Synthesis of rel-(3RS,3aSR,7aSR)-3-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1-methylindolin-6-one,the Main Metabolite of the Analgesic Ro 15-8081: A Potent Amine-Uptake Inhibitor

The synthesis of the title compound 2 and its diastereoisomer 3 was accomplished using tricarbonyl[1-5-n-(4-methoxycyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-yl)]iron tetrafluoroborate ( 4 ) as a precursor to the cyclohexanone ring. The assignments of the relative configurations of 2 and 3 are based on the X-ray analysis of compound 3 . Both compounds 2 and 3 are potent inhibitors of neuronal noradrenaline uptake in rats with similar potencies in vitro as compared to amitriptyline and desipramine. Compounds 2 and 3 are less potent as serotonin-uptake inhibitors, very weak inhibitors of dopamine uptake, and virtually devoid of antinociceptive activity.     

Ultrafast laser processing of drug particles in water for pharmaceutical discovery

The laser fragmentation technique has been extensively used to produce inorganic nanoparticles, but its practice on organic materials, especially on drugs, is less common. Here, we briefly review the recent advances in laser micro-/nanonization of organic materials and the rationale of using laser fragmentation for drug discovery. We present our case studies of two drug models: fenofibrate and naproxen. Both drugs were fragmented in water with femtosecond (fs) laser and characterized in terms of particle size distribution and physicochemical properties. Effects of fs laser fragmentation were also compared with nanosecond (ns) laser fragmentation and with conventional media milling technique. Fs laser was more suitable to produce sub-micron size drug particles than ns laser, but degradation of drugs after nanonization was also more pronounced than micronization. Physicochemical transformations such as oxidation, hydration and amorphisation might occur during the laser–material interactions. Laser nanonization showed improved dissolution kinetics, similar to media milling. Unlike the conventional milling techniques, laser fragmentation enabled the treatment of minute amount (as small as several milligrams) of drugs with high efficiency, thus is a useful tool for particle size reduction during the early phases of drug discovery.     

Surface free energy of films of alkali-treated cellulose microfibrils from banana rachis

Cellulose microfibrils extracted by various alkaline treatments of vascular bundles from banana rachis were used to elaborate films. The films were comparatively studied to determine changes in polarity induced by various treatments. Atomic force microscopy was used to characterize the surface morphology of the films and transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the microfibrils used to elaborate the films. Contact angles were measured to determine surface free energy (SFE) and thermogravimetric analyses were carried out to determine changes in composition of the films. The results showed that the films of cellulose microfibrils prepared by the peroxide alkaline (PA) and peroxide alkaline-hydrochloric acid (PA-HCl) treatments had lower content of non-cellulosic constituents like xylose and had lower SFE than films of microfibrils treated with KOH-5. Furthermore, specimens treated with the most concentrated KOH solution (18 wt%) and sodium chloride presented the highest SFE and polar component.     

A Facile Synthesis and Crystallographic Analysis of Seven Trityl Phosphorus Compounds and Two Nickel(II) Phosphine Side-Products

Abstract  The syntheses and X-ray analyses of triphenylmethyl (trityl=Tr) phosphorus compounds are reported and the structural similarities, differences and ³¹P chemical shifts compared. A series of seven trityl-substituted phosphorus-containing compounds have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Ph₃CPPh₂, 1, a bulky P(III) compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group , a = 7.5624(6) ?, b = 9.5470(8) ?, c = 16.9722(14) ?, α = 83.4720(10)°, β = 80.541(2)°, γ = 68.1580(10)°, the borane complex of 1, 2, Ph₃CPPh₂(BH₃) crystallizes as monoclinic colorless crystals, P2₁/c, a = 10.0972(12) ?, b = 9.6955(12) ?, c = 25.197(3) ?, β = 90.258(2)°. The analogous methyl substituted, 3, Ph₃CPMe₂(BH₃) is monoclinic, C₂/c, a = 15.628(3) ?, b = 12.770(3) ?, c = 18.406(4) ?, β = 103.968(3)°. Compounds 4–7 are trityl substituted P(V) compounds: Ph₃CP(Ph)(O)(OH), 4, crystallizes in the triclinic space group , a = 8.9847(18) ?, b = 9.7443(19) ?, c = 12.786(3) ?, α = 72.045(3)°, β = 72.031(3)°, γ = 78.769(3)°. Esterification of 4 affords TrCP(O)(Ph)OBn 5, space group, P2₁/c, a = 7.9196(5) ?, b = 31.701(2) ?, c = 19.8062(13) ?, β = 99.7750(10)°. A phosphonate diester was also characterized, Ph₃CP(O)(OEt)₂, 6, triclinic, , a = 7.9521(17) ?, b = 9.2205(19) ?, c = 14.471(3) ?, α = 85.906(4)°, β = 83.031(4)°, γ = 68.283(4)°. Treatment of the trityl H-phosphinic acid, Ph₃CPO₂H_2, with elemental selenium yields yellow crystals of 7, [Ph₃CP(O)(OH)Se]_2, P2₁/c, a = 9.0603(4) ?, b = 22.3652(11) ?, c = 16.9134(7) ?, β = 107.035(2)°. In our efforts to isolate a nickel-phosphine complex, two Ni(II) complexes were crystallographically analyzed, [Ni(OP(H)Ph₂)₆]₂BF₄ ⁻ 8 and 9. Complex 8 with an uncoordinated BF₄ ⁻ ion crystallizes as yellow orthorhombic crystals, Pbca, a = 18.8247(12) ?, b = 18.5518(12) ?, c = 21.0976(14) ?, while crystals of 9 are trigonal, , a = b = 13.1545(12) ?, c = 68.461(9) ?. Graphical Abstract  The syntheses and X-ray analyses of triphenylmethyl (trityl=Tr) phosphorus compounds are reported and the structural similarities, differences and ³¹P chemical shifts compared.      

Evaluation of solid-phase microextraction desorption parameters for fast GC analysis of cocaine in coca leaves

By its simplicity and rapidity, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) appears as an interesting alternative for sample introduction in fast gas chromatography (fast GC). This combination depends on numerous parameters affecting the desorption step (i.e., the release of compounds from the SPME fiber coating to the GC column). In this study, different liner diameters, injection temperatures, and gas flow rates are evaluated to accelerate the thermal desorption process in the injection port. This process is followed with real-time direct coupling a split/splitless injector to a mass spectrometer by means of a short capillary. It is shown that an effective, quantitative, and rapid transfer of cocaine (COC) and cocaethylene (CE) is performed with a 0.75-mm i.d. liner, at 280 degrees C and 4 mL/min gas flow rate. The 7-microm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating is selected for combination with fast GC because the 100-microm PDMS fiber presents some limitations caused by fiber bleeding. Finally, the developed SPME-fast GC method is applied to perform in less than 5 min, the quantitation of COC extracted from coca leaves by focused microwave-assisted extraction. An amount of 7.6 +/- 0.5 mg of COC per gram of dry mass is found, which is in good agreement with previously published results.