Method of kinetic analysis of photodegradation: nifedipine in solutions

A rate equation for photodegradation was derived from Lambert-Beer's law and Grotthus-Draper's law: -dc/dt=k1(1-exp(-(k2c+k3(c0-c))))k2c/(k2c+k3(c0-c)) where c is the concentration of reactant, c0 is the initial concentration of reactant, t is time, k1 is the rate constant, and k2 and k3 are the absorption coefficient of reactant and its photodegradation product, respectively. In a case where the photodegradation products have no photoabsorption, k3 assumes the value of zero in the above general equation. In a case where the photodegradation products have the same spectrum and molar absorptivity as that of the reactant, k3 assumes the value of k2, and hence the photodegradation is not a first-order reaction; however, the equation itself gives the pseudo-first-order reaction rate equation. In a case where the concentration of reactant is high enough, the equation approaches a zero-order reaction rate equation. The photodegradation rate of nifedipine in solutions under a germicidal lamp, near an ultraviolet fluorescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp was analyzed using the above equation. The photodegradation rate was directly proportional to the amount of light absorbed, and fitted well with the equation. The above theoretical equation was substantiated by the photodegradation of nifedipine, and hence is expected to apply to other photosensitive drugs.     

Polycyclic N-hetero compounds. XXXIV. Syntheses and evaluation of antidepressive activity of benzofuro-[2,3-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidines and their precursors

Syntheses of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuro[2,3-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and its 5-substituted derivatives, corresponding to B-nor-6-oxa-11,13,15-triazasteroids, are described. These products and their precursors were screened to evaluate the antidepressive activity.     

In situ monitoring of metal nanoparticle self-assembly on protein-functionalized glass by broadband optical waveguide spectroscopy

Broadband, time-resolved optical waveguide (OWG) spectroscopy has been used for in situ, real-time investigation into the self-assembly of metal nanoparticle monolayers. The OWG spectroscopy makes it possible to use the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes to measure surface plasmon absorption of immobilized metal nanoparticles in two directions, parallel and normal to the waveguide surface. Therefore, this technique can provide direction-dependent information on the metal nanoparticles at the interface. In this paper, a 50-microm-thick glass plate was used as a slab waveguide and the kinetics of Au nanoparticle adsorption on a hemoglobin-functionalized glass substrate was examined in the early stage of self-assembly. The findings show that with the TE mode the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) behavior for immobilized Au nanoparticles is different from that with the TM mode.     

New chemosensor for larger guests based on modified cyclodextrin bearing seven hydrophobic chains each with a hydrophilic end group

A new chemosensor for larger guests was prepared. The new chemosensor bears hydrophobic units at the primary hydroxy side and a dansyl unit at the secondary hydroxy side of β-cyclodextrin. Due to the hydrophobic units, the new chemosensor is sensitive to large or slender guests such as SDS and insensitive to 1-adamantanol, which is a good guest for the natural β-CD.     

Synthesis of (±)-lineatin,the unique tricyclic pheromone of Trypodendron lineatum (olivier)

(+-)-3,3,7-Trimethyl-2,9-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^{4, 7}]noname

and (+-)-3,3,7-trimethyl-2,9-dioxatricyclo[3.3.1.0^{4, 7}] nonane

were synthesized. The latter was shown to be (+-)-lineatin, an ambrosia beetle pheromone.     

Novel real-time sensors to quantitatively assess in vivo inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in intact cells

Real-time observation of messenger molecules in individual intact cells is essential for physiological studies of signaling mechanisms. We have developed a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) sensor based on the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain from phospholipase C (PLC) delta. The environmentally sensitive fluorophore 6-bromoacetyl-2-dimethyl-aminonaphtalene was conjugated to the genetically introduced cysteine at the mouth of the IP(3) binding pocket for enhanced IP(3) selectivity and for rapid and direct visualization of intracellular IP(3) > or = 0.5 microM as fluorescence emission decreased. The probe, tagged with arginine-rich sequences for efficient translocation into various cell types, revealed a major contribution of Ca2+ influx to PLC-mediated IP(3) production that boosts Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our IP(3) probe was extremely effective to quantitatively assess real-time physiological IP(3) production via those pathways formed only in the intact cellular configuration.     

Synthesis and characterization of 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids with a branched-acyl chain

We previously reported the chemical synthesis of a series of novel monoacylated vitamin C derivatives, 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids (6-Acyl-AA-2G) possessing a straight-acyl chain of varying length from C(4) to C(18), as effective skin antioxidants. In this paper, we describe branched type of 6-Acyl-AA-2G derivatives (6-bAcyl-AA-2G) synthesized by use of a 2-branched-chain fatty acid anhydride as an acyl donor. The stability of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G in neutral solution was much higher than that of 6-Acyl-AA-2G, while they were susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis for exerting vitamin C effect. These branched derivatives as well as 6-Acyl-AA-2G increased the radical scavenging activity against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and the lipophilicity in octanol/water-partitioning systems with increasing length of their acyl group. In addition, the 6-bAcyl-AA-2G derivative with an acyl chain of C(12), 6-bDode-AA-2G had the excellent solubility to various solvents, suggesting easy handling in cosmetic use. These characteristics of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G may be available for skin care application as an effective antioxidant.     

Alternating copolymerization of 1- and 2-vinylnaphthalene with methyl methacrylate by using diethylaluminum chloride

The alternating copolymerization of 1- and 2-vinylnaphthalene (1-VNap and 2-VNap) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) by using diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl) in toluene at 0°C has been studied. No polymerization could occur without Et₂AlCl, and alternating copolymers were obtained only when an equimolar amount of Et₂AlCl with MMA was supplied. Through ¹H-NMR analyses on both dyad and triad of alternating deuterated 1- and 2-α-d-VNap–MMA copolymers, each configuration could be described successfully by a single parameter, coisotacticity σ, whose value was estimated as 0.41 for the former and 0.56 for the latter copolymer, respectively. A rather low coisotacticity of copoly(1-VNap–MMA) was explained in the terms of steric effect (peri effect) of 1-VNap monomer.