Total synthesis of apoptolidin: completion of the synthesis and analogue synthesis and evaluation

The total synthesis of apoptolidin (1) is reported together with the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a number of analogues. The assembly of key fragments 6 and 7 to vinyl iodide 3 via dithiane coupling technology was supplemented by a second generation route to this advanced intermediate involving a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons coupling of fragments 22 and 25. The final stages of the synthesis featured a Stille coupling between vinyl iodide 3 and vinylstannane 2, a Yamaguchi lactonization, a number of glycosidations, and final deprotection. The developed synthetic technology was applied to the construction of several analogues including 74, 75, and 77 which exhibit significant bioactivity against tumor cells.     

A structural model for the copper(II) site of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase: preparation,crystal structure and properties of [Cu(Mebta)4(H2O)](ClO4)2·0.4EtOH (Mebta = 1-methylbenzotriazole)

Reaction of Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with 1-methylbenzotriazole (Mebta) in EtOH yields [Cu(Mebta)₄(H₂O)] (ClO₄)₂·0.4EtOH in ca. 75% yield. The structure of this salt has been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Mebta behaves as a monodentate ligand binding through N(3). The metal coordination geometry is best described as distorted square pyramidal with the H₂O ligand occupying the apical site. The complex was also characterized by molar conductivity, room-temperature effective magnetic moment and spectroscopic (i.r., far-i.r., u.v./vis, e.s.r.) studies. The data are discussed in terms of the nature of bonding and known structure. Comparison between the structural and spectroscopic properties of [Cu(Mebta)₄(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·0.4EtOH and those of the Cu^II site of Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase shows that the former can be considered as a fairly good model for the latter.     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of seven tetracycline antibiotics residues in milk according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

An HPLC method with diode-array detection, at 355 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of seven tetracyclines (TCs) in milk: minocycline (MNC), TC, oxytetracycline (OTC), methacycline (MTC), demeclocycline (DMC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and doxycycline (DC). Oxalate buffer (pH 4) was used with 20% TCA as a deproteinization agent for the extraction of analytes from milk followed by SPE. The separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3, 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm(2 )analytical column at ambient temperature. The mobile phase, a mixture of A: 0.01 M oxalic acid and B: CH(3)CN, was delivered using a gradient program. The procedure was validated according to the European Union decision 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. Mean recoveries of TCs from spiked milk samples (50, 100, and 200 ng/g) were 93.8-100.9% for MNC, 96.8-103.7% for OTC, 96.3-101.8% for TC, 99.4-107.2% for DMC, 99.4-102.9% for CTC, 96.3-102.7% for MTC, and 94.6-102.1% for DC. All RSD values were lower than 8.5%. The decision limits CC(a) calculated by spiking 20 blank milk samples at MRL (100 microg/kg) ranged from 101.25 to 105.84 microg/kg, while detection capability CC(b )from 103.94 to 108.88 microg/kg.     

Novel synthesis of the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system via a Dieckmann condensation

A novel four-step synthesis to the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system is described. 1H-Pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde was alkylated with ethyl or methyl bromoacetate and the resulting ethyl or methyl (2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)acetates oxidised with potassium permanganate to the corresponding 1-[(2-ethoxy or methoxy)-2-oxoethyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acids. The latter was converted into their acid chlorides by reaction with thionyl chloride and without isolation transformed into the respective methyl 2-({[1-(2-ethoxy or methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoates by reaction with methyl anthranilate. Dieckmann condensation of methyl 2-({[1-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoate provided the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine.     

Effect of β- and γ-cyclodextrins and their methylated derivatives on the degradation rate of benzylpenicillin

Benzylpenicillin is characterized by instability in aqueous media, low oral bioavailability, and short biological half-life. Since their degradation products can cause allergic reactions, β-lactam antibiotics are supplied as a powder for injection and require special precaution when stored and re-constituted in water. An efficient method for β-lactam stabilization in the aqueous environment could reduce allergic side effects and facilitate their handling. Previously we proposed that complexation with cyclodextrins (CDs) is a way to achieve this goal. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of methylation of CD on the chemical stability of benzylpenicillin. Kinetic studies revealed that degree of methylation of the CD molecule determines whether the CD has destabilizing or stabilizing effect on the β-lactam. The fully methylated βCD derivative Trimeb stabilizes benzylpenicillin while partial methylation of βCD only decreases to some extent the catalytic effect of native βCD. The complexes of all investigated CDs were also studied by DSC, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for quantitative determination of virgin olive oil adulteration with sunflower oil

Adulteration of extra virgin olive oil with sunflower oil is a major issue for the olive oil industry. In this paper, the potential of total synchronous fluorescence (TSyF) spectra to differentiate virgin olive oil from sunflower oil and synchronous fluorescence (SyF) spectra combined with multivariate analysis to assess the adulteration of virgin olive oil are demonstrated. TSyF spectra were acquired by varying the excitation wavelength in the region 270–720 nm and the wavelength interval (Δλ) in the region from 20 to 120 nm. TSyF contour plots for sunflower, in contrast to virgin olive oil, show a fluorescence region in the excitation wavelength range 325–385 nm. Fifteen different virgin olive oil samples were adulterated with sunflower oil at varying levels (0.5–95%) resulting in one hundred and thirty six mixtures. The partial least-squares regression model was used for quantification of the adulteration using wavelength intervals of 20 and 80 nm. This technique is useful for detection of sunflower oil in virgin olive oil at levels down to 3.4% (w/v) in just two and a half minutes using an 80-nm wavelength interval.