Zirconocene-mediated route to enantiopure 9-oxabicyclononanes functionalized on both carbon bridges

[reaction: see text] A zirconocene-mediated ring contraction of 4-vinylfuranosides generated either from d-arabinose or d-glucose is followed by sequential oxidation to the ketone and alkynyl Grignard addition. The resulting cis-cyclobutanediols are subjected in turn to thermal rearrangement and intramolecular oxymercuration-demercuration. The regiochemistry of the final ring closure is controlled by the nature of R.     

Photolysis of NSAIDs. I. photodegradation products of carprofen determined by LC-ESI-MS

A solution of carprofen in methanol at a concentration of 2.74 x 10(-2) mg/mL is subjected to photoirradiation using a Hanovia 200-W high-pressure Hg lamp for 9 h. In total, seven photodegradation products are separated, and their quasimolecular ions are subsequently determined online using a liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) method. The high-performance LC consists of an Inertsil 5 ODS-80A (2.1- x 150-mm) column. The mobile phase is initially CH(3)CN. NH(4)OAc (20mM in de-ionized H(2)O) is 43:57 (v/v), and after 14 min it is CH(3)CN. NH(4)OAc (20mM in de-ionized H2O) is 54: 46 (v/v). The UV detector was set at 260 nm. The parameters of LC-MS for mass determination involves an atmospheric pressure ionization electron spray interface with a negative mode of polarity (ESI(-)). The chemical structures of the degradants are elucidated based on the mass-to-charge ratio of the quasimolecular ions and the molecular weight changes by comparison with the parent drug (carprofen). The degradation proceeds via an initial dechlorination. A dechlorination or esterification reaction is competed with decarboxylation. This finding is in accordance with our previously reported result of first order photodecomposition kinetics for carprofen.     

Fundamental mechanisms of surface photochemistry

The fundamental mechanisms of photochemistry of molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces are revealed from results obtained by a combination of optical techniques, surface probes, and gas phase analysis. While photon-induced processes similar to those in the gas and liquid phase are observed for the adsorbed molecules, the presence of the substrate introduces important channels for energy exchange, dissipation, and adsorbate photochemistry.     

Identification of soy protein in meat by pyrolysis-high-resolution gas chromatography

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography was applied to the characterization of ground beef and soy protein isolate and its mixtures at the 50, 30 and 10% levels. A cryogenic trap pyrolysis mode was employed and the volatile pyrolysates were analysed by a high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph. Two phenolic derivatives, o-methoxy- and dimethoxyphenol, as well as 2,3-dithiabutane are uniquely observed at a large concentration in the soy pyrolysate. Quantification of these characteristic compounds allow the estimation of the level of soy inclusion in the mixture. This approach effectively denotes soy addition up to the 10% level in comminuted beef.     

Aging of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene)/toluene solutions and subsequent effects on luminescence behavior of cast films

Morphological effects in luminescence properties of a representative semiconducting polymer, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV), has recently attracted much attention. Previous studies indicated that short-term heat treatment of solution-cast MEH-PPV films may result in the formation of mesomorphic order that is responsible for the "red" emission around 640 nm, in contrast to the single-chromophore "yellow" emission near 590 nm from the disordered matrix. On the basis of microscopic and spectroscopic evidence for films cast from freshly prepared and aged solutions, here we show that prolonged storage of MEHyellowPPV solutions at room temperature or lower may result in retardation of the thermally induced mesophase formation in the subsequently cast films. According to small-angle neutron scattering and differential scanning calorimetric observations over aged MEH-PPV/toluene solutions, we propose that the suppressed transformation into mesomorphic order is due to further development of nanocrystalline aggregates that serve as physical cross-links among MEH-PPV chains in the solution state upon long-term storage. These solvent-induced nanocrystalline aggregates, however, do not exhibit new spectroscopic features beyond the suppression of "red" emission at 640 nm from the mesomorphic phase.     

Effect of particle size in preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on the isolation of epigallocatechin gallate from Korean green tea

To isolate epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) of catechin compounds from Korean green tea (Bosung, Chonnam), a C18 reversed-phase preparative column (250x22 mm) packed with packings of three different sizes (15, 40-63, and 150 microm) was used. The sample extracted with water was partitioned with chloroform and ethyl acetate to remove the impurities including caffeine. The mobile phases in this experiment were composed of 0.1% acetic acid in water, acetonitrile, methanol and ethyl acetate. The injection volume was fixed at 400 microl and the flow rate was increased as the particle size becomes larger. The isolation of EGCG with particle size was compared at a preparative scale and the feasibility of separation of EGCG at larger particle sizes was confirmed. The optimum mobile phase composition for separating EGCG was experimentally obtained at the particle sizes of 15 and 40-63 microm in the isocratic mode, but EGCG was not purely separated at the particle size of 150 microm.     

Determination of buprenorphine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: application to human and rabbit pharmacokinetic studies.

A rapid, sensitive, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of buprenorphine in human, rabbit, pig and dog plasma. It is comprised of only a one-step extraction procedure with hexane-isoamyl alcohol at pH 9.25 and reversed-phase chromatography on a muPorasil column. The recoveries of buprenorphine and nalbuphine (internal standard) were greater than 90%. Calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range 3-300 ng/ml with a coefficient of variation, both within-day and between-day, of less than 9% at any level. The limit of detection was 1.0 ng/ml of plasma based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Eight other clinically used narcotics were investigated to check for potential interferences and their analytical conditions. The possible decomposed compounds of buprenorphine were also checked for the specificity of this assay. The method has been successfully applied to the stability and pharmacokinetic studies of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine in plasma did not decompose significantly at -20 degrees C for four weeks. Pharmacokinetic application in six rabbits and a surgical patient revealed that buprenorphine followed a linear three-compartment model with two distribution phases. The two distribution and elimination half-lives and the clearance of buprenorphine were 1.32, 24.8 and 230 min and 224 ml/min in human plasma, and 0.94, 12.5 and 232 min and 30 ml/min in rabbit plasma.     

Theoretical investigation of the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed on the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS. Possible mechanisms were classified according to four pathways yielding products in the following four possible groups: N2O/N2S + CN, N2 + NCO/NCS, N2 + CNO/CNS, and CNN + NO/NS, labeled in order from p1/p1s to p4/p4s. The local structures, transition structures, and potential-energy surfaces with respect to the reaction coordinates are calculated, and the barriers are compared. In the NCN + NO reaction, out of several adduct structures, only the nitroso adduct NCNNO lies lower in energy than the reactants, by 21.89 kcal/mol; that adduct undergoes rapid transformation into the products, in agreement with experimental observation. For the NS counterpart, both thionitroso NCNNS and thiazyl NCNSN adducts have energies much lower than those of the reactants, by 43 and 29 kcal/mol, respectively, and a five-membered-ring NCNNS (having an energy lower than those of the reactants by 36 kcal/mol) acts as a bridge in connecting these two adducts. The net energy barriers leading to product channels other than p4s are negative for the NS reaction, whereas those for the NO analogue are all positive. The channel leading to p1 (N2O + CN) has the lowest energy (3.81 kcal/mol), whereas the channels leading to p2 (N2 + NCO) and p2s (N2 + NCS) are the most exothermic (100.94 and 107.38 kcal/mol, respectively).