Structures of momordicosides F1, F2, G,I, K and L,novel cucurbitacins in the fruits of Momordica charantia L.

Two bitter cucurbitacins, momordicosides K and L, and four non-bitter cucurbitacins, momordicosides F₁, F₂, G and I, were isolated from the immature fruits of $\text{Momordica}$$\text{charantia}$ L. (Cucurbitaceae) and their structures were elucidated.     

Immobilization of cationic polymer particles having active ester groups onto solid surfaces

Monodispersed cationic polymer particles with sulfonium groups and active ester groups at their surfaces were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (ST) with a water-soluble active ester monomer, methacryloyloxyphenyldimethylsulfonium methylsulfate (MAPDS). The cationic polymer particle monolayers were fabricated on unmodified and aminated glass plates by electrostatic interactions and chemical reactions, respectively. The polymer particles were immobilized onto unmodified glass plates at relatively regular intervals in the absence of electrolytes, and the morphology of particle monolayers on the glass plates was changed with solid content of latex, electrolyte and cationic surfactant concentration. The polymer particles were immobilized onto aminated glass plate as aggregates by controlling the pH of latex and electrolyte concentration. Remaining active ester groups of the particle monolayers were confirmed to react easily with primary amino compounds.     

Decomposition of Nitrogen Oxides on Palladium and Angle-Resolved Measurements of Desorbing Products

Recent angle-resolved measurements of desorbing products were reviewed for decomposition of nitrogen oxides on noble metals. Two pathways for the removal of adsorbed nitrogen atoms, i.e., N(a) + NO(a) N₂O(a) N₂(g) + O(a) and 2N(a) N₂(g), were examined typically on Pd(110). The former takes place in the presence of gaseous CO and shows two-directional N₂ desorption collimated far from the surface normal in the normally directed plane along the [001] direction. The latter does not contribute in CO + NO reaction on Pd(110). The model proposed for the inclined desorption was also explained.     

Spectroscopic and calorimetric studies on the mechanism of methylenecyclopropane rearrangements triggered by photoinduced electron transfer

2-(dideuteriomethylene)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)cyclopropane (d(2)-1) undergoes degenerate rearrangement in both singlet- and triplet-sensitized electron-transfer photoreactions. Nanosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy on laser flash photolysis of the unlabeled 1 with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene, 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene, or N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate as an electron-accepting photosensitizer gives rise to two transients with lambda(max) at 500 and 350 nm assigned to the dianisyl-substituted largely twisted trimethylenemethane cation radical (6.+) and the corresponding diradical (6..), respectively. These intermediates are also detected, respectively, by steady state and nanosecond time-resolved EPR with chloranil or anthraquinone as a sensitizer. The degenerate rearrangement of d(2)-1 thus proceeds via these two different types of intermediates in a cation radical cleavage-diradical cyclization mechanism. Energetics based on nanosecond time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry support this mechanism. A comparison of the reactivities and the spectroscopic results of 1, 1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylenespiro[2.2]pentane (2), and 1-cyclopropylidene-2,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)cyclopropane (3) suggest that the reversible methylenecyclopropane rearrangement between 2 and 3 proceeds via a similar mechanism.     

A supported liquid membrane encapsulating a surfactant-lipase complex for the selective separation of organic acids

We have developed a novel, lipase-facilitated, supported liquid membrane (SLM) for the selective separation of organic acids by encapsulating a surfactant-lipase complex in the liquid membrane phase. This system exhibited a high transport efficiency for 3-phenoxypropionic acid and enabled the selective separation of organic acids due to the different solubilities of the acids in the organic phase and the variable substrate specificity of the surfactant-lipase complex in the liquid membrane phase. We found that various parameters, such as the amount of surfactant-lipase complex in the SLM, the lipase concentration in the receiving phase, and the ethanol concentration in the feed phase, affected the transport behavior of organic acids. The optimum conditions were 5 g L(-1) of the surfactant-CRL complex in the SLM (CRL=lipase from Candida rugosa), 8 g L(-1) of PPL in the receiving phase (PPL=lipase from porcine pancreas), and an ethanol concentration of 50 vol %. Furthermore, we achieved high enantioselective transport of (S)-ibuprofen attributable to the enantioselectivity of the surfactant-CRL complex.     

An efficient and stereocontrolled synthesis of platelet activating factor from (s)-(−)-malic acid

A stereocontrolled synthesis of C₁₆-PAF ($\text{11}$) from (S)-(?)-malic acid ($\text{1}$), employing regioselective hydrogenolytic cleavage of benzylidene acetal derivatives of (S)-1,2,4-butanetriol ($\text{2}$) with borane-tetrahydrofran complex, is described.     

Metal-organic thin-film transistor (MOTFT) based on a bis(o-diiminobenzosemiquinonate) nickel(II) complex

The semiconducting film based on bis(o-diiminobenzosemiquinonate) nickel(II) complex showed uniaxial orientation structure along the normal to the substrate and good p-type metal-organic thin-film transistor (MOTFT) character.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of lankanolide. Part 1: Computer-assisted design and lactonization of model seco-acid derivatives

To design easily cyclizable seco-acid derivatives of lankanolide, the conformation of several model seco-acids was calculated and the lactonization experiments of the seco-acids were carried out to elucidate the efficiency of the cyclization of the model seco-acid.     

Effect of grinding on dehydration of crystal water of theophylline

The effect of grinding on the dehydration of crystal water of theophylline has been studied. It was observed that the water content of theophylline hydrate decreased with increased grinding time. As the grinding time proceeded, the results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that crystal water of ground theophylline hydrate dehydrated in three steps at ca. 58, 44, and 17 degrees C, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction study revealed that the crystal lattice of theophylline monohydrate collapsed by grinding, and part of the theophylline molecules subsequently rearranged the collapsed lattice to form theophylline anhydrate. The result of Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that the hydrogen bonds between crystal water molecules and theophylline molecules were weakened or destroyed to some extent by grinding. It was supposed that crystal water in the ground theophylline hydrate might exist at least in three molecular states of different hydrogen-bonding. From DSC study, it was suggested that the ruptured hydrogen bonds of water molecules in the ground theophylline hydrate were strengthened after storage under 96.5% relative humidity at 30 degrees C.