New method for the spectrophotometric determinations of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid

Summary The condensation of dehydroascorbic acid with o-phenylene diamine or its 4,5-dimethyl derivative yields quinoxaline derivatives which can be measured by photometry. Ascorbic acid can be determined after preliminary oxidation with mercury(II) chloride in the same way. This highly specific method has been employed for determinations in pharmaceutical formulations (coefficient of variation ± 1–1.5%).

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Neue spektrophotometrische Methode zur Bestimmung von Ascorbinsäure und Dehydroascorbinsäure

Zusammenfassung Die Kondensation von Dehydroascorbinsäure mit o-Phenylendiamin oder 4,5-Dimethyl-o-phenylendiamin führt zur Bildung von spektrophotometrisch auswertbaren Chinoxalinderivaten. Ascorbinsäure kann nach vorangehender Oxidation mit Quecksilberchlorid auf die gleiche Weise bestimmt werden. Die Methode wurde zu Bestimmungen in pharmazeutischen Präparaten verwendet (Variationskoeffizient ± 1–1,5%).

The author thanks Mrs. S.V. Ramakrishnan and Miss K. Mihályfi for their technical assistance.     

Remote meta‐C?H Olefination of Phenylacetic Acids Directed by a Versatile U‐Shaped Template

meta‐C H olefination of phenylacetic acid derivatives has been achieved using a commercially available nitrile‐containing template. The identification of N‐formyl‐protected glycine as the ligand (Formyl‐Gly‐OH) was crucial for the development of this reaction. Versatility of the template approach in accommodating macrocyclopalladation processes with different ring sizes is demonstrated.     

Hydrodifluoromethylation of Alkenes with Difluoroacetic Acid

A facile method for the regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of alkenes is reported using difluoroacetic acid and phenyliodine(III) diacetate in tetrahydrofuran under visible‐light activation. This metal‐free approach stands out as it uses inexpensive reagents, does not require a photocatalyst, and displays broad functional group tolerance. The procedure is also operationally simple and scalable, and provides access in one step to high‐value building blocks for application in medicinal chemistry.