Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-alpha-polypodatetraene and methyl (5R,10R,13R)-labda-8-en-15-oate

The reported enzymatic resolution products {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-5 (>99% ee)] and [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-4 (98% ee) were converted to (+)-alpha-polypodatetraene (1) and methyl (5R,10R,13R)-labda-8-en-15-oate (2), respectively. For the synthesis of (5R,10R,13R)-2, chiral isoprene congener (3S)-26 corresponding to the right part of 2 was synthesized based on the lipase-assisted resolution of (+/-)-2-methyl-3- (p-methoxyphenyl)propanol (17).     

Rare direct imidation of aromatic metallacycle by reaction of CpCo(dithiolene) complex with N-halosuccinimide

The aromatic [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(H))] (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl, H) complexes reacted with N-halosuccinimides (NXS; X = Cl, Br, I) in carbon tetrachloride at room temperature to undergo the N-succinimide substitution reaction on the dithiolene ring, but no halogenated dithiolene complex was obtained. The imidation products [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(N-sccinimide))] were yielded up to 64% where X = I and R = 9-phenanthryl. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(H))] with N-bromophthalimide (NBP) also gave the imidation product [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(N-phthalimide))]. This is the rare direct imidation reaction to an aromatic metallacycle by NXS. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂H₂)] (R = H) with NIS afforded the double imidation product. One by-product in this reaction was the dithiolene-dithiolene homo-coupling product [CpCo(S₂C₂(R))]₂ (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl). The microwave-enhanced (MW) reactions were attempted in the carbon tetrachloride solution. Although the solution temperature increased up to only 43 °C by MW irradiation, the imidation reaction worked with short reaction time.     

Kinetic study for the inclusion complex of carboxylic acids with cyclodextrin by the ultrasonic relaxation method

Ultrasonic absorption coefficients in the frequency range of 0.8-95 MHz were measured in aqueous solutions containing both beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) (host) and butanoic acid (in its dissociated form and undissociated one) (guest). A single relaxational phenomenon was observed only when the solutes were coexisting, although no relaxation was found in the beta-CD solution or in the acid solutions. The absorption was also measured in a solution of pentanoic acid (dissociated form) with beta-CD, and single relaxation was detected. The ultrasonic relaxation observed in these solutions was due to a perturbation of a chemical equilibrium related to a reaction of an inclusion complex formed by the host and guest. The equilibrium constant was obtained from the dependence of the maximum absorption per wavelength on the guest concentration. The rate constant for the inclusion process of the guest into a cavity of beta-CD and that for the leaving process from the cavity were determined from the obtained relaxation frequency and the equilibrium constant. The standard volume change of the reaction was also computed from the maximum absorption per wavelength. These results were compared with those in solutions containing both beta-CD and different guest molecules. It was found that the hydrophobicity of guest molecules played an important role in the formation of the inclusion complex and also that the charge on the carboxylic group had a considerable effect on the kinetic characteristics of the complexation reaction.     

Dynamic study of interaction between beta-cyclodextrin and aspirin by the ultrasonic relaxation method

A single ultrasonic relaxational phenomenon was observed in aqueous solutions containing both beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) as host and nonionized or ionized acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as guest. The observed relaxation was responsible for a dynamic complexation reaction between beta-CD and aspirin molecules, concomitant with a volume change during the reaction. The kinetic and equilibrium constants for the complexation in the acid (nonionized) form of the aspirin system were derived from the guest concentration dependence of the relaxation frequency. The equilibrium constant for the carboxylate (ionized) form of aspirin was determined from the concentration dependence of a maximum absorption per wavelength, and the rate constants were calculated by using the determined equilibrium constant and the observed relaxation frequencies, which remained nearly almost constant over the concentration range studied. The results showed that the effect of charge on the aspirin molecule was reflected only in the dissociation process from the beta-CD cavity, while no remarkable change was seen in the association process whose rate was diffusion controlled. The results could be explained on the basis of the difference of the hydrophobic moieties in the two guests that were included in the host cavity. The results of the standard volume change for the complexation reaction were closely related to the number of expelled water molecules originally located in the beta-CD cavity and the volume of the aspirin molecule incorporated into the beta-CD cavity.     

HPLC retention behavior of poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons on aminopropyl silica gels modified with Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-phthalocyanine derivatives in non-polar eluent

A comparative study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism underlying the separation of poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons (PAHs) and related compounds thereof on a column packed with silica gels modified with Ni(II)- or Cu(II)-phthalocyanine derivatives (PCS) (Ni- or Cu-PCS(D) column) and commercially available PYE and NPE columns with a non-polar eluent, such as n-hexane. It has been revealed that the dominant interaction responsible to the separation of PAHs on the Cu-PCS(D) and the PYE columns with n-hexane is the pi-pi interaction; however, in the separation of PAHs having 4 rings such as pyrene on the Ni-PCS(D) column, participation of pi-d interaction was indicated. The predominant role of pi-pi interaction in the separation of PAHs of less than three rings on the Ni-PCS(D) column was demonstrated using anthracene. All the columns possessed planar recognition ability and were estimated to be potentially useful in the separation and the analysis of PAHs.     

Synthesis of (9E)-isoambrettolide, a macrocyclic musk compound, using the effective lactonization promoted by symmetric benzoic anhydrides with basic catalysts

Two alternative methods for the synthesis of (9E)-isoambrettolide are established via the rapid lactonization of the free threo-aleuritic acid or its protected seco-acid using substituted benzoic anhydrides with basic catalysts. The most efficient lactonization of the threo-aleuritic acid is performed using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with a catalytic amount of 4-dimethylaminopyridine N-oxide (DMAPO).     

Synthesis of pyridazino[3,4-b]quinoxalines and pyrazolo[3,4-b]-quinoxaline by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The pyridazino[3,4-b]quinoxalines 6a,b and pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline hydrochloride 9 were synthesized by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 6-chloro-2-(1-methylhydrazino)quinoxaline 4-oxide 5 with dimethyl or diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and 2-chloroacrylonitrile, respectively. The reaction mechanisms were postulated for the formation of 6a,b and 9 .     

An effective use of benzoic anhydride and its derivatives for the synthesis of carboxylic esters and lactones: a powerful and convenient mixed anhydride method promoted by basic catalysts

Various carboxylic esters are obtained at room temperature in excellent yields with high chemoselectivities from nearly equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids and alcohols using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride with triethylamine by the promotion of a basic catalyst such as 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. A variety of lactones are also prepared in high yields at room temperature from the corresponding omega-hydroxycarboxylic acids with use of 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. A similar reaction occurs with triethylamine when using a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine 1-oxide as an effective promoter for the intramolecular condensation reaction. These methods are successfully applied to the synthesis of erythro-aleuritic acid lactone and an eight-membered-ring lactone moiety of octalactins A and B. The efficiency of the cyclizations is compared to those of other reported lactonizations.     

Electrochemical behavior of nickeladithiolene S,S'-dialkyl adducts: evidence for the formation of a metalladithiolene radical by electrochemical redox reactions

The electrochemical behavior of nickeladithiolene S,S'-dialkyl adducts (alkyl = benzyl, methyl, tert-butyl) was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), visible, near-IR, and ESR spectroscopies and bulk electrolyses. The redox potentials of the S,S'-dialkyl adducts were influenced by the electron-donating effect of the functional group on the sulfur atoms. The nickeladithiolene S,S'-dibenzyl adduct [Ni[S(SCH(2)Ph)C(2)Ph(2)](2)] (2) eliminated one benzyl radical by one-electron reduction, and then the monobenzyl adduct anion [Ni(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))[S(2)(CH(2)Ph)C(2)Ph(2)]](-) (3(-)) was formed. Anion 3(-) was also formed by the reaction of nickeladithiolene dianion [Ni(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](2)(-) (1(2-)) with 1 equiv of benzyl cation. When anion 3(-) was oxidized, the long-lived nickeladithiolene radical [Ni(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))[S(2)(CH(2)Ph)C(2)Ph(2)]] (3) was formed. The visible, near-IR, and ESR spectra of radical 3 could be measured and assigned. When radical 3 was further oxidized, the oxidant 3(+) eliminated one benzyl cation, and then free nickeladithiolene (1) was generated.