Synthesis of polyimide and poly(imide-benzoxazole) in polyphosphoric acid

A polyimide made from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) was synthesized in polyphosphoric acid. Although the polymerization proceeded heterogeneously, a polyimide with an inherent viscosity of 0.90 was obtained, and a tough and flexible film was made from this polyimide. This polymerization was a one-step reaction including polycondensation and imidization; this was also confirmed by a model reaction between aniline and phthalic anhydride. Utilizing this polymerization method, 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl and 2 mol of 4-aminobenzoic acid were reacted in PPA, then BPDA was reacted to obtain an alternate copolymer containing imide and oxazole rings. This reaction gave a homogeneous solution of the poly(imide-benzoxazole). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oxidation mechanism of phenols by dicopper-dioxygen (Cu(2)/O(2)) complexes

The first systematic studies on the oxidation of neutral phenols (ArOH) by the mu-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) complex (A) and the bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex (B) supported by the 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine tridentate and didentate ligands L(Py2) and L(Py1), respectively, have been carried out in order to get insight into the phenolic O-H bond activation mechanism by metal-oxo species. In both cases (A and B), the C-C coupling dimer was obtained as a solely isolable product in approximately 50% yield base on the dicopper-dioxygen (Cu(2)/O(2)) complexes, suggesting that both A and B act as electron-transfer oxidants for the phenol oxidation. The rate-dependence in the oxidation of phenols by the Cu(2)/O(2) complexes on the one-electron oxidation potentials of the phenol substrates as well as the kinetic deuterium isotope effects obtained using ArOD have indicated that the reaction involves a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism. The reactivity of phenols for net hydrogen atom transfer reactions to cumylperoxyl radical (C) has also been investigated to demonstrate that the rate-dependence of the reaction on the one-electron oxidation potentials of the phenols is significantly smaller than that of the reaction with the Cu(2)O(2) complexes, indicative of the direct hydrogen atom transfer mechanism (HAT). Thus, the results unambiguously confirmed that the oxidation of phenols by the Cu(2)O(2) complex proceeds via the PCET mechanism rather than the HAT mechanism involved in the cumylperoxyl radical system. The reactivity difference between A and B has also been discussed by taking account of the existed fast equilibrium between A and B.     

Radical alpha-C-H hydroxyalkylation of ethers and acetal

[reaction: see text] Epsilonthers and an acetal were found to undergo direct intermolecular addition to aldehydes under the Et(3)B/air conditions. This study presents a very unique and simple means for the radical alpha-C-H hydroxyalkylation of oxygen-containing compounds.     

Two new 15,16-seco-cycloartane glycosides from Cimicifuga rhizome

Two new 15,16-seco-cycloartane glycosides (1, 2) were isolated from Cimicifuga Rhizome. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis.     

A dual ion-selective electrode detector for the simultaneous detection of bromine- and chlorine- containing compounds in gas chromatography

A dual ion-selective electrode gas chromatographic detector which allows the simultaneous detection of chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds through two-channel operation is described. Components eluted from the g.c. column are hydrogenated, the hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide produced being absorbed in a standard solution of halide; the ion concentrations in the resulting solution are monitored by chloride- and bromide-selective electrodes. The dual electrode detector gives two chromatograms simultaneously, one selective for chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds and the other for bromine-containing compounds. The response ratio, i.e., the peak area of the readout from the chloride channel divided by that from the bromide channel for the same compound, gives valuable information. The Cl/Br ratio in an eluted molecule can be determined accurately from the response ratio if a standard reference compound is injected simultaneously.     

Reductive coupling reaction of aldehydes using indium(III) triflate as the catalyst

A reductive coupling reaction was effectively developed to convert an aldehyde to its symmetrical ether. The successful reactions required Et₃SiH and CH₂Cl₂ as the suitable solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of In(OTf)₃. Various aldehydes were subjected to the method, and each afforded the expected ethers in good to excellent yields.     

Inhibition of Ligand Binding Ability of Three Porphyrins by an Organic Effector

A stimulus‐responsive receptor 1 was designed and prepared to control the ligand‐binding ability of three active sites, two zinc tetraphenylporphyrin units (P1) and one zinc diethynyldiphenylporphyrin unit (P2), with one effector molecule 2 . Bulky hexarylbenzene units were incorporated as shielding panels in the middle of the flexible side arms of 1 . Spectroscopic titrations indicated that a stable supramolecular complex 1 ? 2 (K _{1 ? 2} =6.7×10⁶ m ^?1) was produced by the cooperative formation of multiple hydrogen and coordination bonds. As a result, the binding of a ligand to P1 was inhibited by 2 in a competitive manner. Additionally, the formation of 1 ? 2 brought about conformational restriction of the side arms to cover both faces of P2 with the shielding panels. The binding constant of 4‐phenylpyridine with P2 in 1 ? 2 decreased to 8.9 % of that in 1 . Namely, the ligand‐binding ability of P2 was inhibited according to an allosteric mechanism.     

Monitored aminolysis of 3-acylthiazolidine-2-thione : A new convenient synthesis of amide

3-Acylthiazolidine-2-thiones ($\text{1}$) were easily prepared and they were treated with several amines in dichloromethane to give amides $\text{4}$ in very high yields within a short time. Aminoalcohols and aminophenols were selectively converted into acylaminoalcohols and acylaminophenols, respectively, by this reaction. One can monitor the reaction by disappearance of the yellow color of the starting material $\text{1}$. Some amide alkaloids ($\text{1}$$\text{5}$–$\text{1}$$\text{8}$) have effectively been synthesized.