A convenient synthesis of (z)-3-(α-alkoxycarbonyl-α-cyanomethylene)-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalines and related compounds

(Z)-3-(α-Alkoxycarbonyl-α-cyanomethylene)-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalines 3 and (Z)-3-(α-alkoxycarbonyl-α-cyanomethylene)-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones 5 possessing various alkoxycarbonyl groups were prepared in good yields directly from the reaction of dialkyl (E)-2,3-dicyanobutendioates 1 with o-phenylenediamine ( 2 ) or with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene ( 4 ), respectively. Furthermore, 2,3-diaminopyridine ( 6 ) and 3,4-diaminopyridine ( 7 ) were reacted with the diethyl ester 1b to give (Z)-2-(α-cyano-α-ethoxycarbonylmethylene)-1,2-dihydro-4H-pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-3-one ( 8 ) and (Z)-3-(α-cyano-α-ethoxycarbonylmethylene)-3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-2-one ( 9 ), respectively. The structural studies of 3, 5, 8 , and 9 were carried out by nmr experiments in some details.     

Simultaneous determination of traces of impurities in high-purity molybdenum and molybdenum trioxide by coprecipitation and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

Summary Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) has been developed for a simultaneous determination of traces of non-hydride-forming elements in high-purity Mo and molybdenum trioxide. Coprecipitation of diverse elements with lanthanum hydroxide is used to separate them from the Mo matrix and for concentration. Effects of pH and amount of La on the recoveries of diverse elements are discussed. Ten elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, Zn, and Zr) are quantitatively recovered and determined. Matrix-matched calibration solutions are used for the determination.     

Interaction between vitamin D receptor and vitamin D ligands: two-dimensional alanine scanning mutational analysis

We present a new method to investigate the details of interaction between vitamin D nuclear receptor (VDR) and various ligands, namely a two-dimensional alanine scanning mutational analysis. In this method, the transactivation of various ligands is studied in conjunction with a series of alanine scanning mutations of the residues lining the ligand binding pocket (LBP) of VDR, and the complete set of results is profiled in a patch table. We investigated examples from four structurally diverse groups of known VDR ligands: the native vitamin D hormone and two compounds with the same side chain configuration; four 20-epi compounds; three 19-nor compounds; and two nonsecosteroids. The patch table of the results indicates characteristics of each group in terms of its interaction with 18 LBP residues. We demonstrate the validity of this approach by application to docking studies of the two nonsecosteroids.     

The orbital relaxation energy for single and double ionizations from valence shells of CH4, NH3, H2O and HF

The orbital relaxation energy is defined for single and double ionizations of valence electrons, and is calculated for CH₄, NH₃, H₂O and HF molecules with the ab initio SCF method. It is shown that the orbital relaxation energy for the ionization from a bonding orbital is about half of that for a non-bonding orbital, and the orbital relaxation energy for the double ionization is about double of that for the single ionization. This result gives a theoretical foundation for the empirical method of interpret Auger electron spectra by using experimental single ionization potentials.     

Head-to-head polymers. XV. A facile synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted succinates and butanediols-1,4

A synthetic approach that makes symmetrically 2,3-dialkyl-substituted succinates and compounds prepared from 2,3-dialkyl-substituted succinates easily available has been developed. Coupling of α-bromoalkanoic esters with a zinc/copper couple produced in about 40% yield 2,3-disubstituted succinates which were reduced with LiAlH₄ to 2,3-disubstituted butanediols-1,4 in nearly quantitative yields. Some 2,3-disubstituted butanediols-1,4 were cyclodehydrated under reduced pressure with KHSO₄ to 3,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans or acetylated and the diacetyl compounds pyrolyzed at 525°C to 2,3 disubstituted butadienes-1,3. The length of the alkyl chains of the 2,3-dialkylsuccinates and consequently the 2,3-dialkylbutanediols-1,4 ranged from C₂ to C₁₆. 2,3-Disubstituted butanediols-1,4, 2,3-disubstituted butadienes-1,3, and 3,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans are interesting monomers for polymerization experiments.     

Functions of key residues in the ligand-binding pocket of vitamin D receptor: Fragment molecular orbital–interfragment interaction energy analysis

Fragment molecular orbital–interfragment interaction energy calculations of the vitamin D receptor (VDR)/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ complex were utilized to assign functions of key residues of the VDR. Only one residue forms a significant interaction with the corresponding hydroxy group of the ligand, although two residues are located around each hydroxy group. The degradation of binding affinity for derivatives upon removal of a hydroxy group is closely related to the trend in the strength of the hydrogen bonds. Type II hereditary rickets due to an Arg274 point mutation is caused by the lack of the strongest hydrogen bond.     

Total synthesis of spicamycin amino nucleoside

[formula: see text] The first total synthesis of spicamycin amino nucleoside 2 has been achieved. The aminoheptose unit 5 was prepared stereoselectively from myo-inositol, and the characteristic N-glycoside linkage was constructed by way of Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction of 5 with 6-chloropurine derivative 6.     

Highly enantioselective reduction of alkynyl ketones by a binaphthol-modified aluminum hydride reagent. Asymmetric synthesis of some insect pheromones

Alkynyl ketones can be reduced to chiral propargylic alcohols by a complex aluminum hydride modified by chiral 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl. The synthetic utility has been demonstrated by the synthesis of the Japanese beetle and rove beetle pheromones.     

Uneven Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactors for Diesel Particulate Matter Removal

Uneven dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors driven by positive–negative pulse plasma discharges were investigated for particulate matter (PM) removal from a diesel engine. Two kinds of uneven alumina plates and three kinds of uneven stainless steel plates were used to assemble six kinds of uneven DBD reactors of discharge gaps 0.4–1.0 mm. The experimental results show that PM from diesel engines can be removed using the uneven DBD reactors. The maximum PM removal was 67% at 300 W energy injections using the DBD reactor of 0.4 mm gap distance. PM removal increased with decreasing gap distance. The energy efficiency using the uneven DBD reactor of a shorter gap distance was higher than that using the uneven DBD reactor of a longer gap distance as the uneven DBD reactor of a shorter gap distance has a higher PM deposition rate. The energy efficiency was typically in a range of 3–10.6 g/kWh at an energy density of 2–16 J/L. A comparison of this study with reports given by other research groups is given.