Production of slow protonium in vacuum

We descrbe how protonium, the quasi-stable antiproton-proton bound system, has been synthesized following the interaction of antiprotons with the molecular ion in a nested Penning trap environment. From a careful analysis of the spatial distributions of antiproton annihilation events in the ATHENA experiment, evidence is presented for protonium production with sub-eV kinetic energies in states around n = 70, with low angular momenta. This work provides a new two-body system for studies using laser spectroscopic techniques.      

One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐Substituted 3,4‐Dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins via Carboxylation of α‐Substituted 2‐Lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes with Carbon Dioxide

A new type of isocoumarins (=1H‐isochromen‐1‐ones=1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ones), 4‐substituted 3,4‐dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins 2 , can be obtained by a one‐pot process from α‐substituted 2‐bromo‐β‐methoxystyrenes 1 . Thus, lithium 2‐(1‐aryl(or methyl)‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzoates are conveniently generated via the Br/Li exchange between 1 and BuLi, followed by the action of CO₂ on the resulting α‐substituted 2‐lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes. Upon treating with concentrated HCl at room temperature, these lithium benzoates undergo lactonization to provide the desired 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarins 2 in relatively good yields.     

Dynamics of antiproton cooling in a positron plasma during antihydrogen formation

We demonstrate cooling of 10⁴ antiprotons in a dense, cold plasma of 10⁸ positrons, confined in a nested cylindrical Penning trap at about 15 K. The time evolution of the cooling process has been studied in detail, and several distinct types of behavior identified. We propose explanations for these observations and discuss the consequences for antihydrogen production. We contrast these results with observations of interactions between antiprotons and “hot” positrons at about 3000 K, where antihydrogen production is strongly suppressed.     

Concurrent induction of two chiral centers from symmetrical 3, 4-disubstituted and 3,3,4-trisubstituted 4-pentenals using Rh-catalyzed asymmetric cyclizations

Asymmetric cyclization of symmetrical 3,4-disubstituted and 3,3, 4-trisubstituted 4-pentenals was studied using Rh-complexes with chiral ligands. The cyclization of symmetrical 4-pentenals 4a,b by a neutral Rh[(R)-BINAP]Cl afforded cis-3,4-disubstituted (4R)-cyclopentanones 9a,b of >95% ee in 25-31% yields; on the other hand, the cyclization of 4a-c by a cationic Rh[(R)-BINAP]ClO(4) afforded trans-3,4-disubstituted (4S)-cyclopentanones 10a-c of >95% ee in 70-81% yields. All stereoisomers could be stereoselectively made by the selection of a neutral or cationic Rh-complex, and (R)- or (S)-BINAP ligand. The Rh-catalyzed cyclization could be applied to the construction of cyclopentanones 17 and 18 bearing a chiral quaternary carbon. The cyclization by the cationic Rh[(R)-BINAP]ClO(4) afforded the optically active trans-3,3, 4-trisubstituted cyclopentanones 18a-c of 92-95% ee in 75-83% yields. The catalytic cycle was also studied by using deuterium aldehyde, and the tentative mechanisms of the enantio- and diastereoselection were proposed.     

Anticoagulant action of vanadate.

Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) prolonged the clotting time of normal human plasma in a dose-dependent manner. The prolongation of clotting time by vanadate linearly decreased with an increase in the concentration of amiloride. Vanadate also was completely additive to prolongation by heparin. When factor Xa or thrombin was incubated with vanadate, the amidolytic activity of each decreased in a dose-dependent manner with vanadate. Amiloride protected the decrease of amidolytic activity of both factor Xa and thrombin by vanadate. The amidolytic activity of trypsin also was inhibited by vanadate, but that of alpha-chymotrypsin was not inhibited, suggesting that vanadate preferentially inhibits the amidolytic activity of trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes. These results show that vanadate prolongs the clotting time of plasma through mechanisms involving in part the inhibition of the activity of both factor Xa and thrombin.     

Powerful Claisen condensation and Claisen-aldol tandem reaction of alpha,alpha-dialkylated esters promoted by ZrCl4-iPr2NEt

Powerful Claisen ester condensations of alpha,alpha-dialkylated esters mediated by ZrCl4-iPr2NEt were performed to give the corresponding thermodynamically unfavorable alpha,alpha-dialkylated beta-ketoesters, and Claisen-aldol tandem reactions between an intermediary Zr-enolate of a alpha,alpha-dialkylated beta-ketoester and aldehydes also proceeded.