Structures and cytotoxic activity relationship of casearins, new clerodane diterpenes from Casearia sylvestris Sw

Casearins G-R, new cytotoxic clerodane diterpenes have been isolated from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Flacourtiaceae). Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical conversions, and their structure-activity relationships have been discussed.     

VISUAL PIGMENTS—10. SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOPHYSICAL DYNAMICS OF RETINOL AND RETINYL ETHER

Abstract— The absorption and emission spectra, lifetimes and quantum yields of all-trans retinol have been examined as a function of solvent and temperature. In addition, the spectroscopy of retinyl ether and 2 other polyene alcohols have been determined. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the singlet excited state of retinol and retinyl cther is of a forbidden character and of the type loosely called ¹A^-_g. Retinol forms a dimer in an alkane solvent when cooling from 298 to 77 K. A general structure for the dimer is proposed.     

Polymerization of vinyl acetate in fatty acids and properties of poly (vinyl alcohols) derived from the poly (vinyl acetates)

Polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in various fatty acids (carbon numbers 4–18) was carried out. Chain transfer constants to the acids were determined to be 20–35×10^–4, from which the constant to a methylene group was obtained to be 0.73×10^–4. Viscometry in aqueous solution of derived poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) showed the usual behavior in terms of Huggins constant obtained by the Schulz–Blaschkes equation for PVAs derived from fatty acid systems lower than hexadecanoic acid. PVA derived from octadecanoic acid system showed abnormality, indicating association of alkyl groups. Contact angles on surfaces of PVAs cast from aqueous solutions were measured. While those of PVA derived from lower acid systems were 62°, those of PVAs derived from higher aids were higher and increased to 92° with increase in carbon number to octadecanoic acid. Alkyl groups in the PVAs were estimated to appear on the surfaces. Surface tension of aqueous solution of the PVA derived from octadecanoic acid showed high surface activity, and depended on pH of the solution, indicating the presence and cleavage of lactone ring at the combined portion between PVA and the acid.     

Synthesis of stereocontrolled α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxycarbonyl materials

Synthesis and synthetic utilities of stereocontrolled α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxy-γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds via enzymatic resolution with lipase PS (Pseudomonas cepacia, Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) or lipase MY (Candida rugosa, Meito Sangyo Co. Ltd.) were described, and then the absolute configuration of obtained chiral materials was determined by the modified Mosher's method.     

Isotachophoretic determination of mobility and pKa by means of computer simulation : V. Evaluation of mo and pKa of twenty-eight dipeptides and assessment of separability

Isotachophoretic qualitative indices, R_E, for twenty-eight dipeptides were measured in the range pH 7.4–9.6. The absolute mobility, m_o, and pK_a values were evaluated by the use of the least-squares method, utilizing a simulation of the isotachophoretic steady state. The m_o values were newly evaluated and the pK_a values were in good agreement with literature values. By comparison of the evaluated m_o and pK_a values of the dipeptides with those of the constituent amino acids, simple relationships were found which may be used to estimate the m_o and pK_a values of other dipeptides. The separability of the dipeptides was also evaluated by considering the differences between their simulated effective mobilities. It is concluded that isotachophoresis is very convenient for the separation of dipeptides and their constituent amino acids.     

A study of corrosion on a rotating iron disk electrode

Corrosion of iron in slightly acidified sodium sulphate solutions (mainly pH 4.5) in the open air was studied with a rotating disk electrode method at room temperature.Microscopic observations of corroded iron disk surfaces in the pH 4.5 solution revealed that iron initially corrodes locally with the formation of round pits of 10–30 μm in diameter and of(0.6–1.3) × 10³ in number per apparent square centimetre followed by the U-shaped brown protective wall formation of precipitates (rust) outside the pits. Each protective wall is formed along the lines of flow of the solution adjacent to the iron surface and each pit is located near the upstream end of the wall. Steady state of corrosion sets in when the parts of surface area surrounded by the wall are completely covered with a microscopically non-porous rust film.The amount of iron in the rust film and the total amount of corrosion of iron including that in the film increase parabolically with the increase in the time of immersion. The amount of iron in the film increases in proportion to the total amount of corrosion independently of the speed of rotation of the disk electrode even in the steady state.The fraction of area of iron surface not covered with the film decreases with time and reaches a certain fixed value in the steady state: the value is smaller at higher rotational speed. The corrosion rate is proportional to the uncovered area, as the corrosion is near the steady state. The pH of the bulk solution increases as corrosion progresses.The corrosion rate of iron can be well interpreted by assuming that the rate is controlled by the diffusion of oxygen from the bulk solution to the surface of iron and that the rust film on iron impedes the diffusion of oxygen.     

Total synthesis of (+)-pederine. A simple synthetic method for N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides

A mild one-pot method for the synthesis of acyclic N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides starting from carboxylic acids and methyl imidates had been developed and applied to the total synthesis of the insect poison pederine $\text{1}$.