Development of versatile cis- and trans-dicarbon-substituted chiral cyclopropane units: synthesis of (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes and their enantiomers as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine

The cyclopropane ring can be used effectively in restricting the conformation of biologically active compounds to improve activity and also to investigate bioactive conformations. We designed (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes (1 and 2, respectively) and their enantiomers (ent-1 and ent-2) as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine. The four types of chiral cyclopropanes bearing two differentially functionalized carbon substituents in a cis or trans relationship on a cyclopropane ring, (1S,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (7) and (1R,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (8) and their enantiomers (ent-7 and ent-8), were developed as the key intermediates for synthesizing 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2. The reaction between (R)-epichlorohydrin [(R)-12] and phenylsulfonylacetonitrile (13a) in the presence of NaOEt in EtOH followed by treatment with acid gave the chiral cyclopropane lactone 11a with 98% ee in 82% yield. Compound 11a was converted into both the cis- and trans-chiral cyclopropane units 7 and 8, respectively, via reductive desulfonylation with Mg/MeOH as the key step. The corresponding enantiomers, the cis-substituted ent-7 and the trans-substituted ent-8, were also prepared starting from (S)-epichlorohydrin [(S)-12]. The four conformationally restricted target histamine analogues 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2 were successfully synthesized from 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8, respectively. The chiral cyclopropane units 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8 should be useful as versatile intermediates for synthesizing various compounds having an asymmetric cyclopropane structure.     

Determination of a strong organic ligand dissolved in seawater: Thorium-complexing capacity of oceanic dissolved organic matter

Studies have been made of loose water tritium (LWT) distribution and behavior in the soil samples taken from the region within a radius of 2 km to the HWRR stack of CIAE. The analytical results show that the LWT concentrations in most soil samples of the region are in the range from 24.8 Bq/l (3.6 Bq/kg) to 116 Bq/l (16.0 Bq/kg) with an average value of 58.1±24.8 Bq/l (10.3±4.5 Bq/kg). There are two areas with a higher LWT content; the first one (4.61 · 10⁴ m²) is located near HWRR with ahighest LWT concentration of 287 Bq/l (55.8 Bq/kg) and the second one (3.27 ·10⁵ m²) is located near Lab. A with a highest LWT concentration of 2.35 · 10⁴ Bq/l (2.56 · 10³ Bq/kg). It is estimated that the LWT inventories deposited in soil of the two areas are about 1.52 · 10⁹ Bq and 1.42 · 10¹⁰ Bq, respectively. The analytical results have been evaluated by comparing the possible tritium intake of the human body with the annual limit of intake recommended by ICRP, it can be concluded that the operations of all the nuclear facilities releasing tritium in CIAE are safe without causing any notable tritium contamination.     

Design of a new molecule that exhibits observable CD spectra under σ-σ* excitation: 2,6-Disilyl-2,6-disilaspiro[3.3]heptanes

Abstract

We previously designed and prepared the first molecules to exhibit observable CD spectra by n-σ* excitation, 2,6-dithiaspiro[3.3]heptane 2,6-dioxide. Spiro[3.3]heptane frameworks possess axial asymmetry due to puckering of 2 four-membered rings; the ring bonds are rich in p-character due to acute bond angles, which lowers the σ* energy levels. In contrast, the lone pairs are rich in s-character, which results in a good donor with conformational fixation. We expected that, instead of lone pairs as donating orbitals, the use of σ-electron-donating Si-Si bonds should result in UV absorption in the observable range (>180?nm), so that the Cotton effect could appear, at least partially, in that range. We designed 2,6-disilyl-2,6-disilaspiro[3.3]heptanes as models, and performed theoretical calculations to confirm our idea.     

Sample enrichment by using monolithic precolumns in microcolumn liquid chromatography

An on-line sample enrichment system was designed using monolithic precolumns in microcolumn LC. The monolithic ODS capillary columns were prepared via in situ sol-gel processes. The enrichment efficiency of the monolithic columns was tested by using phthalates as the analytes. The relative standard deviations (n = 6) for the retention time, peak area and peak height were between 0.4 and 1.2%, 0.9 and 5.5% and 0.4 and 3.9%, respectively. The system was linear (R2 > 0.99) within the working sample concentration and sample volume ranges. Comparing to 0.2 microl injection with a typical sample injector, the theoretical plate number of a same separation column was increased by 3-6-fold when the precolumn unit was used for sample injection. The recoveries of the analytes were between 88 and 120%, and the sample volume that could be injected into the system was increased up to 5000-fold. The limits of detection were improved by more than 2000-fold and were between 0.21 and 0.87 ng ml(-1) even with a UV absorbance detector. This system was applied to the determination of phthalates contained in laboratory distilled water and tap water samples.     

Preparation and separation of all possible rotamers of a stereochemical analog of meso-tartaric acid: optically inactive and optically active isomers of (R,S)-2,2′-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-6,6′-dimethyl-9,9′-bitriptycyl

All the three possible rotamers of the title compound were separated by chromatography, and unambiguously identified by NMR and X-ray analysis. One of the isomers was optically inactive C_i conformation. The other optical active forms were resolved to give a pair of enantiomers, which were characterized by optical rotation and CD spectra. Thus the optical inactivity of a compound such as meso-tartaric acid that can take C_i conformation in solution, is now ascribed to that the molecule has an optically inactive C_i conformer and equal amounts of optically active conformers, that are enantiomers, in solution.     

Cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by phosphorus compounds containing halogens

Polymerization of vinyl monomers having large negative e values in the presence of phosphorus compounds containing halogens was studied in order to examine the cationic initiation ability of phosphorus compounds. N-Vinylcarbazole was effectively polymerized by phosphorus compounds such as PCI₃, PBr₃, PCI₂C₆H₅, PCI(C₆H₅)₂, POCI₃, and POCI₂C₆H₅ even in benzene. The initiation ability of phosphorus compounds decreased in the order; PCI₂ ? PBr₃ > PCI₂C₆H₅ > PCI(C₆H₅)₂, and also POCI₃ > POCI₂₆₅. On the other hand, PCI₃ and PBr₃, which were less effective than POCI₃, showed initiation ability for the polymerizations of styrene and α-methylstyrene in nitrobenzene as a solvent. The results of the copolymerization of styrene with methyl methacrylate by PCI₃ in nitrobenzene, the result of solvent dielectric constant effect, and the effect of additives such as water, tert-butyl chloride, triethylamine, and hydroquinone, indicate the polymerization of styrene by PCI₃ to proceed by a cationic mechanism.     

Conformational peculiarities of alcohols incorporated in lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals

Conformational characteristics of 1-butanol incorporated not only in hexagonal and lamellar aggregates formed by a lyotropic liquid crystal composed of sodium octanoate, 1-butanol, and water but also in a thermotropic liquid crystal, 4'-methoxybenzylidene-4-n-butylaniline (MBBA), have been investigated from 2H NMR quadrupolar splittings of the perdeuterated and partially deuterated compounds. In the lyotropic phases, 1-butanol shows strong trans preferences and renders itself extended, and octanoate decreases the trans fraction toward the methyl terminal to fill the inner space of the aggregate on behalf of 1-butanol. In MBBA, 1-butanol prefers globular conformations. This tendency was also indicated from the phase behaviors of 1-butanol/MBBA and 1-decanol/MBBA systems. In the nematic field, two successive C-C bonds of 1-butanol mostly adopt g+/-g+/- conformations, which are formed in the vicinity of the headgroup of 1-decanol in the lamella of the sodium octanoate/1-decanol/water system. A large degree ofconformational freedom near the hydroxyl group of alcohols, being shown by ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the Gaussian-2 level, permits them to change conformation for each environment.     

Laser-induced orientational change of nematic liquid crystalline molecules mediated by photochromic reactions of surface azobenzenes

The alignment of nematic liquid crystalline (LC) molecules with respect to the LC cell surface was regulated between the homeotropic (H) state and the parallel (P) state by the photochromic trans—cis isomerization of surface-attached azobenzene (Az) moieties. By bringing the angular-selective photoreaction into the system, the orientational order in the P state was significantly improved to attain a universal orientational axis over the entire irradiated area, which was rotatable and erasable photochemically. Laser pulse experiments revealed that the allignment relaxation time τ was reduced from 1000 to 30 ms by increasing the pulse intensity from 10 to 20 mJ cm⁻². Strong coupling between the LC and Az molecules was indicated.     

Regioselective lithiation of II-(arene)chromium tricarbonyl complexes

Chromium tricarbonyl complexes of 3-methoxybenzyl alcohol and related compounds were selectively lithiated at the 4-position in contrast to the corresponding metal free arene compounds. The resulting 4-lithio complexes were converted to the 4-substituted arene compounds in moderate to excellent yields through the reactions with proper electrophiles and subsequent demetalation.     

NAD(P)+-NAD(P)H model. 38. Reduction of aldehyde by 1,4-dihydroquinolin derivative

Benzaldehyde are reduced to benzyl alcohol by a model compound of NAD(P)H almost quantitatively. Reductions of some other aldehydes are also mentioned.