Rapid liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of withanolides in crude plant extracts by use of a monolithic column

Summary A rapid analytical method has been developed for the mutual resolution of three steroidal compounds, withaferin A, iochromolide, and withacnistin. Liquid chromatography was performed on a Chromolith analytical column (4.6 mm i.d.×50 mm), made from a cylindrical silica rod, operated at a flow rate of 4 mL min⁻¹ with a simple linear gradient prepared from 0.1% aqueous formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Under optimum conditions simultaneous separation of the compounds was achieved in less than 7 min, one eighth the time required for conventional LC separation. The overall analysis time was reduced without sacrificing chromatographic performance—essential for the resolution of positional isomers such as iochromolide and withacnistin. The column was coupled to a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer and the method was characterized by good performance in terms of repeatability, selectivity, linearity, and sensitivity. Detection limits in the single-ion-monitoring mode were 0.15 μg mL⁻¹ or below. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of withanolides in extracts fromlochroma gesnerioides obtained by three different processes—traditional Soxhlet extraction and two faster methods, microwave-assisted extraction and pressurized solvent extraction.     

Chemical elements of Algerian Mentha spicata L. used in the treatment of digestive system disorders by employing instrumental neutron activation analysis technique

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The objectives of this research were to study the elemental concentrations of Mentha spicata L., using a sensitive nuclear analytical technique...     

Pd–phosphinesulfonate bravely battles the “vinyl halide insertion copolymerization” barricade

This overview provides insights into the current state‐of‐the‐art solutions to insertion copolymerization of functional olefinic monomers. The challenges in insertion copolymerization of functional olefinic monomers, with a special emphasis on vinyl halides, are highlighted. The crucial design of the Pd–phosphinesulfonate [Pd(PO)] enables up to 3.6 mol % incorporation of vinyl fluoride (VF) in an ethylene–VF copolymerization reaction. In a significant development, insertion copolymerization of industrially relevant functional olefin, that is, vinyl chloride (VC), was unambiguously ascertained, and a detectable amount of VC (0.4 mol %) was incorporated (at the chain end). In a detailed investigation, the in situ existence of (PO)Pd? H species during the polymerization was revealed, and it was demonstrated that these are indeed responsible for VC incorporation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1–6     

Radical Alliances: Solutions and Opportunities for Organic Synthesis

The present account discusses in detail various mechanistic features of the degenerative radical addition‐transfer of xanthates and related thiocarbonylthio congeners and makes a comparison with the more classical Kharasch reactions to which it is similar in certain aspects. The xanthate group reacts reversibly with the ‘active’ radicals in the medium and is able to store them in a somewhat inactive form. This increases their effective lifetime in the medium and, at the same time, lowers their absolute concentration while regulating their relative concentration. These properties translate into a powerful carbon–carbon bond forming process, especially as regards intermolecular additions to electronically unbiased (‘unactivated’) alkenes. Most functional groups are tolerated, in particular polar functions that often require protection with other chemistries. This broad versatility is illustrated by examples where the xanthate addition to the alkene is combined with other, more classical reactions to provide a convergent, rapid access to a wide range of useful structures. Emphasis has been placed on the synthesis of open chain and more complex carbocycles, as well as on the transfer of chirality. These ‘radical alliances’ include organosilicon chemistry, the Diels–Alder cycloaddition and cheletropic extrusion of sulfur dioxide, the Claisen sigmatropic rearrangement, and the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) condensation.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidinones/Thiones Catalyzed by White Marble a Metamorphic Rock: an Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for the Biginelli Reaction

In this work, we report a simple, efficient and green protocol for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones/thiones (products of Biginelli reaction) by the use of white marble as an effective heterogeneous catalyst. Short reaction times, high product yields, simple processing procedure and reusability of the catalyst are the superior characteristics of this protocol.     

Stability Analysis and Attractivity Results of a DC-DC Buck Converter

Using tools from set-valued and variational analysis, we propose a mathematical formulation for a power DC-DC Buck converter. We prove the existence of trajectories for the model. A stability and asymptotic stability results are established. The theoretical results are supported by some numerical simulations with a discussion about explicit and implicit schemes.     

Progressive transition from resonant to diffuse reflection in anisotropic colloidal films

The synthesis and characterization of highly ordered three‐dimensional photonic crystals have been the subjects of intense study over the past two decades due to the unique ability of these structures to control light at the nanoscale. Building on that work in recent years, increasing interest is now focused on the unique optical properties of disordered and quasi‐ordered photonic structures. We present a study of the effects of shape anisotropy and disorder on the specular reflection properties of polymer‐based colloidal films comprised of rod‐shaped subunits of varying aspect ratio. We characterize the specular reflectance properties of these films as a function of their increasing levels of disorder, demonstrating progressive transition from resonant reflection to diffuse reflection. The onset of the diffuse reflection is governed by particle size. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys. 2014 , 52, 611–617     

The Xanthate Route to Indolines,Indoles, and their Aza Congeners

Convergent routes to a variety of indolines, indoles, oxindoles, and their aza analogues involving radical additions of xanthates are described. Three approaches are summarized. The first is the least general and relies on the generation of aryl or heteroaryl radicals starting from diazonium salts. The second involves radical addition to N-allylanilines followed by ring-closure onto the aromatic core. A large variety of indolines and azaindolines can thus be obtained and, in many cases, converted into the corresponding indoles and azaindoles by various methods. The synthesis of novel fluoroazaindolines and fluoroazaindoles by a rare homolytic ipso-substitution of fluorine atoms is particularly noteworthy. The last approach hinges on the direct modification of indoles by radical addition to the pyrrole subunit of the indole nucleus. Application of this methodology to the total synthesis of melatonin and the alkaloids mersicarpine, caulerpine, and the pentacyclic skeleton of tronocarpine is briefly discussed. Most of the compounds described herein would be difficult to obtain by more traditional routes.