Katsumi Kita

Characterization of overall ceramide species in human stratum corneum

Ceramides (CERs) in human stratum corneum (SC) play physicochemical roles in determining barrier and water-holding functions of the skin, and specific species might be closely related to the regulation of keratinization, together with other CER-related lipids. Structures of those diverse CER species, however, have not been comprehensively revealed. The aim of this study was to characterize overall CER species in the SC. First, we constructed 3D multi-mass chromatograms of the overall CER species, based on normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) connected to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) using a gradient elution system and a postcolumn addition of a volatile salt-containing polar solvent. The CERs targeted from the 3D chromatograms were structurally analyzed using NPLC-ESI-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), which resulted in the identification of 342 CER species in the inner forearm SC. This led to the discovery of a new CER class consisting of α-hydroxy fatty acid and dihydrosphingosine moieties, in addition to the 10 classes generally known. The results also revealed that those CERs contain long-chain (more than C18)-containing sphingoids and a great number of isobaric species. These novel results will contribute not only to physiochemical research on CERs in the SC but also to lipidomics approaches to CERs in the skin.

A new fluorous/organic amphiphilic ether solvent, F-626: execution of fluorous and high temperature classical reactions with convenient biphase workup to separate product from high boiling solvent

Abstract A new fluorous/organic amphiphilic ether solvent, 1 H ,1 H ,2 H ,2 H -perfluorooctyl 1,3-dimethylbutyl ether (F-626), is introduced. The basic properties of F-626, especially the partition coefficients with organic solvents/FC-72 (perfluorohexane), were investigated. F-626 was easy to remove by fluorous biphase treatment. Using F-626 as a solvent, LAH reduction, catalytic hydrogenation, and fluorous reductive radical reactions were successful. Classical high temperature reactions up to 200°C, such as the Vilsmeier formylation, the Wolff–Kishner reduction, and the Diels–Alder reaction, were also examined in F-626. The yields of the products in F-626 were almost comparable with those conducted in common organic solvents, which prove that F-626 has the potential to be an easily recyclable high boiling solvent.