New synthesis of β-lactams

α-Methylene-β-lactams 3 were synthesized from the various 2-bromoallylamine derivatives 2 using a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ or PD(acac)₂ and PPh₃, under 1–4 atom pressure of CO in good yields. Similarly, α-alkylidene-β-lactams 20 were synthesized from 3-alkyl-2-bromoallylamines 19, which were easily prepared from the olefins 14, in the same manner.     

Gas chromatography–electron ionization–mass spectrometry quantitation of valproic acid and gabapentin,using dried plasma spots,for therapeutic drug monitoring in in‐home medical care

A simple and sensitive gas chromatography–electron ionization–mass spectrometry (GC‐EI‐MS) method using dried plasma spot testing cards was developed for determination of valproic acid and gabapentin concentrations in human plasma from patients receiving in‐home medical care. We have proposed that a simple, easy and dry sampling method is suitable for in‐home medical patients for therapeutic drug monitoring. Therefore, in the present study, we used recently developed commercially available easy handling cards: Whatman FTA DMPK‐A and Bond Elut DMS. In‐home medical care patients can collect plasma using these simple kits. The spots of plasma on the cards were extracted into methanol and then evaporated to dryness. The residues were trimethylsilylated using N‐methyl‐N‐trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide. For GC‐EI‐MS analysis, the calibration curves on both cards were linear from 10 to 200 µg/mL for valproic acid, and from 0.5 to 10 µg/mL for gabapentin. Intra‐ and interday precisions in plasma were both ≤13.0% (coefficient of variation), and the accuracy was between 87.9 and 112% for both cards within the calibration curves. The limits of quantification were 10 µg/mL for valproic acid and 0.5 µg/mL for gabapentin on both cards. We believe that the present method will be useful for in‐home medical care. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rare earth metal trifluoromethanesulfonates catalyzed benzyl-etherification

Rare earth metal trifluoromethanesulfonates [rare earth metal triflate, RE(OTf)3] were found to be efficient catalyst for benzyl-etherification. In the presence of a catalytic amount of RE(OTf)3, condensation of benzyl alcohols and aliphatic alcohols proceeded smoothly to afford the benzyl ethers. The condensation between benzyl alcohols and thiols also proceeded, and thio ethers were obtained in good yield. In these reactions, RE(OTf)3 could be recovered easily after the reactions were completed and could be reused without loss of activity.     

Correlations between structure and magnetism of three N,N′-ethylene-bis(3-methoxysalicylideneimine) gadolinium complexes

Three Salen-like gadolinium complexes, namely, mononuclear (4f) complex [{H₂L}Gd(NO₃)₃] (1), heterodinuclear (3d–4f) complex [{LCu}Gd(NO₃)₃]·0.25H₂O (2) and dimeric heterotrinuclear (3d–4f–3d′) complex [{LCu}Gd(H₂O)₃{Fe(CN)₆}]₂·6H₂O (3) [H₂L = N,N′-ethylene-bis(3-methoxysalicylideneimine)] have been synthesized by stepwise reactions. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 is of a discrete structure in which H₂L coordinates to gadolinium ion through O₂O₂ moiety. Then, addition of Cu(Ac)₂·H₂O to the mononuclear lanthanide complex yields expected heterodinuclear (3d–4f) complexes [{LCu}Gd(NO₃)₃]. 3 features a unique 1D ladder-like topology structure through the intermolecular double links of Cu–N bonds. The measurement of variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility reveals that complex 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic interaction while 2 and 3 exhibit ferromagnetic interaction between spin carriers. The correlations between the structure and magnetism are described and discussed.     

Development and validation of a GC-EI-MS method with reduced adsorption loss for the quantification of olanzapine in human plasma

A simple and sensitive GC-EI-MS method using solvent extraction and evaporation was developed for the determination of olanzapine concentrations in plasma samples. Because olanzapine and promazine, which was used as the internal standard (IS), are nitrogenous bases, they can adsorb to the weakly acidic silanol groups on the surfaces of glass centrifuge tubes during solvent extraction and evaporation. Silylation of the glass tubes, addition of triethylamine (TEA), and use of a sample solution with a basic pH could prevent adsorption loss. The extraction method involved mixing plasma (500 μL) in a silylated glass tube with a promazine solution (2 μg/mL, 25 μL) in methanol containing 1% TEA. After addition of aqueous sodium carbonate (0.5 mol/L, pH 11.1, 1 mL) and extraction into 3 mL of dichloromethane/n-hexane (1:1, v/v) containing 1% TEA, the organic phase was evaporated to dryness in a silylated glass tube. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate containing 1% TEA (50 μL). For GC-EI-MS analysis, the calibration curves of olanzapine in human plasma were linear from 0.5 to 100 ng/mL. Intra- and interday precisions in plasma were both less than 7.36% (coefficient of variation), and the accuracy was between 94.6 and 110% for solutions with concentrations greater than 0.5 ng/mL. The limit of quantification was 0.5 ng/mL in plasma. The assay was applied to therapeutic drug monitoring in samples from three schizophrenic patients.     

Synthesis of polymers bearing proline moieties in the side chains and their application as catalysts for asymmetric induction

Novel polyphenylacetylene and polystyrene derivatives carrying L ‐proline moieties at the side chains were synthesized by the rhodium‐catalyzed and radical polymerizations of the corresponding monomers. The polyphenylacetylene derivatives showed Cotton effects at the absorption region of the main chain, indicating that the polymers adopt helical conformations with predominantly one‐handed screw sense. The polymers catalyzed the asymmetric aldol reactions of acetone with aromatic aldehydes, and cyclohexanone with p‐nitrobenzaldehyde. The enantioselectivities largely depended on the reaction conditions. In the asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with aromatic aldehydes, the R‐enantiomeric products were predominantly obtained except the cases with the polymer catalyst in CHCl₃. The ee of the products became higher as the reaction temperature was decreased. The polymeric catalysts were recoverable from the reaction mixture by filtration, and the recovered ones catalyzed the asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with p‐nitrobenzaldehyde without decreasing the product yield and ee. The ee was improved using the copolymers of L ‐proline‐based and nonchiral monomers as catalysts. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Selective synthesis of 5-alkenyl-15-alkynyl-porphyrin and 5,15-dialkynyl-porphyrin by 2+2 acid-catalyzed condensation of dipyrrylmethane and TMS propynal

One of 5-alkenyl-15-alkynyl-porphyrin and 5,15-dialkynyl-porphyrin was prepared selectively by 2+2 acid-catalyzed condensation of bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused dipyrrylmethane and TMS propynal in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂ only by the choice of the solvent. The alkenyl group was expected to be obtained by a protonation followed by intramolecular 1,2-hydride transfer from methine position of porphyrinogen.