Thermoanalytical,FTIR and X-ray studies of gemfibrozil-cyclodextrin complexes

Summary Inclusion complexation between dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin and a very poorly water-soluble serum lipid-regulating agent, gemfibrozil, was studied. Products were prepared by several methods (physical mixing, kneading, spray-drying and ultrasonic treatment) in four different molecular ratios (2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3). The possibility of complex formation between the drug and the host molecule was studied by thermal analysis. Supplementary techniques, such as Fourier transformation-infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry, were also applied to interpret the results of thermal study of the products.     

Novel 2,4-methanoadamantane-benzazepine by domino photochemistry of N-(1-adamantyl)phthalimide

The photochemical reaction of N-(1-adamantyl)phthalimide (1) gives cleanly one product, the novel hexacyclic benzazepine derivative of 2,4-methanoadamantane 2. Its structure was characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray analysis and represent the first example of the 2-azahexacyclo[8.7.1.1 (1,4).0 (4,9).0 (11,16).0 (12,18)]nonadeca-4,6,8-triene skeleton. The product is formed by a domino process of two consecutive excited-state intramolecular gamma-hydrogen-transfer reactions. Base hydrolysis of the benzazepine 2 gives in high yield the keto derivative of the 1,2-substituted adamantane epsilon-amino acid 3.     

Adamantane-retropeptides, new building blocks for molecular channels

Novel adamantane-oxalamide derivatives, N,N′-bis(1-adamantylglycine methyl ester)oxalamide (meso-1 and rac-1), N,N′-bis(3-aminoadamantane-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester)oxalamide (2) and N,N′-bis(3-aminoadamantane-1-carboxylic acid)oxalamide (3) were prepared and structurally characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray analysis. Crystal packing of the structures meso-1 and rac-1 is defined by one-dimensional α-networks of hydrogen-bonded chains. The crystal structures of 2 and 3 are characterized by two-dimensional β-networks of hydrogen bonds. The oxalamide 3 crystallizes as the solvates only. In the crystal structure of 3 the protic solvent participates in hydrogen bonding with the oxalamide moieties. However, in non-protic solvents 3 crystallizes as a solvate but the solvent does not participate in hydrogen bonding. The two-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds connecting molecules of 3 generates channels, which are filled by discrete solvent molecules.     

Sterically congested adamantylnaphthalene quinone methides

Five new (2-adamantyl)naphthol derivatives (5-9, quinone methide precursors, QMP) were synthesized and their photochemical reactivity was investigated by preparative photolyses, fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser flash photolysis (LFP). Excitation of QMP 5 to S(1) leads to efficient excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) coupled with dehydration, giving quinone methide QM5 which was characterized by LFP (in CH(3)CN-H(2)O, λ(max) = 370 nm, τ = 0.19 ms). On irradiation of QMP 5 in CH(3)OH-H(2)O (4:1), the quantum yield of methanolysis is Φ = 0.70. Excitation of naphthols QMP 6-8 to S(1) in CH(3)CN leads to photoionization and formation of naphthoxyl radicals. In a protic solvent, QMP 6-8 undergo solvent-assisted PT giving QM6 or zwitterion QM8 that react with nucleophiles delivering adducts, but with a significantly lower quantum efficiency. QMP 9 in a protic solvent undergoes two competitive processes, photosolvolysis via QM9 and solvent-assisted PT to carbon atom of the naphthalene giving zwitterion. QM9 has been characterized by LFP (in CH(3)CN-H(2)O, λ(max) > 600 nm, τ = 0.9 ms). In addition to photogenerated QMs, two stable naphthalene QMs, QM10 and QM11 were synthesized thermally and characterized by X-ray crystallography. QM10 and QM11 do not react with H(2)O but undergo acid-catalyzed fragmentation or rearrangement. Antiproliferative activity of 5-9 was investigated on three human cancer cell lines. Exposure of MCF-7 cells treated with 5 to 300 nm irradiation leads to an enhanced antiproliferative effect, in accordance with the activity being due to the formation of QM5.     

Enhancement of DNA hybridization under acoustic streaming with three-piezoelectric-transducer system

Recently, we have demonstrated that DNA hybridization using acoustic streaming induced by two piezoelectric transducers provides higher DNA hybridization efficiency than the conventional method. In this work, we refine acoustic streaming system for DNA hybridization by inserting an additional piezoelectric transducer and redesigning the locations of the transducers. The Comsol? Multiphysics was used to design and simulate the velocity field generated by the piezoelectric agitation. The simulated velocity vector followed a spiral vortex flow field with an average direction outward from the center of the transducers. These vortices caused the lower signal intensity in the middle of the microarray for the two-piezoelectric disk design. On the contrary, the problem almost disappeared in the three-piezoelectric-disk system. The optimum condition for controlling the piezoelectric was obtained from the dye experiments with different activation settings for the transducers. The best setting was to activate the side disks and middle disk alternatively with 1 second activating time and 3 second non-activating time for both sets of transducers. DNA hybridization using microarrays for the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from the optimized process yielded a three-fold enhancement of the signal compared to the conventional method. Moreover, a greater number of spots passed quality control in the optimized device, which could greatly improve biological interpretation of DNA hybridization data.     

Pinus sylvestris L. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry Essential Oils Inhibit Endotoxin-Induced Airway Hyperreactivity despite Aggravated Inflammatory Mechanisms in Mice

Scots pine (SO) and clove (CO) essential oils (EOs) are commonly used by inhalation, and their main components are shown to reduce inflammatory mediator production. The aim of our research was to investigate the chemical composition of commercially available SO and CO by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and study their effects on airway functions and inflammation in an acute pneumonitis mouse model. Inflammation was evoked by intratracheal endotoxin and EOs were inhaled three times during the 24 h experimental period. Respiratory function was analyzed by unrestrained whole-body plethysmography, lung inflammation by semiquantitative histopathological scoring, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and cytokine measurements. α-Pinene (39.4%) was the main component in SO, and eugenol (88.6%) in CO. Both SO and CO significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, and prevented peak expiratory flow, tidal volume increases and perivascular edema formation. Meanwhile, inflammatory cell infiltration was not remarkably affected. In contrast, MPO activity and several inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, KC, MCP-1, MIP-2, TNF-α) were aggravated by both EOs. This is the first evidence that SO and CO inhalation improve airway function, but enhance certain inflammatory parameters. These results suggest that these EOs should be used with caution in cases of inflammation-associated respiratory diseases.     

Investigation of Ethacrynic Acid and Random-methyl-β-cyclodextrin Binary Complexes

Cyclodextrin complexation was applied to achieve better aqueous solubility of the drug and to formulate suppositories. Binary products were prepared in several mole ratios by two different methods. The dissolution profiles and in vitro membrane diffusion behaviour of the compositions were investigated. Thermoanalytical studies were performed in order to confirm inclusion complex formation. Compositions were selected for further detailed investigations and for incorporation into suppository dosage form.     

Solid-phase synthesis of difficult peptide sequences at elevated temperatures: a critical comparison of microwave and conventional heating technologies

The Fmoc/t-Bu solid-phase synthesis of three difficult peptide sequences (a 9-mer, 15-mer, and 24-mer) was performed using N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide/1-hydroxybenzotriazole as coupling reagent on polystyrene, Tentagel, and ChemMatrix resins. In order to obtain an insight into the specific role of the elevated temperature and/or the electromagnetic field for peptide syntheses carried out using microwave irradiation, peptide couplings and Fmoc-deprotection steps were studied under microwave and conventionally heated conditions at the same temperature. While room temperature couplings/deprotections generally produced the difficult peptides in rather poor quality, excellent peptide purities were obtained using microwave heating at a temperature of 86 degrees C for both the coupling and deprotection steps in only 10 and 2.5 min reaction time, respectively. While for most amino acids no significant racemization was observed, the high coupling temperatures led to considerable levels of racemization for the sensitive amino acids His and Cys. It was demonstrated for all three peptide sequences that when performing the coupling/deprotection steps at the same reaction temperature using conventional heating, nearly identical results in terms of both peptide purity and racemization levels were obtained. It therefore appears that the main effect of microwave irradiation applied to solid-phase peptide synthesis is a purely thermal effect not related to the electromagnetic field.     

The Influence of β-Cyclodextrins on the Solubility of Furosemide

Furosemide (F) is practically insoluble in water (10.26 mg/100 mL).Different -cyclo- dextrins (-CD derivatives) were applied ashost to improve the solubility of furosemide as guest molecule via inclusioncomplex formation. Various molar ratios of F : -CD derivatives (1 :1/2, 1 : 1 and 1 : 2) and different preparative methods (physical mixing,kneading, precipitation, spray-drying and freeze-drying) were used. Theincrease in the dissolution characteristics and the solubility of furosemidedepends on the type of -CD derivative, on the furosemide concentrationin the product and on the method of preparation. The inclusion complexesformed between the hosts and the guest were investigated by XRD, IR, and¹H-NMR spectral methods.     

Cage-annulated thiacrown ethers and thiacryptands

A series of cage-annulated sulfur-containing crown ethers and cryptands have been synthesized as possible specific metal host systems. The synthesis and structures of seven compounds are described, including a thiacryptand complex with Hg(II). The trishomocubane cage is essentially spherical except for a methylene group, which imparts no steric restrictions, and two disordered superimposed orientations occur in most structures. This superposition of four- and five-membered rings usually cannot be resolved into separate entities, resulting in distorted distances, angles, and thermal parameters for the cage. (3) I4₁ cd, a = 13.207(3) Å, b = 13.207(3) Å, c = 35.876(12) Å; (10) C2, a = 14.551(2) Å, b = 10.028(1) Å, c = 10.491(1) Å, = 107.108(2)°; (14) P2₁/n, a = 10.6277(8) Å, b = 9.8488(7) Å, c = 21.822(2) Å, = 97.945(2)°; (19) P2₁/c, a = 15.381(3) Å, b = 6.667(1) Å, c = 18.158(3) Å, = 94.838(4)°; (25) C2/c, a = 34.386(4) Å, b = 11.318(1) Å, c = 13.409(2) Å, = 110.044(2)°; (28) , a = 10.4487(8) Å, b = 11.5677(9) Å, c = 13.354(1) Å, = 71.042(1)°, = 87.344(1)°, = 65.839(1)°; (29) P2₁/c, a = 10.8138(5) Å, b = 16.4949(8) Å, c = 22.054(1) Å, = 96.087(1)°.