Biyoulactones A-C, new pentacyclic meroterpenoids from Hypericum chinense

Three novel pentacyclic meroterpenoids with a unique dilactone structure containing C-C bonded bi- and tricyclic γ-lactone moieties, biyoulactones A-C (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Hypericum chinense, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of 1 was assigned by a combination of NOESY and a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Macroscopic wall number analysis of single-walled, double-walled, and few-walled carbon nanotubes by X-ray diffraction

The layer number is of great importance for nanocarbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. While simple optical methods exist to evaluate few-layer graphene, equivalent analysis for CNTs is limited to transmission electron microscopy. We present a simple macroscopic method based on the (002) X-ray diffraction peak to evaluate the average wall number of CNTs in the range from single- to few-walled. The key was the finding that the (002) peak could be decomposed into two basic components: the intertube structure (outer-wall contacts) and the intratube structure (concentric shells). Decomposition of the peaks revealed a linear relationship between the average wall number and the ratio of the intertube and intratube contributions to the (002) peak. Good agreement with CNTs having average wall numbers ranging from 1 to ～5 demonstrated this as a macroscopic method for average wall number analysis.     

Polymorphism of 4-Fluorophenylpyruvic Acid Studied by X-Ray Crystallography and Vibrational Spectroscopy

Two polymorphic forms (I and II) of 4-fluorophenylpyruvic acid (F-PPA) were obtained by crystallization from different solvents, showing a melting point at 163.2 and 171.0 °C. Crystal structures of polymorphs I and II were determined by X-ray crystallography. IR and Raman spectra of the two polymorphs were measured and the spectral characteristics were compared with those of phenylpyruvic acid. the two polymorphs show similar molecular and crystal structures to each other, except for the molecular geometries of the enol and the carboxylic acid moieties. Distinct IR spectral differences which result from the crystal field splitting were observed between the two polymorphs.     

Diversity of Ligularia kanaitzensis in sesquiterpenoid composition and neutral DNA sequences

Twenty-six eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, including six new compounds, were isolated from the title species. One of the new compounds, kanaitzensol, suggested the presence of an enzyme for the conversion of eremophil-7(11)-en-8-one derivative to furanoeremophilanes. The plant was collected at 15 locations in Yunnan Province of China and found to be diverse with respect to its sesquiterpenoid composition. DNA sequencing also revealed a large intraspecific diversity of the plant.     

A facile synthesis of novel chiral phosphonoacetates bearing a stereogenic phosphorus atom

Novel chiral phosphonoacetates bearing a stereogenic phosphorus atom were successfully synthesized by enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic phosphonoacetates.