Studies on indian medicinal plants-XLIV: Solanoforthine,a new steroidal alkaloid from solanum seaforthianum. a note on the mass spectrum of solanocapsine

The structure of solanoforthine, m.p. 208–10°, [α]_D- 26.6°, a new steroidal alkaloid isolated from Solanum seaforthianum Andr., has been established as 3β-amino-22,26-epimino-16α,23-epoxy-22αH,25βH-cholest- 5- en -23β - ol 3, based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence and by its reduction to solanocapsine 2, another steroidal alkaloid encountered in the same species. The mass spectra of2 and 3 are discussed.     

Novel application of quantum chemical investigation in terms of substituent parameters: Statistical comparison of dual and single substituent parameter treatments

The correlation analysis of Mulliken charge (Q_M) calculated by using density functional theory (B3LYP/STO-3G) calculations of 1-(4-azido-5-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-selenophen-2-ylmethyl)-5-substituted-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione, were done by using mono substituent parameter (Hammett’s model), and dual substituent parameter (Taft’s, Reynolds’, and Swain’s models). The dual substituent parameter correlations of the Q_M data gave no significant improvement over single parameter correlations, the best correlation observed with the Taft’s Model as compared with the Swain’s and Reynolds’ Models, respectively. The correlation analysis of Mulliken charge can be used successfully to demonstrate the existence or absence of the interaction between the oxygen of the carbonyl group and selenium atom.     

Enantioselective synthesis of functionalized γ-butyrolactones

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and aminohydroxylation of (E)-dimethyl-2-alkylidene glutarates 2 were shown to afford enantio-enriched or enantiopure highly functionalized γ-butyrolactones 3 and 7.     

O-silylated enolate phenylthialkylation: A synthesis of α,β-unsaturated 5- and 6-membered lactones.

ZnBr₂-catalysed phenylthioalkylation of ketene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetals, obtained from carboxylic acids, with appropriate α-chlorosulphides can be used to prepare γ- and δ- lactones.     

Single nanocrystal arrays on patterned poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer microstructures using selective wetting and drying

Single nanocrystal arrays were fabricated on sub-microwells of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymer using selective wetting on the hydrophilic regions of the exposed substrate surface and subsequent drying. Templates were produced by molding a thin film of a PEG-based random copolymer on hydrophilic substrates such as glass or silicon dioxide. The polymeric microstructures provide a topographical barrier around the well, which makes it possible to create nanocrystal arrays with controlled geometrical features. The size of the nanocrystal was found to decrease with decreasing well size and also decrease with decreasing topological height. A simple empirical equation was derived to predict the size of the crystal as a function of the pattern size and height, which is in good agreement with the experimental data.     

The thermal dissociation of some metal cupferrate chelates

The thermal dissociation of the cupferron complexes with Cu(II), Ni, Co(II), Zn, Cd, Mn(II), Hg(II), Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr, Al, Fe(III). Ce(III), La, and Nd was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and by pyrolysis into a mass spectrometer. The DTA curves consisted mainly of endothermic peaks although some contained exothermic peaks as well. The mass spectrometer showed that cupferron decomposes slightly above room temperature, giving off N₂, NO, N₂O, NH₃ and H₂O. A mechanism for the thermal dissociation of the coppcr(II) cupferrate is proposed.     

Comparison of analytical techniques to quantify malondialdehyde in milk powders

Several analytical methods were compared to quantify malondialdehyde (MDA) in milk powders. Modified thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods, using either visible spectrophotometry (direct absorbance reading or after third derivative transformation of the spectrum) or HPLC, required derivatisation at elevated temperature, which appeared to catalyse artefactual MDA formation and thus overestimate the MDA content. In contrast to the TBA derivatisation method, the measurement of MDA as the dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative by HPLC or as the phenylhydrazone product by GC-MS with a deuterated internal standard resulted in lower estimates in the ranges of 2-17- and 3-30-fold, respectively; apparently due to the milder derivatisation conditions. The estimates of MDA determined by both HPLC-UV and GC-MS techniques result in lower values which are similar in magnitude even though the GC-MS technique is more sensitive.     

Analysis of selected pesticides and alkylphenols in human cord blood by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer

A total of seven pesticides and eight alkylphenols were monitored using this method for the determination of their trace levels in human cord blood. The pesticides are lindane, diazinon, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, chlorpyrifos and endrin; while the alkylphenols are 4-n-butylphenol, 4-n-pentylphenol, 4-n-hexylphenol, 4-t-octylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol, nonylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol and bisphenol A. The pesticides and alkylphenols in the cord blood samples were extracted with solid phase extraction IST C18 cartridges and analyzed by selected ion monitoring mode using quadrapole detector in Shimadzu QP-5000 gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Trace levels of pesticide and alkylphenols in the range of non-detectable to 15.17 ng ml⁻¹, were detected in the human cord blood samples. This technique of monitoring the levels of endocrine-disruptors in blood samples is consistent, reliable and cost effective while reducing wastage of time and solvents.     

Umbellactal, a novel diterpenoid from the Formosan soft coral Xenia umbellata

Umbellactal, isolated from the soft coral Xenia umbellata, is an unprecedented diterpenoid. The structure of umbellactal was established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data.     

Structures and energies of seleno derivatives of biuret.Ab Initio comparative studies of diselenobiuret, selenobiuret, and selenothiobiuret

Ab initio studies (LCAO-MO method) on conformers of three seleno derivatives of the biuret molecules diselenobiuret [I], selenobiuret [II], and selenothiobiuret [III] were carried out at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and MP2 levels. The molecular geometries of these species were fully optimized at the HF level and characterized by analysis of the harmonic vibrational frequencies using a split-valence triple-zeta basis set augmented by a set ofd polarization functions on heavy atoms andp polarization functions on hydrogen atoms [TZP(d, p)]. The total energies of the HF-optimized structures were calculated at the MP2 (frozen core) level using a larger TZP (2df, 2pd) basis set. The potential energy searches revealed a total of 11 minimum-energy conformers (assigned astrans-trans, trans-cis, cis-trans, andcis-cis) and seven transition-state species for the title molecules. The two predicted conformers for diselenobiuret (Ia=trans-trans andIc=cis-cis) are characterized byC ₂ and the third byC _s symmetry. For selenothiobiuret two forms (IIIa=trans-trans andIIId=cis-cis) possessC ₁ and two (IIIb=trans-cis andIIIc=cis-trans) possessC _s symmetries, respectively. For selenobiuret, four formsIIa=trans-trans (C₁),IIb=trans-cis (C _s),IIc=cis-trans (C ₁), andIId=cis-cis (C₁), were obtained as a result of gradient optimization. Comparison of the relative energies for the considered species indicated that thecis-trans forms are the most stable conformations for all three systems at both the HF and MP2 levels of theory.