Concise synthesis of pyrrolophenanthridine alkaloids using a Pd-mediated biaryl coupling reaction with regioselective C-H activation via the intramolecular coordination of the amine to Pd

The concise synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, such as anhydrolycorinone, anhydrolycorin-7-one, assoanine, and oxoassoanine, which have a pyrrolophenanthridine skeleton, was achieved in moderate yield using the Pd-mediated biaryl coupling reaction of 1-(2-halobenzyl)-2,3-dihydroindole, which applied the regioselective C-H activation method with intramolecular coordination of the benzylamino group to Pd.     

Novel real-time sensors to quantitatively assess in vivo inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in intact cells

Real-time observation of messenger molecules in individual intact cells is essential for physiological studies of signaling mechanisms. We have developed a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) sensor based on the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain from phospholipase C (PLC) delta. The environmentally sensitive fluorophore 6-bromoacetyl-2-dimethyl-aminonaphtalene was conjugated to the genetically introduced cysteine at the mouth of the IP(3) binding pocket for enhanced IP(3) selectivity and for rapid and direct visualization of intracellular IP(3) > or = 0.5 microM as fluorescence emission decreased. The probe, tagged with arginine-rich sequences for efficient translocation into various cell types, revealed a major contribution of Ca2+ influx to PLC-mediated IP(3) production that boosts Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our IP(3) probe was extremely effective to quantitatively assess real-time physiological IP(3) production via those pathways formed only in the intact cellular configuration.     

Bromination by means of sodium monobromoisocyanurate (SMBI)

A variety of aromatic compounds with both activating and deactivating substituents were brominated with sodium monobromoisocyanurate (SMBI) 1, diethyl ether, diethyl ether-methanesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, or sulfuric acid were employed as solvents. Thus nitrobenzene was conveniently brominated in sulfuric acid, benzene was readily monobrominated in diethyl ether-methanesulfonic acid, and phenol was selectively brominated at the ortho position under mild conditions in refluxing diethyl ether. With substituents that are easily protonated, trifluoroacetic acid may be employed as solvent in the reaction with 1, in contrast NBS was ineffective in trifluoroacetic acid. This renders 1 a superior reagent relative to NBS. In addition to aromatics, alkenes, ketones and esters were also brominated with 1. Diethyl malonate was brominated with 1 and then subjected to a Bingel reaction with NaH to afford the desired methanofullerene in reasonable yield.     

Precolumn derivatization of nucleotides based on fluorescent carbamate formation of the sugar moieties in high-performance liquid chromatography.

The fluorescence derivatization of nucleotides with 2-(5-chlorocarbonyl-2-oxazolyl)-5,6-methylenedioxybenzo++ furan in the presence of sodium azide and the separation of the derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography are described. The reagent reacts with 5'-terminal hydroxyl groups of nucleotides to produce the corresponding fluorescent carbamates. The derivatives of mono- and oligonucleotides are separated by chromatography on a reversed phase column (TSKgel ODS-80TM) and the derivatives of octa- and deca-nucleotides on a size exclusion column (TSKgel G3000SWXL). The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) are 0.8-6.0 pmol on column. 5'Phosphorylated nucleotide also gives a fluorescent derivative after alkaline phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation.     

Reactivity of the indole ring in palladium(II) complexes of 2N1O-donor ligands: cyclopalladation and pi-cation radical formation

The Pd(II) complexes of new 2N1O-donor ligands containing a pendent indole, 3-[N-2-pyridylmethyl-N-2-hydroxy-3,5-di(tert-butyl)benzylamino]ethylindole (Htbu-iepp), 1-methyl-3-[N-2-pyridylmethyl-N-2-hydroxy-3,5-di(tert-butyl)benzylamino]ethylindole (Htbu-miepp), 3-[N-2-pyridylmethyl-N-2-hydroxy-3,5-di(tert-butyl)benzylamino]methylindole (Htbu-impp), and 3-(N-2-pyridylmethyl-N-4-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylindole (Hp-iepp) (H denotes a dissociable proton), were synthesized, and the structures of [Pd(tbu-iepp)Cl] (1a), [Pd(tbu-iepp-c)Cl] (1b), [Pd(tbu-miepp)Cl] (3), and [Pd(p-iepp-c)Cl] (4) (tbu-iepp-c and p-iepp-c denote tbu-iepp and p-iepp bound to Pd(II) through a carbon atom, respectively) were determined by X-ray analysis. Complexes 1a prepared in CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)CN and 3 prepared in CH(3)CN have a pyridine nitrogen, an amine nitrogen, a phenolate oxygen, and a chloride ion in the coordination plane. Complex 1b prepared in CH(3)CN has the same composition as 1a and was revealed to have the C2 atom of the indole ring bound to Pd(II) with the Pd(II)-C2 distance of 1.973(2) A. The same Pd(II)-indole C2 bonding was revealed for 4. Interconversion between 1a and 1b was observed for their solutions, the equilibrium being dependent on the solvent used. Reaction of 1b and 4 with 1 equiv of Ce(IV) in DMF gave the corresponding one-electron-oxidized species, which exhibited an ESR signal at g = 2.004 and an absorption peak at approximately 550 nm, indicating the formation of the Pd(II)-indole pi-cation radical species. The half-life, t(1/2), of the indole radical species at room temperature was calculated to be 20 s (k(obs) = 3.5 x 10(-)(2) s(-)(1)) for 1b. The cyclic voltammogram for 1b in DMF gave two irreversible oxidation peaks at E(pa) = 0.68 and 0.80 V (vs Ag/AgCl), which were ascribed to the oxidation processes of the coordinated indole and phenolate moieties, respectively.     

Competitive potentiometric determination of binding constants between α-cyclodextrin and 1-alkanols

The binding constants of 1-alkanols with α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) were determined by indirect competitive potentiometry, although potentiometry is usually inapplicable to nonionic compounds. This novel method utilizes competitive binding of 1-alkanol and octyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) to α-CD in aqueous media, where the concentration of free OTAB depending on the competitive binding is monitored with an OTAB-selective electrode. Therefore, the concentration of 1-alkanol is indirectly estimated from the observed electromotive force. The binding constants of 1-propapnol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, and 1-octanol with α-CD, obtained by this method, are close to the literature values. The implications and limitations of this indirect competitive potentiometry were discussed.     

Synthesis of Ultrafine SiC Powders from Carbon-Silica Hybridized Precursors with Carbothermic Reduction

Inorganic-organic hybrid gels were prepared by simultaneous condensation of the liquid mixture of ethyl silicate, ethyl borate and water soluble phenol resin with low molecular weight. The liquid mixtures were changed into lightly colored transparent gels after a catalyst addition and stirring. The obtained gels were crushed, dried and fired in controlled conditions to yield the inorganic precursors. Since the tailored inorganic precursors mainly consisted of SiO2 and carbon, silicon carbide was formed with the heat treatments in an Ar atmosphere beyond 1773 K with carbothermic reduction. The properties and morphology of the formed silicon carbide powders in terms of the starting precursor compositions and the conditions of the carbothermic reduction were investigated with SEM, XRD and TG-DTA analysis.