Development of a sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection for high-throughput analysis of multi-class mycotoxins in Coix seed

As an edible and medicinal plant, Coix seed is readily contaminated by more than one group of mycotoxins resulting in potential risk to human health. A reliable and sensitive method has been developed to determine seven mycotoxins (aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol) simultaneously in 10 batches of Coix seed marketed in China. The method is based on a rapid ultrasound-assisted solid–liquid extraction (USLE) using methanol/water (80/20) followed by immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up, on-line photochemical derivatization (PCD), and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Careful optimization of extraction, clean-up, separation and detection conditions was accomplished to increase sample throughput and to attain rapid separation and sensitive detection. Method validation was performed by analyzing samples spiked at three different concentrations for the seven mycotoxins. Recoveries were from 73.5% to 107.3%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 7.7%. The intra- and inter-day precisions, expressed as RSDs, were lower than 4% for all studied analytes. Limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.01 to 50.2 μg kg⁻¹, and from 0.04 to 125.5 μg kg⁻¹, respectively, which were below the tolerance levels for mycotoxins set by the European Union. Samples that tested positive were further analyzed by HPLC tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for confirmatory purposes. This is the first application of USLE-IAC-HPLC-PCD-FLD for detecting the occurrence of multi-class mycotoxins in Coix seed.     

(Δ)[Fe(II)(phen)3]2+ Filled in the Chiral Cavitiy Constituted by {(Δ)[Fe(III)(C2O4)3](NH42+)(DMF)(H2O)32−}n

A chiral coordination compound {(Δ)[Fe(II)(phen)₃][(Δ)Fe(III)(C₂O₄)₃](NH₄)(H₂O)₃(DMF)}_n (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline), (DMF = N,N'‐Dimethylformamide), has been synthesized, and the structure has been revealed by infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. The framework consists of two chiral subunits. One subunit (Δ)[(Fe(III)(C₂O₄)₃]^3? which as host anion forms a chiral porous three‐dimensional supermolecular network with lattice water, lattice DMF and lattice ammonium cation through hydrogen bonds. And then the other is Δ[Fe(II)(phen)₃]²⁺ which as guest cation fills in the chiral cavity located in the previously mentioned host porous network.     

Unusual Spirodecane Sesquiterpenes and a Fumagillol Analogue from Cordyceps ophioglossoides

Investigation of the cultured mycelia of Cordyceps ophioglossoides resulted in the isolation and characterization of three new unusual spiro[4.5]decane sesquiterpenes, cordycepol A ( 1 ), cordycepol B ( 2 ), and cordycepol C ( 3 ), and a new fumagillol analogue, cordycol ( 4 ). Their structures were established by spectroscopic means. The cytotoxic activities were also evaluated, compounds 3 and 4 showing their IC₅₀ values in the range of 12–33 μg/ml against HeLa and HepG2 (Table 3). In addition, 3 and 4 were not obviously harmful towards normal liver cell lines LO2, showing IC₅₀ values above 80 μg/ml.     

Prenylated Benzene Metabolites from Melicope pteleifolia

Chemical investigation on the stem and root of Melicope pteleifolia afforded three new prenylated benzene metabolites as racemic mixtures, named pteleifolins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.). Their gross structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D‐NMR experiments. An enantiomer resolution of (±)‐ 1 using chiral HPLC was performed, and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers were determined to be (+)‐(S)‐ 1 and (?)‐(R)‐ 1 by means of circular‐dichroism analysis.     

Sulfamic Acid as an Effective Catalyst in Solvent‐Free Synthesis of β‐Enaminoketone Derivatives and X‐ray Crystallography of Their Representatives

Two types of β‐enaminoketone derivatives of 3‐(2‐oxo‐2‐arylethylidene)‐3,4‐dihydro‐1H‐quinoxalin‐2‐ones and 3‐(2‐oxo‐2‐arylethylidene)‐3,4‐dihydro‐benzo[1,4]oxazin‐2‐ ones were effectively and conveniently prepared in good to excellent yields under solvent‐free conditions via the catalysis of sulfamic acid in the corresponding condensations of o‐phenylenediamine and o‐aminophenol with ethyl 2,4‐dioxo‐4‐arylbutyrate respectively. The compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR, and a representative was further determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Intermolecular interactions of formic acid with benzene: Energy decomposition analyses with ab initio MP2 and double‐hybrid density functional computations

The intermolecular interactions of formic acid (HCOOH) with benzene (C₆H₆) have been investigated using localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analyses (LMO‐EDA) with ab initio MP2 and several double‐hybrid density functionals. The molecular geometries of five HCOOH…C₆H₆ complexes and corresponding benchmark total interaction energies at the CCSD(T)/CBS level are taken from literature (Zhao et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2009, 5, 2726). According to the results of LMO‐EDA with the MP2 method, the dispersion energies are found to be as important as the electrostatic energies for the total interaction energies of the five HCOOH…C₆H₆ complexes. Based on LMO‐EDA with the double‐hybrid density functionals of B2PLYP, B2K‐PLYP, B2T‐PLYP, and B2GP‐PLYP computations, two new parameters for the framework of B2PLYP are extrapolated. These two new parameters are tested with other 10 complexes involving C₆H₆ (Crittenden, J. Phys. Chem. A 2009, 113, 1663), and they perform well on predicting the corresponding total interaction energies. Interestingly, these two new parameters for the framework of B2PLYP also perform well on the noncovalent complexation energies database (NCCE31/05) developed by Truhlar's group (Zhao and Truhlar, J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 5656). Therefore, these two new parameters appear to be suitable for investigating the noncovalent interactions, and they are denoted as B2N‐PLYP, where N stands for the noncovalent interaction. This study is expected to provide new insight into the derivation of double‐hybrid density functionals for studying the noncovalent interactions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microwave‐assisted Aqueous Multicomponent Reaction: Facile Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Indoline‐spiro Fused Pyran Derivatives

A green and highly efficient method for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized indoline‐spiro fused pyran derivatives has been established. This reaction was conducted by reacting readily available and inexpensive starting materials, such as isatins, cyclic‐1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds, and malononitrile in aqueous media without any catalysts under microwave irradiation. The present green synthesis shows fascinating properties such as the use of water as the reaction solution, concise one‐pot conditions, short reaction periods (8–14 min), and easy purifications. The synthesis could also set a good example to GAP (Group‐Assistant‐Purification) chemistry in which purification via chromatography can be avoided and the pure products can be easily acquired only by washing the crude products with 95% EtOH.     

Facile synthesis of a porous network-like silver film for electrocatalytic detection of nitrate

We have developed a method for in-situ construction of a porous network-like silver film on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). It is based on a galvanic replacement reaction where a layer of copper nanoparticles is first electrodeposited as a sacrificial template. The silver film formed possesses a porous network-like structure and consists of an assembly of numerous nanoparticles with an average size of 200 nm. The electrode displays excellent electrocatalytic activity, good stability, and fast response (within 2 s) toward the reduction of nitrate at a working potential of −0.9 V. The catalytic currents linearly increase with the nitrate concentrations in the range of 0.08–6.52 mM, with a detection limit of 3.5 μM (S/N = 3) and a repeatability of 3.4 % (n = 5).

A facile method was developed for in situ construction of a porous network-like Ag film on a glassy carbon electrode by a galvanic replacement reaction, where a layer of Cu nanoparticles previously electrodeposited as a sacrificial template. Thus-formed Ag film displays excellent electrocatalytic activity, good stability, and fast response (within 2 s) toward nitrate reduction.

     

A study on the direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of microperoxidase-11 immobilized on a porous network-like gold film: Sensing of hydrogen peroxide

We have prepared porous and network-like nanofilms of gold by galvanic replacement of a layer of copper particles acting as a template. The films were first characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and then modified with cysteamine so to enable the covalent immobilization of the enzyme microperoxidase-11. The immobilized enzyme undergoes direct electron transfer to the underlying electrodes, and the electrode displays high electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, owing to the largely enhanced electroactive surface of the porous gold film. The detection limit of H₂O₂ is 0.4 μM (3 S/N).