A built-in route leading to a self-inclusion complex of 6A,6B-(bis-O-p-allyloxyphenyl)hexakis(2,3-di-O-methyl)-α-cyclodextrin

Hexakis(2,3-di-O-methyl)-α-cyclodextrin was treated with 2,4-dimethoxybenzene-1,5-disulfonyl chloride to give 6^A,6^B-di-O-sulfonated product 5 in only a 3.0% yield. When treated with sodium p-allyloxyphenoxide, 5 gave 6^A,6^B-(bis-O-p-allyloxyphenyl)hexakis(2,3-di-O-methyl)-α-cyclodextrin (6) in a 57% yield. A careful ¹H nmr analysis of 6 shows that one of the allyloxphenyl groups is in the α-cyclodextrin cavity. This is the first intramolecular complex formed from a modified α-cyclodextrin. Molecular modeling was used to explain the experimental facts. A novel built-in route leading to a self-inclusion α-cyclodextrin complex is proposed for this reaction.     

Rational Design of [13C,D14]Tert‐butylbenzene as a Scaffold Structure for Designing Long‐lived Hyperpolarized 13C Probes

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a technique to polarize the nuclear spin population. As a result of the hyperpolarization, the NMR sensitivity of the nuclei in molecules can be dramatically enhanced. Recent application of the hyperpolarization technique has led to advances in biochemical and molecular studies. A major problem is the short lifetime of the polarized nuclear spin state. Generally, in solution, the polarized nuclear spin state decays to a thermal spin equilibrium, resulting in loss of the enhanced NMR signal. This decay is correlated directly with the spin‐lattice relaxation time T₁. Here we report [¹³C,D₁₄]tert‐butylbenzene as a new scaffold structure for designing hyperpolarized ¹³C probes. Thanks to the minimized spin‐lattice relaxation (T₁) pathways, its water‐soluble derivative showed a remarkably long ¹³C T₁ value and long retention of the hyperpolarized spin state.     

Waiakeamide, a Cyclic Hexapeptide from the Sponge Ircinia dendroides(1)

From the sponge, Ircinia dendroides, collected in Indonesia we isolated a new cyclic hexapeptide, waiakeamide (1). Its structure, consisting of three proline residues, two methionine sulfoxides, and one thiazolylphenylalanine, was elucidated by spectral analysis and chemical degradation. Isolation and structural elucidation of waiakeamide is described.     

Quantum-chemical investigation of the electroabsorption spectra of directly meso-meso-linked porphyrin arrays: essential role of charge-transfer excited states accidentally overlapping with soret bands

The electroabsorption (EA) spectra of directly meso-meso-linked porphyrin arrays (Zn, n = 1-3) have been investigated by means of the sum-over-states (SOS) approach at the INDO/S-SCI level theory. The experimental EA spectra of Zn (n > or = 2) exhibit an unusual second-derivative line shape at the exciton split low-energy B(x) band in contrast to the first-derivative spectrum of Z1, which is readily ascribed to a quadratic Stark shift of the B (Soret) band. Although the second-derivative line shape is usually attributed to a difference in the permanent dipole moment (Deltamu) between the ground and excited states, it should be vanishing for Zn due to their essentially D(2)(d) or D(2)(h) symmetry. As pointed out in our previous studies, the interporphyrinic charge-transfer (CT) excited states are accidentally overlapping with the excitonic B bands and the present calculations reveal that the B(x) state is strongly coupled via a transition dipole moment with two such CT states. These situations give rise to a quadratic Stark effect on the B(x) band that is intermediate between Stark shift (first derivative) and Stark broadening (second derivative), and play a central role in establishing the anomalous second derivative nature of the EA spectrum. Moreover, based on the comparison between the theoretical and experimental spectra, there must be an additional factor that further enhances the second derivative nature of the EA spectrum of porphyrin arrays. Discussions on this issue including the preliminary investigations on the role of solvent (PMMA)-induced asymmetry are also presented.     

Monolayer studies of single-chain polyprenyl phosphates

The monolayer properties of some single-chain polyprenyl phosphates (phytanyl, phytyl, and geranylgeranyl phosphates), which we regard as hypothetical primitive membrane lipids, were investigated at the air-water interface by surface pressure-area (pi-A) isotherm measurements. The molecular area/ pressure at various pH conditions dependence revealed the acid dissociation constants (pKa values) of the phosphate. The pKa values thus obtained at the air-water interface (pKa1 = 7.1 and pKa2 = 9.4 for phytanyl phosphate) were significantly shifted to higher pH than those observed in the bilayer state in water (pKa1 = 2.9 and pKa2 = 7.8). The difference in pKa values leads to a stability of the phosphate as both monolayer and bilayer states in a pH range of 2-6. In addition, the presence of ions such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, and lanthanum in the subphase significantly altered the stability of the polyprenyl phosphate monolayers, as shown by the determination of monolayer collapse and compression/expansion hysteresis. Although sodium ions in the subphase showed only a weak effect on the stabilization of the monolayer, addition of magnesium ions or of a small amount of calcium ions significantly suppressed the dissolution of the monolayer into the subphase and increased its mechanical stability against collapse. In contrast, the presence of larger amounts of calcium or of lanthanum ions induced collapse of the monolayers. Based on these experimental facts, a plausible scenario for the formation of primitive cell membrane by transformation of a monolayer to vesicle structures is proposed.     

Biotransformation of benzaldehyde-type and acetophenone-type derivatives by Pharbitis nil hairy roots

The glucosylation of some coumarin and flavone derivatives on incubation with the hairy roots of morning glory (Pharbitis nil) was previously reported. We further studied the biotransformation of benzaldehyde- and acetophenone-type derivatives. Vanillin and isovanillin were reduced to alcoholic derivatives and glucosylated at the phenolic and the alcoholic hydroxyl groups. In the case of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, the formyl group was reduced and the 3-hydroxyl or 4-hydroxyl groups were glucosylated to give monoglucosides. The 3-hydroxyl group was predominantly glucosylated to the 4-hydroxyl group. 4-beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxybenzylalcohol was obtained in low yield. In time-course experiments with vanillin, it was found that the high-level reduction of the formyl group and glucosylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group occurred, and finally 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylvanillylalcohol was obtained as the main product. In the case of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, and salicylaldehyde, the formyl groups were reduced, and then the hydroxyl groups at the benyl position were glucosylated to give alcoholic glucosides in relatively high yields. In 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone, the 4-hydroxyl group was glucosylated and two dimerized glucosides, biphenyl and biphenylether types, were obtained in low yields. In acetophenone, 1-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-1-phenylethane and 2-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxyacetophenone were obtained. As mentioned above P. nil hairy roots showed various biotransformative activities including glucosylation of phenolic and benzylic hydroxyl groups, reduction of the formyl group near the benzene ring, and phenol oxidation dimerization. The glucosylation reaction was especially interesting for the production of valuable glucosides.     

Oxygen atom transfer reactions from dioxygen to phosphines via a bridging sulfur dioxide in a trinuclear cluster complex of rhenium, [(Ph(3)P)(2)N][Re(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu-S)(2)(mu-SO(2))Cl(6)(PMe(2)Ph)(3)

A trinuclear rhenium sulfide cluster complex, [(Ph(3)P)(2)N][Re(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu-S)(3)Cl(6)(PMe(2)Ph)(3)], synthesized from Re(3)S(7)Cl(7), dimethylphenylphosphine, and [(Ph(3)P)(2)N]Cl is readily converted to a bridging SO(2) complex, [(Ph(3)P)(2)N][Re(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu-S)(2)(mu-SO(2))Cl(6)(PMe(2)Ph)(3)], by reaction with O(2). The oxygen atoms on the SO(2) ligand react with phosphines or phosphites to form phosphine oxides or phosphates, and the original cluster complex is recovered. The reaction course has been monitored by (31)P NMR as well as by UV-vis spectroscopy. The catalytic oxygenation of PMePh(2) in the presence of the SO(2) complex shows that turnovers are 8 per hour at 23 degrees C in CDCl(3). The X-ray structures of the cluster complexes are described.