Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Tandem [2+2+2] Annulation–Lactamization of Anilides with Two Alkynoates via Cleavage of Two Adjacent C−H or C−H/C−O bonds

An electron‐deficient Cp^E rhodium(III) complex bearing a cyclopentadienyl ligand with two ethyl ester substituents catalyzes the tandem [2+2+2] annulation–lactamization of acetanilides with two alkynoates via cleavage of adjacent two C?H bonds to give densely substituted benzo[cd]indolones. The reactions of meta‐methoxy‐substituted acetanilides with two alkynoates also provided benzo[cd]indolones via cleavage of adjacent C?H/C?O bonds. Furthermore, 3,5‐dimethoxyacetanilides reacted with two alkynoates to give dearomatized spiro compounds.     

Hydrogen ion titration of alkyldimethylamine oxides by 13C and 1H NMR and conventional methods

In the hydrogen ion titration of micelles, the degree of ionization of the micelle at a given pH has to be evaluated to obtain a pKa value of micelles (Ka being the proton dissociation constant) at the pH. We compared the degree of ionization obtained from 13C and 1H NMR spectra with that obtained from the stoichiometric method. We used dodecyldimethylamine oxide (C12DMAO) and hexyldimethylamine oxide (C6DMAO) to examine the titration behavior of micelles and monomers, respectively. We determined pKa values of amine oxides both in H2O and D2O. As to the monomer (C6DMAO), the degree of ionization from NMR, alpha(NMR), coincided with that from the conventional stoichiometric method alpha. The difference of pK1 of amine oxide monomer between D2O and H2O was about 0.5: pK1(D) approximately pK1(H) + 0.5. The difference was about the same as that for carboxylic acids. As to the C12DMAO micelle, alphaNMR did not coincide with alpha over a considerable range of alpha. The NMR chemical shift might be influenced by micellar structure changes induced by the ionization, such as the sphere-to-rod transition. The intrinsic logarithmic dissociation constants of the micelle were 5.9+/-0.1 for H2O, and 6.5+/-0.1 for D2O.     

Isolation and structures of trans-laurencenyne,a possible precursor of the C15 halogenated cyclic ethers,and trans-neolaurencenyne from laurencia okamurai

Isolation and structural elucidation of two new acetylenic polyenes, $\text{trans}$-laurencenyne $\text{1}$ and $\text{trans}$-neolaurencenyne $\text{2}$ from the marine red alga $\text{Laurencia okamurai}$ were carried out, the former compound $\text{1}$ very recently being proposed to be a biosynthetic precursor of the C₁₅ halogenated cyclic ethers, $\text{7}$ and $\text{8}$.     

An Unexpected New Member of the Family of Lithium Oxonitridosilicates – Li7Si2NO6

With Li₇Si₂NO₆, a new member of the family of lithium oxonitridosilicates with a so far unseen structure type could be synthesized. Using a high-temperature solid-state reaction in open nickel crucibles under nitrogen flow, it was possible to obtain single crystals from the starting materials SiO₂, Li₃N, and Li₂O at temperatures of 900 °C. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data yielded lattice parameters of a=5.0934(2), b=7.4128(2), c=8.5918(2) Å, α=75.16(1)°, β=87.36(1)°, γ=73.01(1)° and a cell volume of V=299.75(2) ų. The compound, crystallizing in the triclinic space group P (no. 2), consists of a highly condensed anionic network built up by [SiNO₃]-, [LiO₄]-, and [LiN₂O₂]-tetrahedra as well as lithium in octahedral coordination as completing cation. With an activation barrier of 695 meV for lithium migration, Li₇Si₂NO₆ is a potential lithium-ion conductor. The structure allows a classification not only as a sorosilicate but also as a tecto-lithosilicate and most precisely as a lithium oxonitridolithosilicate, when the different coordinations of the lithium ions are taken into account. Interestingly, the new compound is none of the several proposed representatives of the lithium oxonitridosilicates, thus expanding this substance class unexpectedly.     

Aggregate of a peptide-containing block copolymer with a lipase

The peptide-containing block copolymer poly(N-acetyliminoethylene)-block-poly(L -phenylalanine) (1) formed large water-soluble aggregates in water due to the hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding character of the poly(L -phenylalanine) block. The solution properties of 1 were compared with those of the block copolymer poly(N-acetyliminoethylene)-block-poly(N-benzoyliminoethylene) (2) with an analogous structure. 1 formed aggregates even though the poly(phenylalanine) segment was short as compared with 2 in which hydrophobic interaction may be the only driving force to form aggregates. The aggregates have strong capability of incorporating Lipase P and largely increase the hydrolysis activity against p-nitrophenyl propionate as compared with that of free Lipase P.