In vitro metabolism study of Strychnos alkaloids using high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with hybrid ion trap/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

In this report, the in vitro metabolism of Strychnos alkaloids was investigated using liquid chromatography/high‐resolution mass spectrometry for the first time. Strychnine and brucine were selected as model compounds to determine the universal biotransformations of the Strychnos alkaloids in rat liver microsomes. The incubation mixtures were separated by a bidentate‐C₁₈ column, and then analyzed by on‐line ion trap/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. With the assistance of mass defect filtering technique, full‐scan accurate mass datasets were processed for the discovery of the related metabolites. The structural elucidations of these metabolites were achieved by comparing the changes in accurate molecular masses, calculating chemical component using Formula Predictor software and defining sites of biotransformation based upon accurate MSⁿ spectral information. As a result, 31 metabolites were identified, of which 26 metabolites were reported for the first time. These biotransformations included hydroxylation, N‐oxidation, epoxidation, methylation, dehydrogenation, de‐methoxylation, O‐demethylation, as well as hydrolysis reactions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N-substituted-3(10H)-acridones as visible-light photosensitizers for organic photoredox catalysis

N-Substituted-3(10H)-acridones have been established as visible-light organic photocatalyst. These photosensitizers are efficient for oxidative coupling reaction of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines with various nucleophiles. Notably, N-methyl-3(10H)-acridone (Ia) is stable and can be effectively prepared. It is a water-soluble and atom-economic catalyst, and thus holds promise for green chemical applications. Mechanistic studies confirm a single electron transfer (SET)-induced radical process and a rate-limiting step. Analysis of the photocatalytic reactivity?structure relationship reveals that the acridones are robust and tunable photosensitizers for photoredox catalysis.     

Indications of bulk property changes from surface ion implantation

In the majority of cases, the effects of ion implantation are confined close to the implant zone but, potentially, the resultant distortions and chemical modifications could catalyse relaxations extending into the bulk substrate. Such possibilities are rarely considered but the present data suggest that high dose ion implantation of ZnO has induced bulk changes. Surface implants with Cu and Tb strongly modified the low temperature bulk thermoluminescence properties generated by X-ray irradiation. Suggestions are proposed for the possible mechanisms for bulk relaxations and structural characteristics, which may indicate where such instability may occur in other lattice structures.     

A polynomial approximation for arbitrary functions

We describe an expansion of Legendre polynomials, analogous to the Taylor expansion, for approximating arbitrary functions. We show that the polynomial coefficients in the Legendre expansion, and thus, the whole series, converge to zero much more rapidly compared to those in the Taylor expansion of the same order. Furthermore, using numerical analysis with a sixth-order polynomial expansion, we demonstrate that the Legendre polynomial approximation yields an error at least an order of magnitude smaller than that of the analogous Taylor series approximation. This strongly suggests that Legendre expansions, instead of Taylor expansions, should be used when global accuracy is important.     

Phenyliodine(III) Diacetate/I2-Mediated Domino Approach for Pyrrolo[1,4]Thiazines and 1,4-Thiazines by a One-Pot Morin Rearrangement of N,S-Acetals

An efficient domino transformation using a phenyliodine(III) diacetate (PIDA)/I₂ combination towards Morin 1,4-thiazine compounds has been developed starting from N,S-acetals. The latter leads to “one-step” regioselective methylene insertion without the need for traditional sulfoxide intermediates in good yields. The reaction involves easily accessible N,S-acetals obtained from cost-effective basic ketones and cysteamine as starting materials. This process ultimately leads to 1,4-thiazines related to natural product and fused derivatives necessary for further QSAR study.