Avocado-derived polyols for use as novel co-surfactants in low energy self-emulsifying microemulsions.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.; Lauraceae) seed-derived polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs) or polyols (i.e., avocadene and avocadyne) are metabolic modulators that selectively induce apoptosis of leukemia stem cells and reverse pathologies associated with diet-induced obesity. Delivery systems containing avocado polyols have not been described. Herein, natural surface active properties of these polyols are characterized and incorporated into self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) that rely on molecular self-assembly to form fine, transparent, oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions as small as 20 nanometers in diameter. Mechanistically, a 1:1 molar ratio of avocadene and avocadyne (i.e., avocatin B or AVO was shown to be a eutectic mixture which can be employed as a novel, bioactive, co-surfactant that significantly reduces droplet size of medium-chain triglyceride O/W emulsions stabilized with polysorbate 80. In vitro cytotoxicity of avocado polyol-SEDDS in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines indicated significant increases in potency and bioactivity compared to conventional cell culture delivery systems. A pilot pharmacokinetic evaluation of AVO SEDDS in C57BL/6J mice revealed appreciable accumulation in whole blood and biodistribution in key target tissues. Lastly, incorporation of AVO in SEDDS significantly improved encapsulation of the poorly water-soluble drugs naproxen and curcumin.

Acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of a cyclopropanated 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with alcohols.

The acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of a cyclopropanated 3-aza-2-oxabicylic alkene using alcohol nucleophiles were investigated. Although this acid-catalyzed ring-opening reaction did not cleave the cyclopropane unit as planned, this represent the first examples of ring-openings of cyclopropanated 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]alkenes that lead to the cleavage of the C-O bond instead of the N-O bond. Different acid catalysts were tested and it was found that pyridinium toluenesulfonate in methanol gave the best yields in the ring-opening reactions. The scope of the reaction was successfully expanded to include primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohol nucleophiles. Through X-ray crystallography, the stereochemistry of the product was determined which confirmed an SN2-like mechanism to form the ring-opened product.

Palladium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of cyclopropanated 7-oxabenzonorbornadiene with alcohols.

Palladium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of cyclopropanated 7-oxabenzonorbornadiene derivatives using alcohol nucleophiles were investigated. The optimal conditions were found to be 10 mol % PdCl2(CH3CN)2 in methanol, offering yields up to 92%. The reaction was successful using primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol nucleophiles and was compatible with a variety of substituents on cyclopropanated oxabenzonorbornadiene. With unsymmetrical C1-substituted cyclopropanated 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes, the regioselectivity of the reaction was excellent, forming only one regioisomer in all cases.

Regioselective palladium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of C1-substituted oxabicyclo[2,2,1]hepta-2,5-diene-2,3-dicarboxylates.

Palladium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of C1 substituted 7-oxanorbornadiene derivatives with aryl iodides were investigated. The optimal conditions for this reaction were found to be PdCl2(PPh3)2, ZnCl2, Et3N and Zn in THF. Both steric and electronic factors played a role in the outcome of the reaction as increasing the steric bulk on the bridgehead carbon decreased the yield. These reactions were found to be highly regioselective, giving only one of the two possible regioisomers in all cases. A diverse collection of novel, highly substituted biphenyl derivatives were obtained.

Structural characterisation of the photoisomers of reactive sulfonated azo dyes by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with in situ laser irradiation has been used together with density functional theory (DFT) computation to examine the structures of the photoisomers of a series of sulfonated reactive azo dyes. Assignment of 1H NMR spectra acquired at the photostationary state has allowed, for the first time, NMR characterisation of unstable cis isomers of commercially relevant water-soluble azo dyes. Structural features of the two isomeric forms predicted by DFT calculations are clearly reflected in the experimental NMR data. The trans-cis photoisomerisation process could be unambiguously identified in each case, based on the large chemical shift change observed for resonances associated with aromatic protons adjacent to the azo linkage.