Analysis of traces of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by adsorption on cobalt phthalocyanine and barium salts of sulphophthalocyanines followed by thermal desorption gas chromatograph

Small amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aqueous solution were almost completely adsorbed on barium salts of copper (II) sulphophthalocyanines and cobalt (II) phthalocyanine, which were precipitated from the solution. Recoveries of the PAHs from the precipitates by thermal desorption gas chromatography were 71–95%. The method is useful for the concentration and analysis of medium molecular weight, thermally stable PAHs.     

Antiviral agents of plant origin. III. Scopadulin, a novel tetracyclic diterpene from Scoparia dulcis L

The structure and stereochemistry of scopadulin, a novel aphidicolane-type diterpene isolated from Scoparia dulcis L. have been established from spectral data and single-crystal X-ray analysis of its acetone solvate.     

Properties of novel aldose reductase inhibitors, M16209 and M16287, in comparison with known inhibitors, ONO-2235 and sorbinil

Properties and efficacies of novel aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors, M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin) and M16287 (1-(3-chlorobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin), were examined in vitro and in vivo, compared with known AR inhibitors, ONO-2235 and sorbinil. These four compounds inhibited partially purified aldose reductases from various origins, and the potencies of M16209 and M16287 were on the whole similar to ONO-2235, and were greater than that of sorbinil. The IC50 values of the four AR inhibitors did not substantially depend on the substrate used. Kinetic studies of inhibition of partially purified bovine lens (BLAR) revealed that M16209, M16287 and sorbinil were uncompetitive with glyceraldehyde and noncompetitive with nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), whereas ONO-2235 was noncompetitive with both glyceraldehyde and NADPH. Aldose reductase became less sensitive to the four inhibitors as enzyme purification progressed, although the susceptibility to inhibition was partially reversed by incubation with dithiothreitol. In addition, the four compounds slightly affected those enzymes of carbohydrate and glutathione metabolism which were tested. M16209 and M16287 prevented sorbitol accumulation in isolated rat tissues as potently as ONO-2235 and sorbinil. M16209 and M16287 were effective in the prevention of galactosemic cataracts and amelioration of diabetic neuropathy with almost the same potency, while ONO-2235 was effective only in neuropathy, and sorbinil was effective in galactosemic cataracts and diabetic neuropathy with a different potency. These results indicate that M16209 and M16287 are potent aldose reductase inhibitors, which could be applicable to treatment for diabetic complications.     

Synthesis and antiallergy activity of [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-one derivatives. II. 6-Alkyl- and 6-cycloalkylalkyl derivatives.

A series of 6-alkyl- or 6-(cycloalkylalkyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2- a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-ones 1b--o was synthesized from the corresponding 1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-amines 3b--o and the antiallergic activities of the products were evaluated. Among the compounds 6-(2-cyclohexylethyl)- [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-one 1h, whose X-ray crystallographic stereostructure is shown, was found to be a promising new antiallergic agent, which has low toxicity and dual activity as a leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist and as an orally active mast cell stabilizer.     

Diastereoselective inter- and intramolecular pinacol coupling of aldehydes promoted by monomeric titanocene(II) complex Cp(2)TiPh

A monomeric titanocene(III) derivative, Cp(2)TiPh, effectively promoted the pinacol coupling of both an aromatic aldehyde, benzaldehyde, and an aliphatic aldehyde, 3-phenylpropionaldehyde. The same reactive complex was successfully generated by a catalytic amount of a precursor, Cp(2)Ti(Ph)Cl, and its stoichiometric amount of Zn. The Cp(2)TiPh-catalyzed pinacol coupling of benzaldehyde derivatives and aliphatic aldehydes afforded the corresponding 1,2-diols in high yields with moderate to good threo-selectivity. On the other hand, Cp(2)TiPh-catalyzed pinacol cyclization of dials gave cyclic 1,2-diols with excellent diastereoselectivity. The extension of this protocol to chiral dials demonstrated that the phenyltitanium complex catalytically transmitted an axial chirality or a central chirality of the starting dials to the central chirality of the resultant 1,2-diols.     

Drug-plasma protein binding assay by electrokinetic chromatography-frontal analysis

We developed a rapid, microscale and reliable analytical method for binding of drugs to plasma proteins using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with ionic cyclodextrins (CD) combined with frontal analysis. These CDs were used as pseudostationary phases of electrokinetic chromatography (EKC). The CD-modified EKC (CDEKC) approach allowed us to separate anionic drugs from plasma proteins, whereas CZE could not separate these drugs from plasma proteins because they had a similar mobility like plasma proteins. CDs uniquely interact with these drugs but not with plasma proteins. Therefore, CDEKC could be coupled with frontal analysis to measure the binding of anionic drugs to plasma proteins. The binding values obtained by CDEKC were highly consistent with those determined by the ultrafiltration method. Our CDEKC approach should expand the applicability of CE to protein binding analysis.     

Perfectly dissolved boron nitride nanotubes due to polymer wrapping

We report for the first time that boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) may be dissolved in organic solvents by wrapping them with a polymer. Transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence studies indicate the strong pi-pi interactions between BNNTs and the polymer. A band gap ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 eV was documented for the BNNTs independent of their geometrical characteristics by using ultraviolet-visible absorption experiments on composite films and thin BNNT films prepared from solutions.     

Synthesis of calix[4]arene library substituted with peptides at the upper rim

A fluorescence-labeled calix[4]arene library substituted with peptides at the upper rim was synthesized. Screening of the library for binding a dye-labeled oligopeptide indicated that some peptidocalix[4]arenes selectively bind the oligopeptide. The chemosensitivity of the library members for a target peptide was also investigated.