Analysis by RP-HPLC and Purification by RP-SPE of the C-Tetra(p-hydroxyphenyl)resorcinolarene Crown and Chair Stereoisomers

Efficient Separation of C-Tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene Conformers by Means of Reversed-Phase Solid-Phase Extraction

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed to study the conformer formation generated during the reaction for obtaining C-tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene. The chromatographic method was used to design a strategy for purifying the reaction products, using solid-phase extraction columns (RP-SPE) and gradient elution. The chromatographic profiles of the cyclocondensation reaction between resorcinol and acetaldehyde show the presence of three products under the different reaction and precipitation conditions studied. Using RP-SPE, it was possible to enrich the products, which were later characterized by means of RP-HPLC and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This investigation explored and established a new method for RP-HPLC analysis and RP-SPE separation of conformational isomers obtained in the formation reaction of C-tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene.

Preparation of Methacrylate-based Polymers Modified with Chiral Resorcinarenes and Their Evaluation as Sorbents in Norepinephrine Microextraction

Aminomethylation reactions between chiral amino compounds (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine and l-proline with tetranonylresorcinarene and tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)resorcinarene in presence of formaldehyde were studied. The reaction between l-proline and resorcinarenes generated regioselectively chiral tetra-Mannich bases, due to the molecular incorporation of the fragment of the chiral amino acid. On the other hand, tetranonylresorcinarene and (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine formed regio- and diasteroselectively chiral tetrabenzoxazines, both by chiral auxiliary functionalization and by the transformation of the molecular structure that confers inherent chirality. The products obtained were characterized using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC techniques. The reaction of (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine with tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)resorcinarene did not proceed under the experimental conditions. Once the chiral aminomethylated tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)resorcinarene was obtained, the chemical modification of poly(GMA-co-EDMA) was studied, and the results showed an efficient incorporation of the aminomethylated compound. For the physical modification, chiral aminomethylated tetranonylresorcinarenes were employed, finding that the incorporation of modified resorcinarenes occurs, but with less efficiency than that observed using chemical modification. The modified polymers were characterized via FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy imaging, and elemental analysis. Finally, polymers modified with chiral resorcinarenes were used as sorbents in norepinephrine microextraction; for practical purposes, artificial urine was prepared and used. To perform the microextraction, the decision was made to use the modern rotating-disk sorptive extraction technique (RDSE), because of its analytical attributes as a green, or eco-friendly, technique. According to the results, the method preliminarily validated for the determination of norepinephrine in artificial urine shows that the modified polymer with chiral derivative of tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)resorcinarene worked effectively as a new sorbent phase for the quantitative microextraction of norepinephrine, exhibiting high stability and homogeneity of composition and structure within the working range.

Aminomethylated Calix[4]resorcinarenes as Modifying Agents for Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) Rigid Copolymers Surface

Functionalization of tetrapropylcalix[4]resorcinarene, tetrapentylcalix[4]resorcinarene, tetranonylcalix[4]resorcinarene, and tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)calix[4]resorcinarene by means of aminomethylation reactions with the amino acids β-alanine and l-proline in the presence of aqueous formaldehyde was carried out. When β-alanine was used, the reaction products were tetrabenzoxazines. The reaction with tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)calix[4]resorcinarene did not proceed under the experimental conditions; therefore, l-proline was used, and the corresponding tetra-Mannich base was regio- and diasteroselectively formed. The products were characterized via FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and elemental analysis. With these aminomethylated-calix[4]resorcinarenes, the chemical surface modification of the copolymers poly(GMA-co-EDMA) and poly(BMA-co-EDMA-co-MMA) in a basic medium was studied. The results were quite satisfactory, obtaining the corresponding copolymers functionalized by nucleophilic substitution reaction and ring-opening between the carboxyl group of the upper rim of aliphatic calix[4]resorcinarenes and the hydroxyl group of the lower rim in the aromatic calix[4]resorcinarene and the epoxy group of the glycidyl methacrylate residue of each copolymer. The modified copolymers were characterized via FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy imaging, and elemental analysis. Finally, the modified copolymer surfaces exhibited interaction with peptides, showing their potential application in chromatographic separation techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography.

Pullulan nanofibers containing the antimicrobial palindromic peptide LfcinB (21-25)Pal obtained via electrospinning

Electrospinning technology is useful for making ultrafine drug-eluting fibers for the clinical treatment of wounds. We show the incorporation of an antimicrobial LfcinB-derived peptide into Pullulan nanofibers. The palindromic peptide LfcinB (21-25)Pal: RWQWRWQWR was synthesized, purified, and characterized by means of the RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS methods. The peptide's antibacterial activity against the E. coli ATCC 25922 strain was evaluated, and the peptide LfcinB (20-25)Pal exhibited significant antibacterial activity. Nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning a Pullulan or Pullulan-LfcinB (21-25)Pal solution. The obtained nanofibers were characterized via microscopy (AFM and SEM) and RP-HPLC chromatography. The peptide incorporation efficiency was 31%. The Pullulan-LfcinB (21-25)Pal nanofibers were soluble in water, and the peptide was liberated immediately. The Pullulan-LfcinB (21-25)Pal nanofibers exhibited the same antibacterial activity against E. coli strain as the free peptide LfcinB (21-25)Pal. The results suggest that Pullulan-LfcinB (21-25)Pal nanofibers could be considered for designing and developing antibacterial wound dressings.