New Clerodane Diterpenoids from Casearia membranacea

Bioassay‐guided fractionation of an AcOEt extract of Casearia membranacea resulted in the isolation of six new clerodane diterpenes, caseamembrins G–L ( 1 – 6 ). The structures of the new compounds, including their relative configurations, were established by an extensive study of their spectral data, especially 2D NMR. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated diterpenes against human oral epidermoid (KB), cervical epitheloid (Hela), and liver (Hep59T/VGH) carcinoma cell lines were investigated.     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide catalyzed by double metal‐cyanide complex

A double metal‐cyanide catalyst based on Zn₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ was prepared. This catalyst is very effective for the ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide. Polyether polyols of moderate molecular weight having low unsaturation (<0.015 meq/g) can be prepared under mild conditions. The molecular weight of polymer is entirely controlled by a reacted monomer‐to‐initiator ratio. The polymers prepared with stepwise addition of monomer exhibit a narrower molecular weight distribution as compared with those prepared with one‐step addition of monomer. Various compounds containing active hydrogen, except basic compounds and low‐carbon carboxylic acid, may be used as initiators. The reaction rate increases with increasing catalyst amount and decreases with rising initiator concentration. Polymerization involves a rapid exchange reaction between the active species and the dormant species. It was also proven that, to a certain extent, the chain termination of this catalytic system is reversible or temporary. ¹³C NMR analysis showed that the polymer has a random distribution of the configurational sequences and head‐to‐tail regiosequence. It is assumed that the polymerization proceeds via a cationic coordination mechanism. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1142–1150, 2002     

GRECP/MRD‐CI calculations on the Hg atom and HgH molecule

Multireference single‐ and double‐excitation configuration interaction (MRD‐CI) calculations of transition energies for the Hg atom and spectroscopic constants for the HgH molecule are carried out with the generalized relativistic effective core potential (GRECP) method. A new selection criterium for the reference configurations is discussed. The calculated spectroscopic constants are compared with experimental data and results of calculations of other groups. Improvement of accuracy is mainly observed for bond lengths from the GRECP/MRD‐CI calculations (without applying the T = 0 correction) with respect to the results of other groups. Analysis of the quality of the approximations employed is carried out. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Properties and Thermoanalysis of Complexes of Cu（Ⅱ） and Ni（Ⅱ） with Taurine-5-chlorosalicylaldelyde Schiff Base

The reactions of transition metal salts with taurine 5‐chlorosalicylaldelyde Schiff base gave two complexes [Ni(TCSSB)(H₂O)₃].H₂O (1) and [Cu(TCSSB)(H₂O)₂]₂[Cu(TCSSB)₂].6H₂O (2) (TCSSB=taurine‐5‐chlorosalicylaldelyde Schiff base), which were characterized by elemental analysis and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The complex 1 crystallized in monoclinic system with space group P2 ₁/c, and a=1.4816(2) nm, b=1.3953(2) nm, c= 0.7466(1) nm, β= 100.499(3)°, V=1.5176(4) nm³, Z=4, and an infinite 3‐D network structure was formed by hydrogen bonds among sulfo group, crystal water and coordinated water. Complex 2 crystallized in triclinic system with space group P1 , with the cell parameters: a = 0.6413(2) nm, b= 1.4596(3) nm, c= 1.6188(4) nm, a= 102.473(5)°, β= 98.979(4)°, γ=101.739°, V=1.4165(6) nm³, Z=1. The coordination environment between Cu(1) and Cu(2) is different. Cu(1) is slightly distorted square pyramidal while Cu(2) is distorted square‐plane. The complex 1 is mononuclear while the complex 2 is made up of two coordinated subunits, namely [Cu(TCSSB)₂] and [CU(TCSSB)(H₂O)₂]₂. Besides that the TG‐DTG of the complex 1 was analyzed, the thermal decomposition reaction of the complex was studied under a non‐isothermal condition by TG‐DTG. The TG and DTG curves indicate that the complex was decomposed in three stages: .     

The influence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide on electrochemical properties of thyroxine reduction at carbon nanotubes modified electrode

The effect of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) on the electrochemical behaviors of thyroxine at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was investigated. At the SWNTs film-coated GCE, a well-defined oxidation peak of thyroxine at 0.78 V was obtained, but the reduction peak of thyroxine was indiscernible. When trace CTAB was added to the working solution, the reduction current could be greatly enhanced and the oxidation current remained stable. The reaction mechanisms for the reduction of thyroxine were explored by chronocoulometry. Thyroxine might form particular ion complex with CTAB via the interaction between iodine atoms on thyroxine and bromide ions in CTAB, which made the concentration of thyroxine at the surface of the modified electrode increased and the electron transfer rate enhanced. The proper mechanisms for the enhanced reduction of thyroxine in the present of CTAB were explored by several electrochemical techniques including cycle voltammetry linear sweep voltammetry and others. It was concluded that the special interactions between the thyroxine CTAB and SWNTs resulted in the increase of the reduction peak current. All results indicated that two iodine atoms on the thyroxine and four electrons were involved the reduction process which was irreversible and two iodine ions produced. In this system, the sensitive reduction peak of thyroxine at 0.3 V was employed to determine thyroxine and a low detection limit of 2x10(-8) mol/L was obtained for 2 min accumulation at 0.9 V. The SWNTs coated GCE had good stability and reproducibility.     

Synthesis and Molecular Recognition of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer with Ibuprofen as Template

Ibuprofen and ketoprofen are chemically similar non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs widely used in the treatment of arthritis. Using a molecular imprinting technique, a simple and rapid method was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of ibuprofen and ketoprofen. Molecular imprinting introduces artificial binding sites into a synthetic polymer matrix, allowing it to exhibit selective rebinding of template molecules. Imprinted polymers can be regarded as an HPLC stationary phase, important for pharmaceutical analysis. Most molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthesized by free radical polymerization of functional monomers, resulting in an excess of crosslinking monomers. In this study, MIPs have been prepared with a ibuprofen template, which can form intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as the functional monomer and cross‐linker, respectively. Bulk polymerization was carried out at 4 °C under UV radiation. The resulting MIP was ground into 25?44 μm particles, which were slurry‐packed into analytical columns. Template molecules were removed by methanol‐acetic acid (9:1, v/v). We evaluated the template binding performance of the MIP using HPLC, with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 234 nm. Chromatographic resolution of ibuprofen and ketoprofen on the MIPs were appraised using buffer/acetonitrile (45/55, v/v) as the mobile phase. Results show that the MIPs prepared using ibuprofen as the template had a significant molecular imprinting effect. The method was successfully applied to the separation and analysis of ibuprofen and ketoprofen in pharmaceuticals.     

Poly[(μ2‐1,3‐di‐4‐pyridylpropane‐κ2N:N′)(μ3‐glutarato‐κ3O:O′:O′′)dizinc(II)]

The title compound, [Zn₂(C₅H₆O₄)₂(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]_n or [Zn₂(glu)₂(bpp)]_n, is a novel zinc polymer based on mixed flexible glutarate (glu) and 1,3‐di‐4‐pyridylpropane (bpp) ligands. The Zn^II center has a distorted tetra­hedral geometry and the central atom of the bpp ligand is located at a special site with a C₂ axis passing through it. A layer is formed by Zn–glu bonding. Such layers are pillared by bpp ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with large channels. The inverted inter­penetration of two three‐dimensional frameworks completes the mol­ecular structure.     

Study on electrochemical behavior of tryptophan at a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded cerium hexacyanoferrate

Electrochemical behavior of cerium hexacyanoferrate (CeHCF) incorporated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified GC electrode is investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical techniques. The CeHCF/MWNT/GC electrode showed potent electrocatalytic activity toward the electrochemical oxidation of tryptophan in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) with a diminution of the overpotential of 240 mV. The anodic peak currents increased linearly with the concentration of tryptophan in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ M (at a S/N = 3). And the determination of tryptophan in pharmaceutical samples was satisfactory.     

Four New Nortriterpenoids from Phlomis umbrosa

Four new 28‐noroleanane‐derived spirocyclic triterpenoids, compounds 1 – 4 , were isolated from the rhizomes of Phlomis umbrosa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses, in combination with high‐resolution MS experiments.     

The Synthesis of 1,4‐Bis[N‐(4/6‐Substituted Benzothiazole‐2‐yl)‐N′‐Glycosylguanidino]Benzenes

The starting material O‐protected glycosyl isothiocyanate ( 1?3 ) was refluxed with 1,4‐diaminobenzene in CHCl₃ under nitrogen atmosphere to give 1,4‐bis(N‐glycosyl)thioureidobenzene ( 4?6 ). Then 1,4‐bis[N‐(4/6‐substituted benzothiazole‐2‐yl)‐N′‐glycosylguanidino]benzenes ( 8a?8e , 9a?9e , 10a?10e ) were obtained in good yield by reaction of compounds ( 4?6 ) with 2‐amino‐4/6‐benzothizoles ( 7a?7e ) and HgCl₂ in the presence of TEA in DMF. The structures of all 18 new compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, LC‐MS and elemental analysis. The bioactivity of anti‐HIV‐1 protease (HIV‐1 PR) and against angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) have been evaluated.