Synthesis of the common left-half part of pectenotoxins

The common left-half [C31-C33(OC1-C7)-C40] part of pectenotoxins has been synthesized convergently from the C31-C35, C36-C40, and C1-C7 parts. The C31-C35 part, prepared via a new route shorter than our previous route, was coupled with the C36-C40 part through reductive lithiation and addition reactions to give an adduct stereoselectively, which was converted to a cyclic acetal corresponding to the C31-C40 part. The left-half was synthesized by a three-step process including esterification of the C31-C40 part with the C1-C7 part.     

Biomimetic formation of gramicidin S by dimerization-cyclization of pentapeptide precursor on solid support

The biomimetic formation of gramicidin S, cyclo(-d-Phe-Pro-Val-Orn-Leu-)₂, by the dimerization and cyclization of pentapeptide precursor without the protection of δ-amino group of the Orn residue was examined on a solid support. The cyclization of H-d-Phe-Pro-Val-Orn-Leu-oxime on a resin with an oxime group of 0.62 mmol/g in 1,4-dioxane directly gave gramicidin S in a 50% yield. The dimerization-cyclization mode on the solid support was similar to that of the biosynthesis of gramicidin S on an enzyme.     

Radical polymerization of metal-coordinated monomers with ligands of pyrrole-containing schiff bases

The copper complexes and the cobalt complex with the ligand of 3-(2-pyrrolylmethyl-enimino)propene-1 (PIP) or p-(2-pyrrolylmethylenimino)styrene (PIS) were synthesized and homopolymerizations and the copolymerization with styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid studied. In the polymerization of chelate monomers, inhibition of radical polymerization by the central metal ion was observed, but the chelate polymer could be obtained only if the initiator was present in higher concentrations in the feed. It is considered that the strength of inhibition depends on the electronic configuration of d-orbitals of the central metal ion. The initiation mechanism of the cupric chelate monomer may be reduction of the metal ion by the redox reaction with a primary radical via the intramolecular electron transfer through the π-conjugated system of the ligand prior to the propagation step. This mechanism was verified by studying the redox reaction of various copper complexes with DPPH. In the system of the copper complex containing PIS and acylic acid the alternating copolymer could be obtained at any mole fraction of monomer mixture in feed.     

Appearance of pure fluorocarbon micelles surveyed by fluorescence quenching of amphiphilic quinoline derivatives in fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactant mixtures

A halide-sensitive fluorescence probe was utilized to evaluate the miscibility of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants in aqueous micellar systems. The fluorescence of 6-methoxy-N-1,1,2,2-tetrahydroheptadecafluorodecylquinolinium chloride, FC10MQ, was quenched by halide ions dissociated from the surfactant. The fluorescence in micellar solutions showed an initially rapid decay. This suggests that halide ions effectively quench FC10MQ fluorescence at the micellar surface. The subsequent slow decay corresponds to the quenching of FC10MQ fluorescence in the aqueous bulk phase by the free counterions. The Stern-Volmer plots for fluorescence quenching gave a distinct break at the critical micelle concentration of the cationic surfactants. The abrupt increase in fluorescence quenching is attributed to the solubilization of the probe in the micelles. The fluorescence quenching behavior provides direct information about the immiscibility of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon species in micelles, and the results indicate that almost pure fluorocarbon micelles appear in surfactants mixtures.     

Chemical synthesis of the 5-́half molecule of E.coli tRNA2GLY

A tritriacontanucleotide which has the sequence of the 5$\text{-}\text{?}$half molecule of E.coli glycine tRNA₂, was synthesized by the phosphotriester method involving p-anisidate protection for the 3$\text{-}\text{?}$phosphate ends. Di- and trinucleotide units were prepared from 5$\text{-}\text{?}$dimethoxytrityl-2$\text{-}\text{?}$O-tetrahydrofuranyl-3?-O-(o-chlorophenyl)phosphoryl derivatives of uridine, N-benzoylcytidine, N-benzolyadenosine and N-iso-butyrylguanosine by condensation with 3$\text{,}\text{?}$5$\text{-}\text{?}$unprotected nucleosides followed by phosphorylation to give 3$\text{-}\text{?}$phosphodiester blocks. The 3$\text{-}\text{?}$terminal dimers and trimers were synthesized by using 3$\text{-}\text{?}$(o- chlorophenyl)phosphoro-p-anisidates instead of 3?,5?-unprotected nucleosides. The 3?-phosphodiesters of oligonucleotides with a chain length of larger than 5 were obtained by removal of the 3?-phosphoro-p-anisidate with isoamyl nitrite. The 5$\text{-}\text{?}$dimethoxytrityl group was removed by treatment with zinc bromide under anhydrous conditions. Fragments were designed to use common dimer blocks and to reduce the step for 5$\text{-}\text{?}$deblocking of larger fragments. Finally a 3$\text{-}\text{?}$phosphodiester block with a chain length of 20 was condensed with a 5$\text{-}\text{?}$OH component (tridecanucleotide). The fully protected 33 mer was deblocked and purified by chromatography. The structural integrity of the product was confirmed by mobility shift analysis and complete digestion with RNase T2.     

Synthesis of Star-Shaped Polymers via Coordination of Bipyridyl-Terminated Polyoxyethylene with Metal Ions

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of various star-shaped polymers by means of complexation of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylene with Ru(II) ion. Three kinds of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylenes of different molecular weights were prepared from the corresponding polyoxyethylene monomethyl ethers with narrow molecular weight distributions. Bipyridyl was found to be introduced quantitatively at the end of the polymers based on the results of UV spectra. The formation of a star-shaped polymer was carried out by the reaction of RuCl₃ with three equivalents of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylene. The UV spectrum of the star-shaped polymer obtained supported the formation of a typical Ru(II) tris(bipyridyl) complex. From the results of GPC, the star-shaped polymer obtained had a higher molecular weight than the pre-polymer and showed a narrow molecular weight distribution. In the case of a Ni(II) or a Co(II) complex, however, the star-shaped polymer was found to be dissociated into three linear prepolymers under the conditions of GPC measurement.     

Synthesis of Substituted Phenyl Esters of Amino Acids and Polycondensation in Langmuirblodgett Films

Long-alkyl-chain phenyl esters of β-alanine, glycine, and L-valine were prepared, and their monolayer properties were correlated with their molecular structures. These compounds formed stable monolayers on acidic subphases. In particular, the p-hexadecylphenyl esters of β-alanine and glycine were remarkably stable, and their monolayers could be deposited on calcium fluoride plates as Y-type film by Blodgett's technique. The polycondensation of multilayers under an atmosphere saturated with triethylamine was investigated by changes in the IR spectra. It was determined that the polycondensation proceeded by a first-order reaction mechanism in the initial stage and that the rate in multilayers was faster than that in the bulk crystalline powder. These results suggest that the polycondensation is accelerated by a regular arrangement of the monomer in the multilayers, where the active sites are concentrated and located better for the polycondensation. In the case of the polycondensation in multilayers of the glycine ester, two kinds of condensation proceeded to afford poly(glycine) and 2,5-piperazinedione.     

Generation of 3-Carbanion Species from 3-Phenylsulfinyl- and 3-Phenylsulfonyl Propionic Acids

During the course of studies on butenolide synthesis¹ we have investigated the utilities of 3-sulfur-functionalized propionic acid derivatives. We report the results with 3-carbanion species obtained from 3-phenylsulfiny1- and 3-phenylsulfonylpropionic acids (1) and (2). These compounds were easily prepared from 3-phenylthiopropionic acid.