Isolation and Stereostructures of Dolastatin G and Nordolastatin G, Cytotoxic 35-Membered Cyclodepsipeptides from the Japanese Sea Hare Dolabella auricularia

A bioassay-directed fractionation of the cytotoxic constituents of the Japanese sea hare Dolabella auricularia resulted in the isolation of two 35-membered depsipeptides dolastatin G (1) and nordolastatin G (2), which showed cytotoxicity against HeLa S(3) cells with IC(50) values of 1.0 and 5.3 &mgr;g/mL, respectively. The gross structures of these substances were established by spectroscopic analysis including 2D NMR techniques. The absolute stereostructure of 1 was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of amino acid components obtained from acid hydrolysis of 1 and by the enantioselective syntheses of two degradation products arising from polyketide portions. Nordolastatin G (2) is a congener that has the same absolute stereochemistry as that of 1.     

Spin dynamics in a site diluted finite spin cluster system probed by positive muons

The site diluted finite spin cluster system Rb₂CO _x Mg_1–x F₄ (x=0.15, 0.4, 0.5) has been investigated by the ⁺SR technique. Muon spin relaxation was observed in these diluted magnetic systems in a weak longitudinal field of 100 G. By reducing temperature below 100 K, the experimental data show features of slowing down phenomena of the Co electron moments in the finite spin clusters.     

Threshold electron spectra of semiconductor cluster ions

A simple threshold electron analyzer was constructed and laser photodetachment threshold electron spectra of Si^– and Si ₄ ^– were measured.     

Rapid oligosaccharide synthesis using a fluorous protective group

The Bfp-OH, a novel fluorous protecting reagent, was able to be easily prepared. The Bfp group was readily introduced to a carbohydrate, removed in high yield, and recyclable after cleavage. The use of the Bfp group made it possible to synthesize a pentasaccharide by minimal column chromatography purification. Each synthetic intermediate was able to be easily purified only by simple fluorous-organic solvent extraction and monitored by TLC, NMR, and MS.     

Photoinduced electron-transfer systems consisting of electron-donating pyrenes or anthracenes and benzimidazolines for reductive transformation of carbonyl compounds

Photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of several ketone substrates were studied to evaluate the utilities of 1,6-bis(dimethylamino)pyrene (BDMAP), 1,6-dimethoxypyrene (DMP), 9,10-bis(dimethylamino)anthracene (BDMAA), and 9,10-dimethoxyanthracene (DMA) as electron-donating sensitizers cooperating with 2-aryl-1,3-dimethylbenzimidazolines. BDMAP and DMP generally led higher conversion of ketones and better yield of reduction products compared to BDMAA and DMA.     

Carbazoledioxazines having long alkyl groups. 2. Synthesis of carbazoledioxazines with angular type structure

Carbazoledioxazines with an angular type structure (5,15-dialkyl-7,17-dialkyloxy-9,19-dichloro-5,15-dihydrodiindolo[2,3-c:2′,3′-n]triphenodioxazines) were selectively synthesized by electrochemical oxidative ring closure of precursors (2,5-bis(9-alkyl-2-alkyloxy-3-carbazolylamino)-3,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinones). The structure was confirmed by ¹H-nmr and other instrumental analyses. Their thermal properties and solubilities were investigated and were compared with those of carbazoledioxazines with a linear type structure.     

Rapid synthesis of oligosaccharide moieties of globotriaosylceramide using fluorous protective group

The use of the Bfp (bisfluorous chain type propanoyl) group as a fluorous protective group made it possible to rapidly synthesize galabiose and the Gb3 oligosaccharide derivatives by a simple fluorous-organic extraction purification. The fluorous oligosaccharide synthesis using the Bfp group is an excellent strategic alternative to solid phase oligosaccharide synthesis, and removes some of the disadvantages of the solid phase method.     

New technology for selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen

The selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) of ammonia to N₂ was studied by using a series of noble metal-V₂O₅-WO₃ catalysts supported on titania-silica (TS) prepared by coprecipitation method. In the V₂O₅-WO₃ catalyst system, the use of TS as a support was very effective to enhance catalytic activity compared with TiO₂ or SiO₂ alone. The addition of a slight amount of Pd and Ir to V₂O₅-WO₃/TS catalyst caused also remarkable enhancement of the catalytic activity without decreasing the selectivity to N₂. The present catalysts provide remarkably high catalytic performance for SCO of ammonia to N₂ under the practical reaction conditions for an industrial application.     

New chemosensor for larger guests based on modified cyclodextrin bearing seven hydrophobic chains each with a hydrophilic end group

A new chemosensor for larger guests was prepared. The new chemosensor bears hydrophobic units at the primary hydroxy side and a dansyl unit at the secondary hydroxy side of β-cyclodextrin. Due to the hydrophobic units, the new chemosensor is sensitive to large or slender guests such as SDS and insensitive to 1-adamantanol, which is a good guest for the natural β-CD.