Convenient and Short Route to a Key Intermediate in the Synthesis of Forskolin

The intermediate 2, previously used in several synthetic sequences toward forskolin (1), has been synthesized from enone 3. The key step in the sequence is the 1,3-oxidative rearrangement of the tertiary alcohol 5, which allowed the easy introduction of the keto group at C-6 of 2.     

Synthesis of Unsaturated Tricyclic Lactones. The Coupling of the Enol Triflate of β-Keto Lactones with Lithium Dimethylcuprate

The anions of selected β-keto lactones were transformed into their corresponding enol triflates. These enol triflates were coupled with lithium dimethylcuprate to afford tricyclic unsaturated /aciones, key intermediates for the synthesis of the biologically important natural product forskolin.     

ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for ferrofluids: A combined XANES and XRD study

A soft-chemistry method is used to synthesize zinc ferrite nanoparticles to prepare a magnetic fluid. We investigate here their internal structure by X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). A cross analysis of XANES and Rietveld refinement of XRD spectra shows non-equilibrium site occupancy with respect to bulk zinc ferrite, suggesting a cation redistribution that enhances the magnetic and magneto-optical responses of the nanoparticles.     

Integration of positive constructible functions against Euler characteristic and dimension

Following recent work of R. Cluckers and F. Loeser [Fonctions constructible et intégration motivic I, C. R. Math. Acad. Sci. Paris 339 (2004) 411-416] on motivic integration, we develop a direct image formalism for positive constructible functions in the globally subanalytic context. This formalism is generalized to arbitrary first-order logic models and is illustrated by several examples on the p-adics, on the Presburger structure and on o-minimal expansions of groups. Furthermore, within this formalism, we define the Radon transform and prove the corresponding inversion formula.     

Development and validation of a rapid and sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method for ondansetron quantification in human plasma and its application in comparative bioavailability study

The validation of a high throughput and specific method using a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray (ES+) ionization tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometric (LC‐ESI‐MS/MS) method for ondansetron quantification in human plasma is described. Human plasma samples were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) using methyl tert‐butyl ether and analyzed by LC‐ESI‐MS/MS. The limit of quantification was 0.2 ng/mL and the method was linear in the range 0.2–60 ng/mL. The intra‐assay precisions ranged from 1.6 to 7.7%, while inter‐assay precisions ranged from 2.1 to 5.1%. The intra‐assay accuracies ranged from 97.5 to 108.2%, and the inter‐assay accuracies ranged from 97.3 to 107.0%. The analytical method was applied to evaluate the relative bioavailability of two pharmaceutical formulations containing 8 mg of ondansetron each in 25 healthy volunteers using a randomized, two‐period crossover design. The geometric mean and respective 90% confidence interval (CI) of ondansetron test/reference percent ratios were 90.15% (81.74–99.44%) for C_max and 93.11% (83.01–104.43%) for AUC_0–t. Based on the 90% confidence interval of the individual ratios (test formulation/reference formulation) for C_max and AUC_0‐inf, it was concluded that the test formulation is bioequivalent to the reference one with respect to the rate and extent of absorption of ondansetron. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Downstream processing of antibodies: Single-stage versus multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction

Single-stage and multi-stage strategies have been evaluated and compared for the purification of human antibodies using liquid–liquid extraction in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) composed of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350), dextran, and triethylene glycol diglutaric acid (TEG-COOH). The performance of single-stage extraction systems was firstly investigated by studying the effect of pH, TEG-COOH concentration and volume ratio on the partitioning of the different components of a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant. It was observed that lower pH values and high TEG-COOH concentrations favoured the selective extraction of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the PEG-rich phase. Higher recovery yields, purities and percentage of contaminants removal were always achieved in the presence of the ligand, TEG-COOH. The extraction of IgG could be enhanced using higher volume ratios, however with a significant decrease in both purity and percentage of contaminants removal. The best single-stage extraction conditions were achieved for an ATPS containing 1.3% (w/w) TEG-COOH with a volume ratio of 2.2, which allowed the recovery of 96% of IgG in the PEG-rich phase with a final IgG concentration of 0.21 mg/mL, a protein purity of 87% and a total purity of 43%. In order to enhance simultaneously both recovery yield and purity, a four stage cross-current operation was simulated and the corresponding liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data determined. A predicted optimised scheme of a counter-current multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction was hence described. IgG can be purified in the PEG-rich top phase with a final recovery yield of 95%, a final concentration of 1.04 mg/mL and a protein purity of 93%, if a PEG/dextran ATPS containing 1.3% (w/w) TEG-COOH, 5 stages and volume ratio of 0.4 are used. Moreover, according to the LLE data of all CHO cells supernatant components, it was possible to observe that most of the cells supernatant contaminants can be removed during this extraction step leading to a final total purity of about 85%.     

Dihalogen-halogenomethyl complexes of indium(III) X2InCH2X (X = Br, I): Simultaneous coordination of soft and hard ligands

Halogenomethyl-dihalogen-indium(III) compounds X₂InCH₂X (X = Br, I) obtained from indium monohalides and methylene dihalides were reacted with the soft donor ligands dialkylsulfides, R₂S (R = CH₃, CH₂Ph) to afford the corresponding dialkylsulfonium methylide complexes of InX₃, X₃InCH₂SR₂ (X = Br, R = CH₃, 1; X = I, R = CH₃, 2; X= I, R = CH₂Ph, 3). Compound 1 was reacted with the hard donor ligands dimethylsulfoxide or triphenylphosphine oxide to give the corresponding 1:1 adduct, Br₃(L)InCH₂S(CH₃)₂ (L = (CH₃)₂SO, 4; L = (C₆H₅)₃PO, 5). Compounds 1-5 were fully characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray methods.     

On the influence of the milling time in the Curie temperature of Fe56Co7Ni7Zr10B20 investigated by magnetic thermogravimetric analysis

Magnetic thermogravimetric analysis (TGM) was used to investigate the influence of the milling time (t _mill) in the Curie temperature (T _C) of nanocrystalline powders and of a melt-spun amorphous ribbon with composition Fe₅₆Co₇Ni₇Zr₁₀B₂₀. The TGM analysis was carried in a continuous flow of 99.99% pure argon from room temperature up to 1250?K. A magnetic field of 100?Oe was applied throughout the measurements. Nanopowders of Fe₅₆Co₇Ni₇Zr₁₀B₂₀ were produced by mechanical alloying the samples in an argon atmosphere for milling times ranging from 1 to 100?h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and by scanning electron microscopy. The average particle size decreased from 45.4?nm for a powder milled for 1?h to 5?nm after being milled for 100?h. Moreover, T _C (=1126.4?±?4.4?K) was found to be nearly independent of t _mill while for the melt-spun amorphous ribbon it was found to be substantially smaller (T _C?=?482?K). This is a clear indication that T _C is quite sensitive to the degree of amorphosity present in the sample. The activation energy associated to the crystallization process was estimated from DSC data by using the Kissinger??s method to be 193?kJ/mol.     

Comparative Studies of the (Anti) Mutagenicity of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Artepillin C by the Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test

Baccharis dracunculifolia is a plant native from Brazil, commonly known as 'Alecrim-do-campo' and 'Vassoura' and used in alternative medicine for the treatment of inflammation, hepatic disorders and stomach ulcers. Previous studies reported that artepillin C (ArtC, 3-{4-hydroxy-3,5-di(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl}-2(E)-propenoic acid), is the main compound of interest in the leaves. This study was undertaken to assess the mutagenic effect of the ethyl acetate extract of B. dracunculifolia leaves (Bd-EAE: 11.4-182.8 μg/plate) and ArtC (0.69-10.99 μg/plate) by the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA97a, TA100 and TA102, and to compare the protective effects of Bd-EAE and ArtC against the mutagenicity of a variety of direct and indirect acting mutagens such as 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine, sodium azide, mitomycin C, benzo[a]pyrene, aflatoxin B1, 2-aminoanthracene and 2-aminofluorene.The mutagenicity test showed that Bd-EAE and ArtC did not induce an increase in the number of revertant colonies indicating absence of mutagenic activity. ArtC showed a similar antimutagenic effect to that of Bd-EAE in some strains of S. typhimurium, demonstrating that the antimutagenic activity of Bd-EAE can be partially attributed to ArtC. The present results showed that the protective effect of whole plant extracts is due to the combined and synergistic effects of a complex mixture of phytochemicals, the total activity of which may result in health benefits.     

Spectrophotometric determination of mercury in water samples after preconcentration using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

A simple method for the determination of mercury in water samples after preconcentration using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction is described. The procedure is based on the extraction of mercury in the form of a complex and its subsequent determination by spectrophotometry. The complex is formed between Hg(II) and 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-p-cresol. The detection at 650 nm is performed directly in the metal-rich phase, which is spread on a triacetylcellulose membrane. The method eliminates the need to use a cuvet or large quantities of samples and reagents. The parameters that influence the preconcentration were studied, and the analytical characteristics were determined. The enrichment factor and the consumptive index for this method were 64 and 0.16 mL, respectively. The LOD (3.3 microg/L) and LOQ (11.1 microg/L) were also determined. The accuracy of the method was tested by the determination of mercury in certified reference materials BCR 397 (Human Hair) and SRM 2781 (Domestic Sludge). The method was applied to the determination of mercury in samples of drinking water, sea water, and river water.