Rapid and simple method for determination of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine in urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new procedure was developed to determine in urine the concentrations of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N(epsilon)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), the major products of oxidative modification of glycated proteins, to assess levels of oxidative stress in physiological systems. The urine samples were acetonitrile-deproteinized, then derivatized by ethylchloroformate, and N(O,S)-ethoxycarbonyl ethyl esters of amino acids were analysed by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Recovery averaged 89%. Linearity was excellent (r = 0.998-0.999) in the 0.5-25 micromol/L range for CML and CEL. The limit of detection of this assay was 0.1 micromol/L (corresponding to 0.20 pmol of CML or CEL on column). Intra-day and inter-day precisions were likewise excellent, with relative standard deviations <4.63 and <6.15%, respectively. Accuracy of CML and CEL determination (15 micromol/L) was 2.9 and 5.9% of the estimated theoretical value. The time from obtaining the urine sample to determination of the concentration from the chromatographic peak was 80 min or less. This method is sensitive, reproducible, accurate, relatively cheap and very simple. It can be useful for laboratories involved in the diagnosis and monitoring of age-related chronic diseases.     

Synthesis of natural pulvinic acids based on a ‘[3+2] cyclization-Suzuki cross-coupling’ strategy

A number of pulvinic acid natural products were prepared based on Suzuki cross coupling reactions of α-hydroxy-γ-alkylidenebutenolides which are readily available by cyclization of 1,3-bis-silyl enol ethers with oxalyl chloride. The formal total synthesis of pulvinic acid, atromentic acid, gomphidic acid and of 4-hydroxypulvinic acid, 4′-hydroxypulvinic acid and iso-gomphidic acid are reported. In addition, total syntheses of pinastric acid, xerocomic acid and variegatic acid were accomplished.     

A new selective population transfer experiment using a double pulsed field gradient spin-echo

A new pulse sequence is proposed for the determination of scalar coupling correlation in small- and medium-sized organic compounds. The method uses a combination of the double pulsed field gradient spin-echo (DPFGSE) and the selective population transfer (SPT) techniques and is shown to be useful in the analysis of complex spectra with many overlapped signals. The usefulness of this method in the structural elucidation of natural substances is demonstrated using strychnine and digitoxin as examples.     

Comparison of quantitative methods for analysis of polyphasic pharmaceuticals

Adequate very sensitive quantification methods are needed for the development and are also now required for the monitoring of undesirable solid form(s) as routine tests. The pre-requisite for quantitation are selectivity, sensitivity and most important the purity of standards and their proper storage, what is a challenge for metastable forms. Several analytical techniques are available such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis and microcalorimetry. The different steps of the validation of the analytical methods and problems to be solved are discussed. Examples illustrate the different techniques and compare their possible advantages and limits. The relative standard deviation of measurements should allow for checking the homogenization procedure of mixtures for calibration. The validation should be carried out following ICH guidelines for validation of analytical methods. Comparison of different techniques in adequate concentration range add confidence in the analytical results.     

Determination of Lercanidipine Hydrochloride and Its Impurities in Tablets

The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for determination of lercanidipine hydrochloride and its synthetic impurities, degradation and oxidative products in Carmen^® tablets. The best separation was performed on Zorbax SB C18 column, 250 x 4.6 mm, particle size 5 m. Acetonitrile-water-triethylamine 55:44.8:0.2 (v/v/v) was used as a mobile phase with flow rate 1 mL min^–1. pH was adjusted to 3.0 with orthophosphoric acid. UV detection was performed at 240 nm. Duration of chromatographic run was about 12 min for six examined compounds. The chromatographic conditions for the determination of lercanidipine hydrochloride and its related substances were the same, but the concentration of lercanidipine hydrochloride was 0.03 mg mL^–1 for assay and 0.3 mg mL^–1 for related substances. The validation of the method performance characteristics (figures of merits, quality of parameters) was established to be adequate for the intended use. The evaluation of number of parameters, such as selectivity, linearity, accuracy, specificity, precision (repetability and reproducibility), sensitivity and detection and determination limits is entailed.Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Institute of Pharmacy of Serbia, Belgrade and by the Ministry for Science, Technology and Development of Serbia, Contact: 1458     

Chromatographie par complexe de transfert de charge. Application à l'analyse d'hydroliquéfiats du charbon par HPLC

Résumé L'analyse de coupes lourdes (huile de distillation sous vide et huile issue du séparateur à chaud) provenant de l'hydroliquéfaction catalytique du charbon a été réalisée par mise en ouvre de différentes techniques chromatographiques. L'identification des principales structures résulte de l'application de la chromatographie par couplage de transfert de charge en mode HPLC et des spectroscopies UV et de masse.

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Donotor-acceptor complex chromatography —Application to analysis of coal liquefaction products by HPLC

Summary A Vacuum gas oil and the corresponding residue of a coal liquefaction product were investigated by means of HPLC and MS. Nearly a complete identification was performed by chromatographic, UV-spectroscopic methods and MS.

     

Intramolecular,Stoichiometric (Li,Mg, Zn) and Catalytic (Ni,Pd, Pt) Metallo-Ene Reactions in Organic Synthesis [New Synthetic Methods (75)]

Metallo-ene reactions, hardly recognized until very recently, have experienced a breathtaking development when applied in an intramolecular sense. Efficient regio- and stereoselective magnesium-ene cyclizations have served as a cornerstone for numerous syntheses of structurally diverse natural products (e.g., sesquiterpenes of marine or plant origin, alkaloids, fragrances, insect defense compounds, and a fungitoxin). A brilliant example is the synthesis of the elusive odorant (+)-khusimone which outshines 20 years of work in the field of tricyclovetivane synthesis. Palladium-, platinum-, and nickel-catalyzed versions of the metallo-ene reaction are in a comparatively early stage of exploration, but, nevertheless, reveal intriguing potential. Hence an almost 100% stereospecific C? O→C? ;Pd-→ C? C chirality transfer permits simple and selective, cis- or trans-annelation processes. The mild cyclization conditions are compatible with various functional groups, such as nitrogen moieties, which offer interesting perspectives for the preparation of heterocycles (e.g., alkaloids) difficult to obtain by other methods. Carbon monoxide insertion reactions of the cyclized σ-metal intermediates were shown to afford annelated cyclopentanones and cyclopentenones with concomitant stereocontrolled formation of four carbon–carbon bonds. These and other observations, highlighted in this article, provide a platform for further extensions and applications of this powerful method in organic synthesis.     

Prevulcanisation of skim latex: morphology and its use in natural rubber based composite material

The prevulcanisation of skim latex, a by-product of field natural rubber (NR) latex concentrated by centrifugation, using sulphur and peroxide systems was investigated. Compared to the peroxide prevulcanisation, the lower swelling ratio of film casted from sulphur-prevulcanised skim (SPVS) latex was observed. The latter was then employed for preparation of NR/SPVS core–shell particles by using heterocoagulation technique whose driving force was an interpolymer complex between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) moieties of a non-ionic surfactant (Nonidet) adsorbed on small SPVS particles and the indigenous surfactant (protein–lipid) on a large NR particle. The value of zeta potential of heterocoagulated particle and the better oil resistance of films casted from the composite latex when compared to that of the NR film revealed the NR/SPVS core–shell structure.     

Cs2CO3 Promoted coupling reactions for the preparation of skipped diynes

An improved methodology for the preparation of copper(I) alkynides has been developed using cesium carbonate as base. In the presence of cesium carbonate and CuI various 1-alkynes were converted smoothly to the corresponding copper alkynides which in situ reacted with propargylic halides in order to synthesize skipped diynes.     

Synthesis of jasplakinolide analogues containing a novel omega-amino acid

The synthesis of the omega-amino acid 4 is described utilizing a two-dimensional synthesis strategy combined with an enzymatic differentiation of homotopic ester groups. The amino acid 4 features two non-bonded interactions that result in conformational constraints on a cyclic construct. This amino acid was incorporated into the four macrolactams 17, 22, 31, and 37. The ring in 17 and 22 is 18-membered, whereas 31 and 37 have a 19-membered ring. The pairs with the same ring size differ in a N-methyl group. For the larger macrolactams (31 and 37) conformational analysis showed that the macrocyclic rings are somewhat more rigid than in the natural lead, the depsipeptide jasplakinolide. Nevertheless, their conformations are comparable to the natural product. There are no intramolecular hydrogen bonds, neither is the cis-rotamer populated in the N-methyl compound 37. Due to the increased flexibility of the smaller macrolactams 17 and 22 and signal overlap, a distinct solution structure could not be obtained for these compounds. The amino acid 4 should be useful for restricting the conformation of other small peptides.