Antiplasmodial prenylated flavanonols from Tephrosia subtriflora

The CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (1:1) extract of the aerial parts of Tephrosia subtriflora afforded a new flavanonol, named subtriflavanonol (1), along with the known flavanone spinoflavanone B, and the known flavanonols MS-II (2) and mundulinol. The structures were elucidated by the use of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the flavanonols was determined based on quantum chemical ECD calculations. In the antiplasmodial assay, compound 2 showed the highest activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum reference clones (D6 and 3D7), artemisinin-sensitive isolate (F32-TEM) as well as field isolate (KSM 009) with IC₅₀ values 1.4–4.6 μM without significant cytotoxicity against Vero and HEp2 cell lines (IC₅₀ > 100 μM). The new compound (1) showed weak antiplasmodial activity, IC₅₀ 12.5–24.2 μM, but also showed selective anticancer activity against HEp2 cell line (CC₅₀ 16.9 μM).     

Use of Griess reagent containing vanadium(III) for post-column derivatization and simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in baby food

An ion chromatographic method with post-column derivatization and spectrophotometric detection is presented for the determination of nitrate and nitrite (NOx) in baby food. NOx residues found naturally or added as preservatives were extracted from baby foods and determined by using ion chromatography with post-column derivatization and spectrophotometric detection. Nitrate was reduced to nitrite online by post-column reduction using vanadium(lll) chloride and heat. Nitrite reacted with Griess reagent to produce a dye that was detected at 525 nm. The use of V(III) and heat to promote the reduction of nitrate to nitrite online is a novel feature of this detection system. The determination of incurred NOx residues in samples by using AOAC Method 993.03 yielded results comparable to those obtained by ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection. The toxic and carcinogenic metal cadmium used in the AOAC Method to reduce the nitrate to nitrite was avoided. The proposed method provides simultaneous determination of nitrate and nitrite. Average recoveries of nitrate and nitrite residues ranged from 82 to 107% for fortification levels of 25-400 ppm.     

A conformational study of phospha(III)- and phospha(V)-guanidine compounds

Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and computational studies of the substituent distribution about the "NCN" unit in a series of phospha(III)- and phospha(V)-guanidines, R(2)PC{NR'}{NHR'} and R(2)P(E)C{NR'}{NHR'} (R = Ph, Cy; R' = (i)Pr, Cy; E = S, Se), are reported. In the phosphorus(III) systems, the P-diphenyl substituted compounds are observed as only one isomer, shown by NMR spectroscopy to be the E(syn)-(alpha) configuration. In contrast, the corresponding P-dicyclohexyl derivatives exist as a mixture of E(syn)-(alpha) and Z(anti) in solution. Spectroscopic techniques are unable to determine whether the latter isomer exists as the alpha- or beta-conformer relative to rotation about the P-C(amidine)() bond; however, DFT calculations indicate a low-energy structure for the N,N'-dimethyl model complex in the beta-conformation. In their oxidized sulfo and seleno forms, the P-diphenyl compounds are present as an interconverting equilibrium mixture of the E(syn)-(beta) and Z(syn)-(beta) isomers in solution ( approximately 3:2 ratio), whereas for the P-dicyclohexyl analogues, the latter configuration (in which the nitrogen substituents are in a more sterically unfavorably cisoid arrangement about the imine double bond) is the dominant form. Intramolecular E...HN (E = S, Se) interactions are observed in solution for the Z(syn)-(beta) configuration of both P-substituted species, characterized by J(SeH) coupling in the NMR spectrum for the P(V)-seleno compounds and a bathochromic shift of the NH absorption in the infrared spectrum. An X-ray crystallographic analysis of representative Ph(2)P(E)- and Cy(2)P(E)-substituted species shows exclusively the E(syn)-(beta) configuration for the P-diphenyl substituted compounds and the Z(syn)-(beta) form for the P-dicyclohexyl derivatives, independent of the chalcogen and the nitrogen substituents. Results from a DFT analysis of model compounds fail to identify a compelling electronic argument for the observed preferences in substituent orientation, suggesting that steric factors play an important role in determining the subtle energetic differences at work in these systems.     

Studies toward soraphen A: an aldol-metathesis avenue to the macrocyclic framework

[reaction: see text] We describe a convergent approach to soraphen A, 1, that involves coupling of two fragments by an aldol condensation-olefin metathesis sequence. This route permits rapid access to congeners of 1.     

Counting ions around DNA with anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering

The majority of charge-compensating ions around nucleic acids form a diffuse counterion "cloud" that is not amenable to investigation by traditional methods that rely on rigid structural interactions. Although various techniques have been employed to characterize the ion atmosphere around nucleic acids, only anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS) provides information about the spatial distribution of ions. Here we present an experimentally straightforward extension of ASAXS that can be used to count the number of ions around nucleic acids.     

The effect of P-cyclohexyl groups on the coordination chemistry of phosphaguanidinates

The anion of P-dicyclohexylphosphaguanidine, Cy2PC{NiPr}{NHiPr}, forms a P,N-chelate at lithium and cobalt(II); bridging through the Nimine atom forms cyclic hexamers in the former complex.