Chemistry of renieramycins. Part 12: An improved total synthesis of (±)-renieramycin G

An improved total synthesis of (±)-renieramycin G (1g) from readily available 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (7) in 21 steps (6.3% overall yield) is described. The synthesis features the concise construction of a pentacyclic framework using the stereoselective Pictet–Spengler type cyclization reaction of lactam (25) with ethyl diethoxyacetate, followed by the base-catalyzed epimerization of the C-1 stereo center of aldehyde (30a). The results of cytotoxicity studies are also presented.     

Polyether-bridged bis(tert-butyl nitroxide) paramagnetic hosts showing receptor ability to calcium(II) and barium(II) ions

The title compounds, Ph2bNO and Ph3bNO, were designed as a biradical paramagnetic host, and their chelation ability was confirmed by inclusion of a size-matched alkaline-earth metal ion. The crystal structures of [Ca(hfac)₂(Ph2bNO)] and [Ba(hfac)₂(Ph3bNO)] were determined, where Hhfac stands for 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione. The solution electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed switching behavior. Five lines were found for Ph3bNO and charecterized as the hyperfine splitting due to the two nitrogen atoms. After addition of barium(II) ion, the spectrum turned to be three lines. Removal of the barium ion recovered the five line pattern. The present system can be regarded as a reversible magnetic-coupling switch by means of a supramolecular technique.     

Reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with benzophenone and 9-fluorenone by low-valent titanium

The reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with benzophenone by Zn-TiCl₄ in THF gave cross-coupled products as cyclic α-diphenylidene-N-methoxycarbonylamines and ring-opening α,α-diphenyl-α-hydroxy-ω-(N-methoxycarbonyl)amino ketones selectively depending on the reduction conditions. The reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with 9-fluorenone by Zn-TiCl₄ gave cyclic α-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-N-methoxycarbonylamines preferentially irrespective to the conditions.     

Optical sensor for carbon dioxide combining colorimetric change of a pH indicator and a reference luminescent dye

A new optical CO₂ sensor based on the luminescence intensity change of the europium(III) complex tris(thenoyltrifluoroacetonato) europium(III) dihydrate ([Eu(tta)₃]) caused by the absorption change of various pH indicators—thymol blue, phenol red, or cresol red—with CO₂ was developed and its CO₂ sensing properties were investigated. For all the CO₂ sensors using pH indicators the observed luminescence intensity from [Eu(tta)₃] at 613 nm increased with increasing CO₂ concentration. The linear calibration method based on the plot of (I₁₀₀–I₀)/(I–I₀) versus the inverse of CO₂ concentration was suggested, where I₀ and I₁₀₀ were luminescence intensities at 613 nm of the CO₂ sensor film in 100% nitrogen and 100% gaseous CO₂. In all cases the plots showed good linearity and the correlation factors of the plots, r², were 0.991 for thymol blue, 0.990 for phenol red, and 0.998 for cresol red. The slopes of the plots (A/B) for thymol blue, phenol red, and cresol red were 2.2, 5.2, and 9.0%, respectively. The response times of the CO₂ sensor film were 4.0 s for thymol blue, 4.4 s for phenol red, and 8.8 s for cresol red for switching from nitrogen to CO₂, and the recovery times of films were 36 s for thymol blue, 39.2 s for phenol red, and 56.6 s for cresol red for switching from CO₂ to nitrogen. The signal changes were fully reversible and hysteresis was not observed during the measurements. The highly sensitive CO₂ sensor was developed using thymol blue as an indicator for the CO₂-sensing probe.     

Synthesis of A2B6‐Type [36]Octaphyrins: Copper(II)‐Metalation‐Induced Fragmentation Reactions to Porphyrins and N‐Fusion Reactions of meso‐(3‐Thienyl) Substituents

5,10,15‐Tris(pentafluorophenyl)tetrapyrromethane was efficiently prepared through a route involving stepwise diaroylation of 5‐pentafluorophenyldipyrromethane. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrins were prepared by the cross condensation of the tetrapyrromethane with aryl aldehydes in moderate yields. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrins bearing 2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl, 2,6‐dichlorophenyl, and phenyl substituents underwent Cu^II‐metalation‐induced fragmentation to give two molecules of AB₃‐type Cu^II porphyrins. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrin bearing 3‐thienyl substituents underwent thermal N‐thienyl fusion reactions to provide a modestly aromatic [38]octaphyrin, which, upon treatment with MnO₂, underwent further N‐thienyl fusion and subsequent oxidation to give a nonaromatic doubly N‐thienyl fused [36]octaphyrin.     

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationship of Vicenistatin,a Cytotoxic 20‐Membered Macrolactam Glycoside

We have developed two syntheses of vicenistatin and its analogues. Our first‐generation strategy included the rapid and sequential assembly of the macrocyclic lactam by using an intermolecular Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction between the C3–C13 fragment and the C1–C2, C14–C19 fragment, followed by an intramolecular Stille coupling reaction. The second‐generation strategy utilized a ring‐closing metathesis of a hexaene intermediate to generate the desired 20‐membered macrolactam. This second‐generation strategy made it possible to prepare synthetic analogues of vicenistatin, including the C20‐ and/or C23‐demethyl analogues. Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of these analogues indicated the importance of the fixed conformation of aglycon for determining the biological activity of the vicenistatins.     

Diiminic Schiff Bases: An Intriguing Class of Compounds for a Copper‐Nanoparticle‐Induced Fluorescence Study

The condensation products of salicylaldehyde and different diamines constitute an important class of diiminic Schiff bases (DSBs). This class of compounds has been rediscovered as reducing as well as capping agents under UV irradiation. UV irradiation of alkaline DSB solutions in the presence of water‐soluble copper salts has been employed to produce copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). Intriguing CuNP‐stimulated fluorescence behavior of the solution has been observed. Depending upon the nature of the spacer in between two iminic bonds, fluorescence enhancement or quenching is observed. Such surprising fluorescence contrast has been ascribed to far‐field radiation and lossy surface waves.     

Deuterium isotope effects on hydrophobic interactions: the importance of dispersion interactions in the hydrophobic phase

Hydrogen/deuterium isotope effects on hydrophobic binding were examined by means of reversed-phase chromatographic separation of protiated and deuterated isotopologue pairs for a set of 10 nonpolar and low-polarity compounds with 10 stationary phases having alkyl and aryl groups bonded to the silica surface. It was found that protiated compounds bind to nonpolar moieties attached to silica more strongly than deuterated ones, demonstrating that the CH/CD bonds of the solutes are weakened or have less restricted motions when bound in the stationary phase compared with the aqueous solvent (mobile phase). The interactions responsible for binding have been further characterized by studies of the effects of changes in mobile phase composition, temperature dependence of binding, and QSRR (quantitative structure-chromatographic retention relationship) analysis, demonstrating the importance of enthalpic effects in binding and differentiation between the isotopologues. To explain our results showing the active role of the hydrophobic (stationary) phase we propose a plausible model that includes specific contributions from aromatic edge-to-face attractive interactions and attractive interactions of aliphatic groups with the pi clouds of aromatic groups present as the solute or in the stationary phase.     

Metal-dependent regioselective oxidative coupling of 5,10,15-triarylporphyrins with DDQ-Sc(OTf)3 and formation of an oxo-quinoidal porphyrin

[reaction: see text] Regioselectivity of the oxidative coupling of 5,10,15-triarylporphyrin metal complexes with DDQ-Sc(OTf)(3) was dependent on the central metal and meso-aryl substituent. Oxo-quinoidal porphyrin was obtained from Ni(II) porphyrin under the same conditions.     

Remarkable reactivity enhancement with Sb?N inter-coordination of ethynyl-1,5-azastibocines in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with organic halides

The reaction of 12-arylethynyl-6-methyl-5,6,7,12-tetrahydrodibenzo[c,f][1,5]-azastibocines with organic halides such as acyl halides and aryl halides in the presence of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ as a catalyst led to the formation of cross-coupling products, alkynyl ketones and diaryl acetylenes, in good yields. The reactivity of the ethynyl group on the 1,5-azastibocines was far superior to that on diphenyl(phenylethynyl)stibane, which brought about marked improvement in the reaction conditions (lower temperature and shorter reaction time) and in the yields of the cross-coupling products. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of the ethynyl-1,5-azastibocine showed the presence of intramolecular Sb?N interaction which should be responsible for the remarkable reactivity enhancement of the 1,5-azastibocines for this type of reaction.