Stereoselective total synthesis of bazzanene

3azzanene, the stereoisomer of trichodiene, isolated from a liverwort was synthesized with complete stereoselectivity in 8 steps (12% yield) starting from a known bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivative.     

(E)-alkenyl thiocyanates from (E)-alkenylpentafluorosilicates by the oxidative cleavage with copper(II) thiocyanate

(E)-Alkenylpentafluorosilicates react with copper(II) thiocyanate in DMF at ambient temperature to give (E)-alkenyl thiocyanates stereoselectively in high yields.     

Nonparametric estimation of conditional medians for linear and related processes

We consider nonparametric estimation of conditional medians for time series data. The time series data are generated from two mutually independent linear processes. The linear processes may show long-range dependence. The estimator of the conditional medians is based on minimizing the locally weighted sum of absolute deviations for local linear regression. We present the asymptotic distribution of the estimator. The rate of convergence is independent of regressors in our setting. The result of a simulation study is also given.     

Gradient doping of conducting polymer films by means of bipolar electrochemistry

In this paper, we report a novel electrochemical doping method for conducting polymer films based on bipolar electrochemistry. The electrochemical doping of conducting polymers such as poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and poly(aniline) (PANI) on a bipolar electrode having a potential gradient on its surface successfully created gradually doped materials. In the case of PEDOT film, the color change at the anodic side was also observed to be gradually transparent. PANI film treated by the bipolar doping gave a multicolored gradation across the film. The results of UV-vis and energy dispersive X-ray analyses for the doped films supported the distribution of dopants in the polymer films reflecting the potential gradient on the bipolar electrode. Furthermore, the reversibility of the bipolar doping of the PMT film was demonstrated by a spectroelectrochemical investigation.     

Diacylated 8-C-glucosylcyanidin 3-glucoside from the flowers of Tricyrtis formosana

A new diacylated 8-C-glucosylanthocyanin was isolated from the purple flowers of Tricyrtis formosana 'Fujimusume' as one of the major anthocyanins along with four known pigments. The structure of this pigment was determined to be 8-C-(6-O-trans-sinapoyl)-beta-glucopyranosylcyanidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-glucopyranoside) by chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, four known pigments, 8-C-glucosylcyanidin 3-malonylglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-malonylglucoside, were identified as the major anthocyanins in the flowers.     

Improvement of impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets manufactured by the dusting method

The purpose of this study was to improve the impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets manufactured by a dusting method. The effects of sugar-coating formulations, which were the sugar-coating suspension formulations and the dusting powder formulations, on impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets were investigated. Impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets was measured by the friability test. We found that the dusting powder formulation was a control factor in impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets manufactured by the dusting method. The dusting method using dusting powder containing 20% microcrystalline cellulose (MCC, Avicel PH-F20) was a useful method for improvement of the impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets. The mechanism of improvement of impact toughness was that MCC in the subcoating layer resulted in a tight bond between the subcoating layer and the smoothing layer and prevented separation of the two layers on impact, because MCC improved the wettability of the subcoating layer, increased the surface roughness of the subcoating layer, and played the role of a binder between the two layers. We confirmed that the MCC between the subcoating layer and the smoothing layer acts to prevent separation of the two layers by impact. We demonstrated that MCC is a suitable material for sugar-coating in order to improve the impact toughness of sugar-coated tablets.     

Pre-evaluation of metal ions as a catalyst on chemiluminometric sequential injection analysis with luminol-H2O2 system

Catalytic effect of metal ions on luminol chemiluminescence (CL) was investigated by sequential injection analysis (SIA). The SIA system was set up with two solenoid micropumps, an eight-port selection valve, and a photosensor module with a fountain-type chemiluminescence cell. The SIA system was controlled and the CL signals were collected by a LabVIEW program. Aqueous solutions of luminol, H₂O₂, and a sample solution containing metal ion were sequentially aspirated to the holding coil, and the zones were immediately propelled to the detection cell. After optimizing the parameters using 1 × 10⁻⁵ M Fe³⁺ solution, catalytic effect of some metal species was compared. Among 16 metal species examined, relatively strong CL responses were obtained with Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, VO²⁺, VO₃⁻, MnO₄⁻, Co²⁺, and Cu²⁺. The limits of detection by the present SIA system were comparable to FIA systems. Permanganate ion showed the highest CL sensitivity among the metal species examined; the calibration graph for MnO₄⁻ was linear at the concentration level of 10⁻⁸ M and the limit of detection for MnO₄⁻ was 4.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ M (S/N = 3).     

Synthetic transformation of ptychantin into forskolin and 1,9-dideoxyforskolin

Forskolin (1), a highly oxygenated labdane diterpenoid and an activator of adenylate cyclase, has been synthesized in 12 steps and 12% overall yield from ptychantin A (4), which has been isolated from liverwort Ptychanthus striatus in good yield. The 1alpha-hydroxy group was furnished by stereoselective reduction of the corresponding carbonyl group by sodium in t-BuOH. The 9alpha-hydroxy group was introduced stereoselectively by epoxidation of delta(9.11)-enolether. 1,9-Dideoxyforskolin (2), an inhibitor of glucose transporter, has been synthesized in 8 steps and 37% overall yield. The hydroxy group at C-1 was removed by solid-state thicarbonylimidazolation and subsequent radical cleavage.     

Relativistic study on emission mechanism in palladium and platinum complexes

The present study investigates the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects in the radiative processes from the electronically excited states of bis[-2-(2-thienyl)-pyridine] platinum (Pt(thpy)2) and palladium (Pd(thpy)2). The transition probabilities among the low-lying spin-mixed states in these complexes are estimated using the discrete variable representation (DVR) method based on the assumption that the system obeys Fermi's golden rule. It is revealed that the low-lying excited singlets and triplets are strongly mixed with each other by SOC in Pt(thpy)2 and, as a result, a fast nonradiative transition occurs to the low-lying excited spin-mixed states. This is followed by the radiative transition from these low-lying spin-mixed states to the lowest spin-mixed state (the ground state); that is to say, a phosphorescence should be observed from these low-lying excited spin-mixed states in Pt(thpy)2. On the contrary, weak SOCs are obtained in Pd(thpy)2 and no phosphorescence at room temperature is expected to be observed in Pd(thpy)2. These results are in good agreement with the experimental reports.     

Molecular transformations of unsaturated thiacrown ethers

Unsaturated thiacrown ethers with 15, 18, and 21 members were oxidized to sulfoxides by the reaction with m-CPBA. The reaction with t-BuOCl at -20 degrees C also afforded sulfoxides, whereas the reaction at room temperature yielded cis-trans isomerized compounds. The cis-trans isomerized compound was also obtained by the photochemical reaction or by the reaction with NCS and NCP. Meanwhile, the reaction with NBS and NBP provided an acetal via 1,2-bridged bromonium intermediate.