Microencapsulation of DNA Within alginate microspheres and crosslinked chitosan membranes for in vivo application

Calf thymus DNA was microencapsulated within crosslinked chitosan membranes, or immobilized within chitosan-coated alginate microspheres. Microcapsules were prepared by interfacial polymerization of chitosan, and alginate microspheres formed by emulsification/ internal gelation. Diameters ranged from 20 to 500 Μm, depending on the formulation conditions. Encapsulated DNA was quantifiedin situ by direct spectrophotometry (260 nm) and ethidium bromide fluorimetry, and compared to DNA measurements on the fractions following disruption and dissolution of the microspheres. Approximately 84% of the DNA was released upon core dissolution and membrane disruption, with 12% membrane bound. The yield of encapsulation was 96%. Leakage of DNA from intact microspheres/capsules was not observed. DNA microcapsules and microspheres were recovered intact from rat feces following gavage and gastrointestinal transit. Higher recoveries (60%) and reduced shrinkage during transit were obtained with the alginate microspheres. DNA was recovered and purified from the microcapsules and microspheres by chromatography and differential precipitation with ethanol. This is the first report of microcapsules or microspheres containing biologically active material (DNA) being passed through the gastrointestinal tract, with the potential for substantial recovery.     

An easy and fast way to determine the enantiomeric purity of substituted cyclanones

The determination of the enantiomeric purity of 2 or 3-substituted cyclanones, particularly cyclohexanones, is conveniently achieved by derivatisation into cyclic aminals with commercially available (R, R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The derivatisation procedure is directly done into the NMR tube, instantaneously, and ¹³C NMR allows an accurate measure of the ee.     

Reactivite des derives organomanganeux—VIII : Préparation de cétones par acylation d'organomanganeux. Influence de la nature de l'agent acylant,des solvants et des ligands

The influence of the nature of acylating reagents, solvents and ligands on the preparation of ketones by acylation of organomanganous reagents is studied. Thus acid chlorides in ether, symmetrical acid anhydrides in ether or THF and mixed carboxylic-carbonic anhydrides (R'COOCOOEt) in ether are compared, they lead to the corresponding ketones with good or excellent yields. Some problems of reproductibility are encountered and discussed when mixed anhydrides R'COOCOOEt are used in THF. The addition of a great variety of cosolvents (e.g. C₆H₆, AcOEt, CO₃Et₂, CH₂CN, CH₂CL₂, . .) to the reaction mixture before addition of the acylating reagent does not affect the yield of ketones. In comparison the complexation of organomanganous reagents by several ligands (e.g. Me₂S or Ph₃P) has no subsequent effect on their acylation. The main limitation for the choice of solvents or ligands is the use of amino derivatives which generally lead to a very low yield of ketones (e.g. C₅H₅N, TMEDA, Et₃N) or unreproducible yields (e.g. HMPA). Two applications of these studies are described:The stabilization of s or t-alkyl manganous derivatives by complexation which leads to the best yield of the corresponding ketonesThe use of a cosolvent in order to increase the yield when mixed anhydrides R'COOCOOEt are used in THF.     

Etude d'un modele d'induction asymetrique: Les oxazolidines α,β-insaturees issues de l'ephedrine

Various oxazolidines were prepared from ephedrine. It was shown that their formation is not general, the reaction is not always stereoselective and can lead to isomerization of the double bond of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Some of these oxazolidines were used in stereoselective preparation of β-alkyl aldehydes.     

First organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to vinyl sulfones

[reaction: see text] The first asymmetric direct Michael addition of aldehydes to vinyl sulfones catalyzed by N-iPr-2,2'-bipyrrolidine is described. 1,4-Adducts are obtained in good yields and enantioselectivities. The determination of absolute configuration allowed us to postulate a Si,Si transition state model, as shown previously for nitroolefins.     

Organomanganese (II) Reagents: V1: Organomanganous Chlorides as a New Reagent for Ketone Synthesis via Mixed or Symmetrical Anhydrides

We have recently described an efficient preparation of ketones (or esters) from organomanganous iodides (RMnI) and acid chlorides² (or chloro-carbonates³). The scope of this reaction is very large and RMnI is often superior to other organometallics. However, the major limitations of this reaction are^2b: