Aminyl radical cyclization by means of anodic oxidation. Stereoselective synthesis of cis-1-methyl-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines

Neutral aminyl radicals generated by anodic oxidation of lithium alkenylamides 2 undergo a stereoselective cyclization to give $\text{cis}$-1-methyl-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines 4. Their $\text{cis}$ stereochemistry was confirmed by a comparison with $\text{trans}$-1,2-dimethyl-5-phenylpyrrolidine, the structure of which was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its quarternary ammonium bromide 6.     

Michael addition reactions between chiral equivalents of a nucleophilic glycine and (S)- or (R)-3-[(E)-enoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones as a general method for efficient preparation of beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids. Case of topographically controlled stereoselectivity

This paper describes a systematic study of addition reactions between the chiral Ni(II) complex of the Schiff base of glycine with (S)-o-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone and (S)- or (R)-3-[(E)-enoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones as a general and synthetically efficient approach to beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids and relevant compounds. These reactions were shown to occur at room temperature in the presence of nonchelating organic bases and, most notably, with very high (>98% diastereomeric excess (de)) stereoselectivity at both newly formed stereogenic centers. The stereochemical outcome of the reactions was found to be overwhelmingly controlled by the stereochemical preferences of the Michael acceptors, and the chirality of the glycine complex influenced only the reaction rate. Thus, in the reactions of both the (S)-configured Ni(II) complex and the Michael acceptors, the reaction rates were exceptionally high, allowing preparation of the corresponding products with virtually quantitative (>98%) chemical and stereochemical yields. In contrast, reactions of the (S)-configured Ni(II) complex and (R)-configured Michael acceptors proceeded at noticeably lower rates, but the addition products were obtained in high diastereo- and enantiomeric purity. To rationalize the remarkably high and robust stereoselectivity observed in these reactions, we consider an enzyme-substrate-like mode of interaction involving a topographical match or mismatch of two geometric figures. Excellent chemical and stereochemical yields, combined with the simplicity and operational convenience of the experimental procedures, render the present method of immediate use for preparing various beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids and related compounds.     

Synthesis and antiulcer activity of optical isomers of 2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)-3-[2(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl]propionic acid (rebamipide).

The enantiomers of 2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)-3-[2(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl] propionic acid [(+/-)-1, rebamipide, OPC-12759], a new antiulcer agent that enhances mucosal resistance, were synthesized from optically active alpha-amino acid derivatives of 2(1H)-quinolinone. The key intermediates, alpha-amino acid derivatives, were prepared by asymmetric synthesis and optical resolution. The (+)-1 was about 1.7 times as potent as the (-)-isomer in antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.     

Enantioselectively catalyzed oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine by N-lauroyl L or D-histidine-Cu(II) complex in CTABr micelles.

In order to investigate the enzyme model reaction the oxidation of 3,4-dihydihydroxy-L-phenylalanine(L-DOPA) was carried out using optically active catalyst, N-lauroyl L or D-histidine-Cu(II) complex(L or D-LauHis-Cu(II)), showing appreciable enantioselectivity in the presence of the mixed micelles with CTABr.     

Photophysical and (photo)electrochemical properties of a coumarin dye

A new coumarin dye, cyano-{5,5-dimethyl-3-[2-(1,1,6,6-tetramethyl-10-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-1H,4H,10H-11-oxa-3a-aza-benzo[de]anthracen-9-yl)vinyl]cyclohex-2-enylidene}-acetic acid (NKX-2753), was prepared and characterized with respect to photophysical and electrochemical properties. It was employed as a dye sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells and showed efficient photon-to-electron conversion properties. The photocurrent action spectrum exhibited a broad feature with a maximum incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 84% at 540 nm, which is comparable to that for the famous red dye RuL2(NCS)2 (known as N3), where L stands for 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid. The sandwich-type solar cell with NKX-2753, under illumination of full sun (AM1.5, 100 mW cm(-2)), produced 16.1 mA cm(-2) of short-circuit photocurrent, 0.60 V of open-circuit photovoltage, and 0.69 of fill factor, corresponding to 6.7% of overall energy conversion efficiency using 0.1 M LiI, 0.05 M I2, 0.1 M guanidinium thiocyanate, and 0.6 M 1,2-dimethyl-3-n-propyl-imidazolium iodide in dry acetonitrile as redox electrolyte. In comparison with its analogue NKX-2586 (Langmuir 2004, 20, 4205), NKX-2753 with an extra side ring on the alkene chain produced much higher IPCE values at the same conditions. The side ring acted as a spacer to efficiently prevent dye aggregation when adsorbed on the TiO2 surface, resulting in significant improvements of short-circuit photocurrent, open-circuit photovoltage, and fill factor compared with NKX-2586 that aggregated on the TiO2 surface.     

2,6-Diphenylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dichalcogenophenes: a new class of high-performance semiconductors for organic field-effect transistors

2,6-Diphenylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dichalcogenophenes including thiophene, selenophene, and tellurophene analogues as organic semiconductors for field-effect transistors were effectively synthesized in three steps from commercially available 1,4-dibromobenzene. All three benzodichalcogenophenes acted as good p-type semiconductors, and particularly the selenophene analogue, 2,6-diphenylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']diselenophene, showed high FET mobility of 0.17 cm2 V-1 s-1.     

Highly regioselective nucleophilic carbon-carbon bond formation on furans and thiophenes initiated by pummerer-type reaction

[reaction: see text] The reactions of (phenylsulfinyl)furans or -thiophenes with carbon nucleophiles in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride allowed the nucleophilic installation of carbon functional groups on the furan and thiophene nuclei with complete regioselectivity.     

Positional Order and Disorder of Symmetric and Unsymmetric BEDT-STF Salts

The symmetric (s-) and unsymmetric (us-) BEDT-STF (=bis(ethylenedithio)diselenadithia-fulvalene) salts were prepared, and their crystal structures and electrical resistivities were investigated. Four us-BEDT-STF salts have the positional disorder of the Se atoms in the STF framework in crystals, whereas three s-BEDT-STF salts have no disorder. When κ-(us-BEDT-STF)₂GaCl₄ and κ-(cis-s-BEDT-STF)₂GaCl₄ are compared, the latter without the positional disorder of the Se atoms is more conductive than the former one with the disorder.     

Polyether-bridged sexithiophene as a complexation-gated molecular wire for intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer

The porphyrin-sexithiophene-fullerene triad 2, where the two central thiophene units of the sexithiophene spacer are bridged with a crown-ether-like polyether chain, undergoes efficient intramolecular electron transfer from the photoexcited porphyrin moiety to the fullerene through the sexithiophene. However, complexation with a sodium cation in the crown ether ring causes complete suppression of electron transfer as a result of a drastic conformational change of the sexithiophene backbone. Furthermore, decomplexation resumes the photoinduced electron transfer. This on/off switching phenomenon indicates that the polyether-bridged sexithiophene can function as a complexation-gated molecular wire.     

Effect of Electrode Pattern on the Column Structure and Yield Stress of Electrorheological Fluids

For electrorheological (ER) suspensions, the aggregate structures of particles were observed in electric fields by the use of transparent cells with different electrode patterns. Although the suspension is dispersed to noninteracting particles without electric fields, many aggregates are formed on the electrode surface in electric fields. Since the dipole–dipole interactions cause chain structures of particles and equilibrium conformations of chains are always aligned with electric field, the aggregates indicate the presence of columns spanning the electrode gap. The particle concentration in columns which are developed between parallel-plate electrodes is about 22 vol %. In striped electrodes, the particles construct striped aggregates along the electrodes and no particles remain in the insulating region. The particle concentration in striped aggregates is about 35 vol %. The nonuniformity of electric field is responsible for the high particle concentration. The increase in particle concentration of column lead to the high yield stress of electrified suspension. Therefore, the ER performance of suspension as an overall response can be improved by the electrode design.