Terpolymerization of sulfur dioxide or maleic anhydride with unsaturated compounds under ultraviolet irradiation

The effect of ultraviolet irradiation on the terpolymerization was investigated. In the terpolymerizations of sulfur dioxide–butene-1–acrylonitrile, sulfur dioxide–butene-1–n-butyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride–allyl chloride–acrylonitrile systems, the composition of the terpolymers prepared under ultraviolet irradiation was different from those prepared in the dark. The unit content of sulfur dioxide and butene-1 or of maleic anhydride and allyl chloride in the terpolymer increased under ultraviolet irradiation. The nature of the growing end under ultraviolet irradiation is supposed to be the same as that of the dark polymerization on the basis of the same solvent effect on the terpolymer composition, the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of polymer. The experimental results suggest that the complex between sulfur dioxide and butene-1 or maleic anhydride and allyl chloride might be excited by ultraviolet light and the excited complex may participate in the terpolymerization.     

Vascular dilatory action of the Chinese crude drug. II. Effects of scoparone on calcium mobilization

Further experiments were conducted to examine the effect of scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin), a coumarin derivative found in the Chinese crude drug "Capillaris Flos," on calcium mobilization. Scoparone does not affect Ca2+ influx through the voltage-dependent channel due to membrane depolarization. Its inhibitory action may be dependent not only on the inhibition of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum but also on the inhibition of extracellular Ca2+ influx through the receptor-operated channel.     

Catalytic,asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of alpha-imino esters bearing readily removable substituents on nitrogen

[reaction: see text] Catalytic, enantioselective Mannich-type reactions of alpha-imino esters bearing readily removable substituents on nitrogen are described. Several N-carbamate-protected alpha-imino esters, which are readily prepared from 2-bromoglycine esters using a polymer-supported amine, reacted with silicon enolates to afford the desired adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivity using a copper(II)-diamine complex. Easy deprotection of the product amine and transformation to free alpha-amino acid derivatives have also been demonstrated.     

Convenient synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl compounds from aromatic aldehydes by means of the TBAF-mediated Horner reaction

A simple synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl compounds by means of the TBAF-mediated Horner reaction is described. The reagent, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyldiphenylphosphine oxide, was readily prepared either by Arbuzov reaction of ethyl diphenylphosphinite with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl iodide or by treating chlorodiphenylphosphine with trifluoroacetic acid and water. Treatment of the phosphine oxide with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of TBAF at room temperature afforded the corresponding 3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl compounds in good yields. The present method is very convenient for preparing 3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl compounds from aromatic aldehydes in terms of availability of the reagent, operational simplicity, and good yields of the products.     

Guest shape-responsive fitting of porous coordination polymer with shrinkable framework

In situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction patterns of porous coordination polymers [[Cu(2)(pzdc)(2)(bpy)].G] have been measured (pzdc = pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate, bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (where G = H(2)O for CPL-2 superset H(2)()O, G = benzene for CPL-2 superset benzene, and G = void for the apohost). The structures of apohost and CPL-2 superset benzene were determined from Rietveld analysis. Adsorption of benzene in the channels induced a remarkable contraction in the crystal (b axis; 6.8%, volume; 4.9%), although the channels were occupied by the benzene molecules. This crystal transformation provides a new pore structure that is well suited for benzene molecules, and we denote it as a "shape-responsive fitting" transformation. This type of pore gives rise to a new guideline: frameworks can be composed of flexible motifs that are linked via strong bond and/or stiff motifs that are connected via weaker bonds.     

Thermal and photochemical rearrangements of 1,4-dithiin sulfoxides

Thermolysis of 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-dithiin-1-oxide afforded 2-formyl-2,4-diphenyl-1,3-dithiole, which was obtained also in photolysis along with another rearranged product, 2-benzoyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dithiole.     

DNA-bleomycin interaction: Nucleotide sequence-specific binding and cleavage of DNA by bleomycin

Biosynthetic intermediates and synthetic analogues of bleomycin (BLM) have been investigated for their metal binding, dioxygen activation, and DNA cleavage. Molecular O₂ was activated by the Fe(II) complex of a synthetic model ligand. Nucleotide sequence specificities in DNA cleavage by the BLM-Fe(II) and deglyco-BLM-Fe(II) complexes were almost identical. It has been shown that (1) the β-aminoalanine-pyrimidine-β-hydroxyhistidine portion of BLM is essential for the metal binding and dioxygen activation and (2) the bithiazole moiety contributes to the specific binding to guanine base of DNA.     

Synthesis and two-electron redox behavior of diazuleno[2,1-a:1,2-c]naphthalenes

The Diels-Alder reaction of di-2-azulenylacetylene with tetraphenylcyclopentadienone afforded 7,8,9,10-tetraphenyldiazuleno[2,1-a:1,2-c]naphthalene in one pot via autoxidation of the presumed 1,2-di-2-azulenylbenzene derivative. In contrast, a similar reaction of bis(1-methoxycarbonyl-2-azulenyl)acetylene with tetraphenylcyclopentadienone gave the 1,2-di-2-azulenylbenzene derivative. The following cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the benzene derivative with iron(III) chloride afforded diazuleno[2,1-a:1,2-c]naphthalene 6,11-bismethoxycarbonyl derivative. The redox behavior of these novel diazuleno[2,1-a:1,2-c]naphthalenes was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). These compounds exhibited two-step oxidation waves at +0.22 to +0.71 V upon CV, which revealed the formation of a radical cation and dication stabilized by the fused two azulene rings under the electrochemical oxidation conditions. Since the 1,2-di-2-azulenylbenzene derivative was oxidized at higher oxidation potentials (+0.83 and +1.86 V), the fusion of the two azulene rings to naphthalene increased electron-donating properties because of the formation of a closed-shell dicationic structure. Formation of the radical cation was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy under the electrochemical oxidation conditions, although no evidence was obtained for the presumed dication under the conditions of the UV-vis spectroscopy measurement.     

Furan ring oxidation strategy for the synthesis of macrosphelides A and B

By using the convenient protocol for conversion of 2-substituted furans into 4-oxo-2-alkenoic acids ((i) NBS, (ii) NaClO(2)), macrosphelide B (2) was synthesized from furyl alcohol 5 (>98% ee) and acid 6 (99% ee). The protocol was first applied to the PMB ether of 5 to afford acid 13b. On the other hand, DCC condensation of acid 6 with 5 gave 16 after deprotection of the TBS group. Condensation was again carried out between 13b and 16 to furnish the key ketone 17, which upon reduction with Zn(BH(4))(2) afforded anti alcohol 18 stereoselectively (15:1). After protection/deprotection steps, the furan 18 was converted to seco acid 3 by using the furan oxidation protocol mentioned above, and lactonization of 3 with Cl(3)C(6)H(2)COCl, Et(3)N, and DMAP afforded 22 (MOM ether of 2), which upon deprotection with TFA produced 2. Transformation of 22 to macrosphelide A (1) was then investigated. Although the chelation-controlled reduction of 22 should afford the desired anti alcohol 24, Zn(BH(4))(2) at <-90 degrees C gave a 2 approximately 1:1 mixture of anti/syn alcohols. On the contrary, reduction with NaBH(4) in MeOH at -15 degrees C produced the syn isomer 23 with >10:1 diastereoselectivity. Mitsunobu inversion of the resulting C(14)-hydroxyl group and deprotection of the MOM group with TFA afforded 1. Similarly, reduction of 2 with NaBH(4) afforded the C(14)-epimer of 1 stereoselectively. The observed stereoselectivity in the reductions of 22 and 2 could be explained on the basis of computer-assisted calculation, which showed presence of the low-energy conformers responsible for the stereoselective reduction. In addition, conversion of 2 to 1 was established, for the first time.