Splitting tendency of cellulosic fibers – Part 1. The effect of shear force on mechanical stability of swollen lyocell fibers

A procedure for splitting of a lyocell fiber into a multitude of finer fibrils was developed. Crockmeter, usually used for rub-fastness of colored textiles, was modified and used for obtaining required shear force on swollen lyocell fiber. The shear force applied on fibers, and the concentration of NaOH, which affects swelling degree of fiber, were shown to be the leading parameters determining split number of lyocell fiber. While number of shear cycles was found to be of minor relevance for fiber splitting, the applied pressure directly influences the number of splitted fibrils. For example, at a pressure of 34.8 kPa, the average split number of lyocell fiber in 2.5 M NaOH solution was observed as 15, whereas it was observed as 30 for 47 kPa and 41 for 59.3 kPa. Splitting was not observed above 5 M of NaOH solution. Analyses of fiber splitting permit new aspects to study inner structure of lyocell.     

Iridium complex-catalyzed reaction of 1,6-enynes: cycloaddition and cycloisomerization

[reaction: see text] 1,6-Enynes reacted with monoynes to give cyclohexadiene derivatives in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Ir(cod)Cl](2)/ligand. DPPE was most suitable for cycloaddition. Diastereoselective cycloaddition was also possible. In the absence of monoynes, 1,6-enynes cycloisomerized to (Z)-1-alkylidene-2-methylenecyclopentane derivatives. DPPF was most suitable for cycloisomerization. These results are the first examples of highly Z-selective cycloisomerization.     

Synthesis of vicinal diols from various arenes with a heterocyclic, amino or carboxyl group by using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing evolved biphenyl dioxygenase and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase genes

Various aromatic molecules, in which heterocycles are linked with a phenyl or benzyl group, were converted to their respective 2,3-diols (catechols) in the benzene ring by growing cell reactions using recombinant Escherichia coli, which expressed the evolved biphenyl dioxygenase [bphA (2072)] genes and the subsequent bacterial dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (bphB) gene. These vicinal diol products showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity against the lipid peroxidation induced by free radicals and strong scavenging activity towards DPPH radicals. The vicinal diols were also synthesized from ionized monocyclic aromatics incorporating an amino or carboxyl group.     

Total synthesis of an antitumor antibiotic,Fostriecin (CI-920)

The total synthesis of an antitumor antibiotic, fostriecin (CI-920), via a highly convergent route is described. A characteristic feature of the present total synthesis is that the synthesis was achieved via a coupling procedure of three segments A, B, and C. The unsaturated lactone moiety of fostriecin, corresponding to segment A, was constructed from a known Horner-Emmons reagent, and the stereochemistry of the C-5 position was introduced by asymmetric reduction with (R)-BINAl-H. Segment B having a series of stereogenic centers was synthesized from (R)-malic acid and the stereogenic centers at the C-8 and C-9 positions were prepared by a combination of Wittig reaction and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction. The conjugated Z,Z,E-triene moiety of fostriecin, corresponding to segment C, was eventually constructed by Wittig reaction and Stille coupling reaction. The phosphate moiety, which is known to be essentially important for the antitumor activity, was introduced via two routes: (i) direct phosphorylation of the monohydroxyl derivative in which other hydroxyl groups are protected with silyl groups; (ii) cyclic phosphorylation and selective cleavage of the cyclic phosphate derivative. Although the former route is basically the same as those reported by other groups, the latter route is novel and more effective than the former one. The present total synthesis would serve as a versatile synthetic route to not only fostriecin, but also its various analogues including stereoisomers.     

A novel,cell-permeable,fluorescent probe for ratiometric imaging of zinc ion

Zn(2+) plays important roles in various biological systems; as a result, the development of tools that can visualize chelatable Zn(2+) has attracted much attention recently. We report here newly synthesized fluorescent sensors for Zn(2+), ZnAF-Rs, whose excitation maximum is shifted by Zn(2+) under physiological conditions. Thus, these sensors enable ratiometric imaging, which is a technique to reduce artifacts by minimizing the influence of extraneous factors on the fluorescence of a probe. Ratiometric measurement can provide precise data, and some probes allow quantitative detection. ZnAF-Rs are the first ratiometric fluorescent sensors for Zn(2+) that enable quantitative analysis under physiological conditions. ZnAF-Rs also possess suitable K(d) for applications, and high selectivity against other biologically relevant cations, especially Ca(2+). Using these probes, changes of intracellular Zn(2+) concentration in cultured cells were monitored successfully. We believe that these probes will be extremely useful in studies on the biological functions of Zn(2+).     

An oxidative carbon-carbon bond formation system in cycloalkane-based thermomorphic multiphase solution

A selective anodic oxidation system in which a carbocation intermediate is generated exclusively by use of a temperature-controlled multiphase solution to separate the different stages of the reaction from each other and from the products is described. The formation of a thermomorphic middle layer in an electrolytic solution composed of c-Hex and LPC/MeNO2 results in enhanced interaction between aliphatic alkenes and polar unstable cation.     

Fine structures of 8-G-1-(arylethynylselanyl)naphthalenes (G = H, Cl, Br): Factors to control the linear alignment of five GSe–CC–CAr atoms in crystals and the behavior in solution

8-G-1-(p-YC₆H₄CCSe)C₁₀H₆ [2 (G = Cl) and 3 (G = Br): Y = H (a), OMe (b), Me (c), F (d), Cl (e), CN (f) and NO₂ (g)] have been prepared and the NMR spectra measured, in addition to 1 (G = H). Structures have been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis for 2b, 2e and 2g, which are all type B (B), where the Se–C_sp bond is placed in the naphthyl plane in B. The type is classified as A if the Se–C_sp bond is perpendicular to the naphthyl plane. Structures around the p-YC₆H₄ (Ar) group are pd (perpendicular) for Y = OMe (2b) and Cl (2e) and pl (planar) for Y = NO₂ (2g), where the Se–C_Nap bond is placed in the aryl plane in pl and perpendicular to the plane in pd. The 1b (A: pd) structure changes dramatically on going to 2b (B: pd) with G = Cl at the 8-position. The effect is called the G-dependence in 2. The G-dependence arises from the energy lowering effect of the n_p(Cl)σ^*(Se–C_sp) 3c–4e interaction. Structures are both (B: pd) for 1e and 2e and both (B: pl) for 1g and 2g. One may realize that the structures are unchanged by G = Cl in place of G = H for Y = Cl and NO₂ at a first glance. However, the B structures in 2e and 2g must be much more stabilized by the G-dependence of the n_p(Cl)σ^*(Se–C_sp) 3c–4e interaction or the GSe–C_sp–C_sp–C_sp2 5c–6e type interaction. The structures of 2 and 3 are examined in solution based on the NMR parameters. The results show that 2 and 3 behave very similarly to each other and the structures are predominantly B, with some equilibrium between pd and pl around the aryl groups in solution. Quantum chemical calculations support the observations.     

X-ray characterization of Te(S2CNC5H10)2 and TeI2[(C13H10N2S)2] · 4C4H8TeI2; the first Te–C bond cleaved products obtained in the substitution reactions of organo(heterocyclic)tellurium(IV) derivatives

The reaction of organo(heterocyclic)tellurium(IV) derivative: C₈H₈TeI₂(1,3-dihydro-2λ⁴-benzotellurole-2,2-diyl diiodide) with NH₄S₂CNC₅H₁₀ (ammonium piperidine dithiocarbamate) gives C₈H₈Te(S₂CNC₅H₁₀)₂ (1) and Te(S₂CNC₅H₁₀)₂ (2) or C₈H₈TeI(S₂CNC₅H₁₀) (5) according to the reaction conditions. In such type of metathetical reactions, the formation of 2 is unprecedented and it corresponds to the first Te–C cleaved product. The reaction of 2 with CH₃I, yields the oxidative addition product, CH₃TeI(S₂CNC₅H₁₀)₂ (8). The formation of 2 is also supported through Quantum Chemical calculations. Another Te–C bond cleaved product TeI₂[(C₁₃H₁₀N₂S)₂] · 4C₄H₈TeI₂ (9) is obtained in the reaction of C₄H₈TeI₂ (1,1,2,3,4,5-hexahydro-1,1-diiodotellurophene) with NH₄S₂CNHC₆H₅ (ammonium aniline dithiocarbamate). The reaction of 1,1,2,3,4,5,6-heptahydro-1-iodo-1-(morpholine dithiocarbamato) tellurane [C₅H₁₀TeI(S₂CNC₄H₈O)] (10) with 1,10-phenanthroline gives an unusual product C₁₂H₈N₂ · C₄H₁₀INO (11). The structures of the new complexes 2, 8, 9, 10 and 11 have been determined by the X-ray analysis.     

77Se NMR chemical shifts of 9-(arylselanyl)triptycenes: new standard for planar structures of ArSeR and applications to determine the structures in solutions

A set of new delta(Se) parameters is proposed as a standard for the planar (pl) orientational effect of p-YC(6)H(4) (Ar) in ArSeR, employing 9-(arylselanyl)triptycenes (1: p-YC(6)H(4)SeTpc). The Se-C(R) bond in ArSeR is placed on the Ar plane in pl and it is perpendicular to the plane in pd. Large upfield shifts are observed for Y = NMe(2), OMe, and Me (-22 to -6 ppm) and large downfield shifts for Y = COOEt, CN, and NO(2) (19-37 ppm), relative to Y = H, with small upfield and moderate downfield shifts by Y of halogens (-1 ppm for Y = F and 4 ppm for Y = Cl and Br). This must be the result of the p(Se)-pi(C(6)H(4))-p(Y) conjugation in 1 (pl). While the character of delta(Se) in 1 (pl) is very similar to that in 9-(arylselanyl)anthracenes (2 (pl)), it is very different from that of 1-(arylselanyl)anthraquinones (3 (pd)). Sets of delta(Se) of 1 and 2 must serve as the standard for pl and that of 3 does for pd in solutions. Structures of various ArSeR in solutions are determined from the viewpoint of the orientational effect based on the standard delta(Se) of 1-3. While the structure of 2-methyl-1-(arylselanyl)naphthalenes is concluded to be all pl in solutions, those of 8-chloro- and 8-bromo-1-(arylselanyl)naphthalenes are all pd, except for Y = COOEt, CN, and NO(2): The equilibrium between pd and pl contributes to those with Y = COOEt, CN, and NO(2). The structure of 1-(arylselanyl)naphthalenes changes depending on Y. The structures of ArSeMe and ArSeCOPh are shown to be pl and pd, respectively, in solutions. Those of ArSePh and ArSeAr seem to change depending on Y. delta(Se) of 1-3 are demonstrated to serve as the standard to determine the structures in solutions. The rules of thumb derived from the characters in delta(Se) for 1-3 are very useful to determine the structures of ArSeR in solutions, in addition to the analysis based on the plots.