Efficient total synthesis of pulchellalactam,a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor

A new approach to a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, pulchellalactam, is described. The key step of the sequence involves addition and elimination of an enolic lactam in a single step and 70% yield, employing an organocuprate reagent. The resulting alpha,beta-unsaturated lactam could be condensed with isobutyraldehyde to produce Z-pulchellalactam or converted into siloxypyrrole, which was subjected to the BF(3) x Et(2)O-promoted coupling reaction with isobutyraldehyde to afford E-pulchellalactam after E1-cB elimination and TFA deprotection. This first total synthesis afforded Z-pulchellalactam in six steps and 32% overall yield from Boc-glycine. The same sequence of reactions could also be applied to the liquid- or solid-phase synthesis of trifunctionalized pulchellalactam derivatives.     

Vertically well aligned P-doped ZnO nanowires synthesized on ZnO-Ga/glass templates

Vertically well aligned P-doped ZnO nanowires were prepared on ZnO-Ga/glass templates at 550 degrees C by reactive evaporation without metal catalysts and the nanowires were found to be single crystalline with the würtzite structure, oriented in the c-axis direction; the P-doping shortened the physical lengths of the ZnO nanowires without changing their diameter, and furthermore, the introduction of P atoms resulted in a much weaker and broader ZnO band edge emission.     

Cooled internal reflection element for infrared chemical sensing of volatile to semi-volatile organic compounds in the headspace of aqueous solutions

In this study, the cooling effect was applied to an evanescent wave type infrared (IR) chemical sensing method to effectively trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been absorbed in the hydrophobic film coated around the internal reflection element (IRE). The detection of VOCs in aqueous solutions was taken in the headspace of the aqueous solution. This method eliminates the long-term instability of hydrophobic film soaked in an aqueous solution and the potential spectral interference caused by the matrix of the aqueous solution. Thermal energy has been applied to the aqueous solution to assist in the evaporation of VOCs out of the aqueous matrix. By applying a cooling system to the IRE, the excess thermal energy can be removed leading to more stable IR signals. After examination of organic compounds with vapour pressure (P_v) ranging from 0.017 to 150 Torr, significant differences were found between IR signals from cooled and un-cooled systems. Because the thermal conductivity of the IRE used in IR detection is typically low; the efficiency in removing the thermal energy is limited. By heating the aqueous solutions to different temperatures, the IR signals showed that the sample temperature was limited to around 80 °C. The IR signal determination results for five different volatility organic compounds indicated that the optimal heating temperature was not necessary to match with the volatilities of organic compounds in cooling system. The linear regression coefficient (R²) of the standard curve for sample concentrations in the range 5-200 μg ml⁻¹ was generally higher than 0.991 and the detection limit was around a few hundred ng ml⁻¹, which was two to three times lower than that of un-cooled system.     

Tetranuclear and Octanuclear Manganese Carboxylate Clusters: Preparation and Reactivity of (NBu(n)(4))[Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(9)(H(2)O)] and Synthesis of (NBu(n)(4))(2)[Mn(8)O(4)(O(2)CPh)(12)(Et(2)mal)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] with a "Linked-Butterfly" Structure

The reaction of Mn(O(2)CPh)(2).2H(2)O and PhCO(2)H in EtOH/MeCN with NBu(n)(4)MnO(4) gives (NBu(n)(4))[Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(9)(H(2)O)] (4) in high yield (85-95%). Complex 4 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with the following unit cell parameters at -129 degrees C: a = 17.394(3) ?, b = 19.040(3) ?, c = 25.660(5) ?, beta = 103.51(1) degrees, V = 8262.7 ?(3), Z = 4; the structure was refined on F to R (R(w)) = 9.11% (9.26%) using 4590 unique reflections with F > 2.33sigma(F). The anion of 4 consists of a [Mn(4)(&mgr;(3)-O)(2)](8+) core with a "butterfly" disposition of four Mn(III) atoms. In addition to seven bridging PhCO(2)(-) groups, there is a chelating PhCO(2)(-) group at one "wingtip" Mn atom and terminal PhCO(2)(-) and H(2)O groups at the other. Complex 4 is an excellent steppingstone to other [Mn(4)O(2)]-containing species. Treatment of 4 with 2,2-diethylmalonate (2 equiv) leads to isolation of (NBu(n)(4))(2)[Mn(8)O(4)(O(2)CPh)(12)(Et(2)mal)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (5) in 45% yield after recrystallization. Complex 5 is mixed-valent (2Mn(II),6Mn(III)) and contains an [Mn(8)O(4)](14+) core that consists of two [Mn(4)O(2)](7+) (Mn(II),3Mn(III)) butterfly units linked together by one of the &mgr;(3)-O(2)(-) ions in each unit bridging to one of the body Mn atoms in the other unit, and thus converting to &mgr;(4)-O(2)(-) modes. The Mn(II) ions are in wingtip positions. The Et(2)mal(2)(-) groups each bridge two wingtip Mn atoms from different butterfly units, providing additional linkage between the halves of the molecule. Complex 5.4CH(2)Cl(2) crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with the following unit cell parameters at -165 degrees C: a = 16.247(5) ?, b = 27.190(8) ?, c = 17.715(5) ?, beta = 113.95(1) degrees, V = 7152.0 ?(3), Z = 4; the structure was refined on F to R (R(w)) = 8.36 (8.61%) using 4133 unique reflections with F > 3sigma(F). The reaction of 4 with 2 equiv of bpy or picolinic acid (picH) yields the known complex Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(7)(bpy)(2) (2), containing Mn(II),3Mn(III), or (NBu(n)(4))[Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(7)(pic)(2)] (6), containing 4Mn(III). Treatment of 4 with dibenzoylmethane (dbmH, 2 equiv) gives the mono-chelate product (NBu(n)(4))[Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(8)(dbm)] (7); ligation of a second chelate group requires treatment of 7 with Na(dbm), which yields (NBu(n)(4))[Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(7)(dbm)(2)] (8). Complexes 7 and 8 both contain a [Mn(4)O(2)](8+) (4Mn(III)) butterfly unit. Complex 7 contains chelating dbm(-) and chelating PhCO(2)(-) at the two wingtip positions, whereas 8 contains two chelating dbm(-) groups at these positions, as in 2 and 6. Complex 7.2CH(2)Cl(2) crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1) with the following unit cell parameters at -170 degrees C: a = 18.169(3) ?, b = 19.678(4) ?, c = 25.036(4) ?, beta = 101.49(1) degrees, V = 8771.7 ?(3), Z = 4; the structure was refined on F to R (R(w)) = 7.36% (7.59%) using 10 782 unique reflections with F > 3sigma(F). Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have been carried out on powdered samples of complexes 2 and 5 in a 10.0 kG field in the 5.0-320.0 K range. The effective magnetic moment (&mgr;(eff)) for 2 gradually decreases from 8.61 &mgr;(B) per molecule at 320.0 K to 5.71 &mgr;(B) at 13.0 K and then increases slightly to 5.91 &mgr;(B) at 5.0 K. For 5, &mgr;(eff) gradually decreases from 10.54 &mgr;(B) per molecule at 320.0 K to 8.42 &mgr;(B) at 40.0 K, followed by a more rapid decrease to 6.02 &mgr;(B) at 5.0 K. On the basis of the crystal structure of 5 showing the single Mn(II) ion in each [Mn(4)O(2)](7+) subcore to be at a wingtip position, the Mn(II) ion in 2 was concluded to be at a wingtip position also. Employing the reasonable approximation that J(w)(b)(Mn(II)/Mn(III)) = J(w)(b)(Mn(III)/M(III)), where J(w)(b) is the magnetic exchange interaction between wingtip (w) and body (b) Mn ions of the indicated oxidation state, a theoretical chi(M) vs T expression was derived and used to fit the experimental molar magnetic susceptibility (chi(M)) vs T data. The obtained fitting parameters were J(w)(b) = -3.9 cm(-)(1), J(b)(b) = -9.2 cm(-)(1), and g = 1.80. These values suggest a S(T) = (5)/(2) ground state spin for 2, which was confirmed by magnetization vs field measurements in the 0.5-50.0 kG magnetic field range and 2.0-30.0 K temperature range. For complex 5, since the two bonds connecting the two [Mn(4)O(2)](7+) units are Jahn-Teller elongated and weak, it was assumed that complex 5 could be treated, to a first approximation, as consisting of weakly-interacting halves; the magnetic susceptibility data for 5 at temperatures >/=40 K were therefore fit to the same theoretical expression as used for 2, and the fitting parameters were J(w)(b) = -14.0 cm(-)(1) and J(b)(b) = -30.5 cm(-)(1), with g = 1.93 (held constant). These values suggest an S(T) = (5)/(2) ground state spin for each [Mn(4)O(2)](7+) unit of 5, as found for 2. The interactions between the subunits are difficult to incorporate into this model, and the true ground state spin value of the entire Mn(8) anion was therefore determined by magnetization vs field studies, which showed the ground state of 5 to be S(T) = 3. The results of the studies on 2 and 5 are considered with respect to spin frustration effects within the [Mn(4)O(2)](7+) units. Complexes 2 and 5 are EPR-active and -silent, respectively, consistent with their S(T) = (5)/(2) and S(T) = 3 ground states, respectively.     

Determinations of geniposide using LC/MS/MS methods via forming ammonium and acetate adducts

In this paper, we report method development work to determine geniposide using LC/MS/MS via the formation of positive and negative ion adducts. Geniposide, which has been recognized to have choleretic effects, is the major iridoid glycoside component of Gardenia herbs. To enhance the sensitivity of LC/MS detection of geniposide, a small amount of volatile additives such as ammonium acetate and acetic acid are added into mobile phase solvents to form positive and negative adducts, which can then ionize via electrospray processes. The formation of positive adducts is due to the complexation between geniposide and ammonium ions ([M + NH₄]⁺). The formation of anionic adducts [M + CH₃COO]⁻ is believed to occur via hydrogen bonds bridging acetate ions and glucose groups on the geniposide molecule. Mobile phase solvents containing acetonitrile and aqueous solution (0.2 mM ammonium acetate or 0.1% acetic acid) at the ratio 15: 85 are employed to elute geniposide using C8 reverse phase liquid chromatography columns with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry determinations. Using geniposide standards, the methods are validated at the concentration ranges of 5 to 1000 ng/mL and 20 to 5000 ng/mL using ammonium and acetate adducts respectively. The correlation coefficients of the standard curves are 0.9999 using both ammonium and acetate adducts. The detection limits of using ammonium and acetate adducts are 1 and 5 ng/mL respectively. The measurement accuracy and precision of using ammonium adducts are within 12% and 3% respectively, whereas the accuracy and precision are within 6 and 11% respectively using acetate adducts. When the validated calibration curves of the ammonium adduct of geniposide are used to determine spiked control samples in rat blood dialysates, the determination errors of accuracy and precision are within 12% and 10% respectively.     

Anchored palladium bipyridyl complex in nanosized MCM-41: a recyclable and efficient catalyst for the Kumada-Corriu reaction

A palladium bipyridyl complex anchored onto nanosized mesoporous silica MCM-41 catalyzed the cross-coupling of aryl iodides or bromides with Grignard reagents to provide the corresponding biaryls in high yields. The reaction proceeded smoothly with an equal molar amount of substrate and Grignard reagent in the presence of 0.2-0.02 mol % of catalyst in THF at 50 °C or under refluxing conditions. The catalyst prepared may be used in a very low percentage, recovered after reaction, and re-used.     

Chlorinated briarane-type diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta (Ellisellidae)

Four chlorinated metabolites featuring briarane carbon skeletons have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta, which was collected off the coast of southern Taiwan: two new natural products, robustolides D (1) and E (2), and two known metabolites, robustolides F (3) and G (4). The structures of metabolites 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, using 1D and 2D NMR in particular. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of robustolides D (1), F (3), and G (4) were directly established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Robustolide D (1) is the first metabolite of briarane-related natural products found to possess two halogen atoms.     

Measurement of unbound cocaine in blood, brain and bile of anesthetized rats using microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography and verified by tandem mass spectrometry

To investigate the disposition of unbound cocaine in the rat blood, brain and bile, we demonstrate an in vivo multiple sampling microdialysis system coupled with liquid chromatography for cocaine assay and verified by tandem mass spectrometry. Three microdialysis probes were concurrently inserted into the jugular vein, bile duct and brain striatum of each anesthetized rat. After a period of 2 h post-surgical stabilization, cocaine (10 mg kg(-1)) was administered through the femoral vein. Separation of unbound cocaine from various biological fluids was applied to a reversed-phase C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile--10 mm potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (25:75, v/v, pH 4.0) and 0.8% diethylamine at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The UV detector wavelength was set at 235 nm. The results indicate that cocaine penetrates the blood--brain barrier with a rapid distribution. However, unbound cocaine in the bile dialysate was not detectable in the UV detection. We therefore use LC--tandem mass spectrometry to detect the bile fluid after cocaine administration (3 mg kg(-1), i.v.). The results indicate that cocaine goes through hepatobiliary excretion.     

Chemical Constituents from the Root of Antidesma Pentandrum var. Barbatum

Investigation of the root extract of Antidesma pentandrum var. barbatum led to the isolation of seven new compounds, antidesmol ( 1 ), antidesmanins E ( 2 ) and F ( 3 ), antidesnone ( 4 ), antidesnol ( 5 ), barbatumols A ( 6 ) and B ( 7 ), together with 14 known compounds including sodium aristolochate‐I ( 10 ) and aristolochic acid‐I methyl ester ( 11 ).     

Difference in Conversions Between Dimethyl Sulfide and Methanethiol in a Cold Plasma Environment

This study compared the conversion of two malodorous substances, dimethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₃, DMS) and methanethiol (CH₃SH) in a cold plasma reactor. The DMS and CH₃SH were successfully destroyed at room temperature. DMS decomposed less than CH₃SH at the same conditions. In oxygen-free condition, CS₂ and hydrocarbons were the major products, while SO₂ and CO_x were main compounds in oxygen-rich environments. The DMS/Ar plasma yielded more hydrocarbons and less CS₂ than that of CH₃SH/Ar plasma. In the CH₃SH/O₂/Ar plasma, rapid formation of SO and CO resulted in the yields much more amounts of SO₂ and CO₂ than those in the DMS/O₂/Ar plasma; and remained only a trace of total hydrocarbons, CH₂O, CH₃OH, CS₂, and OCS. The major differences between the reaction mechanisms of DMS and CH₃SH were also proposed and discussed.