Optimum spray congealing conditions for masking the bitter taste of clarithromycin in wax matrix

The effects of operating conditions in the spray-congealing process on the release and the micromeritic properties of clarithromycin (CAM) wax matrix were evaluated. CAM wax matrix with 30% CAM, 60% glyceryl monostearate (GM) and 10% aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E (AMCE) was manufactured at various atomizer wheel speeds and liquid feed rates with a spray dryer. Release of CAM from the matrix exhibited a two-phase pattern, probably due to the dissolution of the fine portions broken on the surface of the matrix. The slope and the extrapolated y-intercept of the subsequent release pattern were defined as the release rate and the initial amount of release of CAM from the matrix, respectively. These release parameters, as well as the volume median diameter and the specific surface area of matrix, were selected as response variables, and multiple regression analysis was performed. For specific surface area and initial amount of release, a minimum point was observed on the contour curve when the atomizer wheel speed was constant and the liquid feed rate was varied. For the release rate, a maximum point was observed on the contour curve under the same conditions. These points were considered preferable for masking the bitter taste of CAM preparation. Microscopic observation revealed that a small spherical matrix with a smooth surface could be obtained with a high atomizer wheel speed and optimum liquid feed rate. This matrix also possessed excellent properties for taste masking, with small initial amount of release and subsequent high rate of release. In conclusion, the congealing speed of melt droplets was the dominant factor in masking the bitter taste of CAM.     

Stereoselectivity in the formation and radical reduction of cyclic bromoacetals, key intermediates for the synthesis of δ-hydroxy- and ε-hydroxy-α-methylcarboxylic acid esters

We report the stereoselectivity in the formation and radical reduction of six- and seven-membered cyclic bromoacetals. The oxidative ring cleavage of the resulting acetals gave the corresponding acyclic δ-hydroxy- and ε-hydroxy-α-methylcarboxylic acid esters.     

Synthesis and photochromism of spirobenzopyrans and spirobenzothiapyran derivatives bearing monoazathiacrown ethers and noncyclic analogues in the presence of metal ions

Spirobenzopyrans bearing monoazathiacrown ethers and noncyclic analogues were synthesized, and their ion-responsive photochromism depending on the dual metal ion interaction with the crown ether and the phenolate anion moieties was examined using alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions, Ag(+), Tl(+), Pb(2+), Hg(2+), and Zn(2+). The prepared spirobenzopyrans showed a selective binding ability to Mg(2+) and Ag(+) with negative and positive photochromism, respectively. Among the metal ions, only Ag(+) facilitated photoisomerization to the corresponding merocyanine form. Depending on the ring size of the monoazathiacrown ether moieties, soft metal ions such as Hg(2+) and Ag(+) showed significant shifts in the UV-vis absorption spectra, while hard metal ions such as Mg(2+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+) did not afford any meaningful shift. This result reflects that the monoazathiacrown ether and phenolate anion moieties prefer soft and hard metal ions, respectively. Therefore, the Mg(2+) and Ag(+) selectivities are mainly derived from the phenolate anion and monoazathiacrown ether moieties, respectively. On the other hand, a spirobenzothiapyran bearing 3,9-dithia-6-monoazaundecane showed a remarkable selectivity to Ag(+).     

Synthesis and aldose reductase-inhibitory activity of benzo[b]furan derivatives possessing a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group

Various benzo[b]furan derivatives with a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group were prepared and evaluated for aldose reductase-inhibitory potency. Most of the compounds displayed significant inhibitory activities (IC50, 10(-8)-10(-7) M). Among the test compounds, the compounds having a carboxymethylsulfamoyl group at the 3- or 4-position exhibited the greatest inhibitory potency. Structure-activity trends of the tested compounds are discussed.     

Photocontrol of ion-sensor performances in neutral-carrier-type ion sensors based on liquid-crystalline membranes

Neutral-carrier-type ion-selective electrodes based on liquid-crystalline ion-sensing membranes containing an azobenzene derivative as the photosensitive chromophore show remarkable changes in their ion selectivity on photoirradiation, which is induced by the phase transition of the membranes.     

Ion-transfer polarographic study of the distribution of alkali and alkaline-earth metal complexes with 3m-crown-m ether derivatives (m = 6, 8) between water and nitrobenzene phases

Stability constants ( ₁ ^NB ) of the 1:1 cationic complexes of Li⁺ Na⁺, K⁺ Ca²⁺ Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ with benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6), Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ with 18C6 and dibenzo-18C6 and Li⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ with dibenzo-24-crown-8 in a nitrobenzene (NB) solution saturated with water (w) were determined at 25°C by ion-transfer polarography. From these values, distribution constants (K _D,ML) of the 18C6-derivative complex cations between the w- and NB-phases were evaluated using the thermodynamic relation:K _D,ML =K ₁ ^NB , whereK (mol dm^–3) is an overall equilibrium constant of the processes related to the complexation in the w-phase. The data on the distribution of the 18C6-derivative complex cations between the two phases and the complexation in the NB-phase were examined on the basis of an increase in the number of water molecules hydrated to the species relevant to these processes. The 18C6 derivatives showed higher solubilities in the NB-phase than in the w-phase by complexing with the univalent-metal ions, while, for the divalent-metal ions, the derivatives showed lower solubilities in the NB-phase.     

Combined effects of electrostatic and pi-pi stacking interactions: selective binding of nucleotides and aromatic carboxylates by platinum(II)-aromatic ligand complexes

Adduct formations of Pt(II) complexes containing an aromatic diimine (DA) and an L-amino acid (A) with an aromatic carboxylate (AR) or a mononucleotide (NMP) has been studied by synthetic, structural, spectroscopic, and calorimetric methods. Several adducts between Pt(II) complexes, [Pt(DA)(L-A)] (charges are omitted; DA=2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm); A=L-arginine (L-Arg), L-alaninate (L-Ala), and AR (=indole-3-acetate (IA), gentisate (GA)) or GMP were isolated as crystals and structurally characterized by the X-ray diffraction method. GMP in [Pt(bpm)(Arg)](GMP).5 H(2)O was revealed to be bound through the pi-pi stacking and guanidinium-phosphate hydrogen bonds. The [Pt(DA)(A)]-AR and -NMP systems in aqueous solution exhibited NMR upfield shifts of the aromatic ring proton signals due to stacking. The stability constants (K) for the adducts were determined by absorption and NMR spectra and calorimetric titrations. The log K values were found to be in the range 1.40-2.29 for AR and 1.8-3.3 for NMP, the order for NMP being GMP>AMP>CMP>UMP. The DeltaH degrees values were negative for all the systems studied, and the values for AR (=IA and GA) were more negative than those for NMP, indicating that ARs are stronger electron donors than NMPs. Comparison of the log K values for [Pt(bpm)(L-Arg)] and [Pt(bpm)(L-Ala)] (Ala=alaninate) indicated that the Arg moiety further stabilized the adducts by the guanidinium-carboxylate or -phosphate hydrogen bonds. The combined effects of weak interactions on the stability of the adducts in solution are discussed on the basis of the thermodynamic parameters and solid state structures.     

Direct determination of the stereoisomer constitution by 2D-HPLC and stereochemistry-pheromone activity relationship of the copulation release pheromone of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus

The copulation release pheromone of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus, was re-isolated from about 30,000 virgin female. The natural pheromone was confirmed to be stereochemically impure by Ohrui-Akasaka-2D-HPLC methodology. The structure-activity relationship of the pheromone was also clarified.