The effect of molecular planarity on crystal non‐centrosymmetry in benzyl­idene–aniline derivatives

In the title compound, N‐(2‐methoxy­phenyl)‐4‐nitro­benzyli­deneamine, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₃, the two phenyl rings make a dihedral angle of 48.0 (2)° and the nitro group is at an angle of 6.5 (1)° with respect to its attached phenyl ring. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are related as centrosymmetric pairs through π–π interactions and are further connected through strong C—H?O hydrogen bonds [C?O 3.4259 (17) Å and C—H?O 167°], forming molecular stacks along [100]. These stacks associate further through longer C—H?O interactions, forming two‐dimensional networks. In the c direction, there are only weak van der Waals interactions. The relationship between the molecular planarity and its centrosymmetry is also briefly described.     

A unique tautomer of 1‐n‐hexyl‐3‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ol

In the title compound, C₁₅H₂₀N₂O, the bond distances and angles are consistent with the presence of the hydroxy tautomer. This tautomer was unambiguously determined by the clear presence of a H atom bonded to oxygen, as well as the total absence of any residual electron density around the N atom in the heterocycle, thus precluding any possibility of desmotropism.     

Hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking in 6‐hydroxy­biochanin A monohydrate

In the lattice of the title compound (systematic name: 5,6,7‐trihydroxy‐4′‐meth­oxy­isoflavone monohydrate), C₁₆H₁₂O₆·H₂O, the isoflavone mol­ecules are linked into chains through R₄³(17) motifs composed via O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Centrosymmetric R₄²(14) motifs assemble the chains into sheets. Hydrogen‐bonding and aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions lead to the formation of a three‐dimensional network structure.     

A New Chemo‐Enzymatic Route to Side‐Chain Liquid‐Crystalline Polymers: The Synthesis and Polymerization of 6‐(4‐Methoxybiphenyl‐4′‐oxy)hexyl Vinyl Hexanedioate

A novel synthetic method combining chemo and enzymatic synthesis strategies was employed to prepare a vinyl acetate type monomer, 6‐(4‐methoxybiphenyl‐4′‐oxy)hexyl vinyl hexanedioate (VA‐LC). Homo‐ and copolymers of VA‐LC with maleic anhydride (MAn) were prepared by conventional free radical polymerization using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and 1,1′‐azobis (cyclohexane carbonitrile) (AHCN) as an initiator at 95 and 60 °C, respectively. The thermal properties of the generated polymeric material were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the optical texture was inspected by polarizing optical microscopy (POM). While the monomer VA‐LC does not exhibit liquid‐crystalline properties, poly(VA‐LC), and the alternating copolymer of VA‐LC with maleic anhydride both displayed such properties.

     

Achiral Calcium‐Oxalate Crystals with Chiral Morphology from the Leaves of Some Solanacea Plants

The leaves of some plants, particularly among the Solanacea, contain crystals of calcium oxalate with a peculiar chiral pseudo‐tetrahedral morphology, even though the calcium oxalate crystal structure is centrosymmetric, hence achiral. We studied the morphology of these crystals extracted from the leaves of three Solanacea plants: the potato, the hot pepper, and a species of wild Solanum. The crystal morphology was the same in all three species. Based on the examination of more than 100 crystals from each plant, we showed that the crystal morphology is chiral with invariant chirality. We suggest that morphological chirality is induced by macromolecules during nucleation from a specific, genetically encoded crystal plane, and is further established during subsequent controlled crystal growth. This is one of few examples where it is possible to deduce a molecular mechanism for biologically induced breaking of morphological symmetry in organisms. A very high level of recognition is required by the macromolecules to allow them to distinguish between symmetry‐related crystal planes. It is also surprising that this finely controlled mechanism of crystal formation, including the chiral morphology, has been conserved during evolution.     

A new synthesis of 1,2,3,5‐tetrahydroimidazo[2,3‐b]‐[1,3]benzodiazocines

A new synthesis of 6‐carbomethoxy‐1,2,3,5‐tetrahydroirnidazo[2,3‐b][1,3]benzodiazocines 13 by the intramolecular cycloaddition reaction of methyl 2‐(1‐aziridinylmethyl)‐3‐(2‐ureidophenyl)propenoates 10 under Appel's dehydration conditions is described. The latter were readily obtained from 2‐nitrobenzalde‐hyde with methyl acrylate through the Baylis‐Hillman reaction.     

14‐Membered Cyclopeptides from Paliurus ramosissimus and P. hemsleyanus

Six 14‐membered cyclopeptide alkaloids, i.e., ramosines A–C, mucronine J, and lotusines A and D, were isolated from the roots of Paliurus ramosissimus, and an additional four, hemsines A–D, from the roots of P. hemsleyanus. Among these, ramosines A–C ( 1, 5 , and 6 , resp.) and hemsines A and B ( 7 and 8 , resp.) are new bases of the amphibine‐B type, and hemsines C and D ( 9 and 10 , resp.) are new integerrine‐type alkaloids. Additionally, ramosine C ( 6 ) represents the first 14‐membered cyclopeptide alkaloid possessing a substitution (? OH) at C(13′). Their structural elucidations were based on spectral analysis and molecular‐modeling studies. Pronounced solvent effects in the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra of these two types of alkaloids were observed.     

Orientation order and dynamics of CDCl3 in ethylcellulose/chloroform liquid crystal phases

Abstract

Deuterium quadrupole echo spectroscopy has been used to probe the orientational behaviour and dynamics of CDCl₃ molecules in ethylcellulose/chloroform chiral nematic phases. The ²H spectra of both left-handed and right-handed mesophases, formed by ethylcellulose with degrees of substitution of 2·3 and 3·0 respectively, were examined as functions of temperature and concentration. The observed quadrupolar splittings are relatively large and the magnitudes of the order parameters of the solvent molecules show little correlation with the handedness of the chiral phases. However, the ²H line shapes of these two types of chiral phase exhibit rather different temperature dependences. Spectral simulations show that the observed line shapes and their temperature variations are mainly determined by diffusion of CDCl₃ molecules along the pitch axis. The effects of centrifugation on the ²H spectra are also described.     

A rapid and selective HPLC‐UV method for the quantitation of efavirenz in plasma from patients on concurrent HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatments

Owing to heterogeneity in therapeutic response, efavirenz is of research and clinical interest. There is a need to quantitate it using noncostly and selective methods. A method for efavirenz quantitation in plasma containing HIV and tuberculosis drugs was developed. Chromatographic separation was carried out using a C₁₈ column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile, and was pumped at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Efavirenz and ritonavir (internal standard) were monitored at 247 nm. Plasma proteins were precipitated by centrifugation. The analysis time was 6 min. The response was linear (r = 0.9997). The accuracy ranged between 98 and 115% (intraday) and between 99 and 117% (interday). The precision ranged from 1.670 to 4.087% (intraday) and from 3.447 to 13.347% (interday). Recovery ranged from 98 to 132%. Stability ranged between 99 and 123%. The selectivity was proven by analysis of drugs used for the management of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Plasma sample analysis showed an efavirenz retention time of 5.57 min and a peak plasma concentration of 2.4 µg/mL occurring at 2 h. This method is rapid and selective, and thus suitable for monitoring efavirenz in patients with HIV/AIDS alone or co‐infected with tuberculosis in a less resourced setting. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of morniflumate and its major active metabolite,niflumic acid,in human plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography in stability and pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, sensitive and stable high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of morniflumate and its major active metabolite, niflumic acid, in human plasma. HPLC analysis was carried out using a 5 µm particle size, C₁₈‐bonded silica column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.005 m potassium phosphate monobasic in water (60:40, v/v) as the mobile phase and UV detection at 287 nm. The method involved the treatment with 50 μL of 0.4 m hydrochloric acid for the stability of morniflumate, extraction with diethylether and evaporation to dryness under a nitrogen stream. The lower limit of quantitation for morniflumate and niflumic acid was 50 and 500 ng/mL, respectively. The calibration curves for morniflumate and niflumic acid were linear over the concentration range of 50–20,000 ng/mL and 500–50,000 ng/mL, respectively, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9995 and inter‐ or intra‐batch coefficients of variation not exceeding 13.79%. The variability (percentage difference) of incurred sample re‐analysis did not exceed 11.72% and all of the repeat samples fell within 20% of the mean value. This assay procedure was applied successfully to an examination of the pharmacokinetics of morniflumate and its metabolite, niflumic acid, in human subjects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.