the recorded band profiles and on the selectivity factor achieved. The results show that the separation performed under reversed‐phase liquid chromatography like conditions (with BEH‐C₁₈, BEH‐C₁₈+, and polymer monolith materials) provide the largest selectivity factors due to the difference in the hydrophobic character of the two compounds. However, they also provide the most distorted overloaded band profiles due to a too small loading capacity. Remarkably, symmetric band profiles were observed with the hydrophilic interaction chromatography column. The larger loading capacity of the hydrophilic interaction chromatography column is due to the accumulation of the protonated bases into the diffuse water layer formed at the surface of the polar adsorbent. This work encourages purifying ionizable compounds on hydrophilic interaction chromatography columns rather than on reversed‐phase liquid chromatography columns.     

Separation of cannabinoids on three different mixed‐mode columns containing carbon/nanodiamond/amine‐polymer superficially porous particles

Three mixed‐mode high‐performance liquid chromatography columns packed with superficially porous carbon/nanodiamond/amine‐polymer particles were used to separate mixtures of cannabinoids. Columns evaluated included: (i) reversed phase (C₁₈), weak anion exchange, 4.6 × 33 mm, 3.6 μm, and 4.6 × 100 mm, 3.6 μm, (ii) reversed phase, strong anion exchange (quaternary amine), 4.6×33 mm, 3.6 μm, and (iii) hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, 4.6 × 150 mm, 3.6 μm. Different selectivities were achieved under various mobile phase and stationary phase conditions. Efficiencies and peak capacities were as high as 54 000 N/m and 56, respectively. The reversed phase mixed‐mode column (C₁₈) retained tetrahydrocannabinolic acid strongly under acidic conditions and weakly under basic conditions. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid was retained strongly on the reversed phase, strong anion exchange mixed‐mode column under basic polar organic mobile phase conditions. The hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column retained polar cannabinoids better than the (more) neutral ones under basic conditions. A longer reversed phase (C₁₈) mixed‐mode column (4.6 × 100 mm) showed better resolution for analytes (and a contaminant) than a shorter column. Fast separations were achieved in less than 5 min and sometimes 2 min. A real world sample (bubble hash extract) was also analyzed by gradient elution.     

4‐Iodo­anilinium 3‐nitro­phthalate(1–): tripartite sheets built from O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds

In the title compound, 4‐iodoanilinium 2‐carboxy‐6‐nitrobenzoate, C₆H₇IN⁺·C₈H₄NO₆⁻, the anions are linked by an O—H...O hydrogen bond [H...O = 1.78 Å, O...O = 2.614 (3) Å and O—H...O = 171°] into C(7) chains, and these chains are linked by two two‐centre N—H...O hydrogen bonds [H...O = 1.86 and 1.92 Å, N...O = 2.700 (3) and 2.786 (3) Å, and N—H...O = 153 and 158°] and one three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond [H...O = 2.02 and 2.41 Å, N...O = 2.896 (3) and 2.789 (3) Å, N—H...O = 162 and 105°, and O...H...O = 92°], thus forming sheets con­taining R(6), R(8), R(13) and R(18) rings.     

Impact of water/PDMS phase ratio,volume of PDMS,and sampling time on Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) recovery of some pesticides with different KO/W

In Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) organic analytes are enriched from aqueous samples by sorption onto a thick film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated on a glass‐enveloped magnet. Sampled analytes are recovered by thermodesorption (TDS) and analysed on‐line by cGC‐MS. This study evaluates the SBSE recovery as a function of K_O/W, the phase ratio (β), PDMS volume (20, 40, and 110 μL), sample volumes (4, 10, 100, and 1000 mL), and sampling time (0.67, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 24 h) for three pesticides with different K_O/W [parathion methyl (K_O/W: 7.24×10²), β‐endosulfan (K_O/W: 6.8×10³), and buprofezin (K_O/W: 2.0×10⁴)]. Experimental recoveries with SBSE in reasonable sampling times were found to be mainly conditioned by β, which must be as low as possible either by operating on small sample volumes or by using stir bars coated with high PDMS volume when samples of relatively large volume are analysed.     

Melamine–Melem Adduct Phases: Investigating the Thermal Condensation of Melamine

By studying the thermal condensation of melamine, we have identified three solid molecular adducts consisting of melamine C₃N₃(NH₂)₃ and melem C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ in differing molar ratios. We solved the crystal structure of 2 C₃N₃(NH₂)₃?C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ ( 1 ; C2/c; a=21.526(4), b=12.595(3), c=6.8483(14) Å; β=94.80(3)°; Z=4; V=1850.2(7) ų), C₃N₃(NH₂)₃?C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ ( 2 ; Pcca; a=7.3280(2), b=7.4842(2), c=24.9167(8) Å; Z=4; V=1366.54(7) ų), and C₃N₃(NH₂)₃?3 C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ ( 3 ; C2/c; a=14.370(3), b=25.809(5), c=8.1560(16) Å; β=94.62(3)°; Z=4; V=3015.0(10) ų) by using single‐crystal XRD. All syntheses were carried out in sealed glass ampoules starting from melamine. By variation of the reaction conditions in terms of temperature, pressure, and the presence of ammonia‐binding metals (europium) we gained a detailed insight into the occurrence of the three adduct phases during the thermal condensation process of melamine leading to melem. A rational bulk synthesis allowed us to realize adduct phases as well as phase separation into melamine and melem under equilibrium conditions. A solid‐state NMR spectroscopic investigation of adduct 1 was conducted.     

Seltenerdhalogenide Ln4X5Z. Teil 1: C und/oder C2 in Ln4X5Z

Rare Earth Halides Ln₄X₅Z. Part 1: C and/or C₂ in Ln₄X₅Z The compounds Ln₄X₅C_n (Ln = La, Ce, Pr; X = Br, I and 1.0 < n < 2.0) are prepared by the reaction of LnX₃, Ln metal and graphite in sealed Ta‐ampoules at temperatures 850 °C < T < 1050 °C. They crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m. La₄I₅C_1.5: a = 19.849(4) Å, b = 4.1410(8) Å, c = 8.956(2) Å, β = 103.86(3)°, La₄I₅C_2.0: a = 19.907(4) Å, b = 4.1482(8) Å, c = 8.963(2) Å, β = 104.36(3)°, Ce₄Br₅C_1.0: a = 18.306(5) Å, b = 3.9735(6) Å, c = 8.378(2) Å, β=104.91(2)°, Ce₄Br₅C_1.5: a = 18.996(2) Å, b = 3.9310(3) Å, c = 8.282(7) Å, β = 106.74(1)°, Pr₄Br₅C_1.3: a = 18.467(2) Å, b = 3.911(1) Å, c = 8.258(7) Å, β = 105.25(1)° and Pr₄Br₅C_1.5: a = 19.044(2) Å, b = 3.9368(1) Å, c = 8.254(7) Å, β = 106.48(1)°. In the crystal structure the lanthanide metals are connected to Ln₆‐octahedra centered by carbon atoms or C₂‐groups. The Ln₆‐octahedra are condensed via opposite edges to chains and surrounded by X atoms which interconnect the chains. A part n of isolated C‐atoms is substituted by 1‐n C₂‐groups. The C‐C distances range between 1.26 and 1.40Å. In the ionic formulation (Ln³⁺)₄(X^?)₅(C^4?)_n(C₂^m?)_1?n·e^? with 0 < n < 1 and m = 2, 4, 6 (C₂^2?, C₂^4? C₂^6?), there are 1 < e^? < 5 electrons centered in metal‐metal bonds.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Enhancement of the Efficacy of Metronidazole Against Entamoeba histolytica by Complexation with Palladium(II), Platinum(II), or Copper(II)

Reaction of trans‐[PdCl₂(DMSO)₂], cis‐[PtCl₂(DMSO)₂], and [Cu(OAc)₂]⋅H₂O with metronidazole (mnz) leads to the formation of new complexes, i.e., trans‐[PdCl₂(mnz)₂] ( 1 ), trans‐[PtCl₂(mnz)₂] ( 2 ), and trans‐[Cu₂(OAc)₄(mnz)₂] ( 3 ), respectively. Complexes 1 – 3 crystallize all in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2₁/c with Z=8. Unit‐cell parameters for these complexes are: 1 , a=7.1328(14) Å, b=20.699(4) Å, c=7.1455(14) Å, and β=116.17(3)°; 2 , a=6.9169(14) Å, b=21.853(4) Å, c=6.7218(13) Å, and β=110.79(3)°; 3 , a=9.1663(18) Å, b=19.129(4) Å, c=8.9446(18) Å, and β=116.44(3)°. The complexes 1 and 2 maintain an ideal square‐planar geometry. In complex 3 , the H₂O molecules of the starting complex are replaced by metronidazole while maintaining a dimeric structure of [Cu(OAc)₂]. Each Cu ion has an ideal octahedral structure, though distortion occurs in the equatorial position where the acetato ligands are attached. The Cu Cu separation of 2.6343(8) Å indicates considerable metal‐metal interaction. The testing of the antiamoebic activity of these complexes against the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica suggests that compound 1 – 3 might be endowed with important antiamoebic properties since they showed IC₅₀ values in a μM range better than metronidazole (Table 2). Thus, compound 1 displayed more effective amoebicidal activity than metronidazole (IC₅₀ values of 0.103 μM vs. 1.50 μM , resp.).     

(2‐Methyl­quinolin‐8‐olato)­iron(III) and ‐copper(II) complexes

The crystal structures of tris(2‐methyl­quinolin‐8‐olato‐N,O)­iron(III), [Fe­(C₁₀­H₈­NO)₃], (I), and aqua­bis(2‐methyl­quinolin‐8‐olato‐N,O)­copper(II), [Cu­(C₁₀­H₈NO)₂­(H₂O)], (II), have been determined. Compound (I) has a distorted octahedral configuration, in which the central Fe atom is coordinated by three N atoms and three O atoms from three 2‐methylquinolin‐8‐olate ligands. The three Fe—O bond distances are in the range 1.934 (2)–1.947 (2) Å, while the three Fe—N bond distances range from 2.204 (2) to 2.405 (2) Å. In compound (II), the central Cu^II atom and H₂O group lie on the crystallographic twofold axis and the coordination geometry of the Cu^II atom is close to trigonal bipyramidal, with the three O atoms in the basal plane and the two N atoms in apical positions. The Cu—N bond length is 2.018 (5) Å. The Cu—O bond length in the basal positions is 1.991 (4) Å, while the Cu—O bond length in the apical position is 2.273 (6) Å. There is an intermolecular OW—H?O hydrogen bond which links the mol­ecules into a linear chain along the b axis.     

Three monoalkoxy‐substituted nido‐platinaboranes: [(PPh3)2PtB10H11‐8‐(OCH3)], [(PPh3)2PtB10H11‐8‐{OCH(CH3)2}] and [(PPh3)2PtB10H10‐9‐{OCH(CH3)2}]

Each of the title compounds, 8‐methoxy‐7,7‐bis­(tri­phenyl­phosphine‐P)‐8,9:10,11‐di‐μH‐7‐platina‐nido‐undecaborane di­chloro­methane hemisolvate, [Pt(CH₁₄B₁₀O)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·0.5CH₂Cl₂, (I), 8‐isopropoxy‐7,7‐bis­(tri­phenyl­phosphine‐P)‐8,9:10,11‐di‐μH‐7‐platina‐nido‐undecaborane di­chloro­methane solvate, [Pt(C₃H₁₈B₁₀O)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·CH₂Cl₂, (II), and 9‐isopropoxy‐7,7‐bis­(tri­phenyl­phosphine‐P)‐8,9:10,11‐di‐μH‐7‐platina‐nido‐undecaborane di­chloro­methane solvate, [Pt(C₃H₁₈B₁₀O)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·CH₂Cl₂, (III), has an 11‐vertex nido polyhedral skeleton, with the 7‐platinum centre ligating to two exo‐polyhedral PPh₃ groups and an alkoxy‐substituted polyhedral borane ligand. Compounds (II) and (III) are isomers. The Pt—B distances are in the range 2.214 (7)–2.303 (7) Å for (I), 2.178 (16)–2.326 (16) Å for (II) and 2.205 (6)–2.327 (6) Å for (III).     

Relationships between Retention Factors and Analyte Hydrophobicity on Cyanopropyl and n‐Octadecyl Bonded Silicas,Cross‐Linked Polymers and Porous Graphitic Carbon Stationary Phases. Consequences for the Trace Analysis of Highly Polar Organic Compounds

LC retention data have been measured using various stationary phases with an emphasis on highly polar to moderately polar neutral organic compounds having octanol‐water partition coefficients (K_ow) in log units between 0 and 3. The relationships between the retention factor measured in water and the octanol‐water partition coefficient are linear but with different slopes for octadecyl (C₁₈) silicas, and two polystyrene divinylbenzene (PS‐DVB) phases with low and high surface areas. These relationships confirm that highly cross‐linked polymers can provide more than 1000‐times higher retention values than C₁₈ silicas for moderately polar analytes but close values for highly polar ones. They also explain why C₁₈ silicas and polymers are equivalent for the separation of very polar analytes. In contrast, due to a different retention mechanism, no relation exists between the retention shown by porous graphitic carbons (PGC) and analyte hydrophobicity, but highly polar analytes are in general much more strongly retained than by any other sorbent. The potential of PGC for both the extraction and the separation of analytes is shown. Due to the difference in separation mechanism, PGC is the analytical phase that should be used for confirmation of the identity of analytes instead of a cyanopropylsilica column as recommended in some environmental procedures. Applications are presented for the trace‐determination of triazines and polar degradation products in ground and surface water with detection limits below the 0.1 μg/L level.     

Tetrameric triphenylsilanol, (Ph3SiOH)4, and the adduct (Ph3SiOH)2–di­methyl sulfoxide,both at 120 K,and the adduct (Ph3SiOH)4–1,4‐dioxan at 150 K: interplay of O—H⋯O and C—H⋯π(arene) interactions

The structure of tetrameric tri­phenyl­silanol, C₁₈H₁₆OSi, (I), has been re‐investigated at 120 (2) K. The hydroxyl H atoms were readily located and one of the arene rings is disordered over two closely positioned sets of sites. The mol­ecules are linked into cyclic tetramers, having approximate (S₄) symmetry, via O—H?O hydrogen bonds [H?O 1.81–1.85 Å, O?O 2.634 (3)–2.693 (3) Å and O—H?O 156–166°]. At ambient temperature, there are indications of multiple disorder of the phenyl‐ring sites. In bis­(tri­phenyl­silanol) di­methyl sulfoxide solvate, 2C₁₈H₁₆OSi·C₂H₆OS, (II), the di­methyl sulfoxide component is disordered across a twofold rotation axis in C2/c, and the molecular components are linked by a single O—H?O hydrogen bond [H?O 1.85 Å, O?O 2.732 (2) Å and O—H?O 172°] into three‐mol­ecule aggregates, which are themselves linked into a single three‐dimensional framework by two C—H?π(arene) interactions. In tetrakis­(tri­phenyl­silanol) 1,4‐dioxan solvate, 4C₁₈H₁₆OSi·C₄H₈O₂, (III), the 1,4‐dioxan component lies across an inversion centre in space group P and centrosymmetric five‐mol­ecule aggregates are linked by paired C—H?π(arene) interactions to form molecular ladders.     

cis‐Bis­[1,3‐bis(2‐fluoro­phenyl)­triazenido‐κ2N1,N3]­bis­(pyridine‐κN)cadmium(II)

In the title compound, [Cd(C₁₂H₈F₂N₃)₂(C₅H₅N)₂], the Cd atom lies on a crystallographic twofold axis in space group Iba2. The coordination geometry about the Cd^II ion corresponds to a rhombically distorted octahedron, with two deprotonated 1,3‐bis(2‐fluoro­phenyl)­triazenide ions, viz. FC₆H₄NNNC₆H₄F⁻, acting as bidentate ligands (four‐electron donors). Two neutral pyridine (py) mol­ecules complete the coordination sphere in positions cis with respect to one another. The triazenide ligand is not planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.204 Å), the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings of the terminal 2‐fluoro­phenyl substituents being 24.6 (1)°. The triazenide and pyridine Cd—N distances are 2.3757 (18)/2.3800 (19) and 2.3461 (19) Å, respectively. Intermolecular C—H⋯F interactions generate sheets of mol­ecules in the (010) plane.     

Das Lanthaniodidethanid o‐La5I9(C2) – Die orthorhombische Hochtemperaturmodifikation

The Lanthanumiodideethanide o‐La₅I₉(C₂) – The Orthorhombic High Temperature Modification o‐La₅I₉(C₂) is synthesized by reaction of LaI₃, La metal and graphite powder in sealed Ta containers at 850 °C < T < 900 °C. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with a = 8.0247(16) Å, b = 16.887(3) Å, c = 35.886(7) Å. o‐Ce₅I₉(C₂) is isotypic with the lattice parameters a = 7.9284(4) Å, b = 16.714(1) Å, c = 35.530(3) Å. o‐La₅I₉(C₂) transforms at 800 °C to the triclinic low temperature modification t‐La₅I₉(C₂). The transformation is reversible. The La atoms form trigonal bipyramids centered by C₂ groups. These units are connected by iodine atoms above the faces (f), edges (e) and corners according to La₅(C₂)I(f)ⁱI(e)^i?i_2/2I(e)^i?a_7/2I(e)^a?i_7/2. The C‐C distance in the C₂ unit is 1.45(2) Å. The crystals with greenish luster are moisture sensitive.     

Toxicological screening of human plasma by on‐line SPE‐HPLC‐DAD: identification and quantification of acidic and neutral drugs

A multi‐analyte screening method for the quantification of 50 acidic/neutral drugs in human plasma based on on‐line solid‐phase extraction (SPE)–HPLC with photodiode array detection (DAD) was developed, validated and applied for clinical investigation. Acetone and methanol for protein precipitation, three different SPE materials (two electro‐neutral, one strong anion‐exchange, one weak cation‐exchange) for on‐line extraction, five HPLC‐columns [one C₁₈ (GeminiNX), two phenyl‐hexyl (Gemini C₆‐Phenyl, Kinetex Phenyl‐Hexyl) and two pentafluorophenyl (LunaPFP(2), KinetexPFP)] for analytical separation were tested. For sample pre‐treatment, acetone in the ratio 1:2 (plasma:acetone) showed a better baseline and fewer matrix peaks in the chromatogram than methanol. Only the strong anion‐exchanger SPE cartridge (StrataX‐A, pH 6) allowed the extraction of salicylic acid. Analytical separation was carried out on a Gemini C₆‐Phenyl column (150 × 4.6 mm, 3 µm) using gradient elution with acetonitrile–water 90:10 (v/v) and phosphate buffer (pH 2.3). Linear calibration curves with correlation coefficients r ≥ 0.9950/0.9910 were obtained for 46/four analytes. Additionally, this method allows the quantification of 23 analytes for therapeutic drug monitoring. Limits of quantitation ranged from 0.1 (amobarbital) to 23 mg/L (salicylic acid). Inter‐/intra‐day precisions of quality control samples (low/high) were better than 13% and accuracy (bias) ranged from ?14 to 10%. A computer‐assisted database was created for automated detection of 223 analytes of toxicological interests. Four cases of multi‐drug intoxications are presented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetics of four triterpenoids by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry after the oral administration of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (Rupr. et Maxim) Seem extract

A specific, simple, and sensitive ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method utilizing the Triple Quad system has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetic study of four triterpenoid components of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus in rat plasma. The components are 22‐α‐hydroxychiisanogenin, chiisanogenin, (1R,11α)1,4‐epoxy‐11‐hrdroxy‐3,4‐secolupane‐20(30)‐ene‐3,28‐dioic acid, and 22‐α‐hydroxychiisanoside. Sample preparation involved a liquid–liquid extraction of the analytes with ethyl acetate. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using an Agilent SB‐C₁₈ column (1.8 μm, 2.1 mm × 50 mm) with 2.0 min isocratic elution. The compounds were detected with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode and an ESI source in negative mode. The method was linear for all analytes over the investigated range, with all determined correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9906. The limit of quantification of each analyte was lower than 1 ng/mL. The intraday and interday precisions were less than 14.9%, and the accuracy ranged from –10.2 to 11.8%. The mean recoveries of the analytes were higher than 80.0%, and the matrix effects were between 100.4 and 107.1%. These results may contribute to determining the mechanism of action and guiding the clinical application of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.     

Structural effects on the solid‐state photodimerization of 2‐pyridone derivatives in inclusion compounds

The structures of six crystalline inclusion compounds between various host molecules and three guest molecules based on the 2‐pyridone skeleton are described. The six compounds are 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′‐dicarboxylic acid–2‐pyridone (1/2), C₁₄H₁₀O₄·2C₅H₅NO, (I–a), 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′‐dicarboxylic acid–4‐methyl‐2‐pyridone (1/2), C₁₄H₁₀O₄·2C₆H₇NO, (I–c), 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′‐dicarboxylic acid–6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone (1/2), C₁₄H₁₀O₄·2C₆H₇NO, (I–d), 1,1,6,6‐tetraphenyl‐2,4‐hexadiyne‐1,6‐diol–1‐methyl‐2‐pyridone (1/2), C₃₀H₂₂O₂·2C₆H₇NO, (II–b), 1,1,6,6‐tetraphenyl‐2,4‐hexadiyne‐1,6‐diol–4‐methy‐2‐pyridone (1/2), C₃₀H₂₂O₂·2C₆H₇NO, (II–c), and 4,4′,4′′‐(ethane‐1,1,1‐triyl)triphenol–6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone–water (1/3/1), C₂₀H₁₈O₃·3C₆H₇NO·H₂O, (III–d). In two of the compounds, (I–a) and (I–d), the host molecules lie about crystallographic twofold axes. In two other compounds, (II–b) and (II–c), the host molecules lie across inversion centers. In all cases, the guest molecules are hydrogen bonded to the host molecules through O—H...O=C hydrogen bonds [the range of O...O distances is 2.543 (2)–2.843 (2) Å. The pyridone moieties form dimers through N—H...O=C hydrogen bonds in five of the compounds [the range of N...O distances is 2.763 (2)–2.968 (2) Å]. In four compounds, (I–a), (I–c), (I–d) and (II–c), the molecules are arranged in extended zigzag chains formed via host–guest hydrogen bonding. In five of the compounds, the guest molecules are arranged in parallel pairs on top of each other, related by inversion centers. However, none of these compounds underwent photodimerization in the solid state upon irradiation. In one of the crystalline compounds, (III–d), the guest molecules are arranged in stacks with one disordered molecule. The unsuccessful dimerization is attributed to the large interatomic distances between the potentially reactive atoms [the range of distances is 4.027 (4)–4.865 (4) Å] and to the bad overlap, expressed by the lateral shift between the orbitals of these atoms [the range of the shifts from perfect overlap is 1.727 (4)–3.324 (4) Å]. The bad overlap and large distances between potentially photoreactive atoms are attributed to the hydrogen‐bonding schemes, because the interactions involved in hydrogen bonding are stronger than those in π–π interactions.     

Separation of catechins and methylxanthines in tea samples by capillary electrochromatography

In this paper, the simultaneous separation of several polyphenols such as (+)‐catechin, (–)‐epicatechin, (–)‐epigallocatechin, theophylline, caffeine in green and black teas by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was developed. Several experimental parameters such as stationary phase type, mobile phase composition, buffer and pH, inner diameter of the columns, sample injection, were evaluated to obtain the complete separation of the analysed compounds. Baseline resolution of the studied polyphenols was achieved within 30 min by using a capillary column (id 100 μm) packed with bidentate C₁₈ particles for 24.5 cm and a mobile phase composed of 5 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 4 with H₂O/ACN (80:20, v/v). The applied voltage and the temperature were set at 30 kV and 20°C. Precision, detection and quantification limits, linearity, and accuracy were investigated. A good linearity (R² > 0.9992) was achieved over a concentration working range of 2–100 μg/mL for all the analytes. LOD and LOQ were 1 and 2 μg/mL, respectively, for all studied compounds. The CEC method was applied to the analysis of those polyphenols in green and black tea samples after an extraction procedure. Good recovery data from accuracy studies ranged between 90% and 112% for all analytes.     

Channel‐forming solvate crystals and isostructural solvent‐free powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone

Crystals of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone, (I), grown from a variety of solvents, are invariably trigonal (space group R); these are 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone acetone 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₆O, (Ia), and 6‐methyl‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone propan‐2‐ol 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₈O, (Ib), and the forms from methanol, (Ic), water, (Id), benzonitrile, (Ie), and benzyl alcohol, (If). They incorporate channels running the length of the c axis that contain extensively disordered solvent molecules. A solvent‐free sublimed powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone microcrystals is essentially isostructural. Inversion‐related host molecules interact via pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form R₂²(8) dimers. Six of these dimers form large R₁₂⁶(42) puckered rings, in which the O atom of each N—H...O hydrogen bond is also the acceptor in an O—H...O hydrogen bond that involves the 5‐hydroxy group. The large R₁₂⁶(42) rings straddle the axes and form stacked columns viaπ–π interactions between inversion‐related molecules of (I) [mean interplanar spacing = 3.254 Å and ring centroid–centroid distance = 3.688 (2) Å]. The channels are lined by methyl groups, which all point inwards to the centre of the channels.