Stereostructures of several solidagolactones (elongatolides)

The structures of several clerodane-type diterpenes [solidagolactones II (elongatolide C), III, IV (elongatolide A), V, VI (elongatolide D), elongatolide B, and elongatolide E] have been revised , all of which are $\text{cis}$-clerodanes.     

A theoretical study of the dielectric solvent effect on vicinal spin coupling constants

The dielectric solvent effect on HCCH, HCNH and HCNC spin coupling constants in ethane, tetrachloroethane and trans N-methylformamide has been calculated by finite perturbation theory based on the INDO and CNDO/2 approximations incorporating solvaton theory. The available experimental data are interpreted using the calculated variations of spin coupling constants. The effect of dielectric constant on the general form of the Karplus relation is included in the finite perturbation calculations.     

Reactivity control of an allylsilane bearing a 2-(phenylazo)phenyl group by photoswitching of the coordination number of silicon

Photoswitching of the coordination number of silicon between four and five in allyldifluoro[2-(phenylazo)phenyl]silane, which was confirmed by X-ray analysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, caused multistep reactions to proceed or stop, yielding tetrafluoro[2-(1-allyl-2-phenylhydrazino)phenyl]silicate without altering other reaction conditions.     

Efficient synthesis of (±)-8,14-cedranoxide using electrochemical method as a key step

(±)-8,14-Cedranoxide has been synthesized starting from 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, wherein 6-acetoxymethyl-2,6-dimethyl-9-methoxytricyclo[5.3.1.0^1,5]undec-9-en-8,11-dione as a key intermediate has been produced efficiently by means of electrochemical methods.     

Biomimetic reactions of germacrenes

The biomimetic reactions of epoxygermacrene-D ($\text{1}$) with basic alumina afforded three new interesting compounds ($\text{4}$, $\text{5}$, and $\text{6}$), two of which ($\text{4}$ and $\text{6}$) have the same carbon skeleton as that of periplanone-A ($\text{3}$), a sexual stimulant for the American cockroach. The remaining one ($\text{5}$) is a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane derivative, from whch an axisonitrile-3 type compound ($\text{14}$) has been produced. Finally, preisocalamendiol ($\text{2}$) was also converted into $\text{6}$.     

An efficient novel synthesis of beta-(azuleno[1,2-b]benzothienyl)- and beta-(azuleno[2,1-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by the tropylium ion-mediated intramolecular furan ring-opening reaction and X-ray investigation of methyl ketone derivative

Intramolecular reaction of 2-tropylio-3-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (3), prepared from the corresponding 2-cycloheptatrienyl-3-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (2), afforded the beta-(azuleno[1,2-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (4), which are otherwise difficult to obtain, in moderate yields. The reaction involves a ring-opening process of the furan ring by intramolecular attack of the tropylium ion onto the 2-position of the furan ring. Similarly, beta-(azuleno[2,1-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (8) were obtained from the corresponding 3-tropylio-2-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (7) albeit in lower yields. The molecular and crystal structures of the methyl ketone derivative, 8a, are discussed on the basis of X-ray structure analysis.     

Metal-ion-assisted hydrolysis of dipeptides involving a serine residue in a neutral aqueous solution

Dipeptides having a serine residue at the C-terminus, X-Ser, where X is an appropriate amino acid residue, were efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of ZnCl2 at pH 7.0. The rapid hydrolysis of X-Ser is due to an autocatalysis of the hydroxy group in the serine residue, and is found to be accelerated by a metal ion, in particular by ZnCl2. Roles of the metal ion in the hydrolysis of peptides involving a serine residue, in relation to the recently reported protein cleavages, are discussed.