Laser spectroscopic investigation of salicylic acids hydrogen bonded with water in supersonic jets: Microsolvation effects for excited state proton dislocation

Geometric structures and excited-state proton dislocation of size-selected salicylic acid clusters (salicylic acid and 5-methoxysalicylic acid) with water were studied by using laser spectroscopic techniques. Fluorescence excitation, dispersed fluorescence, and infrared (IR) spectra of those clusters in supersonic jets were examined for both the electronic ground (S0) and first excited (S1) states. The geometric structures of the clusters were determined on the basis of the IR spectra of the OH stretch region with the help of quantum chemical calculations. The hydroxyl group of the water moiety in the clusters forms a ring involving the carboxylic group of the salicylic acid moiety. The IR spectra in S0 show that the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the salicylic acid moiety is still held upon cluster formation, but the phenolic OH stretch band intensity is remarkably weaken in the clusters. The IR spectra in the S1 state and dispersed fluorescence spectra indicated that the intramolecular excited state proton dislocation is hardly affected by the microsolvation with water, in contrast with the strong suppression of the dislocation in the self-solvation.     

Specific interaction between polyethylenimine and azo dyes carrying hydroxyl groups

The binding of acid azo dyes having phenolic hydroxyl groups such as orange I ( I ), orange II ( II ), chrome violet ( III ), 4-hydroxyazobenzene-4′-sulfonate ( IV ), and 2,4-dihydroxyazobenzene-4′-sulfonate ( V ) by polyethylenimine was studied by equilibrium dialysis and spectroscopic methods. The results obtained indicate that dyes ( III ) and ( V ) with two OH groups are bound much more strongly than dyes ( I ), ( II ), and ( IV ) with one OH group. Also polyethylenimine is far superior to any other polymers which have been examined, including bovine serum albumin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and poly-L -lysine, in its ability to form complexes with these dyes ( III ) and ( V ). The OH groups involved participate preferentially in complex formation with polyethylenimine. The unusual affinity of polyethylenimine for the dyes carrying OH groups is discussed.     

Asymmetric cyclization of 2-alkenylphenols. A comparative study on the use of palladium(II) and titanium(IV) complexes

The oxidative cyclization of 2-(3-pentenyl)phenol catalyzed by [(η³-pinene)PdOAc]₂ gives optically active (+)-2-vinylchroman (25% e.e.), while (−)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)chroman (56% e.e.) is formed as a single diastereomer upon treatment with t-BuOOH in the presence of Ti(OⁱPr)₄ and -(+)-diethyl tartrate. 2-(2-Butenyl)phenol also undergoes the Ti-promoted asymmetric cyclization to give (2S,1′R)-(−)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (29% e.e.).     

Collection of mercury from artificial sea-water with activated carbon

Nanogram amounts of mercury(II) and methylmercury in artificial sea-water containing mineral acids as preserving reagents were shown to be collected quantitatively with activated carbon. Mercury concentrated on activated carbon was determined directly by combustion, trapping on gold and electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The activated carbon was purified by heating at 350 degrees for 2 hr. Sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid were purified by treatment with activated carbon. Interference from iodide was eliminated by using a carbonate buffer wash before the atomic-absorption measurement. Less than 4 ng of mercury in 200-300 ml of artificial sea-water, whether acidified or not (with sulphuric, hydrochloric or nitric acid), was satisfactorily collected with 100 mg of activated carbon. Mercury was also collected quantitatively after oxidative treatment of artificial sea-water.     

Three novel diepoxy tetrahydrochromones from agarwood artificially produced by intentional wounding

Three novel diepoxy tetrahydrochromones, oxidoagarochromones A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from agarwood artificially produced by intentional wounding of Aquilaria crassna. Inductive production of these compounds was also confirmed at the early stage of wounding in A. sinensis and A. crassna. These diepoxy tetrahydrochromones would play an important role in understanding the biosynthesis of chromone derivatives in agarwood.     

Total synthesis of (+)-tubelactomicin A. 2. Synthesis of the upper-half segment and completion of the total synthesis

[reaction: see text]. We have completed the total synthesis of natural (+)-tubelactomicin A (1), a 16-membered macrolide antibiotic. This Letter presents a highly efficient synthesis of the upper-half segment (C14-C24) and the completion of the total synthesis featuring a high-yielding Stille coupling for the connection of the upper-half and lower-half segments and Mukaiyama macrolactonization for the construction of the entire structure of 1.     

Solvent free synthesis of polyaniline-clay nanocomposites from mechanochemically intercalated anilinium fluoride

Nanocomposites consisting of conducting polyaniline and clay minerals were successfully synthesized from mechanochemically intercalated anilinium fluoride; the nanocomposites prepared by the mechanochemical intercalation method contained much more polyaniline in the clay layers than those prepared by a conventional solution method.     

Effects of added metal ions on the interaction between polyvinylpyrrolidone and azo dyes carrying hydroxyl groups

The extent of binding of chrome violet, which is a monoazo dye and involves two hydroxyl groups in o and o′ positions to azo group, by polyvinylpyrrolidone is markedly enhanced in the presence of Co²⁺ ion. The amount of binding in the presence of 1 × 10^?4 mol/L of Co²⁺ ion increases by a factor of about 10 compared to that in the absence of the metal ion. Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions do not perceptively influence the binding affinity of the dye. Cu²⁺ ion, in contrast, suppresses the binding. To investigate further the action of added metal ions, a cobalt–complex dye was prepared and its binding property for the polymer was compared to that of chrome violet in the presence of metal ions. Some possible mechanisms for the enhancement of chrome violet binding by the addition of Co²⁺ ion are described.     

Synthesis and antinociceptive activity of orally active opioid peptides: improvement of oral bioavailability by esterification

To improve the oral bioavailability of a dermorphin tetrapeptide analog, N(alpha)-1-iminoethyl-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-MebetaAla-OH (III), which has a potent analgesic activity after oral administration, various derivatives were synthesized to increase lipophilicity by esterification of the C-terminal carboxyl group and/or acylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group on Tyr1. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated after subcutaneous or oral administration using the mouse tail pressure test. As a result, increased antinociceptive activity after oral administration as well as an improved ED50(p.o.)/ED50(s.c.) ratio, which is an indicator of oral bioavailability, were found for some compounds. With regard to the improvement of bioavailability, derivatives with acylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group on Tyr1 showed better results than derivatives with esterification of the C-terminal carboxyl group. In particular, an ED50(p.o.)/ED50(s.c.) ratio equivalent to that of morphine was found for an acetylated derivative, N(alpha)-1-iminoethyl-Tyr(COMe)-D-MetO-Phe-MebetaAla-OH (7a), as well as for a methoxycarbonylated derivative, N(alpha)-1-iminoethyl-Tyr(CO2Me)-D-MetO-Phe-MebetaAla-OH (7l).     

On the selection of the optimal plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes: Possible correlation between the ion selectivity and the ‘softness’ of the plasticizer

A criterion for the selection of a suitable plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes is discussed. The cation selectivity of plasticized membranes without the ligand was first measured as a reference. The membranes can be roughly classified into two groups. The first group shows cation selectivity in the order Cs⁺+>K⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺. The membranes in the second group are made of phosphorus plasticizers, which show a selectivity in the reverse order. The plasticizers in the first group featured a linear relationship between the dipole moment of the plasticizer (calculated by a PM3 method) and the ratio of cesium selectivity to lithium selectivity. The linear relationship supports the view that the polar membrane which includes a soft plasticizer with a large dipole moment shows selectivity for Cs⁺, whereas the nonpolar membrane including the soft plasticizer with the small dipole moment shows much lower selectivity for Cs⁺. Next, 2-fluorphenyl-2-nitrophenyl ether (FPNPE) which showed the highest Cs⁺ selectivity and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) which showed the highest Li⁺ selectivity were mixed in an appropriate ratio to make membranes with a different affinity for hard ions. The metal selectivities of several crown-based and calixarene-based ionophores were examined in these membranes. Although a few exceptions exist, the polar soft membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is hard, whereas the hard membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is soft.