Novel syntheses of 2,3-dihydro-5H-1,4-benzoxathiepins and 1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzothiazepines

2,3-Dihydro-5H-1,4-benzoxathiepins were prepared by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reactions of ethyl α-[2-(aryloxy)ethylthio]-α-chloroacetates or by acid-catalyzed cyclizations of ethyl α-[2-(aryloxy)ethylsulfinyl]-acetate. 1,2,3,5-Tetrahydro-4,1-benzothiazepines were similarly prepared.     

PHOTORECEPTOR CELL TYPES IN THE RETINA OF VARIOUS VERTEBRATE SPECIES: IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY WITH ANTIBODIES AGAINST RHODOPSIN AND IODOPSIN

Types of photoreceptor cells in the retinas of 36 species of vertebrates (5 classes, 14 orders) were investigated immunocytochemically with monoclonal antibodies against chicken iodopsin (Io-mAb) and antiserum against bovine rhodopsin (Rh-As). In mammals, Rh-As labeled the outer segments of some photoreceptor cells in striped squirrels (a diurnal mammal) and those of most photoreceptor cells in mice (a nocturnal mammal), while Io-mAb labeled any photoreceptor cells in either of them. In all species of birds studied, Io-mAb labeled the principal and accessory members of double cones and single cones with a red oil droplet. Rh-As labeled single cones with a yellow or clear oil droplet in addition to rods. In turtles, both Rh-As and Io-mAb labeled single cones with a red or clear oil droplet and the principal (with a yellow oil droplet) and accessory members of double cones. This suggests that the visual pigments in these cones of turtles have common epitopes with bovine rhodopsin and chicken iodopsin. In Japanese grass lizards, single cones with a yellow oil droplet and double cones were immunoreactive to both Rh-As and Io-mAb. In snakes, rods and cones could not be distinguished but both positively and negatively stained cells were observed by the use of each antibody. In geckos, however, all photoreceptor cells were immunonegative to Io-mAb. In all species studied in amphibians, Rh-As labeled rods but not cones. Neither rods nor cones reacted with Io-mAb. In fishes, almost all species studied had well developed cones, and some of these cones were labeled by Rh-As. However, Io-mAb labeled the outer segments of some cones only in loaches. Rh-As labeled photoreceptor cells in all species of fishes studied. Thus, Rh-As recognized the outer segments of rods in all species studied from fishes to mammals, whereas the epitope recognized by Io-mAb is conserved in some species of fishes, most species of reptiles and all species of birds studied.     

Asymmetric lateral inhibitory neural activity in the auditory system: a magnetoencephalographic study

Background  

Decrements of auditory evoked responses elicited by repeatedly presented sounds with similar frequencies have been well investigated by means of electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography (MEG). However the possible inhibitory interactions between different neuronal populations remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effect of proceeding notch-filtered noises (NFNs) with different frequency spectra on a following test tone using MEG.     

Total versus single point blow-up of solutions of a semilinear parabolic equation with localized reaction

In this paper, we study the initial-boundary value problem of a semilinear parabolic equation with localized reaction,

     

Remote asymmetric induction with vinylketene silyl n,o-acetal

A highly regio- and diastereoselective TiCl4-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction using the chiral vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal has been developed. The present vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction provides a unique and effective means of controlling remote asymmetric induction. The methyl group at the alpha-position is important in achieving a high level of stereoselectivity. From a synthetic point of view, this methodology can provide a one-step construction of delta-hydroxy-alpha,gamma-dimethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl unit that is seen in many natural polyketide products.     

Synthesis of 21-nor-22-oxa-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 derivatives in quest of a drug with low calcemic activity

Two 21-nor-22-oxa-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ derivatives have been synthesized in quest of a drug with lower calcemic activity than Maxacalcitol, 22-oxa-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, being used as antihyperparathyroidism and antipsoriatic drug. Of two 21-nor products obtained, the product carrying one carbon elongated side chain with diethylcarbinol moiety has been found to exhibit comparable differentiation-inducing activity to Maxacalcitol with much lower exhibition of calcemic activity.