Synthesis of 10-Hydroxycamptothecin: Evaluation of New Moderators for the Chemoselective Reduction of Camptothecin

Abstract

10-Hydroxycamptothecin is prepared by chemoselective catalytic hydrogenation of the B-ring of camptothecin over PtO₂ with sulfur moderators followed by oxidation using iodobenzenediacetate. New moderators (viz. thioanisole, dimethyl sulfide, diphenyl sulfide, 2-mercapto ethanol), which moderate the hydrogenation of the B- ring of camptothecin, are being explored.

Alternative Synthesis and the Determination of Absolute Configuration of Docetaxel,an Anticancer Drug

Abstract

A simple, efficient, and alternative synthetic route for docetaxel with better control on the protection–deprotection sequence has been developed. The process is easily scalable and commercially viable, and critical impurities can be controlled efficiently. For the first time, absolute configuration of docetaxel was determined unambiguously by single-crystal x-ray diffraction.     

Simultaneous quantification of atorvastatin and active metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using rosuvastatin as internal standard

A simple, sensitive, selective and rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of atorvastatin and its active metabolites ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin and para-hydroxyatorvastatin in human plasma using rosuvastatin as internal standard (IS). Following simple liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reversed-phase C18 column and analyzed by MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 559/440 for atorvastatin, m/z 575/466 for ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin, m/z 575/440 for para-hydroxyatorvastatin and m/z 482/258 for the IS. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.1-20 ng/mL for atorvastatin and its two metabolites in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 100 pg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The average absolute recoveries of atorvastatin, ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin, para-hydroxyatorvastatin and the IS from spiked plasma samples were 54.2 +/- 3.2, 50.1 +/- 3.8, 65.2 +/- 3.6 and 71.7 +/- 2.7%, respectively. A run time of 2.5 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 300 human plasma samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability or bioequivalence studies.     

Fabrication of PZT/CuO composite films and their photovoltaic properties

In this paper, we reported the design and preparation of a double-layer antireflective (AR) coating, which possessed relatively high transmittance at 351, 527, and 1053?nm. The refractive indices and film thicknesses of the under layer and upper layer of the simulated AR coating were determined as 1.27, 95?nm and 1.18, 106?nm, respectively. The under layer of the double-layer coating dip-coated from a mixture of base-catalyzed and acid-catalyzed silica sols had a refractive index of 1.27. The upper layer fabricated by the deposition of methylated silica nanoparticles by simply adding methyltriethoxysilane into the base-catalyzed silica sols possessed a refractive index of 1.18. The hydrophobicity of coatings could be dramatically improved with the water contact angle increasing from 23.4° to 150.0°, and the refractive indices of the pure base-catalyzed silica coatings were easily decreased from 1.20 to 1.12 through the surface treatment of silica nanoparticles. Thus, we have successfully prepared a double-layer AR coating, which had a high transmittance of 99.8%, 96.1%, and 99.7% at 351, 527, and 1053?nm, respectively.

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Phomoxanthone A Targets ATP Synthase

Phomoxanthone A is a naturally occurring molecule and a powerful anti-cancer agent, although its mechanism of action is unknown. To facilitate the determination of its biological target(s), we used affinity-based labelling using a phomoxanthone A probe. Labelled proteins were pulled down, subjected to chemoproteomics analysis using LC-MS/MS and ATP synthase was identified as a likely target. Mitochondrial ATP synthase was validated in cultured cells lysates and in live intact cells. Our studies show sixty percent inhibition of ATP synthase by 260 μM phomoxanthone A.     

A short and efficient synthetic protocol for the synthesis of 5-substituted-4,6-dioxo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

A short and efficient synthesis for 5-substituted-4,6-dioxo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines has been developed by the cyclocondensation of α,α-dibromoaldehydes with 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine under mild basic conditions in good yields. Application of this protocol has been demonstrated in the synthesis of a metabolite of Pemetrexed disodium, a novel multi-targeted antifolate.     

Micelles from PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers as nanocontainers for solubilization of a poorly water soluble drug hydrochlorothiazide

The effect of molecular characteristics of EO-PO triblock copolymers viz. Pluronic(?) P103 (EO(17)PO(60)PEO(17)), P123 (EO(19)PO(69)EO(19)), and F127 (EO(100)PO(65)EO(100)) on micellar behavior and solubilization of a diuretic drug, hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) was investigated. The critical micellization temperatures (CMTs) and size for empty as well as drug loaded micelles are reported. The CMTs and micelle size depended on the hydrophobicity and molecular weight of the copolymer; a decrease in CMT and increase in size was observed on solubilization. The solubilization of the drug hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in the block copolymer nanoaggregates at different temperatures (28, 37, 45°C), pH (3.7, 5.0, 6.7) and in the presence of added salt (NaCl) was monitored by using UV-vis spectroscopy and solubility data were used to calculate the solubilization characteristics; micelle-water partition coefficient (P) and thermodynamic parameters of solubilization viz. Gibbs free energy (ΔG(s)°), enthalpy (ΔH(s)°) and entropy (ΔS(s)°). The solubility of the drug in copolymer increases with the trend: P103>P123>F127. The solubilized drug decreased the cloud point (CP) of copolymers. Results show that the drug solubility increases in the presence of salt but significantly enhances with the increase in the temperature and at a lower pH in which drug remains in the non-ionized form.     

Simultaneous quantification of cilostazol and its primary metabolite 3,4-dehydrocilostazol in human plasma by rapid liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of cilostazol and its primary metabolite 3,4-dehydrocilostazol in human plasma using mosapride as an internal standard. The method involves a simple one-step liquid-liquid extraction with a diethyl ether and dichloromethane mixture (7:3). The analytes were chromatographed using an isocratic mobile phase on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column and analyzed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M+H]⁺ ions, m/z 370/288 for cilostazol, m/z 368/286 for 3,4-dehydrocilostazol and m/z 422/198 for the internal standard. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 5–2,000 ng/mL for cilostazol and 5–400 ng/mL for 3,4-dehydrocilostazol in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation was 5 ng/mL for both cilostazol and its metabolite. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. A run time of 2.5 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 400 human plasma samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetics, bioavailability or bioequivalence studies.