Synthesis of a stable iminium salt and propellane derivatives

The treatment of morphinan 1 with NaH and MsCl provided very stable iminium salt 7 possessing propellane skeleton. One of the synthesized iminium salts 7, isobutyl derivative 7b, was crystallized and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The natural bond orbital analysis suggested that the stability of the iminium should result from the stereoelectronic effect (hyperconjugation) attributed to their own structures.     

Reactions of 2‐Substituted Pyridines with Titanocenes and Zirconocenes: Coupling versus Dearomatisation

Reactions of group 4 metallocene sources with 2‐substituted pyridines were investigated to evaluate their coordination type between innocent and reductive dearomatisation as well as to probe the possibility for couplings. A dependence on the cyclopentadienyl ligands (Cp, Cp*), the metals (Ti, Zr), and the substrates (2‐phenyl‐, 2‐acetyl‐, and 2‐iminopyridine) was observed. While 2‐phenylpyridine is barely reactive, 2‐acetylpyridine reacts vigorously with the Cp‐substituted complexes and selectively with their Cp* analogues. With 2‐iminopyridine, in all cases selective reactions were observed. In the isolated [Cp₂Ti], [Cp₂Zr], and [Cp*₂Zr] compounds the substrate coordinates by its pyridyl ring and the unsaturated side‐chain. Subsequently, the pyridine was dearomatised, which is most pronounced in the [Cp*₂Zr] compounds. Using [Cp*₂Ti] leads to the unexpected paramagnetic complexes [Cp*₂Ti^III(N,O‐acpy)] and [Cp*₂Ti^III(N,N′‐impy)]. This highlights the non‐innocent character of the pyridyl substrates.     

Solid-state 17O NMR study of the electric-field-gradient and chemical shielding tensors in polycrystalline amino acids

We have presented a systematic experimental investigation of carboxyl oxygen electric-field-gradient (EFG) and chemical shielding (CS) tensors in crystalline amino acids. Three 17O-enriched amino acids were prepared: L-aspartic acid, L-threonine, and L-tyrosine. Analysis of two-dimensional 17O multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning (MQMAS), MAS, and stationary NMR spectra yields the 17O CS, EFG tensors and the relative orientations between the two tensors for the amino acids. The values of quadrupolar coupling constants (CQ) are found to be in the range of 6.70-7.60 MHz. The values of deltaiso lie in the range of 268-292 ppm, while those of the delta11 and delta22 components vary from 428 to 502 ppm, and from 303 to 338 ppm, respectively. There is a significant correlation between the magnitudes of delta22 components and C--O bond lengths. Since C--O bond length may be related to hydrogen-bonding environments, solid-state 17O NMR has significant potential to provide insights into important aspects of hydrogen bonds in biological systems.     

Simple and effective 3D recognition of domoic acid using a molecularly imprinted polymer

We have developed a simple and effective molecular imprinting technique to target compounds with flexible structure. Domoic acid (DA), an amnesic shellfish poison, was used as the target compound while many acidic compounds (mono-, di-, and tricarboxylic acids) were used as template molecules for molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). Evaluation of selective recognition abilities using liquid chromatography revealed that the highest selective recognition ability for DA was found when pentane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (1,3,5-PeTA) was used as the template. Computer modeling studies of the DA structure suggested that the observed selective recognition depended on the structural changes in DA at the recognition site of the MIPs as well as spatial distance between the COOH groups in DA and 1,3,5-PeTA. Using the 1,3,5-PeTA-MIP, we could easily purify DA from blue mussel extracts by solid-phase extraction.     

Phase-ordering kinetics of the liquid-liquid transition in single-component molecular liquids

Recently it has been revealed that even a single-component liquid can have more than two liquid states. The transition between these liquid states is called the "liquid-liquid transition." Most known liquid-liquid transitions occur at temperatures and pressures which are difficult to access experimentally, so the physical nature of the transition, particularly the kinetics, has remained elusive. However, the recent discovery of liquid-liquid transitions in molecular liquids opens up a possibility to study the kinetics in detail. Here, we report the first phase field simulation on the kinetics of a liquid-liquid transition and its direct comparison with experimental results of the molecular liquids. Both nucleation-growth-type and spinodal-decomposition-type liquid-liquid transformation observed experimentally are well reproduced by numerical simulation based on a two-order-parameter model of liquid that regards the liquid-liquid transition as the cooperative formation of locally favored structures. Thus, phase field calculations may allow us to predict the kinetics of liquid-liquid transitions and the resulting spatiotemporal change of various physical properties of the liquid, such as density and refractive index.     

Titanocene(II)-promoted stereoselective alkenylation utilizing (Z)-alkenyl sulfones

The stereoselective alkenylation of unsaturated compounds by means of a (Z)-alkenyl sulfone-titanocene(II) system is described. Treatment of alkynes and (Z)-alkenyl methyl sulfones with the titanocene(II) reagent Cp2Ti[P(OEt)3]2 produced conjugated dienes. This alkenylation system is also applicable to polar C=O bonds; the simple mixing of carbonyl compounds, (Z)-alkenyl methyl sulfones, and the titanocene(II) reagent formed allylic alcohols. The advantages of alkenylation are that it requires no prepreparation of the alkenylmetal reagent and that it proceeds with complete stereoselectivity.     

Nucleophilic deoxyfluorination of catechols

Nucleophilic deoxyfluorinaiton of one of the two hydroxyl groups of catechols has been developed via the Umpolung concept. This method was successively applied to naturally occurring catechols, such as catechins and dopamine, to produce novel fluorinated analogues.     

Synthesis of (-)-homogalanthamine from naltrexone

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (-)-homogalanthamine 3 was synthesized from μ opioid antagonist naltrexone (2) in 16% total yield. The synthesis features Grob fragmentation as a key reaction, which was especially accelerated in the presence of 15-crown-5.