Inclusion polymerization of 1-chlorobutadiene in a deoxycholic acid canal

Inclusion polymerization of 1-chlorobutadiene was studied using 3α,12α-dihydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oic acid (deoxycholic acid, DCA) as host molecules. It was found that the poly(1-chlorobutadiene) had almost 100% of head to tail, trans-1,4-structure on the basis of ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopies. This was the first example of preparing the highly regulated poly(1-chlorobutadiene) by using the inclusion polymerization technique. The polymers obtained were optically active and the maximum value of specific rotation was [α]_D-41.9°. Both the rate constants and the value of activation energy of the elementary reactions of inclusion polymerization of 1-chlorobutadiene were determined by graphical evaluation. The activation energy of propagation and termination was 11.7 and 11.1 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Photoluminescence enhancement of PEG-modified YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal phosphor prepared by glycothermal method

Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce3+) nanocrystals were synthesized in 1,4-butylene glycol (BG) with and without poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by the glycothermal method. The internal quantum efficiency of the photoluminescence (PL) corresponding to the 5d --> 4f transition of Ce3+ in the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal increased from 21.3 to 37.9% by addition of PEG, while no appreciable change in the primary particle size, the crystallite size, and the lattice distortion was recognized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and 1H --> 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS NMR) confirmed the preferential coordination of PEG to the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal. 27Al single-pulse excitation MAS NMR reveals that the ratio of the 4-fold coordination site to the 6-fold coordination site increased from 0.53 to 0.72 by addition of PEG. We conclude that the surface modification of the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal by PEG induces the surface passivation, the prevention of the oxidation of Ce3+ to Ce4+, the promotion of the incorporation of Ce3+ into YAG and the local structural rearrangement, resulting in the PL enhancement.     

Rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of alpha-arylpropargyl alcohols to indanones: involvement of an unexpected reaction cascade

A rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of alpha-arylpropargyl alcohols to indanones has been developed under mild conditions. Considering the ease of preparation of these propargyl alcohols (terminal alkynes + aromatic aldehydes), this method provides a new way of constructing indanones with high efficiency. By the mechanistic investigations using deuterium-labeled substrates, it has also been demonstrated that the reaction goes through an unexpected cascade, with a 1,4-hydrogen shift being the turnover-limiting step of the catalytic cycle.     

Highly active, immobilized ruthenium catalysts for oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. Preparation and use in both batch and flow systems

A novel, highly active immobilized ruthenium catalyst, which can be successfully used in oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, has been developed. In contrast to most immobilized catalysts, the Ru catalyst has activity that is higher than that of the original non-immobilized catalyst. In a batch system, the Ru catalyst was recovered and reused several times without loss of activity. The catalyst was also applied to a flow system, in which excellent conversions and yields were demonstrated. No leaching of Ru was observed in both cases.     

Self-oscillation of polymer chains induced by the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction under acid-free conditions

A novel self-oscillating polymer was prepared by utilizing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. In this study, a sulfonic acid group was newly introduced as a pH-control site into the copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide, and the ruthenium complex was introduced as a catalyst site. By introducing the pH-control site, we succeed in causing the soluble-insoluble self-oscillation of the polymer solution under acid-free conditions in which only two BZ substrates, malonic acid and sodium bromate, were present as added agents. The self-oscillating behavior was remarkably influenced by the temperature and polymer concentration, which reflects the intermolecular aggregative capacity of the polymer chains in the reduced state to change the lower critical solution temperature. This achievement of self-oscillation of polymer chains under acid-free conditions may lead to their practical use as novel biomimetic materials under biological conditions.     

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of beta-keto esters: effects of the linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL

We describe the development of a general catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of acyclic beta-keto esters to cyclic enones, in which asymmetric induction occurs at the beta-position of the acceptors. Among the various asymmetric catalyst systems examined, the newly developed La-NR-linked-BINOL complexes (R = H or Me) afforded the best results in terms of reactivity and selectivity. In general, the NMe ligand 2 was suitable for the combination of small enones and small beta-keto esters, and the NH ligand 1 was suitable for bulkier substrates (steric tuning of the catalyst). Using the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex, the Michael reaction of methyl acetoacetate (8a) to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (7b) gave the corresponding Michael adduct 9ba in 82% yield and 92% ee. The linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL is crucial for achieving high reactivity and selectivity in the Michael reaction of beta-keto esters. The amine moiety in the NR-linked-BINOL can also tune the Lewis acidity of the central metal (electronic tuning of the catalyst), which was supported by density functional studies and experimental results. Another advantage of the NR-linked-BINOL ligand as compared with O-linked-BINOL is the ease of modifying a substituent on the amine moiety, making it possible to synthesize a variety of NR-linked-BINOL ligands for further improvement or development of new asymmetric catalyses by introducing additional functionality on the linker with the amine moiety. The efficiency of the present asymmetric catalysis was demonstrated by the synthesis of the key intermediate of (-)-tubifolidine and (-)-19,20-dihydroakuammicine in only five steps compared to the nine steps required by the original process from the Michael product of malonate. This strategy is much more atom economical. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, we propose that a beta-keto ester serves as a ligand as well as a substrate and at least one beta-keto ester should be included in the active catalyst complex. Further improvement of the reaction by maintaining an appropriate ratio of the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex and beta-keto esters is also described.     

A new member of sodium titanates,Na2Ti9O19

A new compound of sodium nonatitanate, Na₂Ti₉O₁₉, has been prepared by the hydrothermal reactions of titanium dioxide gel with sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. The crystal has a C-centered monoclinic lattice with the unit-cell dimensions a = 12.2, b = 3.78, c = 15.3Å, and β = 98.0°. It is expected that the structure consists of a framework different from those in tri-, hexa-, hepta-, and octatianates.     

Evidence of conformational equilibrium of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium in its ionic liquid salts: Raman spectroscopic study and quantum chemical calculations

Raman spectra of liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI+) salts, EMI(+)BF4-, EMI(+)PF6-, EMI(+)CF3SO3-, and EMI(+)N(CF3SO2)2-, were measured over the frequency range 200-1600 cm(-1). In the range 200-500 cm(-1), we found five bands originating from the EMI+ ion at 241, 297, 387, 430, and 448 cm(-1). However, the 448 cm(-1) band could hardly be reproduced by theoretical calculations in terms of a given EMI+ conformer, implying that the band originates from another conformer. This is expected because the EMI+ involves an ethyl group bound to the N atom of the imidazolium ring, and the ethyl group can rotate along the C-N bond to yield conformers. The torsion energy for the rotation was then theoretically calculated. Two local minima with an energy difference of ca. 2 kJ mol(-1) were found, suggesting that two conformers are present in equilibrium. Full geometry optimizations followed by normal frequency analyses indicate that the two conformers are those with planar and nonplanar ethyl groups against the imidazolium ring plane, and the nonplanar conformer is favorable. It elucidates that bands at 241, 297, 387, and 430 cm(-1) mainly originate from the nonplanar conformer, whereas the 448 cm(-1) band does originate from the planar conformer. Indeed, the enthalpy for conformational change from nonplanar to planar EMI+ experimentally obtained by analyzing band intensities of the conformers at varying temperatures is practically the same as that evaluated by theoretical calculations. We thus conclude that the EMI+ ion exists as either a nonplanar or planar conformer in equilibrium in its liquid salts.     

Identification of α-type subunits of the Xenopus 20S proteasome and analysis of their changes during the meiotic cell cycle

Background  

The 26S proteasome is the proteolytic machinery of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system responsible for most of the regulated intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Previously, we demonstrated meiotic cell cycle dependent phosphorylation of α4 subunit of the 26S proteasome. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the spotting pattern separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis of α subunits during Xenopus oocyte maturation.     

Synthesis of functionalized hydroquinones via [Cp*RuCl2]2-catalyzed cocyclization of alkynes, alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and carbon monoxide

[reaction: see text] Catalytic [2 + 2 + 1 + 1] cocyclization reaction of an alkyne, an alkene, and two molecules of carbon monoxide, leading to functionalized hydroquinones, was studied. Using [Cp*RuCl2]2 as a catalyst, we found that a variety of electron-deficient alkenes, such as alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, esters, amides, and nitriles, can be employed as an alkene coupling partner to give the corresponding hydroquinones.