Rational design and crystal structure determination of a 3-D metal-organic jungle-gym-like open framework

A new three-dimensional (3-D) jungle-gym-like open metal-organic framework has been synthesized from a two-dimensional (2-D) layer compound using a heterogeneous pillar insertion reaction. Both the starting 2-D layer and the resulting 3-D open compounds have been characterized using X-ray crystallography.     

Influence of the Coordination of Donor Solvent Molecules to 1,4,7,10-Tetramethyl-1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecanenickel(II) and Analogous Nickel(II) Complexes on Their Steric Factors

Coordination equilibrium constants (K _NiS) of some donor solvent molecules to 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecanenickel(II) ([Ni(Me₄[12]aneN₄)]²⁺) were determined in nitrobenzene (a noncoordinating bulk solvent). The first (K _NiS1) and second stepwise coordination equilibrium constants (K _NiS2) for 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecanenickel(II) ([Ni([12]aneN₄)]²⁺), 1,4,8,11-tetraazac yclotetradecane- nickel(II) ([Ni([14] aneN₄)]²⁺), 1,4,8,11-tetrathiacyclotetra-decanenickel(II) ([Ni([14]aneS₄)]²⁺) were also reinvestigated. The K _NiS values for [Ni(Me₄[12]aneN₄)]²⁺ were compared to those of [Ni([12]aneN₄)]²⁺, (1R,4S, 8R,11S)-1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanenickel(II) (R,S,R,S-[Ni(Me₄[14]aneN₄)]²⁺), R,R,S,S-[Ni(Me₄[14]aneN₄)]²⁺, [Ni([14]aneN₄)]²⁺, and [Ni([14]aneS₄)]²⁺. Coordination of pyridine (Py), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylurea (TMU), and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) to [Ni(Me₄[12]aneN₄)]²⁺ was observed, although these donor solvent molecules did not coordinate to R,S,R,S-[Ni(Me₄[14]aneN₄)]²⁺. The K _NiS values for Py, TMU, and DMA are 7.9, 2.8, and 9.0 dm³⋅mol⁻¹, respectively. Some hydrogen-bonding waters were coordinated to R,S,R,S-[Ni(Me₄[14]aneN₄)]²⁺, but such waters did not coordinate to [Ni(Me₄[12] aneN₄)]²⁺. Also, the K _NiS2 values were larger than the corresponding K _NiS1 values for [Ni([14]aneS₄)]²⁺. Furthermore, the K _NiS1 values for [Ni([12]aneN₄)]²⁺ were the largest among these nickel(II) complex cations. The K _NiS, K _NiS1, and K _NiS2 values are discussed in terms of properties of the donor solvents and steric strains of these nickel(II) complex cations.     

High-resolution analysis of polyprenols by supercritical fluid chromatography

A high-resolution analysis of polyprenol mixtures was achieved by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The separation of polyprenols was examined on an octadecylsilane-packed column with liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase and ethanol as modifier. Using this chromatography system, the resolution of separation (Rs) between octadecaprenol (prenol 18) and nonadecaprenol (prenol 19) was two times higher than that using conventional reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Our SFC technique allows the advantage of baseline separation of polyprenol samples containing hydrophobic components such as terpenes or fatty acids that are unfavorable for good separation. This method is very useful for the analysis of structurally close polyprenol analogues of rubber plant metabolites.     

Novel asymmetric through-hole array microfabricated on a silicon plate for formulating monodisperse emulsions

We have proposed a novel microchannel (MC) structure for formulating monodisperse emulsions. The emulsification device is a silicon array of microfabricated, asymmetric through-holes with a slit and a circular channel (an asymmetric straight-through MC). The asymmetric through-holes of a uniform size stably yielded monodisperse emulsions with average droplet diameters of 35-41 mum and coefficients of variation of less than 2% by forcing the to-be-dispersed phase into the continuous phase via the through-holes. Their asymmetry enabled the stable formation of monodisperse emulsion droplets by spontaneous transformation, even using a to-be-dispersed phase with a very low viscosity below 1 mPa s. Additionally, the asymmetric straight-through MC with a high-density through-hole layout has the potential for high-throughput formulation of monodisperse emulsions.     

DNA topology on an increase in positive writhing number of DNA: conformation changes in the time course of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-DNA adducts

We show that the topological significance of the gel mobility of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP)-closed circular DNA (ccDNA) adducts decreases with reaction time, until a point at which it joins relaxed DNA, and that the mobility of the adducts increases again. There is no relationship between the relative length of the adducts and the gel mobility. Although the significance of the decrease of gel mobility is due to the unwinding of cis-DDP-DNA (or trans-DDP-DNA) adducts, the conformational significance of the subsequent increase in mobility is unclear. To elucidate the conformational significance for unwinding of the adducts, we measured the writhing number (Wk) of the adducts using electron microscopy and analyzed the topological states of cis-DDP (or trans-DDP) adducts based on the White rule, Lk=Wk+Tk. Where, Lk and Tk represent the linking and twisting number in the ring, respectively. From the data, we found that the Wk of cis-DDP-ccDNA adducts in comparison with trans-DDP-ccDNA adducts increases from a negative to a positive number with time. This suggests that cis-DDP plays a role in the change of the topological state of ccDNA. In the abstraction of platinum from the adducts with CN- ion, the differences in both topological states may explain why Pt in trans-DDP is abstracted more easily than in cis-DDP. To explain the abstraction of Pt ion, we also discuss the findings based on the thermodynamic cycle in a intermolecular crosslink model Pt(NH3)2(guanine)2(2+)-->Pt(CN)4(2-) using the Pt parametrized PM3 method.     

Metal-complex assemblies constructed from the flexible hinge-like ligand H2bhnq: structural versatility and dynamic behavior in the solid state

Novel metal-complex assemblies constructed from the flexible hinge-like ligand H(2)bhnq (H(2)bhnq=2,2'-bi(3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone)) have been synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of these compounds reveal that four types of architectures are accessible by variation of the metal ions. In copper(II) compounds 1-3, the chelating bhnq(2-) ions bridge copper(II) centers to form one-dimensional zigzag chains. The chains of 1-3 are arranged by hydrogen-bonding interactions and stacking interactions to produce porous structures. Cobalt(II) and zinc(II) compounds 4 and 5 form one-dimensional helical chains. In 4 and 5, the crystal packing induces spontaneous resolution of the helical chains with chiral cavities formed perpendicular to the helices. Nickel(II) compounds 6 and 7 form cyclic tetramers. The fourth architecture, a dimer (compound 8), is obtained by the reaction of zinc(II) and bhnq(2-) in MeOH. In these compounds, changes of the dihedral angles and the metal-coordination mode of the bhnq(2-) ion induce the structural versatility. The assemblies of the zigzag chains of the copper(II) compounds exhibit reversible vapochromic behavior. UV/Vis, powder X-ray diffraction, EPR, and adsorption isotherm measurements indicate that this vapochromic behavior is based on the hinge-like flexibility of the bhnq(2-) ion.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates in aqueous media

Asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates with formaldehyde in aqueous media has been achieved using praseodymium triflate and a chiral crown ether. Formaldehyde aqueous solution can be directly used for the reactions, and a water/THF mixture was found to be the best solvent system. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates.     

Hydrometallation of 1-alkyl-3-trifluoromethyl propargyl alcohols

The hydrometallation of trifluoromethylated propargyl alcohol derivatives with metal hydride reagents proceeds smoothly to give cis- and trans-olefins on H₂O quenching. The halodemetallation of intermediate formed in the reaction process was also examined.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows a section of the electron charge density of the first metal carbide endohedral metallofullerene (Sc(2)C(2))@C(84) obtained from a synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction study by the maximum entropy method (MEM). The several density maxima, which correspond to scandium and carbon atoms, are clearly seen inside the C(84) carbon cage. The MEM charge density distribution also reveals that the C(84) cage has D(2d) symmetry (no. 23) and that the C(2) axis is parallel to the <100> face-centered cubic (fcc) direction of the unit cell. As a consequence of the site symmetry being 4mm, the C(2) axis of (Sc(2)C(2))@C(84) is oriented to six equivalent <100> directions and shows a merohedral disorder. The resultant Sc small middle dot small middle dot small middle dotSc distances and C-C bond lengths of the Sc(2)C(2) cluster are 0.429(2) and 0.142(6) nm, respectively. The observed C-C bond length is between that of a typical single and a double bond, and is very close to that of the C-C bond (0.143 nm) combining two pentagons in a C(60) molecule. More about this fascinating structure can be found in the contribution by Shinohara and co-workers on p. 397 ff.     

Synthesis of 2-, 4- and 5-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-alkyloxybenzo[b]furans and their leukotriene B4 receptor antagonistic activity

Variable benzo[b]furan derivatives having (E)- and (Z)-2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl groups at the 2-, 4- and 5-positions and a carboxylpropoxy or (1-phenyl)ethoxy group at the 7-position were prepared to find novel and selective leukotriene B4(LTB4) receptor antagonists. (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (4v) showed selective inhibition to the human BLT2 receptor (hBLT2). On the other hand, (E)-2-acetyl-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (7v) inhibited both human BLT(1) receptor (hBLT1) and hBLT2. The (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group lay on approximately the same plane as the benzo[b]furan ring, whereas the (E)-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group had the torsion angle (45.7 degree) from the benzo[b]furan ring plane. However, the (Z)-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furans were inactive. The inhibitory activity depended on the conformation of the 2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl group.