Medicinal Flowers. XXXI. Acylated oleanane-type triterpene saponins, Sasanquasaponins I-V, with antiallergic activity from the flower buds of Camellia sasanqua

The methanolic extract and its 1-butanol-soluble fraction from the flower buds of Camellia sasanqua THUNB. were found to show inhibitory activities on the release of β-hexosaminidase from rat basophile leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. From the 1-butanol-soluble fraction, five new acylated oleanane-type triterpene saponins, sasanquasaponins I-V, were isolated together with a known saponin and their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The principal saponin constituents, sasanquasaponins I-III, with an acyl group at the 22-position of the aglycon part showed the inhibitory effects on the release of β-hexosaminidase and some structure-activity relationships were reported.     

Spectral variations in background light emission of surface-enhanced resonance hyper Raman scattering coupled with plasma resonance of individual silver nanoaggregates

We demonstrate the origin of spectral variations in background light emission of surface enhanced resonance hyper Raman scattering (SERHRS) from single Ag nanoaggregates. Ag nanoaggregate-by-nanoaggregate variations in background light emission spectra are related to plasma (plasmon) resonance spectra. Temporal variations in background light emission spectra with temporal blueshifts in plasma resonance spectra are also observed under continuous laser excitation. Both types of the variations in background light emission are reproduced by multiplying background light emission spectra measured from a Ag microaggregate by Lorentz function spectra derived from plasma resonance spectra. The reproduction reveals that second electromagnetic (EM) enhancement by plasma resonance is the origin of the variations. Additionally, spectral variations in background light emission of SERHRS are similar to that of surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS). The similarity indicates that both types of background light emission commonly obtain second EM enhancement from identical plasma resonance.     

Synthesis of the LMN-ring fragment of the Caribbean ciguatoxin C-CTX-1

Ciguatoxin C-CTX-1 was isolated as a principal causative toxin of ciguatera seafood poisoning in the Caribbean Sea, and is structurally classified as a ladder-shaped polycyclic ether. In this Letter, we report the synthesis of the tricyclic LMN-ring system of C-CTX-1. SmI₂-mediated reductive cyclization efficiently constructed the seven-membered M-ring with the axially oriented 1,3-dimethyl structure.     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of benzoquinone dimer and trimers bearing t-Bu substituents

Highly soluble and stable quinone dimer and trimers were successfully yielded by introduction of t-Bu substituents. In X-ray structure analysis, the dimer quinone moiety was distorted into the boat shape, which was clarified by MO calculations. X-ray and UV/vis studies indicated that the covalently linked quinone moieties bear a large torsional angle. Nevertheless, the reduction potentials rose significantly with the order of monomer < dimer < trimer, indicating that the negative charge was efficiently delocalized within the radical anions.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of BF2 complexes with 1,3-diketone ligands

BF₂ complexes with 1,3-diketone ligands were synthesized, and their optical and electrochemical properties were studied. The colors of the complexes varied depending on the structures of the 1,3-diketone ligands. The absorption and emission maxima of the complexes with 1,3-diaryl-1,3-diketone ligands were considerably red shifted as compared to those of the complexes with 1-aryl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,3-diketone ligands, suggesting an extended π-conjugation of the 1,3-diaryl-1,3-diketone moieties. The molar absorption coefficients and quantum yields of the complexes with 1,3-diaryl-1,3-diketone ligands were larger than those of the complexes with 1-aryl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,3-diketone ligands. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the reduction potentials of the BF₂ complexes were higher than those of the free ligands. These complexes exhibited various emission colors in the solid states due to the intermolecular interactions.     

Morphological variation in a toroid generated from a single polymer chain

A single semiflexible polymer chain folds into a toroidal object under poor solvent conditions. In this study, we examined the morphological change in such a toroidal state as a function of the cross-sectional area and stiffness of the chain together with the surface energy, which characterizes the segmental interaction parameter. Changes in the thickness and outer/inner radius on a toroid are interpreted in terms of these parameters. Our theoretical expectation corresponds to the actual morphological changes in a single giant DNA molecule as observed by electron microscopy.     

Approaches toward High‐Mannose‐Type Glycan Libraries

Asparagine‐linked (N‐linked) sugar chains are widely found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which has attracted renewed attention because of its participation in the glycoprotein quality control process. In the ER, newly formed glycoproteins are properly folded to higher‐order structures by the action of a variety of lectin chaperones and processing enzymes and are transported into the Golgi, while terminally misfolded glycoproteins are carried into the cytosol for degradation. A group of proteins related to this system are known to recognize subtle differences in the high‐mannose‐type oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins; however, their molecular foundations are still unclear. In order to gain a more precise understanding, our group has established a strategy for the systematic synthesis of high‐mannose‐type glycans. More recently, we have developed “top‐down” chemoenzymatic approaches that allow expeditious access to theoretically all types of high‐mannose glycans. This strategy comprehensively delivered 37 high‐mannose‐type glycans, including G1M9–M3 glycans, and opened up the possibility of the elucidation of structure–function relationships with a series of high‐mannose‐type glycans.     

An acidic layered clay is combined with a basic layered clay for one-pot sequential reactions

A Ti4+-exchanged montmorillonite (Ti4+-mont) and a hydrotalcite (HT) are strong solid Br?nsted acid and base, and these two clay catalysts could be used in a single reactor without neutralization of active sites. Because the Ti4+-mont have active acid site in the narrow interlayers, the base sites of large HT particles show no interaction with the acid sites. A variety of acid and base reactions, such as esterification, acetalization, deacetalization, aldol reaction, Michael reaction, and epoxidation, proceeded using both the Ti4+-mont and the HT in a single reactor.     

Efficient synthesis of optically active atropisomeric anilides through catalytic asymmetric N-arylation reaction

In the presence of (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)2 catalyst, N-arylation of ortho-tert-butyl-NH-anilides with 4-nitroiodobenzene proceeds with high enantioselectivity (89-95% ee) to give optically active atropisomeric anilides possessing N-C chiral axis. Furthermore, the intramolecular version of the present catalytic asymmetric N-arylation gave atropisomeric lactams with high optical purity (94-96% ee).     

Total synthesis of TT-1 (rasfonin), an α-pyrone-containing natural product from a fungus Trichurus terrophilus

Total synthesis of TT-1 (1=rasfonin), an α-pyrone-containing natural product from a Fungi Imperfecti Trichurus terrophilus culture was achieved by a stereoselective method in optically active form, which further provided evidence for the whole structure of TT-1 (1) including the absolute stereochemistry.