Fatty acids from the Okhotsk sea sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Forcepia uschakowi</Emphasis>

The fatty-acid (FA) composition of total lipids from the Okhotsk sea marine sponge Forcepia uschakowi was studied. A total of 56 acids were identified by GC and GC—MS. The principal saturated acids were 16∶0 and 18∶0. The main monoene acid was 15-Me-24∶1(14), which was observed for the first time in sponge lipids. Polyunsaturated acids represented of 64.1% of the total FA of F. uschakowi. Of these, the principal ones were non-methylene-separated acids 26∶2(5,9) and 26∶3(5,9,19), which are typical of sponges, and bromo-acid 6-Br-26∶2(5,9). __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 422–424, September–October, 2007.     

N,N,N′-Trialkyl-1,8-diaminonaphthalenes: convenient method of preparation from protonated proton sponges and the first X-ray information

A simple procedure for the synthesis of N,N,N′-trialkyl-1,8-diaminonaphthalenes is described. It consists in partial demethylation (dealkylation) of commercially available proton sponge [1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene] and some of its derivatives at heating with HBr-KI-DMF system. Limitation, scope and a possible mechanistic pathway for the reaction are discussed. For isomeric 8-dimethylamino-1-methylamino- and 1-dimethylamino-8-methylamino-4-nitronaphthalenes, X-ray measurements have been conducted. The first examples of complete realkylation reactions in the naphthalene proton sponges are reported.     

Fatty Acids from the Sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tedania dirhaphis</Emphasis>

The fatty acid (FA) composition of total lipids from the marine sponge Tedania dirhaphis from the Sea of Okhotsk was studied. GC and GC-MS identified 50 acids, particular attention being paid to components with 14–22 C atoms. Acids 16-Me-19:0, 10,14-Me₂-15:1(Δ6), 18:1(Δ6), 18:1(Δ8), and 22:1(Δ16) were observed and identified for the first time in sponges. The main FA in lipids from T. dirhaphis was 28:3(Δ5,9,21), the relative content of which reached 63.3%.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 233–236, May–June, 2005.     

Extraction of parabens by melamine sponge with determination by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present study, we propose a novel method for the extraction of parabens in personal care products. A new, simple adsorptive material was obtained by combining metal-organic frameworks and melamine sponges using the adhesive property of polyvinylidene fluoride. This new material, metal-organic frameworks/melamine sponges, was found to be particularly suitable for solid-phase extraction. The structural characteristics of metal-organic frameworks/melamine sponges were first analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, solid-phase extraction was performed on sample solutions, and the extracted substances were then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Following optimization of important experimental conditions, excellent recovery rates were obtained. Our novel method was then applied to the extraction of four parabens (methylparahydroxybenzoates, ethylparahydroxybenzoates, propylparahydroxybenzoates, and butylparahydroxybenzoates) from real samples. The results yielded limits of detection of 0.26–0.41 ng/mL. The inter- and intra-day recoveries were 104.0–109.7% and 91.2–98.1%, respectively (relative standard deviation, <13.8%).     

Germanium Quantum Dots Embedded in N‐Doping Graphene Matrix with Sponge‐Like Architecture for Enhanced Performance in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Germanium quantum dots embedded in a nitrogen‐doped graphene matrix with a sponge‐like architecture (Ge/GN sponge) are prepared through a simple and scalable synthetic method, involving freeze drying to obtain the Ge(OH)₄/graphene oxide (GO) precursor and subsequent heat reduction treatment. Upon application as an anode for the lithium‐ion battery (LIB), the Ge/GN sponge exhibits a high discharge capacity compared with previously reported N‐doped graphene. The electrode with the as‐synthesized Ge/GN sponge can deliver a capacity of 1258 mAh g^?1 even after 50 charge/discharge cycles. This improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to the pore memory effect and highly conductive N‐doping GN matrix from the unique sponge‐like structure.     

Use of solid-phase extraction to enable enhanced detection of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) in environmental samples

A challenge for understanding the role of bacterial cell–cell signalling in the environment is the detection of those signals, which are often present in low (nmol L⁻¹) concentrations. We describe here a simple purification method, solid-phase extraction (SPE), for increasing the sensitivity of detection for one such group of signals, acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), in environmental samples. Spiking of dried marine sponge tissue (Stylinos sp.) with AHLs resulted in detection down to 0.01 ppm for 3-oxo-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (3-oxo C₆-HSL) and 1 ppm for hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C₆-HSL). Compared with liquid extraction methods use of SPE resulted in twofold and tenfold improvements in sensitivity, respectively.     

Lingshuine,an Unexpected Passerini Product from the Hainan Sponge Axinyssa variabilis

Lingshuine ( 1 ), a novel sesquiterpene amide, along with three known N‐containing compounds, 2 – 4 , have been isolated from the Hainan sponge Axinyssa variabilis. The structure of 1 was elucidated by detailed analysis of the spectroscopic data and by chemical methods. Lingshuine represents the first example of a Passerini product formed during the isolation process.     

α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of marine sponges collected in Mauritius waters

This report describes the use of α-glucosidase to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of extracts from marine sponges collected in the Mauritius waters. Initial screening at 1.0 mg/mL of 141 extracts obtained from 47 sponge species revealed 10 extracts with inhibitory activity greater than 85%. Seven of the 10 extracts were further tested at 0.1 and 0.01 mg/mL and only the methanol extract of two sponges namely Acanthostylotella sp. (ASSM) and Echinodictyum pykei (EPM) showed inhibition activity greater than 60% at 0.1 mg/mL with an IC₅₀ value of 0.16 ± 0.02 and 0.04 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively, while being inactive at 0.01 mg/mL.     

Crystalline‐Sponge‐Based Structural Analysis of Crude Natural Product Extracts

Characterization of complex natural product mixtures to the absolute structural level of their components often requires significant amounts of starting materials and lengthy purification process, followed by arduous structure elucidation efforts. The crystalline sponge (CS) method has demonstrated utility in the absolute structure elucidation of isolated organic compounds at miniscule quantities compared to conventional methods. In this work, we developed a new CS‐based workflow that greatly expedites the in‐depth structural analysis of crude natural product extracts. Using a crude extract of the red alga Laurencia pacifica, we showed that CS affinity screening prior to compound isolation enables prioritization of analytes present in the extract, and we subsequently resolved the molecular structures of six sesquiterpenes with stereochemical clarity from around 10 mg crude extract. This study demonstrates a new chemotyping workflow that can greatly accelerate natural product discovery from complex samples.