Preparation of Weinreb amides using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT-MM)

Weinreb amides were successfully prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT-MM) in the solvents, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and acetonitrile, which can solubilize DMT-MM. A variety of carboxylic acids were converted to the corresponding Weinreb amides in excellent yields by simply mixing with DMT-MM and N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of small-angle electron scattering by the water molecule

The total (elastic plus inelastic) intensities of 51 keV electrons scattered by water molecules have been measured over a range of 1 ≦ K = (4π/λ) sin(θ/2) ≦ 12 Å^?1. A computer program, ELIC, has been written for calculating the total intensities of electrons scattered by free molecules. The intensities can be calculated with self-consistent field and configuration interaction wavefunctions. The theoretical intensities based on a CI wavefunction are in good agreement with the observed intensities.     

Determination of absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide from acetohexamide, syntheses of (−)- and (+)-hydroxyhexamides and (−)- and (+)-acetoxyhexamides

Enantioselective acetylation of (±)-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 6 with ‘Acylase I’ (No. A 2156) from Aspergillus melleus in the presence of vinyl acetate gave (R)-4-(1-acetoxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 7 (98% ee) and (S)-6 (98% ee). Both (S)-6 and (R)-7 were individually converted to the (S)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee) and (R)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee), respectively. The absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide 2 from acetohexamide 1 was found to be S based on unequivocal chemical methods including X-ray analysis.     

Simple preparation of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners by Mizoroki-Heck type reaction using organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and arylboronic acid congeners gave the corresponding cinnamyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- β-d-glucopyranosides (4a-m) in good yield. Among them, coupling products 4a-m were converted to not only the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-e) but also the unnaturally ones (1f-m).     

Mechanism of silver(I)-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reaction: active species in solution in AgPF6-(S)-BINAP versus AgOAc-(S)-BINAP systems

Silver(I)-diphosphine complex is an effective catalyst for Mukaiyama Aldol reaction in polar solvents. AgPF₆-(S)-BINAP cationic chiral complex indicated a good activity and could afford fairly high enantioselectivity in the reaction of aromatic aldehydes and silyl enol ethers. On the other hand, AgOAc-(S)-BINAP system afforded the aldol product of the absolute configuration opposite to that by AgPF₆-(S)-BINAP and very high catalytic activity was shown. The structure and equilibrium state of Ag(I)-BINAP complexes in solution were examined to understand the reaction mechanism. In AgPF₆ system [Ag((S)-BINAP)₂]PF₆ (1a), [Ag((S)-BINAP)]PF₆ (1b), [Ag₂((S)-BINAP)](PF₆)₂ (1c) and AgPF₆ are present in solution. The active species of the aldol reaction in DMF is [Ag((S)-BINAP)]PF₆ (1b), which exists as a minor species in solution. For this cationic Ag(I) catalyst, cyclic transition state containing substrate and silyl enol ether is assumed. In AgOAc-(S)-BINAP system, active species is also monomeric AgOAc((S)-BINAP) (2b) species which exists as a major component in solution and strong interaction was observed with a silyl enol ether. The reaction by AgOAc-(S)-BINAP catalyst is concluded to proceed as follows: nucleophile forms a complex with AgOAc-(S)-BINAP species and is activated. This complex attacks aldehydes to afford aldol adduct via acyclic transition state.     

A formula for the Euler characteristics of even dimensional triangulated manifolds

An alternative formula for the Euler characteristics of even dimensional triangulated manifolds is deduced from the generalized Dehn-Sommerville equations.

     

Involvement of protein kinase C epsilon in thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated phosphorylation of the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate in rat pituitary clonal cells

We have shown previously that novel protein kinase Cepsilon (nPKCepsilon) plays a key role in the basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion in rat pituitary GH4C1 cells (Akita et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1994, 269, 4653-4660). Here we examined the region downstream of nPKCepsilon activation in order to understand the molecular mechanism by which nPKCepsilon mediates TRH-induced signal transduction. Exposure of GH4C1 cells to TRH causes a stimulation of the phosphorylation of a p80 (Mr approximately 80 000, pI approximately 4.3) and two p19 (p19a and b; Mr approximately 19 000, pI approximately 5.6 and 5.5, respectively). Phorbol ester, a potent activator of protein kinase C (PKC), also enhances these phosphorylations, whereas bisindolylmaleimide I, a specific inhibitor of PKC, clearly inhibits the phosphorylation of p80. p80 and p19 were identified as myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) and stathmin, respectively, as assessed by their two-dimensional gel electrophoretic profiles and their stabilities to heat and acid treatment. In nPKCepsilon-overexpressing stable clones, the phosphorylated level of MARCKS but not stathmin was high in the resting state, and enhanced and sustained upon TRH stimulation, correlating with the increased activation of nPKCepsilon. TRH stimulates the release of MARCKS from the membrane/cytoskeletal fraction to the cytosol fraction. These results, taken together with previous data concerning PRL secretion, suggest that MARCKS, a regulatory component of the cytoskeletal architecture, is the major substrate of nPKCepsilon in vivo, and that its phosphorylation may regulate TRH-stimulated PRL secretion.