Reaction of Acetals with Various Carbon Nucleophiles under Non‐Acidic Conditions: C?C Bond Formation via a Pyridinium‐Type Salt

Mild substitution reactions of acetals with carbon nucleophiles via the pyridinium‐type salts generated by the treatment of acetals with TESOTf‐2,4,6‐collidine or 2,2′‐bipyridyl have been developed. Various carbon nucleophiles, such as organocuprates, silyl enol ethers, enamines, etc., reacted with the pyridinium‐type salts to give the corresponding substituted products in good yields. The reactions proceeded under very mild conditions (non‐acidic conditions) and thus acid‐sensitive functional groups can be tolerated during the reaction. In addition, only an acetal can form the pyridinium‐type salt and react with nucleophiles in the presence of a ketal. This unusual selectivity is in contrast to general methods conducted under acidic conditions.     

A newly investigated approach for the control of tunnel resistance of nanogaps using field-emission-induced electromigration

We report a newly investigated approach for the control of the tunnel resistance of nanogaps using field-emission-induced electromigration (“activation”), in order to decrease the power consumption during the process. The method is demonstrated by applying a bias current to initial nanogaps using a current source. As a result, a wide range control of the tunnel resistance of the nanogaps was achieved by performing the current-source-based activation. Furthermore, the average power could be successfully suppressed in comparison with that of the voltage-source-based activation. These results indicate that the current-source-based activation is suitable for the tuning of the tunnel resistance of nanogaps.     

A novel and direct synthesis of alkylated 2,2'-bithiophene derivatives using a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and BF3.Et2O

A novel nonmetallic oxidative coupling of alkylthiophene derivatives leading to the corresponding 2,2'-bithiophene derivatives using a combination of a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), and BF3.Et2O was developed.     

Solvent Extraction of Alkali Metal Picrates by Lipophilic Cyclodextrin Derivatives

Lipophilic cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives were prepared to extract alkali metal cations from a water phase into an organic phase. The extraction equilibrium constant, K ex, was determined by the solvent extraction method using UV absorption spectroscopy. Hydroxyl groups at the carbons in the 2,6-positions of CD molecules were dipropylated to add the hydrophobicity for dissolving into organic solvents, and furthermore hydroxyl groups at the carbons in the 3-position of these derivatives were acylated as complexing sites with the alkali metal cations. These CD derivatives formed a 1 : 1 complex with alkali metal cations, except for the case of Li+, and transported the alkali metal cations from a water phase into a benzene phase. The initial concentrations of alkali metal cation and picrate anion in the water phase and that of the CD derivatives in the organic phase strongly influenced the extraction equilibrium. Extraction of the alkali metal cation by the derivative without acyl groups was not detected. K ex values of these CD derivatives are of the same order of magnitude as or larger than those of crown ethers. The order of the K ex values in all cases is Li+ < Na+ < K+ Rb+ Cs+, although these CD derivatives have no special selectivity for the alkali metal cations. The cation extraction mechanism was interpreted by an induced-fit mechanism.     

A novel parallel algorithm for large-scale Fock matrix construction with small locally distributed memory architectures: RT parallel algorithm

We developed a novel parallel algorithm for large-scale Fock matrix calculation with small locally distributed memory architectures, and named it the "RT parallel algorithm." The RT parallel algorithm actively involves the concept of integral screening, which is indispensable for reduction of computing times with large-scale biological molecules. The primary characteristic of this algorithm is parallel efficiency, which is achieved by well-balanced reduction of both communicating and computing volume. Only the density matrix data necessary for Fock matrix calculations are communicated, and the data once communicated are reutilized for calculations as many times as possible. The RT parallel algorithm is a scalable method because required memory volume does not depend on the number of basis functions. This algorithm automatically includes a partial summing technique that is indispensable for maintaining computing accuracy, and can also include some conventional methods to reduce calculation times. In our analysis, the RT parallel algorithm had better performance than other methods for massively parallel processors. The RT parallel algorithm is most suitable for massively parallel and distributed Fock matrix calculations for large-scale biological molecules with more than thousands of basis functions.     

Synthesis of vicinal diols from various arenes with a heterocyclic, amino or carboxyl group by using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing evolved biphenyl dioxygenase and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase genes

Various aromatic molecules, in which heterocycles are linked with a phenyl or benzyl group, were converted to their respective 2,3-diols (catechols) in the benzene ring by growing cell reactions using recombinant Escherichia coli, which expressed the evolved biphenyl dioxygenase [bphA (2072)] genes and the subsequent bacterial dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (bphB) gene. These vicinal diol products showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity against the lipid peroxidation induced by free radicals and strong scavenging activity towards DPPH radicals. The vicinal diols were also synthesized from ionized monocyclic aromatics incorporating an amino or carboxyl group.     

[F]Fluoromethyl iodide ([F]FCH2I): preparation and reactions with phenol, thiophenol, amide and amine functional groups

In this study, we report the synthesis and reactivity of [¹⁸F]fluoromethyl iodide ([¹⁸F]FCH₂I) with various nucleophilic substrates and the stabilities of [¹⁸F]fluoromethylated compounds. [¹⁸F]FCH₂I was prepared by reacting diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) with [¹⁸F]KF, and purified by distillation in radiochemical yields of 14-31% (n = 25). [¹⁸F]FCH₂I was stable in organic solvents commonly used for labeling and aqueous solution with pH 1-7, but was unstable in basic solutions. [¹⁸F]FCH₂I displayed a high reactivity with various nucleophilic substrates such as phenol, thiophenol, amide and amine. The [¹⁸F]fluoromethylated compounds synthesized by the reactions of phenol, thiophenol and tertiary amine with [¹⁸F]FCH₂I were stable for purification, formulation and storage. In contrast, the [¹⁸F]fluoromethylated compounds synthesized by the reactions of primary or secondary amines, and amide with [¹⁸F]FCH₂I were too unstable to be detected or purified from the reaction mixtures. Defluorination of these [¹⁸F]fluoromethyl compounds was a main decomposition route.     

4-Ketoantheraxanthin, a novel carotenoid produced by the combination of the bacterial enzyme β-carotene ketolase CrtW and endogenous carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in higher plants

Higher plants do not ordinarily possess ketocarotenoids due to the absence of a carotenoid ketolase enzyme. We expressed genes coding for marine-bacterial enzymes β-carotene ketolase (CrtW) and β-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ) in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) by transplastomic engineering. A novel carotenoid, 4-ketoantheraxanthin, was isolated from the leaves of the tobacco transformants. The structure of 4-ketoantheraxanthin was determined to be (3S,3′S,5′R,6′S)-5′,6′-epoxy-3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-caroten-4-one by analysis of the MS, NMR, and CD data. This carotenoid was considered to be synthesized by a 4-ketolation reaction by CrtW of antheraxanthin that had been synthesized by the endogenous carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes present in higher plants and CrtZ. 4-Ketoantheraxanthin was also shown to have potent antioxidative activity against a ¹O₂ suppression model.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis and optical properties of all-cis poly(phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs): a method for direct patterning of PPVs

Geometrically pure, all-cis poly(phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs) are synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura-type polycondensation of 2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-benzenediboronic acid with (Z,Z)-bis(2-bromoethenyl)benzenes, which are prepared by ruthenium-catalyzed (Z)-selective double hydrosilylation of diethynylbenzenes, followed by bromodesilylation of the resulting (Z,Z)-bis(2-silylethenyl)benzenes with N-bromosuccinimide. The all-cis PPVs thus obtained undergo one-way photoisomerization to the corresponding trans-PPVs both in solution and in the solid. This phenomenon is applied to direct microscale patterning of PPVs onto a quartz substrate.