Chlorinated briarane-type diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta (Ellisellidae)

Four chlorinated metabolites featuring briarane carbon skeletons have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta, which was collected off the coast of southern Taiwan: two new natural products, robustolides D (1) and E (2), and two known metabolites, robustolides F (3) and G (4). The structures of metabolites 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, using 1D and 2D NMR in particular. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of robustolides D (1), F (3), and G (4) were directly established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Robustolide D (1) is the first metabolite of briarane-related natural products found to possess two halogen atoms.     

Integral equation theory of random copolymer melts: self-consistent treatment of intramolecular and intermolecular correlations

A self-consistent integral equation theory is presented for the conformational properties and spinodal lines of random copolymer melts. The theory combines field-theoretic methods with the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) theory. The many-chain problem is replaced by a single chain where the sites interact via a bare plus a self-consistently determined medium-induced potential, and the conformational properties are obtained using a variational method. The theoretical prediction for the spinodal line is qualitatively similar to that of non-self-consistent PRISM theory. The theory predicts macroscopic phase separation for all values of the monomer correlation strength, lambda. The inverse spinodal temperature is a nonmonotonic function of lambda with a maximum at lambda(max). For large values of lambda( approximately 1), the values of spinodal temperatures are almost identical to those of non-self-consistent PRISM theory. For low values of lambda, however, the theory predicts higher values for spinodal temperatures than non-self-consistent PRISM theory. The theory predicts significant changes in the mean-square end-to-end distance as the temperature is decreased.     

Photophysical properties of porphyrin tapes

The novel fused Zn(II)porphyrin arrays (Tn, porphyrin tapes) in which the porphyrin macrocycles are triply linked at meso-meso, beta-beta, beta-beta positions have been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements along with theoretical MO calculations. The absorption spectra of the porphyrin tapes show a systematic downshift to the IR region as the number of porphyrin pigments increases in the arrays. The fused porphyrin arrays exhibit a rapid formation of the lowest excited states (for T2, approximately 500 fs) via fast internal conversion processes upon photoexcitation at 400 nm (Soret bands), which is much faster than the internal conversion process of approximately 1.2 ps observed for a monomeric Zn(II)porphyrin. The relaxation dynamics of the lowest excited states of the porphyrin tapes were accelerated from approximately 4.5 ps for the T2 dimer to approximately 0.3 ps for the T6 hexamer as the number of porphyrin units increases, being explained well by the energy gap law. The overall photophysical properties of the porphyrin tapes were observed to be in a sharp contrast to those of the orthogonal porphyrin arrays. The PPP-SCI calculated charge-transfer probability indicates that the lowest excited state of the porphyrin tapes (Tn) resembles a Wannier-type exciton closely, whereas the lowest excited state of the directly linked porphyrin arrays can be considered as a Frenkel-type exciton. Conclusively, these unique photophysical properties of the porphyrin tapes have aroused much interest in the fundamental photophysics of large flat organic molecules as well as in the possible applications as electric wires, IR sensors, and nonlinear optical materials.     

New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers: preparation of poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N-(o-phenylene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4-diyl)] and poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N-(alkylidene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4-diyl)]s

New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers, in which phenylene units alternate with salicylideneiminato units, have been prepared by condensation of 2,5-(didodecyloxy)-1,4-bis(3-formyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (DFHB) with appropriate diamines in a mixed solution of CHCl₃/toluene/acetic acid with 31-79% yields. DFHB as the key building block was prepared by the Suzuki reaction of 2,5-(didodecyloxy)benzene-1,4-diboronic acid with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde in a two-phase solution of tetrahydrofuran/water in the presence of NaHCO₃/Pd(PPh₃)₄ in 45% yield. The molecular structures of the prepared compounds were identified by spectroscopy. Their absorption spectroscopic profiles have been analyzed.     

Intramolecular metathesis of a vinyl group with vinylidene C=C double bond in Ru complexes

The cationic complex {[Ru]=C=CHCPh2CH2CH=CH2}BF4 (3a, [Ru] = (eta5-C5H5)(PPh3)2Ru) in solution transforms to {[Ru]=C=CHCH2CPh2CH=CH2}BF4 (4a) via a new metathesis process of the terminal vinyl group with the C=C of the vinylidene group which is confirmed by 13C labeling studies. This transformation is irreversible as revealed by deuteration and decomplexation studies. The cationic complex {[Ru]=C=CHCPh2CH2CMe=CH2}BF4 (3b) undergoes a cyclization process yielding 6b containing a eta2-cyclic allene ligand which is fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Analogous complexes 4a' and 6b' ([Ru] = (eta5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru) containing dppe ligands were similarly obtained from protonation of the corresponding acetylide complexes via formation of vinylidene intermediate. Protonation of the acetylide complex containing a terminal alkynyl group [Ru]-CCCPh2CH2CCH (2c) generates the vinylidene complex {[Ru]=C=CHCPh2CH2CCH}BF4 (3c) which again undergoes an irreversible transformation to give {[Ru]=C=CHCH2CPh2CCH}BF4 (4c) possibly via a pi-coordinated alkynyl complex followed by hydrogen and metal migration. No similar transformation is observed for the analogous dppe complex 3c'. With an extra methylene group, complex {[Ru]=C=CHCPh2CH2CH2CH=CH2}BF4 (3d) and complex {[Ru]=C=CHCPh2CH2Ph}BF4 (3e) are stable. The presence of a gem-diphenylmethylene moiety at the vinylidene ligand with the appropriate terminal vinyl or alkynyl group along with the correct steric environment implements such a novel reactivity in the ruthenium vinylidene complexes.     

Purification,Characterization and Mechanistic Study of β-Glucosidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum (ATCC 13253)

A β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) from Flavobacterium meningosepticum has been purified and characterized. Purity was enhanced at least 530-fold from crude cell extract with 16.6% yield. The estimated molecular mass of the purified enzyme is 150 kDa by gel filtration and 78 kDa by SDS-PAGE. This dimeric enzyme has a pI = 9.0 and an optimal activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of 50 °C. Divalent metal ions (Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and EDTA have negligible effect on the enzyme activity. The enzyme exhibited a high specificity on the glycon portion of aryl-β-D -glycosides. NMR spectroscopy revealed the enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-β-D -glucopyranoside with the retention of anomeric configuration, indicating that a double displacement mechanism was involved. A preliminary study of the Bronsted relationship showed a concave-downward plot, which is consistent with the two-step mechanism.     

Kinetics and mechanism of benzylamine additions to ethyl alpha-acetyl-beta-phenylacrylates in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies of the addition of benzylamines to a noncyclic dicarbonyl group activated olefin, ethyl alpha-acetyl-beta-phenylacrylate (EAP), in acetonitrile at 25.0 degrees C are reported. The rates are lower than those for the cyclic dicarbonyl group activated olefins. The addition occurs in a single step with concurrent formation of the Calpha-N and Cbeta-H bonds through a four-center hydrogen bonded transition state.The kinetic isotope effects (kH/kD > 1.0) measured with deuterated benzylamines (XC6H4CH2ND2) increase with a stronger electron acceptor substituent (deltasigmaX > 0) which is the same trend as those found for other dicarbonyl group activated series (1-4), but is in contrast to those for other (noncarbonyl) group activated series (5-9). For the dicarbonyl series, the reactivity-selectivity principle (RSP) holds, but for others the anti-RSP applies. These are interpreted to indicate an insignificant imbalance for the former, but substantial lag in the resonance delocalization in the transition state for the latter series.     

Highly efficient Pd-catalyzed carbonylative cross-coupling reactions with tetraorganoindates

Tetraorganoindates, which were prepared easily from the reaction of 1 equiv of InCl(3) with 4 equiv of organometallics, could be employed as effective nucleophilic cross-coupling partners in Pd-catalyzed carbonylative cross-coupling reactions with a variety of organic electrophiles. The present method gave unsymmetrical ketones and 1,4-diacylbenzenes in good yields with highly efficient transfer of almost all the organic groups attached to the indium under a carbon monoxide atmosphere in THF at 60 degrees C.     

Two organometallic fragments inclusioned in a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene tetraphosphane: evidence for transition metal-arene interaction through the cavity

The preparation of an 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene tetraphosphane ligand, 25,26,27,28-tetrakis{2-(diphenylphosphino)ethoxy}calix[4]arene (4), is described. Ligand 4 is obtained in four steps in 17% overall yield. Reaction of 4 with AgBF4 produced the encapsulated two silver complex [Ag2{(P,P,P,P)-tetraphencalix[4]arene}](BF4)2. The solid-state structure shows that the encapsulated silver undergoes a substantial pi-interaction by two opposite arene rings. Rhodation of 4 employing [Rh(cot)2]BF4 yielded the encapsulated complex with a bent coordination mode. Two organometallic fragments inclusioned inside a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene tetraphosphane was also achieved by the reaction of 4 with [PtH(PPh3)2 (thf)]+. Full characterization includes X-ray structural studies of compounds 4-6.