Daphmanidins C and D, novel pentacyclic alkaloids from Daphniphyllum teijsmanii

[structure: see text] Two novel alkaloids with an unprecedented fused-pentacyclic skeleton, daphmanidins C (1) and D (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum teijsmanii, and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 was assigned by combination of NOESY correlations and a simulation analysis. Daphmanidin C (1) elevated activity of NGF biosynthesis.     

Calyciphyllines A and B,two novel hexacyclic alkaloids from Daphniphyllum calycinum

[structure: see text] Two types of Daphniphyllum alkaloids with unprecedented fused-hexacyclic ring systems, calyciphyllines A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum calycinum (Daphniphyllaceae), and the structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

PICOSECOND LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF SQUID RHODOPSIN AT ROOM AND LOW TEMPERATURES

Abstract. Squid rhodopsin extracted with 2% digitonin (pH 10.5 or 7.0) was excited with a 347 nm light pulse from a mode-locked ruby laser at room temperature. Within 19 ps after the excitation, absorbance at 430 nm due to hypsorhodopsin increased and subsequently decreased with a decay time of 45 ± 10 ps. Absorbance at 550 nm due to bathorhodopsin increased with a rise time of 50 ± 10 ps. These results are the first observations of hypsorhodopsin at room temperature and clearly show that hypsorhodopsin is a precursor of bathorhodopsin which has been considered to be the earliest photoproduct in the photobleaching process of rhodopsin.
Hypsorhodopsin appeared with a rise time of 70 ± 10 ps at 421 nm at liquid nitrogen temperature without any bathorhodopsin being observed during the formation of hypsorhodopsin. An experiment using an N₂ laser showed that squid bathorhodopsin converted to lumirhodopsin with a decay time of about 300 ns at room temperature.     

Daphnicyclidins J and K, unique polycyclic alkaloids from Daphniphyllum humile

Two Daphniphyllum alkaloids with unprecedented polycyclic skeletons, daphnicyclidins J (1) and K (2), have been isolated from the stems of Daphniphyllum humile, and the structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was established by chemical correlation with a known-related alkaloid, daphnicyclidin D (3), through a modified Polonovski reaction.     

Specific and chemoselective multi-alpha-arylation reaction of benzoylformic acid with or without decarbonylation in P(2)O(5)-MsOH and related acidic media

In P(2)O(5)-MsOH, or related acidic media, benzoylformic acid (1) undergoes three types of di- or mono-alpha-arylation reactions with or without decarbonylation ((1) decarbonylative alpha, alpha-diarylation, yielding triarylmethanols 6, (2) decarbonylative alpha-monoarylation, giving benzophenone derivatives 7, and (3) alpha,alpha-diarylation without decarbonylation, affording diarylated carboxylic acids 5) and one simple decarbonylation, without arylation, to form benzoic acid (8), instead of the conventional Friedel-Crafts acylation type reaction. The product ratios are governed by the capability of the acidic medium to form mixed anhydrides with carboxylic acids and the ability of the arenes to accept electrophiles.     

Degradation products generated by sonication of benzyl alcohol, a sample preparation solvent for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks, on capillary gas chromatography

Benzyl alcohol used as the sample preparation solvent in the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks yielded benzene, toluene, and benzaldehyde on capillary gas chromatography (GC) by sonication. The factors responsible for compounds generated are discussed. The quality of benzyl alcohol and the type of sonicator were not involved in the generation of benzene, toluene, and benzaldehyde, whereas matrix contributions were observed. The degradation profiles of benzyl alcohol and its analogous compounds obtained by pyrolysis-GC/mass spectrometric analysis were similar to those obtained by sonication, suggesting that benzyl alcohol is degraded by the high local heat generated by sonication. Consequently, no matter how long it may take to dissolve bulk substances in benzyl alcohol completely, we do not recommend the use of a sonicator in sample preparation for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks.     

Random copolymerization of acetylenic monomers and 1,3-dienes

Copolymerization of acetylenic monomers and 1,3-dienes was carried out by use of nickel naphthenate–diethylaluminum chloride catalyst. The molecular weight of the copolymers is rather low, and the copolymers are suitable as prepared for direct use as coating vehicles. In the system of acetylene and 1,3-dienes, the order of the copolymerization rate decreases in the following order: butadiene > isoprene > 2,3-dimethylbutadiene > chloroprene. 1,3-Dienes substituted at 1-and/or 4-position were scarcely copolymerized with acetylene. Methylacetylene and dienes tend to form cyclized copolymers. In the system of phenylacetylene and dienes, polyphenylacetylene was the main product; the copolymer was not obtained. The copolymer composition and the sequence distribution of linear copolymers were evaluated by ¹H-NMR spectra. Comparison of dyad fractions of copolymers evaluated from NMR spectra and those calculated by assuming random polymerization indicated that the copolymers of acetylene and dienes were random, and that the copolymers of methylacetylene and dienes were somewhat blocky. The coordination of monomers on the catalyst may play an important role in controlling the copolymerizability.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of a Multivalent Aminoglycoside

A polymeric aminoglycoside was prepared by a facile chemoenzymatic reaction. Boc‐protected aminoglycoside, amikacin, was chemoselectively esterified with divinyl sebacate at a hydroxyl group in the C6″ position by protease from Bacillus subtilis. The resulting 3,6′,3″,4?‐tetra‐N‐Boc‐6″‐O‐vinyl sebacate was copolymerized with maltitol 6‐vinyl sebacate to yield a polymeric amikacin. The polymeric amikacin showed a modest inhibitory effect on in vitro protein synthesis, and a little antibiotic activity in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay in the presence of protease.

The synthesis of Boc‐protected amikacin ester by an enzyme‐catalyzed (protease) esterification.