Application of Automatic Chromatic Dispersion Compensation for Realization of All-Optical Network

We have studied the algorithm for the automatic chromatic dispersion compensation using bit error rate (BER) and Q-factor optimization for realization of dynamically reconfigurable all-optical network. We have made sure good performance using the compensation system by laboratory experiments.     

Ethylene polymerization by chromium complexes with phosphorous‐bridged bisphenoxy ligand

Chromium catalysts combined with phosphorous‐bridged bisphenoxy ligands were found to be highly active for ethylene polymerization. The most efficient catalyst precursor among them, generated by combining bis[3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐hydroxyphenyl](phenyl)phosphine hydrochloride ( 1a ) and CrCl₃(THF)₃, was characterized. X‐ray analysis of (3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐phenoxy)(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐ 2‐hydroxyphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine bis(tetrahydrofuran)chromium dichloride ( 6 ), obtained by the reaction of 1a and CrCl₃(THF)₃ in the presence of NaH, revealed a unique structure in which one phenol moiety of the bisphenol did not coordinate to the chromium center. Complex 6 showed higher activities than those observed in the in situ catalyst system. Polyethylene of various molecular weights was obtained with differing activators. The highest activity (113.5 kg mmol (cat)^?1 h^?1) was observed when TIBA/TB was used as a cocatalyst. A medium molecular weight polymer with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w = 128,700, M_w/M_n = 1.8) was obtained using a 6 ‐TIBA/B(C₆F₅)₃ system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3668–3676, 2007     

The synthesis and reaction of N-sulfenyl heterocycles: development of effective sulfenylating reagents

Various N-sulfenyl heterocycles were synthesized by transamination of sulfenamides using a chlorine gas-free method. The N-sulfenyl heterocycles behaved as sulfenylating reagents of anilines; N-sulfenylbenzimidazoles were the most effective.     

Synthesis of acryloyl-type polymer fixing 5-fluorouracil residues through D-glucofuranoses and its antitumor activity

Acryloyl-type polymer fixing 1-β-carbonylethyl-5-fluorouracil residues through D -glucofuranoses via ester bonds was synthesized by means of polymerization of the corresponding monomer and polymer reaction. In order to provide the water-soluble objective polymer, the copolymerization of the acryloyl-type monomer with acrylamide was carried out. The extent of release of 5-FU residues from the copolymer was investigated in the enzyme or nonenzyme system in vitro. Furthermore, the antitumor activities of the water-insoluble homopolymer and water-soluble copolymer obtained were tested in vivo.     

Water enables direct use of allyl alcohol for Tsuji-Trost reaction without activators

[reaction: see text] An aqueous biphasic reaction system enables the direct use of allyl alcohol in the Tsuji-Trost reaction without the help of any activating reagents for allyl alcohol. The reaction conditions are neutral to basic, allowing the use of amines as the nucleophile. Theoretical calculations have elucidated the importance of hydration of the hydroxy group for the smooth generation of pi-allylpalladium species.     

Dual activation in a homolytic coupling reaction promoted by an enantioselective dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst

A new concept of dual activation catalysis in homolytic coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives is described. The dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst (R,S,S)-1a promotes the oxidative coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives with high reactivity and enantioselectivity. This dual activation mechanism is supported by the fact that the reaction rate of oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol promoted by the (R,S,S)-1a is 48 times faster than that of the mononuclear complex (S)-3 and a lower catalyst loading of (R,S,S)-1a shows higher catalyst efficiency both in enantioselectivity and chemical yield.     

The synthesis of N-[2-(D-glucos-3-O-yl)propionyl]-l-alanine and N-[(d-glucos-3-O-yl)acetyl]-l-alanine

N-[2-(D-Glucos-3-O-yl)propionyl]-L-alanine ( 7a ) was synthesized, which has a glucose residue instead of N-acetylglucosamine residue in the muramyl peptide. N-[(D-Glucos-3-O-yl)acetyl]-L-alanine ( 7b ) was also synthesized as a glycolyl analog of 7a in order to determine the relationship between the structure of propionyl moiety in the carbohydrate analog ( 7a ) and the adjuvant activity. These simple analogs are compounds prepared for the purpose of introduction into a synthetic polymer with the view of producing polymeric drugs.     

Radical cyclization by ipso substitution of the methoxy group: considerable effect of HMPA on samarium-mediated cyclization

Alkyl radicals generated by treatment of thiocarbamates of conformationally favorable 3-alkyl-3-arylpropan-1-ols with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane and AIBN efficiently undergo intramolecular ipso substitution of the methoxy group, yielding the corresponding cyclized products. In contrast, either conformationally favorable or flexible 1-arylalkan-3- or 4-ones easily cyclize into five- or six-membered condensed rings by treatment with SmI(2) via ketyl radical intermediates. The addition of HMPA as cosolvent dramatically changes the cyclization mode of the SmI(2)-induced reaction, and the para-cyclization products are exclusively formed. This "HMPA effect" can be rationalized by the strong chelating ability of HMPA with the samarium atom.     

Total synthesis of (-)-tuberostemonine

The first total synthesis of the complex pentacyclic Stemona alkaloid tuberostemonine was accomplished in 24 steps and in 1.4% overall yield from a hydroindole intermediate which is readily obtained in three steps from Cbz-l-tyrosine. An innovative synthetic strategy was applied that relays the single stereocenter of the amino acid precursor into nine of the ten stereogenic carbons of the target molecule. Among the highlights of the synthetic methodology are the 3-fold use of ruthenium catalysis, first in an azepine ring-closing metathesis and then in an alkene isomerization followed by a cross-metathesis propenyl-vinyl exchange, as well as the stereoselective attachment of the gamma-butyrolactone moiety to the core tetracycle by use of a lithiated ortho ester.