Syntheses of potential metabolites of a potent kappa-opioid receptor agonist, TRK-820

Chemical syntheses of three kinds of potential metabolites of TRK-820, a potent kappa-opioid receptor agonist, were described. One of the potential metabolites 2, 17-N-dealkylated TRK-820, was synthesized starting from noroxycodone through 8 steps in 21% total yield. Glucuronidation of intermediate 10 and compound 1, the free base of TRK-820, was carried out stereoselectively to give 3-O-beta-D-glucuronides 15 and 16 in good yields, respectively. Syntheses of potential conjugated metabolites 3 and 4 were accomplished through 10 steps and 2 steps in 11% and 43% total yields, respectively. Among the potential metabolites of TRK-820, compounds 2 and 4 were identified as metabolites in human hepatocytes. The results of pharmacological studies of compounds 2, 3, and 4 are described.     

Catalytic Reduction of Dinitrogen into Ammonia and Hydrazine by Using Chromium Complexes Bearing PCP-Type Pincer Ligands**

A series of chromium-halide, -nitride, and -dinitrogen complexes bearing carbene- and phosphine-based PCP-type pincer ligands has been newly prepared, and some of them are found to work as effective catalysts to reduce dinitrogen under atmospheric pressure, whereby up to 11.60 equiv. of ammonia and 2.52 equiv. of hydrazine (16.6 equiv. of fixed N atom) are produced based on the chromium atom. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first successful example of chromium-catalyzed conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia and hydrazine under mild reaction conditions.     

Zeeman photoluminescence spectroscopy of isoelectronic beryllium pairs in silicon

Isoelectronic beryllium (Be) pair centers in silicon have been studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy under a magnetic field. The photoluminescence of the bound-exciton recombination at this center shows that the number of Zeeman split peaks is the smallest for the magnetic field applied along a $〈100〉$ direction. This result provides direct evidence that the Be pairs orient themselves in $〈111〉$ directions. The $g$ values of the hole and electron in this bound exciton determined by fitting of the Zeeman diagrams support the shallow acceptor character of this isoelectronic center.     

Palladium-catalyzed hydrophenoxycarbonylation of internal alkynes by phenol and CO: the use of Zn for the formation of active catalyst

The palladium-catalyzed hydrophenoxycarbonylation of internal alkynes by phenol and carbon monoxide was successfully realized by Pd(OAc)₂/dppp catalyst system in the co-presence of Zn dust.     

Recognition of Multiple Methyl Groups on Aromatic Rings by a Polyaromatic Cavity

The methyl group is a small substituent, usually showing relatively weak or no interactions with other functional groups and metal ions. Herein, we present the recognition of the number of methyl groups on synthetic and natural aromatic compounds (i.e., benzene and xanthine derivatives, respectively) by the 1 nm‐sized polyaromatic cavity of a coordination capsule in water. Detailed competitive encapsulation experiments as well as X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that multiple guest–host CH₃–polyaromatic interactions in the confined nanospace are key driving forces for the high selectivity.     

Anisotropic Expansion of an M2L4 Coordination Capsule: Host Capability and Frame Rearrangement

Anisotropic expansion of a spherical M₂L₄ coordination capsule through the elongation of the ligand led to a new M₂L′₄ capsule. The expanded capsule provides an elliptical cavity encircled by polyaromatic frameworks with large openings and thereby can encapsulate elliptical fullerene C₇₀ and monofunctionalized fullerene C₆₀ in high yields. In addition, selective formation of a new M₂L₂L′₂ capsule occurs by mixing the original M₂L₄ and expanded M₂L′₄ capsules in a 1:1 ratio upon addition of C₆₀ or monofunctionalized C₆₀ as a template molecule.