Chromatographic analysis of VOC patterns in exhaled breath from smokers and nonsmokers

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes many diseases. The analysis of exhaled breath for exogenous and endogenous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can provide fundamental information on active smoking and insight into the health damage that smoke is creating. Various exhaled VOCs have been reported as typical of smoking habit and recent tobacco consumption, but to date, no eligible biomarkers have been identified. Aiming to identify such potential biomarkers, in this pilot study we analyzed the chemical patterns of exhaled breath from 26 volunteers divided into groups of nonsmokers and subgroups of smokers sampled at different periods of withdrawal from smoking. Solid‐phase microextraction technique and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methods were applied. Many breath VOCs were identified and quantified in very low concentrations (ppbv range), but only a few (toluene, pyridine, pyrrole, benzene, 2‐butanone, 2‐pentanone and 1‐methyldecyclamine) were found to be statistically significant variables by Mann–Whitney test. In our analysis, we did not consider the predictive power of individual VOCs, as well as the criterion of uniqueness for biomarkers suggests, but we used the patterns of the only statistically significant compounds. Probit prediction model based on statistical relevant VOCs‐patterns showed that assessment of smoking status is heavily time dependent. In a two‐class classifier model, it is possible to predict with high specificity and sensitivity if a subject is a smoker who respected 1 hour of abstinence from smoking (short‐term exposure to tobacco) or a smoker (labelled "blank smoker") after a night out of smoking (long‐term exposure to tobacco). On the other side, in our study "blank smokers" are more like non‐smokers so that the two classes cannot be well distinguished and the corresponding prediction results showed a good sensitivity but low selectivity.     

Evaluation of potential breath biomarkers for active smoking: assessment of smoking habits

Different compounds have been reported as biomarkers of a smoking habit, but, to date, there is no appropriate biomarker for tobacco-related exposure because the proposed chemicals seem to be nonspecific or they are only appropriate for short-term exposure. Moreover, conventional sampling methodologies require an invasive method because blood or urine samples are required. The use of a microtrap system coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis has been found to be very effective for the noninvasive analysis of volatile organic compounds in breath samples. The levels of benzene, 2,5-dimethylfuran, toluene, o-xylene, and m- p-xylene have been analyzed in breath samples obtained from 204 volunteers (100 smokers, 104 nonsmokers; 147 females, 57 males; ages 16 to 53 years). 2,5-Dimethylfuran was always below the limit of detection (0.005 ppbv) in the nonsmoker population and always detected in smokers independently of the smoking habits. Benzene was only an effective biomarker for medium and heavy smokers, and its level was affected by smoking habits. Regarding the levels of xylenes and toluene, they were only different in heavy smokers and after short-term exposure. The results obtained suggest that 2,5-dimethylfuran is a specific breath biomarker of smoking status independently of the smoking habits (e.g., short- and long-term exposure, light and heavy consumption), and so this compound might be useful as a biomarker of smoking exposure.     

4,5‐Bis(furoylsulfanyl)‐1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione

The title compound, C₁₃H₆O₄S₅, possesses crystallographically imposed mirror symmetry, with the atoms of the C=S group lying on the mirror plane. It is an example of the general formula [RCO]₂(dmit), where R is a furan ring and dmit is 2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiol­ate. The components exhibit some polarization of their mol­ecular–electronic structure. The dmit and furan moieties exhibit a high degree of conjugation, as the introduction of C=O connecting the conjugated furan (donor) and dmit (acceptor) rings forms a good conjugated system with high delocalization. A polar three‐dimensional framework is built from a combination of inter­molecular contacts, namely S⋯S inter­actions and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The structural characteristics lead to good second‐order non‐linear optical properties.     

Crystal Structure Investigations on Imines derived from 3‐Ferrocenyl‐prop‐2‐enal Crystallizing in Non‐centrosymmetric Space Groups

The condensation of 3‐ferrocenyl‐prop‐2‐enal with primary amines leads to the formation of the corresponding imines in good yields. The crystal structures of imines derived from p‐dimethylamino‐aniline and furfurylamine are determined by the ability of the functional groups to act as hydrogen bond donor or acceptor sites. Although N, N‐dimethyl‐N′‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐allylidene)‐benzene‐1, 4‐diamine and furan‐2‐ylmethyl‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐allylidene)‐amine are achiral molecules they crystallize in the non‐centrosymmetric space groups P2₁ and Pca2₁, respectively. The molecular architecture of N, N‐dimethyl‐N′‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐allylidene)‐benzene‐1, 4‐diamine is realized by the incorporation of dichloromethane acting as hydrogen bond donor and acceptor with both hydrogen and both chlorine atoms. On the other hand, the molecules of furan‐2‐ylmethyl‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐allylidene)‐amine are linked by hydrogen bonds towards the centroid of one of the cyclopentadienyl ligands and towards the oxygen atom of the furan ring to produce infinite chains.     

Furan‐Based o‐Quinodimethanes by Gold‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Heterocyclization of 2‐(1‐Alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones: A Modular Entry to 2,3‐Furan‐Fused Carbocycles

A strategy for in situ generation of furan‐based ortho‐quinodimethanes (o‐QDMs) by the gold(I)‐mediated dehydrogenative heterocyclization of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones in the presence of pyridine N‐oxide under mild reaction conditions was developed. These in situ furan‐based o‐QDMs were trapped by electron‐deficient olefins and alkynes, thus furnishing various 2,3‐furan‐fused carbocycles in good yields with high diastereo‐ and regioselectivities.     

Synthesis of Two Natural Furan‐Cyclized Diarylheptanoids via 2‐Furaldehyde

Two natural diarylheptanoids, 2‐benzyl‐5‐(2‐phenylethyl)furan ( 1 ) and 2‐methoxy‐4‐{[5‐(2‐phenylethyl)furan‐2‐yl]methyl}phenol ( 2 ), were synthesized starting from 2‐furaldehyde. A Wittig reaction of 2‐furaldehyde with benzyltriphenylphosphonium bromide followed by reduction of the alkene C?C bond with Mg gave 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)furan ( 5 ). Lithiation of 5 with BuLi at ?78° followed by alkylation with benzyl bromide gave natural product 1 . In another approach, Friedel? Crafts acylation of compound 5 with benzoyl chloride followed by deoxygenation of the C?O group afforded 1 . The natural product 2 was also synthesized by acylation of 5 with 4‐acetoxy‐3‐methoxybenzoyl chloride ( 16 ) followed by deoxygenation and deacetylation.     

New Synthetic Approach to Naphtho[1,2‐b]furan and 4′‐Oxo‐Substituted Spiro[cyclopropane‐1,1′(4′H)‐naphthalene] Derivatives

A one‐step synthesis of ethyl 2,3‐dihydronaphtho[1,2‐b]furan‐2‐carboxylate and/or ethyl 4′‐oxospiro[cyclopropane‐1,1′(4′H)‐naphthalene]‐2′‐carboxylate derivatives 2 and 3 , respectively, from substituted naphthalen‐1‐ols and ethyl 2,3‐dibromopropanoate is described (Scheme 1). Compounds 2 were easily aromatized (Scheme 2). In the same way, 3,4‐dibromobutan‐2‐one afforded the corresponding 1‐(2,3‐dihydronaphtho[1,2‐b]furan‐2‐yl)ethanone and/or spiro derivatives 8 and 9 , respectively (Scheme 6). A mechanism for the formation of the dihydronaphtho[1,2‐b]furan ring and of the spiro compounds 3 is proposed (Schemes 3 and 4). The structures of spiro compounds 3a and 3f were established by X‐ray structural analysis. The reactivity of compound 3a was also briefly examined (Scheme 9).     

One‐step preparation of some 2‐isopropenyl‐2,3‐dihydronaphtho‐[2,3‐b]furan‐4,9‐diones

Some 2‐isopropenyl‐2,3‐dihydronaphtho[2,3‐b]furan‐4,9‐diones la‐f,b',f were prepared by one‐step cyclizations of 2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinones 2a‐f with 1,4‐dibromo‐2‐methyl‐2‐butene ( 3 ).     

Novel biobased photo‐crosslinked polymer networks prepared from vegetable oil and 2,5‐furan diacrylate

Novel biobased crosslinked polymer networks were prepared from vegetable oil with 2,5‐furan diacrylate as a difunctional stiffener through UV photopolymerization, and the mechanical properties of the resulting films were evaluated. The vegetable oil raw materials used were acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), acrylated castor oil (ACO), and acrylated 7,10‐dihydroxy‐8(E)‐octadecenoic acid (ADOD). 2,5‐Furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which can be synthesized through the oxidative dehydration of C6 sugars, was identified by the US Department of Energy as one of 12 priority chemicals for establishing the green chemistry industry of the future. 2,5‐Furan dimethanol (bis‐hydroxymethylfuran), which can be derived from FDCA, was used as a starting material to synthesize 2,5‐furan diacrylate, which was used as a biobased comonomer along with AESO, ACO, or ADOD to form photo‐crosslinked polymer networks. The synthesis of acrylate derivatives was confirmed using FT‐IR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. The composition of the reaction mixture was changed to obtain crosslinked polymer networks with various mechanical properties. The addition of 2,5‐furan diacrylate increased the tensile strengths of the polymer films by up to 1.4–4.2 times relative to those obtained without the addition. These fully biobased polymers derived from vegetable oil and sugar can be used as environmentally friendly renewable materials for various applications to replace the existing petroleum‐based polymers currently used. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of New 3‐(Furan‐2‐yl)‐Substituted Dibenzo‐Diazepin‐1‐one Derivatives

A new series of 3‐(furan‐2‐yl) dibenzo‐diazepin‐1‐one derivatives were synthesized by condensation of 5‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐cyclohexanedione, o‐phenylenediamine, and aromatic aldehydes, in which in some of them existed two very close isomer compounds. All the compounds were characterized by IR, MS, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis. Also presented were the crystal structures of 3a , 3b and 3e , which were obtained and determined by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction.     

Application of a solvent‐free solid injection technique coupled with GC–MS for discrimination between the secondary metabolites of wild and cultivated South Korean medicinal foods

Solvent‐free solid injection was applied to differentiate between wild and cultivated South Korean medicinal foods, including dureup (Aralia elata ), deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata ) and doraji (Platycodon grandiflorus ). A number of compounds were identified in wild and cultivated dureup (53 and 46), deodeok (47 and 51) and doraji (43 and 38). Secondary metabolites, including butanal,2‐methyl‐, β ‐caryophyllene, neoclovene, α ‐humulene, γ ‐curcumene, β ‐bisabolene, and phytol, were identified in dureup with significantly (P < 0.05) different amounts between both types. In deodeok, squalene and other main components such as acetic acid, methyl ester, furan‐methyl‐furfural, 2‐furan‐methanol, and 5‐methyl‐furfural, were statistically different between the two types. Doraji has significantly different compounds such as furfural, 5‐methyl‐furfural, 2‐methoxy‐phenol, 2‐methoxy‐4‐(1‐propenyl)‐phenol, and 1‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐propanone. Although we failed to confirm the key compounds, a new compound, namely desaspidinol, was synthesized for the first time and its retention index determined under the experimental conditions. This solventless, easy technique can be used as a simple way to discriminate between wild and cultivated types of medicinal plants via identification of volatile markers or specific fingerprints.     

Überraschende Reaktion von 5‐(Phenylthio)‐ und 5‐(Methylthio)pent‐ 2‐en‐4‐inal mit HCl

Surprising Reaction of 5‐(Phenylthio)‐ and 5‐(Methylthio)pent‐2‐en‐4‐inal with HCl Contrary to expectations (Scheme 1), 5‐(phenylthio)‐( 1a ) as well as 5‐(methylthio)pent‐2‐en‐4‐inal ( 1b ) react with a slight excess of HCl to give 2‐[bis(phenylthio)methyl]furan ( 17a , 77% yield) and 2‐[bis(methylthio)methyl]furan ( 17b , 61% yield), respectively. Structures 17a and 17b are supported by the results of an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis, by spectroscopic data in comparison to those of model compounds, and by synthesis of 17a . This surprising reaction is tentatively explained by a mechanism (Scheme 4), including a special pyran→furan ring‐contraction sequence, which is in agreement with a labelling experiment.     

Reaction of 2‐acyl‐6‐methylbenzo[b]furan‐3‐acetic acids derivatives with hydrazine

Reaction of 2‐acyl‐6‐methylbenzo[b]furan‐3‐acetic acids and their derivatives such as amides and esters with hydrazine does not give expected 1‐alkyl‐5H‐benzofuro[2,3‐e]diazepin‐4‐ones ones but results in 2‐amino‐7‐methyl‐2H‐benzo[4,5]furo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐ones or (3‐R‐6‐methylbenzo[b]furan‐2‐yl)alkyl ketone azines.     

Highly cis‐1,4 Selective Living Polymerization of Unmasked Polar 2‐(2‐Methylidenebut‐3‐enyl)Furan and Diels–Alder Addition

The polymerization of a new polar diene‐based monomer 2‐(2‐methylidenebut‐3‐enyl)furan (MBEF) without masking is achieved by using the bis(phosphino)carbazoleide‐ligated yttrium (Y) alkyl complex upon the activation of [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. Under mild conditions, the polymerizations under the monomer‐to‐Y ratios ranging from 100:1 to 500:1 perform fluently in high yields. The afforded polydienes bearing pendant terminal furan groups have high cis‐1,4‐regularity up to 98.6% and molecular weights close to the theoretic values and narrow polymer dispersity index(PDI) (1.13–1.17) suggesting a livingness polymerization mode. In addition, this novel polydiene is an excellent building block for preparing functional rubber materials. For example, via Diels–Alder addition of furan groups under mild conditions, hydroxyl groups are successfully introduced on the side chains efficiently in a 75% conversion. Furthermore, the copolymerization of polar MBEF and nonpolar isoprene is also successfully realized by the bis(phosphino) carbazoleide‐ligated scandium analog to access furan‐modified cis‐1,4 (>97%) polyisoprene with different MBEF contents (5.3%, 8.7%).     

Formation of 6‐Methyl‐7,11‐diphenylheptaleno[1,2‐c]furanones

The dehydrogenation reaction of a mixture of heptalene‐1,2‐ and heptalene‐4,5‐dimethanols 4a and 4b with basic MnO₂ in AcOEt at room temperature led to the formation of the corresponding heptaleno[1,2‐c]furan‐1‐one 6a and heptaleno[1,2‐c]furan‐3‐one 7a (Scheme 2). Both products can be isolated by chromatography on silica gel. The methylenation of the furan‐3‐one 7a with 1 mol‐equiv. of Tebbe's reagent at ?25 to ?30° afforded the 2‐isopropenyl‐5‐methylheptalene‐1‐methanol 9a , instead of the expected 3,6‐dimethylheptaleno[1,2‐c]furan 8 (Scheme 3). Also, the treatment of 7a with Takai's reagent did not lead to the formation of 8 . On standing in solution at room temperature, or more rapidly on heating at 60°, heptalene 9a undergoes a reversible double‐bond shift (DBS) to 9b with an equilibrium ratio of 1 : 1.     

A new approach for the synthesis of some pyrazolo[5,1‐c]triazines and pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines containing naphtofuran moiety

Naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl)(8‐phenylpyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazin‐3‐yl)methanone, ([1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐c][1,2,4]triazin‐6‐yl)(naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl)methanone, benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazin‐3‐yl‐naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl‐methanone, 5‐(naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine, 7‐(naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidine, 2‐naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐yl‐benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine, pyridine, and pyrazole derivatives are synthesized from sodium salt of 5‐hydroxy‐1‐naphtho[2,1‐b]furan‐2‐ylpropenone and various reagents. The newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis, spectral data, chemical transformation, and alternative synthetic route whenever possible. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).     

Study of Regiochemical Trends During the Synthesis of Furan and 5‐(p‐chlorophenyl)Furan Containing Novel Spiropyrrolidine Library Through 1,3‐dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

A new class of functionalized furan and 5‐(p‐chlorophenyl)furan containing spiropyrrolidines has been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields by the one‐pot, three‐component 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of in situ generated azomethine ylides with various furan/aryl furan‐substituted chalcones as dipolarophiles. The effect of electron deficient substituents at the fifth position of the furan ring in the chalcone on the regiochemistry of the cycloaddition formed was studied. The structures of the newly synthesized cycloaddicts were proved by analytical and spectral data.     

rac‐(Z)‐Ethyl 2‐bromo‐2‐[(3R,5R)‐3‐bromo‐5‐methyl­tetra­hydro­furan‐2‐yl­idene]acetate

In the title compound, C₉H₁₂Br₂O₃, a (tetra­hydro­furan‐2‐yl­idene)acetate, the double bond has the Z form. In the tetra­hydro­furan group, the relative configuration of the Br atom in the 3‐position and the methyl group in the 5‐position is anti. The compound crystallizes with two independent mol­ecules per asymmetric unit and, in the crystal structure, the individual mol­ecules are linked to their symmetry‐equivalent mol­ecules by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, so forming centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers.     

Novel Enantioselective Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of Furan‐2‐yl Amines and Amino Acids

A new enantioselective synthesis of furan‐2‐yl amines and amino acids is described, in which the key step is the oxazaborolidine‐catalyzed enantioselective reduction of O‐benzyl (E)‐ and (Z)‐furan‐2‐yl ketone oximes to the corresponding chiral amines. The chirality of the furan‐2‐yl amines is fully controlled by the appropriate choice of the geometrical isomer of the O‐benzyl oxime. Oxidation of the furan ring furnished amino acids in high yields.     

Light‐Induced Cycloaddition of 2,3‐Dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐4‐one (a 4‐Thiacyclohex‐2‐enone) to Alkenes and Dienes

The reactivity of (thiacyclic)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐4‐one ( 1a ) in light‐induced cycloadditions to furan ( F ), acrylonitrile ( AN ), or 2,3‐dimethylbut‐2‐ene ( TME ) is compared to that of (carbocyclic) 5,5‐dimethylcyclohex‐2‐enone ( 1b ). Whereas for the more‐flexible thiacycle, the efficiency of [2+2]‐photocycloadduct formation with AN or TME is generally much lower, the diastereoselectivity regarding the ring fusion in the bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes is quite similar for both enones. In contrast, 1a affords exclusively trans‐fused [4+2] cycloadducts with F , while 1b gives predominantly the corresponding cis‐fused products.