Synthesis of Diethyl Oxalate by a Coupling-Regeneration Reaction of Carbon Monoxide

This article describes a process for the synthesis of diethyl oxalate by a coupling reaction of carbon monoxide, catalyzed by palladium in the presence of ethyl nitrite. The kinetics and mechanism of the coupling and regeneration reaction are also discussed. This paper presents the results of a scale-up test of the catalyst and the process based on an a priori computer simulation.     

On-off-switched crown-metal complexation by photoinduced intramolecular tail (ammonium)-biting

New photoresponsive crown ethers (1H⁺) having a crown ring and an ammoniumalkyl (H₃N⁺(CH₂)_n ^–, n=4,6,10) group attached to the two sides of an azobenzene have been synthesized. Photoresponsive properties (thermal isomerization, metal extraction, membrane transport, etc.) were examined, and the results were compared with those of other photoresponsive crown ethers and complexons.     

Characterization of chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen under laminar flow conditions in a micro-channel and its quenching with beverages

Singlet oxygen was generated by reaction of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide in a micro-channel. The two reagent solutions were delivered into the micro-channel by a syringe pump, providing a laminar flow liquid-liquid interface. The chemiluminescence from the singlet oxygen was emitted in the collapse of the interface due to molecular diffusion under laminar flow conditions. The chemiluminescence intensity was observed continuously and stably for each combination of reagents fed into the micro-channel; while, in the normal batch-type reactor the chemiluminescence peaks from singlet oxygen were observed within ca. 5 s. The features of the chemiluminescence emitted under laminar flow conditions were examined by changing the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide; the concentrations of 2.5 mM sodium hypochlorite and 7.5 mM hydrogen peroxide provided highest chemiluminescence intensities without bubble formation. Also, the effects of beverages, such as green tea, coffee, white wine, red wine, and sake (rice wine), on the chemiluminescence intensity as well as the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide were examined. The chemiluminescence intensities observed with addition of the beverages to the reagents decreased in the following orders; green tea > coffee > red wine > rice wine > white wine (being added to sodium hypochlorite); coffee > white wine > green tea > red wine > rice wine (being added to hydrogen peroxide). It was found that coffee decreased the chemiluminescence intensity (ca. 33% chemiluminescence decrease) without altering the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide. The cause of the decrease in chemiluminescence with coffee is discussed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of procyanidin B3-3-O-gallate and 3,3″-di-O-gallate, and their abilities as antioxidant and DNA polymerase inhibitor

A simple method for the synthesis of procyanidin B3 substituted with a galloyl group at the 3 and 3″ position is described. Condensation of a benzylated catechin-3-O-gallate electrophile with a nucleophile, catechin and catechin-3-O-gallate, proceeded smoothly and stereoselectively to afford the corresponding dimer gallates, procyanidin B3-3-O-gallate and procyanidin B3-3,3″-di-O-gallate, in good yields. Further, their antioxidant activities on UV-induced lipid peroxide formation, DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of DNA polymerase were also investigated. Among three procyanidin B3 congeners (procyanidin B3, 3-O-gallate and 3,3″-di-O-gallate), the 3,3″-di-O-gallate derivative showed the strongest antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. Interestingly, the 3-O-gallate derivative was the strongest inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerase with IC₅₀ value of 0.26 μM, although it showed the weakest antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. It became apparent that the presence of a galloyl group at the C-3 position in the proanthocyanidin oligomer was very important for biological activity, however, the antioxidant activity of these compounds was not parallel to the DNA polymerase inhibitory activity.     

Synthesis of poly(2-cyclohexenone-4-yl methacrylate) and acidolysis of pendant protecting groups in the polymer

4-Acetoxy-2-cyclohexenone (ACH) and 2-cyclohexenone-4-yl methacrylate (CHM) were obtained from the condensation reaction of 4-bromo-2-cyclohexenone (BCH) with acetic acid and methacrylic acid using 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5,4,0]-7-undecene (DBU), respectively. Poly(2-cyclohexenone-4-yl methacrylate) ( P-1 ) containing acid-sensitive 2-cyclohexenone-4-yl group was prepared from the radical polymerization of CHM and the esterification of poly(methacrylic acid) with BCH using DBU. Furthermore, P-1 and CHM copolymers ( P-2 and P-3 ) were easily synthesized from the radical polymerization of methacrylic acid and comonomers in dimethylsulfoxide using 1 mol % of 2,2′-azobis (isobutyronitrile) followed by esterification of the resulting polymers with BCH using DBU by one-pot method. The deprotection reaction of ACH and P-1 was carried out in dichloromethane using an acid catalyst. The reaction proceeded smoothly in solution to give phenol and the corresponding carboxylic acid. Therefore, the 2-cyclohexenone-4-yl group is a useful protecting group for carboxylic acids, because the protection and deprotection reactions are very easy. In the case of polymer films, however, the acid was trapped by carbonyl group on the 2-cyclohexenone-4-yl group, and did not cause the deprotection reaction. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of bowl‐shaped homotriazacalix[3 and 6] arenes and the acyclic analogues

Bowl‐shaped chiral homotriazacalixarenes were prepared by the cyclization reactions of chiral triamines with three equimolar amounts of bis(chloromethyl) phenols or bis(chloromethyl) phenol‐formaldehyde dimers in moderate yields. The corresponding acyclic phenol‐formaldehyde oligomers were also synthesized. The structural analysis of the macrocycles by nmr and circular dichroism spectra imply the existence of chiral transmission from the point chirality of the cysteine bridge to the cyclophane moiety. Their cyclic and acyclic compounds have a π‐base cavity large enough to include the ammonium ion.     

Photocyclization of n-[ω-(cycloalken-1-yl)alkyl]-and n-[ω-(inden-3-yl)alkyl]phthalimides : Synthesis of spiro-nitrogen multicyclic systems

Photolysis of the N-[ω-(cycloalken-1-yl)alkyl]phthalimides 6b-$\text{e}$ in each case gave a pair of stereoisomers of spiro-nitrogen multicyclic systems (9b-$\text{e}$) in moderate yields, whose stereochemistry was determined by means of chemical and spectroscopic analyses. Similarly, in N-[ω-(inden-3-yl)alkyl]-phthalimides (8), spiro-nitrogen macrocycles up to 13-membered 13a-$\text{c}$ were obtained in good yields