Molecular distortion effect on ff-emission in a Pr(III) complex with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline.

The electronic and structural behaviour of a Pr(III) complex with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)], is investigated with respect to the effect of configuration changes on the Pr(III) centre. [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)] luminesces from the excited states of the ligand and the metal ion. The fluorescence, ff-emission ((1)D(2)-->(3)H(4)), and phosphorescence bands appear at 394, 608.2 and 482 nm, respectively, in the solid state. In acetonitrile, the complex also shows multiple emissions. From the time-resolved emission and the lifetime measurements, the excitation energy-transfer in [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)] is clarified, that is, the upper excited triplet level of the ligand acts as an energy donor, while the (1)D(2) levels of Pr(III) is the acceptor. Additionally, the emission phenomena of the complex can be modified by molecular distortion, particularly by rotation of the phenyl groups in the ligand.     

1H and 13C NMR assignments for two new angular furanocoumarin glycosides from Peucedanum praeruptorum

Two novel angular-type furanocoumarin glycosides, peucedanoside A (1) and peucedanoside B (2), along with a known compound apterin (3), were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Their chemical structures were determined by MS, NMR spectroscopy and chemical analysis. Complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including DEPT, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY.     

Phosphatidylcholine vesicle-mediated decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was examined in aqueous solution (50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, containing 100 mM NaCl) at 25 degrees C in pure buffer or in the presence of either vesicles or micelles formed from various phosphatidylcholines (PCs). In the absence of PCs, more than 90% of the initially added H2O2 (1.0 mM) remained intact after incubation for 120 h. The effect of the PCs on the decomposition of H2O2 was studied by using different PCs that varied in terms of number of carbon atoms in the two acyl chains n as well as in terms of the degree of unsaturation. PCs with short hydrocarbon chains (n = 4, 6-8) were dissolved in the buffer solution in the form of nonassociated monomers or as micelles in equilibrium with monomers at a fixed PC concentration of 10 mM. The presence of these short-chain PCs slightly enhanced the H2O2 decomposition rate. Micelles formed by non-lipid detergents (sodium cholate, Triton X-100, and sodium dodecylsulfate) had a similar effect. In marked contrast, PCs with long hydrocarbon chains (n > or = 10) dispersed in buffer solution as vesicles (liposomes) significantly enhanced the rate of H2O2 decomposition, with the most effective PC being 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) at 25 degrees C. This indicates that the packing density of the PC molecules influences the reactivity, presumably through the direct interaction of the PC assemblies with H2O2 molecules. Furthermore, in the case of vesicles formed from PCs with unsaturated acyl chains (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, POPC; 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, DOPC), carbon-carbon double bond oxidation did not occur extensively under the conditions used. This indicates that the observed effect of PCs on the decomposition of H2O2 is indeed related to the assembly structure (vesicle vs micelles vs monomers) and is clearly not related to the presence of unsaturated hydrocarbon chains. Fluorescence polarization measurements of two fluorescent probes embedded either in the acyl chain region of the vesicles (DPH, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) or on the surface of the vesicles (TMA-DPH, 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene iodide) show that the presence of H2O2 leads to a decrease in the fluidity of the lipid-water surface and not to a change in the fluidity of the hydrophobic region of the vesicle bilayer. This indicates that the decomposition of H2O2 is triggered through interactions between H2O2 and the polar head group area of PC vesicles.     

Highly beta-selective O-glucosidation due to the restricted twist-boat conformation

[reaction: see text] Ethyl 1-thio-2,3,4,6-tetrakis-O-triisopropylsilyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside, ethyl 6-O-benzyl-1-thio-2,3,4-tris-O-triisopropylsilyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside, and ethyl 6-O-pivaloyl-1-thio-2,3,4-tris-O-triisopropylsilyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside induced highly beta-selective O-glucosidations. Among them, the 6-O-pivaloylated substrate provided the best selectivity up to alpha/beta = 3:97 with cyclohexylmethanol, and the substrate was used for glucosidations with secondary and tertiary alcohols in a highly beta-selective manner. The selectivity would be caused by the twist-boat conformation of the pyranose; this is the first beta-selective O-glucosidation based on conformational control of the pyranose ring.     

Detection of environmental chemicals by SPR assay using branched cyclodextrin as sensor ligand

We obtained the association constants Ka of estrogen (E2) and environmental chemicals by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay using the immobilized mono-6-O-α-maltosyl-β-CD (G₂βCD) compared with the immobilized β-CD and the immobilized estrogen receptor (ER). The association behavior of G₂βCD was shown as a ER model compound. The calibration curve was determined by the initial rate of association depending on the various concentrations, and the minimum detectable concentrations in the order of parts per billion were calculated. The SPR assay has advantages that the pre-treatment of the sample is not necessary and the immobilized ligand is stable and useful for the repeated measurement.     

Indium-mediated reduction of β-aminovinyl chloro-difluoromethylated ketones in the presence of heteroaryl aldehydes: A mild entry to novel difluoromethylene enaminone derivatives

The synthesis of new β-aminovinyl chloro-difluoromethylated ketones 1 and 2 is presented. In some of them the activation of the C-Cl bond was achieved, under mild conditions, using indium powder. The corresponding difluoro-enolates were trapped with a series of aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes, to furnish the corresponding difluoromethylene aldol products 3 and 4, in moderate to good yields. The present synthetic methodology provides a convenient approach for the preparation of novel difluoromethylene functionalized enaminone derivatives.     

The structures of three new shishididemniols from a tunicate of the family Didemnidae

Three new serinolipid derivatives, shishididemniols C (1), D (2), and E (3), were isolated as antibacterial constituents of a tunicate of the family Didemnidae. Their planar structures were elucidated by interpretation of NMR and MS data, whereas the absolute stereochemistry was determined by chemical conversions. Shishididemniols C (3), D (4), and E (5) exhibited antibacterial activity against the fish pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted allenes by palladium-catalyzed coupling of propargylic compounds with arylboronic acids

An enantiospecific coupling of propargylic esters and carbonates with arylboronic acids has been developed using a palladium catalyst. Optically active 1,3-disubstituted allenes were synthesized with high enantiomeric excesses by carrying out the reactions under basic aqueous conditions.