Separation of phenolic acids in soil and plant tissue extracts by co-electroosmotic capillary electrophoresis with direct UV detection

Summary A capillary zone electrophoretic method for the analysis of phenolic acids in soil and plant extracts was developed with direct UV detection using a phosphate electrolyte solution. The electrophoretic separation required the phenolic acids to be charged at a pH above their pKa in order to achieve their migration towards the anode. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) was reversed in direction by adding tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB). Factors affecting the separation selectivity, including the buffer pH and EOF modifiers, were investigated systematically. Eight phenolic acids were separated and detected in 10 min using an electrolyte containing 25 mM phosphate, 0.5 mM TTAB and 15% acetonitrile (v/v) at pH of 7.20. Linear plots for the test phenolic acids were obtained in a concentration range of 0.01–1 mM with detection limits in the range of 1.0–7.0 μM. The recoveries ranged from 92.8 to 102.3% in soil and plant tissues samples spiked at 100 μM and the relative standard deviation based on the peak area were ranged 2.0 to 4.5%. The proposed method was used for the determination of phenolic acids in plant tissue and soil extracts with direct injection.     

Separation of phenolic acids by capillary electrophoresis with indirect contactless conductometric detection

A new method for the electrophoretic separation of nine phenolic acids (derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids) with contactless conductometric detection is presented. Based on theoretical calculations, in which the mobility of the electrolyte co- and counterions and mobility of analytes are taken into consideration, the electrolyte composition and detection mode was selected. This approach was found to be especially valuable for optimization of the electrolyte composition for the separation of analytes having medium mobility. Indirect conductometric detection mode was superior to the direct mode as predicted theoretically. The best performance was achieved with 150 mM 2-amino-2-methylpropanol electrolyte at pH 11.6. The separation was carried out in a counter-electroosmotic mode and completed in less than 6 min. The LODs achieved were about 2.3-3.3 microM and could be further improved to 0.12-0.17 microM by using a sample stacking procedure. The method compares well to the UV-Vis detection.     

Phenolic resin as a carbon source for the synthesis of monometallic Mo and bimetallic CoMo carbides via carbothermal reduction route

It was the first time that phenolic resin (PR) was used as a carbon source for the synthesis of nanostructured monometallic Mo and bimetallic CoMo carbides via carbothermal reduction route. The results showed that phase-pure β-Mo₂C can be formed under an Ar atmosphere at 900°C or a H₂ atmosphere above 700°C. However, almost pure CoMo carbides (Co₃Mo₃C and Co₆Mo₆C) can be obtained only under a H₂ atmosphere at a low temperature of 630°C for 24 and 48 h, respectively. The role of PR in the preparation process has been investigated and a detailed formation mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results.     

Kinetic deoxyribose degradation assay and its application in assessing the antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds in a Fenton-type reaction system

Pro-oxidant properties of phenolic antioxidants, which are derived from their iron recycling reactivity, render the traditional deoxyribose degradation assay invalid to assess the hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity in Fenton-type reaction systems. In the present paper, we studied in detail the interactions between iron and phenolic compounds, and established a kinetic deoxyribose method by taking advantage of the distinct difference between the completion time of Fenton reaction and that of the iron-reducing process. With the newly established kinetic method, we investigated the effects of phenolics on hydroxyl radical formation in a Fenton-type system and determined successfully the second rate constants of hydroxyl radical-scavenging reactions. The site-specific and non-site-specific hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability suggested that both direct hydroxyl radical-scavenging potency and iron-chelating capacity accounted for their inhibitory effects on deoxyribose oxidation degradation. This method, more simple, time saving, and applicative than the traditional deoxyribose assay, produces as accurate results (RSD<0.05, with dynamic range from 7.5 to 575 μM) as typical methods, such as radiolysis technology, and may be of significance in evaluating and screen the hydroxyl radical-scavenging antioxidants.     

Elucidation of the Active Conformation of Vancomycin Dimers with Antibacterial Activity against Vancomycin‐Resistant Bacteria

Covalently linked vancomycin dimers have attracted a great deal of attention among researchers because of their enhanced antibacterial activity against vancomycin‐resistant strains. However, the lack of a clear insight into the mechanisms of action of these dimers hampers rational optimization of their antibacterial potency. Here, we describe the synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel vancomycin dimers with a constrained molecular conformation achieved by two tethers between vancomycin units. Conformational restriction is a useful strategy for studying the relationship between the molecular topology and biological activity of compounds. In this study, two vancomycin units were linked at three distinct positions of the glycopeptide (vancosamine residue (V), C terminus (C), and N terminus (N)) to form two types of novel vancomycin cyclic dimers. Active NC‐VV‐linked dimers with a stable conformation as indicated by molecular mechanics calculations selectively suppressed the peptidoglycan polymerization reaction of vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. In addition, double‐disk diffusion tests indicated that the antibacterial activity of these dimers against vancomycin‐resistant enterococci might arise from the inhibition of enzymes responsible for peptidoglycan polymerization. These findings provide a new insight into the biological targets of vancomycin dimers and the conformational requirements for efficient antibacterial activity against vancomycin‐resistant strains.     

Preparation of Nano Silica Supported Sodium Hydrogen Sulfate: As an Efficient Catalyst for the Trimethyl,Triethyl and t‐Butyldimethyl Silylations of Aliphatic and Aromatic Alcohols in Solution and under Solvent‐free Conditions

Nano silica supported sodium hydrogen sulfate has been prepared by mixing NaHSO₄ with activated Nano silicagel. We wish to report a new method for the synthesis of trimethyl (TMS), triethyl (TES) and t‐butyldimethyl silyl (TBS) ethers from benzylic, allylic, propargylic alcohols, phenols, naphtholes and some of phenolic drugs in the solution and under solvent‐free conditions.     

Cu/CuO-Graphene Foam with Laccase-like Activity for Identification of Phenolic Compounds and Detection of Epinephrine

Although great progress has been made in the advancement of nanozymes, most of the studies focus on mimicking peroxidase, oxidase, and catalase, while relatively few studies are used to mimic laccase. However, the use of nanomaterials to mimic laccase activity will have great potential in environmental and industrial catalysis. Herein, Cu/CuO-graphene foam with laccase-like activity was designed for the identification of phenolic compounds and the detection of epinephrine. In a typical experiment, the formation mechanism of Cu/CuO-graphene foam was investigated during the pyrolysis process by thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry. As a laccase mimic, Cu/CuO-graphene foam exhibited excellent catalytic activity with a Michaelis-Menten constant and a maximum initial velocity of 0.17 mmol/L and 0.012 mmol∙L^-1∙s^-1, respectively. Based on this principle, Cu/CuO-graphene foam nanozyme could differentially catalyze phenolic compounds and 4-aminoantipyrine for simultaneous identification of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, a colorimetric sensing platform was fabricated for the quantitative determination of epinephrine, showing linear responses to epinephrine in the range of 3 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL with the detection limit of 0.2 mg/mL. The proposed Cu/CuO-graphene foam nanozyme could be applied for the identification of phenolic compounds and the detection of epinephrine, showing great potential applications for environmental monitoring, biomedical sensing, and food detection fields.     

Cyclic esters of aliphatic diacids with pyrocatechol and hydroquinone

Cyclic esters of adipic acid, suberic acid and sebacic acid were prepared by reaction of the acid dichlorides and pyrocatechol or hydroquinone in benzene under high dilution conditions. While only the cyclic dimers could be obtained from hydroquinone, pyrocatechol formed cyclic monomers as well as cyclic dimers (and also a cyclic dimer with succinic acid). The structure of all compounds was confirmed by¹H-NMR- and mass spectra. The crystal structures of the pyrocatechol esters were determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.

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Cyclische Ester aliphatischer Dicarbonsäuren mit Brenzcatechin und Hydrochinon

Zusammenfassung Es wurden cyclische Ester von Adipinsäure, Korksäure und Sebacinsäure durch Reaktion der entsprechenden Säure-Dichloride mit Brenzcatechin oder Hydrochinon bei hoher Verdünnung hergestellt. Während mit Hydrochinon lediglich die cyclischen Dimeren erhalten werden konnten, wurden mit Brenzcatechin sowohl cyclische Monomere als auch cyclische Dimere erhalten (ebenfalls das cyclische Dimer mit Bernsteinsäure). Die Strukturen wurden mittels¹H-NMR und Massenspektren gesichert. Die Kristallstrukturen der Brenzcatechin-Ester wurden mittels Röntgenstrukturanalyse bestimmt.

     

Artematrovirenolides A—D and Artematrolides S—Z,Sesquiterpenoid Dimers with Cytotoxicity against Three Hepatoma Cell Lines from Artemisia atrovirens

Inspired by the intriguing structures and remarkable activities of sesquiterpenoid dimers,12 new sesquiterpenoid dimers,artematrovirenolides A—D(1—4)and artematrolides S—Z(8—12),were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of Artemisia atrovirens through a bioactivity-guided approach.Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data and absolute configuration was assigned based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data and ECD calculations.Structurally,all compounds are presumably formed via[4+2]cycloaddition involving three connecting model.Compounds 1—4 are four novel hetero-dimeric[4+2]Diels-Alder adducts dimerized from a rotundane-type unit and a guaiane-type monomer,and compounds 5—12 are eight new homo-dimeric[4+2]adducts derived from two guaianolide moieties.A putative biosynthetic pathway for compounds 1—4 was also proposed.Compounds 4,6,7,and 10 demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2,SMMC-7721,and Huh7 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 9.3 to 62.3μmol/L.Interestingly,compounds 5 and 11 manifested cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 13.6 and 12.8(HepG2),18.5 and 13.1(SMMC-7721),and 16.5 and 19.4μmol/L(Huh7),respectively,which were equivalent to the positive control,sorafenib.This investigation suggests that compounds 5 and 11 might be considered as potent antihepatoma candidates and deserve further structural modification and mechanism study.     

Determination of phenolic compounds in water samples by on-line solid-phase extraction—supercritical-fluid chromatography with diode-array detection

Summary The eleven Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority phenolic compounds have been determined by solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to supercritical-fluid chromatography (SFC) with diodearray detection. The variables affecting chromatographic separation were optimized and the analytes were separated at 40 °C in two diol columns connected in series; a gradient of methanol, as modifier, and CO₂ was used as mobile phase. Under these conditions, all the compounds studied were separated to baseline in less than 13 min. PLRP-S and LiChrolut EN were tested as sorbents in a 10×3 mm i.d. laboratory-packed precolumn for solid-phase extraction. An ion-pair reagent, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBA), was used in the extraction process to increase break-through volumes. The performance of the method was checked with tap and river waters and the pre-concentration of 20 mL of sample in a PLRP-S pre-column enabled phenolic compounds to be determined at low μg L⁻¹ levels with limits of detection ranging between 0.4 and 2 μg L⁻¹. The repeatability and reproducibility between days (n=3) for real samples spiked at 10 μg L⁻¹ were lower than 10%.