Transformation of indole alkaloids—I : Conversion of oxindole alkaloids into indole alkaloids

Chemical conversion of some natural oxindoles (pteropodine, isopteropodine and isorhynchophylline) into the corresponding indole alkaloids has been made by way of a sequence of reactions which include formation of iminoethers of the natural oxindoles with Meerwein's reagent, reduction of the iminoethers to 2,3-seco-indoles and cyclization of 2,3-seco-indoles to the desired natural indole alkaloids. Sodium borohydride in acetic acid was found to be a specific reagent for the reduction of oxindole-iminoethers to 2,3-seco-indoles which were the key intermediates in these transformations. Yohimbine-oxindole iminoether was similarly converted to yohimbine and pseudoyohimbine. A number of by-products were obtained and their structures were elucidated.     

Selective growth of ag nanowires on Si(111) surfaces by electroless deposition

Electroless deposition of Ag on atomically flat H-terminated Si(111) surfaces in aqueous alkaline solutions containing Ag ions produced two different sizes of Ag nanowires along atomic step edges: (1) a narrow nanowire of 10 nm in width and 0.5 nm in height and (2) a wide nanowire of 35 nm in width and 11 nm in height. The narrow and wide nanowires were formed by immersion in the solutions containing less than 1 ppb and 8 ppm dissolved-oxygen concentrations, respectively. This result indicates that the dissolved oxygen initiates the formation of Ag nucleation sites and that the fabrication method has a possibility of controlling the size of Ag nanowires.     

Design of Supramolecular Cyclodextrin Complex Sensors for Ion and Molecule Recognition in Water

The design and function of novel supramolecular fluoroionophore/cyclodextrin (CyD) complex sensors for ion and molecule recognition in water are reviewed. For the crown ether fluoroionophore/-CyD complex, the dimerization of the fluoroionophore inside the -CyD is found to be selectively promoted by alkali metal ion binding, thereby resulting in metal-ion-selective pyrene dimer emission in water. This supramolecular function is successfully utilized in the design of a podand fluoroionophore/-CyD complex for sensing toxic lead ion in water. The boronic acid fluoroionophore/-CyD complex binds sugars and produces increased fluorescence emission in water. The response mechanism appears to be due to the suppression of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from pyrene donor to trigonal phenylboronic acid acceptor. This is a novel emission function provided by the boronic acid fluoroionophore/-CyD complex sensors in water.     

First linear alignment of five C-Se...O...Se-C atoms in anthraquinone and 9-(methoxy)anthracene bearing phenylselanyl groups at 1,8-positions

Five Ci-Se...O...Se-Ci atoms in anthraquinone and 9-(methoxy)anthracene bearing phenylselanyl groups at 1,8-positions align linearly, the origin of which is shown to be a nonbonded 5c-6e interaction of the five atoms.     

Excited states of phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes containing N wedge C wedge N-coordinating tridentate ligands: spectroscopic investigations and time-dependent density functional theory calculations

The absorption and emission spectra of the Pt(II) complexes containing N wedge C wedge N-coordinating tridentate ligands, platinum(II) 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene chloride [Pt(dpb)Cl] and platinum(II) 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)toluene chloride [Pt(dpt)Cl], together with their corresponding free ligands, 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene (dpbH) and 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)toluene (dptH), have been analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) for the ground state and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) for the excited states. T(1)(A(1)) and S(1)(B(2)) of the complexes (in C(2)(v) symmetry) were assigned on the basis of the calculated excitation energies as well as comparison of the experimental spectroscopic properties and the calculated states' characteristics. The calculated excitation energies for T(1) and S(1) of the complexes as well as those for T(1) of the free ligands were in good agreement with their observed values within 600 cm(-1). The d-pi* characters of the excited states were evaluated from the change in electron densities between the ground and excited states by Mulliken population analysis; values of 25% for T(1) and 32% for S(1) were obtained for both complexes. The calculated values of d-pi* character were found to be consistent with the reported emission lifetimes as well as the observed emission energy shifts from the corresponding free ligands. Most spectroscopic properties of the complexes and the free ligands, which include solvatochromic shift, Stokes shifts, methyl substitution shifts, and emission spectra profiles, were well explained from the calculation results.     

FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME OF ACRIDINE ORANGE IN SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE PREMICELLAR SOLUTIONS

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence spectra, and the fluorescence lifetime of acridine orange (AO) were measured in a wide range of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration below and above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). The fluorescence consisted of two components with different lifetimes; short (<3 ns) and long (>3 ns). The short and long lifetime components are attributed to the AO monomer and dimer associated with detergent, respectively. The lifetime of the dimer increased with increasing the SDS concentration just below the cmc. It decreased suddenly to a constant value just above the cmc. The lifetime of the monomer showed only a slight increase in the concentration range of SDS employed.     

Cationic ring-opening transfer polymerization of spiro ortho esters initiated by carbon black

The ring-opening transfer polymerization of spiro ortho esters (SOE) initiated by carbon black was investigated. In the absence of carbon black, no polymerization occurred at all. In the presence of channel black containing carboxyl group, the ring-opening transfer polymerization of SOE was initiated at 50-70°C. to give polyether ester, namely alternating copolymer of epoxide and lactone. The rate of polymerization of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.4]nonane and 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane was considerably small compared with that of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane. The activation energy of the polymerization of 2-chloromethyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane was estimated to be 6.0 kcal/mol. The initiating activity of carbon black increased with an increase in carboxyl group content of carbon black. Furnace black that contained no carboxyl group was unable to initiate the polymerization. Furthermore, the carbon black lost the initiating ability of the polymerization upon the blocking of carboxyl group on the surface by the treatment with potassium hydroxide or diazomethane. Based on these results, it was concluded that carboxyl group on carbon black plays an important role in the initiation. During the polymerization, a part of the polymer formed was grafted onto carbon black: the grafting ratio was 10–30%. The mechanisms of initiation and grafting were discussed.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.

Time-dependent fluctuations in infrared vsCH2 frequencies in acyl chain membranes of Acholeplasma laidlawii cells

We measured FT-IR spectra of intact Acholeplasma laidlawii cells grown at 37 °C on palmitic acid (C16:0) or on binary palmitic acid-d31/oleic acid (C16:0-d31/C18:1(9)) at an initial mole ratio of 2:3, which have been previously reported to produce significant fluctuations in CH₂ symmetric stretching (ν_sCH₂) and CD₂ asymmetric stretching (ν_aCD₂) frequencies (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1279 (1996) 49). Time courses for acyl chain ν_sCH₂ and ν_aCD₂ frequencies determined from fourth derivative spectra are presented. Fluctuations were detected with the C16:0 enriched cells at temperatures above 40 °C as well as with the cells enriched in 2:3 C16:0-d₃₁/C18:1(9). These observations at temperatures above 40 °C for the C16:0 enriched cells were not in agreement with the conclusion in the previous work by Moore et al. Our results have suggested that the 2850 cm⁻¹ ν_sCH₂ band comprises two components arising from trans and gauche conformations, and that the fluctuations in ν_sCH₂ frequency are caused by random temporal changes in the relative intensities of these two components.     

STUDIES ON HUMAN LENS: I. ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUORESCENT PIGMENTS

Abstract
Fluorescence spectra of normal mature human lenses have been measured and at least eight species with distinct emission characteristics identified. To determine the specific photochemical and photophysical processes responsible for the origin and development of these fluorophores, emission behavior of the products generated by successive irradiation of young human lenses (3–6 y old) as well as of L-tryptophan solution have been systematically monitored. Fluorescent products that resulted from this irradiation were comparable to many of the fluorophores detected in aged lenses, indicating that light plays a major role in the development of these pigments. In addition to photogenerated species, there are other compounds in human lenses, presumably advanced glycosylated end products, with marked fluorescence properties.
Several oxidation products of tryptophan including N -formylkynurenine or its derivatives, β-carboline or its derivatives, and anthranilic acid have been identified in the mature human lens. The development of several photoproducts also was attributed to endogenous ascorbate-mediated Maillard reaction products, which undergo photoconversion by the visible light. Although some of these chromophores could act as photosensitaizers, the sensitizing efficiency of many are low. Conversely, the near-UV filtering capability of these colored compounds conceivably could protect the vitreous and retina from development of any photochemical lesion.