A new veratramine alkaloid from the bulbs of Fritillaria hupehensis

A new highly conjugated alkaloid of veratramine type, 225,25S,5α-veratramine-7(8),12(14)-diene-3β,13β,23β-triol-6-one (1), was isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria hupehensis Hsiao et K.C. Hsia. Its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidences.     

Higher triplet excited states of benzophenones and bimolecular triplet energy transfer measured by using nanosecond-picosecond two-color/two-laser flash photolysis

The lifetimes of benzophenone in the higher triplet excited state (BP(T(n))) and several BP derivatives in the T(n) states were measured directly to be tau(T(n))=37+/-7 ps and 20-33 ps, respectively, by using the nanosecond-picosecond (ns-ps) two-color/two-laser flash photolysis method. Based on the direct measurements of tau(T(n)) of BP(T(n)), the triplet energy transfer (TET) from BP(T(n)) to quenchers (Q), such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), benzene (Bz), and p-dichlorbenzene (DCB), was investigated. The fast TET from BP(T(n)) to Q can be attributed to the lifetime-dependent quenching process, according to the Ware theoretical model of the bimolecular energy transfer reaction. The contribution of the lifetime-dependent term on k(TET) was 27, 60, and 86% for CCl4, Bz, and DCB as the Q of BP(T(n)), respectively, indicating that the TET from BP(T(n)) to Q is influenced not only by tau(T(n)), but also by the size of Q.     

Sensitive determination of bisphenol A and alkylphenols by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole

A new and sensitive high-performance chromatographic method for the determination of bisphenol A and 8 alkylphenols with fluorescence detection is reported. Each phenol was derivatized by reaction with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole at 40 degrees C for 60 min. The fluorescence derivatives were separated on a Wakosil 5C18 column (4.0 i.d. x 300 mm, 5 microm) with methanol:water (10:90) as mobile phase (detection wavelength: lambda(ex) 336 nm, lambda(em) 440 nm). The detection limits were in the range of 0.1-10.0 pg/mL in serum. The calibration graphs were linear to 1.0 microg/mL. The relative standard deviations were 7.2-8.9%, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of bisphenol A in mother and infant rat serum.     

On the electronic character of localized singlet 2,2-dimethoxycyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradicals: substituent effects on the lifetime

Photodenitrogenation of the diazenes 4 affords exclusively the housanes 5 through intramolecular cyclization of the spectrally detected and characterized singlet diradicals 3. The lifetime of singlet diradical 3, determined by transient absorption measurements, depends on the Y and Z substituents at the para position of the phenyl ring and has the following order: Y, Z = OMe, OMe > OMe, CN > CN, CN > OMe, H > Cl, Cl approximately CN, H approximately Me, Me > H, H. This unprecedented substituent effect reveals stabilization of the singlet 2,2-dimethoxycyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradicals 3 through radical, zwitterionic, pi-bonding, and hyperconjugative structures.     

Lifetime regulation of the charge-separated state in DNA by modulating the oxidation potential of guanine in DNA through hydrogen bonding

A series of naphthalimide (NI)- and 5-bromocytosine ((br)C)-modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were prepared, and their lifetimes of the charge-separated states during the photosensitized one-electron oxidation of DNA were measured. Various lifetimes of the charge-separated states were observed depending on the sequence and the incorporation sites of (br)C, and the oxidation potential of G in the (br)C:G base-pair relative to that of G in the C:G base-pair and in the GGG sequence was determined by comparing the lifetimes of the charge-separated states. The change in the cytosine C5 hydrogen to bromine resulted in a 24 mV increase in the oxidation potential of G in the (br)C:G base-pair as compared to that of G in the C:G base-pair, the value of which is comparable to a 58 mV decrease in the oxidation potential of G in the GGG sequence. These results clearly demonstrate that hole transfer in DNA can be controlled through hydrogen bonding by introducing a substituent on the cytosine.     

Programmable DNA translation system using cross-linked DNA mediators

The information of template DNA strands was converted into the specific sequences in a programmable way by following the mediation of cross-linked DNAs.     

Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. II. Effect of triethyl citrate on the quality of the products

The purpose of this study was to develop enteric-coated microgranules for the lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet (LFDT), which is a rapidly disintegrating tablet containing enteric-coated microgranules. In our previous study, it was clarified that sufficient flexibility of the enteric layer was achieved by the optimized combined ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion and adding the optimized concentration of triethyl citrate to reduce the damage during the compression process. However, since triethyl citrate has an unpleasant bitter taste and is especially incompatible with lansoprazole, it adversely affects the taste and stability of lansoprazole in the enteric-coated microgranules. The enteric layer containing macrogol 6000 was proven useful to improve the unpleasant bitter taste and stability of lansoprazole, because macrogol 6000 does not have an unpleasant bitter taste and is more compatible than triethyl citerate. By covering the inner (first enteric layer) and outer side (third enteric layer) of the enteric layer containing triethyl citrate (second enteric layer) with the enteric layer containing macrogol 6000, we resolved the stability problem of lansoprazole and the unpleasant bitter taste. Finally, we developed enteric-coated microgranules comprising seven layers: 1) core, 2) active compound layer, 3) intermediate layer, 4) first enteric layer, 5) second enteric layer, 6) third enteric layer, and 7) over coating layer. The enteric-coated microgranules have the multiple functions of reducing the damage to the enteric layer during the compression process, improving the stability of lansoprazole, and masking the unpleasant bitter taste.     

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile with β-propiolactone

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile (monomer 1) with β-propiolactone (monomer 2) and the structures of the resulting copolymers were studied. The copolymerization with sodium cyanide in N,N-dimethylformamide gave copolymers of the structure I containing acid anhydride linkage in the molecular chains, with the monomer reactivity ratios, r₁ = 1.20, r₂ = 0.00. The copolymerization with potassium hydroxide gave either copolymers of the structure II (r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 3.64 at 30°C; r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 5.00 at 40°C) in N,N-dimethylformamide or only β-propiolactone homopolymer in toluene.