Revised Structure of Tolyporphin A

Four monocyclic precursors were assembled in the total synthesis of the proposed structure 1 - A of (+)-tolyporphin A O,O-diacetate (X=Ac). Comparison of the spectroscopic data demonstrated that synthetic tolyporphin O,O-diacetate did not match the O,O-diacetate prepared from natural (+)-tolyporphin A (X=H), calling for a structural revision of this class of natural products. On the basis of a series of NMR experiments including synthetic intermediates, the structure of tolyporphin A is concluded to be 1 - B , in which the configurations of quaternary centers C7 and C17 are opposite to those in the originally proposed structure.     

Molecular orbital approach to odor molecules: Normal fatty acids and cyclamenaldehydes

Eight normal fatty acids and 24 cyclamenaldehydes were analyzed based on the molecular orbital theory using Computer-Aided Chemistry Programs (CAChe Programs) with PM3 parameters. We found reactive sites with high values of electrophilic frontier densities (EFDs) at appointed positions in both molecules. EFD is a theoretical index that predicts reactive sites acting as electron donors. A change in the values of EFDs in normal fatty acids would account for the selectivity in the response of a single olfactory receptor cell to the fatty acids. Changes in the values of EFDs at appointed positions of cyclamenaldehydes also correlated with their odor characteristics and intensities. This fact indicates that cyclamenaldehydes have common reactive sites that play a critical role in interactions with a receptor. Changes in their reactivities alter the odor characteristics and intensities of the molecules judged by perfumers, indicating that human discrimination of cyclamenaldehyde odor is determined at the stage of interaction between cyclamenaldehydes and an odor receptor. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 79: 101–108, 2000     

Stereochemistry of pteriatoxins A, B, and C

The C34 and C2' stereochemistry of pteriatoxins A-C has been established. The availability of all the stereoisomers via total synthesis has played an indispensable role.     

In-Line Reactions and Ionizations of Vaporized Diphenylchloroarsine and Diphenylcyanoarsine in Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

We propose detecting a fragment ion (Ph₂As⁺) using counter-flow introduction atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion trap mass spectrometry for sensitive air monitoring of chemical warfare vomiting agents diphenylchloroarsine (DA) and diphenylcyanoarsine (DC). The liquid sample containing of DA, DC, and bis(diphenylarsine)oxide (BDPAO) was heated in a dry air line, and the generated vapor was mixed into the humidified air flowing through the sampling line of a mass spectrometer. Humidity effect on the air monitoring was investigated by varying the humidity of the analyzed air sample. Evidence of the in-line conversion of DA and DC to diphenylarsine hydroxide (DPAH) and then BDPAO was obtained by comparing the chronograms of various ions from the beginning of heating. Multiple-stage mass spectrometry revealed that the protonated molecule (MH⁺) of DA, DC, DPAH, and BDPAO could produce Ph₂As⁺ through their in-source fragmentation. Among the signals of the ions that were investigated, the Ph₂As⁺ signal was the most intense and increased to reach a plateau with the increased air humidity, whereas the MH⁺ signal of DA decreased. It was suggested that DA and DC were converted in-line into BDPAO, which was a major source of Ph₂As⁺.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Synthesis of alcohols from m-fluorophenylsulfones and dialkylboranes: application to the C14-C35 building block of E7389

The reaction of m-fluorophenylsulfone anions with dialkylboranes, followed by alkaline hydroperoxide oxidation, yields alcohols in high yields. Optimization of the process, scope and limitation, and application to the synthesis of one of the C14-C35 building blocks of E7389, a right half analogue of halichondrin B, are reported.     

On Ni catalysts for catalytic, asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated coupling reactions

The importance of the Ni catalyst in achieving catalytic asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated coupling reactions effectively is demonstrated. Six phenanthroline-NiCl(2) complexes 1a-c and 2a-c and five types of alkenyl iodides A-E were chosen for the study, thereby demonstrating that these Ni catalysts display a wide range of overall reactivity profiles in terms of the degree of asymmetric induction, geometrical isomerization, and coupling rate. For three types of alkenyl iodides A-C, a satisfactory Ni catalyst(s) was found within 1a-c and 2a-c. For disubstituted (Z)-alkenyl iodide D, 2c was identified as an acceptable Ni catalyst in terms of the absence of Z → E isomerization and the degree of asymmetric induction but not in terms of the coupling rate. Two phosphine-based Ni catalysts, [(Me)(3)P](2)·NiCl(2) and [(cy)(3)P](2)·NiCl(2), were found to meet all three criteria for D. The bond-forming reaction at the C16-C17 position of palytoxin was used to demonstrate the usefulness of the Ni catalysts thus identified.     

Surface viscous flattening kinetics of soda-lime silicate glass by sinusoidal profile decay method

The kinetics of the flattening of surface corrugations of float glasses were investigated in dry nitrogen at 610 to 670°C. The amplitude of the sinusoidal surface profile decayed exponentially with time while its wavelength remained constant. The dependence of decay rate on wavelength indicated that the process is controlled by the viscous flow. From the obtained rate constant the viscosity was calculated using the surface energy value determined independently by the zero-creep method. The viscosity thus obtained reflects the mass transport property in the vicinity of the glass surface. It was several times larger than that determined by the fibre elongation or intrusion method which should reflect the bulk properties. No difference in the decay rate was observed on both the surfaces of float glass of which only one side had been exposed to molten tin during the glass manufacturing process.     

On stereochemistry of osmium tetraoxide oxidation of allylic alcohol systems. Empirical rule

An empirical formulation is presented to predict the stereochemistry of major osmylation products of allylic alcohols and their derivatives.     

Thermoosmosis of various electrolyte solutions through anion-exchange membranes

Thermoosmosis through anion-exchange membranes was measured for 10^-3 to 2 mol/kg of aqueous KCl, LiCl, and NH₄Cl and for 10^-3 to 3 x 10^-1 mol/kg of aqueous KIO₃ and K₂SO₄. For all electrolytes used the direction of thermoosmosis was from the cold side to the hot side over the whole range of concentrations. For KCl and LiCl the experimental results were analyzed with an extension of a previously published theory, using additional data for transport numbers of ions in membranes and for electroosmosis. The agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory. The absolute value of thermoosmosis for KIO₃ is larger than that for other electrolytes because the pore volume fraction of the membrane for KIO₃ is larger than that for the other electrolytes.