Liquid chromatographic analysis of the anticancer alkaloid luotonin A and some new derivatives in human serum samples

The quantitation of the natural cytotoxic and anti‐inflammatory alkaloid luotonin A and five recently synthesized derivatives is described, constituting the first report of a HPLC method for the analysis of these compounds in human serum samples. The conditions for the chromatographic separation were optimized and the method was validated for the analysis of these compounds in biological samples according to international guidelines. An RP‐HPLC method with fluorimetric detection and a C₁₈ stationary phase was applied. Different ACN/water mobile phases were assayed, including 0–4% of a mobile phase modifier such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or tert‐butyl methyl ether. Isocratic and gradient elution conditions are compared. The influence of pH on the efficiency and resolution of the separation was also considered. The developed method was applied to the determination of luotonins in pooled human serum samples by gradient elution RP‐HPLC using a simple cleanup procedure. The proposed chromatographic method exhibits satisfactory analytical figures of merit, with LOD from 1.0×10^?10 to 2.0×10^?10 M, intraday and interday precision below 6% except for the concentration level closest to LOD, and good agreement between experimental and theoretical concentrations. Therefore, the developed method is suitable, reliable, rapid, and simple.     

Organocatalytic kinetic resolution cascade reactions: new mechanistic and stereochemical manifold in diphenyl prolinol silyl ether catalysis

A new cascade reaction involving an iminium-catalyzed intramolecular oxa-Michael addition followed by an enamine-catalyzed intermolecular Michael addition is reported herein. This cascade reaction generates enantiopure, highly functionalized tetrahydropyrans and tetrahydrofurans in a one-pot reaction and in up to 89?% combined yield and up to 99?% ee. This cascade reaction is catalyzed by diaryl prolinol silyl ethers, which are a privileged class of catalysts. The stereochemical outcome of these cascade reactions is unprecedented. Computational studies indicate that this stereochemical outcome arises from nonclassical hydrogen-bonding interactions between the electrophile and the substrate, and from entropic considerations of preorganization. The unprecedented configurations of the cascade products, combined with the computational models, reveal for the first time that asymmetric induction by diaryl prolinol silyl ether catalysts is not always exclusively reagent controlled. The stereochemical outcome also arises from a kinetic resolution or dynamic kinetic resolution of the β-stereocenter through an enamine-catalyzed intermolecular reaction. This unprecedented organocascade reaction mechanism may be adaptable to diaryl prolinol silyl ether-catalyzed cascade reactions, in which both the iminium- and enamine-catalyzed steps are intermolecular, an underdeveloped type of cascade reaction.     

Ligand-modification effects on the reactivity, solubility, and stability of organometallic tantalum complexes in water

Tantalum complexes [TaCp*Me{κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(CH(2)NMe(2))=CH)py}] (4) and [TaCp*Me{κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(CH(2)NH(2))=CH)py}] (5), which contain modified alkoxide pincer ligands, were synthesized from the reactions of [TaCp*Me{κ(3)-N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCH)py}] (Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with HC≡CCH(2)NMe(2) and HC≡CCH(2)NH(2), respectively. The reactions of [TaCp*Me{κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(Ph)=CH)py}] (2) and [TaCp*Me{κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(SiMe(3))=CH)py}] (3) with triflic acid (1:2 molar ratio) rendered the corresponding bis-triflate derivatives [TaCp*(OTf)(2){κ(3)-N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(Ph)=CH(2))py}] (6) and [TaCp*(OTf)(2){κ(3)-N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(SiMe(3))=CH(2))py}] (7), respectively. Complex 4 reacted with triflic acid in a 1:2 molar ratio to selectively yield the water-soluble cationic complex [TaCp*(OTf){κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(CH(2)NHMe(2))=CH)py}]OTf (8). Compound 8 reacted with water to afford the hydrolyzed complex [TaCp*(OH)(H(2)O){κ(3)-N,O,O-(OCH(2))(OCHC(CH(2)NHMe(2))=CH(2))py}](OTf)(2) (9). Protonation of compound 8 with triflic acid gave the new tantalum compound [TaCp*(OTf){κ(4)-C,N,O,O-(OCH(2))(HOCHC(CH(2)NHMe(2))=CH)py}](OTf)(2) (10), which afforded the corresponding protonolysis derivative [TaCp*(OTf)(2){κ(3)-N,O,O-(OCH(2))(HOCHC(CH(2)NHMe(2))=CH(2))py}](OTf) (11) in solution. Complex 8 reacted with CNtBu and potassium 2-isocyanoacetate to give the corresponding iminoacyl derivatives 12 and 13, respectively. The molecular structures of complexes 5, 7, and 10 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Mass spectrometry of rhenium complexes: a comparative study by using LDI-MS, MALDI-MS, PESI-MS and ESI-MS

A group of rhenium (I) complexes including in their structure ligands such as CF(3)SO(3)-, CH(3)CO(2)-, CO, 2,2'-bipyridine, dipyridil[3,2-a:2'3'-c]phenazine, naphthalene-2-carboxylate, anthracene-9-carboxylate, pyrene-1-carboxylate and 1,10-phenanthroline have been studied for the first time by mass spectrometry. The probe electrospray ionization (PESI) is a technique based on electrospray ionization (ESI) that generates electrospray from the tip of a solid metal needle. In this work, mass spectra for organometallic complexes obtained by PESI were compared with those obtained by classical ESI and high flow rate electrospray ionization assisted by corona discharge (HF-ESI-CD), an ideal method to avoid decomposition of the complexes and to induce their oxidation to yield intact molecular cation radicals in gas state [M](+·) and to produce their reduction yielding the gas species [M](-·). It was found that both techniques showed in general the intact molecular ions of the organometallics studied and provided additional structure characteristic diagnostic fragments. As the rhenium complexes studied in the present work showed strong absorption in the UV-visible region, particularly at 355?nm, laser desorption ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry experiments could be conducted. Although intact molecular ions could be detected in a few cases, LDI mass spectra showed diagnostic fragments for characterization of the complexes structure. Furthermore, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectra were obtained. Nor-harmane, a compound with basic character, was used as matrix, and the intact molecular ions were detected in two examples, in negative ion mode as the [M](-·) species. Results obtained with 2-[(2E)-3-(4-tert-buthylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2-enylidene] malononitrile (DCTB) as matrix are also described. LDI experiments provided more information about the rhenium complex structures than did the MALDI ones.     

Theoretical determination of multiple exchange couplings and magnetic susceptibility data in inorganic solids: the prototypical case of Cu2(OH)3NO3

Density functional theory based on hybrid functionals and localized atomic type basis sets is employed to calculate the exchange couplings in the layered three-dimensional compound Cu2(OH)3NO3. We assign accurate values to the six different in-plane exchange couplings. Interlayer exchange interactions through hydrogen bonds are also quantified. The calculated exchange coupling constants are then employed to perform quantum Monte Carlo simulations to yield magnetic susceptibility data, which compare successfully with experiments. Our approach sets the foundations of a viable methodology to extract reliable magnetic susceptibilities from density functional data.     

Effect of NaCl on the self-aggregation of n-octyl beta-D-thioglucopyranoside in aqueous medium

This report investigates the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on the micellization, surface activity, and the evolution in the shape and size of n-octyl beta-D-thioglucopyranoside (OTG) aggregates. By using surface tension measurements, information was obtained on both changes in the critical micelle concentration and adsorption behavior in the air-liquid interface with the electrolyte concentration. These data were used to obtain the thermodynamic properties of micellization along with the corresponding adsorption parameters in the air-liquid interface. From extended static and dynamic light scattering measurements, the micelle molecular weight, the mean aggregation number, and the second virial coefficient, the apparent diffusion coefficient and the mean hydrodynamic radius of micelles in a range of NaCl concentrations were obtained. The light scattering data have shown that when the surfactant concentration is lower to 4.5 g/L, only spherical micelles are formed. However, an increase in the surfactant concentration induces an increase in micellar size, suggesting a rodlike growth of the micelles. This deviation of micelle geometry from spherical to rodlike is supported both by the ratio between the hydrodynamic radius and the radius of gyration and by the angular dependence of light scattering. On the other hand, the studies performed in the presence of high NaCl concentration (0.2 and 0.5 M) provide strong support for the view that the micelles may overlap together to form an entangled network above certain crossover concentration.     

Structural characteristics of silica sonogels prepared with additions of isopropyl alcohol

Wet silica gels with approximately 1.4 x 10(-3) mol SiO2/cm3 and approximately 92 vol % liquid phase were obtained from sonohydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with different additions of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The IPA/TEOS molar ratio R was changed from 0 to 4. Aerogels were obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. The samples were analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and nitrogen adsorption. The wet gels exhibit mass fractal structure with fractal dimension increasing from D approximately 2.10 to D approximately 2.22, characteristic length xi decreasing from approximately 9.5 to approximately 6.9 nm, as R increases from 0 to 4, and an estimated characteristic length for the primary silica particles lower than approximately 0.3 nm. The supercritical process apparently eliminates a fraction of the porosity, increasing the mass fractal dimension and shortening the fractality domain in the mesopore region. The fundamental role of isopropyl alcohol on the structure of the resulting aerogels is to decrease the porosity and the pore mean size as R changes from pure TEOS to R = 4. A secondary structure appearing in the micropore region of the aerogels can be described as a mass/surface fractal structure, with correlated mass fractal dimension Dm approximately 2.7 and surface fractal dimension Ds approximately 2.3, as inferred from SAXS and nitrogen adsorption data.     

Hetero diels-alder reaction of vinyl allenes and aldehydes. An experimental and computational study

The hetero Diels-Alder reaction of vinyl allenes and aldehydes in the presence of a Lewis acid has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Differently substituted vinyl allenes and aldehydes were used to obtain information on the structural requirements of the reaction. Theoretical calculations using the density functional theory indicate that the reaction proceeds through a highly asynchronous polar transition state.     

M-P versus M=M bonds as protonation sites in the organophosphide-bridged complexes [M2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2], (M = Mo, W; R, R' = Ph, Et, Cy)

The unsaturated complexes [W2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2] (Cp = eta5-C5H5; R = R' = Ph, Et; R = Et, R' = Ph) react with HBF4.OEt2 at 243 K in dichloromethane solution to give the corresponding complexes [W2Cp2(H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which contain a terminal hydride ligand. The latter rearrange at room temperature to give [W2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which display a bridging hydride and carbonyl ligands arranged parallel to each other (W-W = 2.7589(8) A when R = R' = Ph). This explains why the removal of a proton from the latter gives first the unstable isomer cis-[W2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]. The molybdenum complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] behaves similarly, and thus the thermally unstable new complexes [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]BF4 and cis-[Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] could be characterized. In contrast, related dimolybdenum complexes having electron-rich phosphide ligands behave differently. Thus, the complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)2(CO)2] (R = Cy, Et) react with HBF4.OEt2 to give first the agostic type phosphine-bridged complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-kappa2-HPR2)(CO)2]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.748(4) A for R = Cy). These complexes experience intramolecular exchange of the agostic H atom between the two inequivalent P positions and at room-temperature reach a proton-catalyzed equilibrium with their hydride-bridged tautomers [ratio agostic/hydride = 10 (R = Cy), 30 (R = Et)]. The mixed-phosphide complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-PPh2)(CO)2] behaves similarly, except that protonation now occurs specifically at the dicyclohexylphosphide ligand [ratio agostic/hydride = 0.5]. The reaction of the agostic complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-kappa2-HPCy2)(CO)2]BF4 with CN(t)Bu gave mono- or disubstituted hydride derivatives [Mo2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)2-x(CNtBu)x]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.7901(7) A for x = 1). The photochemical removal of a CO ligand from the agostic complex also gives a hydride derivative, the triply bonded complex [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.537(2) A). Protonation of [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)2(mu-CO)] gives the hydroxycarbyne derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-COH)(mu-PCy2)2]BF4, which does not transform into its hydride isomer.