Organoaluminium reagents induced isomerization of 5-hydroxy-3,3,6-trimethyl-5-heptenoic acid δ-lactone to 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione

Treatment of the title lactone and the related δ or ε-lactones with Et₂AlSR (R = Et or Ph) gave 1,3-cyclohexanediones or 1,3-cycloheptanediones in excellent yields.     

Vibrational energies for the X1A1, A1B1, and B1A1 states of SiH2/SiD2 and related transition probabilities based on global potential energy surfaces

Transition probabilities were evaluated for the X(1)A(1)-A(1)B(1) and A(1)B(1)-B(1)A(1) systems of SiH(2) and SiD(2) to analyze the X-->A-->B photoexcitation. The Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) and Einstein's B coefficients were computed by quantum vibrational calculations using the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the SiH(2)(X(1)A(1),A(1)B(1),B(1)A(1)) electronic states and the electronic transition moments for the X-A, X-B, and A-B system. The global PESs were determined by the multireference configuration interaction calculations with the Davidson correction and the interpolant moving least-squares method combined with the Shepard interpolation. The obtained FCFs for the X-A and A-B systems exhibit that the bending mode is strongly enhanced in the excitation since the equilibrium bond angle greatly varies with the three states; the barrier to linearity is evaluated to be 21,900 cm(-1) for the X state, 6400 cm(-1) for the A state, and 230-240 cm(-1) for the B state. The theoretical lifetimes for the pure bending levels of the A and B states were calculated from the fluorescence decay rates for the A-X, B-A, and B-X emissions.     

Host-guest interactions in the supramolecular incorporation of fullerenes into tailored holes on porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles in molecular photovoltaics

Novel gold nanoparticles modified with a mixed self-assembled monolayer of porphyrin alkanethiol and short-chain alkanethiol were prepared (first step) to examine the size and shape effects of surface holes (host) on porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles. The porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles with a size of about 10 nm incorporated C60 molecules (guest) into the large, bucket-shaped holes, leading to the formation of a supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites (second step). Large composite clusters with a size of 200-400 nm were grown from the supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites in mixed solvents (third step) and deposited electrophoretically onto nanostructured SnO2 electrodes (fourth step). Differences in the porphyrin:C60 ratio were found to affect the structures and photoelectrochemical properties of the composite clusters in mixed solvents as well as on the SnO2 electrodes. The photoelectrochemical performance of a photoelectrochemical device consisting of SnO2 electrodes modified with the porphyrin-C60 composites was enhanced relative to a reference system with small, wedged-shaped surface holes on the gold nanoparticle. Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy with fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest the occurrence of ultrafast electron transfer from the porphyrin excited singlet states to C60 or the formation of a partial charge-transfer state in the composite clusters of supramolecular complexes formed between porphyrin and C60 leading to efficient photocurrent generation in the system. Elucidation of the relationship between host-guest interactions and photoelectrochemical function in the present system will provide valuable information on the design of molecular devices and machines including molecular photovoltaics.     

Improvement of some pharmaceutical properties of nocloprost by β- and γ-Cyclodextrin Complexation

Inclusion complexation of nocloprost, a potent antiulcer prostaglandin derivative, with -, -, and -cyclodextrins (CyDs) in aqueous solutions has been studied by the solubility method and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The steric requirement of host-guest interaction was reflected in the magnitude of the stability constants and the thermodynamic parameters of the inclusion complexes. Solid complexes of nocloprost with - and -CyDs in a molar ratio of 1 : 2 were obtained on the basis of aBs-type phase solubility diagram. The X-ray diffraction data suggested that nocloprost is included in the cylindrical channel formed by coaxial alignment of -CyD molecules to give a channel type structure. Release and thermal behavior of the solid complexes was examined and compared with nocloprost itself. The results indicated that the -CyD complex may have great utility among the three CyDs, being a rapid dissolving form of nocloprost with improved thermal stability.     

Analytical approach to the discoloration of edible laver "nori" in the Ariake Sea.

To understand the cause of discoloration of the sea laver "nori," which is found in the Ariake Sea, the concentrations of pigments and elements in the normal and discolored laver samples were determined. In the discolored samples, a decrease in all of the pigments, chlorophyll a and carotenoids, and proteinous pigments, phycobiliproteins, was clearly observed. This was accompanied by a decrease in the content of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and P. Good correlations between these elements and chlorophyll a, as well as between these elements and phycobiliproteins, were confirmed, indicating that, in addition to the deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus, the deficiency of trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu), which are specifically required for photosynthesis, could be a reason for the discoloration of nori. The cause of elemental deficiency is also discussed.     

Combinatorial synthesis of MUC1 glycopeptides: polymer blotting facilitates chemical and enzymatic synthesis of highly complicated mucin glycopeptides

The chemoselective polymer blotting method allows for rapid and efficient synthesis of glycopeptides based on a "catch and release" strategy between solid-phase and water-soluble polymer supports. We have developed a heterobifunctional linker sensitive to glutamic acid specific protease (BLase). The general procedure consists of five steps, namely (i) the solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptide containing BLase sensitive linker, (ii) subsequent deprotections and the release of the glycopeptide from the resin, (iii) chemoselective blotting of the glycopeptide intermediates in the presence of water-soluble polymers with oxylamino functional groups, (iv) sugar elongations using glycosyltransferases, and (v) the release of target glycopeptides from the polymer platform by selective BLase promoted hydrolysis. The combined use of the solid-phase chemical syntheses of peptides and the enzymatic syntheses of carbohydrates on water-soluble polymers would greatly contribute to the production of complicated glycopeptide libraries, thereby enhancing applicative research. We report here a high-throughput synthetic system for the various types of MUC1 glycopeptides exhibiting a variety of sugar moieties. It is our belief that this concept will become part of the entrenched repertoire for the synthesis of biologically important glycopeptides on the basis of glycosyltransferase reactions in automated and combinatorial syntheses.     

Effect of included guest molecules on the normal state conductivity and superconductivity of beta''-(ET)(4)[(H(3)O)Ga(C(2)O(4))(3)].G (G = pyridine,nitrobenzene)

Normal state conductivity and superconductivity together with bulk magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements have been measured for two molecular charge-transfer salts: beta' '-(ET)4[(H3O)Ga(C2O4)3]G (ET = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene, G = pyridine for compound I and nitrobenzene for compound II). With the exception of the included guest molecules (G) the crystal structures are almost identical. Both show minima in their electrical transport at 130 K for I and at 160 K for II, but at lower temperatures their behaviors differ markedly. The resistance of I reaches a maximum at 50 K with a further small peak at 2 K and possible superconductivity only below 2 K, whereas that of II increases continuously down to 7.5 K, where an abrupt transition to a superconducting state occurs.     

Anticoagulant activity of immobilized thrombomodulin

Bovine lung thrombomodulin was partially purified, and immobilized on agarose gel (Sepharose 4B). Immobilized thrombomodulin inhibited the procoagulant activity of thrombin, and enhanced the thrombin-catalyzed protein C activation. The plasma recalcification time test showed that immobilized thrombomodulin prolonged plasma clotting time. It is suggested that the immobilization of thrombomodulin will provide an antithrombogenic biomaterial able to convert thrombin from a procoagulant to an anticoagulant enzyme.     

Radical [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with various alkenes using iodomethylcyclopropane derivatives as new homoallyl radical precursors

Radical iodine atom transfer [3 + 2] cycloaddition with various alkenes using dimethyl 2-(iodomethyl)cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate and 1,1-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-2-(iodomethyl)cyclopropane as new precursors of a homoallyl radical species smoothly proceeds to give functionalized cyclopentane derivatives in good yields.     

Gas chromatography of hydrocarbons using packed liquid chromatographic capillary columns

Capillary columns of 0.3-0.5 mm i.d. packed with 3- to 30-μm silica-based stationary phases for liquid chromatography were used for gas chromatographic separation of hydrocarbons. Column efficiencies were evaluated for various commercially available packing material. The best column efficiency was achieved with 5-μm octadecyl group bonded silica gel, the surface of which was coated with a poly (dimethylsiloxane) film. The 30-cm column produced 11,000 theoretical plates.