Development of a Sensitive Method for the Determination of 4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol in Human Urine Using Solid‐phase Extraction Combined with Ultrasound‐assisted Dispersive Liquid–liquid Microextraction and LC‐MS/MS Detection

An efficient and sensitive analytical method based on molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction (MISPE) and reverse‐phase ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (USA‐DLLME) coupled with LC–MS/MS detection was developed and validated for the analysis of urinary 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), a tobacco‐specific nitrosamine metabolite. The extraction performances of NNAL on three different solid‐phase extraction (SPE) sorbents including the hydrophilic‐lipophilic balanced sorbent HLB, the mixed mode cationic MCX sorbent and the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) sorbent were evaluated. Experimental results showed that the analyte was well retained with the highest extraction recovery and the optimum purification effect on MIP. Under the optimized conditions of MIP and USA‐DLLME, an enrichment factor of 23 was obtained. Good linearity relationship was obtained in the range of 5‐1200 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9953. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.35 pg/mL. The recoveries at three spiked levels ranged between 88.5% and 93.7%. Intra‐ and inter‐day relative standard deviations varied from 3.6% to 7.4% and from 5.4% to 9.7%, respectively. The developed method combing the advantages of MISPE and DLLME significantly improves the purification and enrichment of the analyte and can be used as an effective approach for the determination of ultra‐trace NNAL in complex biological matrices.     

Influence of cellulose nanofibers on the curing behavior of epoxy/amine systems

Epoxy composites were prepared using diglycidyl ether bisphenol F and water-dilutable diglycidyl ether bisphenol A with curing agents, polyoxypropylenediamine and diethylmethylbenzenediamine, in water or dimethylformamide as a solvent. The influence of cellulose nanofibers and solvents on curing kinetics of epoxy composites was investigated. Curing kinetic parameters were calculated using the model-fitting methods and the isoconversional method. Among these, the Sestak–Berggren equation best fit the experimental data. Results indicated that dimethylformamide decreased the reaction rate, whereas water revealed the opposite pattern. Cellulose nanofibers catalyzed the reaction between bisphenol F resins and the aromatic curing agent.     

Enantioselective synthesis of spiro[4H-pyran-3,3′-oxindole] derivatives catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid thioureas: Significant water effects on the enantioselectivity

An efficient stereoselective three-component reaction for the synthesis of functionalized spiro[4H-pyran-3,3′-oxindole] derivatives was realized through an organocatalyzed domino Knoevenagel/Michael/cyclization reaction using a cinchonidine-derived thiourea as the catalyst. Using water as the additive was found to improve the product ee values significantly. Under the optimized conditions, the reactions between isatins, malononitrile, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds yield the desired spirooxindole products in good yields (71–92%) and moderate to high ee values (up to 87% ee).     

New N-Substituted (E)-4-Arylidene Isoquinoline-1,3-dione Derivatives: NMR Spectroscopic Investigation and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

New N-substituted 4-arylidene-isoquinoline-1,3-dione derivatives were obtained as one geometrical isomer by aldol condensation of the appropriate aldehyde and the corresponding N-substituted homophthalimides. The structural elucidation of compounds 3a–h was established by infrared and NMR spectroscopy including ¹ Dimmock , J. R. ; Wong , M. L. C. Bioactivities and potential uses in drug design of acyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones . Can. J. Pharm. Sci. 1976 , 11 , 35 – 53 .[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]H, ¹³ Perjési , P. ; Szabó , D. ; Batta , G. ; Földesi , A. The stereochemistry of reaction of 2-benzylidenecyclohexanone with dithiocarbamic acid . Tetrahedron Lett. 1987 , 28 , 571 . [Google Scholar]C, CH CORR, and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer measurements. Compounds 3d–h were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against some strains of bacteria using the disc diffusion method and microdilution tests.     

Simple One-Pot Synthesis of New Derivatives of the Macrocyclic Aminal 1,3,7,9,13,15,19,21-Octaazapentacyclo-[19.3.1.13,7.19,13.115,19]octacosane (OAPO)

A series of 2,2′-(dihydropyrimidine-1,3(2H,4H)-diyldimethanediyl)bis(substituted-phenols) was synthesized using a Mannich-type reaction between the macrocyclic aminal 1,3,7,9,13,15,19,21-octaazapentacyclo[19.3.1.1^3,7.1^9,13.1^15,19]octacosane (OAPO) (1) and substituted phenols in basic media. These previously unreported compounds were separated from the reaction mixture by column chromatography in highly pure form with 25–75% yields. The most stable conformer was predicted using AM1-type semiempirical quantum chemical calculations.     

Theoretical study of electronic structure of rhodium mononitride and interpretation of experimental spectra

Potential energy curves of 22 electronic states of RhN have been calculated by the complete active space second‐order perturbation theory method. The X¹Σ₀⁺ is assigned as the ground state, and the first excited state a³Π₀+ is 978 cm^?1 higher. The ¹Δ(I) and B¹Σ⁺ states are located at 9521 and 13,046 cm^?1 above the ground state, respectively. The B¹Σ⁺ state should be the excited state located 12,300 cm^?1 above the ground state in the experimental study. Moreover, two excited states, C¹Π and b³Σ⁺, are found 14,963 and 15,082 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state, respectively. The transition C¹Π₁–X¹Σ₀⁺ may contribute to the experimentally observed bands headed at 15,071 cm^?1. There are two excited states, D¹Δ and E¹Σ⁺, situate at 20,715 and 23,145 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state. The visible bands near 20,000 cm^?1 could be generated by the electronic transitions D¹Δ₂–a³Π₁ and E¹Σ⁺₀–X¹Σ⁺₀ because of the spin–orbit coupling effect. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Density functional theory investigation of the binding interactions between phosphoryl,carbonyl, imino,and thiocarbonyl ligands and the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex: Coordination affinity and associated parameters

Density Functional Theory (UB3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p)) calculations of the affinity of the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex for a set of phosphoryl [O?P(H)(CH₃)(PhR)], imino [HN?C(CH₃)(PhR)], thiocarbonyl [S?C(CH₃)(PhR)] and carbonyl [O?C(CH₃)(PhR)] ligands were performed, where R?NH₂, OCH₃, OH, CH₃, H, Cl, CN, and NO₂ is a substituent at the para‐position of a phenyl ring.The affinity of the pentaaqua nickel(II) complex for these ligands was analized and quantified in terms of interaction enthalpy (ΔH), Gibbs free energy (ΔG²⁹⁸), geometric and electronic parameters of the resultant octahedral complexes. The ΔH and ΔG²⁹⁸ results show that the ligand coordination strength increases in the following order: carbonyl < thiocarbonyl < imino < phosphoryl. This coordination strength order is also observed in the analysis of the metal‐ligand distances and charges on the ligand atom that interacts with the Ni(II) cation. The electronic character of the substituent R is the main parameter that affects the strength of the metal‐ligand coordination. Ligands containing electron‐donating groups (NH₂, OCH₃, OH) have more exothermic ΔH and ΔG²⁹⁸ than ligands with electron‐withdrawing groups (Cl, CN, NO₂). The metal‐ligand interaction decomposed by means of the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) method shows that the electronic character of the ligand modulates all the components of the metal‐ligand interaction. The absolute softness of the free ligands is correlated with the covalent contribution to the instantaneous interaction energy calculated using the EDA method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

NaOH/Et3N-Promoted Stereoselective One-Pot Synthesis of α-Diazo Oxime Ethers via Diazo Transfer Reaction

For the first time, we have observed a combined effect of two bases NaOH/Et₃N to promote the diazo transfer reaction of β-oximino esters. This unusual synergistic effect has been employed to obtain α-diazo oxime ethers directly from β-keto esters by one-pot process. This method is simple and cost-effective and the reagents are readily available.     

The preparation and properties of bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells with indole-containing fulleropyrrolidine derivatives as acceptors

Two indole-containing fullerene derivatives, N-hydrogen-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)][60]fulleropyrrolidine (EHIHC60P), and N-(2-ethylhexylindolyl))-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)][60]fulleropyrrolidine (DEHIC60P) were synthesized by the typical Prato reaction. The absorption spectra, electrochemical properties of the two compounds were measured. Inverted solar cells were fabricated with the structure of ITO/ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):fullerene derivatives/MoO₃/Ag. The highest power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3.32% and 3.23% were obtained for P3HT/EHIHC60P and P3HT/DEHIC60P based solar cells at the composite ratio of 1:1 after the active layers were annealed at 150 °C under inert atmosphere, with a open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.66 V and 0.74 V, respectively. For comparison, the device based on P3HT/PCBM at the same conditions showed the PCE of 3.28%, with a V_oc of 0.61 V. The influence on the photovoltaic property of the fullerene derivatives, which was induced by some subtle changes in the chemical structure was compared and discussed.     

Nuclear quantum effect and temperature dependency on the hydrogen‐bonded structure of base pairs

The structure of Watson–Crick‐type adenine‐thymine and guanine‐cytosine pairs has been studied by hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) and path integral hybrid Monte Carlo (PIHMC) simulations with the use of semiempirical PM6‐DH+ method in the gas phase. We elucidated the nuclear quantum effect and temperature dependency on the hydrogen‐bonded moiety of base pairs. It was shown that the contribution of nuclear quantum effect on the hydrogen‐bonded structure is significant not only at low temperature 150 K but also at temperature as high as 450 K. The relative position of hydrogen‐bonded proton between two heavy atoms and the nuclear quantum nature of the proton are also shown. Furthermore, we have applied principal component analysis to HMC and PIHMC simulations to analyze the nuclear quantum effect on intermolecular motions. We found that the ratio of Buckle mode (lowest vibrational mode from normal mode analysis) decreases due to the nuclear quantum effect, whereas that of Propeller mode (second lowest vibrational mode) increases. In addition, nonplanar structures of base pairs were found to become stable due to the nuclear quantum effect from two‐dimensional free energy landscape along Buckle and Propeller modes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.