Development of a Sensitive Method for the Determination of 4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol in Human Urine Using Solid‐phase Extraction Combined with Ultrasound‐assisted Dispersive Liquid–liquid Microextraction and LC‐MS/MS Detection

An efficient and sensitive analytical method based on molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction (MISPE) and reverse‐phase ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (USA‐DLLME) coupled with LC–MS/MS detection was developed and validated for the analysis of urinary 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), a tobacco‐specific nitrosamine metabolite. The extraction performances of NNAL on three different solid‐phase extraction (SPE) sorbents including the hydrophilic‐lipophilic balanced sorbent HLB, the mixed mode cationic MCX sorbent and the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) sorbent were evaluated. Experimental results showed that the analyte was well retained with the highest extraction recovery and the optimum purification effect on MIP. Under the optimized conditions of MIP and USA‐DLLME, an enrichment factor of 23 was obtained. Good linearity relationship was obtained in the range of 5‐1200 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9953. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.35 pg/mL. The recoveries at three spiked levels ranged between 88.5% and 93.7%. Intra‐ and inter‐day relative standard deviations varied from 3.6% to 7.4% and from 5.4% to 9.7%, respectively. The developed method combing the advantages of MISPE and DLLME significantly improves the purification and enrichment of the analyte and can be used as an effective approach for the determination of ultra‐trace NNAL in complex biological matrices.     

A High Yield Method of Extracting Alkaloid from Aconitum coreanum by Pulsed Electric Field

A high yield method to extract alkaloids from Aconitum coreanum using pulsed electric field (PEF) was developed, and the optimized extraction method compared to the other four extraction methods, consisting of cold maceration extraction, percolation extraction, heat reflux extraction (HRE), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UE). The experimental factors of the extraction methods such as electric field intensity, pulse frequency and solid-to-solvent ratio were evaluated. The content of Guanfu base A (GFA) was quantified by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the highest yield of GFA was 3.94 mg g^?1 by PEF with conditions of 20 kV cm^?1 electric field intensity, 8 pulse, 1:12 solid-to-solvent ratio, and 90 % ethanol–water solution. Meanwhile, the extraction time of PEF was <1 min, which is much less than the HRE of 10 h and even the newly used technique UE of 40 min. Moreover, the results of PEF extraction method showed obvious advantages, with the highest efficiency (120 L h^?1), the shortest extraction time (0.5–1 min), and the lowest energy costs, which could be applied in the industrial production of alkaloids from A. coreanum. Therefore, the application of the PEF extraction method is a promising and constructive method for extraction of GFA.     

Analysis of Biological Samples Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry: An Investigation of Impacts by the Substrates, Solvents and Elution Methods

Paper spray has been developed as a fast sampling ionization method for direct analysis of raw biological and chemical samples using mass spectrometry (MS). Quantitation of therapeutic drugs in blood samples at high accuracy has also been achieved using paper spray MS without traditional sample preparation or chromatographic separation. The paper spray ionization is a process integrated with a fast extraction of the analyte from the raw sample by a solvent, the transport of the extracted analytes on the paper, and a spray ionization at the tip of the paper substrate with a high voltage applied. In this study, the influence on the analytical performance by the solvent–substrate systems and the selection of the elution methods was investigated. The protein hemoglobin could be observed from fresh blood samples on silanized paper or from dried blood spots on silica-coated paper. The on-paper separation of the chemicals during the paper spray was characterized through the analysis of a mixture of the methyl violet 2B and methylene blue. The mode of applying the spray solvent was found to have a significant impact on the separation. The results in this study led to a better understanding of the analyte elution, on-paper separation, as well as the ionization processes of the paper spray. This study also helps in establishing a guideline for optimizing the analytical performance of paper spray for direct analysis of target analytes using mass spectrometry.     

The Reaction of 1-Nitro-4-(4-nitrophenylsulfonylmethyl)benzene with α,β-Unsaturated Esters

Under solid-liquid PTC conditions, treatment of 1-nitro-4-(4-nitrophenylsulfonyl-methyl)benzene(1) with α,β -unsaturated esters (2a-h) at 35–75°C gave tandem addition-rearrangement products(3a-h). While at higher temperature(75°C), addition-rearrangement-addition products (4a-b) were obtained when acrylates were used. Finally a possible mechanism is proposed.     

Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation Reaction Promoted by Cadmium In Aqueous Media

Promoted by metallic cadmium allylilic and propargyl bromides react smoothly with aldehydes in aqueous DMF to give homoallylic and homopropargyl alcohols in moderate to good yields. It can also promote pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes. The metallic cadmium is produced in situ by the reduction of CdCl₂ H₂O with samarium metal.     

One‐Pot and Convenient Conversion of 5‐Azidopyrazole‐4‐carboxaldehyde to Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridines

A one‐pot and convenient synthesis of multisubstituted pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridines in moderate to high yields has been achieved by a two‐step reaction: diazo‐transfer of 5‐azido‐1‐phenylpyrazole‐4‐carboxaldehydes to ketones in ethanolic KOH to give 5‐amino‐1‐phenylpyrazole‐4‐carboxaldehyde and subsequent Friedlaender reaction of 5‐amino‐1‐phenylpyrazole‐4‐carboxaldehyde with ketones.     

Application of poly(vinylphenyltrimethylammonium tribromide) resin as an efficient polymeric brominating agent in the α-bromination and α-bromoacetalization of acetophenones

The applications of a new supported tribromide reagent based on poly(vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide) resin (Amberlite 717) were reported. This supported tribromide resin was used directly in α-bromination and α-bromoacetalization of acetophenones without any other catalyst under mild conditions. The effects of solvents and the amount of the supported tribromide resin on the reactions were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, most of α-bromo and α-bromoacetal of acetophenones were selectively obtained in excellent yields.     

Ultrasonicated Condensation of Indene and 2-Nitrofluorene with Aromatic Aldehydes Catalyzed by bis-(pMethoxyphenyl)telluroxide (BMPTO)

The condensation of indene or 2-nitrofluorene with aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by bis-(p-methoxyphenyl)telluroxide (BMPTO) under ultrasonic wave irradiation gave corresponding fulvenes in fair to good yield.     

Synthesis of 5-Mercaptoalkylthiopyrazolyl-and 3-Mercaptoalkylthioisoxazolyl)-1,2,4-triazoles by Ring Chain Transformation

Cyclic α-oxo-α-(1,2,4-triazolyl)ketene S,S-acetals 1a-e react with hydrazine affording the substituted pyrazolyl-1,2,4-triazoles 3a-e. With hydroxylamine hydrochloride under basic conditions the substituted isoxazolyl-1,2,4-triazoles 5a-c are obtained.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of Chlorin P6 Trimethyl Ester

The Vilsmeier reaction of nickel(II) chlorin P₆ trimethyl ester with 3-dimethyl-aminoacrolein yielded nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 20-(2-formylvinyl) trimethyl ester and nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-devinyl-20-(2-formylvinyl) trimethyl ester. Also, the outgrowths of nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 20-(2-formyl) trimethyl ester and nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 3-(2-formylvinyl)-3-devinyl-20-(2-formyl) trimethyl ester were obtained by Vilsmeier reaction with dimethylformamide. By treating the derivatives of nickel(II) 20-(2-formyl)-chlorin and nickel(II) 3-(2-formylvinyl)-20-(2-formyl)-chlorin with trifluoracetic acid, the removal of the central nickel(II) ion was accomplished. The derivatives of 20-(2-formyl)-chlorin and 3-(2-formylvinyl)-20-(2-formyl)-chlorin demonstrated considerable bathochromic shift of the major absorption band in the red region of the optical spectrum.