Chiral analytical method development and application to pre‐clinical pharmacokinetics of pinocembrin

An analytical method enabling the detection and quantification of the individual enantiomers of racemic (±) pinocembrin is required to fully characterize its pharmacokinetic disposition. Direct resolution of the enantiomers of pinocembrin was achieved using a novel and simple reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method with electrospray ionization and detection by mass spectrometry in rat serum. A Chiralcel® AD‐RH column was employed to perform baseline separation with electrospray positive‐mode ionization with selected ion monitoring detection. The standard curves were linear from 0.5 to 100 µg/mL for each enantiomer. The limit of quantification was 0.5 µg/mL. The assay was applied successfully to stereoselective serum disposition of pinocembrin enantiomers in rats. Pinocembrin enantiomers were detected in serum. Both enantiomers had a serum half‐life of ~15 min in rats. Similar values of volume of distribution between the enantiomers were also observed: 1.76 L/kg for S‐pinocembrin and 1.79 L/kg for R‐pinocembrin. Total clearance was 5.527 L//h/kg for S‐pinocembrin and 5.535 L/h/kg for R‐pinocembrin, and the area under the curve was 1.821 µg h/mL for S‐pinocembrin and 1.876 µg h/mL for R‐pinocembrin. The large volume of distribution coupled with the short serum half‐life suggests extensive distribution of pinocembrin into the tissues. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Preparation of Substituted Hydroxyphenyl-pyridyl-ethanols and α-Hydroxyphenyl-α-methylpyridineethanols by the Condensation of 2-, 3-, or 4-Picolyllithium with Select Hydroxy-benzaldehydes and 4-Hydroxyacetophenone

2-, 3-, or 4-Picolyllithium was prepared in excess lithium diiso-propylamide and condensed with several hydroxy-benzaldehydes and 4-hydroxy-acetophenone to afford substituted hydroxyphenyl-pyridyl-ethanols and α-hydroxyphenyl-α-methylpyridineethanols. In two instances. 3-picolyllithium condensed with aldehydes to presumably form the hydroxyphenyl-pyridyl-ethanol, which underwent linear dehydration to the substituted pyridyl-ethylenyl-phenol.     

Nile Red and Nile Blue: Applications and Syntheses of Structural Analogues

Nile red and Nile blue are highly fluorescent and photostable organic dyes from the benzo[a]phenoxazine family. They have been used as histological stains for imaging lysosomes and lipids in vitro. The dyes’ high quantum yields and solvent‐dependent optical properties make them ideal scaffolds for the development of pH probes and local polarity indicators. Reviews of the literature in this area are scarce with only one review ever published in 2006. It has been 10 years since and the field has evolved. This review aims to expand upon topics covered by the previous reviewers and to report on recent advances in the literature. As authors, we hope to convey a sense of scope and to spark renewed interest in this useful niche of dye chemistry.     

Synthesis of (22R, 25R)-3β,26-Dihydroxy-5α-furostan-6-one #

The synthesis of a plant growth promoter furostanol which bears the characteristic functionality of teasterone on rings A and B is described.

     

Photostabilization study of ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers functionalized in the molten state with hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS)

Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS), N-methylated and O-alkylhydroxylamine, were successfully anchored onto an ethylene-co-butyl acrylate (BA) by a transesterification reaction in the molten state. The content of HALS bonded to the EBA was calculated from the atomic ratio (N/C) determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). After reaction times of 5–30 min in the molten state the content of bonded HALS attained values from 0.17 to 0.63%. The modified EBA with HALS were studied by Chemiluminescence emission and the photostabilization effect was evaluated under accelerated ageing in the presence of pesticides. The antioxidant effect of HALS bonded to EBA was evaluated by determination of Carbonyl Index (CI) and retention of elongation at break as a function of exposure time and pesticide treatment. The stability of the EBA with anchored HALS exhibited higher performance as shown by low CI-values and correlated with the content of bound HALS and the thermal history of the materials. Also, mechanical properties correlated well with the CI results and the photostabilization of bound HALS was effective until 3150 h of exposure time using pesticides.     

Narrow band quantitative and multivariate electroencephalogram analysis of peri-adolescent period

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The peri-adolescent period is a crucial developmental moment of transition from childhood to emergent adulthood. The present report analyses the differences in Power Spectrum (PS) of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) between late childhood (24 children between 8 and 13 years old) and young adulthood (24 young adults between 18 and 23 years old). RESULTS: The narrow band analysis of the Electroencephalogram was computed in the frequency range of 0--20 Hz. The analysis of mean and variance suggested that six frequency ranges presented a different rate of maturation at these ages, namely: low delta, delta-theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta. For most of these bands the maturation seems to occur later in anterior sites than posterior sites. Correlational analysis showed a lower pattern of correlation between different frequencies in children than in young adults, suggesting a certain asynchrony in the maturation of different rhythms. The topographical analysis revealed similar topographies of the different rhythms in children and young adults. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated the same internal structure for the Electroencephalogram of both age groups. Principal Component Analysis allowed to separate four subcomponents in the alpha range. All these subcomponents peaked at a lower frequency in children than in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present approaches complement and solve some of the incertitudes when the classical brain broad rhythm analysis is applied. Children have a higher absolute power than young adults for frequency ranges between 0-20 Hz, the correlation of Power Spectrum (PS) with age and the variance age comparison showed that there are six ranges of frequencies that can distinguish the level of EEG maturation in children and adults. The establishment of maturational order of different frequencies and its possible maturational interdependence would require a complete series including all the different ages.     

The new frozen spin target at MAMI

The new frozen spin polarized target for experiments at the polarized beam of the real photon facility A2 of the MAMI accelerator is described. The A2-collaboration at the Mainz Microtron MAMI is measuring photon absorption cross section using circularly and linearly polarized photons up to the energy of 1.5 GeV. The photons are produced in the’ Bremsstrahlungs’ process. In the years 2005/2006 the Crystal Ball detector with its unique capability to cope with multi photon final states was set up in Mainz. Since 2010 the experimental apparatus has been completed by a polarized target. The horizontal dilution refrigerator of the Frozen-Spin Target has been constructed and is operated in close cooperation with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The system offers the opportunity to provide longitudinally and transversely polarized protons and deuteron. In this paper the operation experience of this new Frozen-Spin Target and first results from the runs in 2010 and 2011 are presented.     

Large‐Scale Synthesis of Enantiopure Molecular Cages: Chiroptical and Recognition Properties

A convenient and efficient gram‐scale synthesis for enantiopure hemicryptophane–tren (tren=tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine) derivatives has been developed. The four‐step synthesis is based on the optical resolution of a key intermediate, cyclotriveratrylene, for which the energy barrier for racemization has been measured to ensure that no racemization occurs during the two last steps of the synthetic pathway. The assignments of the absolute configurations have been performed by electronic circular dichroism and the enantiopurity was determined by NMR spectroscopy in the presence of enantiopure camphor sulfonic acid. To highlight the interest of such compounds, the recognition of norephedrine neurotransmitter was investigated and showed a remarkable enantioselectivity towards the C₃ symmetrical hosts. Finally, this highly modular synthetic pathway was used to provide eight enantiopure hemicryptophanes with different sizes, shapes, and functionalities. These results underline the high potential of this approach, which could lead to many applications in chiral recognition or asymmetric supramolecular catalysis.     

Gold-surface binding of molecular switches studied by M?ssbauer spectroscopy

The nonanuclear coordination compound [Mo^IV{(CN)Fe^III(3-methyl-saldptn)}₈]Cl₄ exhibits multiple spin transitions (3-methyl-saldptn = N,N′-bis(3′′-methyl-2′′-hydroxy-benzyliden)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane). This spin crossover cluster is bound via a self-assembled monolayer onto a two dimensional array gold surface. M?ssbauer spectroscopy indicates that the thermally and optically induced spin crossover of the compound is maintained. Thereby, the foundation for its potential practical application (e.g. in the field of information storage) was laid.