High performance liquid chromatography equipped with a cathodic detector and column-switching device as a high-throughput method for a phosphatase assay with p-nitrophenyl phosphate

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of coumarin compounds from the Chinese medicinal plant Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim (Zihuaqianhu in Chinese) was successfully established by using light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:7:4, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. The upper phase of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:7:4, v/v) was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. Nodakenetin (2.8 mg), 6.1 mg of Pd-C-IV, 7.3 mg of Pd-D-V, 4.7 mg of ostruthin, 7.8 mg of decursidin and 11.2 mg of decursitin C with the purity of 88.3%, 98.0%, 94.2%, 97.1%, 97.8% and 98.4%, respectively, were separated successfully in one-step separation from 150 mg of crude sample from P. decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. After purified by HSCCC again with light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:4:5, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system, the purity of (I) can reach 99.4%. The structures of all the compounds were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

Evaluation of flow properties of dry powder inhalation of salbutamol sulfate with lactose carrier

The effects of the flow and packing properties of a drug/carrier powder mixture on emission of drug adhering to the carrier from capsules and inhalation devices were investigated. Model powder mixtures were designed consisting of lactose carriers with different particle shapes were prepared by surface treatment and micronized salbutamol sulfate. These powder mixtures were aerosolized by a Spinhaler, and in vitro deposition properties of salbutamol sulfate were evaluated by a twin impinger. The flow properties of the mixed powders were evaluated by the Carr's flowability index (FI) and Hausner's ratio (HR). The packing properties of the mixed powders were determined employing the tapping method. Compared with the powder mixed with the untreated lactose carrier, the FI, HR, and the constant K in Kawakita's equation of the powder mixture prepared using the surface-treated lactose carrier were significantly different, showing that the flow and packing properties of the drug/carrier powder mixture were improved. Using this surface-treated system, the handling of the powder mixture when packing into capsules is improved, which is desirable for handling dry powder inhalants. The fraction (%) of drug emitted from capsules and devices (EM) and the FI of the powder mixture were correlated. As the flow properties improved, the outflow of the powder mixture from capsules and devices became easier, and emission of drug adhering on the carrier from capsules and devices improved. Improvement of the inhalation process, such as the drug particles emitted from the inhalation system, is valuable for increasing inhalation properties of dry powder inhalation.     

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene by radiation. I. Effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight

The radiation-induced emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was carried out at an initial pressure of 2–25 kg/cm², temperature of 30–110°C, and under a dose rate of 0.57 × 10⁴?3.0 × 10⁴ rad/hr. The rate of polymerization was shown to be proportional to 1.0 and 1.3 powers of the dose rate and initial pressure, respectively, and is maximal at about 70°C. The molecular weight of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lies in the range of 10⁵?10⁶, increases with reaction time in the early stage of polymerization, and is maximal at 70°C but is almost independent of the dose rate. An interesting discovery is that PTFE, a hydrophobic polymer, forms as a stable latex in the absence of emulsifier. When PTFE latex coagulates during polymerization under certain conditions, the polymerization rate decreases, probably because polymerization proceeds mainly on the polymer particle surface. The observed rate acceleration and successive increase in polymer molecular weight may be due to slow termination of propagating radicals in the rigid PTFE particles.     

Quinolone analogues 6 [1‐5]. Synthesis of 3‐halogeno‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones

The reaction of the quinoxaline N‐oxides 7a,b with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate gave the 1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐4,4‐dicarboxylates 8a,b , whose reaction with N‐bromosuccinimide or N‐chlorosuccinimide afforded the 3‐halogeno‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐4,4‐dicarboxylates 9a‐d. The reaction of compounds 9a‐d with hydrazine hydrate resulted in hydrolysis and decarboxylation to provide the 3‐halogeno‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐4‐carboxylates 10a‐d , whose reaction with nitrous acid effected oxidation to furnish the 3‐halogeno‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐4‐carboxylates 11a‐d , respectively. The reaction of compounds 11a‐d with hydrazine hydrate afforded the 3‐halogeno‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4‐ols 12a‐d , whose oxidation provided the 3‐halogeno‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones 6a‐d , respectively. Compounds 6a‐d had antifungal activities in vitro.     

Synthesis of Optically Active Vasicinone Based on Intramolecular Aza-Wittig Reaction and Asymmetric Oxidation(1)

Both optical isomers of a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicinone, were synthesized by two different methods. The first method used (3S)-3-hydroxy-gamma-lactam as a chiral synthon, which was, after O-TBDMS protection, o-azidobenzoylated followed by treatment with tri-n-butylphosphine to afford (S)-(-)-vasicinone via the tandem Staudinger/intramolecualr aza-Wittig reaction. The second method utilized asymmetric oxygenation of deoxyvasicinone with (1S)-(+)- or (1R)-(-)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine (the Davis reagent), respectively. The aza-enolate anion of deoxyvasicinone was treated with (S)-(+)-reagent to afford (R)-(+)-vasicinone in 71% ee, while the reaction with (R)-(-)-reagent gave (S)-(-)-vasicinone in 62% ee. The optical purity was analyzed by HPLC on specially modified cellulose as a stationary phase. These results provided a facile method to prepare both optical isomers of vasicinone and confirmed the recently reversed stereochemistry of natural (-)-vasicinone.     

Synthesis of pyrimidino[4,5-b][1,5]benzodiazepin-2-ones and pyrimidino[1,6-a]benzimidazol-1-ones from 4-ethoxycarbonylamino-1H-1,5-benzodiazpine-3-carbonitrile via 4-(2-aminoanilino)pyrimidin-2(1H)-one-5-carbonitriles

Reactions of 4-ethoxycarbonylamino-1H-1,5-benzodiazepine-3-carbonitrile (2) with aliphatic primary amines gave 1-substituted 4-(2-aminoanilino)pyrimidin-2(1H)-one-5-carbonitriles 3. Analogous reactions of 2 with aromatic primary amines afforded 2-(2′-anilino-1′-cyanovinyl)benzimidazoles 5 and 6. Upon treatment with triethylamine, 3 underwent intramolecular cyclization to give 3-substituted 5-aminopyrimidino[4,5-b]-[1,5]benzodiazepin-2(3H,11H)-ones 8 . Heating of 3 with p-toluenesulfonic acid in ethanol gave 2-substituted pyrimidino[1,6-a]benzimidazol-1(2H)one-4-carbonitriles 9 . Reactions of 2 with hydrazines were also described. Mechanistic pathways are proposed to account for the products.     

Synthesis of isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were selectively synthesized from the 2-substituted 6-chloroquinoxaline 4-oxides 10a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were clarified to be produced by the ring transformation of the isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 14a,b were obtained from both 2,6-dichloroquinoxaline 4-oxide 9 and compounds 12a,b .     

The effect of fluorination: a crystallographic and computational study of mesogenic alkyl 4-[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethoxy]benzoates

The series of alkyl 4-[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethoxy]benzoates (F8-n) shows a systematic change of crystal structures depending on the length of the alkyl chain: separate packing of perfluorooctyl (Rf) and alkyl (Rh) chains from each other for shorter (n=2) and longer (n=11) members, alternate packing of Rf and Rh chains for middle (n=6,7) members, and an intermediate type of packing for n=4. Semiempirical MO calculations show slightly repulsive interactions between the Rf chains, and attractive ones between Rf and Rh chains and between Rh and the core of a molecular pair. It is concluded that fluorination determines the molecular shape of the crystal structures by making the chain rigid. It is confirmed that the interactions between Rf chains are small compared with those between other moieties and that they are forced to aggregate owing to the exclusion from other moieties. Thus, the effect is dependent on the geometries and intermolecular interactions of the other moieties.     

Radiation-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto 1,2-polybutadiene

The γ-ray-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene film and liquid 1,2-polybutadiene was carried out at room temperature. In the film gelation was pronounced and the rate of addition increased as the crystallinity of the polymer decreased. In the liquid gelation, which makes the polymer insoluble in carbon tetrachloride, did not take place, although a definite crosslinking reaction was noticed. In this case the appearance of the product changed from a viscous liquid to a white powder as the reaction proceeded. Its structure was compared with that of chlorinated 1,2-polybutadiene. The addition of carbon tetrachloride to the vinyl group in liquid 1,2-polybutadiene caused an anti-Markownikoff-type reaction and was accompanied by an unexpectedly large vinyl depletion in the polymer. The total decrease in the vinyl group was found to be much larger than that brought about by the addition of carbon tetrachloride. This discrepancy was attributed to a cyclization and crosslinking reaction ascribed to the vinyl group bound by the main chain. Cyclization and crosslinking were less noticeable in the chlorination than in the carbon tetrachloride.     

A new route to 2'-O-alkyl-2-thiouridine derivatives via 4-O-protection of the uracil base and hybridization properties of oligonucleotides incorporating these modified nucleoside derivatives

Oligonucleotides containing 2-thiouridine (s2U) in place of uridine form stable RNA duplexes with complementary RNAs. Particularly, this modified nucleoside has proved to recognize highly selectively adenosine, the genuine partner, without formation of a mismatched base pair with the guanosine counterpart. In this paper, we describe new methods for the synthesis of 2-thiouridine and various 2'-O-alkyl-2-thiouridine derivatives. Oligoribonucleotides having these modified nucleoside derivatives were synthesized, and their hybridization and structural properties were studied in detail by the 1H NMR analysis of these modified nucleosides and Tm experiments of RNA duplexes with their complementary RNA strands.