Structure and Metabolic‐Flow Analysis of Molecular Complexity in a 13C‐Labeled Tree by 2D and 3D NMR

Improved signal identification for biological small molecules (BSMs) in a mixture was demonstrated by using multidimensional NMR on samples from ¹³C‐enriched Rhododendron japonicum (59.5 atom%) cultivated in air containing ¹³C‐labeled carbon dioxide for 14 weeks. The resonance assignment of 386 carbon atoms and 380 hydrogen atoms in the mixture was achieved. 42 BSMs, including eight that were unlisted in the spectral databases, were identified. Comparisons between the experimental values and the ¹³C chemical shift values calculated by density functional theory supported the identifications of unlisted BSMs. Tracing the ¹³C/¹²C ratio by multidimensional NMR spectra revealed faster and slower turnover ratios of BSMs involved in central metabolism and those categorized as secondary metabolites, respectively. The identification of BSMs and subsequent flow analysis provided insight into the metabolic systems of the plant.     

Rational design of novel photoinduced electron transfer type fluorescent probes for sodium cation

We have developed novel fluorescence probes for sodium cation based on photoinduced electron transfer (PeT). In this study, we rationally designed new probes and succeeded in achieving fluorescence enhancement upon sodium ion binding by reducing the HOMO energy level of the chelator group within the probe molecule. Our new probes show low pH dependency, possibly because of their simple structures. Our results confirm the value of rational probe design based on PeT.     

Facile Dehydrogenation of alpha-Amino Acids Chelated to a Ruthenium(II) Ion: (alpha-Imino acidato)ruthenium(II) Complexes

(alpha-Imino acidato)ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(II){N(R(1))=C(R(2))CO(2)}L(2)](+) (R(1) = R(2) = Me or R(1) = R(2) = -(CH(2))(3)-; L = 2,2'-bipyridine (=bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (=phen)), were obtained by anodic oxidation at a constant potential of the corresponding (alpha-amino acidato)ruthenium(II) complexes, N-methylalaninato or prolinato complexes, in good to excellent yields. (alpha-Imino acidato)ruthenium(II) complexes are stable in neutral or acidic aqueous solution. The half-wave potentials of alpha-imino acidato complexes are 0.73-0.78 V (vs SCE), which are more positive than those of the corresponding alpha-amino acidato complexes, 0.55-0.59 V. The crystal structure of [Ru(pro-H(2))(bpy)(2)]ClO(4).3H(2)O (pro-H(2) = 1,2-didehydroprolinato) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Crystallographic data: space group C2/c, a = 21.73(1) ?, b = 19.33(1) ?, c = 14.58(1) ?, beta = 114.91(5) degrees, Z = 8, R = 0.0352. The length of the C=N double bond of the alpha-imino acidate moiety is 1.294(5) ?, and Ru-N(imino nitrogen) = 2.042(3) ?. The chelate ring of the alpha-imino acidato ligand is planar.     

Physicochemical analyses of phase transition and dehydration processes of a new oral 1beta-methylcarbapenem antibiotic agent,CS-834

The characterizations of the anhydrate (A-form), monohydrate (B1-form), and dihydrate (B2-form) of CS-834 were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), infrared spectroscopy, and Karl Fischer moisture titration. The typical DSC curve of the B2-form showed five endothermic peaks at 35.0, 46.4, 56.2, 99.2, and 190.4 degrees C and an exothermic peak at 123.4 degrees C. In TG-DTA analysis, the three peaks at 35.0, 46.4, and 56.2 degrees C had a total weight loss of 7.3%, corresponding to the release of two water molecules. From morphological observation under thermomicroscopy, the endothermic peak at 99.2 degrees C was attributed to the melting of the dehydrous crystals (B0-form) and the exothermic peak at 123.4 degrees C to the recrystallization to the A-form crystals. The endothermic peak at 190.4 degrees C was due to the melting of the A-form crystals. After incubation for 6.0 h at 35, 50, 60, and 80 degrees C, the powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the B2-form indicated that it was converted into the A-form via the B1-form and B0-form. Thus CS-834 exists in homologous hydrous crystal forms in multiple-phase transformations with the dehydration of two water molecules.     

Preparation and magnetic properties of TbF3 containing oxide fluoride glasses

New glasses containing TbF₃ have been prepared in a TbF₃-BaF₂-AlF₃-GeO₂ system. Their respective densities, refractive indexes, and glass transition temperatures are (5.42-6.07) × 10³ kg m⁻³, 1.72-1.73, and 605.1-675.2 °C. Their magnetic susceptibilities are proportional to the contents of TbF₃ in glasses obtained in this study. The values agree with the calculated values. The Curie constant of the 40TbF₃-20BaF₂-10AlF₃-20GeO₂ glass is 5.13 K emu mol⁻¹; its effective magnetic susceptibility is 9.96μ_B. The atomic percentage of Tb³⁺ in the 40TbF₃-20BaF₂-10AlF₃-20GeO₂ glass is 11%, which is comparable to that of the oxide glass, which is reported as the material for Faraday components.     

Enantioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed Mukaiyama-Michael reactions of acyclic enones. Catalysis by allo-threonine-derived oxazaborolidinones

allo-Threonine-derived O-aroyl-B-phenyl-N-tosyl-1,3,2-oxazaborolidin-5-ones 1g,n catalyze the asymmetric Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of acyclic enones with a trimethylsilyl ketene S,O-acetal in high enantioselectivity. A range of alkenyl methyl ketones is successfully employed as Michael acceptors affording ee values of 85-90% by using 10 mol % of the catalyst. The use of 2,6-diisopropylphenol and tert-butyl methyl ether as additives is found to be essential to achieve high enantioselectivity in these reactions. The effects of the additives are discussed in terms of the retardation of an Si(+)-catalyzed racemic pathway, which seriously deteriorates the enantioselectivity of asymmetric Mukaiyama-Michael reactions. A working model for asymmetric induction is proposed based on correlation between catalyst structures and enantioselectivities.     

Constituents of the leaves of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. I. Isolation, structure, and proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance signal assignments of woodfruticosin (woodfordin C), an inhibitor of deoxyribonucleic acid topoisomerase II

Woodfruticosin (woodfordin C), a new cyclic dimeric hydrolyzable tannin having an inhibitory activity toward deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) topoisomerase II, has been isolated from the leaves of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (Lythraceae) along with three known flavonol glycosides and three known flavonol glycoside gallates. The structure of wood fruticosin (woodfordin C) was determined by the use of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2-D NMR) spectroscopy including heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) techniques. Detailed analyses of the proton and carbon-13 NMR (1H- and 13C-NMR) spectra of six known flavonoids were performed.     

Chemical characterization of density separated submicrometer coal fly ash

A new geometrical particle size separation method in the range of submicrometer has been developed for coal fly ash. Coal fly ash particles prefractionated less than 5m in geometrical diameter were fractionated with a coupling of supersonical dispersion in methyl alcohol and filtration through antistatic Nucleopore filter into >1.0, 1.0–0.8, 0.8–0.6m.Submicrometer (1.0–0.6m) and micrometer coal fly ash (25–20m) were separated into six density fractions and their compositions measured by SEM-EDX were compared. For the both size fractions, for the low density fractions (<2.8 g/cm³) consisted mainly of aluminosilicates and the fractions of 2.8–3.2 g/cm³ consisted of oxides of aluminum, silicon and calcium, and in the fraction above 3.2 g/cm³ iron was rich. In submicrometer fly ash, phosphor and sulfur concentrated to the particles rich in calcium. In the heaviest fraction, the particles containing over 30 wt% titanium as oxide observed among the particles rich in iron. These fractions were revealed not as a single component, but as mixtures of several components.     

Modification of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics by laser inactivation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor using membrane-permeant probes

A membrane-permeant malachite green-conjugated IP3 analog (MGIP3/PM) was synthesized as a probe for small molecule-based CALI (smCALI), and its effect on the Ca2+ signaling in intact DT40 chicken B cells was examined. In DT40 B cells treated with the smCALI probe, laser irradiation inhibited IP3-induced Ca2+ oscillations in response to B cell receptor stimulation, demonstrating that IP3R was acutely inactivated. We then applied smCALI to clarify the mechanism of capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), in which involvement of IP3R has been suggested. Despite the inactivation of IP3R by smCALI, thapsigargin-induced CCE remained unaffected, providing evidence that functional IP3R is not required for CCE in DT40 cells. These results demonstrate the potency of the smCALI technique for the study of the roles of IP3R in complex intracellular Ca2+ dynamics.