The knoevenagel condensation of ethyl acylpyruvates

Extensive studies of the Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes and active methyl-lene compounds have been reported (2). In 1894, Knoevenagel reported (3) the reaction of benz-aldehyde with ethyl benzoylpyruvate in the presence of piperidine to give ehtyl benzyl-(bis-benzoyl)pyruvate, m.p. 162°, but no yield of the product was reported. This paper deals with the interesting results of the reactions of ethyl acetylpyruvate ( 2 ) ( 4 ) and ethyl benzoylpyruvate ( 3 ) (5) with some aromatic aldehydes ( 1a-f ).     

Efficient synthesis of trans- or cis-4(5)-(5-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)imidazoles via diazafulvene intermediates: synthetic approach toward human histamine H4)-ligands

(+)-4(5)-[(2R,5R)-5-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl]imidazole [(+)-1, imifuramine] and its 2R,5S-stereoisomer (+)-2 were expected as base compounds to develop selective human histamine H4-receptor ligands. The improved synthesis of (+)-1 was done via cyclization of a diazafulvene intermediate generated by Bu3P/N,N,N',N'-tetramethylazodicarboxamide (TMAD) treatment of a diol 17ab bearing an unsubstituted imidazole moiety in good yields. This methodology also afforded an alternative synthetic route to trans- and cis-ethyl 4(5)-(5-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)imidazole carboxylates (5 and 6), reported previously. Also, 4(5)-[(2R,5S)-5-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl]imidazole (+)-2 was synthesized from ethyl 4(5)-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-1-carboxylate (35) via the four steps involving deoxygenation.     

Nucleobase participation in ribozyme catalysis

We constructed a modified form of the VS ribozyme containing an imidazole ring in place of adenine at position 756. The novel ribozyme is active in both cleavage and ligation reactions. The reaction is efficient, although relatively slow. The results are consistent with a role for nucleobase catalysis in the catalytic mechanism of this ribozyme.     

Enantioselective borohydride reduction catalyzed by optically active cobalt complexes

The highly enantioselective borohydride reduction of aromatic ketones or imines to the corresponding alcohols was developed in the presence of a catalytic amount of an optically active cobalt(II) complex catalyst. This enantioselective reduction is carried out using a precisely premodified borohydride with alcohols such as tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, ethanol and methanol. High optical yields are obtained by choosing the appropriate alcohol as modifiers and a suitable beta-ketoiminato ligand of the catalyst. The enantioselective borohydride reduction has been successfully applied to the preparation of optically active 1,3-diols, the stereoselective reduction of diacylferrocenes, and dynamic and/or kinetic resolution of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.     

Synthesis of C-nor-4,6-secocamptothecin and related compounds

C-nor-4,6-Secocamptothecin 2 , 4-ethyl-4-hydroxy-6-(2-quinolinyl)-1H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyridine-3,8(4H,7H)-dione, lacking the C-ring of camptothecin 1 , and its related compounds 3 and 4 were prepared from ethyl quinoline-2-carboxylate 7 . By an analogous reaction sequences, synthesis of 6-(2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrano[3,4-c]-pyridine-3,8(4H7H)-dione derivatives 5 and 6 , which contain the B, D, and E ring of 1 , were achieved.     

Aqueous phosphoric acid as a mild reagent for deprotection of tert-butyl carbamates, esters, and ethers

Aqueous phosphoric acid (85 wt %) is an effective, environmentally benign reagent for the deprotection of tert-butyl carbamates, tert-butyl esters, and tert-butyl ethers. The reaction conditions are mild and offer good selectivity in the presence of other acid-sensitive groups, including CBZ carbamates, azetidine, benzyl and methyl esters, TBDMS, and methyl phenyl ethers. The mildness of the reaction is further demonstrated in the synthesis of clarithromycin derivative, in which a tert-butyl ester is removed in the presence of cyclic carbamate, lactone, ketal, acetate ester, and epimerizable methyl ketone functionalities. The reaction preserves the stereochemical integrity of the substrates. The reactions are high yielding, and the workup is convenient.     

Influence of refractive correction on ocular dominance

We investigated the effects of refractive correction and refractive defocus on the assessment of sensory ocular dominance. In 25 healthy subjects (4 males and 21 females) aged between 20 and 31 years, a quantitative measurement of sensory ocular dominance was performed with refractive correction and the addition of a positive lens on the dominant eye. Sensory ocular dominance was measured with a chart using binocular rivalry targets. The reversal point changed after the addition of a +1.00 D lens on the dominant eye in all subjects. However, sighting ocular dominance and stereopsis did not change after the addition of a positive lens on the dominant eye (P > 0:05, Wilcoxon test). These results suggest that refractive correction affects sensory ocular dominance, indicating the possible development of a new type of occlusion for amblyopia in the future.     

Self‐assembly of oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) in polar media and solubilization of an oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene) homooligomer inside the assembly

Rod–coil amphiphilic diblock copolymers, consisting of oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene) (OPV) as a rod and hydrophobic block and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a coil and hydrophilic block, were synthesized by a convergent method. The aggregation behavior of the block copolymers in a selective solvent (tetrahydrofuran/H₂O) was probed with the absorption and emission of the OPV block. With increasing H₂O concentration, the absorption maximum was blueshifted, the emission from the molecularly dissolved OPV decreased, and that from the aggregated OPV increased. This indicated that the OPV blocks formed H‐type aggregates in which the OPV blocks aligned in a parallel orientation with one another. The transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that the block copolymers with PEO weight fractions of 41 and 62 wt % formed cylindrical aggregates with a diameter of 6–8 nm and a length of several hundreds nanometers, whereas the block copolymer with 79 wt % PEO formed distorted spherical aggregates with an average diameter of 13 nm. Furthermore, the solubilization of an OPV homooligomer with the block copolymer was studied. When the total polymer concentration was less than 0.1 wt %, the block copolymer solubilized OPV with a 50 mol % concentration. The structure of the aggregates was a cylinder with a relatively large diameter distribution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1569–1578, 2005     

Preparation of microporous polymer-encapsulated Pd nanoparticles and their catalytic performance for hydrogenation and oxidation

Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) encapsulated by conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) were prepared by the Pd-catalyzed polymerization followed by a thermal treatment with N₂ or H₂. The Pd catalysts were embedded in the porous network during polymerization and used as a precursor for the generation of Pd NPs in CMP. Although no Pd NPs were formed in the as-synthesized Pd/CMPs, Pd NPs with 1.6–3.5 nm size were formed after the thermal treatment. The obtained Pd/CMP-N₂ and -H₂ catalysts were highly selective in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-ethylnitrobenzene, whereas Pd NPs supported on carbon (Ketjen black) gave a fully reduced product, 4-ethylaniline. Substituents in CMP framework could change the catalytic activity of Pd NPs; hydroxy-substituted CMP encapsulated Pd NPs showed higher catalytic activity than Pd/CMP-H₂ for benzyl alcohol oxidation.