Dimeric Tetrathiafulvalene Linked to pseudo‐ortho‐[2.2]Paracyclophane: Chiral Electrochromic Properties and Use as a Chiral Dopant

A dimeric tetrathiafulvalene installed into a chiral pseudo‐ortho‐[2.2]paracyclophane framework was synthesized as a novel chiral electrochromic material. This compound exhibited pronounced chiroptical properties in the UV‐Vis‐NIR range depending on its redox states without racemization. Each enantiomer was examined as a chiral dopant for nematic liquid crystals (LCs), and the induced helicity of the LC solvent was in accord with that of the tetrathiafulvalene compound.     

Efficient syntheses of penta-hydroxylated cyclohexanones via PdCl2-mediated Ferrier-II reaction of 6-O-acetyl-5-enopyranosides

The conversion of 6-O-acetyl-5-enopyranosides into fully oxygenated cyclohexanones was found to proceed efficiently with a catalytic amount of palladium chloride under neutral conditions. This method was proved to be superior in efficacy to the conventional Hg method.     

Ariakemicins A and B, novel polyketide-peptide antibiotics from a marine gliding bacterium of the genus Rapidithrix

Ariakemicins A (1) and B (2), unusual linear hybrid polyketide-nonribosomal peptide antibiotics, were discovered from the fermentation extract of the marine gliding bacterium Rapidithrix sp. These metabolites were positional isomers with regard to a double bond and chromatographically inseparable, rendering the structure study on a mixture basis. The ariakemicins were composed of threonine, two omega-amino-(omega-3)-methyl carboxylic acids with diene or triene units, and delta-isovanilloylbutyric acid. The antibiotics selectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria.     

Catalytic asymmetric S-oxidation of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines

An efficient catalytic asymmetric oxidation reaction of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines using a chiral titanium complex formed in situ from Ti(O-iPr)₄, (R, R)-diethyl tartrate was developed. This reaction is helpful for the synthesis of the active form of (E, aS, 1S)-sulfoxide of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines which should be recognized by vasopressin receptors. Furthermore, a prospective dynamic kinetic resolution utilizing this system was achieved.     

The first chemical conversion of l-proline to l-glutamic acid

The ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of N-acyl-l-proline esters gave the corresponding l-pyroglutamic acid derivatives in good yields with no appreciable racemization, which led to the first chemical conversion of l-proline to l-glutamic acid.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of C-Glycosides by Suzuki Cross-coupling Reaction

Carbohydrates and their conjugates have been recognized to play a wide variety of metabolic roles in numerous biological processes.[1] Various modified sugars and analogues have been recently synthesized for further investigation of glycosidase reactions and for the development of specific glycosidase inhibitors.[2] As one of the most important carbohydrate mimics, C-glycosides have attracted great attention due to their stability to chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkage. A number of methodologies for the preparation of C-glycosides have been extensively investigated.[3] We have recently reported the syntheses of novel C-glycosyl amino acids and amino-C-disaccharides possessing a ketose form via the stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of exo-methylenesugars (1) and nitrones.[4,5] As a continuation of our research on the synthesis of C-glycosides using exo-methylenesugar as the precursor, we wish to describe here a stereoselective synthesis of C-glycosides by Suzuki cross-coupling reaction.