Structure-activity relationship studies of gymnocin-A

The structural elements required for cytotoxicity of gymnocin-A, a polycyclic ether isolated from the red tide-forming dinoflagellate, Karenia mikimotoi, were investigated by the total synthesis and evaluation of the structural analogues. The results of the structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde functionality of the side chain as well as the molecular length were needed for exhibiting the cytotoxicity of gymnocin-A.     

N-Confused Phlorin-Prodigiosin Chimera: meso-Aryl Oxidation and π-Extension Triggered by Peripheral Coordination

An N-confused phlorin isomer bearing a dipyrrin moiety at the α-position of the confused pyrrole ring ( 1 ) was synthesized. Pd^II and B^III coordination at the peripheral prodigiosin-like moiety of 1 afforded the corresponding complexes 2 and 3 . Reflux of 2 in triethylamine (TEA) converted the meso-phenyl into the Pd^II-coordinating phenoxy group to afford 4 . Under the same reaction conditions, TEA was linked to the α-position of the dipyrrin unit in 3 as an N,N-diethylaminovinyl group to afford 5 . Furthermore, peripheral coordination of B^III in 3 and 5 improved the planarity of the phlorin macrocycle and thus facilitated the coordination of Ag^III at the inner cavity to afford 3-Ag and 5-Ag , respectively. These results provide an effective approach for developing unique porphyrinoids through peripheral coordination.     

Improving the properties of the proton exchange membranes by introducing α-methylstyrene in the pre-irradiation induced graft polymerization

New proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of α-methylstyrene (AMS)/styrene (STY)/divinylbenzene (DVB) into the crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (RX-PTFE) films and successively sulfonated. The new PEMs showed the improved glass transition temperature and chemical stability as compared with the PEMs prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of STY/DVB. The balance of the cost, grafting kinetic, thermal properties and the properties of the resulted proton exchange membrane is the key point of this work.     

Mechanistic study of electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid at platinum in acidic solution by time-resolved surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) combined with cyclic voltammetry or chronoamperometry has been utilized to examine kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid on a polycrystalline Pt surface at the molecular scale. Formate is adsorbed on the electrode in a bridge configuration in parallel to the adsorption of linear and bridge CO produced by dehydration of formic acid. A solution-exchange experiment using isotope-labeled formic acids (H(12)COOH and H(13)COOH) reveals that formic acid is oxidized to CO(2) via adsorbed formate and the decomposition (oxidation) of formate to CO(2) is the rate-determining step of the reaction. The adsorption/oxidation of CO and the oxidation/reduction of the electrode surface strongly affect the formic acid oxidation by blocking active sites for formate adsorption and also by retarding the decomposition of adsorbed formate. The interplay of the involved processes also affects the kinetics and complicates the cyclic voltammograms of formic acid oxidation. The complex voltammetric behavior is comprehensively explained at the molecular scale by taking all these effects into account.     

Two-dimensional structure control by molecular width variation with metal coordination

The self-assembled monolayer of bipyridine derivative 1, which has two alkyl chains on each end, at the HOPG/1-phenyloctane interface was studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The detailed mechanism of a spontaneous change in the monolayer packing pattern by Pd coordination was studied. Uncomplexed 1 existed in a bent form in the monolayer, and the alkyl chains were interdigitated, whereas Pd-complexed 1 was in a straight form and the alkyl chains were not interdigitated. An intermediate state of 1 was successfully observed during metal coordination. The structure was the bent form with noninterdigitated alkyl chains. Equilibrium intermolecular distances reported from ab initio calculations indicate that the molecular width of the central aromatic part of uncomplexed 1 (7.5 A) is substantially smaller than that of the peripheral alkyl chain part (9.2 A). The bent form was suitable for covering up the surface to maximize the packing density. However, the molecular width of the aromatic unit of Pd-complexed 1 (9.1 A) was almost identical to that of the alkyl chain unit (9.2 A). Therefore, Pd-complexed 1 took the straight form in the monolayer. The observation of surface coverage by STM suggests that the bent form increases the packing density by as much as 16% compared with that of the straight form. These results indicate that the control of molecular width can be used to design molecular templates for nanostructure formation.     

Preparation, properties, and reduction of a novel TCNQ-type thienoquinoid

[Structure: see text] TCNQ-type bithienoquinoid condensed with a alpha-dicarbonyl group was synthesized. The compound revealed a reversible reduction wave at +0.32 V vs SCE. The radical anion species was cleanly generated by a reduction with Na-Hg and characterized: lambdamax=1027 nm in vis-NIR and a large spin density of the beta-carbon atoms on the fused ring by EPR spectroscopy. The radical anion salts were isolated by a reduction with iodide and showed moderate conductivity.     

Thermoreversible sol-gel transition of an aqueous solution of polyrotaxane composed of highly methylated alpha-cyclodextrin and polyethylene glycol

Novel thermo-gelling aqueous solution systems are developed with a polyrotaxane, consisting of methylated alpha-cyclodextrin and polyethylene glycol, based on the slide-ring properties of the macrocycles along the linear chain.     

Guanidinium ylide mediated aziridination: identification of a spiro imidazolidine-oxazolidine intermediate

We successfully isolated a spiro imidazolidine-oxazolidine intermediate in the reaction of guanidinium ylide mediated aziridination using alpha-bromocinnamaldehyde. X-ray crystallographic analysis unambiguously revealed that the stereogenic centers of the spiro intermediate were in a trans configuration. The role of the spiro compound as an intermediate in the aziridination reaction was confirmed by observation of its smooth chemical conversion into aziridine products.     

Synthesis and central nervous system stimulant activity of camphor-1,2,4-benzotriazines fused with five and six-membered heterocycles

Novel camphor-1,2,4-triazines fused with imidazole 2–3 , thiadiazole 4 , 1,2,4-triazole 7 , pyrimidine 9–13 and 1,3,5-triazine 14 , were synthesized starting from (5R,8S)-3-amino-5,9,9-trimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,8-methano-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1 . Evaluation of central nervous system stimulant activity demonstrated that the presence of a N-N group at C-3 position of 1,2,4-benzotriazine will be essential for the activity.     

9-Azanoradamantane N-oxyl (Nor-AZADO): a highly active organocatalyst for alcohol oxidation

A highly active organocatalyst for alcohol oxidation has been developed. 9-Azanoradamantane N-oxyl (Nor-AZADO 4), constituting an unhindered, stable nitroxyl radical, exhibits superior catalytic activity to 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and AZADOs in the oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds.