An Efficient Synthesis of (+/-)-Narwedine and (+/-)-Galanthamine by an Improved Phenolic Oxidative Coupling

No Abstract     

Polyhydroxybutyrate production from carbon dioxide by cyanobacteria

Genetic characterization and enhancement of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation in cyanobacteria were investigated for efficient PHB production from CO₂. The genome DNAs in the PHB-accumulating strains Synechococcus sp. MA19 and Spirulina platensis NIES46 retained the highly homologous region to phaC of Synechocystis PCC6803, whereas low homology was detected in the nonaccumulating strains Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 and Anabaenacylindrica NIES19. Synechococcus sp. MA19, which accumulates PHB up to 30% of dry cell weight from CO₂ as the sole carbon source, was mutated by insertion of transposon Tn5 to enhance the PHB accumulation. Genetic and physiological analysis of the mutant indicated that decreased phosphotransacetylase activity could trigger an increase of acetyl coenzyme A leading to enhancement of PHB accumulation. PHB synthase in Synechococcus sp. MA19 was probably attached to thylakoid membrane since PHB granules were associated with pigments. A genetically engineered cyanobacteria retaining soluble PHB synthase from Ralstonia eutropha accumulated pigment-free PHB granules, which is an advantage for the purification of PHB.     

Porphyrin Network Polymers Prepared via a Click Reaction and Facilitated Oxygen Permeation Through Their Membranes

Network polymers of cobaltporphyrin derivatives are prepared by a facile click reaction via the Michael addition of acetoacetate‐substituted tetraphenyl cobaltporphyrin and tri‐ or tetra‐acrylates. The conversion is saturated for 1 h in the presence of a catalyst, which almost reaches the same gelation point of the formed network polymers. Deeply and homogeneously red‐colored membranes with a sub‐micrometer thickness are yielded on a porous supporting membrane. They are still tough even with a very high content of the rigid porphyrin residue. The oxygen permeability is high, at 10–100 Barrer, and the oxygen/nitrogen permselectivity (P_O2/P_N2) is significantly enhanced with the porphyrin content reaching 30, for the membranes with ca. 70 wt% porphyrin content.

     

New Synthesis of Poly(Phenylenesulfide)S Through an Electron Transfer

Poly(p-phenylenesulfide) (PPS) is efficiently and conveniently produced by a cationic and oxidative polymerization. Diphenyldisulfide is polymerized to PPS through one electron transfer at room temperature. The polymer is isolated as a white powder whose 1,4-structure is confirmed by IR. Phenylbis(phenylthio)sulfonium ion acts as an active species which is formed by oxidation of the S-S bond of diphenyldisulfide, and electrophilically substitutes on the phenyl ring. This polymerization is applicable to the polymerization of alkyl-substituted diphenyldisulfides to give PPSs, such as poly(2-methylphenylenesulfide) and poly(3,5-dimethylphenylene-sulfide).     

Magnetic Properties of Conjugated Phenoxy Polyradicals

Formation and magnetic properties of π-conjugated phenoxy radicals bearing a porphyrin macrocycle or a polyacetylenic backbone are described. Tetrakis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)porphinato-metals (7-M) [M = Zn(II), VO(II), and Cu(II)] were oxidized to give the corresponding stable monoradical and biradical. Magnetic properties of the radical species depend on the magnetic orbital of the central metal ion. ESR hfs structure reveals that the biradical for 7-Zn and—VO are in the triplet (S = 1) and quartet state (S = 3/2), respectively. Poly(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenylacetylene) (8) and poly(p-ethynylphenylhydrogalvinoxyl) (9) with molecular weights of ～ /10⁴ are characterized. ESR spectra with hyperfine structure for 8 indicate that the phenoxy radicals are conjugated with the polyacetylenic main chain over ～7 monomer units as a “neutral soliton.” Formed polyradicals for 8 and 9 are surprisingly stable, even in the solid state, due to resonance stabilization and/or steric effect of the conjugated main chain. An antiferromagnetic interaction is observed for oxidized 8 with a spin concentration above 10 mol%.     

Complexation of Terbium Ion with the Copolymer of Acrylic Acid and Acrylamide Grafted onto Polyethylene

Acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AAm) were graft copolymerized onto polyethylene powder by the preirradiation method. The PE powder grafted with both AA and AAm (PE-g-(AA-co-AAm)) rapidly adsorbed Tb ion with an efficiency higher than did PE powder grafted with AA (PE-g-AA). The complex formation constant of Tb ion with PE-g-(AA-co-AAm) was larger than that with PE-g-AA because the introduction of the acrylamide part decreased the steric hindrance for complexation between Tb and the carboxyl group of the graft chains. Tb ion was efficiently separated from transition metal ions, such as Co, upon passage of a solution through a column packed with PE-g-(AA-co-AAm).