Extraction and detection of arsenicals in seaweed via accelerated solvent extraction with ion chromatographic separation and ICP-MS detection

An accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) device was evaluated as a semi-automated means of extracting arsenicals from ribbon kelp. The effect of the experimentally controllable ASE parameters (pressure, temperature, static time, and solvent composition) on the extraction efficiencies of arsenicals from seaweed was investigated. The extraction efficiencies for ribbon kelp (approximately 72.6%) using the ASE were fairly independent (< 7%) of pressure, static time and particle size after 3 ASE extraction cycles. The optimum extraction conditions for the ribbon kelp were obtained by using a 3 mL ASE cell, 30/70 (w/w) MeOH/H2O, 500 psi (1 psi = 7 KPa), ambient temperature, 1 min heat step, 1 min static step, 90% vol. flush, and a 120 s purge. Using these conditions, two other seaweed products produced extraction efficiencies of 25.6% and 50.5%. The inorganic species present in the extract represented 62.5% and 27.8% of the extracted arsenic. The speciation results indicated that both seaweed products contained 4 different arsenosugars, DMA (dimethylarsinic acid), and As(V). One seaweed product also contained As(III). Both of these seaweed products contained an arsenosugar whose molecular weight was determined to be 408 and its structure was tentatively identified using ion chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (IC-ESI-MS/MS).     

2,2′‐[2,3‐Di­hydro‐2‐(prop‐2‐enyl)‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3‐diyl­idene]bis(propane­di­nitrile)–tetra­thia­fulvalene (1/1), TCPI–TTF

The title complex, C₁₇H₉N₅·C₆H₄S₄, contains π‐deficient bis(di­nitrile) and TTF mol­ecules stacked alternately in columns along the a‐axis direction; the interplanar angle between the TTF molecule and the isoindolinyl C₄N[C(CN)₂]₂ moiety is 1.21 (4)°. The N‐allyl moiety in the TCPI mol­ecule is oriented at an angle of 87.10 (10)° with respect to the five‐membered C₄N ring, and the four C[triple‐bond]N bond lengths range from 1.134 (3) to 1.142 (3) Å, with C—C[triple‐bond]N angles in the range 174.3 (3)–176.9 (2)°. In the TTF system, the S—C bond lengths are 1.726 (3)–1.740 (3) and 1.751 (2)–1.763 (2) Å for the external S—C(H) and internal S—C(S) bonds, respectively.     

β-Substituted ketene thioacetals as β-lithioacrylate equivalents. The synthesis of (±)-eldanolide

Lithiation of 1,1-bis(phenylthio)-3-phenylthio-1-propene 3 and reaction with a range of electrophiles gave exclusively the γ-substituted product 4. This reagent has been used in a short synthesis of the pheromone, (±)-eldanolide.     

Novel titanocene anti-cancer drugs derived from fulvenes and titanium dichloride

Starting from 6-(p−N,N-dimethylanilinyl)fulvene (1a) or 6-(pentamethylphenyl)fulvene (1b) [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(p−N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2a) and [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-bis(pentamethylphenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2b) and their corresponding dithiocyanato complexes (3a, 3b) were synthesized. Titanocene 2b did not show a cytotoxic effect, but when 2a was tested against pig kidney carcinoma cells (LLC-PK) or human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780/cp70) inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.9 ×  10⁻⁴ M, respectively, were observed.     

High temperature reaction of SiCl4 and O2 in quartz tubes

The reaction between SiCl₄ and O₂ at 1 atm between 25 and 1200°C has been followed by mass spectrometry. Below 600°C no reaction with O₂ is noted. Above 600°C the reaction proceeds in two steps. Between 800 and 1000°C the ²⁸Si/³²O₂ peak height ratio is constant with no evolution of Cl₂. It is suggested that silicon oxychlorides are being formed in this temperature regime. Above 1000°C the reaction between SiCl₄ and O₂ intensifies with concomitant production of Cl₂. It is suggested that above 1000°C the reaction SiCl₄ + O₂ → SiO₂ + Cl₂ becomes important.

At low temperatures (<800°C) adsorbed H₂O and OH groups from the surface of the fused silica tube react with SiCl₄ to form HCl. The importance of this reaction decreases with increasing temperature. The increased production of HCl above 1000°C is ascribed to H₂O and H₂ diffusing from the tube.     

The Structure of the Alkaloid Peduncularine. Communication no. 172 on organic natural products

The revised structure 1 is put forward for peduncularine, the main alkaloid of Aristotelia peduncularis (Labill.) HOOK. F. (Elaeocarpaceae), on the basis of its spectroscopic properties and those of its degradation products, the Hofmann base 3 and the hydrogenation product 4 . Structure 1 represents the relative configuration of the alkaloid. Peduncularine belongs to the class of indole alkaloids with a monoterpene unit as the aliphatic portion. To our knowledge it constitutes the first example in which an isopropyl group has become detached from the terpene unit and occurs as a substituent on nitrogen.