Artificial model for cystathionine β-synthase: construction of a catalytic cycle with a pyridoxal model compound having an ionophore function

Catalytic transformation of serine-O-carbonate to S-aryl cysteine derivatives was successfully achieved in the presence of Li⁺ by the use of a pyridoxal model compound having an ionophore function, which is the first example mimicking cystathionine β-synthase, artificially.     

Flavin-catalyzed generation of diimide: an environmentally friendly method for the aerobic hydrogenation of olefins

The first green and practical method for "aerobic hydrogenation" involving the use of hydrazine and an organocatalyst is described. Olefins can be hydrogenated by treatment with hydrazine in the presence of a 5-ethyl-3-methyllumiflavinium perchlorate (FlEt+.ClO4-) catalyst under O2 atmosphere to give the corresponding hydrogenated products in excellent yields along with environmentally benign water and molecular nitrogen as the only waste products.     

One step synthesis of aziridines by the Michael type addition of free sulfimides: Preparation and absolute configuration of optically active acylaziridines

The Michael type additions of diphenyl N-unsubstituted sulfimide (free sulfimide) to various electrophilic olefins were carried out. The reaction with cis- and trans-dibenzoylethylene, dimethyl-fumarate, dimethylmaleate, benzalacetophenone and benzalacetone gave mainly the corresponding trans-2-acylaziridines and trans-enaminoketones. However, phenyl vinyl sulfone or acrylonitrile afforded not the corresponding aziridine but diphenyl-N-2-cyano or N-2-phenylsulfonylethylsulfimide, a simple Michael adduct When optically active (+)-(R)-o-methoxyphenyiphenyl free sulfimide was treated with such an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound as benzalacetopbenone, an optically active 2-acylazindine, i.e., (-)-trans-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridine was obtained in ca 30% optical purity and its absolute configuration was assigned as (2R,3S) upon chemical transformation to the configuration-ally known 2-phenyl-2-benzoylamino-1-ethanol or by comparing its CD spectrum with that of (1R,2R)-1-phenyl-2-benzoyl-cyclopropane. Meanwhile, (-)-(S)-o-methoxyphenylphenyl free sulfimide was found to react with benzalacetophenone to afford (+)-trans-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridine of 25% optical purity. Effects of solvent and temperature on both die distribution of the products ratio and the optical yield were examined.     

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of benzene and its alkyl derivatives in indoor and outdoor air in Fuji, Japan

An analytical method was established for the determination of benzene and 13 of its alkyl derivatives. The method was applied to a survey of indoor pollution that investigated the usefulness of the method, concentration levels, seasonal variations, profiles, correlations between compounds, and factors that affected indoor pollution by these compounds. The survey was performed in 21 houses in the summer of 1999 and 20 houses in the winter of 1999-2000 in Fuji, Japan. All the target compounds were detected in the indoor and outdoor air of all houses. Outdoor concentrations of benzene ranged from 0.779 to 3.17 microg/m3 in summer and from 1.35 to 6.04 microg/m3 in winter, whereas indoor concentrations of benzene ranged from 0.694 to 3.11 microg/m3 in summer and from 1.65 to 6.89 microg/m3 in winter. Indoor concentrations of the target compounds, except for benzene, were elevated, compared with outdoor concentrations. Because indoor and outdoor concentrations of benzene and its derivatives in summer were lower than in winter, the emission of these compounds may be increased by use of a heater and other variables present in winter. Profiles of the compounds, correlations between the compounds, and factors that affected indoor pollution (determined by multiple regression analysis) were investigated. These results suggested that indoor benzene predominantly penetrated from outdoors and that other benzene derivatives were emitted from indoor sources, such as paint solvents and kerosene heaters.     

Path integral calculation of thermal rate constants within the quantum instanton approximation: application to the H + CH4 --> H2 + CH3 hydrogen abstraction reaction in full Cartesian space

The quantum instanton approximation for thermal rate constants of chemical reactions [Miller, Zhao, Ceotto, and Yang, J. Chem. Phys. 119, 1329 (2003)], which is modeled after the earlier semiclassical instanton approach, is applied to the hydrogen abstraction reaction from methane by a hydrogen atom, H + CH4 --> H2 + CH3, using a modified and recalibrated version of the Jordan-Gilbert potential surface. The quantum instanton rate is evaluated using path integral Monte Carlo approaches based on the recently proposed implementation schemes [Yamamoto and Miller, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 3086 (2004)]. The calculations were carried out using the Cartesian coordinates of all the atoms (thus involving 18 degrees of freedom), thereby taking explicit account of rotational effects of the whole system and also allowing the equivalent treatment of the four methane hydrogens. To achieve such a treatment, we present extended forms of the path integral estimators for relevant quantities that may be used for general N-atom systems with any generalized reaction coordinates. The quantum instanton rates thus obtained for the temperature range T = 200-2000 K show good agreement with available experimental data, which gives support to the accuracy of the underlying potential surface used.     

Intercalation of pyridine and quinoline intoα-zirconium phosphate

The uptake of pyridine and quinoline into-zirconium phosphate has been investigated by the batch method. The effect of solvent on the reactions was also studied. Pyridine was taken up from ethanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethanol-water, and acetone-water solutions, but not from pure acetone at 25°C. Water accelerated the uptake of pyridine. These facts indicate that a water molecule was involved in the uptake reaction of pyridine.Quinoline was taken up easily in an ethanol-water solution at 25°C, and in an ethanol solution at the boiling point. Two reactions — ion exchange and intercalation — occur on taking up the quinoline. An IR spectrum of the quinoline form is reported.     

Polymeric phosphonium salts as a novel class of cationic biocides. II. Effects of counter anion and molecular weight on antibacterial activity of polymeric phosphonium salts

Various poly[tributyl(4-vinylbenzyl)phosphonium salt]s with different counter anions were prepared and their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus were explored by the viable cell counting method in sterile distilled water. Antibacterial activity was found to be affected by the structure of the counter anions. The activity was low for a counter anion which tends to form a tight ion-pair with phosphonium ion, while it was high for those facilitating ionic dissociation to free ions. Furthermore, the molecular weight dependence of the antibacterial activity was investigated for poly[tributyl(4-vinylbenzyl) phosphonium chloride] with various molecular weights against S. aureus. Antibacterial activity was found to increase with molecular weight. Various copolymers were prepared in which the compositional ratio of tributyl(4-vinylbenzyl)phosphonium chloride to acrylamide, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, or styrene was altered, and the effect of the positive charge density on the antibacterial activity was investigated against S. aureus. Antibacterial activity of the copolymers was much higher than that of the low-molecular-weight model compound and enhanced with the molar fraction of the phosphonium units in the copolymers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Efficient synthesis of the 6,6-spiroacetal of spirofungin A

The 6,6-spiroacetal segment of spirofungin A, an antifungal antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces violaceusniger Tü 4113, was efficiently prepared via the coupling reaction of the Weinreb amide and the alkyne which are readily available from the common intermediate. The synthesis includes the unsymmetrization through a stereoinversion at the C11 position and the transacetalization as the key steps.     

Effect of diphenylbutadiyne on the free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in solution

The free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers such as styrene, methylmethacrylate, methyacrylate, acrylonitrile, vinylacetate, etc. in the presence of diphenylbutadiyne, was investigated. Both rates of polymerization and molecular weights of polymer decreased by the addition of diphenylbutadiyne. The degree of retardation depended on the stability of propagating radicals. The butadiyne does not react with the propagating radicals having high Q values, but it seems to trap the radicals temporarily thus retarding the polymerization