Preparation and photolysis of polyamides having coumarin dimer component

The ring-opening polyaddition reaction of anti and syn head-to-head Coumarin dimers with diamines and the photocleavage behavior of the resulting polyamides were investigated. Anti head-to-head Coumarin dimer successfully reacted with aliphatic and aromatic diamines in an aprotic polar solvent to give corresponding high molecular weight polyamides. The polyamides showed good film forming ability and exhibited solubility behavior typical of polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, these polyamides were found to undergo exclusively asymmetric photocleavage on the cyclobutane rings in the polymer main chain to give a fumaramide unit with elimination of 2,2′-dihydroxystilbene. On the other hand, syn head-to-head Coumarin dimer gave only low molecular weight polyamides. These polymerization and photocleavage behaviors were elucidated in comparison with those of model reactions.     

The first example of the stereoselective synthesis of 7 beta-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinan via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone

7beta-Carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 5 were stereoselectively synthesized from the 7alpha-carboxylate intermediate 3 in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and amines under reflux conditions in mesitylene via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone 7. These were the first examples of the stereoselective syntheses of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans. The mechanism of the reaction process was elucidated as follows: 1) epimerization of 7alpha-carboxylate 3, 2) intramolecular lactonization of 7beta-carboxylate 6, and 3) aminolysis of the resultant gamma-lactone 7. The aminolysis of the isolated reactive gamma-lactone 7 with allylamine and the alcoholysis with MeOH in the presence of NaBH(4) proceeded at room temperature. The gamma-lactone 7 can be a useful intermediate for the preparation of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans that would be potent selective delta opioid receptor ligands. The stereoselective syntheses of the 7alpha-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 9 from 7alpha-carboxylate 3 via 7alpha-carboxylic acid were also successful.     

Control of calcium carbonate polymorphism and morphology through biomimetic mineralization by means of nanotechnology

In vitro biomimetic mineralization by means of nanotechnology allows the formation of calcium carbonate polymorphs at low temperatures (<25 degrees C) under a CO(2) atmosphere of 500-1500 ppm. A two-dimensional zinc-ion ordered array (zinc array), which acts as an active-site mimic of carbonic anhydrase, has been prepared by immersing the self-organized monolayer of 3-(2-imidazolin-1-y)propyltriethosilane on mica (ImSi substrate) into aqueous zinc solution. The zinc array mounted on the ImSi substrate catalyzed the conversion from CO(2) to HCO(3) (-), and accelerated the formation of calcium carbonate. In situ X-ray diffraction data of the formed calcium carbonate on the poly(L-aspartate)-coated chitin substrate (pAsp substrate), with calcium ion-recognition sites, demonstrated that the interaction between the zinc array and pAsp substrates formed both vaterite and calcite at low temperature (15 degrees C) and mainly vaterite at 25 degrees C; this interaction also controlled the morphology of calcium carbonate formed on pAsp substrate.     

Crystal structure of cobalt molybdate hydrate CoMoO4·nH2O

We have determined the crystal structure of the title compound, which has a triclinic cell with cell parameters of , , , α=76.617°, β=84.188°, γ=74.510° and space group . The crystal structure suggests the chemical formula CoMoO₄·3/4H₂O. The structure consists of MoO₄ tetrahedra and CoO₆ octahedra, confirming the earlier X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopic (XANES) investigation on the hydrate. The comparison of the crystal structures of the hydrate and the α-,β-, and hp-phases shows that the hydrate exhibits metal cation coordinations similar to those of the β-phase, but had arrangements of CoO₆ and MoO_n polyhedra similar to those of the hp-phase.     

Phase-transfer reactions catalyzed by polymer-supported crown ethers

Polymer-supported crown ethers were prepared from chloromethylated or ω-bromoalkylated polystyrene resins and hydroxymethylbenzo-18-crown-6 and 15- or 18-membered monoazacrown ethers. Effects of the cavity size of crown ethers, the degree of crosslinking, the degree of ring substitution, particle size, spacer chains, and solvents on the activity of the polymer-supported crown ethers in the reaction of 1-chloro- or 1-bromo-octane with aqueous NaI or KI were investigated and mechanisms of the reaction were discussed in terms of mass transfer, intraparticle diffusion, and intrinsic reactivity.     

Theory of compleximetric titrations with redox indicators edta titration of iron(iii) using variamine blue as indicator

Theoretical expressions are derived for the color transition of variamine blue B base used as a redox indicator in the compleximetric titration of iron (III) with EDTA, and photometric and visual methods of end-point location are discussed. The addition of iron(II) favored the elimination of the interference of some metals. The effect of added iron(II) is illustrated and quantitatively accounted for.     

Isolation of xylose reductase gene ofPichia stipitis and its expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - A NADPH/NADH-dependent xylose reductase gene was isolated from the xylose-assimilating yeast,Pichia stipitis. DNA sequence analysis showed that the gene...     

Stereoselective synthesis of procyanidin B3-3-O-gallate and 3,3″-di-O-gallate, and their abilities as antioxidant and DNA polymerase inhibitor

A simple method for the synthesis of procyanidin B3 substituted with a galloyl group at the 3 and 3″ position is described. Condensation of a benzylated catechin-3-O-gallate electrophile with a nucleophile, catechin and catechin-3-O-gallate, proceeded smoothly and stereoselectively to afford the corresponding dimer gallates, procyanidin B3-3-O-gallate and procyanidin B3-3,3″-di-O-gallate, in good yields. Further, their antioxidant activities on UV-induced lipid peroxide formation, DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of DNA polymerase were also investigated. Among three procyanidin B3 congeners (procyanidin B3, 3-O-gallate and 3,3″-di-O-gallate), the 3,3″-di-O-gallate derivative showed the strongest antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. Interestingly, the 3-O-gallate derivative was the strongest inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerase with IC₅₀ value of 0.26 μM, although it showed the weakest antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. It became apparent that the presence of a galloyl group at the C-3 position in the proanthocyanidin oligomer was very important for biological activity, however, the antioxidant activity of these compounds was not parallel to the DNA polymerase inhibitory activity.