Ellagitannin Chemistry. First Total Synthesis of the 2,3- and 4,6-Coupled Ellagitannin Pedunculagin

The biomimetic synthesis of pedunculagin (1) was accomplished through the sequential diastereoselective formation of two biphenyl C-C bonds. The synthesis strategy employed is predicated on extensive conformational modeling and involves initial oxidative coupling of the galloyl moieties at the O(2) and O(3) positions of an appropriately protected glucose-derived core, followed by installation and oxidative coupling of galloyl esters at the O(4) and O(6) positions.     

Application of atomic stereomicroscope to surface science

A stereograph of atomic arrangement was displayed directly on the screen of display-type spherical-mirror analyzer without any computer-aided conversion process for the first time. This stereoscopic photograph enables viewing three-dimensional atomic arrangement. This technique was realized taking advantage of the phenomenon of circular dichroism in photoelectron angular distribution. The azimuthal shifts of forward focusing peaks in a photoelectron angular distribution taken with left and right helicity light in a special arrangement are the same as the parallaxes in a stereo view of atoms. Hence a stereoscopic recognition of three-dimensional atomic arrangement is possible, when the left eye and the right eye respectively view the two images obtained by left and right helicity light simultaneously.     

CO-transfer carbonylation reactions. A catalytic Pauson-Khand-type reaction of enynes with aldehydes as a source of carbon monoxide

The reaction of enynes with aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of [RhCl(cod)](2)/dppp results in the Pauson-Khand-type reaction without the use of gaseous carbon monoxide to give bicyclic cyclopentenones in high yields (14 examples). Aldehydes serve as a source of carbon monoxide, and their carbonyl moiety is transferred to enynes, resulting in the formation of the carbonylated products. This reaction represents the first example of a CO-transfer carbonylation.     

Potassium-thiacalix[8]arene assembly: structure and guest sorption profiles

Treatment of thiacalix[8]arene (3.8H) with KH in THF, followed by recrystallization from methanol, affords an adduct of [K4(3.4H)].8MeOH as a pale yellow crystal (4), which shows highly-extensive coordination that gives rise to a zeolitic structure. An adduct of 4 gives apohost [K4(3.4H)] with the loss of methanol, which can adsorb such gaseous organic guest molecules as methanol and benzene. After binding methanol as the guest molecule, the apohost is converted back to the original structure of 4.     

Evaluation of the enzymatic susceptibility of cellulosic substrates using specific hydrolysis rates and enzyme adsorption

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Adsorption of cellulases to cellulose is a critical step in the hydrolysis of cellulosic substrates. However, the importance of adsorption in determining...     

Lipid phosphate phosphatases dimerise,but this interaction is not required for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> activity

Background  

Lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs) are integral membrane proteins believed to dephosphorylate bioactive lipid messengers, so modifying or attenuating their activities. Wunen, a Drosophila LPP homologue, has been shown to play a pivotal role in primordial germ cell (PGC) migration and survival during embryogenesis. It has been hypothesised that LPPs may form oligomeric complexes, and may even function as hexamers. We were interested in exploring this possibility, to confirm whether LPPs can oligomerise, and if they do, whether oligomerisation is required for either in vitroor in vivoactivity.     

Applications of ionizing radiation to the remediation of materials contaminated with heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls

We have investigated the removal from water of heavy metals and chelated heavy metal compounds using electron beam and gamma radiation. Parameter analyses include the effect of dissolved oxygen and the influence of adding various buffers and radical scavengers. Complete removal (>99%) of mercury, lead and cadmium ions, both free and chelated within EDTA, was achieved using radiation doses ranging from 3–100 kGy. We have also studied the radiation induced degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aqueous-organic and aqueous micellar systems. Rates and extent of dechlorination have been quantified in different solution matrices; reaction by-products and intermediate species have been identified; and the influences of dissolved oxygen and pH have been evaluated. The presence of a carbonate buffer was observed to significantly enhance PCB dechlorination yields by reducing concentrations of H₃O⁺. Ionizing radiation was effective in degrading PCBs in micellar solutions but scavenging of e_aq⁻ by the surfactant lowered reaction efficiencies.     

In situ IR reflectance absorption spectroscopy studies of the effect of Nafion on CO adsorption and electrooxidation at Pt nanoparticles

We have synthesized colloidal Pt nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 2.6±0.4 nm by reducing PtCl₂ dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide with t-BuMe₂SiH. The latter compound acted both as a reducing agent and a stabilizer of the Pt nanoparticles. Pt nanoparticles were deposited onto the Au substrate and IR reflectance absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) was applied to investigate CO adsorption and oxidation at the surface of the catalyst. The reactivity of the catalyst covered with Nafion was compared with the reactivity of the catalyst without Nafion. In addition, the reactivity of the colloidal Pt was compared with the reactivity of bulk polycrystalline Pt. We found that CO oxidation proceeds at lower over-potentials at nanoparticles than at polycrystalline Pt. The IRRAS data indicate that the difference in the reactivity may be explained by a different mechanism of the oxidation reaction; Langmuir–Hinshelwood at Pt nanoparticles and island formation and growth at polycrystalline Pt. We have also observed that a film of Nafion slows down the CO oxidation reaction. The IRRAS spectra for CO adsorbed at Pt nanoparticles covered by Nafion were significantly different from the spectra recorded for the nanoparticles in the absence of Nafion. The spectroscopic features suggest that in the presence of Nafion the nanoparticles experience regions of lower and higher proton concentration.This paper is dedicated to Prof. G. Horanyi on the occasion of his 70th birthday and in recognition of his contribution to electrochemistry.     

Aggregation states and molecular motion of polymer ultrathin films prepared at the air/water interface

Surface structure and dynamics in three different polymeric ultrathin systems, such as organosilane monolayers, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes and poly(amido amine) dendrimer monolayers are discussed.