Presenegenin Glycosides from Securidaca welwitschii

The five new presenegenin glycosides 1 – 5 were isolated from Securidaca welwitschii, together with one known sucrose diester. Compounds 1 – 4 were obtained as pairs of inseparable (E)/(Z)‐isomers of a 3,4‐dimethoxycinnamoyl derivative, i.e., 1 / 2 and 3 / 4 . Their structures were elucidated mainly by 2D‐NMR techniques and mass spectrometry as 3‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)presenegenin 28‐{O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐4‐O‐[(E)‐3,4‐dimethoxycinnamoyl]‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl} ester ( 1 ) and its (Z)‐isomer 2 , 3‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)presenegenin 28‐{O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐3‐O‐acetyl‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐4‐O‐[(E)‐3,4‐dimethoxycinnamoyl]‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl} ester ( 3 ) and its (Z)‐isomer 4 , and 3‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)presenegenin 28‐[O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl] ester ( 5 ) (presenegenin=(2β,3β,4α)‐2,3,27‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐ene‐23,28‐dioic acid).     

Quantum interference of Rashba-type spin-split surface state electrons

We studied the quantum interference of electrons in the Bi (p(x), p(y)) orbital-derived j = 1/2 spin-split surface states at Bi/Ag(111)√3 × √3 surfaces of 10 monolayer thick Ag(111) films on Si(111) substrates. Surface electron standing waves were observed clearly at the energy (E) below the intersection of the two spin-split downward dispersing parabola bands (E(x)). The E dependence of the standing wave pattern reveals the dispersion as the average of the two spin-split surface bands due to the interference between |(k + Δ), ↑> and |-(k - Δ), ↑> [or (|(k - Δ), ↓>) and |-(k + Δ), ↓>] states. In contrast, it was impossible to deduce the dispersion from the standing wave pattern at E ≥ E(x) because the surface electron cannot find its backscattered state with the same spin polarization.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of methylene blue with TiO2 pellets in water

A series of experiments were carried out to study the degradation of methylene blue by the irradiation of ultrasound onto TiO(2) in aqueous solution. A statistically significant decrease in the concentration of methylene blue was observed after 60 min irradiation. While the reduction was 22% of the initial concentration without H(2)O(2), addition of H(2)O(2) significantly enhanced the degradation of methylene blue for the TiO(2) containing system (85% reduction of the initial concentration). The addition of H(2)O(2) had no effect on the methylene blue degradation when the system contained Al(2)O(3). The degradation ratio of methylene blue was dependent on the amount of TiO(2) and also the specific surface area of TiO(2) in the solution. The effects of radical scavenging agents on the degradation of methylene blue were also investigated for the system with TiO(2). It was found that the radical scavenging agents dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and mannitol suppressed the degradation, with DMSO being the most effective. The effect of pH on the degradation of methylene blue was further investigated. An U-shaped change in the concentration of methylene blue in the presence of TiO(2) was observed along with the change in pH values (pH 3-12), and the highest degradation ratio was observed at around pH 7. In conclusion, ultrasound irradiation of TiO(2) in aqueous solution resulted in significant generation of hydroxyl radicals, and this process may have potential for the treatment of organic dyes in wastewater.     

Two New Triterpene Saponins from Acanthophyllum laxiusculum

Two new triterpene glycosides, 1 and 2 , together with three known ones, were isolated from roots of Acanthophyllum laxiusculum Schiman ‐Czeika . The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic experiments and MS analyses as 23‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosylgypsogenic acid 28‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐6‐O‐[4‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐oxobutyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)}‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl ester ( 1 ) and gypsogenic acid 28‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐6‐O‐[4‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐oxobutyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)}‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl ester ( 2 ).     

Four eremophil-9-en-8-one derivatives from Cremanthodium stenactinium samples collected in China

Two samples of Cremanthodium stenactinium (Asteraceae) were collected in Sichuan Province, China. From the ethyl acetate extracts of the roots, three new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids and one new trinoreremophilane compound were isolated, together with other known eremophilanes. Their structures were determined based on the spectroscopic data. This is the first report of isolation of eremophilane-type compounds from the genus Cremanthodium.     

"Click-made" biaryl-linker improving efficiency in protein labelling for the membrane target protein of a bioactive compound

We report on the design, synthesis and assessment of a novel biaryl-linked (BArL) molecular probe for the exploration of low-abundant target proteins for bioactive compounds based on the activity based protein profiling (ABPP) approach. Surprisingly, the performance of the BArL probe was better than that of the stepwise tagging approach that is considered to be the most effective method used in ABPP study.     

Chemical diversity of iridal-type triterpenes in Iris delavayi collected in Yunnan Province of China

From Iris delavayi collected in the northwestern Yunnan Province of China, eight iridal-type triterpenoids were isolated, three of which were new. Both 2(7)Z- and 2(7)E-iridals were isolated in about equal amounts from the sample collected at Laojunshan, while only 2(7)Z-iridals were isolated from samples collected in Shangrila area, indicating the presence of chemical diversity in the species.     

Secondary metabolites from the roots of Paronychia chionaea

Two novel secondary metabolites, compounds (1-2) were isolated from the roots of Paronychia chionaea. On the basis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC), and mass spectroscopy, their structures were established as 6-C-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-( 1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-7-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-luteolin 3'-methyl ether (1), and 2-(methoxy)-2-(3,5-dimethoxy 4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethane-1,2-diol 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2).     

Sound-producing sand in Japan: major element composition and its minerals determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence.

The major element composition, including two kinds of clay minerals and moisture content of sound-producing sand are reported for the first time. Sand from 33 beaches in Japan has been found to make sound. Ten sound-producing beaches were selected to compare with silent beach sand. Both sound-producing sand and silent beach sand are mostly composed of quartz and feldspar. The range of SiO2 content of sound-producing sand is not different from silent sand samples. This indicates that a high quartz content is not necessary to produce sound, although more than 60 weight percent of quartz is necessary. One silent sand recovered its sound after a 3.5 percent HNO3 treatment. Also, a small portion of clay minerals was found. A clean grain surface is a necessary factor for sand to produce sound. Illite was found in all silent sand samples.     

Diversity of Ligularia kanaitzensis in sesquiterpenoid composition and neutral DNA sequences

Twenty-six eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, including six new compounds, were isolated from the title species. One of the new compounds, kanaitzensol, suggested the presence of an enzyme for the conversion of eremophil-7(11)-en-8-one derivative to furanoeremophilanes. The plant was collected at 15 locations in Yunnan Province of China and found to be diverse with respect to its sesquiterpenoid composition. DNA sequencing also revealed a large intraspecific diversity of the plant.