A Method of Orthogonal Oligosaccharide Synthesis Leading to a Combinatorial Library Based on Stationary Solid‐Phase Reaction

A new, efficient synthesis of oligosaccharides, which involves solid‐phase reactions without mixing in combination with an orthogonal‐glycosylation strategy, is described. Despite a great deal of biological interest, the combinatorial chemistry of oligosaccharides is an extremely difficult subject. The problems include 1) lengthy synthetic protocols required for the synthesis and 2) the variety of glycosylation conditions necessary for individual reactions. These issues were addressed and solved by using the orthogonal‐coupling protocol and the application of a temperature gradient to provide appropriate conditions for individual reactions. Furthermore, we succeeded in carrying out solid‐phase reactions with neither mechanical mixing nor flow. In this report, the synthesis of a series of trisaccharides, namely, α/β‐L ‐Fuc‐(1→6)‐α/β‐D ‐Gal‐(1→2/3/4/6)‐α/β‐D ‐Glc‐octyl, is reported to demonstrate the eligibility of the synthetic method in combinatorial chemistry.     

An efficient synthesis of a new class of spiroheterocycles: diastereoselective synthesis of dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

Isoquinoline reacts with diaroylacetylenes in the presence of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in a one-pot reaction to afford functionalized spiropyrroloisoquinolines in 90-96% yields.     

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactions of a New Kind of Chiral Dienophiles: Cyclic Vinyl-p-tolylsulfilimines

A new kind of chiral dienophiles, cyclic vinyl-p-tolylsulfilimines (2a and 2b), were obtained from the corresponding (Z)-sulfinylacrylonitriles with HBF(4) and methanol. The asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of optically pure 2a with cyclopentadiene under mild thermal or catalyzed conditions afforded only the endo-4a adduct with complete endo and pi-facial selectivities. The ability of the sulfilimine moiety to enhance the dienophilic reactivity of the double bond is similar to that of the sulfinyl group.     

Synthesis,Magnetic Properties,and STM Spectroscopy of Cobalt(II) Cubanes [CoII4(Cl)4(HL)4]

Reaction of cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate with N‐substituted diethanolamines H₂L^2–4 ( 3 ) in the presence of LiH in anhydrous THF leads under anaerobic conditions to the formation of three isostructural tetranuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co^II₄(Cl)₄(HL^2–4)₄] ( 4 ) with a [Co₄(μ₃‐O)₄]⁴⁺ cubane core. According to X‐ray structural analyses, the complexes 4 a , c crystallize in the tetragonal space group I4₁/a, whereas for complex 4 b the tetragonal space group P$\bar 4$ was found. In the solid state the orientation of the cubane cores and the formation of a 3D framework were controlled by the ligand substituents of the cobalt(II) cubanes 4 . This also allowed detailed magnetic investigations on single crystals. The analysis of the SQUID magnetic susceptibility data for 4 a gave intramolecular ferromagnetic couplings of the cobalt(II) ions (J₁≈20.4 K, J₂≈7.6 K), resulting in an S=6 ground‐state multiplet. The anisotropy was found to be of the easy‐axis type (D=?1.55 K) with a resulting anisotropy barrier of Δ≈55.8 K. Two‐dimensional electron‐gas (2DEG) Hall magnetization measurements revealed that complex 4 a is a single‐molecule magnet and shows hysteretic magnetization characteristics with typical temperature and sweep‐rate dependencies below a blocking temperature of about 4.4 K. The hysteresis loops collapse at zero field owing to fast quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM). The structural and electronic properties of cobalt(II) cubane 4 a , deposited on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface, were investigated by means of STM and current imaging tunneling spectroscopy (CITS) at RT and standard atmospheric pressure. In CITS measurements the rather large contrast found at the expected locations of the metal centers of the molecules indicated the presence of a strongly localized LUMO.     

Efficient Synthesis of Trialkyl (E)‐3‐{3‐Oxo‐2‐3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(1H)‐quinoxalinylidene}‐prop‐1‐ene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylates

The reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates with alkyl 2‐[3‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydro‐2(1H)‐quinoxadinylidene]ethanoates in the presence of triphenylphosphine leads to trialkyl (E)‐3‐{3‐oxo‐2‐3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(1H)‐quinoxalinylidene}‐prop‐1‐ene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylates in good yields.     

Causal loop diagrams as a de-escalation technique

Escalation of commitment, the tendency of decision makers to keep on investing in losing courses of action, has been shown to be a costly decision bias that affects many areas of decision making. Even though escalation is a widely studied phenomenon, there has been comparatively little research on how to avoid this bias. The present study focuses on de-escalation of commitment and proposes that causal loop diagrams (CLDs) can help to decrease escalating commitment to a failing course of action. By means of an experiment, this study shows that using a CLD decreases escalation tendencies.     

ISO 17025 quality system in a university environment

The experience of working under an ISO 17025 compliant quality system in a university environment is described in the example of the Testing Centre of University of Tartu. University-specific features of the quality system include that the Testing Centre acts as the “quality system server” for other units of the university and graduate students participate in the work carried out under the quality system. The benefits for the university and the graduate students are discussed. It is concluded that implementation of an ISO 17025 compatible quality system in a university is fully accomplishable and gives significant added value to the university by helping to destroy the ivory tower perception about universities and by introducing real-world flavour into the studies and broaden the minds (quality awareness) of the students.