Monomeric metal aqua complexes in the interlayer space of montmorillonites as strong Lewis acid catalysts for heterogeneous carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions

Montmorillonite-enwrapped copper and scandium catalysts (Cu(2+)- and Sc(3+)-monts) were easily prepared by treating Na(+)-mont with the aqueous solution of the copper nitrate and scandium triflate, respectively. The resulting Cu(2+)- and Sc(3+)-monts showed outstanding catalytic activities for a variety of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, such as the Michael reaction, the Sakurai-Hosomi allylation, and the Diels-Alder reaction, under solvent-free or aqueous conditions. The remarkable activity of the mont catalysts is attributable to the negatively charged silicate layers that are capable of stabilizing metal cations. Furthermore, these catalysts were reusable without any appreciable loss in activity and selectivity. The Cu(2+)-mont-catalyzed Michael reaction proceeds via a ternary complex in which both the 1,3-dicarbonyl compound and the enone are coordinated to a Lewis acid Cu(2+) center.     

Photo-controllable tristability of a dithiolato-bipyridine-Pt(II) complex molecule containing two azobenzene moieties

A new platinum complex with both an azo-bound dithiolato ligand and an azobenzene-bound bipyridine ligand exhibits tristability reversibly controllable using different energy lights.     

Relationships between the particle velocity and introduction of drug-loaded microparticles into the skin in a microparticulate bombardment system

Recently, it has been suggested that a microparticulate bombardment system would be a very useful tool for the delivery of a variety of powdered drugs as an alternative to parenteral injection via a needle. However the relationship between the particle dynamics and introduction into the skin has not been researched using this system. In the present study, we analyzed the velocity of microparticles bombarded by the Helios(TM) gun system under various conditions using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The particle kinetic energy, which depended on the particle velocity and particle mass, was increased with increasing helium pressure and particle size, decreasing bombardment dose, resulting in the increased percentage introduction and relative bioavailability (F(0-24 h)). The particle velocity had a greater influence than the particle mass. Therefore, in order to be the most effective system for introduction into the skin, it is necessary to use a high helium pressure and microparticles of high density. However, it is also necessary to consider the skin damage after bombardment.     

Rational design of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based photobleaching-resistant fluorophores applicable to a protein dynamics study

We studied the photobleaching of a library of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives with a range of electron densities, and found that the photobleaching rate is influenced by the electron-withdrawing capacity of the substituents. Electron-deficient BODIPYs generated less singlet oxygen, were less reactive to singlet oxygen, and were highly resistant to photobleaching. We confirmed the utility of one of these fluorophores, 2,6-diCO(2)R-BDP, for visualizing EGF receptor dynamics in cells expressing an SNAP-tagged EGF receptor.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization on the interior of the P22 capsid and incorporation of photocatalytic monomer crosslinks

We have successfully used atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to form linear and crosslinked polyacrylamide and polyacrylate polymers, constrained within the virus like particle (VLP) derived from the bacteriophage P22. Polymerization of Tris(hydroxymethyl)methylacrylamide was initiated, in a spatially controlled manner, using macroinitiators derived from two different mutants of P22, S39C and K118C. Initiation from the S39C mutant results in spatially confined polymer growth on the interior of P22 while initiation from the K118C site results in a polymerized VLP in which some of the polymer is partially exposed on the outside of the capsid. Using the S39C macroinitiator we have demonstrated polymerization of aminoethyl methacrylate (AEMA) monomers, crosslinked by co-polymerization with the multifunctional monomer [Ru(5-methacrylamido-phenanthroline)₃]²⁺ resulting in an active photocatalytic P22 capsid particle.     

Toward the total synthesis of Luminamicin: construction of 14-membered lactone framework possessing versatile enol ether moiety

Luminamicin (1) was found to exhibit selective antibacterial activity against anaerobic bacteria by our group in 1985. The concise structure of 14-membered lactone of 1 was synthesized. Construction of a versatile enol ether moiety was achieved by Stille cross coupling via hydrostanylation of the ethynyl ether, and a maleic anhydride moiety was derived from the furan constitution by the oxidation after the macrolactonization at a late-stage.     

Oxidative conversion of silyl enol ethers to α,β-unsaturated ketones employing oxoammonium salts

The oxidative conversion of silyl enol ethers to α,β-unsaturated ketones using a less-hindered class of oxoammonium salts (AZADO(+)BF(4)(-)) is described. The reaction proceeds via the ene-like addition of oxoammonium salts to silyl enol ethers.     

An ionicity diagram for the family of [{Ru2(CF3CO2)4}2(TCNQR(x))] (TCNQR(x) = R-substituted 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane)

A diagram of energies between the HOMO of donor (D) and LUMO of acceptor (A) vs.ΔE(1/2)(DA) (= E(1/2)(D) - E(1/2)(A): E(1/2) = first-redox potential) clearly demonstrates the ionicity in the series of D/A assemblies, [{Ru(2)(CF(3)CO(2))(4)}(2)(TCNQR(x))]·n(solv) (TCNQR(x) = 2,5- or 2,3,5,6-R-substituted 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane; R(x) = H(4), F(2), Cl(2), Br(2), F(4), Me(2), (OMe)(2)).     

Study on the subgel-phase formation using an asymmetric phospholipid bilayer membrane by high-pressure fluorometry

The myristoylpalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (MPPC) bilayer membrane shows a complicated temperature-pressure phase diagram. The large portion of the lamellar gel (L(β)'), ripple gel (P(β)'), and pressure-induced gel (L(β)I) phases exist as metastable phases due to the extremely stable subgel (L(c)) phase. The stable L(c) phase enables us to examine the properties of the L(c) phase. The phases of the MPPC bilayers under atmospheric and high pressures were studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and fluorescence spectroscopy using a polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe Prodan. The SANS measurements clearly demonstrated the existence of the metastable L(β)I phase with the smallest lamellar repeat distance. From a second-derivative analysis of the fluorescence data, the line shape for the L(c) phase under high pressure was characterized by a broad peak with a minimum of ca. 460 nm. The line shapes and the minimum intensity wavelength (λ″(min)) values changed with pressure, indicating that the L(c) phase has highly pressure-sensible structure. The λ″(min) values of the L(c) phase spectra were split into ca. 430 and 500 nm in the L(β)I phase region, which corresponds to the formation of a interdigitated subgel L(c) (L(c)I) phase. Moreover, the phase transitions related to the L(c) phase were reversible transitions under high pressure. Taking into account the fluorescence behavior of Prodan for the L(c) phase, we concluded that the structure of the L(c) phase is highly probably a staggered structure, which can transform into the L(c)I phase easily.     

Kinetically controlled one-pot formation of DEFGH-rings of type B physalins through domino-type transformations

The characteristic DEFGH-ring system of type B physalins has been synthesized by means of a one-pot procedure incorporating domino-type ring transformations. Unexpectedly, we found that introduction of an α-hydroxyester functionality at C17 in ring E allowed the key 7-endo oxy-Michael reaction to proceed. Originally this was thought to be an unfavored process. This afforded the desired caged ring system to be formed in a kinetically controlled manner. Consecutive treatment with AcOH at 100 °C furnished the DEFGH-ring system in one pot.