Total synthesis of (+)-benzastatin E via diastereoselective Grignard addition to 2-acylindoline

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-benzastatin E (1) is described. The synthesis involves a diastereoselective Grignard addition to 2-acylindoline 2, which is derived from commercially available (S)-2-indolinecarboxylic acid (3). The unknown absolute configuration of (+)-1 is determined as (9S,10R).     

γ‐Cyclodextrin as Inhibitor of the Precipitation Reaction between Berberine and Glycyrrhizin in Decoctions of Natural Medicines: Interaction Studies of Cyclodextrins with Glycyrrhizin and Glycyrrhetic Acid by 1H‐NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular‐Dynamics Calculation

To prevent the precipitation reaction between glycyrrhizin ( 1 ) and berberine ( 3 ) in the decoctions of Glycyrrhiza/Coptis rhizome or Glycyrrhiza/Phellodendron bark, the presence of cyclodextrin (CD) in the mixture was proven to be effective. The preventing effect decreased in the order γ‐CD>β‐CD, and no effect was observed for α‐CD. On the other hand, the extraction degree of 1 from the natural medicine Glycyrrhia was considerably increased in the presence of γ‐CD, γ‐CD being much more effective than α‐ or β‐CD. Thus, the blocking effect of CD on the precipitate formation between 1 and 3 is suggested to be primarily dependent on the stability of the inclusion complex of the CD with 1 . To establish the structure of such a preferred inclusion complex, the interactions of 1 with β‐ and γ‐CDs were investigated by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and molecular‐dynamics (MD) calculations. The ¹H‐NMR measurements showed that the increase in solubility of 1 in H₂O is dependent on the degree of its inclusion into the CD, which depends on the molecular size of the CD. The MD calculations suggested that the H‐bond interactions are sufficiently strong to form a stable [ 1 /γ‐CD] complex, in which the lipophilic rings C, D, and E of 1 are fully inserted into the molecular cavity of γ‐CD, thus forming a kind of structure covered by a hydrophilic molecular capsule, while such an interaction mode is impossible for α‐ or β‐CD.     

Kinetic analysis of superoxide anion radical-scavenging and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activities of platinum nanoparticles

There are few reports on the physiological effects of metal nanoparticles (nps), especially with respect to their functions as scavengers for superoxide anion radical (O2(.-)) and hydroxyl radical (.OH). We tried to detect the scavenging activity of Pt nps using a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system for O2(.-) and using a Fenton and a UV/H2O2 system for .OH. Electron spin resonance analysis revealed that 2 nm particle size Pt nps have the ability to scavenge O2(.-) and .OH. The calculated rate constant for the O2(.-)-scavenging reaction was 5.03 +/- 0.03 x 10(7) M (-1) s (-1). However, the analysis of the Fenton and UV/H 2O 2 system in the presence of Pt nps suggested that the .OH-scavenging reaction cannot be determined in both systems. Among particle sizes tested from 1 to 5 nm, 1 nm Pt nps showed the highest O2(.-)-scavenging ability. Almost no cytotoxicity was observed even after adherent cells (TIG-1, HeLa, HepG2, WI-38, and MRC-5) were exposed to Pt nps at concentrations as high as 50 mg/L. Pt nps scavenged intrinsically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells. Additionally, Pt nps significantly reduced the levels of intracellular O2(.-) generated by UVA irradiation and subsequently protected HeLa cells from ROS damage-induced cell death. These findings suggest that Pt nps may be a new type of antioxidant capable of circumventing the paradoxical effects of conventional antioxidants.     

Evaluation of TA10 broth for recovery of heat- and freeze-injured Salmonella from beef

The Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Salmonella pre-enrichment broth [lactose (LAC) broth], buffered peptone water, and universal pre-enrichment (UP) broth were compared with TA10 broth, developed in our laboratory, for recovery of heat- and freeze-injured Salmonella (55 degrees C for 2-20 min and -20 degrees C for 2 months, respectively) from beef. Beef samples were contaminated with single Salmonella serovars, and contamination levels of 0.44 to <0.001 most probable number (MPN)/g and 0.74 to 0.14 MPN/g were used for heat- and freezing-induced injury studies, respectively. Twenty test portions (25 g) of the contaminated beef were pre-enriched in each broth, and the BAM Salmonella culture method was used thereafter. There was a significant difference (chi2 = 7.73) in recovery of heat-injured Salmonella between TA10 broth and LAC broth, 189 (67.5%) versus 156 (55.7%) positive samples, respectively, determined by plating onto selective agars and identification by biochemical tests. For the recovery of freeze-injured Salmonella, there was a significant difference (chi2 = 24.7) between TA10 and LAC broth, 189 (72.7%) versus 133 (51.2%) positive samples, respectively. TA10 broth was more effective than LAC broth and UP broth for recovery of freeze-injured Salmonella. The results indicate that TA10 broth should be used instead of LAC broth for testing of beef that may be contaminated with heat- and freeze-injured Salmonella spp.     

Langmuir monolayers of a cholesterol-armed cyclen complex that can control enantioselectivity of amino acid recognition by surface pressure

The cholesterol-armed cyclen Na(+) complex formed stable Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface. The π-A isotherm displayed a reasonable limiting molecular area of ～1.57 nm(2) and the areas expanded when amino acids were dissolved in water, indicating the efficient accommodation in the monolayers. Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) images exhibited almost no defects of the compressed Langmuir monolayers regardless of the presence of amino acids. Based on the idea that the increase in the limiting molecular areas corresponds to the amount of the adsorbed amino acid, the binding constants of three enantiomeric amino acids, namely valine (Val), leucine (Leu), and phenylalanine (Phe), were calculated at different surface pressures. Remarkably, a surface pressure dependent enantioselectivity of amino acid recognition was observed. Upon compression of the monolayers, the binding constants of amino acids increased accompanying an inversion of chiral selectivity from the D- to L-form in the case of Val and, conversely, from L- to D-form in the case of Phe.     

Spectrophotometric determination of boron with an azomethine H derivative

Summary An azomethine H derivative, 1-(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene-amino)-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulphonic acid (azomethine HR) was examined and proposed as a spectrophotometric reagent for boron, as compared with azomethine H. Azomethine HR reacts with boron in aqueous solution (pH 7.5) to form a yellow complex having an absorption maximum at 425 nm. The sensitivity is 3.5-fold greater than with azomethine H when the same reagent concentration is applied. Basic conditions for the determination of boron have been worked out. The method is applicable to sea and hot spring waters. The standard deviation is ±2.1%.

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Spektralphotometrische Borbestimmung mit einem Azomethin H-Derivat

     

Regioselective Borylation of Porphyrins by C?H Bond Activation under Iridium Catalysis to Afford Useful Building Blocks for Porphyrin Assemblies

Highly regioselective and efficient borylation of a variety of porphyrins has been achieved by reaction with bis(pinacolato)diboron through C? H bond activation under iridium catalysis on the basis of the synthetic protocol developed by Miyaura, Hartwig, and Smith. A boryl group can be selectively introduced at sterically uncongested positions in the peripheral aryl groups of porphyrin substrates whose peripheral β‐positions are sterically hindered. Curiously, β substituents adjacent to the aryl group to be borylated have unexpectedly large effects on the regioselectivity, because the iridium catalyst can discriminate between subtle steric differences. Chemoselective borylation was also achieved for several functionalized porphyrins. This borylation protocol can be applied to various monomeric and oligomeric functional porphyrins, hence offering an efficient route to elaborate multiporphyrin‐based molecular constructs.     

Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Block Copolymers by Rotaxane Protocol by Linear/Cyclic Topology Transformation

High‐yielding synthesis of cyclic block copolymer (CBC) using the rotaxane protocol by linear‐cyclic polymer topology transformation was first demonstrated. Initial complexation of OH‐terminated sec‐ammonium salt and a crown ether was followed by the successive living ring‐opening polymerizations of two lactones to a linear block copolymer having a rotaxane structure by the final capping of the propagation end. CBC was obtained in a high yield by an exploitation of the mechanical linkage through the translational movement of the rotaxane component to transform polymer structure from linear to cyclic. Furthermore, the change of the polymer topology was translated into a macroscopic change in crystallinity of the block copolymer.