Catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of beta-keto esters: effects of the linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL

We describe the development of a general catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of acyclic beta-keto esters to cyclic enones, in which asymmetric induction occurs at the beta-position of the acceptors. Among the various asymmetric catalyst systems examined, the newly developed La-NR-linked-BINOL complexes (R = H or Me) afforded the best results in terms of reactivity and selectivity. In general, the NMe ligand 2 was suitable for the combination of small enones and small beta-keto esters, and the NH ligand 1 was suitable for bulkier substrates (steric tuning of the catalyst). Using the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex, the Michael reaction of methyl acetoacetate (8a) to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (7b) gave the corresponding Michael adduct 9ba in 82% yield and 92% ee. The linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL is crucial for achieving high reactivity and selectivity in the Michael reaction of beta-keto esters. The amine moiety in the NR-linked-BINOL can also tune the Lewis acidity of the central metal (electronic tuning of the catalyst), which was supported by density functional studies and experimental results. Another advantage of the NR-linked-BINOL ligand as compared with O-linked-BINOL is the ease of modifying a substituent on the amine moiety, making it possible to synthesize a variety of NR-linked-BINOL ligands for further improvement or development of new asymmetric catalyses by introducing additional functionality on the linker with the amine moiety. The efficiency of the present asymmetric catalysis was demonstrated by the synthesis of the key intermediate of (-)-tubifolidine and (-)-19,20-dihydroakuammicine in only five steps compared to the nine steps required by the original process from the Michael product of malonate. This strategy is much more atom economical. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, we propose that a beta-keto ester serves as a ligand as well as a substrate and at least one beta-keto ester should be included in the active catalyst complex. Further improvement of the reaction by maintaining an appropriate ratio of the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex and beta-keto esters is also described.     

Coupling of chromatographic ion-exchange reaction with change-partner reaction. Presumed mechanism on the ion-ion interaction of inorganic ions in Sephadex G-15 columns

A sample solution containing sodium or potassium dihydrogenphosphate or disodium or dipotassium hydrogenphosphate was eluted from a Sephadex G-15 column with either sodium or potassium chloride solution in various sample-eluent systems, and every one of the four kinds of ions employed was determined in the eluate. Then, the elution profiles showed the phenomenon that a negative peak of chloride ion coexisted in the fractions of a positive peak of phosphate ion, in all sample-eluent systems employed. This phenomenon was assumed to occur by the coupled reaction of change-partner and ion-exchange reactions including ion exclusion.     

He I (584 Å) photoelectron spectra and photoionization cross sections of atomic chlorine and bromine

Well-resolved He I photoelectron spectra of atomic chlorine and bromine have been obtained without serious background electrons, giving rise to relative photoelectron intensities associated with differential photoionization cross sections at an angle of 90° with respect to the incident 584 Å radiation.     

Synthesis and properties of new polyesters having tetrahydrofuran rings in their main chains

New polyesters 6a–6c consisting of 2,4-linked tetrahydrofuran rings were synthesized by bulk polycondensation of methyl trans- and cis-4-hydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylates ( 5a and 5b ) and a stereoisomeric mixture of methyl 4-hydroxy-5-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylate ( 5c ) at high temperature. These monomers were prepared from methyl glycolate or methyl lactate and diethyl maleate through a four-step reaction sequence. The polycondensation was carried out without solvent at different temperatures ranging from 150 to 220°C. Titanium isopropoxide was most effective among the catalysts examined, giving polyesters with number-average molecular weights up to 2 × 10⁴. Polyester 6a consisting of trans-2,4-linked tetrahydrofuran rings was soluble in trifluoroacetic acid and a mixed solvent of chloroform and methanol (10/1, v/v). Polyester 6b composed of cis-2,4-linked tetrahydrofuran rings was soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide in addition to the two solvents for 6a . Polyester 6c with 5-methyl-substituted tetrahydrofuran rings was composed of a mixture of stereoisomeric units and thus was soluble in a variety of solvents including chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dimethylformamide. The glass transition temperatures of 6a, 6b , and 6c determined by DSC were 109, 88, and 66°C. These polyesters were found to be very slowly hydrolyzed in a neutral phosphate buffer solution at ambient temperature. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of new guaiane type sesquiterpene from Wikstroemia indica

In our investigation of in vitro anti-allergic screening of medicinal herbal extracts, the ethyl acetate extract of the root of Wikstroemia indica was observed to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant mouse interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) activated murine macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7. Fractionation of the active extract led to the isolation of one new guaiane type sesquiterpene, indicanone (1), and two known biflavonoids, sikokianin B (2) and sikokianin C (3). 1 inhibited NO production with IC50 values at 9.3 microM and also inhibit the inducible nitric oxide synhase (iNOS) gene expression. This is the first report of NO production inhibitory activity of Wikstroemia indica and supports the pharmacological use of it, which has been employed as an herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammation.     

Design and synthesis of novel type somatostatin analogs with antiproliferative activities on A431 tumor cells

It was reported that the somatostatin analog TT-232, d-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Lys-Cys)-Thr-NH₂, exhibited a highly potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Using pyrazinone analogs and aliphatic amino acids instead of the disulfide bond, we prepared novel type somatostatin analogs including the sequence essential for antitumor activities, Tyr-d-Trp-Lys. These analogs exhibited antiproliferative effect on A431 tumor cells.     

Reactions of 1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazine‐2,4‐dithiones (trithioisatoic anhydrides) with N‐substituted benzylamines and trialkyl phosphites

Reactions of 1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazine‐2,4‐dithiones (trithioisatoic anhydrides) 3 with N‐substi‐tuted benzylamines 9 gave 1,2‐dihydroquinazoline‐4‐thiones 10 , o‐thioureidodithiobenzoic acid 11 , o‐aminothiobenzamides 12 , 2‐amino‐3,1‐benzothiazine‐4‐thiones 13 , or quinazoline‐2,4‐dithiones 14 , depending on the kinds of amine and the reaction solvent. On the other hand, reaction of 3 with trialkyl phosphites afforded dialkyl (1,2‐dihydro‐2‐thioxo‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)phosphonates 18 .     

Theoretical calculation of the steric effects of ortho substituents by the AM1 method

The AM1 calculation was done for ortho-substituted toluenes (o-X-C₆H₄-CH₃) and ortho-substituted tert-butylbenzenes (o-X-C₆H₄-t-Bu). The difference in the calculated heat of formation between o-X-C₆H₄-CH₃ and o-X-C₆H₄-t-Bu was used as a theoretical steric index for ortho-X. The correlation of this theoretical steric index with the empirical steric parameter sets such as our recently defined E_s(AMD) and the Taft–Kutter–Hansch (TKH) E_s was examined. In spite of the simplicity of the model system, the theoretical index was linear with the E_s(AMD) constant with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.972 for 17 substituents of various structures. Including the phenyl group, the correlation with the TKH E_s constant was r = 0.948. The theoretically calculated index was shown to serve as a measure of the ortho steric effect.     

Role of the special pair in the charge-separating event in photosynthesis

We synthesized special-pair/electron-acceptor systems consisting of a complementary slipped cofacial dimer of imidazolyl-substituted zinc porphyrin, bearing pyromellitdiimide as the electron acceptor. In the case of the dimer, the first and second oxidation potentials were split into a total of four peaks in the differential pulse voltammetry measurement. Furthermore, the shift values of the first oxidation potentials obtained by changing the solvent polarity for the dimer were almost half of those observed for the monomer. These results indicate that the radical cation is delocalized over the whole pi system of the dimer. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed that, relative to the corresponding monomer, the dimer accelerated the charge separation rate, but decelerated the charge recombination rate. The smaller reorganization energy of the slipped cofacial dimer relative to that of the monomeric system demonstrates the significance of the special-pair arrangement for efficient charge separation in photosynthesis.     

Copper-catalyzed addition reaction of γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species with imines

In the presence of CuCN, reaction of γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species 1 with imines proceeded at the γ-position of 1 to give gem-dialkoxyhomoallylic amines 3 in high yield. In this reaction, γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species 1 acts as an α,β-unsaturated acyl anion equivalent.