Precise and fast computation of a general incomplete elliptic integral of second kind by half and double argument transformations

We developed a method to compute simultaneously two associate incomplete elliptic integrals of the second kind, B(φ|m) and D(φ|m), by the half argument formulas of Jacobian elliptic functions and the double argument transformations of the integrals. The relative errors of the new method are sufficiently small as 5-10 machine epsilons. Meanwhile, the new method runs 3-6 times faster than that using Carlson’s R_D. As a result, it enables a precise and fast computation of arbitrary linear combination of the incomplete elliptic integrals of the first and the second kind, F(φ|m) and E(φ|m).     

Real-space calculations for electron transport properties of nanostructures

Recent developments in the fabrication and investigation of conductors of atomic dimensions have stimulated a large number of experimental and theoretical studies on these nanoscale devices. In this paper, we introduce examples presenting the efficiencies and advantages of a first-principles transport calculation scheme based on the real-space finite-difference (RSFD) formalism and the overbridging boundary-matching (OBM) method. The RSFD method does not suffer from the artificial periodicity problems that arise in methods using plane-wave basis sets or the linear dependence problems that occur in methods using atomic basis sets. Moreover, the algorithm of the RSFD method is suitable for massively parallel computers and, thus, the combination of the RSFD and OBM methods enables us to execute first-principles transport calculations using large models. To demonstrate the advantages of this method, several applications of the transport calculations in various systems ranging from jellium nanowires to the tip and surface system of scanning tunneling microscopy are presented.     

Novel glycosylated mycosporine-like amino acids with radical scavenging activity from the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are UV absorbing pigments, and structurally distinct MAAs have been identified in taxonomically diverse organisms. Two novel MAAs were purified from the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune, and their chemical structures were characterized. An MAA with an absorption maximum at 335 nm was identified as a pentose-bound porphyra-334 derivative with a molecular mass of 478 Da. Another identified MAA had double absorption maxima at 312 and 340 nm and a molecular mass of 1,050 Da. Its unique structure consisted of two distinct chromophores of 3-aminocyclohexen-1-one and 1,3-diaminocyclohexen and two pentose and hexose sugars. These MAAs had radical scavenging activity in vitro; the 1050-Da MAA contributed approximately 27% of the total radical scavenging activities in a water extract of N. commune. These results suggest that these glycosylated MAAs have multiple roles as a UV protectant and an antioxidant relevant to anhydrobiosis in N. commune.     

First total syntheses of bicyclic marine sesquiterpenoids drechslerines A and B

The first total syntheses of the bicyclic sesquiterpenoids drechslerines A (1) and B (2), which were isolated from the algicolous fungus Drechslera dematioidea in the marine red alga Liagora viscida, has been accomplished starting from (S)-carvone (13) via three palladium-catalyzed reactions, namely, diastereoselective allylation, conjugate reduction, and carbon monoxide insertion, as the key reactions.     

Total synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids based on a microwave-assisted electrocyclic reaction of the aza 6π-electron system and structural revision of broussonpapyrine

Total syntheses of the des-N-methyl (nor) type of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids 1a-f and 19 and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, chelerythrine (2d), and broussonpapyrine (2f) were achieved. The key step was the construction of tetracyclic 10,11-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines using a microwave-assisted electrocyclic reaction of the 2-cycloalkenylbenzaldoxime methyl ether 4 as an aza 6π-electron system, which was derived in two steps from a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of 2-bromobenzaldehyde 6 with 2-(3,4-dihydro-6,7-methylenedioxynaphthyl)boronic acid pinacol ester 7. In addition, the exact structure of broussonpapyrine (2f) (2,3,9,10-tetraoxygenated type) was determined to be chelerythrine (2d).     

Synthesis of macrotetrolide α, a designed polynactin analog composed of bishomononactic acids

Macrotetrolide α (1), a designed polynactin analog composed of (+)- and (−)-bishomononactic acids, was synthesized. The monomeric acids were prepared using cis-selective iodoetherification and optical resolution of the corresponding O-acetylmandelates as the key steps. Esterification and macrolactonization of the monomers were performed by Corey-Mukaiyama-Gerlach method. Compound 1 showed no immunosuppressive activity contrary to other natural polynactin congeners.     

Toward a new approach for determination of solute's charge distribution to analyze interatomic electrostatic interactions in quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations

We present an alternative approach to determine "density-dependent property"-derived charges for molecules in the condensed phase. In the case of a solution, it is essential to take into consideration the electron polarization of molecules in the active site of this system. The solute and solvent molecules in this site have to be described by a quantum mechanical technique and the others are allowed to be treated by a molecular mechanical method (QM/MM scheme). For calculations based on this scheme, using the forces and interaction energy as density-dependent property our charges from interaction energy and forces (CHIEF) approach can provide the atom-centered charges on the solute atoms. These charges reproduce well the electrostatic potentials around the solvent molecules and present properly the picture of the electron density of the QM subsystem in the solution system. Thus, the CHIEF charges can be considered as the atomic charges under the conditions of the QM/MM simulation, and then enable one to analyze electrostatic interactions between atoms in the QM and MM regions. This approach would give a view of the QM nuclei and electrons different from the conventional methods.     

Theoretical study on aquation reaction of cis-platin complex: RISM-SCF-SEDD, a hybrid approach of accurate quantum chemical method and statistical mechanics

The ligand exchange process of cis-platin in aqueous solution was studied using RISM-SCF-SEDD (reference interaction site model-self-consistent field with spatial electron density distribution) method, a hybrid approach of quantum chemistry and statistical mechanics. The analytical nature of RISM theory enables us to compute accurate reaction free energy in aqueous solution based on CCSD(T), together with the microscopic solvation structure around the complex. We found that the solvation effect is indispensable to promote the dissociation of the chloride anion from the complex.     

Syntheses and reactivities of non-symmetrical "active ester" bi-dentate cross-linking reagents having a phthalimidoyl and acid chloride, 2-benzothiazole, or 1-benzotriazole group

We have newly synthesized the non-symmetrical "phthalimidoyl active ester" bi-dentate cross-linking reagents having an acid chloride, 2-benzothiazole, or 1-benzotriazole group (i.e., 9, 15, and 16) on the basis of the reactivity study of the "active ester" model compounds, 11-14, toward the various nucleophiles and examined their reaction selectivity towards the same nucleophiles. Then, we applied for the modification of cholesterol at the more reactive site of the bi-dentate linkers to give 3β-cholesteryl 4-(phthalimidoyloxycarbonyl)butyrate (39), and the subsequent reaction of 39 with several amines, such as benzylamine, 4-chlorobenzylamine, 2-phenylethylamine, L-phenylalanine methyl ester, or diphenylalanine benzyl ester as a protein model of the cholesterol antigen.     

A new oxapalladacycle generated via ortho C-H activation of phenylphosphinic acid: an efficient catalyst for Markovnikov-type additions of E-H bonds to alkynes

A new oxapalladacycle 3 can be conveniently prepared via direct ortho palladation of diphenylphosphinic acid with palladium acetate. Catalysts derived from 3 can efficiently catalyze Markovnikov-type additions of E-H bonds (P(O)-H, S-H and spC-H) to alkynes via a unique catalytic cycle.