Studies on the constituents of Lonicera species. XVII. New iridoid glycosides of the stems and leaves of Lonicera japonica THUNB

Four new iridoid glycosides, named L-phenylalaninosecologanin (1), 7-O-(4-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxybenzoyl)secologanolic acid (2), 6'-O-(7alpha-hydroxyswerosyloxy)loganin (3) and (Z)-aldosecologanin (5), were isolated, together with a known one, newly named (E)-aldosecologanin (4), from the stems and leaves of Lonicera japonica. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral data.     

Heterotopic assemblage of two different disk-shaped ligands through trinuclear silver(I) complexation: ligand exchange-driven molecular motion

The sandwich-shaped heterotopic trinuclear Ag+ complex Ag(3)1.2 was exclusively formed from two different tris(thiazolyl) and hexa(thiazolyl) disk-shaped ligands, 1 and 2, with the aid of three Ag+ ions. The variable-temperature 1H NMR study on its complexation behavior revealed that metal-ligand exchanges between the two neighboring thiazolyl nitrogen donors of 2 take place at the three Ag+ centers in concert. DeltaH++ and DeltaS++ for the exchange process were calculated to be 50.5 kJ mol(-1) and -26.7 J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively, and its energy barrier at 298 K was estimated to be 58.5 kJ mol(-1). Each concerted metal-ligand exchange leads to an intramolecular 60 degrees-rotational motion ((P) <==>(M) conversion) between the two disk-shaped ligands.     

Five new sesquiterpenoids and a new diterpenoid from Erigeron annuus (L.) PERS., Erigeron philadelphicus L. and Erigeron sumatrensis RETZ

The aerial parts of Erigeron annuus (L.) PERS., E. philadelphicus L. and E. sumatrensis RETZ. (Compositae) have been investigated chemically. A new sesquiterpenoid, 6beta,14-epoxyeudesm-4(15)-en-1beta-ol (1), and a new diterpenoid, philadelphinone (6), have been isolated from E. philadelphicus. Four new sesquiterpenoids, (7R*)-opposit-4(15)-ene-1beta,7-diol (2), 11-methoxyopposit-4(15)-en-1beta-ol (3), 15-methoxyisodauc-3-ene-1beta,5alpha-diol (4) and 10alpha-hydroxycadin-4-en-15-al (5), have been isolated from E. annuus. Compounds 2 and 4 were also isolated from E. sumatrensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structure of a (&mgr;-Oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) Complex with a Dinucleating Hexapyridine Ligand, 1,2-Bis[2-(bis(2-pyridyl)methyl)-6-pyridyl]ethane. The First Example of a Discrete (&mgr;-Oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) Complex with a Dinucleating Ligand

A mononucleating tripyridine ligand, 2-(bis(2-pyridyl)methyl)-6-methylpyridine (L(1)), and a dinucleating hexapyridine ligand, 1,2-bis[2-(bis(2-pyridyl)methyl)-6-pyridyl]ethane (L(2)), have been prepared. The reaction of a carbanion of 2,6-lutidine with 2-bromopyridine affords L(1) which is converted to L(2) quantitatively by treating with tert-butyllithium and 1,2-dibromoethane. (&mgr;-Oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) complexes [Fe(2)(O)(OAc)(2)(L(1))(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1) and [Fe(2)(O)(OAc)(2)L(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2) have been synthesized and characterized by means of infrared, UV/vis, mass, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies and by measuring magnetic susceptibility and cyclic voltammograms. All the spectral data are consistent with the (&mgr;-oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) core structure in both 1 and 2. A relatively strong molecular ion peak at m/z 865 corresponding to [{Fe(2)O(OAc)(2)L(2)}(ClO(4))](+) in a FAB mass spectrum of 2 suggests the stabilization of the (&mgr;-oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) core structure by L(2) in a solution state. The compound 2.DMF.2-PrOH.H(2)O, chemical formula C(44)Cl(2)Fe(2)H(51)N(7)O(16), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 22.034(6) ?, b = 12.595(5) ?, c = 20.651(7) ?, beta = 121.49(2) degrees, and Z = 4. The cation has 2-fold symmetry with the bridging oxygen atom on the 2-fold axis: Fe-(&mgr;-O) = 1.782(5) ?, Fe-O-Fe = 123.6(6) degrees, and Fe.Fe = 3.142(3) ?. The diiron(III) core structure of 2 seems to be stabilized by encapsulation of the ligand. Compound 2 is the first example of a discrete (&mgr;-oxo)bis(&mgr;-acetato)diiron(III) complex with a dinucleating ligand.     

Mössbauer study of new vanadate glass with large charge-discharge capacity

Charge-discharge capacity and cyclicity of lithium ion battery (LIB) was evaluated in which 15Li₂O·10Fe₂O₃·xSnO₂·5P₂O₅·(70–x)V₂O₅ glass (x?=?0 and 20 in mol%, abbreviated as xLFSPV) was used as a cathode. A local structure of xLFSPV glass before and after charging was investigated by ⁵⁷Fe- and ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopies. ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectrum of xLFSPV glass with ‘x’ of 20 was composed of a doublet with isomer shift (δ) of 0.35_±0.02 mm s^???1 and quadrupole splitting (Δ) of 0.88_±0.03 mm s^???1 due to distorted Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra. ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of this glass consisted of a doublet with δ of 0.08_±0.01 and Δ of 0.52_±0.01 mms^???1 due to distorted Sn^VIO₆ octahedra. After discharging the battery from 4.5 to 1.0 V, larger δ of 0.40_±0.03 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.94_±0.04 mm s^???1 were obtained, indicating that both iconicity of Fe-O bonds and local distortion of Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra were increased. On the contrary, identical δ of 0.09_±0.01 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.50_±0.01 mm s^???1 were observed in the ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of 20LFSPV glass after the discharge, indicating that chemical environment of Sn^IVO₆ octahedra was not affected after the discharge. Charge-discharge curve of LIB containing 20LFSPV glass as a cathode active material recorded under the current density of 8.3 mA g^???1 (0.011 mA cm^???2) between 1.0 and 4.5 V showed a large initial charge capacity of 431.1 mAh g^???1 and discharge capacity of 382.3 mAh g^???1, respectively. These results indicate that 20LFSPV glass could be a new cathode active material for LIB.     

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Typing with a Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Sensor Using Hybridization Enhancement Blockers

We constructed a simple method for discrimination of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based sensor by determining the binding volume (BV) between a target SNP allele and a probe complementary to the target. In the method, a novel additive termed “blocker,” which is a short single-stranded DNA complementary to the target, was used. The blocker enhanced the BV of the target only to the full-match probe 10-fold or more, so the SNP alleles could be discriminated readily. The effect of the blocker concentration was also examined. The BV to only a full-match probe increased with increasing the blocker concentration and reached a plateau at the concentration of 300–500 nM. To assess the effectiveness of this method, the SNP associated with progressive rod-cone degeneration in dog was determined. The results of genotyping with the method were in good agreement with those obtained by direct sequencing.     

Mechanically strengthened new Hagi porcelain developed by controlling the chemical environment of iron

In order to enhance the mechanical strength of Hagi Porcelain (Hagiyaki), one of the oldest and famous potteries in Japan, new preparation condition was examined. Tempered Hagi porcelain, denominated as ‘Hagi Porcelain B’, was prepared with the Porcelain clay originating from Daido district, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Structural change of ‘Hagi Porcelain B’ was investigated by means of ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and three-point bending test. Mechanical strength of the ‘original Hagi Porcelain B’ was estimated to be 43.1 MPa by means of the three-point bending test, while much larger value of 104.5 MPa could be achieved when tempered by a chemical modification. Mössbauer spectrum of the ‘original Hagi porcelain B’ was composed of a paramagnetic doublet and a magnetic sextet due to Fe(III) of γ-Fe₂O₃(maghemite), while only one paramagnetic doublet due to to octahedral Fe(II)O₆ was observed for the ‘tempered Hagi Porcelain B’ with isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values of 1.13 and 2.15 mm s^?1, respectively. It is considered that the absence of magnetic phase causes an increase of the mechanical strength because the maghemite phase has a defect spinel structure. These results indicate that mechanical strength of the ‘Hagi porcelain B’ could be enhanced by controlling the sintering condition.     

High-speed deposition of RE123 film with large current capacity by hot-wall type PLD system

We have studied a hot-wall heating system to produce GdBa₂Cu₃O_y (GdBCO) films with large critical currents (I_c) at a high production rate by a pulsed-laser-deposition (PLD) method. GdBCO films fabricated at a production rate of 30 m/h under the optimized conditions, especially a distance of 95 mm between the target and the substrate (T–S), exhibited high critical current densities (J_c) of about 3 MA/cm² and I_c over 300 A at a thickness of 1–2 μm. Furthermore, long GdBCO tapes prepared by repeated depositions at each tape-passing speed of 80 m/h showed uniform I_c distribution along the longitudinal direction, because the hot-wall system enabled to stabilize temperature within a few degrees at 800 °C. A 170 m long tape with I_c over 600 A was successfully fabricated at a production rate of 16 m/h using a laser power of 360 W.     

Chemical Synthesis of Native-Type Cellulose and Its Analogues via Enzymatic Polymerization

Abstract

The first successful chemical synthesis of cellulose was achieved by a polycondensation of β-cellobiosyl fluoride monomer catalyzed with cellulase, an extracellular hydrolytic enzyme of cellulose, in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile and acetate buffer. The product, synthetic cellulose, was the crystalline allomorph cellulose II, a thermodynamically more stable form. More detailed examinations of the polymerization conditions led to the formation of the native cellulose I, a metastable allomorph, for the first time. The key to the success was to use partially purified cellulase and an appropriate mixed solvent of acetonitrile/buffer. The formation of the two allomorphs of cellulose implies that the polarity of the glucan chain ordering can be controlled in a test tube. Based on these findings, a new concept “choroselectivity,” meaning spacial control in ordering the macromolecular chain, has been proposed. Cellulose analogues, 6-O-methylated cellulose and xylan, have been synthesized regio- and stereoselectively by using the enzymatic polymerization technique.