Electron spin resonance (ESR/EPR) of free radicals observed in human red hair: a new,simple empirical method of determination of pheomelanin/eumelanin ratio in hair

The definition of the concentration of pheomelanin in the skin is an issue of great interest because in the case of being influenced by UV radiation, it manifests itself as a prooxidant, causing various skin disorders including melanoma that might help to explain the relatively high incidence of skin cancer among individuals with red hair. The ESR spectra of red hair samples were investigated. It was found that at low microwave power, they are characterized by two types of spectra. Red hair ESR signals result from a superposition of two spectral shapes, a singlet spectrum as a result of the existence of eumelanin and a triplet spectrum as a result of the existence of pheomelanin. At high microwave power, only triplet spectra shape was detected, caused by saturation of the eumelanin singlet. Using different concentration ratios of black to red hair, we measured ESR spectra and plotted the ratio values in each sample against a measured ‘g‐factor’ (experimental). We found that there is a linear relationship between these two parameters. So, it is evident that using these results, the concentration ratio of pheomelanin to eumelanin in a sample of hair can be easily determined by an almost noninvasive method. This can be considered a potential advantage for many practical activities compared with other invasive methods. The concentration dependence curve of pheomelanin (µg/mg) on g_exp‐factor in an ESR spectrum of hair has been designed, which allows the determination of the amount of pheomelanin in hair of any color. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microwave‐assisted extraction in combination with HPLC‐UV for quantitative analysis of six bioactive oxoisoaporphine alkaloids in Menispermum dauricum DC

A novel and reliable method based on microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) followed by HPLC‐UV was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of six pharmacologically important oxoisoaporphine alkaloids in the total plants of Menispermum dauricum DC. The optimal MAE extraction condition was performed at 60°C for 11 min with ethanol–water (70:30, v/v) as the extracting solvent, and the solvent to solid ratio was 20:1. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed‐phase YMC C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm, i.d., 5 µm) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of A (1% aqueous formic acid) and B (acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 422 nm. Excellent linearity over the investigated concentration ranges was observed with values of r >0.999 for all analytes. The method developed was validated with acceptable sensitivity, intra‐ and inter‐day precision and extraction recoveries. It was successfully applied to the determination of six alkaloids in Menispermum dauricum DC from different sources and different parts of Menispermum dauricum DC. The results obtained indicated that the method is suitable for the quality control of Menispermum dauricum DC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanomagnetically modified vitamin B3 (Fe3O4@Niacin): An efficient and reusable green biocatalyst for microwave‐assisted rapid synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyanopyridines in aqueous medium

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles of modified vitamin B₃ (Fe₃O₄@Niacin) represent a new, efficient and green biocatalyst for the one‐pot synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyanopyridine derivatives via four‐component condensation reaction between aldehydes, ketones, malononitrile, and ammonium acetate under microwave irradiation in water. This new magnetic organocatalyst was easily isolated from the reaction mixture by magnetic decantation using an external magnet and reused at least six times without significant degradation in the activity. The catalyst was fully characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, SEM, VSM, UV–Vis, DLS and EDS. Excellent yield, very short reaction time (7–10 min), operational simplicity, easy work‐up procedure, avoidance of hazardous or toxic catalysts and organic solvents are the main advantages of this green methodology which makes it more economic than the other conventional methods.     

Lanthanum immobilized on chitosan: a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for facile synthesis of novel (α,β‐unsaturated) β‐aminoketones

A new heterogeneous catalyst, lanthanum immobilized on chitosan, was synthesized and used for the aza‐Michael reaction of β‐enaminone under microwave irradiation. The characteristic structural features of the catalyst were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The stability of the catalyst was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis. The use of recyclable catalyst and glycerol as solvent makes this procedure environmentally benign and economically viable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient and Ecofriendly Protocol for Tetrahydropyranylation/Depyranylation of Alcohols in the Presence of Tin(II) Chloride Dihydrate

A mild, efficient, and solvent‐free protocol for tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of SnCl₂ · 2H₂O is reported. Simple filtration of the reaction mixture through a short silica‐gel pad gives the pure products in excellent yields. Depyranylation can also be achieved by adding methanol under similar reaction conditions.     

Microwave-Assisted Chemoselective Regeneration of Carbonyl Compounds from Oximes by Silica Chromate/WET SiO2 Under Solvent-Free Conditions

The regeneration of carbonyl compounds from oximes were performed by using silica chromate and wet SiO ₂ (w/w 50%) under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions with excellent yields.     

MAGNESIUM HYDROGEN SULFATE POWDER CATALYZED STEREOSELECTIVE CONVERSION OF DIALKYL 2-(IMIDO-N -YL)-3-(TRIPHENYLPHOSPHORANYLIDENE)- BUTANEDIOATES TO ELECTRON-POOR (Z)-N -VINYLIMIDES IN SOLVENT-FREE CONDITIONS

Magnesium hydrogen sulfate powder was found to catalyze stereoselective conversion of dialkyl 2-(imido-N-yl)-3-(triphenylphosphorany-lidene)butanedioates to electron-poor (Z)-N-vinylimides in solvent-free conditions at 95°C 1 h in high conversions. Microwave also was found to catalyze the same reactions in the presence of magnesium hydrogen sulfate powder in solvent-free conditions in 3 min.     

Microwave‐Enhanced Ferrier Reaction: A Facile Synthesis of 2,3‐Unsaturated‐O‐Glycosides Under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A variety of 2,3‐unsaturated‐O‐glycosides have been prepared by the Ferrier rearrangement of acetyl protected glycals under microwave irradiation using silica gel as an acid catalyst. Environmental friendliness, high yields, and short reaction times are the key features of this method. Furthermore, the method was applicable not only to the Ferrier reaction of 3,4,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl glucal and 3,4,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl galactal but also to the Ferrier reaction of 3,4‐di‐O‐acetyl arabinal.     

Cross‐linking and properties of rubber magnetic composites cured with different curing systems

Rubber magnetic composites were prepared by incorporation of strontium ferrite into rubber compounds based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. The sulfur, peroxide, and mixed sulfur/peroxide curing systems were introduced as cross‐linking agents for rubber matrices. The aim was to investigate the influence of curing system composition on curing process and cross‐link density of composite materials. Then, static and dynamic mechanical properties and thermal and magnetic characteristics were investigated in relation to the cross‐link density of rubber magnetic composites and structure of the formed cross‐links. The changes of dynamical and physicomechanical properties were in close correlation with the change of cross‐link density, whereas the tensile strength of magnetic composites showed increasing trend with increasing amount of peroxide in mixed curing systems. On the other hand, thermal conductivity and magnetic characteristics were found not to be dependent on the curing system composition.