1H and 13C NMR study of 8-hydroxyquinoline and some of its 5-substituted analogues

¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) and its 5-Me, 5-F, 5-Cl, 5-Br and 5-NO₂ derivatives have been studied in DMSO-d₆ solution. The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts and proton–proton, proton–fluorine, carbon–proton and carbon–fluorine coupling constants have been determined. The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts have been correlated with the charge densities on the hydrogen and carbon atoms calculated by the CNDO/2 method. The correlation of the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts with the total charge densities on the carbon atoms is approximately linear (r_H² = 0.85, r_C² = 0.84). The proton in peri position to the nitro group in 5-NO₂-oxine is an exception.     

Chromatographic examination of hydrophobic properties of isometric ethylphenols and phenylenediamines

Summary A comparison was made of hydrophobic properties of isomeric ethylphenols and phenylenediamines, using adsorption TLC results, which were additionally confirmed by the results of I. R. spectroscopy and theoretical considerations. It was established that hydrophobic properties of the investigated substances changed in accordance with the sequence: ortho>para>meta.     

Improved method for isolation of lycopsamine from roots of comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

An improved method for the isolation and purification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) roots was developed, introducing very fast, selective and ion residue-free reduction of N-oxides followed by ion-exchange chromatography giving a non-aqueous solution of alkaloids, from which solvents can be easily removed. With this procedure the use of large volumes of organic solvents, very slow reduction of N-oxides and input of additional impurities was avoided. Lycopsamine, which proved to be the major alkaloid, was additionally purified by preparative layer chromatography (PLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The identity of the alkaloid was confirmed by (I)H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.     

Illicium verum (Star Anise) and Trans-Anethole as Valuable Raw Materials for Medicinal and Cosmetic Applications

Illicium verum Hook f. (star anise) is considered an important species in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is also used in contemporary medicine in East Asian countries. It occurs in natural habitats in southeastern parts of China and Vietnam, and is cultivated in various regions in China. The raw materials—Anisi stellati fructus and Anisi stellati aetheroleum obtained from this species exhibit expectorant and spasmolytic activities. The European Pharmacopoeia (4th edition) indicates that these raw materials have been used in allopathy since 2002. The biological activities of the above-mentioned raw materials are determined by the presence of valuable secondary metabolites such as monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids. Recent pharmacological studies on fruit extracts and the essential oil of this species have confirmed their antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities and thus their medicinal and cosmetic value. The aim of this review was to examine the progress of phytochemical and pharmacological studies that focused on possible cosmetic applications. In addition to fruit extracts and essential oil, the current consensus on the safety of trans-anethole, which is the main compound of essential oil used in cosmetology, is underlined here.     

Stack-and-Draw Manufacture Process of a Seven-Core Optical Fiber for Fluorescence Measurements

Multi-core, optical-fiber technology is expected to be used in telecommunications and sensory systems in a relatively short amount of time. However, a successful transition from research laboratories to industry applications will only be possible with an optimized design and manufacturing process. The fabrication process is an important aspect in designing and developing new multi-applicable, multi-core fibers, where the best candidate is a seven-core fiber. Here, the basics for designing and manufacturing a single-mode, seven-core fiber using the stack-and-draw process is described for the example of a fluorescence sensory system.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric investigation of ammonium ion complexes with anomeric 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1alpha- and -1beta-D-ribofuranosyl azides: anomeric and kinetic isotope effects in ammonium affinities.

[Methanol + ammonium acetate] solutions of anomeric 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1alpha- and 1beta-ribofuranosyl azides were investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The compounds included d6-labeled and/or unlabeled isopropylidene groups that enable the identification of peaks characteristic of the ammonium-attached monomeric (MNH4(+)), ammonium-bound homodimeric ([M]2NH4(+)) and heterodimeric ([MNH4M1](+)) complex ions in ESI mass spectra of solutions of a pair of compounds. The intensities of the product ion peaks obtained by the collisionally activated ammonium-bound dimeric ions are related to the secondary isotope effect k(alpha)/k(alphad6) = 0.88 and k(beta)/k(betad6) = 1.25 or to isotope plus anomeric effects k(alpha)/k(betad6) = 1.43 and k(beta)/k(alphad6) = 0.59 in the ammonium affinities of these compounds. The calculations of solely anomeric effects in the ammonium affinities of alpha and beta anomeric compounds obtained from the data presented previously give two series of values: k(alpha)/k(beta) = (k(alpha)/k(alphad6))(k(alphad6)/k(beta)) = 1.49 and k(alphad6)/k(betad6) = (k(alphad6)/k(beta))(k(beta)/k(betad6)) = 2.12 or k(alpha)/k(beta) = (k(alpha)/k(betad6))(k(betad6)/k(beta)) = 1.14 and k(alphad6)/k(betad6) = (k(alphad6)/k(alpha))(k(alpha)/k(betad6)) = 1.63. The disparities of these results indicate the different structures of hydrogen bonding in ammonium-bound dimeric complexes which decompose to monomeric ions with different rate constants. Comparison of experimental results obtained by the qualitative approach of the kinetic method and ammonium affinities of these compounds calculated by the semi-empirical molecular orbital method (AM1) show that the [MNH4M1](+) dimeric complex ions dissociate to the most stable MNH4(+) and M1NH4(+) monomeric ions. The obtained relative order of ammonium affinities of these compounds is: alphad6 > alpha > beta > betad6.     

Properties and Application of a Chelating Sorbent Prepared by Modification of LiChroprep-NH<Subscript>2</Subscript> with Calcon

A new chelating sorbent for metal ions was prepared by modification of chemically modified silica – LiChroprep-NH₂ with Calcon. The molecular mechanism of binding this reagent to the surface of the applied carrier is presented. The properties of this sorbent were compared to analogous sorbents with a plain silica carrier and chemically modified silicas – LiChroprep-RP containing Calcon. The advantages of the new sorbent compared to the silica and LiChroprep-RP chelating sorbents are demonstrated. The sorbent obtained was applied as stationary phase in solid-phase extraction (SPE) for separations of some chosen mixtures of metal ions and for additional purification of aqueous solutions of salts of alkali metals from trace amounts of heavy metals. The multiple use of the sorbent based on LiChroprep-NH₂ in sorption-desorption processes of metal ions without deterioration of its sorption capacity is demonstrated.     

Order-disorder component in the phase transition mechanism of 18O enriched strontium titanate

Ti and Sr nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 18O enriched SrTiO3 (STO-18) provide direct evidence for Ti disorder already in the cubic phase and show that the ferroelectric transition at T(C)=24 K occurs in two steps. Below 70 K rhombohedral polar clusters are formed in the tetragonal matrix. These clusters subsequently grow in concentration, freeze out, and percolate, leading to an inhomogeneous ferroelectric state below T(C). This shows that the elusive ferroelectric transition in STO-18 is indeed connected with local symmetry lowering and implies the existence of an order-disorder component in addition to the displacive soft mode one. Rhombohedral clusters, Ti disorder, and a two-component state are found in the so-called quantum paraelectric state of STO-16 as well. The concentration of the rhombohedral clusters is, however, not high enough to allow for percolation.