Utility of the ion-pair formation for spectrophotometric determination of terfenadine in pure form and in some pharmaceutical formulations

A spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of terfenadine and a number of its pharmaceutical preparations has been developed that offers advantages of simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity and stability indication over the official USP (1995) method. The proposed method is based on the formation of ion-pairs by the reaction of terfenadine with some chromotropic acid mono- and bis-azo dyes. Different variables affecting the ion-pair formation were studied and optimized. At the maximum absorption of 557, 521, 592 and 543 nm, Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.2–18.6, 0.2–16.4, 0.2–25.0 and 0.2–22.2 g ml^–1 on using reagents I, II, III and IV, respectively. The stoichiometric ratio and stability of each ion-pair were estimated and the mechanism of the reaction is discussed. The molar absorptivity and Sandell sensitivity of the produced ion-pairs were calculated in addition to Ringbom optimum concentration ranges. Statistical treatment of the experimental results indicates that the procedures are precise and accurate. Excipients used as additives in pharmaceutical formulations did not interfere in the proposed procedures. The reliability of the methods was established by parallel determination against the official USP method. The procedures described were successfully applied to the determination of the bulk drug and its pharmaceutical formulations by applying the standard addition technique.     

Laser techniques in acoustically levitated micro droplets

Laser techniques were applied to an acoustically levitated droplet for remote investigation of the diameter, species concentration and temperature of the suspended droplet. To this end, the third and the fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser were used for investigation of elastic, fluorescence and phosphorescence signals from the droplet. The droplet was seeded with thermographic phosphors and acetone for the phosphorescence and fluorescence measurements, respectively. The techniques were applied simultaneously using an imaging stereoscope. The imaging device allowed for an identical visualization of incoming signal through separate optical filters. Temperature measurements in droplets is important in the study of e.g. exothermic chemical reactions, spray processes, combustion, and in bioanalytical applications where the biological material is temperature sensitive or dependent on optimal temperature for function. Results from these investigations showed that temperature measurements in acoustically levitated droplets using laser-induced phosphorescence are feasible. The results also show the potential of simultaneous laser based measurements on levitated droplets. Diameter variation (surface area), mixture concentration and temperature were measured simultaneously.     

A novel approach to synthesis of the cinnoline ring system via organoiron(cyclopentadienyl) complexes

An efficient synthesis of 3-mono or 3,4-disubstituted cinnolines from (o-dichlorobenzene)(cyclopentadienyl)iron hexafluorophosphate in three or four steps has been achieved. o-Chlorophenyl-alkyl or alkylaryl ketone complexes obtained from the o-dichlorobenzene complex upon treatment with enolate anions, react with hydrazine forming 3-mono or 3,4-disubstituted 1,4-dihydrocinnoline complexes. Treatment of the later with sodium amide leads to an aromatization-demetallation reaction resulting in formation of cinnolines, i.e. 3-methyl-, 3-phenyl- and 3,4-dimethylcinnoline. The influence of substituents bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the complexed benzene ring in o-chlorophenyl -alkyl or -alkylaryl ketone prior to cyclization on the cyclization reaction is discussed.     

Quantitative thin-layer chromatographic method of analysis of azithromycin in pure and capsule forms

A validated stability-indicating thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method of the analysis of azithromycin (AZT) in bulk and capsule forms is developed. Both AZT potential impurity and degradation products can be selectively and accurately estimated in both raw material and product onto one precoated silica-gel TLC plate 60F254. The development system used is n-hexane-ethyl acetate-diethylamine (75:25:10, v/v/v). The separated bands are detected as brown to brownish red spots after spraying with modified Dragendorff's solution. The Rf values of AZT, azaerythromycin A, and the three degradation products are 0.54, 0.35, 0.40, 0.20, and 0.12, respectively. The optical densities of the separated spots are found to be linear in proportion to the amount used. The stress testing of AZT shows that azaerythromycin A is the major impurity and degradation product, accompanied by three other unknown degradation products. The stability of AZT is studied under accelerated conditions in order to provide a rapid indication of differences that might result from a change in the manufacturing process or source of the sample. The forced degradation conditions include the effect of heat, moisture, light, acid-base hydrolysis, sonication, and oxidation. The compatibility of AZT with the excipients used is also studied in the presence and absence of moisture. The amounts of AZT and azaerythromycin A are calculated from the corresponding linear calibration curve; however, the amounts of any other generated or detected unknown impurities are calculated as if it were AZT. This method shows enough selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, linearity-range, and robustness to satisfy Federal Drug Administration/International Conference of Harmonization regulatory requirements. The method developed can also be used for the purity testing of AZT raw material and capsules, content uniformity testing, dissolution testing, and stability testing of AZT capsules. The potential impurity profiles of both active AZT material and capsule forms are found comparable. The linear range of AZT is between 5 and 30 mcg/spot with a limit of quantitation of 2 mcg/spot. The intraassay relative standard deviation percentage is not more than 0.54%, and the day-to-day variation is not more than 0.86%, calculated on the amounts of AZT RS recovered using different TLC plates.     

Heteronuclear 3 d/DyIII Coordination Clusters as Catalysts in a Domino Reaction

Three isoskeletal tetranuclear coordination clusters with general formula [M^II₂Dy^III₂L₄(EtOH)₆](ClO₄)₂?2 EtOH, (M=Co, 1 ; M=Ni, 2 ) and [Ni^II₂Dy^III₂L₄Cl₂(CH₃CN)₂]?2 CH₃CN ( 3 ), have been synthesized and characterized. These air‐stable compounds, and in particular 3 , display efficient homogeneous catalytic behavior in the room‐temperature synthesis of trans‐4,5‐diaminocyclopent‐2‐enones from 2‐furaldehyde and primary or secondary amines under a non‐inert atmosphere.     

Synthesis of norbornenes containing cationic mono‐ and di(cyclopentadienyliron)arene complexes and their ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

A number of classes of polynorbornenes containing cationic iron moieties within their side chains were prepared via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization with a ruthenium‐based catalyst. The iron‐containing polymers displayed excellent solubility in polar organic solvents. The weight‐average molecular weights of these polymeric materials were estimated to be in the range of 18,000–48,000. Thermogravimetric analysis of these polymers showed two distinct weight losses. The first weight loss was in the range of 204–260 °C and was due to the loss of the metallic moieties, whereas the second weight loss was observed at 368–512 °C and was due to the degradation of the polymer backbone. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the iron‐containing polymers showed that the 18 e^? cationic iron centers underwent a reduction to give the neutral 19 e^? complexes at half‐wave potential (E_1/2) = ?1.105 V. Photolysis of the metallated polymers led to the isolation of the norbornene polymers in very good yields. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed a sharp increase in the glass‐transition temperatures up to 91 °C when rigid aromatic side chains were incorporated into the norbornene polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3053–3070, 2006     

Pyrimidines-Based Heterocyclic Compounds: Synthesis,Cytoxicity Evaluation and Molecular Docking

A variety of structurally different pyrimidines were synthesized. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were used to confirm the chemical structures of all prepared compounds. The synthesized pyrimidines were screened against the growth of five human cancer cell lines (prostate carcinoma PC3, liver carcinoma HepG-2, human colon cancer HCT-116, human breast cancer MCF-7, human lung cancer A-549), and normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) using MTT assay. Most of the screened pyrimidines have anti-proliferative activity on the growth of the PC3 cell line. Compounds 3b and 3d were more potent than the reference vinblastine sulfate (~2 to 3 × fold) and they can be considered promising leads for treating prostate cancer disease. Moreover, the screened compounds 3b, 3f, 3g, 3h, and 5 were assessed according to the values of their selectivity index (SI) and were found to be more selective and safer than vinblastine sulfate. Furthermore, using in silico computational tools, the physicochemical properties of all pyrimidine ligands were assessed, and the synthesized compounds fall within the criteria of RO5, thus having the potential to be orally bioavailable.     

Barbeya oleoides Leaves Extracts: In Vitro Carbohydrate Digestive Enzymes Inhibition and Phytochemical Characterization

This study investigated the in vitro inhibitory potential of different solvent extracts of leaves of Barbeya oleoides on key enzymes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) in combination with an aggregation assay (using 0.01% Triton X-100 detergent) to assess the specificity of action. The methanol extract was the most active in inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, with IC₅₀ values of 6.67 ± 0.30 and 25.62 ± 4.12 µg/mL, respectively. However, these activities were significantly attenuated in the presence of 0.01% Triton X-100. The chemical analysis of the methanol extract was conducted utilizing a dereplication approach combing LC-ESI-MS/MS and database searching. The chemical analysis detected 27 major peaks in the negative ion mode, and 24 phenolic compounds, predominantly tannins and flavonol glycosides derivatives, were tentatively identified. Our data indicate that the enzyme inhibitory activity was probably due to aggregation-based inhibition, perhaps linked to polyphenols.     

Globally Approved EGFR Inhibitors: Insights into Their Syntheses,Target Kinases,Biological Activities,Receptor Interactions,and Metabolism

Targeting the EGFR with small-molecule inhibitors is a confirmed valid strategy in cancer therapy. Since the FDA approval of the first EGFR-TKI, erlotinib, great efforts have been devoted to the discovery of new potent inhibitors. Until now, fourteen EGFR small-molecule inhibitors have been globally approved for the treatment of different types of cancers. Although these drugs showed high efficacy in cancer therapy, EGFR mutations have emerged as a big challenge for these drugs. In this review, we focus on the EGFR small-molecule inhibitors that have been approved for clinical uses in cancer therapy. These drugs are classified based on their chemical structures, target kinases, and pharmacological uses. The synthetic routes of these drugs are also discussed. The crystal structures of these drugs with their target kinases are also summarized and their bonding modes and interactions are visualized. Based on their binding interactions with the EGFR, these drugs are also classified into reversible and irreversible inhibitors. The cytotoxicity of these drugs against different types of cancer cell lines is also summarized. In addition, the proposed metabolic pathways and metabolites of the fourteen drugs are discussed, with a primary focus on the active and reactive metabolites. Taken together, this review highlights the syntheses, target kinases, crystal structures, binding interactions, cytotoxicity, and metabolism of the fourteen globally approved EGFR inhibitors. These data should greatly help in the design of new EGFR inhibitors.