Synthesis and application of head-to-head-type styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups

Head-to-head-type styrene and substituted styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups have been efficiently synthesized by a simple reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodide with styrene under radical conditions as a mixture of meso and racemic forms. The meso form obtained from the mixture by recrystallization gave a crystal suitable for X-ray diffraction study and the crystal structure was found to be based on π-stacking of benzene rings and aggregation of fluoroalkyl chains. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed that meso-styrene dimers bearing two fluoroalkyl end-groups can form the nanometer size-controlled self-assemblies through the intermolecular π-stacking of benzene rings and aggregation of end-capped fluoroalkyl groups in methanol.

Syntheses of Methyl 2,3-di-O-Glycyl-α-D-glucopyranoside and 4,6-di-O-Glycyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside,and Removal of Aminoacyl Groups from Sugar Moieties

Abstract

To confirm the potential usefulness of amino acid residues as protecting groups for sugar hydroxyls, methyl 2,3-di-O-glycyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (5) and methyl 4,6-di-O-glycyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-D-gluco-pyranoside (7) were synthesized as reference compounds. Conditions were then established for the removal of these aminoacyl groups from the sugar molecules. The reference compounds were easily prepared by condensation of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside derivatives with N-protected glycine in the presence of dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCC). The aminoacyl groups were removed by alkaline treatment, as were conventional acyl groups and also with ease by enzymatic hydrolysis using Pronase E. Conventional ester and ether protecting groups are not removed by such enzymatic treatment. Removal of aminoacyl group from sugar moieties on a practical scale is also described.     

Enormously extended π-electronic conjugation system of dimeric octaethylporphyrin transmitted with anthracene

Based on the fact that anthracene (Anth) possesses much higher similarity in electron-releasing ability to porphyrin nucleus than the other polyacenes, the dimeric octaethylporphyrin (OEP) derivatives 4 and 5 (OEP–Anth–OEP) were synthesized and their structure–property relationships were examined, as compared with related OEP dimers 1–3. Among them, the derivative 4 showed enormously high electronic communication between two terminal OEP rings, potentially providing a suitable unit of the electronic structure for molecular design of the OEP devices operating with less energy and with higher sensitivity to outside stimuli.     

Reduction Reaction of the Copper(II) Complex Bearing 1,3-Di(pyridine-2-carboxaldimino)propane (pitn) by Decamethylferrocene in Acetonitrile

The reduction reaction of the Cu(II)–pitn complex (pitn = 1,3-di(pyridine-2-carboxaldimino)propane) by decamethylferrocene [Fe(Cp*)₂] was examined in acetonitrile. The observed pseudo-first-order rate constants exhibited saturation kinetics with increasing excess amount of [Fe(Cp*)₂]. Detailed analyses revealed that the reaction is controlled by a structural change prior to the electron transfer step, rather than a conventional bimolecular electron transfer process preceded by ion pair (encounter complex) formation. The rate constant for the structural change was estimated to be 275 ± 13 s^?1 at 298 K (?H* = 33.3 ± 1.0 kJ·mol^?1, ?S* = 86 ± 5 J·mol^?1·K^?1), which is the fastest among gated reactions involving CuN₄ complexes. It was confirmed by EPR measurement and Conflex calculations that the dihedral angle between the two N–N planes is significantly large (40°) in solution whereas it is merely 17.14° in the crystal.     

High-Affinity Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe Based on 6-Amino-2,2′-Bipyridine Scaffold for Endogenous Zn2+ and Its Application to Living Cells

Zinc is an essential trace element involved in many biological activities; however, its functions are not fully understood. To elucidate the role of endogenous labile Zn²⁺, we developed a novel ratiometric fluorescence probe, 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(methylsulfanyl)-[2,2′-bipyridin]-6-amine (6 (rBpyZ)) based on the 6-amino-2,2′-bipyridine scaffold, which acts as both the chelating agent for Zn²⁺ and the fluorescent moiety. The methoxy group acted as an electron donor, enabling the intramolecular charge transfer state of 6 (rBpyZ), and a ratiometric fluorescence response consisting of a decrease at the emission wavelength of 438 nm and a corresponding increase at the emission wavelength of 465 nm was observed. The ratiometric probe 6 (rBpyZ) exhibited a nanomolar-level dissociation constant (K_d = 0.77 nM), a large Stokes shift (139 nm), and an excellent detection limit (0.10 nM) under physiological conditions. Moreover, fluorescence imaging using A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells revealed that 6 (rBpyZ) had good cell membrane permeability and could clearly visualize endogenous labile Zn²⁺. These results suggest that the ratiometric fluorescence probe 6 (rBpyZ) has considerable potential as a valuable tool for understanding the role of Zn²⁺ in living systems.     

Electroreduction of tetra-coordinate phosphonium derivatives; one-pot transformation of triphenylphosphine oxide into triphenylphosphine

Electroreduction of triphenylphosphine dichloride in acetonitrile was performed successfully in an undivided cell fitted with an aluminium sacrificial anode and a platinum cathode, wherein Al³⁺, which was electrogenerated at the anode would react as a Lewis acid with triphenylphosphine dichloride to afford tetra-coordinate chlorotriphenylphosphonium species and subsequent two-electron reduction at the cathode would give triphenylphosphine. One-pot transformation of triphenylphosphine oxide to triphenylphosphine was achieved successfully by the treatment of triphenylphosphine oxide with oxalyl chloride and subsequent electroreduction. In a similar manner, some tetra-coordinate triphenylphosphonium species derived from triphenylphosphine oxide were reduced electrochemically to triphenylphosphine in moderate yields.