Mineral composition of frozen taro for determination of geographic origin

The mineral composition of frozen food of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] was analyzed to categorize the geographical production place of taro. The concentrations of Co and H₂PO₄ ⁻ were found to be useful to separate the producing place between Japan and China. The analysis was performed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and ion chromatography (IC). In the case of INAA, the samples were dried and sealed in a vinyl bag and irradiated with thermal neutrons from JRR3M, installed at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The activated samples were cooled down for a few weeks and the elements (Co, Cr, Fe, Rb, Zn) were determined. Cobalt concentration of frozen taro from China was higher than that from Japan. The tendency was the same in the fresh sample of taro. When concentration of H₂PO₄ ⁻ of frozen sample was measured, taro from Japanese product was higher than that of Chinese one, contrary to fresh sample. This result might be caused by the leakage of H₂PO₄ ⁻ during freezing process, indicating that we should be careful to apply the discrimination indicators. In addition to Co, there was a significant difference of Rb and Fe concentrations between frozen taro from Japan and China.     

Synthesis of oxovanadium complexes and their apoptosis-inducing activity in leukemia cells

Vanadium complexes with different ligands were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity on U937 cells. The alkyl chain length of the ligands affected the antiproliferative activity, and two complexes-3b and 4-exhibited strong activities with IC(50) values of 6.02 and 3.90 μM respectively. Annexin V staining and DNA ladder formation indicated that these complexes induced apoptosis in U937 cells.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Borylative Allyl–Allyl Coupling Reaction

Borylative allyl–allyl coupling using allenes, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and allyl phosphates has been developed in the presence of a copper catalyst bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand. The reaction affords boryl‐substituted 1,5‐diene derivatives in good to high yields with high regioselectivity and Z selectivity.     

Proton relay in a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chain composed of water molecules and a squaric acid derivative.

The crystal structure of a hydrated crystal of bis(squaryl)biphenyl (BSQB*4H2O), in which two squaric acid moieties are connected with a 4,4'-biphenyl unit, was characterized by the presence of a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chain composed of BSQB and water molecules. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that BSQB exists in a dianion form and that, on average, two of the four water molecules are protonated. The enhanced temperature dependence of the thermal parameters of the oxygen atoms of the water molecules suggested dynamic disorder of the water molecules. The solid-state magic angle spinning deuterium NMR spectrum of BSQB*4D2O revealed that deuterons are exchanged between heavy water molecules and oxonium ions with an exchange rate of ca. 700 Hz around 250 K and that deuterons start to migrate in a hydrogen-bonded cluster of water molecules. Ac dielectric measurements were also used to examine the dynamic process in the hydrated crystal. The dielectric permittivity of the crystal dramatically increased above 250 K with a distinct frequency dependence (epsilon' = 4.7 x 10(4) at 340 K and 1 kHz). The frequency dependence of tan delta at 290 K exhibited a maximum at 3.0 kHz, and this maximum shifted to lower frequencies when the temperature of the crystal decreased. These experimental results suggested that in the one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chain of BSQB*4H2O a proton relay between oxonium ions and water molecules occurred within a cluster of four water molecules and that the relay was transmitted to the adjacent cluster mediated by the modulation of the negative charge distribution of the BSQB dianion. These phenomena were interpreted as the solitonic migration of the charged domain boundaries along the one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chain.     

Tetra‐n‐butyl­ammonium bis­(1,2‐dimercaptoethene‐1,2‐dicarbo­nitrilato‐S,S′)­nickel(III)

The crystal structure of the title compound, (C₁₆H₃₆N)[Ni(C₄N₂S₂)₂], shows stacking of the dimerized anions, surrounded by columns of cations.     

Structural Study on Water-induced Phase Transitions of Poly(ethylene imine) as Viewed from the Simultaneous Measurements of Wide-Angle X-ray Diffractions and DSC Thermograms

Thermal behavior of poly(ethylene imine) [PEI] has been studied using simultaneous WAXD/DSC measurement system. PEI exhibits water-induced and thermally-induced phase transitions among four kinds of crystalline hydrates: anhydrate (EI/water = 1/0), hemihydrate (1/0.5), sesquihydrate (1/1.5), and dihydrate (1/2). The chain conformation changes from a double helix in the anhydrate to a planar zigzag form in the three hydrates. The anhydrate melts at 60 °C while the hydrates melt differently in the temperature region of 70–110 °C. By means of the simultaneous WAXD/DSC measurements, complex DSC thermograms of PEI hydrates were characterized on the basis of X-ray diffractions obtained concurrently.     

Biomimetic transformation of dehydrocurdione into curcumenol and isocurcumenol and their stereochemistries

Dehydrocurdione, a sesquiterpene isolated from $\text{Curcuma zedoaria}$, was converted to curcumenol, isocurcumenol or new spirolactones in a highly selective manner and their absolute configurations were determined.     

Comment: Proton transfer in solid benzoic acid. Reply to the comment by K. Furić

In response to the Comment of Furi?, attention is drawn to four points: the dinstinction between the reaction and normal coordinates, zero-point energy, an alternative of the NMR results, and ab initio calculations.     

A novel synthesis of benzo- and indolo[a]quinolizidines by intramolecular diels-alder reaction of l-azadienes

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of l-azadienes was conducted by heating the α,β-unsaturated amides (2a ～ d and 6) in the presence of trimethyl- chlorosilane, triethylamine and zinc chloride to give benzo- and indolo[a]- quinolizidines (5a ～ e and 7).