Synthesis of symmetric HIJ-ring model of ciguatoxin

A tricyclic model ether compound comprising 6/8/6 ether rings was synthesized via a new route including conjugate addition to form a symmetric eight-membered ether-ketone with syn/trans stereochemistry in selective manner. The corresponding vinyl triflate of this ketone was allowed to convert to the vinyl methyl derivative via cross-coupling reaction. This endo-olefinic tetrahydro-2H-oxocin was selectively reduced to afford α-methyl product. The corresponding exo-olefinic oxocane derivative, on the other hand, provided the β-methyl isomer as the major diastereoisomer (2/1). Our previous report on the synthesis of this final product was revised due to some rearrangement and the mechanisms are discussed.     

Photosensitivity and photochemical reactions of poly(vinyl p-azidocinnamate)

The spectral sensitivity of poly(vinyl p-azidocinnamate)(PVACi) was discussed by comparison with poly(vinyl cinnamate)(PVCi) and poly(vinyl p-azidobenzoate). The photochemical reaction of PVACi was investigated with respect to the reactivity of two functional groups, namely, azido and cinnamoyl groups. It was found that cinnamoyl groups dimerized like PVCi and azido groups did not add to double bonds appreciably. The quantum yield of photolysis of azido groups was two times that of dimerization of cinnamoyl groups. A marked wavelength dependence of π–π^* and n–π^* absorption was observed in both the reactions of azido and cinnamoyl groups.     

Microbial conversion of 4-oxoisophorone by thermomonospora curvata using an air-bubbling hollow fiber reactor

Microbial conversion of 4-oxoisophorone (OIP) by thermophilic bacteriumThermomonospora curvata was attempted in a continuous process. The correlation between cell growth and microbial conversion was first examined in a batch culture. The results indicated that this microbial conversion was strongly dependent upon cell growth. In a continuous microbial conversion of OIP using a continuous stirred tank reactor, the cell density in the reactor seemed to be the limiting factor in the OIP conversion. Therefore, we developed an air-bubbling hollow fiber reactor to achieve a high density culture. By using this bioreactor, more than 3.3 times higher productivity was achieved. In addition, during the process, only a slight cell contamination to the product was observed. Therefore, this bioreactor is suitable for the continuous microbial conversion, considering further downstream processes and high productivity.     

The C2 selective nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2,3-epoxy alcohols mediated by trialkyl borates: the first endo-mode epoxide-opening reaction through an intramolecular metal chelate

[reaction: see text] Highly efficient C2 selective substitution reactions of 2,3-epoxy alcohols with nucleophiles were developed by using NaN(3)-(CH(3)O)(3)B, NaSPh-(CH(3)O)(3)B, or NaCN-(C(2)H(5)O)(3)B system. The reaction proceeds through novel endo-mode epoxide opening of an intramolecular boron chelate, which was suggested from both experimental and quantum mechanic studies.     

Activation of silylphosphines by diethyl azodicarboxylate: novel silylation of alcohols

A novel activation mode of silylphosphines and an application of that to silylation of alcohols were described. Silylphosphines were found to be instantly activated by means of DEAD and PPTS to form reactive silyl cation equivalents. By using the activated species, silylation of alcohols successfully proceeded under mild acidic condition.     

Radical terpolymerization of sulfur dioxide,styrene, and methyl methacrylate

The radical terpolymerization of sulfur dioxide, styrene, and methyl methacrylate in o-dichlorobenzene with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile was carried out in order to clarify the propagation mechanism of the radical copolymerization of sulfur dioxide and styrene, especially as a function of total concentration of sulfur dioxide and styrene. From the analysis of the trigonal composition diagrams it has been definitely shown that the radical copolymerization of sulfur dioxide and styrene proceeds by the propagation of two monomers, but the usual type of copolymerization mechanism, explicable in terms of the Lewis-Mayo equation, is not applicable to this copolymerization. The participation in the propagation of a monomer charge-transfer complex consisting of sulfur dioxide and styrene was also ruled out.     

Protein separation by nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems

Counter-current chromatographic separation of proteins was performed using a rotary-seal-free nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge (CPC) fabricated in our laboratory. This apparatus has a unique feature that allows a freely adjustable rotational rate of the coiled separation column at a given revolution speed. The separation was performed using a set of stable proteins including cytochrome c, myoglobin and lysozyme with two different types of aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems, i.e., PEG (polyethylene glycol) 1000-dibasic potassium phosphate, and PEG 8000-dextran T500 in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer. Using a set of multilayer coiled columns prepared from 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing with different volumes (11, 24, 39 ml), the effect of the column capacity on the partition efficiency was investigated under a given set of experimental conditions. Among these experiments, the best separation of proteins was attained using the 39 ml capacity column with a 12.5% (w/w) PEG 1000-12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate system at 10 rpm of coil rotation under 800 rpm. With lower phase mobile at 0.2 ml/min in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between cytochrome c and myoglobin was 1.6 and that between myoglobin and lysozyme, 1.9. With upper phase mobile in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between lysozyme and myoglobin peaks was 1.5. In these two separations, the stationary phase retention was 35.0 and 33.3%, respectively. Further studies were carried out using a pair of eccentric coil assemblies with 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing at a total capacity of 20 ml. A comparable resolution was obtained using both lower and upper phases as a mobile phase in a head-to-tail elution. The results of our studies demonstrate that the nonsynchronous CPC is useful for protein separation with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems.     

Effect of calcium ions on the irradiation induced inactivation of cellulase

Abstract The activity of cellulase irradiated at various temperatures was examined as a function of irradiation dose. The effect of calcium ions in radiation inactivation of cellulase at irradiation temperature of 30°C was studied by using calcium sulfate. The calcium ions have a protective ability against radiation caused inactivation of cellulase by scavenging species such as OH(-) formed by irradiation of cellulase aqueous solution, in which the effective concentration range of the calcium ions was ～ 10(-3) M. The calcium ions do not act for the heat inactivation of the enzyme and the enzyme hydrolysis of filter paper or chaff as an activator because the calcium ions do not associate with the enzyme to form a calcium ion-enzyme complex.     

Optical band gap modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes by encapsulated fullerenes

We report optical band gap modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes upon C60 insertions by using photoluminescence and the corresponding excitation spectroscopy. The shifts in optical transition energies strongly depend on the tube diameter (dt) and the "2n + m" family type, which can be explained by the local strain and the hybridization between the nanotube states and the C60 molecular orbitals. The present results provide possible design rules for nanotube-based heterostructures having a specific type of electronic functionality.