High-Throughput Analysis of Sofalcone in Human Plasma by Use of Automated 96-Well Protein Precipitation and LC-MS-MS

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of sofalcone in human plasma was established by use of protein precipitation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma samples were transferred into 96-well plate using an automated sample handling system and spiked with 10 L of 2 g mL^–1 internal standard solution (d₃-sofalcone). 0.5 mL of acetonitrile was added to the 96-well plate and the plasma samples were then vortexed for 30 sec. After centrifugation, the supernatant was transferred into another 96-well plate and completely evaporated at 40 °C under a stream of nitrogen. The dry residue was reconstituted with mobile phase. All sample transfer and protein precipitation was automated through the application of both the PerkinElmer MultiPROBE II HT and TOMTEC Quadra 96 workstation. The limit of quantitation of sofalcone was 2 ng mL^–1 using a sample volume of 0.2 mL for the analysis. The reproducibility of the method was evaluated by analyzing five samples at nine quality control (QC) levels over the nominal concentration range from 2 ng mL^–1 to 1000 ng mL^–1. Validation of the method showed that the assay has good precision and accuracy. Sofalcone and internal standard produced a protonated precursor ion ([M+H]⁺) at m/z 451 and 454, and both gave a corresponding product ion at m/z 315. The high sample throughput of the method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of sofalcone in human plasma.     

Effects of inorganic substances on water splitting in ion-exchange membranes; I. Electrochemical characteristics of ion-exchange membranes coated with iron hydroxide/oxide and silica sol

The effects of inorganic substances on water splitting in ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) were investigated. In this study, iron hydroxide/ oxide and silica sol were immobilized on the surface of the IEMs. The water-splitting capabilities of the metal-embedded cation-exchange membranes were 10(4)-10(5) times greater than those of the virgin membranes at the same current density. Similarly, silica sol (i.e., triple bond Si-OH groups) deposited on the anion-exchange membrane surface also drastically increased the proton transport numbers. It was thought that the bipolar structure consisting of H- and OH-affinity groups immobilized on the IEM surface increased water-splitting due to the enhancement of water polarization with the help of strong electric fields. This study revealed that metal oxides or silica groups (triple bond Si-OH), as well as metal hydroxides, can be used as catalysts for water splitting.     

Preparative and stereoselective synthesis of the versatile intermediate for carbocyclic nucleosides: effects of the bulky protecting groups to enforce facial selectivity

The preparative and stereoselective synthesis (45-50% overall yields) of the target compound 17 has been accomplished from D-ribose. The bulky protecting groups such as TBDPS and Trityl enforced the facial selectivity during Grignard reaction to give the tertiary beta-allylic alcohol 16 as the sole product, which was oxidatively rearranged to the key molecule 17 in excellent yield.     

First synthesis of 2′-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl nucleosides with a north conformation

The first synthesis of 2′-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl nucleosides, a novel class of bicyclonucleosides, with a north conformation was successfully accomplished starting from (S)-epichlorohydrin via a tandem alkylation-lactonization, a less steric hindrance-dependent silylation in equilibrium and a coupling reaction with nucleobases under Vorbruggen conditions. Addition of acetic acid prevented a benzoyl group from migrating during desilylation with TBAF. ¹H NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis indicated that the anomeric effect worked on the β-2′-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl nucleosides.     

Using conformationally locked nucleosides to calibrate the anomeric effect: Implications for glycosyl bond stability

Steric and electronic parameters, such as the anomeric effect (AE) and gauche effect play significant roles in steering the North⇆South equilibrium of nucleosides in solution.Two isomeric oxa-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane nucleosides that are conformationally locked in either the North or the South conformation of the pseudorotational cycle were designed to study the consequences of having the AE operational or not, independent of other parameters. The rigidity of the system allowed the orientation of the orbitals involved to be set in ‘fixed’ relationships, either antiperiplanar where the AE is permanently ‘on’, or gauche where the AE is impaired. The consequences of these two alternatives were subjected to high-level calculations and measured experimentally by X-ray crystallography, hydrolytic stability of the glycosyl bond, and pK_a values.     

Ketene functionalized polyethylene: control of cross-link density and material properties

The functionalization and cross-linking of polyethylene is synthetically challenging, commonly relying on highly optimized radical based postpolymerization strategies. To address these difficulties, a norbornene monomer containing Meldrum's acid is shown to be effectively copolymerized with polyethylene using a nickel α-iminocarbaxamidato complex, providing high-melting, semicrystalline polymers with a tunable incorporation of the functional comonomer. Upon heating the copolymer to common polyethylene processing temperatures, the thermolysis of Meldrum's acid to ketene provides the desired reactive group. This simple and versatile methodology does not require small molecule radical sources or catalysts, and the dimerization of the in situ generated ketenes is shown to provide tunable cross-linking densities in polyethylene. Subsequent rheological and tensile experiments illustrate the ability to tune cross-linked polyethylene properties by comonomer incorporation and elucidate valuable structure/property relationships in these materials. This study illustrates the power of well-defined and synthetically accessible functional groups in polyolefin synthesis and functionalization.