Novel tocopheryl compounds XX. 1,3,8-Trioxaphenanthrenes derived from γ-tocopherol

Condensation of γ-tocopherol with aldehydes provides 2,4-disubstituted 1,3,8-trioxaphenanthrenes in a simple one-pot reaction. The reaction proceeded under acid catalysis according to a two-step alkylation-acetalisation mechanism in yields between 58 and 81%. The title compounds are precursors for the thermal generation of ortho-quinone methides, which can be in situ reduced to give antioxidants of the 5a-substituted α-tocopherol-type. The products were analytically characterized by NMR and HRMS.     

Tocopherols and Triterpenoids from Sida acuta

A new tocopherol derivative, 7_a‐methoxy‐α‐tocopherol ( 1 ), and a new taraxastane triterpene, taraxast‐1,20(30)‐dien‐3‐one ( 5 ), together with four known compounds, β‐tocopherol ( 2 ), α‐tocopherol ( 3 ), α‐tocospiro B ( 4 ) and taraxasterone ( 6 ) were isolated from the whole plant of Sida acuta. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis including MS, 1D and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. Among those compounds, compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 showed significant antioxidant effect (EC₅₀ = 86.9, 68.2, and 70.9 μM, respectively) in the DPPH radicals scavenging activity assay.     

Cytotoxic Components from the Leaves of Schefflera Taiwaniana

The isolation and identification of eighteen components from the leaves of Schefflera taiwaniana are presented. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data as well as direct comparison with authentic samples. These compounds include two polyacetylenes, one carotenoid‐like, three sesquiterpenes, one diterpene, four triterpenes, two tocopherols, and five alkyl 4‐hydroxycinnamate mixtures. Among these, 4‐hydroxy‐trans‐cinnamic acid docosyl ester and 4‐hydroxy‐cis‐cinnamic acid tetracosyl ester are new compounds. Some of these components exhibit cytotoxic activity.     

Rapid determination of α‐tocopherol in cereal grains using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by HPLC

The traditional for the determination of α‐tocopherol in cereal grains includes saponification of a sample followed by liquid–liquid extraction, and it is time‐ and solvent consuming. In this study, a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method was developed to extract α‐tocopherol in situ from the saponified grain sample solution. The DLLME experimental parameters including the type and volume of extractants, the volume of dispersers, the addition of salt and the extraction/centrifuging time were examined and optimized. The recommended analytical procedure showed excellent precision (relative SDs of the α‐tocopherol amount of 3.1% over intraday and 7.2% over interday), high sensitivity (the detection limit of 1.9 ng/mL), and strong recovery values (88.9–102.5%). In addition, statistical analyses showed no significant difference between the detected amounts of α‐tocopherol found by the standardized method and this new procedure. The method was successfully applied to determining the amounts and distribution of α‐tocopherol in 14 cereal grain samples.     

Correlation between chromatographic and physicochemical properties of stationary phases in HPLC: C30 bonded reversed-phase silica

In comparison to conventional C₁₈ phases, C₃₀ phases exhibit superior shape selectivity for the separation of isomers of carotenoids and vitamins. To obtain this enhanced recognition capability the HPLC separation must be performed at a well-defined temperature. At higher temperatures the capability of differentiating between different stereochemical isomers is lost, resulting in peak coelution. This separation behaviour is primarily dependent upon the organisation of the C₃₀ alkyl chains on the silica surface which can be visualised as two domains, the more ordered domain containing relatively rigid n-alkyl groups with trans conformations and the less ordered environment containing more flexible n-alkyl groups with gauche conformations. The ratio between trans vs. gauche conformations of the n-alkyl groups directs the shape selectivity of the C₃₀ phase. The temperature-dependent interconversion of trans to gauche conformations can be monitored by temperature-dependent solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and suspended-state NMR measurements and visualised by molecular modelling calculations. Thus a direct correlation between chromatographic and physicochemical properties of C₃₀ bonded phases is possible.     

In vitro stable isotope labeling for discovery of novel metabolites by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry: Confirmation of γ-tocopherol metabolism in human A549 cell

A general approach for discovering novel catabolic metabolites from a parent biocompound was developed and validated on the metabolism of γ-tocopherol in human A549 cell. The method is based on LC–MS analysis of in vitro stable isotope-labeled metabolites and assumes that a parent compound and its metabolites share a common functional group that can be derivatized by well-documented reagents. In this method, two equal aliquots of extracted metabolites are separately derivatized with isotope-coded (heavy) and non-isotope-coded (light) form of derivatizing reagent, mixed at 1:1 ratio and analyzed using LC–MS. The metabolites with common functional group are then easily recognized by determination of a chromatographically co-eluted pair of isotopomers (MS doublet peaks) with similar peak intensities and mass difference corresponding to the mass difference between heavy and light form of derivatization reagent. The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated and validated by the identification of products of γ-tocopherol catabolism in human A549 cell culture media using N-methyl-nicotinic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (C1-NANHS) and N-methyl-d3-nicotinic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (C1-d3-NANHS) derivatizing reagent. Overall four γ-tocopherol metabolites were identified including 9′-COOH, 11′-COOH, 13′-COOH and 13′-OH. In addition, the developed LC–MS method can also be used for the fast and sensitive quantitative analysis of γ-tocopherol and other forms of vitamin E related compounds.     

Bromination of α-tocopherol methano-dimer and ethano-dimer

Bromination of the ethano-dimer of α-tocopherol (6) afforded pyrano-spirodimer of α-tocopherol (7) quantitatively, while the methano-dimer of α-tocopherol (10) produced a mixture of products, including the furano-spirodimer 11, pyrano-spirodimer 7, and 5-bromo-γ-tocopherol (12), the latter two formed in an unusual dealkylative fragmentation step. The mechanisms were studied by a combination of trapping reactions as well as kinetic and computational studies.     

Chronopotentiometric analysis of tocopherols using a glassy carbon vessel as the working electrode

Using a specific electrochemical cell with a glassy carbon vessel as the working electrode, a significant enhancement of the chronopotentiometric determination of tocopherols was achieved. Due to the large area of the working electrode, the method sensitivity was increased approximately 50-fold compared to the common electrochemical cell with a glassy-carbon disc electrode. Limits of quantitation of approximately 0.35 mg/dm³ for α-, γ- and δ-tocopherol were obtained. The influence of the most important experimental factors was investigated and the method defined was applied for tocopherol determination in crude vegetable oils. The tocopherol content was determined by standard solutions prepared in a matrix of animal fat. An absolute method for γ- and δ-tocopherol quantitation is also described.     

Synthesis and oxidation of ‘non-annulated’ vitamin E-like compounds

Two model compounds (3 and 4) having the typical α-tocopherol-type substitution pattern of the aromatic ring, but lacking the annulated pyran ring, have been synthesized. Upon oxidation, the two possible ortho-quinone methides (oQMs) of each are formed in equal ratio. DFT calculations suggest that there is no angular strain in 3 and 4, and each of the oQM pairs is of similar energy. These results prove that the commonly observed regioselectivity in oxidations of vitamin E-type model compounds is not an electronic substitution effect, but a consequence of annulation.     

新生育酚氧模型自由基的ESR研究

对新生育酚(维生素E)模型化合物(生育酚1:2,2-二甲基-4-异丙基-7-特丁基-6-色满酚),在甲苯溶剂里以过氧化二叔丁基引发产生生育酚氧自由基进行电子自旋共振(ESR)波谱测试,获得质子超精细分裂(hfs)偶合常数和g_iso因子值.以获得的质子超精细分裂偶合常数进行了计算机图谱模拟.