Total synthesis of (+)-davidiin

Quite strained: The total synthesis of (+)-davidiin, an ellagitannin with more substituents in axial than in equatorial positions, requires a conformational lock of the glucose, induced by steric repulsion between adjacent bulky silyloxy groups. This conformational lock played a pivotal role in 1)?the β-selective formation of the glycosyl ester at the anomeric position, 2)?the formation of the 1,6-HHDP bridge, and 3)?the complete control of axial chirality in the aryl-aryl coupling.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from carbon-neutral oxalate with 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion and metal nanoparticles

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution has been made possible by using oxalate as a carbon-neutral electron source, metal nanoparticles as hydrogen-evolution catalysts and the 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion (QuPh(+)-NA), which forms the long-lived electron-transfer state upon photoexcitation, as a photocatalyst. The hydrogen evolution was conducted in a deaerated mixed solution of an aqueous buffer and acetonitrile (MeCN) [1:1 (v/v)] by photoirradiation (λ > 340 nm). The gas evolved during the photocatalytic reaction contained H(2) and CO(2) in a molar ratio of 1:2, indicating that oxalate acts as a two-electron donor. The hydrogen yield based on the amount of oxalate reached more than 80% under pH conditions higher than 6. Ni and Ru nanoparticles as well as Pt nanoparticles act as efficient hydrogen-evolution catalysts in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution can be used several times without significant deactivation of the catalytic activity. Nanosecond laser flash photolysis measurements have revealed that electron transfer from oxalate to the photogenerated QuPh˙-NA˙(+), which forms a π-dimer radical cation with QuPh(+)-NA [(QuPh˙-NA˙(+))(QuPh(+)-NA)], occurs followed by subsequent electron transfer from QuPh˙-NA to the hydrogen-evolution catalyst in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Oxalate acts as an efficient electron source under a wide range of reaction conditions.     

Highly selective binding of naphthyridine with a trifluoromethyl group to cytosine opposite an abasic site in DNA duplexes

We report on highly selective binding of a naphthyridine derivative with a trifluoromethyl group to cytosine opposite an abasic site in DNA duplexes; the binding-induced fluorescence quenching is applicable to the analysis of a C-related single-base mutation in DNAs amplified by PCR.     

Detection of 22 antiepileptic drugs by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry applicable to routine therapeutic drug monitoring

The purpose of this study was to develop an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method of 22 antiepileptics for routine therapeutic monitoring. The antiepileptics used in the analyses were carbamazepine, carbamazepine‐10,11‐epoxide, clobazam, N‐desmethylclobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, N‐desmethyldiazepam, ethosuximide, felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, N‐desmethylmesuximide, nitrazepam, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, tiagabine, topiramate, valproic acid, vigabatrin and zonisamide. After protein precipitation of 50 μL plasma with methanol, the supernatant was diluted with water or was evaporated to dryness and reconstituted with mobile phase in the case of benzodiazepines. Separation was achieved on an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column with a gradient mobile phase of 10 mm ammonium acetate containing 0.1% formic acid and methanol at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. An Acquity TQD instrument in multiple reaction monitoring mode with ion mode switching was used for detection. All antiepileptics were detected and quantified within 10 min, with no endogenous interference. All the calibration curves showed good linearity in the therapeutic range (r² < 0.99). The precision and accuracy values for intra‐ and inter‐assays were within ±15% except for phenobarbital and tiagabine. A good correlation was observed between the concentration of clinical samples measured by the new method described here and the conventional methods. The values of carbamazepine and phenytoin by UPLC‐MS/MS were lower than those detected by the immunoassays, which might be caused by the cross‐reaction of antibodies with their metabolites. In conclusion, we developed a simple and selective UPLC‐MS/MS method suitable for routine therapeutic monitoring of antiepileptics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biphenylene units possessing flammable and nonflammable characteristics in fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric silica gel matrices after calcination at 800 °C

Two kinds of fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(VM) _n -R_F] silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units were prepared by the sol-gel reactions of the corresponding oligomer with biphenylene-bridged ethoxysilanes or 4,4′-biphenol under alkaline conditions, respectively. One is the fluorinated oligomer/silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units [R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ ], of whose biphenylene units were incorporated into nanocomposite cores through the siloxane bondings, and the other is the fluorinated oligomer/silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units [R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol], of whose biphenylene units were directly encapsulated into nanocomposite cores through the sol–gel process. Interestingly, the shape of R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ nanocomposites is morphologically controlled cubic particles; although the shape of R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol nanocomposites is spherically fine particles. Thermogravimetric analyses ²H magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, Ultraviolet visible, and fluorescent spectra showed that biphenylene units in R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ nanocomposites have a flammable characteristic after calcinations at 800 °C; in contrast, biphenylene units in R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol nanocomposites have a nonflammable characteristic even after calcination at 800 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of these two kinds of fluorinated nanocomposites showed that nonflammable characteristic toward biphenylene units in the silica gel matrices is due to the formation of ammonium hexafluorosilicate during the sol–gel process.     

Redox-responsive conformational alteration of aromatic amides bearing N-quinonyl system

Redox-induced conformational alteration of N-aryl-N-phenylamides, in which the N-aryl group consists of a hydroquinone–p-quinone system, was examined. The reduced form bearing a dihydroxyphenyl or dimethoxyphenyl group exists mainly in the E-form, whereas the oxidized form bearing a N-benzoquinone moiety takes the Z-form both in the crystal and in solution. This redox-induced conformational alteration is associated with a marked change in optical properties. This system appears to have suitable properties for use in external redox stimulus-responsive functional switching.     

Isolation,synthesis, and biological activity of biphenyl and m-terphenyl-type compounds from Dictyostelium cellular slime molds

From the fruiting bodies of Dictyostelium polycephalum, we obtained four aromatic compounds: dictyobiphenyl A (1) and B (2) and dictyoterphenyl A (3) and B (4). The synthesis of 1–4 was performed to confirm the structures and obtain sufficient material for biological evaluation. Compound 3 was the first example of nitrogen-containing natural m-terphenyls, and the isolation of novel classes of compounds such as 3 shows that cellular slime molds are promising sources in natural product chemistry. Moreover, dictyoterphenyl A (3) showed cancer cell-selective antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀ 2.3–8.6 μM).     

Furanose ring conformations in a 1′-alkynyl C-nucleoside and the dinucleotide

A large-scale synthesis was carried out for alkynyl C-nucleotide oligomers in order to clarify the structural details of the artificial DNA. A liquid-phase synthesis by means of phosphoramidite methodology enabled us to handle ～0.1 g of the DNA oligomers possessing a pseudouracil derivative (T*) as a non-natural nucleobase. ¹H NMR measurements in aqueous media were carried out for the oligomers, succeeded in the accurate assignments of the protons accompanying with determination of the coupling constants (J values). These J values revealed that average conformation of the alkynylribose rings in the DNA was substantially biased toward the S-type conformers (²T₁/E₁/^OT₁). X-ray crystal analysis of the non-natural nucleoside also supported the S-type conformation (²E/²T₁) as seen in natural B-DNA.     

DFT studies of unique stereoelectronic effects of substituents on divergent reaction pathways of methylenecyclobutanone radical cations

The results of DFT investigation suggest that C2–C3 bond cleavage of the 2,2-dianisyl-3,3-dimethyl-4-methylenecyclobutanone radical cation (2b⁺) is preferred from both a thermodynamic and a kinetic perspective while C1–C2 bond cleavage is both thermodynamically and kinetically favored in the parent methylenecyclobutanone radical cation (MCB⁺) and the 2,2-diphenyl- and 2,2-dianisyl-4-isopropylidenecyclobutanone radical cations (1a-b⁺). The DFT calculations also suggest that a bonding character exists in C2–C3 bond of the 2,2-diphenyl-3,3-dimethyl-4-methylenecyclobutanone radical cation (2a⁺) but not in that of 2b⁺. Consequently, the unique reactivity of 2b⁺ can be accounted for by the existence of the steric hindrance between methyl and anisyl substituents, which favors C2–C3 bond cleavage, and the absence of C2–C3 bonding character. Those results support that the previous experimental results of photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of 1 and 2. The combined factors comprise stereoelectronic substituent effects that lead to a drastic change in the reaction pathways followed by 2b⁺ relative to that of other methylenecyclobutanone-type radical cations.     

Andirolides H–P from the flower of andiroba (Carapa guianensis,Meliaceae)

Three new gedunins, an andirobin, three mexicanolides, and two phragmalin-type limonoids named andirolides H (1), I (2), J (3), K (4), L (5), M (6), N (7), O (8), and P (9) were isolated from an oil of the flower of Carapa guianensis Aublet (Meliaceae). Their structures including the absolute configurations were determined by means of the NMR and CD spectra as well as FABMS. Andirolide H (1) showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.