Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Anticancer Flavonoid, 2',4'-Dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethyl Chalcone (DMC), Rich Extract from Syzygium nervosum Fruits.

2',4'-Dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethyl chalcone (DMC) is a biological flavonoid that is present in the fruits of Syzygium nervosum (Ma-Kiang in Thai). Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which utilizes microwave radiation to heat the extraction solvent quickly and effectively, was used to recover DMC-rich extract from Syzygium nervosum fruit. To determine the DMC content, a highly accurate and precise HPLC technique was developed. The influences of MAE conditions, including the solid-liquid ratio, microwave power, and microwave duration on the content of DMC, were sequentially employed by a single factor investigation and response surface methodology (RSM) exploratory design. The predicted quadratic models were fitted due to their highly significant (p < 0.0001) and excellent determination coefficient (R2 = 0.9944). The optimal conditions for producing DMC-rich extract were a ratio of sample to solvent of 1:35 g/mL, a microwave power of 350 W, and a microwave time of 38 min. Under the optimal MAE setting, the DMC content reached 1409 ± 24 µg/g dry sample, which was greater than that of the conventional heat reflux extraction (HRE) (1337 ± 37 µg/g dry sample) and maceration (1225 ± 81 µg/g dry sample). The DMC-rich extract obtained from MAE showed stronger anticancer activities against A549 (human lung cancer cells) and HepG2 (human liver cancer cells) than the individual DMC substance, which makes MAE an effective method for extracting essential phytochemicals from plants in the nature.

Surfactant-Assisted Ozonolysis of Alkenes in Water: Mitigation of Frothing Using Coolade as a Low-Foaming Surfactant.

Aqueous-phase ozonolysis in the atmosphere is an important process during cloud and fog formation. Water in the atmosphere acts as both a reaction medium and a reductant during the ozonolysis. Inspired by the atmospheric aqueous-phase ozonolysis, we herein report the ozonolysis of alkenes in water assisted by surfactants. Several types of surfactants, including anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants, were investigated. Although most surfactants enhanced the solubility of alkenes in water, they also generated excessive foaming during the ozone bubbling, which led to the loss of products. Mitigation of the frothing was accomplished by using Coolade as a nonionic and low-foaming surfactant. Coolade-assisted ozonolysis of alkenes in water provided the desired carbonyl products in good yields and comparable to those achieved in organic solvents. During the ozonolysis reaction, water molecules trapped within the polyethylene glycol region of Coolade were proposed to intercept the Criegee intermediate to provide a hydroxy hydroperoxide intermediate. Decomposition of the hydroxy hydroperoxide led to formation of the carbonyl product without the need for a reductant typically required for the conventional ozonolysis using organic solvents. This study presents Coolade as an effective surfactant to improve the solubility of alkenes while mitigating frothing during the ozonolysis in water.

Structure of Nanoparticles Derived from Designer Surfactant TPGS-750-M in Water, As Used in Organic Synthesis.

Using density functional theory and the COSMO-RS implicit solvent model, we predict the structure and physical chemical properties of nanomicelles derived from the designer surfactant TPGS-750-M used in organic synthesis. We predict that the influence of chain length of the PEG region is low, while the termination of the PEG chain (-OH vs.-OCH3 ) plays a very large role. The interfacial tension is considerably lower between the micellar and water phases for the -OH than the -OCH3 terminated surfactant, and our calculations reproduce the large difference observed in average particle size as a function of PEG chain termination. We propose a structure for the nanoparticles formed by TPGS-750-M in water that is consistent with a ≈50 nm average diameter, which is significantly larger than a single micelle. According to the calculations, each nanoparticle would consist of 30-40 aggregated TPGS-750-M micelles forming a compartmentalized nanoparticle, with considerable amounts of water in the PEG region. The whole particle is stabilized by vitamin E succinate at the nanoparticle-water interface. In the presence of Zn dust or powder, the surfactant collides with the Zn surface, and by interactions with the hydrophobic inner cores, form organozinc species that are protected from the surrounding water. This explains why highly moisture-sensitive Negishi-like couplings take place in surfactant-water systems.

Micellar catalysis-enabled sustainable ppm Au-catalyzed reactions in water at room temperature.

Several ppm level gold-catalyzed reactions enabled by the ligand HandaPhos can be performed at room temperature in aqueous nanoreactors composed of the surfactant Nok. Variously substituted allenes undergo cycloisomerization leading to heterocyclic products in good yields. Likewise, cyclodehydration is also illustrated under similar conditions, as is an intermolecular variant, hydration of terminal alkynes. Recycling of the catalyst and reaction medium is also illustrated. A low E factor associated with limited solvent use and therefore, waste generation, documents the greenness of this process.

Effects of Co-solvents on Reactions Run under Micellar Catalysis Conditions.

The impact of varying percentages of an organic solvent added to reactions run in aqueous nanomicelles as the reaction medium has been investigated. Issues such as rates of reaction, percent conversion, and yield, as well as various practical aspects (e.g., effect on stirring, etc.), are discussed, leading to an operationally simple method for the general improvement of potentially problematic systems across a broad range of reaction types, in particular for reactions run at scale.

Kumada-Grignard-type biaryl couplings on water.

Well-established, traditional Kumada cross-couplings involve preformed Grignard reagents in dry ethereal solvent that typically react, e.g., with aryl halides via Pd catalysis to afford products of net substitution. Therefore, in the work described, which appears to be counterintuitive, exposure of these same aromatic halides to catalytic amounts of Pd(II) and excess magnesium metal in pure water leads to symmetrical/unsymmetrical biaryls, indicative of a net Kumada-like biaryl coupling. Evidence is presented suggesting that Grignard reagents, formed in situ in water, may be involved.

Ligand-free, palladium-catalyzed dihydrogen generation from TMDS: dehalogenation of aryl halides on water.

A mild and environmentally attractive dehalogenation of functionalized aryl halides has been developed using nanoparticles formed from PdCl2 in the presence of tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) on water. The active catalyst and reaction medium can be recycled. This method can also be applied to cascade reactions in a one-pot sequence.

"Nok": a phytosterol-based amphiphile enabling transition-metal-catalyzed couplings in water at room temperature.

The third-generation designer amphiphile/surfactant, "Nok" (i.e., SPGS-550-M; ß-sitosterol methoxypolyethyleneglycol succinate), soon to be commercially available from Aldrich, can be prepared in two steps using an abundant plant feedstock and ß-sitosterol, together with succinic anhydride and PEG-550-M. Upon dissolution in water, it forms nanomicelles that serve as nanoreactors, which can be characterized by both cryo-TEM and dynamic light scattering analyses. Several transition-metal-catalyzed reactions have been run under micellar conditions to evaluate this surfactant relative to results obtained in nanoparticles composed of TPGS-750-M (i.e., a second-generation surfactant). It is shown that Nok usually affords yields that are, in general, as good or better than those typically obtained with TPGS-750-M, and yet is far less costly.

Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of N-arylacrylamides "on water" at room temperature.

A copper-catalyzed intramolecular trifluoromethylation of arylacrylamides leads to oxindole derivatives, effected with stable and inexpensive Langlois' reagent (CF3SO2Na). These reactions proceed via a radical process in water at room temperature. The aqueous solution can be recycled.