High throughput screening of O-glycosylation conditions

We report a novel methodology for rapid and quantitative screening of O-glycosylation reactions of application to the analysis of parallel reaction systems. Our system exploits perdeuterated benzyl (Bn-d₇) ether, and stereoselectivity and yield are evaluated by ¹H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS, respectively. This paper summarizes over 240 screenings of 1 → 3 linkage formation between glucose residues targeting the α-isomer in high yield.     

Statevector reduction in discrete time: A random walk in Hilbert space

A simple model is presented in which the statevector evolves every seconds in one of two ways, according to a particular probability rule. It is shown that this random walk in Hilbert space results in reduction of the statevector. It is also shown how the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) theory of statevector reduction is achieved as a limiting case of this model, exactly as Brownian motion is a limiting case of ordinary random walk. Finally, a slightly different but completely equivalent form of the CSL equations suggested by the simple model given here is discussed.     

Concise synthesis of pyrrolophenanthridine alkaloids using a Pd-mediated biaryl coupling reaction with regioselective C-H activation via the intramolecular coordination of the amine to Pd

The concise synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, such as anhydrolycorinone, anhydrolycorin-7-one, assoanine, and oxoassoanine, which have a pyrrolophenanthridine skeleton, was achieved in moderate yield using the Pd-mediated biaryl coupling reaction of 1-(2-halobenzyl)-2,3-dihydroindole, which applied the regioselective C-H activation method with intramolecular coordination of the benzylamino group to Pd.     

Synthesis and structure of 16 pi octaalkyltetraphenylporphyrins

The oxidized octaethyltetraphenylporphyrin (1, OETPP) and the corresponding newly prepared octaisobutyltetraphenylporphyrin (3, OisoBuTPP) could be isolated from the reaction of OETPPLi2 (or OisoBuTPPLi2) with SOCl2. The X-ray analysis and the characteristic UV-vis spectra of 1 and 3 revealed that these are the first examples of 16 pi nonaromatic porphyrins.     

Synthesis and characterization of 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids with a branched-acyl chain

We previously reported the chemical synthesis of a series of novel monoacylated vitamin C derivatives, 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids (6-Acyl-AA-2G) possessing a straight-acyl chain of varying length from C(4) to C(18), as effective skin antioxidants. In this paper, we describe branched type of 6-Acyl-AA-2G derivatives (6-bAcyl-AA-2G) synthesized by use of a 2-branched-chain fatty acid anhydride as an acyl donor. The stability of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G in neutral solution was much higher than that of 6-Acyl-AA-2G, while they were susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis for exerting vitamin C effect. These branched derivatives as well as 6-Acyl-AA-2G increased the radical scavenging activity against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and the lipophilicity in octanol/water-partitioning systems with increasing length of their acyl group. In addition, the 6-bAcyl-AA-2G derivative with an acyl chain of C(12), 6-bDode-AA-2G had the excellent solubility to various solvents, suggesting easy handling in cosmetic use. These characteristics of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G may be available for skin care application as an effective antioxidant.     

19F NMR characterization of the thermodynamics and dynamics of the acid-alkaline transition in a reconstituted sperm whale metmyoglobin

A 19F NMR study on the acid-alkaline transition in sperm whale myoglobin reconstituted with a perfluoromethyl heme, 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2,12,18-trimethyl-7-trifluoromethylporphyrinatoiron(III), demonstrated that the thermodynamics of the transition is predominantly controlled by the stability of acidic form.     

Synthetic studies on macrolactin A by using a (diene)Fe(CO)3 complex

The stereoselective synthesis of the two segments 3 and 4 of macrolactin A 1 is described. Macrolactin A is a 24-membered polyene macrolide antibiotic, which is of interest due to a strong activity against B16-F10 murine tumor cell and HIV-1 virus. The key step of the synthesis is the 1,2-migration reaction of a (diene)Fe(CO)₃ complex with a introduction of the thiol group to construct the unstable (E,Z)-conjugated dienic moiety (C8-C11).     

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of beta-keto esters: effects of the linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL

We describe the development of a general catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of acyclic beta-keto esters to cyclic enones, in which asymmetric induction occurs at the beta-position of the acceptors. Among the various asymmetric catalyst systems examined, the newly developed La-NR-linked-BINOL complexes (R = H or Me) afforded the best results in terms of reactivity and selectivity. In general, the NMe ligand 2 was suitable for the combination of small enones and small beta-keto esters, and the NH ligand 1 was suitable for bulkier substrates (steric tuning of the catalyst). Using the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex, the Michael reaction of methyl acetoacetate (8a) to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (7b) gave the corresponding Michael adduct 9ba in 82% yield and 92% ee. The linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL is crucial for achieving high reactivity and selectivity in the Michael reaction of beta-keto esters. The amine moiety in the NR-linked-BINOL can also tune the Lewis acidity of the central metal (electronic tuning of the catalyst), which was supported by density functional studies and experimental results. Another advantage of the NR-linked-BINOL ligand as compared with O-linked-BINOL is the ease of modifying a substituent on the amine moiety, making it possible to synthesize a variety of NR-linked-BINOL ligands for further improvement or development of new asymmetric catalyses by introducing additional functionality on the linker with the amine moiety. The efficiency of the present asymmetric catalysis was demonstrated by the synthesis of the key intermediate of (-)-tubifolidine and (-)-19,20-dihydroakuammicine in only five steps compared to the nine steps required by the original process from the Michael product of malonate. This strategy is much more atom economical. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, we propose that a beta-keto ester serves as a ligand as well as a substrate and at least one beta-keto ester should be included in the active catalyst complex. Further improvement of the reaction by maintaining an appropriate ratio of the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex and beta-keto esters is also described.     

Conformational peculiarities of alcohols incorporated in lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals

Conformational characteristics of 1-butanol incorporated not only in hexagonal and lamellar aggregates formed by a lyotropic liquid crystal composed of sodium octanoate, 1-butanol, and water but also in a thermotropic liquid crystal, 4'-methoxybenzylidene-4-n-butylaniline (MBBA), have been investigated from 2H NMR quadrupolar splittings of the perdeuterated and partially deuterated compounds. In the lyotropic phases, 1-butanol shows strong trans preferences and renders itself extended, and octanoate decreases the trans fraction toward the methyl terminal to fill the inner space of the aggregate on behalf of 1-butanol. In MBBA, 1-butanol prefers globular conformations. This tendency was also indicated from the phase behaviors of 1-butanol/MBBA and 1-decanol/MBBA systems. In the nematic field, two successive C-C bonds of 1-butanol mostly adopt g+/-g+/- conformations, which are formed in the vicinity of the headgroup of 1-decanol in the lamella of the sodium octanoate/1-decanol/water system. A large degree ofconformational freedom near the hydroxyl group of alcohols, being shown by ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the Gaussian-2 level, permits them to change conformation for each environment.