Assay of free ferulic acid and total ferulic acid for quality assessment of Angelica sinensis

Activity of Chinese Danggui (DG), the processed root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, is linked to the ferulic acid content but the stability of ferulic acid during extraction for medicinal use is not known. The stabilities of ferulic acid and coniferyl ferulate were evaluated in the extracts of DG using a variety of extraction solvents. These included various combinations and proportions of methanol, water, formic acid, 1 M aqueous hydrochloric acid and 2% sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) in water. Coniferyl ferulate was found liable to hydrolyze into ferulic acid in neutral, strongly acidic and basic solvents, where heat and water could facilitate this hydrolysis. However, the hydrolysis was relatively resisted in weakly organic acid. Based on the stability evaluation, two new terms, namely: free ferulic acid and total ferulic acid, were suggested and defined. Free ferulic acid refers to the natural content of ferulic acid in herbs. Total ferulic acid means the sum of free ferulic acid plus the amount of related hydrolyzed components. Meanwhile, the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to assay free ferulic acid and total ferulic acid in DG using methanol-formic acid (95:5) and methanol-2% NaHCO3 in water (95:5) as extraction solvents, respectively. Ten DG samples were investigated on their contents of free and total ferulic acid. The results indicated that the amount variety of free ferulic acid was larger than that of their counterparts, and the ratio of total ferulic acid to free ferulic acid was 4.07 +/- 2.73 (mean +/- SD, n = 10). The chemical assay of DG using total ferulic acid content would be a better choice to assess the herbal quality and was recommended.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structures of new Coordination Polymers of Cerium(III) and Samarium(III) Containing 2,6‐Pyridinedicarboxylic Acid

The reaction of 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid ( 1 , LH₂) with CeCl₃·7H₂O and Sm(NO₃)₃·6H₂O in the presence of triethylamine led to the coordination polymer complexes [M(L)(LH)(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O [M = Ce ( 2 ) and Sm ( 3 )]. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and the crystal structures of 2 and 3 . Crystal data for 2 at ?80 °C: monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 1404.6(1), b = 1122.1(1), c = 1296.1(1) pm, β = 102.09(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0217 and for 3 at ?80 °C: monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 1395.1(1), b = 1120.1(1), c = 1282.8(1) pm, β = 102.71(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.019.     

Synthesis of indenes by ytterbium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes with acetals

Ytterbium-catalyzed tandem carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes 1 with acetals 2 afforded the corresponding indene derivatives 3 in good to high yields. For example, in the presence of 10 mol % of Yb(OTf)₃ the reaction of 1-phenylbenzylidenecyclopropane 1a with the dimethyl acetals of benzaldehyde 2a, p-tolualdehyde 2b, and p-anisaldehyde 2c gave 1,3-diphenyl-2-(2-methoxyethyl)indene 3a, 2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenyl-1-(p-tolyl)indene 3b, and 1-(p-anisyl)-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenylindene 3c in 82%, 80%, and 80% yields, respectively.     

Electrocatalytic Determination of Vitamin C Using Calixarene Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

Effect of in situ complexation of some ions with variable valencies, like Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) on the the electrooxidation of Vitamin C (L ‐ascorbic acid) was studied by cyclic voltammetry using carbon paste electrodes modified with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene and p‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene in perchloric acid, acetic acid and ammonium acetate media. Pb(II) was found to bind strongly with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene in acetate medium, resulting in its being retained at the electrode surface and catalyzing the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The overpotential was reduced by about 200 mV with an increase in the peak currents. Linearity was observed over the range of 0.07–400 ppm with a detection limit of 30 ppb by differential pulse voltammetry. Interferences of some common substances like sugars and amino acids were studied and the modified electrode was used for the determination of vitamin C in commercial samples.     

The Constituents of Cynanchum Taiwanianum

The isolation and identification of eleven crystalline components from the aerial part of Cynanchum taiwanianum Yamazaki (Asclepiadaceae) are described. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical transformation. Besides caffeic acid, β-amyrin, and methyl phaeophorbide a, the isolated flavonoid components are classified into two groups, i.e. kaempferol derivatives (kaempferol, astragalin, afzelin, trifolin) and quercetin derivatives (quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, hyperin).     

The 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of 3-Arylsydnone-4-Carbonitrile Oxides with Alkenes

3-Arylsydnone-4-carbonitrile oxides may undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with alkenes to produce the corresponding 3-aryl-4-(5-substituted-isoxazolin-3-yl)sydnones. The direct reaction of 3-arylsydone-4-carbohydroximic acid chlorides with alkenes may also give the same products, and with higher yield.     

Mechanism of silicon film deposition in the RF plasma reduction of silicon tetrachloride

Plasma-chemical reduction of SiCl₄ in mixtures with H₂ and Ar has been studied by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and laser interferometry techniques. It has been found that the Ar:H₂ ratio strongly affects the plasma composition as well as the deposition (r _D) and etch (r _E) rates of Si: H, Cl films and that the electron impact dissociation is the most important channel for the production of SiCl_x species, which are the precursors of the film growth. Chemisorption of SiCl_x and the reactive surface reaction SiCl_x+H–SiCl_(x–1)0+HCl are important steps in the deposition process. The suggested deposition model givesr _D [SiCl_x][H], in agreement with the experimental data. Etching of Si: H, Cl films occurs at high Ar: H₂ ratio when Cl atoms in the gas phase become appreciable and increases with increasing Cl concentration. The etch rate is controlled by the Cl atom chemisorption step.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of chiral carboxylic acids using chiral derivatization and HPLC

Summary The enantiomers of chiral carboxylic acids were separated as their diastereomeric amides with (1R,2R)-(−)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-amino-1,3-propanediol (“levobase”) and with “dextrobase” (the enantiomer of levobase) by high-performance liquid chromatography using a conventional C-18 column and various solvent systems containing acetonitrile, methanol, water, and phosphoric acid.     

Cloud point extraction equilibrium of lanthanum(III), europium(III) and lutetium(III) using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and Triton X-100

The cloud point extraction behaviors of lanthanoids(III) (Ln(III) = La(III), Eu(III) and Lu(III)) with and without di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) using Triton X-100 were investigated. It was suggested that the extraction of Ln(III) into the surfactant-rich phase without added chelating agent was caused by the impurities contained in Triton X-100. The extraction percentage more than 91% for all Ln(III) metals was obtained using 3.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³ HDEHP and 2.0% (v/v) Triton X-100. From the equilibrium analysis, it was clarified that Ln(III) was extracted as Ln(DEHP)₃ into the surfactant-rich phase. The extraction constant of Ln(III) with HDEHP and 2.0% (v/v) Triton X-100 were also obtained.