Oxyoxazolidinone as an auxiliary for heterocyclic synthesis. Enantioselective formation of N-unprotected 2-pyrrolidones from selenocarboxylate and allylamines via radical cyclization

Optically active N-unprotected 2-pyrrolidones were prepared in a highly stereoselective manner through radical cyclization reaction of oxyoxazolidinone. Asymmetric induction from the oxyoxazolidinone ring system was generally high and oxazabicyclo[3.3.0]octanones were obtained in good yields. Treatment of the bicyclic compounds with TBAF resulted in the one-step cleavage of C-O and C-N bond, directly giving secondary 2-pyrrolidones in good yields along with recovery of chiral mandelic acid without loss of optical purity. The use of the present procedure gave optically active 4,5-disubstituted N-unprotected 2-pyrrolidone derivatives trans selectively.     

2-Sulfanylhydroquinone Dimer as a Switchable Fluorescent Dye

A new dye was developed, the photoluminescence properties of which are controlled by a chemical reaction. The fluorescence properties of 2-sulfanylhydroquinone dimers depend on the number of hydroxyl groups that are acylated. Unprotected or monoacylated 2-sulfanylhydroquinone dimers displayed good fluorescence properties, whereas diacylated and tetraacylated 2-sulfanylhydroquinone dimers showed dramatically decreased fluorescence. A monomesylated derivative was devised, which shows good fluorescence characteristics as a switching fluorescence dye through a chemical reaction.     

An effective method for the synthesis of the cap structure of eukaryotic messenger ribonucleic acids

A new promising “capping agent” (9) was synthesized by use of a lipophilic amino protecting group and an activatable pyrophosphate protecting group. This agent reacted homogeneously with 5′_5′-nucleotides in the presence of AgNO₃ to afford the cap structures (m7G pppNu).     

Simultaneous determination of griseofulvin and 6-desmethylgriseofulvin in plasma by electron-capture gas chromatography

Two methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of griseofulvin and its major metabolite 6-desmethylgriseofulvin in plasma using electron-capture gas chromatography. The first method was based on the quantitative reversion of the 6-desmethyl metabolite to griseofulvin by diazomethane. Plasma extract was chromatographed both before and after treatment with diazomethane, the former being the measure of griseofulvin and the latter representing the sum of the two compounds. In the second method, plasma extract was treated with diazobutane and griseofulvin and the butylated metabolite were separated by gas chromatography. The sensitivity for griseofulvin was 20 ng/ml by both methods and that for the metabolite was 20 ng/ml and 40 ng/ml by the first and the second method, respectively. The concentrations of the metabolite as well as griseofulvin were determined in dog and human plasma after oral administration of griseofulvin.     

Ionic Liquids for the Chemical Recycling of Polymeric Materials and Control of Their Solubility

Plastics are wonderful materials that have modernized our daily life; however, importance of effective recycling of plastics is gradually recognized widely. In this account, we describe our discovery of new and efficient methods for the chemical recycling of plastics using ionic liquids (ILs). Since the chemical recycling usually requires high temperature conditions to breakdown chemical bonds in polymeric materials, we thought that less-flammability and non-volatility of ionic liquids are the most suitable physical properties for this purpose. Ionic liquids successfully depolymerized polyamides and unsaturated polyesters smoothly and corresponding monomeric materials were obtained in good yields. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first use of Ionic liquids for such reactions. However, we encountered another difficult problem-separation. To solve the problem, we developed solubility-switchable ionic liquids, a new type of ionic liquids in which solubility is readily changed using the chemistry of protective groups. Conversion between hydrophilic and lipophilic forms was readily achieved using a simple chemical treatment under mild conditions, and the complete separation of products was achieved by liquid-liquid-extraction. The robustness of either form unlocks their wide use as reaction solvents.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-flustramines A, B and (-)-flustramides A, B via domino olefination/isomerization/Claisen rearrangement sequence

The concise total synthesis of marine alkaloids, (-)-flustramines A and B, and (-)-flustramides A and B has been achieved through the domino olefination/isomerization/Claisen rearrangement (OIC) for highly enantioselective construction of the asymmetric quaternary carbon center and the chemoselective reduction-cyclization (RC) for pyrrolidine formation as key steps.     

Liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric assay suitable for quantitation of YM155, a novel small-molecule survivin suppressant, in dog plasma

This paper describes a sensitive and selective liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of the novel survivin suppressant YM155, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-methyl-4,9-dioxo-3-(pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-4,9-dihydro-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazolium, which is developed for the treatment of solid tumors. This method uses a liquid-liquid extraction from 0.25 mL of dog plasma. LC separation was carried out on a Genesis Silica column (50 mm x 3.0 mm i.d.) at a flow-rate of 0.5 mL/min. Compounds were eluted using a mobile phase of 5 mm ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid in water-0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile, 17:83 (v/v). MS/MS detection was carried out with an MDS-Sciex API3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in positive electrospray ionization mode. The standard curve was linear from 0.05 to 50 ng/mL (r > or = 0.9968). The lower limit of quantitation was 0.05 ng/mL. Good intra- and inter-day assay precision (within 7.4% RSD) and accuracy (within +/-12.3%) were obtained. The extraction recovery was 66.2%. The method was successfully applied to preclinical pharmacokinetic studies in dogs.     

Cycloalkane-based thermomorphic systems for organic electrochemistry: an application to Kolbe-coupling

The discovery that cycloalkanes can form thermomorphic systems with typical polar organic solvents has led to the development of less-polar electrolyte solutions. Their mixing and separation can be regulated reversibly at a moderate temperature range. The phase switching temperature can be controlled by changing the solvent compositions. While biphasic conditions are maintained below the phase switching temperature, conductive monophasic conditions as less-polar electrolyte solutions are obtained above the phase switching temperature. After the electrochemical transformations, biphasic conditions are reconstructed below the phase switching temperature, facilitating the separation of cycloalkane where hydrophobic products or designed hydrophobic platforms are selectively partitioned. Several polar organic solvents, including acetonitrile, methanol, and pyridine, can be used in this system according to the requirement of the reactions.     

On the Intramolecular Interactions of Si/P in 1,2‐Phenylene Frameworks

The synthesis and structure of 1‐diphenylphosphino‐2‐(fluorodiphenylsilyl) benzene 1 and 1‐diphenylphosphino‐2‐(difluorophenylsilyl)‐ benzene 2 are reported. An X‐ray crystal structure analysis of 1 shows a weak interaction between the silicon and phosphorus moieties, producing a hypervalent state at the silicon. The hypervalent state of the silicon is also supported by a natural bond orbital calculation. However, despite having a difluorosilyl group, 2 does not show a hypervalent state for the silicon, based on an X‐ray crystal structure analysis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 00:1–5, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21044