Two diterpenoids with an unprecedented diterpene carbon skeleton, cinnamomols A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the leaves of Cinnamomum cassia. 1 and 2 feature a cage-like, rigid, 5/5/5/5/5/6-fused hexacyclic ring system. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by extensive spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their plausible biosynthetic pathways were proposed. 1 and 2 exhibited significant in vitro immunostimulative activity, and the mode of action of 1 was investigated.

The new “conical” torch is a powerful tool for ICP-MS/OES applications as demonstrated by time-resolved particle image velocimetry and 3D computer simulations of single particles.

The conical torch, with less power and gas consumption, offers better analytical performance compared with the Fassel torch for axially viewed ICP-OES.