Accelerated electrocyclic ring-opening of benzocyclobutenes under the influence of a beta-silicon atom

A significant acceleration effect of a beta-silicon atom was observed on the electrocyclic ring-opening reaction of benzocyclobutene derivatives to form o-quinodimethanes. This acceleration effect could be attributed to an electronic sigma-donating nature of the C(alpha)-Si(beta) bond, associated with alpha-anion driven pericyclic reactions.     

Efficient approach to 1,2-diazepines via formal diazomethylene insertion into the C-C bond of cyclobutenones

Efficient monocyclic 1,2-diazepine formation via a tandem electrocyclization reaction of cyclobutenones with lithiodiazoacetate is demonstrated. The reaction proceeds through an oxy anion-accelerated 4π-ring opening of cyclobutene followed by an 8π-ring closure of the resultant oxy anion-substituted diazo-diene under mild conditions to furnish a 1,2-diazepine via formal diazomethylene insertion into the C-C bond of cyclobutenone.     

Direct and selective benzylic oxidation of alkylarenes via C-H abstraction using alkali metal bromides

A direct benzylic oxidation of alkylarenes via C-H bond abstraction was developed using alkali metal bromides and oxidants under mild conditions. This reaction proceeded with excellent selectivity by thermal oxidation or photooxidation to provide a broad range of carbonyl compounds containing electron-deficient aryl carbonyl compounds in high yields.     

La2Sb, a layered superconductor with metal-metal bonds

We found that La(2)Sb with a layered structure composed of alternate stacking of La square nets and LaSb layers exhibits bulk superconductivity with a critical temperature of 5.3 K. This suggests that the presence of the square net with strong La-La metal bonding is essential for the emergence of superconductivity.     

Aplyronines D–H from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai: isolation,structures, and cytotoxicity

Five cytotoxic macrolides, aplyronines D–H (4–8), were isolated from the Japanese sea hare Aplysia kurodai. They are new congeners of the antitumor compound aplyronine A (1), which was previously isolated from the same organism. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS). The cytotoxicity of these new compounds was evaluated in comparison with that of aplyronines A–C (1–3), suggesting the importance of the 7-O-seryl ester group for mediating the potent cytotoxicity of aplyronines.     

Studies on palytoxins

The complete structure of palytoxin (1) was elucidated by us in 1982.¹ Our continuous interests in palytoxin led us to examine minor constituents of Okinawan Palythoa tuberculosa. In this paper, we describe successful isolation and structural elucidation of four minor toxins, which were named homopalytoxin (2), bishomopalytoxin (3), neopalytoxin (4) and deoxypalytoxin (5).     

A synthetic approach to (+)-aldosterone and its relatives (2)- a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-trans-4,5-(4-methoxybenzo)- 1β , 7aβ - ( 2α-methoxymethyl- 5 -oxofuro) hydrindane

A stereoselectivity in an intramolecular cycloaddition of the olefinic $\text{o}$-quinodimethanes 13 and 23 generated $\text{in}$$\text{situ}$ from the thermolysis of optically active 4β-[2-(4-methoxybenzocyclobutenyl)ethyl] -5α-methoxymethyl-3-phenyl-thio-methylenefuran-2-ones 12 and 22, respectively, is studied and a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-$\text{trans}$-4,5-( 4-methoxybenzo) -1β,7aβ-(2α-methoxymethyl-5-oxofuro)hydrindane 1 is also described.     

Reaction of alkynyltrimethylsilanes with a hypervalent organoiodine compound: A new general synthesis of alkynyliodonium salts

New general methods for the synthesis of alkynyl(phenyl)iodonium tetrafluoroborate 2 from alkynyltrimethylsilanes 1 utilizing the combination of iodosylbenzene and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or boron trifluoride etherate were developed. The medium effect observed in the reaction was also discussed.     

Synthetic studies on carbapenem antibiotics from penicillins. IV. Stereoselective kinetic protonation of a chiral azetidinone enolate

A stereoselective kinetic protonation of the azetidinone enolate $\text{B}$ was studied and an efficient synthesis of$\text{2}$(cis) was achieved via aldol reaction of $\text{5}$ with acetone followed by the kinetic protonation with Ph₃SnH as proton source.     

Cyclic carbonates,novel expandable monomers on polymerization

A variety of cyclic carbonates was shown to undergo volume expansion on polymerization. The degree of volume expansion, which was measured by the density gradient tube method, was ranging from 1.1% to 7.7%. The volume expansion was examined by assuming a change in molecular interaction such as dipole moment between monomer and polymer states.