Catalytic asymmetric allylation of aldehydes and related reactions with bis(((S)-binaphthoxy)(isopropoxy)titanium) oxide as a mu-oxo-type chiral Lewis acid

A new, chiral bis-Ti(IV) oxide of type 3 has been designed and can be utilized for strong activation of aldehyde carbonyls, thereby allowing a new catalytic enantioselective allylation of aldehydes with allyltributyltin. The chiral bis-Ti(IV) catalyst (S,S)-3 can be readily prepared either by treatment of bis(triisopropoxy)titanium oxide with (S)-BINOL or by treatment of ((S)-binaphthoxy)isopropoxytitanium chloride with silver(I) oxide. Treatment of hydrocinnamaldehyde with allyltributyltin under the influence of chiral bis-Ti(IV) oxide (S,S)-3 generated in situ (10 mol %) in CH(2)Cl(2) afforded an allylation product in 84 % yield and with 99 % ee. This asymmetric allylation with non-racemic bis-Ti(IV) oxide 3 and partially resolved (S)-BINOL shows a positive nonlinear effect in correlation of the enantiopurity of the allylation product with the ee of the (S)-BINOL. Chiral bis-Ti(IV) oxide (S,S)-3 can also be utilized for related reactions such as asymmetric methallylation and propargylation of aldehydes with high enantioselectivity. This asymmetric approach provides a very useful way of obtaining high reactivity and selectivity through the simple introduction of the M-O-M unit into the design of chiral Lewis acid catalysts.     

A new and facile synthesis of carbamate- and urea-linked glycoconjugate using modified Curtius rearrangement

We describe a facile synthetic method of carbamate- and urea-linked glycoconjugates using sugar carboxylic acids by the modified Curtius rearrangement. This reaction is a simple one-pot procedure, and various nucleophiles including tertiary alcohols can be utilized to afford desired compounds in moderate to high yields. And the stereospecific synthesis of the anomeric isomers is achieved using the corresponding two stereoisomers of glycosyl carboxylic acid.     

Rapid oligosaccharide synthesis on a fluorous support

The novel fluorous support Hfb (hexakisfluorous chain-type butanoyl) was easily prepared. The Hfb group was readily introduced into the anomeric hydroxyl group of a carbohydrate, and was recyclable after cleavage. The use of the Hfb group was applicable for the rapid oligosaccharide synthesis in which the synthetic intermediates could be purified using fluorous and normal organic solvents. Each synthetic intermediate could be monitored by TLC, NMR and mass spectrometry.     

The properties of BCN films formed by ion beam assisted deposition

A study has been made on the formation and the properties of boron carbonnitride (BCN) thin films. The BCN films were produced by ion beam assisted deposition, in which boron and carbon were deposited by electron beam heating and nitrogen was supplied by ion implantation simultaneously. The mechanical properties of BCN films were measured using a ultra micro hardness tester and a friction tester. The atomic ratio and the structure of BCN thin films were estimated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. As preliminary results, it was found that the BCN films are higher in hardness and lower in friction coefficient than diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. The mechanical properties are discussed with the relation of surface composition and structure.     

Single-crystal growth of Tl2Ru2O7 pyrochlore using high-pressure and flux method

Single crystals of the thallium ruthenium pyrochlore have been grown by flux method under high oxygen pressure. The growth conditions were determined by direct observations using in situ powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) method under high pressure and high temperature. The crystals were grown using NaCl-KCl flux at 1350 °C and B₂O₃ flux at 1150 °C. High growth temperature of 1350 °C for the NaCl-KCl flux caused Pt contamination from the crucible and oxygen deficiency for the crystals obtained. The crystal growth using B₂O₃ flux proceeded at lower temperature by grain growth with material transfer through B₂O₃. The crystal obtained was characterized by single-crystal XRD method, and was found to have a stoichiometric composition, Tl₂Ru₂O_7−δ (δ=0), with a structural phase transition around 120 K. The grain growth technique with B₂O₃ is efficient for high-temperature single-crystal growth under high pressure.     

Chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed direct Mannich reactions via electrophilic activation

It was found that the phosphoric acid derivatives of general structure 1 serve as highly effective catalysts for the direct addition of acetyl acetone to N-Boc-protected arylimines. The beneficial effects of the 3,3'-bisaryl substituents of the catalysts on the enantioselectivity are greatly appreciated, and thus 1d functions as an excellent catalyst. The Br?nsted acid-catalyzed direct Mannich reactions presented herein provide an attractive way to construct beta-aminoketones under extremely mild conditions. The stereochemical course of this reaction was established through the synthesis of Boc-(S)-phenylglycine methylester. The transformation thus demonstrated is applicable to a useful method for the synthesis of various phenylglycine derivatives.     

Anodic polymerization of dithienosilole and electroluminescent properties of the resulting polymer

Anodic oxidation of 2,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-4,4-di(p-tolyl)dithienosilole gave a dark orange solid polymer with a small band gap. The spectral analysis of the polymer indicated that decomposition of the dithienosilole ring system had competed the polymerization to an extent. This, however, could be suppressed by optimizing the reaction conditions. Applications of the spin-coated polymer films to electroluminescent materials are described.     

An improved method for acetaldehyde determination in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography and solid-phase extraction

This study reports on an improved method for acetaldehyde (ACH) determination in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the case of HPLC analysis, ACH is generally converted to derivatives for ultraviolet detection (for example 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine [DNPH] derivative). Nevertheless, elevation of the background during protein precipitation, hydrazone synthesis, or both frequently results in a serious loss of accuracy and precision of the analysis. The method in this study is developed to minimize the increase in nonspecific ACH-DNPH with a view to optimize mainly the synthetic condition of ACH-DNPH. The background is decreased dramatically by gentle deproteination, optimization of the DNPH amount and reaction pH, and reversed-phase solid extraction for the elimination of excess DNPH reagent. The standard curves show good linearity between 0 and 100 microM and minimal background is observed, indicating that the method is useful for monitoring the ACH concentration in blood.     

Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance of the lowest excited triplet state of phenazinium cation

Time-resolved and steady-state electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra have been observed for the lowest excited triplet (T(1)) states of phenazine (Phz) and its singly protonated cation (phenazinium) in sulfuric acid-ethanol mixtures at 77K. The single protonation appears to have little effect on the anisotropic sublevel populating rates of the T(1) state of phenazine. However, the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D decreases on the protonation, reflecting the increase of delocalization of the two unpaired electrons. The sublevel preferentially populated by intersystem crossing (ISC) is T(y) in both phenazine and phenazinium (the y-axis is parallel to the in-plane long axis). From the analysis of the observed anisotropy in the ISC rates and the semi empirical molecular orbital calculations of the ZFS parameters, we concluded that the T(1) state of phenazinium is the (3)A(1)(pipi*) state.     

Development of a decarboxylative palladation reaction and its use in a Heck-type olefination of arene carboxylates

The development of a palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction of arene carboxylates with olefinic substrates is described. The optimized procedure for decarboxylative palladation employs Pd(O2CCF3)2 as catalyst (0.2 equiv) in the presence of Ag2CO3 (3 equiv) in the solvent 5% DMSO-DMF and proceeds at temperatures of 80-120 degrees C with a wide range of arene carboxylates and alkenes as substrates. The process is proposed to proceed by an initial Ar-SE reaction involving ipso attack of an electrophilic Pd(II) intermediate on an arene carboxylate to form an arylpalladium(II) species with loss of carbon dioxide. This intermediate is then proposed to react with an olefinic substrate by steps common to the Heck coupling process. Reoxidation of the liberated Pd(0) in situ is proposed to establish the catalytic cycle.