High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of mitoxantrone in liposome preparations using solid-phase extraction and its application in stability studies

A method for the determination of the entrapped mitoxantrone in liposome preparations was developed. The method consists of a solid-phase extraction procedure followed by HPLC analysis. A C₁₈ cartridge was used for solid-phase extraction and 0.5M methanolic HCl was used for elution. The extraction demonstrated a good separation of the mitoxantrone from the phospholipid. A C₁₈ column and a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-0.01 M monopotassium phosphate (40:60) with the pH adjusted to 3.0 with orthophosphoric acid were employed. The detection wavelength was 242 nm. The HPLC method was stability indicating and was applied to determine the degradation of the entrapped mitoxantrone in liposomes. A pseudo-first-order reaction was found for the degradation of the entrapped mitoxantrone. The half-life of the mitoxantrone decreased with increasing pH of the medium. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is satisfactory for the determination of the stability of mitoxantrone in liposome preparations.     

Monitoring the effluents of the trichloroacetic acid process by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of small amounts of nitric acid and trichloroacetic acid in process effluents was developed. Acidic components of the effluents were separated on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column using 0.15 M ammonium sulphate as mobile phase and determined quantitatively by UV absorption at 210 nm. The detection limits for nitric acid and trichloroacetic acid were 1.4 and 10 μg/l, respectively.     

Molecular weights of polystyrenes in toluene solutions by light scattering. Comparison between classical values and values deduced from a new method

Light scattering measurements in toluene solutions are performed for a series of monodisperse polystyrenes with a molecular weight M_w range from 4×10³ to 8×10⁶. The scattered polarized intensities I_v and the natural depolarization ratios ρ_n are registered with different apparatus at λ=633 or 488 nm and the M_w values are deduced through different formulae. The complete Carr and Zimm formula (CL_a), from I_v and ρ_n, and the usual simplified formula (CL_b), from I_v, are considered for the classical method. An already demonstrated formula is considered for the new method (New). Values of M_w and related parameters do not depend on the experimental systems used but deviations appear when using different formulae. The deviations are generally low (about 10%) but often systematic: M_w(CL_a)<M_w(CL_b)<M_w(New). The most important difference concerns the effect of destructive interferences for M_w>5×10⁵: the new formula leads to a lower increase from θ=90° to θ→0 for M_w values (θ is the observation angle). For instance, in the 8×10⁶ sample, M_w(θ→0)/M_w(θ=90°)=3.6 instead of 6.1, which implies a revision of the usual determination of the radius of gyration, R_g.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of a linear alkylbenzenesulfonate and its environmental biodegradation metabolites

A simple and fast method is described for determining a linear alkylbezenesulfonat e (LAS) and its potential sulfonated and unsulfonated metabolites in natural waters. This method includes extraction of 60 ml of water with an octadecyl-bonded silica (C₁₈) mini-column and analysis of the extract by high-performance liquid chromatography. A reversed-phase column with a 0.008 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 2.2)-acetonitrile gradient as the mobile phase provides the separation. A UV detector, set at 215 nm, is employed.     

Description of the pVT behavior of ionic liquids and the solubility of gases in ionic liquids using an equation of state

A molecular thermodynamic model developed previously for fluids of chain-like molecules has been extended to correlate the pVT behavior of ionic liquids and the solubilities of gases such as CO₂, C₃H₆, C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀ in various ionic liquids. The relative deviation between the calculated molar volume and experimental data is less than 0.2%. It is shown that this equation of state can be used to correlate the solubility of CO₂ in ionic liquids with only one temperature-independent adjustable interaction parameter, and the accuracy of the correlation can be further improved using two temperature-independent adjustable parameters. The water content of ionic liquids has a large influence on the calculated results. For systems with water content lower than 0.1%, the average relative deviations of bubble point pressure are 3.14 and 4.90% using two parameters and one parameter, respectively. For systems containing C₃H₆, C₃H₈ and C₄H₁₀ two temperature dependent adjustable parameters are needed to obtain a good fit, and the corresponding deviation of the gas solubility is less than 2%, except for C₃H₈.     

Studies in macrolide synthesis: A highly stereoselective synthesis of (+)-(9S)-dihydroerythronolide a using macrocyclic stereocontrol

(+)-(9S)-Dihydroerythronolide A, 1, is prepared in 8 steps from macrolide 3 by exploiting the conformational preferences of the (5E,11E)-diene intermediate 2. The stereocontrolled introduction of the hydroxyl groups at C₆, C₁₁, and C₁₂ is achieved by osmylation, 2 → 13 and 15 → 1, while that at C₅ is obtained by a Zn(BH₄)₂ reduction, 13 → 14.     

Comparative methodology in the determination of alpha-oxocarboxylates in aqueous solution ion chromatography versus gas chromatography after oximation, extraction and esterification

A direct, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of ketoprofen with ibuprofen as internal standard. Samples were chromatographed on a 5 μm Kromasil 100 C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile–0.01 M KH₂PO₄ adjusted to pH 1.5 with orthophosphoric acid 85% (60:40, v/v). Detection was at 260 nm and the run time was 10 min. The detector response was found to be linear in the concentration range 0.02 to 40 μg/ml. This HPLC assay has been applied to measure the “in vitro” percutaneous penetration of ketoprofen through rat skin.     

2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶的紫外吸收光谱和共振拉曼光谱

硫代嘧啶碱基是光动力疗法潜在的重要光敏剂,其最低单重激发态的光物理研究已有广泛报道。然而,其较高激发态的跃迁性质和反应动力学研究较为稀少。因此,本文采用共振拉曼光谱和密度泛函理论计算方法研究2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶的紫外光谱和几个较高单重激发态的短时结构动力学。首先,基于共振拉曼光谱强度与电子吸收带振子强度f的关系,将紫外光谱去卷积成四个吸收带,分别为358 nm(f=0.0336)中等强度吸收带(A带),338 nm(f=0.1491)、301 nm(f=0.1795)和278 nm(f=0.3532)强而宽的吸收带(B、C和D带)。这一结果既吻合密度泛函理论计算结果,又符合共振拉曼光谱强度模式对紫外光谱带的预期。据此,去卷积得到的四个吸收带被分别指认为S0→S2跃迁、S0→S6跃迁、S0→S7跃迁和S_0→S_8跃迁。同时,分别对B,C和D带共振拉曼光谱进行了详细的指认,获得了短时动力学信息。结果表明,S_8态短时动力学的显著特征是在Franck-Condon区域或附近发生了S8(ππ~*)/S(nπ~*)势能面交叉引发的、伴随超快结构扭转的非绝热过程。S7和S6态短时动力学的主要特征是反应坐标的多维性,它们分别沿C_5C_6/C_2S_8/C_4S_(10)/N_2C_3+C_4N_3H_9/N_1C_2N_3/C_2N_1C_6/C_6N_1H_7/C_5C_6H_(12)和C_5C_6/N_3C_2/C_4S_(10)/C_2S_8+C_6N_1H_7/C_5C_6H_(12)/C_5C_6N_1/C_5C_6H_(12)/C_2N_1C_6/N_1C_2N_3/C_4N_3H_9/N_1C_2N_3等内坐标演化。     

Exchange interaction energy between two one-active electron atoms at large distances

Developed formulas for the exchange interaction energy between two neutral one-active electron atoms interacting at large distances R are presented in terms of known basic integrals obtained from an asymptotic method for the alkali dimers M₂ dissociating to M(ns) + M(ns), M(n′l) + M(n′l), l = 0, …, 3 and M (np) + M(np). Detailed illustrative numerical results are displayed for the molecular states of Na₂ dissociating to the limit Na(3s) + Na(3p). Comparisons with very accurate ab initio results as well as with some available experimental data show that accurate potential energy curves for these excited states may be obtained in a very large range of internuclear distances by connecting ab initio curves for small and intermediate values of R with long-range curves obtained as the sum of usual multipolar Coulombic energy and asymptotic exchange energy.     

Influence of molecular weight on the thermal decomposition of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene

Thermogravimetric analysis of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and its fractions of different molecular weights separated by preparative GPC shows two major stages of weight loss of different nature in a nitrogen atmosphere. The first stage is primarily depolymerisation, cyclisation and crosslinking of molecules and the second stage is mainly the decomposition of the residue from the first stage. The kinetic parameters, viz. activation energy E and pre-exponential factor A using four different non-isothermal integral equations show a systematic increase with increase in molecular weight for the first stage, whereas for the second stage, the effect of molecular weight on E and A values is not prominent. The increase in E and A values for the first stage is attributed to the formation of greater number of cyclised and crosslinked products from molecules of higher dimensions. Quantitative correlations between the kinetic constants and the molecular weight parameters were derived for the first stage as a quadratic curve following the equation: E or ln A = K₁ − K₂/M (where K₁ and K₂ are empirical constants whose values are different for the different molecular weight averages, viz. M_n, M_w and M_z and for the different equations).     

Stereochemical patterns in bromofullerenes C60Br2 to C60Br12

The stabilities of different isomers of C₆₀Br_n have been calculated for n = 2 to 12. A general stereochemical pattern which emerges is the tendency to form strings created by the edge sharing of C₆Br₂ hexagonal faces. Stable structures are formed if these strings form loops, thereby eliminating string ends, which may involve the creation of C₆Br₃ hexagonal faces. A particularly stable structure is formed at C₆₀Br₆ in which the loop forms a C₁₀Br₆ fragment with a pentagonal pyramidal arrangement of six bromine atoms. Two isomers of C₆₀Br₁₂ are also particularly stable. One isomer contains two of these Br₆ pentagonal pyramids on opposite sides of the molecule, and the other isomer contains a single large loop wrapped around the middle of the molecule.     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of tetracyclopentadienylniobium(IV), a precursor to organometallic derivatives of niobium(IV)

In toluene as medium, tetra(cyclopentadienyl)niobium(IV), NbCp₄, has been prepared in satisfactory yields from the reaction of NaCp with: (a) Nb₂C1₁₀, (b) NbCl₄(THF)₂, or (c) NbCp₂Cl₂. Tetracyclopentadienylniobium(IV) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: C₂₀H₂₀Nb, M=353.29 g mol⁻¹, hexagonal, space group P6₅ (no. 170), a=b=9.396(2), c=31.23(3) Å, V=2388(2) ų, Z=6, d_calc=1.48 g cm⁻³, λ(Cu–K)=1.54184 Å, T=291 K, μ=62.04 cm⁻¹, F(000)=1686. Two of the four cyclopentadienyl ligands are bonded to niobium in a pentahapto fashion, the other two being monohapto. NbCp₄ undergoes cyclopentadiene elimination in the presence of species containing active protons such as Ph₃SiOH or strong acids, the products being tris- or biscyclopentadienyl compounds depending on the molar ratio of the reagents.     

Determination of eight water- and fat-soluble vitamins in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present work, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of water-soluble vitamins (thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, nicotinamide, riboflavin phosphoric ester and cyanocobalamine) and fat-soluble vitamins (retinol palmitate, cholecalciferol, -tocopherol acetate) in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations. The sample treatment proposed consists of a solid-phase extraction with C₁₈ AR cartridges that allow the separation of fat-soluble vitamins, which were retained on the sorbent, from water-soluble vitamins. Afterwards, the water-soluble vitamins were analysed by HPLC on a Nova-Pack C₁₈ (150×3.9 mm, 4 μm) analytical column, using CH₃OH–0.05 M CH₃COONH₄ as mobile phase The chromatographic analysis of the fat-soluble vitamins was carried out after their sequential elution with methanol and chloroform from C₁₈ sorbent, on the above column. The mobile phase employed was MeOH–CH₃CN (95:5, v/v) working at a flow-rate of 2 ml min⁻¹ in isocratic mode. The solid-phase extraction for these vitamins had been previously optimised. The experimental variables studied were: application volume, elution solvents and cleaning solutions. The UV–Vis detection of vitamins was made at 270 nm for all the water-soluble vitamins (362 nm for B₁₂) and 285 nm for the water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins present in real samples at different concentration levels. The accuracy of the method was tested obtaining an average recovery ranging between 78 and 116%.     

单个金或银原子掺杂的氧化钒团簇上的甲烷活化反应

运用密度泛函理论系统研究了甲烷在MV_3O_y~q (M=Au/Ag,y=6–8,q=0或±1)团簇上的吸附和活化。研究得到了吸附体系的微观几何构型、吸附能、电荷分布等性质,找到了5个可以明显活化甲烷分子的含Au团簇。在这些体系中,Au均吸附在基底团簇V_3O_y~q的O位置,而CH_4均在Au原子上被活化。团簇电荷对活化能力有明显影响,阳离子团簇的活化能力最强,中性体系次之,阴离子团簇的活化能力很弱。测试计算表明引入D3色散矫正对于体系结构和能量的计算结果影响不大。本文作为单原子催化剂上甲烷吸附和活化反应的团簇模型研究,为进一步研究单原子催化剂上甲烷的活化机理提供了基础,也为合理设计低温下甲烷转化的单原子催化剂提供了有益的线索。     

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols has been established starting from 2-benzyloxymethylpyrrolidin-2-one framework, which is derived from commercially available trans-(2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The single diastereomer having a trans–cis relative configuration with C₂ and C₃ and C₃ and C₄ is constructed in two one-pot functional group transformations of Grignard addition/dehydration and epoxidation/isomerization as the key steps in moderate yield.     

Molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene studied by gas electron diffraction combined with microwave spectroscopic data

The molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene

has been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) combined with microwave (MW) spectroscopic data. Ab initio calculations at the HF/3–21G* level were carried out and used as structural constraints in the data analysis. The torsional vibration of the methyl group was treated as a large-amplitude motion. The structural parameters were determined to be: r_g(S---C₂) = 1.719(2) Å, r_g(C₂=C₃) = 1.370(3) Å, r_g(C₃---C₆) = 1.497(6) Å, r_g(C₂---H) = 1.101(5) Å, CSC = 91.6(2)°, SC₂C₃ = 113.3(5)°, SC₅C₄ = 111.3(3)°, C₂C₃C₆ = 123.2(11)° and C₃C₆H = 112(2)°. The values of r(S---C₂) − r(S---C₅) and r(C₂=C₃) − r(C₄=C₅) were fixed at the 3–21G* value of 0.002Å. Parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit.     

Spectrophotometric determination of H(2)O(2) in marine waters with leuco crystal violet

H₂O₂ in marine waters may be determined by measuring the absorbance of crystal violet (CV⁺), formed by the oxidation of leuco crystal violet (LCV) by H₂O₂ in the presence of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase, at 592 nm at pH 4. The detection limit and the precision of the method are about 0.02 μM and ± 1% (at a concentration of 0.03 μM), respectively. The results obtained by this method and by a widely used fluorimetric method agreed with each other well. After color development, samples together with the sub-samples for constructing the calibration curve may be stored for up to 5 days before their absorbances are measured without significantly changing the estimated concentration of H₂O₂.     

Comblike poly(ethylene oxide)/hydrophobic C6 branched chitosan surfactant polymers as anti-infection surface modifying agents

A series of structurally well-defined poly(ethylene oxide)/hydrophobic C₆ branched chitosan surfactant polymers that undergo surface induced self assembly on hydrophobic biomaterial surfaces were synthesized and characterized. The surfactant polymers consist of low molecular weight (M_w) chitosan backbone with hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and hydrophobic hexyl pendant groups. Chitosan was depolymerized by nitrous acid deaminative cleavage. Hexanal and aldehyde-terminated PEO chains were simultaneously attached to low M_w chitosan hydrochloride via reductive amination. The surfactant polymers were prepared with various ratios of the two side chains. The molecular composition of the surfactant polymers was determined by FT-IR and ¹H NMR. Surface active properties at the air–water interface were determined by Langmuir film balance measurements. The surfactant polymers with PEO/hexyl ratios of 1:3.0 and 1:14.4 were used as surface modifying agents to investigate their anti-infection properties. E. coli adhesion on Silastic^® surface was decreased significantly by the surfactant polymer with PEO/hexyl 1:3.0. Surface growth of adherent E. coli was effectively suppressed by both tested surfactant polymers.     

Isospecific polymerizations of alkyl methacrylates with a bis(alkyl)Yb complex and formation of stereocomplexes with syndiotactic poly(alkyl methacrylate)s

Yb[C(SiMe₃)₃]₂ initiates the living polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at −78°C to give the polymer with M_n of 51.0×10⁴ (M_w/M_n=1.1) and high isotacticity (97%) in a quantitative yield. Mixing of the acetone solution of resulting polymer (M_n=16.3×10⁴) with the acetone solution of syndiotactic poly(MMA) (M_n=15.7×10⁴) prepared by the (C₅Me₅)₂SmMe(THF) initiator produces desired stereocomplex in high yield bearing very high T_m whose tensile modulus is higher than the respective isotactic and syndiotactic poly(MMA)s. Yb[C(SiMe₃)₃]₂ also generated isotactic (98%) poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (DMEMA), and (C₅Me₅)₂SmMe(THF) affords the syndiotactic (97%) polymer in high yields. The combination of isotactic poly(MMA)-block-poly(DMEMA) (97/3) and syndiotactic poly(MMA)-block-poly(DMEMA) (97/3) provides the amphiphathic stereocomplex. In sharp contrast to the catalysis of Yb[C(SiMe₃)₃]₂ in toluene, the addition of THF or HMPA resulted in the formation of syndio-rich poly(MMA).     

Molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene studied by gas electron diffraction combined with microwave spectroscopic data

The molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene has been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) combined with microwave (MW) spectroscopic data. Ab initio calculations at the HF/3–21G* level were carried out and used as structural constraints in the data analysis. The torsional vibration of the methyl group was treated as a large-amplitude motion. The structural parameters were determined to be: r_{g(S---C2) = 1.719(2) Å}, r_{g(C2=C3) = 1.370(3) Å}, r_{g(C3---C6) = 1.497(6) Å}, r_{g(C2---H) = 1.101(5) Å}, CSC = 91.6(2)°, SC₂C₃ = 113.3(5)°, SC₅C₄ = 111.3(3)°, C₂C₃C₆ = 123.2(11)° and C₃C₆H = 112(2)°. The values of r(S---C₂) - r(S=C₅) and r(C₂=C₃)-r(C₄ =C₅) were fixed at the 3–21G* value of 0.002 Å. Parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit.