Synthesis of alkylated indolizidine alkaloids via Pummerer mediated cyclization: synthesis of (±)-indolizidine 167B, (±)-5-butylindolizidine and (±)-monomorine I

The syntheses of indolizidine alkaloids, i.e., (±)-coniceine, (±)-indolizidine 167B, (±)-5-butylindolizidine and (±)-monomorine I via Pummerer cyclization are described. The key step is the transformation of lactam sulfoxide to bicyclic lactam via the Pummerer cyclization.     

Indium-mediated asymmetric Barbier-type allylation of aldimines in alcoholic solvents: synthesis of optically active homoallylic amines

[reaction: see text] Chiral aldimines derived from phenylglycinol were diastereoselectively allylated with indium powder/allyl bromide in alcoholic solvents. Both aliphatic and aromatic aldimines provided good yield of the desired products with high diastereoselectivity. A racemization-free protocol for removal of the phenylglycinol auxiliary was also developed. The stereochemical assignment of the homoallylic amine was made by NMR spectroscopy and a transition state model was proposed to explain the selectivity.     

Difluorophenylsulfanylmethyl radical and difluoromethylene diradical synthons: gem-difluoromethylene building block

Bromodifluorophenylsulfanylmethane has been demonstrated to be a highly versatile gem-difluoromethylene (CF2) building block via the reaction of difluorophenylsulfanylmethyl radical with olefins. gem-Difluoroalkenes and products containing a midchain CF2 group and with manipulatable functionality can be readily synthesized. The first example of a gem-difluoromethylene radical synthon is also reported.     

Preparation and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of N-Maleoyl Chitosan Films

N-Maleoyl chitosan (N-MC), a water-soluble derivative of chitosan, was synthesized by N-carboxyacylation of chitosan and maleic anhydride. N-MC films were prepared by solvent casting and kept in a desiccator for different time intervals in order to obtain N-MC films with different degrees of cross-linking. The swelling characteristic of N-MC films was investigated. When the ageing time increased from 5 to 30 d, the swelling of the N-MC films decreased from ∼475 to ∼160% and the weight loss decreased from ∼25 to ∼8%, corresponding to the increase in the cross-linking density from 0.86 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.97 × 10⁻⁶ mol · cm⁻³. Additionally, the swelling behavior of the N-MC films was influenced by changes in either the pH or the ionic strength of the media.     

Antispasmodic Effect of Asperidine B,a Pyrrolidine Derivative,through Inhibition of L-Type Ca2+ Channel in Rat Ileal Smooth Muscle

Antispasmodic agents are used for modulating gastrointestinal motility. Several compounds isolated from terrestrial plants have antispasmodic properties. This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of the pyrrolidine derivative, asperidine B, isolated from the soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sclerotiorum PSU-RSPG178, on spasmodic activity. Isolated rat ileum was set up in an organ bath. The contractile responses of asperidine B (0.3 to 30 µM) on potassium chloride and acetylcholine-induced contractions were recorded. To investigate its antispasmodic mechanism, CaCl₂, acetylcholine, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), nifedipine, methylene blue and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) were tested in the absence or in the presence of asperidine B. Cumulative concentrations of asperidine B reduced the ileal contraction by ~37%. The calcium chloride and acetylcholine-induced ileal contraction was suppressed by asperidine B. The effects of asperidine B combined with nifedipine, atropine or TEA were similar to those treated with nifedipine, atropine or TEA, respectively. In contrast, in the presence of l-NAME and methylene blue, the antispasmodic effect of asperidine B was unaltered. These results suggest that the antispasmodic property of asperidine B is probably due to the blockage of the L-type Ca²⁺ channel and is associated with K⁺ channels and muscarinic receptor, possibly by affecting non-selective cation channels and/or releasing intracellular calcium.     

Comparison of properties of titanium aluminium nitride film produced by using two different types of Ti–Al target

This work aims to study the influence of two different types of Ti–Al target (sintered and melted) which have same nominal composition (50 at% Ti, 50 at% Al) on the properties of thin films coated by using arc ion plating (AIP) method. The hardness of the melted target was of higher value than that of the sintered target. The property of the film is related to the microstructure and phase analysis of both types of target that have quite different phases. Ti and Al metals were found as major phases and TiAl₂ as minor phase in the sintered target but only TiAl compound was found in the melted target. After film coating at the same operation parameters, it was found that although the phase structures of the sintered and melted targets were quite different, the coated thin films using these targets showed the same phase structure of Ti_0.5 Al_0.5 N. However, the microstructure of films coated by using the sintered target showed higher density of droplets and pores than those of film produced by using the melted target. As a result, the hardness and adhesion strength of thin film produced by using the melted target were slightly higher than those values of film produced by using the sintered target. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of Al(III) and Ga(III) complexes with morin by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The Al(III) and Ga(III) complexes formed by morin (M) in aqueous solution were investigated by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In the full scan mass spectra, Al:M showed 1:2 and 2:3 stoichiometric ratios. When (S)-N-acetylserine methyl ester (Ser), as a partial mimic of the serine residue in silk, was added to Al:M and Ga:M complexes in aqueous solution, the mass spectra of Ser:Al:M showed 1:1:1 and 1:1:2 stoichiometric ratios. The patterns of the mass spectra of Ga:M and Ser:Ga:M complexes were similar to those for the corresponding Al(III) complexes. Calculated heats of formation of potential structures of the complexes, with and without bound water, were obtained using semiempirical PM3 calculations.     

IBX/n-Bu4NBr/CH2Cl2-H2O: a new mild system for selective oxidation of secondary alcohols

A new alternative system for the chemoselective oxidation of secondary hydroxyl group to ketone with IBX/n-Bu₄NBr in CH₂Cl₂-H₂O has been developed. Under the reaction conditions, the secondary hydroxyl group was highly chemoselectively oxidized to the corresponding ketone, in moderate to good yields at rt, in the presence of primary hydroxyl group within the same molecule.     

K2S2O8-Mediated halogenation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using sodium halides as the halogen sources

A convenient halogenation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using sodium chloride/bromide/iodide as the halogen sources in the presence of K₂S₂O₈ as an easy-to-handle oxidizing agent was developed. The present work offers an efficient and rapid access to 3-chloro-, 3-bromo- and 3-iodo-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines which can be readily converted to C3-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by cross-coupling reactions.