Diels-Alder reaction of optically active (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulfoxides with cyclopentadiene

The Diels-Alder reaction of enantiomerically pure (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulphoxides 3 with cyclopentadiene give four easily separable diastereomers. The effect of several Lewis acids on the reaction was studied, finding a high endo selectivity with respect to the carbonyl group and moderate π-diastereoselectivity using BF₃·Et₂O as catalyst. The reactivity of compounds 3 as well as their endo selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (E)-3-sulfinylacrylates.     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

Conjugate base catalysed one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles from β-formyl enamides

A novel one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles has been accomplished by the reaction of β-formyl enamides with hydroxylamine hydrochloride catalysed by potassium dihydrogenphosphate in acid medium.     

Bifonazole-β-cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes. Thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction study

The complexation of bifonazole, an antimycotic hydrophobic imidazole derivative, with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was investigated in solid phase, using the following complementary techniques: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and X-ray powder diffractometry. The β-CD-bifonazole samples were prepared in both aqueous medium by coprecipitation and in solid state by kneading method and the β-CD-bifonazole binary diagrams were drawn. The experimental results demonstrate the formation of two binary compounds, β-CD-bifonazole and (β-CD)_x bifonazole (x =2 or 4). The first compound may be an inclusion compound and the second a crystallized compound, in which the bifonazole is not necessarily included in the cyclodextrin internal cavity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The first example of Diels-Alder cycloaddition of ortho-xylylenes to meso-tetraarylporphyrins containing electron-deficient β,β-double bonds

β-Nitro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin and its zinc complex, or 2,7-dinitro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, react with 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]thiophene 2,2-dioxide in refluxing 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, giving rise to chlorins, bacteriochlorins or isobacteriochlorins. The products obtained are attractive intermediates for further functionalization of porphyrins and may be of potential use as sensitizers in photodynamic therapy.     

Enantiomer separations with chromatographic supports based on β-cyclodextrin polymers immobilized on porous silica. Role of the polymer structure in separating ability

Summary Two -cyclodextrin (-CD)-containing polymers have been prepared either by condensation of -CD molecules with a bifunctional reagent or by grafting a -CD derivative on to a linear polymer (polyvinylimidazole). HPLC stationary phases were obtained by adsorption of the -CD polymers on to silica. The ability of these chromatographic supports to resolve racemic mixtures of organic compounds such as amino acid derivatives, phenylhydantoins, barbiturates, and hydroxycoumarin derivatives has been investigated. Results were found to depend on the chemical structure of the -CD polymers     

Extraction and coordination studies of carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide (CMSO) with uranyl bis(β-diketonates). Synthesis and molecular structure of [{UO2(DBM)2}2C6H5CH2SOCH2CONHC6H5]

The carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide compounds of uranyl bis(β-diketonate) of the types [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] and [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] (where HDBM = C₆H₅COCH₂COC₆H₅; CMSO = C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅ or C₆H₅SOCH₂CONⁱPr₂) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Spectral studies show that CMSO acts as a monodentate ligand in [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through the sulfoxo oxygen atom to the uranyl group. It acts as a bridging bidentate ligand in [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through both the sulfoxo and carbamoyl oxygen atoms to two different uranyl groups. The structure of the compound [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅] confirms the bridging bidentate mode of coordination for the CMSO ligand. Extraction studies show an enhancement in solvent extraction for the uranyl ion from nitric acid medium when a mixture of thenoyl trifluoroacetone (HTTA) and CMSO was employed.     

Application of Cyclodextrins to the Extraction of Antioxidant Compounds from Olive Oil

Olive oil contains powerful antioxidant compounds which impart stability, contribute to various properties of it, and are valuable from the nutritional point of view. Their extraction with as mild conditions as possible led to its investigation using cyclodextrins as a tool. The inclusion ability of α-, β-, and γ-CD was estimated, and it has been demonstrated that the small cavity of α-CD as well as the wide one of γ-CD could enclose less effectively the antioxidant compounds of olive oil than the intermediate in shape cavity of β-CD. The highest yields of antioxidant compounds were achieved when olive oil was mixed with a 2%aqueous solution of β-CD and the resulting precipitate was treated with ethyl alcohol.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 18–21, January–February, 2005.     

The extraction,antioxidant and against β-amyloid induced toxicity of polyphenols from Alsophila spinulosa leaves

Alsophila spinulosa is a tree-like fern, and many evidences suggested that plant polyphenols had the potential therapeutic for Alzheimer s disease (AD). Herein, polyphenols (ASP) was isolated from A. spinulosa leaves and its major constituent were isoorientin and vitexin. ASP displayed excellent antioxidant activity and obvious anti-lipid peroxidation capacity in vitro. ASP improved the survival rate of C. elegans under high temperature by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities and decreasing the lipid peroxidation level. Moreover, ASP alleviated β-amyloid (Aβ) induced paralysis and reduced Aβ deposition, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and improved the level of skn-1 mRNA. In addition, ASP decreased the levels of pdk-1 and akt-1 mRNA in P13K/AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, ASP may be a potential ingredient for the alleviation of AD.     

Some aspects for sintering of β-rhombohedral boron

The investigation of sintering conditions for magnesiothermic amorphous boron (Mg_mB_n) powder is presented. The results of chemical and X-ray analyses of magnesiothermic boron (Mg_mB_n) indicate that it consists of amorphous boron MgB₁₂ and a lesser amount of β-rhombohedral boron. The Mg_mB_n-sintering process is determined by the conditions of amorphous boron transformation into β-boron (crystallization), such as the process of decomposition of MgB₁₂ followed by formation of the “new” centers of active elementary boron. As a result of the experimental investigations of this process the following three stages—thermal decompositions, crystallization and Mg_mB_n sintering—were combined into one sintering process with the sintered bodies as a result of it.