The study of the lipophilicity of some aminoalkanol derivatives with anticonvulsant activity

A series of new (phenoxyethyl)aminoalkanol derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity. The most promising compound seemed to be (R,S)‐1N‐[(2,6‐dimethyl)phenoxyethyl]amino‐2‐butanol, which displayed anti‐MES activity (in mice, i.p.) with protective index (TD₅₀/ED₅₀) of 5.712, corresponding to that of phenytoin (6.6), carbamazepine (4.9) and valproate (1.7). The lipophilicity of compounds 1–17 exhibiting anticonvulsant activity was investigated. Their lipophilicities (R_M0) were determined using reversed‐phase thin‐layer chromatography (RP‐TLC) with a mixture of acetone and water as mobile phases. The partition coefficients of 1–17 (logP) were also calculated using two computer programs (Pallas and ALOGPS) and compared with R_M0. The relationship between anticonvulsant activity and lipophilicity of the tested substances was estimated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Profiling of grape monoterpene glycosides (aroma precursors) by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF)

A ‘suspect screening analysis’ method for grape metabolomics by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and high‐resolution quadrupole‐time of flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry was recently developed. This method was applied to study grape monoterpene glycosides, the main grape aroma precursors. Since standard compounds were not available, they were tentatively identified by overlapping various analytical approaches, in agreement with the indications recommended in mass spectrometry (MS)‐based metabolomics. Accurate mass and isotopic pattern, MS/MS fragmentation, correlation between fragments observed and putative structures and between liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry signals were studied. Seventeen monoterpene glycosides were identified without performing the hydrolytic artifacts commonly used to study these compounds which may affect sample profile. This is the first time that a detailed study of these aroma precursors has been carried out by direct LC/MS analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polyaspartamide–Polylactide Graft Copolymers with Tunable Properties for the Realization of Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Imaging

Here, the synthesis and the characterization of novel amphiphilic graft copolymers with tunable properties, useful in obtaining polymeric fluorescent nanoparticles for application in imaging, are described. These copolymers are obtained by chemical conjugation of rhodamine B (RhB) moieties, polylactic acid (PLA), and O‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐O′‐methyl poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on α,β‐poly(N‐2‐hydroxyethyl)‐d,l ‐aspartamide (PHEA). In particular, PHEA is first functionalized with RhB to obtain PHEA–RhB with a derivatization degree in RhB (DD_RhB) equal to 0.55 mol%. By varying the reaction conditions, different amounts of PLA are grafted on PHEA–RhB to obtain PHEA‐RhB‐PLA with DD_PLA equal to 1.9, 4.0, and 6.2 mol%. Then, PEG chains are grafted on PHEA‐RhB‐PLA derivatives to obtain PHEA‐RhB‐PLA‐PEG graft copolymers. The preparation of polymeric fluorescent nanoparticles with tunable properties and spherical shape is described by using PHEA‐RhB‐PLA‐PEG with DD in PLA and PEG equal to 4.0 and 4.9 mol%, by following easily scaling up processes, such as emulsion‐solvent evaporation and high pressure homogenization (HPH)‐solvent evaporation techniques.

     

Direct On‐Surface Patterning of a Crystalline Laminar Covalent Organic Framework Synthesized at Room Temperature

We report herein an efficient, fast, and simple synthesis of an imine‐based covalent organic framework (COF) at room temperature (hereafter, RT‐COF‐1 ). RT‐COF‐1 shows a layered hexagonal structure exhibiting channels, is robust, and is porous to N₂ and CO₂. The room‐temperature synthesis has enabled us to fabricate and position low‐cost micro‐ and submicropatterns of RT‐COF‐1 on several surfaces, including solid SiO₂ substrates and flexible acetate paper, by using lithographically controlled wetting and conventional ink‐jet printing.     

Amorphous Aggregation of Amyloid Beta 1‐40 Peptide in Confined Space

The amorphous aggregation of Aβ1‐40 peptide is addressed by using micromolding in capillaries. Both the morphology and the size of the aggregates are modulated by changing the contact angle of the sub‐micrometric channel walls. Upon decreasing the hydrophilicity of the channels, the aggregates change their morphology from small aligned drops to discontinuous lines, thereby keeping their amorphous structure. Aβ1‐40 fibrils are observed at high contact angles.     

On the Nitroxide Quasi‐Equilibrium in the Alkoxyamine‐Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene

Summary: The range of validity of two popular versions of the nitroxide quasi‐equilibrium (NQE) approximation used in the theory of kinetics of alkoxyamine mediated styrene polymerization, are systematically tested by simulation comparing the approximate and exact solutions of the equations describing the system. The validity of the different versions of the NQE approximation is analyzed in terms of the relative magnitude of (dN/dt)/(dP/dt). The approximation with a rigorous NQE, k_c[P][N] = k_d[P N], where P, N and P N are living, nitroxide radicals and dormant species respectively, with kinetic constants k_c and k_d, is found valid only for small values of the equilibrium constant K (10⁻¹¹–10⁻¹² mol · L⁻¹) and its validity is found to depend strongly of the value of K. On the other hand, the relaxed NQE approximation of Fischer and Fukuda, k_c[P][N] = k_d[P N]₀ was found to be remarkably good up to values of K around 10⁻⁸ mol · L⁻¹. This upper bound is numerically found to be 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than the theoretical one given by Fischer. The relaxed NQE is a better one due to the fact that it never completely neglects dN/dt. It is found that the difference between these approximations lies essentially in the number of significant figures taken for the approximation; still this subtle difference results in dramatic changes in the predicted course of the reaction. Some results confirm previous findings, but a deeper understanding of the physico‐chemical phenomena and their mathematical representation and another viewpoint of the theory is offered. Additionally, experiments and simulations indicate that polymerization rate data alone are not reliable to estimate the value of K, as recently suggested.

Validity of the rigorous nitroxide quasi‐equilibrium assumption as a function of the nitroxide equilibrium constant.     

Autocatalytic oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PtBu3)2 via Pd(PtBu3)2(H)(Br)

We report that oxidative addition of bromobenzene to Pd(PtBu3)2 occurs by an unusual autocatalytic mechanism. Studies on the effect of various additives showed that the degree of rate acceleration followed the trend: (PtBu3)Pd(Ph)(Br) approximately (HPtBu3)Br < [(PtBu3)Pd(mu-Br)]2 < (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Studies on the reactions of Pd(PtBu3)2 in the presence of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) showed that the concentration of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) decreased only after the Pd(0) complex had been consumed. These data indicated that the catalyst in this process is (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Thermal decomposition of the three-coordinate oxidative addition product (PtBu3)Pd(Ar)(Br) during the reaction of Pd(PtBu3)2 and bromoarenes ultimately leads to formation of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Parallel reactions of bromobenzene with (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) and Pd(PtBu3)2 showed that the bromoarenes reacted considerably faster with the Pd(II) species than with the Pd(0) species. We therefore propose a catalytic cycle for oxidative addition in which PBut3.HBr reacts with the Pd(0) species to form (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br), and (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) reacts with the bromoarene, possibly though the anionic species [HPtBu3+][(PtBu3)Pd(Br)-], to form [Pd(PtBu3)(Ar)(Br)].     

First identification of dimethoxycinnamic acids in human plasma after coffee intake by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

There is a substantial amount of published literature on the bioavailability of various coffee components including the most abundant metabolites, caffeic and ferulic acids. Surprisingly, to date, the appearance of dimethoxycinnamic acid derivatives in humans has not been reported despite the fact that methylated form of catechol-type polyphenols could help maintain, modify or even improve their biological activities. This study reports an LC-MS method for the detection of dimethoxycinnamic acid in human plasma after treatment with an esterase. Liquid chromatography, including the combination of methanol and acetonitrile as organic eluent, was optimized to resolve all interferences and enable reliable detection and identification of 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic and 3,4-dimethoxy-dihydrocinnamic acids. In addition to the good mass accuracy achieved (better than 5 ppm), tandem mass spectrometric and co-chromatography experiments further confirmed the identity of the compounds. The optimized method was applied to analyze samples obtained immediately, 1 and 10 h after coffee ingestion. The results show that in particular 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid appears in high abundance (～380 nM at 60 min) in plasma upon coffee intake, indicating that it is important to consider these derivatives in future bioavailability and bioefficacy studies.     

New Approach for the Construction of the Coumarin Frame and Application in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products

A new synthetic approach is described for building the coumarin scaffold through the Lewis acid‐promoted cyclization of novel aryl 3‐(dimethylamino)prop‐2‐enoates 2a – 2f . The latter precursors were prepared via aminomethylenation of the corresponding aryl acetates 4a – 4f with the Bredereck reagent. This approach was used for the synthesis of biologically active natural compounds 1a – 1f , through a three‐step procedure starting from the corresponding phenols.     

Screening of matrix metalloproteinases available from the protein data bank: insights into biological functions, domain organization, and zinc binding groups

A total of 142 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) X-ray crystallographic structures were retrieved from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and analyzed by an automated and efficient routine, developed in-house, with a series of bioinformatic tools. Highly informative heat maps and hierarchical clusterograms provided a reliable and comprehensive representation of the relationships existing among MMPs, enlarging and complementing the current knowledge in the field. Multiple sequence and structural alignments permitted better location and display of key MMP motifs and quantification of the residue consensus at each amino acid position in the most critical binding subsites of MMPs. The MMP active site consensus sequences, the C-alpha root-mean-square deviation (RMSd) analysis of diverse enzymatic subsites, and the examination of the chemical nature, binding topologies, and zinc binding groups (ZBGs) of ligands extracted from crystallographic complexes provided useful insights on the structural arrangements of the most potent MMP inhibitors.