Synthesis,structure, and magnetic properties of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes with a new phenol-based dinucleating ligand with four hydroxyethyl chelating arms

A new end-off type acyclic ligand with four hydroxyethyl arms, 2,6-bis[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol [H(bhmp)], formed dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co(2)(bhmp)(OAc)(2)]BPh(4) (1) and [Co(2)(bhmp)(OBz)(2)]BPh(4) (2). The complex 1.2.5CH(3)CN (C(50)H(62.5)BCo(2)N(4.5)O(9)) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with dimensions a = 25.424(5) A, b = 13.376(2) A, c = 29.913(6) A, beta = 105.930(3) degrees, and V = 9781(3) A(3) and with Z = 8. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a mu-phenoxo-bis(mu-acetato)dicobalt(II) core structure containing two octahedral cobalt(II) ions. Electronic spectra were investigated for 1 and 2 in the range 400-1800 nm, and the data were typical for the octahedral high-spin cobalt(II) complexes. Magnetic susceptibility was measured for 1 and 2 over the temperature range 4.5-300 K, and the data were analyzed well using our theoretical method. The best fitting parameters were kappa = 0.77, lambda = -116 cm(-1), Delta = 572 cm(-1), and J = -0.44 cm(-1) for complex 1 and kappa = 0.96, lambda = -93 cm(-1), Delta = 616 cm(-1), and J = -0.33 cm(-1) for complex 2.     

Artificial model for cystathionine β-synthase: efficient β-replacement reaction with thiols employing a novel pyridoxal model compound having an imidazole function

As a second-generation pyridoxal model compound for cystathionine β-synthase, we designed a novel model compound having an ionophore function and an imidazole function, application of which to the β-replacement reaction with various thiols smoothly took place to give S-substituted cysteines. Peptides having a serine-O-carbonate residue at the N-terminal position were also converted to the corresponding peptides having an S-substituted cysteine residue under the catalytic conditions of the novel pyridoxal model compound.     

A novel synthesis of 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐b]pyrroles via ring transformation of cyclic sulfonium ylides by titanium(IV) chloride‐triethylamine system

A series of cyclic sulfonium ylides 4a‐h reacted with titanium( IV ) chloride in the presence of triethyl‐amine to give the corresponding fused 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐b]pyrroles 5a‐h , via a ring opening and recyclization. In contrast, treatment of compounds 4a, 4b, 4e and 4f with titanium(IV) chloride, triethy‐lamine and dimethylamine hydrochloride gave the corresponding thiophenes 6a, 6b, 6e and 6f . Furthermore, compounds 6a and 6b easily underwent cyclization with sodium hydride to afford the corresponding 5a and 5b .     

Dehalogenation of o-dihalogen substituted arenes and α,α′-dihalogen substituted o-xylenes with lanthanum metal

It was found that lanthanum metal caused the dehalogenation of o-dihalogen substituted arenes and α,α′-dihalogen substituted o-xylenes to generate the corresponding benzynes and o-quinodimethanes. When o-dihalogen substituted arenes were allowed to react with lanthanum metal in the presence of dienes, the Diels-Alder products between benzyne and dienes were formed in moderate to good yields. Similarly, the Diels-Alder adducts of o-quinodimethane with dienophiles were obtained, in the reaction of α,α′-dibromo-o-xylenes with lanthanum metal in the presence of dienophiles.     

Hydrogen-bonded networks in organic conductors: crystal structures and electronic properties of charge-transfer salts of tetracyanoquinodimethane with 4,4'-biimidazolium having multiprotonated States

[structure: see text] Novel hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer salts of TCNQ with mono- and diprotonated 4,4'-biimidazolium were synthesized in order to demonstrate the high potential of the 4,4'-biimidazole system in a molecular conductor from the viewpoint of crystal engineering and electronic modulation. Crystal structure analyses of neutral 4,4'-biimidazole and TCNQ salts revealed the formation of two types of hydrogen-bonding modes of the 4,4'-biimidazole moiety depending on the protonated states. Neutral 4,4'-biimidazole possessed a linear chain mode of hydrogen-bonding to construct two-dimensional network. In the TCNQ salt of monoprotonated 4,4'-biimidazolium, the 4,4'-biimidazole moiety formed a dimer by a complementary mode of hydrogen-bonding. In contrast, the salt of diprotonated 4,4'-biimidazolium showed a double linear chain mode of hydrogen-bonding to construct a three-dimensional network. The formation of two types of hydrogen-bonding modes made the difference in the stacking patterns of TCNQ columns and in their transport properties. The TCNQ salt of diprotonated 4,4'-biimidazolium exhibited high electrical conductivity (sigma(rt) = 1.1 x 10(-1) S cm(-1)).     

Development of direct fluorination technology for application to materials for lithium battery

Direct fluorination of 1,3-dioxolan-2-one with elemental fluorine was successfully carried out to provide 4-fluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one, which was expected as an additive for lithium ion secondary battery. 4-Fluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one was also further fluorinated with elemental fluorine to give three isomers of difluoro derivatives by the same methodology. Another topic is the preparation of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride, an intermediate of lithium battery electrolyte, by the reaction of methanesulfonyl fluoride with elemental fluorine. The use of perfluoro-2-methylpentane as a solvent gave satisfactory selectivity of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride.     

Fluorimetric assay for measuring Dns-His-Lys-Arg-His-Lys cleaving enzyme using high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and sensitive assay for the determination of Dns-His-Lys-Arg-His-Lys cleaving enzyme activity is reported. This assay is based on fluorimetric detection of a dansylated dipeptide, 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl-His-Lys, enzymatically formed from the substrate 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl-His-Lys-Arg-His-d-Lys, after separation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C-18 reversed-phase column by isocratic elution. This assay is sensitive enough to measure 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl-His-Lys at concentrations as low as 7 pmol, and yields highly reproducible results and requires less than 9.0 min per sample for separation and quantitation. The optimum pH for Dns-His-Lys-Arg-His-Lys cleaving enzyme activity was 7.5-8.0. The Michaelis constant (K_m) and the maximum velocity (V_max) values were 33.3 μM and 47.07 pmol/(μg h), respectively with the use of enzyme extract obtained from bovine pituitary. By using this assay, axonal transport of this enzyme activity was observed 48 h after double ligations of rat sciatic nerves. The high sensitivity and selectivity of this assay would be useful for clarification of the physiological role of this enzyme.     

The first example of the stereoselective synthesis of 7 beta-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinan via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone

7beta-Carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 5 were stereoselectively synthesized from the 7alpha-carboxylate intermediate 3 in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and amines under reflux conditions in mesitylene via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone 7. These were the first examples of the stereoselective syntheses of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans. The mechanism of the reaction process was elucidated as follows: 1) epimerization of 7alpha-carboxylate 3, 2) intramolecular lactonization of 7beta-carboxylate 6, and 3) aminolysis of the resultant gamma-lactone 7. The aminolysis of the isolated reactive gamma-lactone 7 with allylamine and the alcoholysis with MeOH in the presence of NaBH(4) proceeded at room temperature. The gamma-lactone 7 can be a useful intermediate for the preparation of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans that would be potent selective delta opioid receptor ligands. The stereoselective syntheses of the 7alpha-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 9 from 7alpha-carboxylate 3 via 7alpha-carboxylic acid were also successful.     

Rapid fermentation of beer using an immobilized yeast multistage bioreactor

The characteristics of yeast sulfite metabolism in a multistage bioreactor system for beer fermentation were investigated. No sulfite was produced in the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). However, large amounts were produced in the packed-bed reactor (PBR). Production of sulfite in the PBR seems to be inevitable when it is operated continuously. In order to control the sulfite level in the young beer, the yeast needs to be reactivated into the growth phase. One possible strategy to achieve this is to aerate and periodically remove yeast clogged in the reactor once every 6–7 months before the sulfite level exceeds a given concentration (e.g., 20 mg/L). It was confirmed that sulfite production is closely related to the growth condition of the yeast and is therefore important to consider in the control strategy for sulfite when using the immobilized yeast reactor for beer production.