Ca(OH)2-mediated efficient synthesis of 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromene derivatives with various substituents

A variety of novel 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromene derivatives with various substituents on the 4H-chromene ring were efficiently synthesized by one-pot reactions of substituted resorcinols and various 2-benzylidenemalononitriles in the presence of calcium hydroxide in methanol at room temperature. This simple method provided 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromenes with high yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Sustainable Synthesis of Bright Fluorescent Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots from Terminalia chebula for In Vitro Imaging

In this study, sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly biomass (Terminalia chebula) was employed as a precursor for the formation of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). The hydrothermally assisted Terminalia chebula fruit-derived N-CDs (TC-CDs) emitted different bright fluorescent colors under various excitation wavelengths. The prepared TC-CDs showed a spherical morphology with a narrow size distribution and excellent water dispensability due to their abundant functionalities, such as oxygen- and nitrogen-bearing molecules on the surfaces of the TC-CDs. Additionally, these TC-CDs exhibited high photostability, good biocompatibility, very low toxicity, and excellent cell permeability against HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells. The cell viability of HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells in the presence of TC-CDs aqueous solution was calculated by MTT assay, and cell viability was higher than 95%, even at a higher concentration of 200 μg mL⁻¹ after 24 h incubation time. Finally, the uptake of TC-CDs by HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells displayed distinguished blue, green, and red colors during in vitro imaging when excited by three filters with different wavelengths under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Thus, TC-CDs could be used as a potential candidate for various biomedical applications. Moreover, the conversion of low-cost/waste natural biomass into products of value promotes the sustainable development of the economy and human society.     

Preparation of a biodegradable superabsorbent polymer and measurements of changes in absorption properties depending on the type of surface‐crosslinker

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a special polymer material that can absorb up to 500 times its own weight of pure water, but has a problem that it does not biodegrade itself and cause environmental pollution. Therefore, we aim to prepare a biodegradable SAP by using biomass‐based IA. The SAP must be able to retain absorbed water and absorb water under a given pressure. We have carried out studies to improve the surface hardness of the SAP to enhance absorption of water under a given pressure by surface‐crosslinking. Four types of surface‐crosslinkers, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE), ethylene carbonate (EC), 1,4‐butanediol (BD), or glycerol, were used. We confirmed the water absorption capacity of the SAP by measuring its centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and absorbency under load (AUL). The structural characteristics of the SAP were confirmed by attenuated total reflection (ATR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the surface characteristics were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Synthesis of Spinochalcone B and Analogues

An efficient synthesis of spinochalcone B and its analogues is achieved from readily available 2H‐pyran.     

Fabrication of helical long-period fiber gratings by use of a CO2 laser

We present a method of helical long-period fiber grating (H-LPFG) fabrication by use of a CO2 laser for use as an optical torque sensor. A conventional optical fiber grating has periodic vertical index changes along its fiber axis, but a H-LPFG has a screw-type index modulation. The helical index modulation is obtained with the asymmetric index change caused by a single-side laser beam exposure. The H-LPFG shows peak shifts with codirectional or contradirectional torsion to the helix. Also, the polarization-dependent loss is measured to be relatively small compared with that of a conventional long-period fiber grating.     

Efficient Synthesis of Biologically Active (±)‐Confluentin and (±)‐Daurichromenic Acid

One‐step synthesis of biologically active (±)‐confluentin is described from commercially available orcinol with trans,trans‐farnesal in the presence of ethylenediamine diacetate as a catalyst. Further conversion of synthetic confluentin to highly potent anti‐HIV agent, (±)‐daurichromenic acid, is accomplished by formylation and oxidation in two steps.     

Excited‐state energy dynamics of conjugated polycarbogermane oligomers: Introduction effects of germanium atom into π‐conjugated molecular system

Excited‐state energy dynamics of the conjugated polycarbogermane oligomers, poly{[1,4‐bis(thiophenyl)buta‐1,3‐diyne]‐alt‐(dimethylgermane)} (PBTBD‐DMG; n = 33), poly{[1,4‐bis‐(thiophenyl)buta‐1,3‐diyne]‐alt‐(diphethylgermane)} (PBTBD‐DPG; n = 12), poly{[1,4‐bis(phenyl)buta‐1,3‐diyne]‐alt‐(dimethylgermane)} (PBPBD‐DMG; n = 36), and poly{[1,4‐bis(phenyl)buta‐1,3‐diyne]‐alt‐(diphenylgermane)} (PBPBD‐DPG; n = 2), were investigated by steady‐state and picosecond time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopies in liquid solution. The introduction effect of a germanium atom into π‐conjugated oligomer backbones and the substitution effect of a methyl or phenyl group on the germanium atom are discussed from solvent polarity‐dependent studies. Steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence studies on the thiophene‐containing polycarbogermane (PBTBD‐DMG and PBTBD‐DPG) oligomers revealed considerable solvent polarity‐dependent characteristics, whereas those of the phenylene‐containing polycarbogermane (PBPBD‐DMG and PBPBD‐DPG) oligomers do not significantly show such characteristics. As the solvent polarity increased from n‐hexane to tetrahydrofuran, the steady‐state fluorescence spectra of PBTBD‐DMG and PBTBD‐DPG oligomers were significantly redshifted, and their fluorescence lifetimes seemed to change from ～624 to ～46 ps. These results suggest that the excited‐state dynamics of PBTBD‐DMG and PBTBD‐DPG oligomers are related to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) emission process through (d‐p) π conjugation between the π‐conjugated system and unoccupied 4d orbitals of the germanium atom. These results are supported by quantum chemical (AM1 and CNDO/2) calculations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1298–1306, 2002     

Transformations of 2,2,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxen-4-one with heterocyclic amines and other amino compounds

Heterocyclic amines were acetoacetylated with 2,2,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxen-4-one and the obtained compounds reacted on the reactive methylene group to give C-substituted products. Nitrosation, followed by reduction afforded a pyrazine derivative. Azido- or chloroacetamide were also acetoacetylated, with heterocyclic amines, the corresponding enamines were prepared and reduction of the azido group of 15 afforded compounds 22 and/or amides of substituted 3-oxobutanoic acid 23 . An X-ray structural determination of compound 23a revealed that the orientation about the double bond is Z.     

Concise total synthesis of biologically interesting mallotophilippens C and e

This paper describes a new and efficient synthetic approach for biologically interesting natural mallotophilippens C and E. The key strategies involved ethylenediamine diacetate-catalyzed benzopyran formation reactions and base-catalyzed aldol reactions.