Preparation of multihollow P(St-MAA) particles by sequence soap-free/soap emulsion polymerization and followed by stepwise alkali/acid posttreatment

The effects of ionic emulsifier, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate (SDBS), on the formation of the multihollow structures in sub-micron sized polymer particles produced by alkali/acid posttreatment were investigated. The original latex particles with narrow size distribution were synthesized by a new sequence emulsifier-free/emulsifier emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and methacrylic acid (MAA). Results indicated that the pore size decreased and the pore number increased with the increase of SDBS amount, and the morphology of the posttreated latex particles was also significantly influenced by the introducing time of SDBS in the preparation of the original latex particles, and a suitable introducing time was 3 h of polymerization.     

Selective oxidation of isobutane over Mo-V-Te mixed oxide catalysts with different tellurium contents

A series of MoV_0.3Te_x (x = 0−0.3) mixed oxides were prepared and investigated for the selective oxidation of isobutane. Among them, MoV_0.3Te_0.23 showed the best methacrolein and methacrylic acid selectivity (as high as 17% and 16%, respectively), and the yield to methacrolein and methacrylic acid reached 3.6% and 3.5%, respectively, at 21.3% isobutane conversion at 440°C.     

Development and Validation of a LC Method for the Analysis of Phenolic Acids in Turkish Salvia Species

An accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive method for determination of rosmarinic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and gallic acids in 12 Salvia species growing naturally in Anatolia, has been developed and validated. The phenolic acids were separated using a μBondapack C₁₈ column by gradient elution with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹, which was adjusted to deliver firstly o-phosphoric acid 0.085% in water, 0.085% in methanol, and 0.085% in 2-propanol (80:10:10, v/v/v), then decreased gradually (60:20:20, v/v/v) during 20 min with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The samples were monitored at 220 nm for gallic acid and 330 nm for rosmarinic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids using photo-diode array detection. The linear range of detection for gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, and rosmarinic acids were between 0.051–101.4, 0.207–103.6, 0.100–100, and 0.201–100.5 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The linearity, range, peak purity, selectivity, system performance parameters, precision, accuracy, and robustness had also acceptable values. The developed method was applied to the flower, leaf, stem, and root parts of the Salvia species.

     

Bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids: synthesis and characterization

We previously reported the use of imidazole as starting compound for preparing a bicyclic imidazolium ionic liquid, [b-3C-im][NTf₂], with an overall 29% isolated yield in four synthetic steps. This new room temperature ionic liquid was shown to be far more chemically stable than commonly used [bmim][PF₆], [bdmim][PF₆], and [bdmim][NTf₂]. Because of this intriguing chemical stability, it prompted us to develop a more generalized and high yielding synthesis so that molecular diversity of bicyclic ionic liquids may be explored. In this work, we amended the previous synthetic route by employing 4-chlorobutyronitrile or 5-chlorovaleronitrile as starting materials and successfully developed a five-step synthesis of a series of novel bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids in 40-53% overall isolated yields. We investigated intrinsic reactivity of all bicyclic ionic liquids prepared and found that, under strongly basic conditions, among all tested ionic liquids the 5,5-membered [R-3C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were most stable to solvent deuterium isotope exchange while the previously reported [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was 50% deuterium exchanged at its C-2 methyl in 30 min at ambient temperature. Under identical condition, the commonly used [bmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was deuterium exchanged instantaneously at its C-2 hydrogen. In the absence of bases, only [bmim][PF₆] was deuterium exchanged (50% within 1 h) and all other ionic liquids gave no detectable exchanges even after 25 days at ambient temperature. Moreover, both [bmim][NTf₂] and [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquids were readily methylated at C-2 position with methyl iodide under basic condition at room temperature. Under the same condition, [R-3C-im][NTf₂] and [R-4C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were completely stable and chemically inert. We envisioned that [R-3C-im][NTf₂] should be well suited as solvents for organic synthesis.     

In-situ nanoelectrospray for high-throughput screening of enzymes and real-time monitoring of reactions

The in-situ and high-throughput evaluation of enzymes and real-time monitoring of enzyme catalyzed reactions in liquid phase is quite significant in the catalysis industry. In-situ nanoelectrospray, the direct sampling and ionization method for mass spectrometry, has been applied for high-throughput evaluation of enzymes, as well as the on-line monitoring of reactions. Simply inserting a capillary into a liquid system with high-voltage applied, analytes in liquid reaction system can be directly ionized at the capillary tip with small volume consumption. With no sample pre-treatment or injection procedure, different analytes such as saccharides, amino acids, alkaloids, peptides and proteins can be rapidly and directly extracted from liquid phase and ionized at the capillary tip. Taking irreversible transesterification reaction of vinyl acetate and ethanol as an example, this technique has been used for the high-throughput evaluation of enzymes, fast optimizations, as well as real-time monitoring of reaction catalyzed by different enzymes. In addition, it is even softer than traditional electrospray ionization. The present method can also be used for the monitoring of other homogenous and heterogeneous reactions in liquid phases, which will show potentials in the catalysis industry.     

Studies on the intestinal absorption of the alkaloids in the Gancaofuzi decoction in a Caco-2 cell culture system by UPLC–MS/MS analysis

In this study, the Caco-2 cell monolayer model was used to research the characteristic absorption and efflux of five diterpenoid alkaloids in Gancaofuzi decoction. An ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of the simulated intestinal transport of five diterpenoid alkaloids with reserpine as internal standard. The use of the apparent permeability coefficient(Papp) and efflux rate(Er) was instituted to evaluate the intestinal absorption of the alkaloids. Transport of the five alkaloids in Caco-2cell monolayer model was observed to better understand whether the intestinal absorption of alkaloids was influenced by the compatibility of four herbs in Gancaofuzi decoction. The results show that the Papp values of the five diterpenoid alkaloids were all more than 1 * 10~(-6)cm/s, confirming that the processes of permeability were valid. The flux of the alkaloids was time-dependent, and the intestinal absorption mechanism of the five alkaloids was mainly based on passive transport. The compatibility of Heishunpian, Baizhu, Guizhi and Gancao can reduce the intestinal absorption of alkaloids, especially the most toxic hypaconitine, and the attenuated effect of mixed herbal water extracts was better than that of different herbs' water extracts combination. The results prove that compatibility of four herbs in Gancaofuzi decoction is rational.     

Effect of Composition of HPAM/Chromium(III) Acetate Gels on Delayed Gelation Time

A delayed crosslinking system employed with hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and chromium acetate was developed for high profile control in low-temperature reservoirs. The crosslinking system formed strong gel at polymer concentration range of 3000–5000 mg/L, and the gelation time was delayed to 8–30 days, which offered the crosslinking system enough time to flow into deep water-producing zones and plug large pore paths, forcing follow-up fluids to enter low-permeability layer and reduce disproportionate permeability. The effect of polymer hydrolysis degree, polymer concentration, pH, and crosslinker concentration on delaying gelation time was evaluated using bottle testing. Meanwhile, sand-packed tube displacement experiments revealed the plugging performance of delayed crosslinking system. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, as well as crosslinking mechanism between polymer and chromium acetate, the delayed mechanism of crosslinked system demonstrated that due to stronger affinity of acetate complexes as a ligand, its substitution in situ by carboxylate group of polyacrylamide slowed down the initial rate-determining step of crosslinking reaction.     

NMR‐based analysis of the chemical composition of Japanese persimmon aqueous extracts

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) is recognized as an outstanding source of biologically active compounds relating to many health benefits. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy provided a comprehensive metabolic overview of Japanese persimmon juice. Detailed signal assignments of Japanese persimmon juice were carried out using various 2D NMR techniques incorporated with broadband water suppression enhanced through T₁ effects (BB‐WET) or WET sequences, and 26 components, including minor components, were identified. In addition, most components were quantitatively evaluated by the integration of signals using conventional ¹H NMR and BB‐WET NMR. This is the first detailed analysis combined with quantitative characterization of chemical components using NMR for Japanese persimmon. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of palladium amido complexes containing pincer CNO ligands through nitrene insertion

Catellani reactions of aryl iodides allow the double functionalization at the ortho and ipso positions in one pot. Catellani reactions involving a nitrene intermediate are not yet known. In this paper, a few palladium amino complexes were prepared from PdCl₂, anthranil and iodoarenes, and their structures were determined by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. These complexes are supported by a pincer C,N,O tridentate ligand forming fused six‐membered palladacycles. The high stability of the palladium complexes inhibits their reductive elimination.