Solution structure of Vanabin2, a vanadium(IV)-binding protein from the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

Ascidians belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia are known to accumulate high levels of a transition metal, vanadium, in their blood cells, called vanadocytes, although the mechanism for this biological phenomenon remains unclear. Recently, we identified vanadium(IV)-binding proteins, designated as Vanabins, from vanadium-accumulating ascidians. Here, we report the first 3D structure of Vanabin2 from an ascidian, Ascidia sydneiensis samea, in an aqueous solution. The structure revealed a novel bow-shaped conformation, with four alpha-helices connected by nine disulfide bonds. There are no structural homologues reported so far. The 15N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence (HSQC) perturbation experiments of Vanabin2 indicated that vanadyl cations, which are exclusively localized on the same face of the molecule, are coordinated by amine nitrogens derived from amino acid residues such as lysines, arginines, and histidines, as suggested by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results. The present NMR studies provide information that will contribute toward elucidating the mechanism of vanadium accumulation in ascidians.     

Effects of complexation with 18-crown-6 on the hypernucleofugality of phenyl-lambda3-iodanyl groups. Synthesis of vinyl-lambda3-iodane.18-crown-6 complex

[structure: see text] 4-tert-Butyl-1-cyclohexenyl(phenyl)(tetrafluoroborato)-lambda(3)-iodane forms a discrete supramolecular complex by the reaction with 18-crown-6. Solvolysis of the cyclohexenyl-lambda(3)-iodane in the presence of 18-crown-6 indicates that the complexation with 18-crown-6 tends to decrease the leaving group ability of hypervalent phenyl-lambda(3)-iodanyl groups.     

Local magnetic fields in the Mo layer of Mo/Fe multilayer

Using time-differential perturbed-angular-correlation technique, hyperfine fields at ⁹⁹Tc (←⁹⁹Mo) in the Mo layers in polyimide/Fe (10 nm)/[Mo (t _Mo)/Fe (2.0 nm)]₁₂₀, where t _Mo is in the range between 0.4 and 1.5 nm, were measured at room temperature. The values of the magnetic hyperfine field at the Mo/Fe interface were extracted. Its dependence on the Mo layer thickness suggests that the oscillatory interlayer exchange coupling is due to conduction electron spin polarization in the Mo layer, which in turn is produced via an RKKY-type mechanism.     

Redox-neutral C–H cyanation of tetrahydroisoquinolines under photoredox catalysis

Redox-neutral cyanation of C–H bond adjacent to a nitrogen atom was achieved by using the combination of a photoredox catalyst and p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide. The reaction of tetrahydroisoquinolines proceeded smoothly, affording the corresponding cyanated products selectively in good to high yield. Although the reaction rate became slower in the case of the substrates having electron-withdrawing groups, high yields were achieved by elongating the reaction time. Although the yields were only moderate, the reaction conditions were also applicable to N,N-dialkylanilines.     

Recent topics in total syntheses of natural dimeric naphthoquinone derivatives

This digest overviews successful synthetic approaches to natural dimeric 1,4-naphthoquinones. Several natural dimeric 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives have been isolated from natural sources including plants, bacteria, and fungi. They have diverse structures and attractive biological activities. However, it is difficult to construct the dimeric scaffolds efficiently and selectively, because 1,4-naphthoquinones and their derivatives are highly reactive. Efficient and attractive synthetic methodologies to construct unique dimeric 1,4-naphthoquinone skeletons are reviewed.     

“Dumbbell”‐ and “Clackers”‐Shaped Dimeric Derivatives of Monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate

We designed, synthesized, and characterized two types of dimeric forms of monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate, namely, a “dumbbell”‐shaped dianion having a C?C bond and a “clackers”‐shaped monoanion having an iodonium linker. The unique architectures of these anionic molecules were established by X‐ray analysis. Spectroscopic analysis, DFT calculations, and reactivity experiments revealed high anionic and chemical stability of both anions, which are crucial properties for weakly coordinating anions.     

Separation of Linear and Branched Alkanes Using Host–Guest Complexation of Cyclic and Branched Alkane Vapors by Crystal State Pillar[6]arene

Activated crystals of pillar[6]arene produced by removing the solvent upon heating were able to take up branched and cyclic alkane vapors as a consequence of their gate‐opening behavior. The uptake of branched and cyclic alkane vapors by the activated crystals of pillar[6]arene induced a crystal transformation to form one‐dimensional channel structures. However, the activated crystals of pillar[6]arene hardly took up linear alkane vapors because the cavity size of pillar[6]arene is too large to form stable complexes with linear alkanes. This shape‐selective uptake behavior of pillar[6]arene was further utilized for improving the research octane number of an alkane mixture of isooctane and n‐heptane: interestingly, the research octane number was dramatically improved from a low research octane number (17 %) to a high research octane number (>99 %) using the activated crystals of pillar[6]arene.     

Ir/SiO2 as a highly active catalyst for the selective reduction of NO with CO in the presence of O2 and SO2

Coexisting SO2 considerably enhanced the catalytic activity of Ir/SiO2 for NO reduction with CO in the presence of O2 because of the formation of a cis-type coordinated species of NO and CO to one iridium atom ([formula: see text]), a possible reaction intermediate leading to N2 formation.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1-alkylallenylsilane with alpha-imino ester: asymmetric synthesis of dehydroproline derivatives

[reaction: see text] The catalytic, enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1-alkyl-substituted allenylsilanes with alpha-imino ester has been achieved by means of [Cu(MeCN)(4)]BF(4)/(R)-DM-SEGPHOS catalyst to afford silyl-substituted dehydroproline derivatives in high yields and enantioselectivities.