SmI2-mediated reduction of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates with application to the synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene-type dipeptide isosteres

A samarium diiodide (SmI(2))-mediated reduction of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates (15, 29, and 34) was successfully applied to the synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres (23, 30, and 35), which have served as potential dipeptide mimetics. Reduction of the gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates by SmI(2) proceeded via successive two-electron transfers to form dienolate species which upon kinetically controlled trapping with t-BuOH yielded Xaa-Gly-type fluoroalkene isosteres exemplified by 23, 30, and 35. Replacement of the t-BuOH kinetic trapping agent with aldehydes or ketones provided access to alpha-substituted fluoroalkene isosteres (43 and 45) through aldol reactions of Sm-dienolates with the carbonyl compounds. Of particular note, the use of the SmI(2)-HCHO reagent system with chiral enoate 34 provided D-Phe-psi[(Z)-CF[double bond]CH]-D/L-Ser isosteres (45), which could be converted to enantiomerically pure isosteres (49-52) that bore a variety of side chain functionalities at the alpha-position. This was achieved by a sequence of manipulations consisting of beta-lactone formation followed by chromatographic separation and ring-opening with soft nucleophiles. Included in the present work is the first utilization of a Rh-catalyzed Reformatsky reaction of chiral imines for the stereoselective preparation of alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-amino acid derivatives (28 and 33). The appropriate choice of reagents (carbonyl compounds for kinetic trapping or ring-opening nucleophiles and imines for Reformatsky reactions) allows the presented methodology to yield various fluoroalkene isosteres possessing a wide range of side chain functionalities.     

The first example of the stereoselective synthesis of 7 beta-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinan via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone

7beta-Carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 5 were stereoselectively synthesized from the 7alpha-carboxylate intermediate 3 in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and amines under reflux conditions in mesitylene via a novel and reactive gamma-lactone 7. These were the first examples of the stereoselective syntheses of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans. The mechanism of the reaction process was elucidated as follows: 1) epimerization of 7alpha-carboxylate 3, 2) intramolecular lactonization of 7beta-carboxylate 6, and 3) aminolysis of the resultant gamma-lactone 7. The aminolysis of the isolated reactive gamma-lactone 7 with allylamine and the alcoholysis with MeOH in the presence of NaBH(4) proceeded at room temperature. The gamma-lactone 7 can be a useful intermediate for the preparation of 7beta-substituted 4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans that would be potent selective delta opioid receptor ligands. The stereoselective syntheses of the 7alpha-carbamoyl-4,5alpha-epoxymorphinans 9 from 7alpha-carboxylate 3 via 7alpha-carboxylic acid were also successful.     

Migration analysis of micro-particles in liquids using microscopically designed external fields.

The recent development of new migration methods of micro-particles in liquids using various external fields is reviewed. The combination of a laser scattering force and a photothermal effect produced photothermal-conversion laser-photophoresis. A dielectric field generated in a planer or a capillary quadrupole electrode realized dielectrophoresis. Using a micrometer-scaled magnetic field gradient, the "Magnetophoretic velocimetry" of micro-particles was invented. Furthermore, the Lorentz force generated by combining an electric field and a magnetic field was utilized for electromagnetophoresis. These new methods were overlooked and the advantages in analytical use were discussed.     

Ionic liquid salt bridge based on tributyl(2-methoxyethyl)phosphonium bis(pentafluoroethanesulfonyl)amide for stable liquid junction potentials in highly diluted aqueous electrolyte solutions

A moderately hydrophobic ionic liquid, tributyl(2-methoxyethyl)phosphonium bis(pentafluoroethanesulfonyl)amide ([TBMOEP⁺][C₂C₂N⁻]), shows a very stable liquid junction potential upon contact with an aqueous solution whose ionic strength is as low as 1 μmol dm⁻³. The stability with the maximum excursion of the potential within ±0.5 mV for 30 min is very promising for accurate determination of pH and other single ion activities potentiometrically.     

Analysis of oxidation process of cholecystokinin octapeptide with reactive oxygen species by high‐performance liquid chromatography and subsequent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The C‐terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK8) includes some easily oxidizable amino acids. The oxidation of CCK8 by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radicals (OH^?) was investigated using reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) and subsequent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The mechanism of oxidation of CCK8 in the H₂O₂ system differed from that of CCK8 in the Fenton system, in which OH^? are produced. In the H₂O₂ system, ²⁸Met and ³¹Met were oxidized to methionine sulfoxide, and no further oxidation or degradation/hydrolysis occurred. On the other hand, in the Fenton system, ²⁸Met and ³¹Met residues were oxidized to methionine sulfone via the formation of methionine sulfoxide. In addition, the oxidized product was observed at the Trp residue but not at the Tyr residue, and small peptide fragments from CCK8 were observed in the Fenton system. From these results, it was concluded that ²⁸Met and ³¹Met residues of CCK8 are susceptible to oxidation by ROS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Allosteric coextraction of sodium and metal ions with calix[4]arene derivatives 1

Solvent extraction of three alkali metal ions with p-t-octylcalix[6]arene hexacarboxylic acid, p-t-octylcalix[4]arene tetracarboxylic acid, corresponding linear trimeric and monomeric analogs was investigated. Cyclic tetramer selectively extracts sodium ion among alkali ions at extremely low pH, while the corresponding cyclic hexamer, the trimer, and the monomer exhibited only poor extraction ability for all alkali metals examined. The detailed extractive investigation of sodium ions with the cyclic tetramer was carried out. It was found that two sodium ions are simultaneously extracted by a single molecule of calix[4]arene derivative and that the second sodium extraction is facilitated by the uptake of the first sodium. The self-coextraction mechanism of sodium ions proposed in the present paper also strongly supports allosteric coextraction of sodium and other metal ions. In the competitive extraction of four alkali metal ions, potassium ion was slightly extracted as the second ion at low pH region, whereas it was hardly extracted in the individual extraction system. The result also supports the coextraction mechanism and role of the first-extracted sodium ion as an allosteric trigger. The extraction equilibrium constants of the cyclic tetramer and two sodium ions, K _ex1 and K _ex2, were estimated.     

Effect of surfactants on the porous structure of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels prepared by an emulsion templating method

Stimuli-sensitive porous hydrogels prepared with an emulsion templating method developed by the authors are potentially applicable in the medical and pharmaceutical fields; thermosensitive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) hydrogels having randomly distributed sphere-like cavities have been prepared by the polymerization in an aqueous phase in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion, followed by the washing of oil (oleyl alcohol) microdroplets. The surfactant plays a dominant role in the preparation of porous hydrogels and the pore size. This study concerns with the surfactant effects on the stability of pre-gel O/W emulsions. The porous NIPA hydrogels were successfully prepared using the surfactants forming the stable emulsion and their internal structures and swelling properties were characterized. The O/W emulsions and the porous hydrogels prepared using various amounts of oil and surfactant were characterized. The information obtained serves for preparation of porous hydrogels having suitable porous structure for their applications.     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide catalyzed by rare earth complexes

The rare earth(III) salt catalysed asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with a chiral dienophile in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) proceeded rapidly to give the adduct with a higher diastereoselectivity than that in dichloromethane; Yb(ClO₄)₃ gave the endo adduct with value up to 77% de at 40°C, 8 MPa. The chiral rare earth diketonate catalyzed hetero Diels–Alder reaction of the Danishefsky's diene with benzaldehyde gave a higher yield and an enantioselectivity in scCO₂ than that in dichloromethane. Scandium/pybox 8a complex catalysed asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone with cyclopentadiene in the presence of MS4A proceeded smoothly in scCO₂ to give the endo adduct 10 in a good yield with up to 88% ee.     

Platanionosides D-J: megastigmane glycosides from the leaves of Alangium platanifolium (Sieb. et Zucc.) Harms var. platanifolium Sieb. et Zucc

From the leaves of Alangium paltanifolium var. platanifolium, collected in Fukuoka Prefecture, twelve further megastigmane glycosides were isolated. Seven of them, named platanionosides D-J (1-7), were found to be new compounds. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic evidence and their absolute structures were determined from beta-D-glucosylation-induced shift trends of 13C-NMR and by application of a modified Mosher's method.     

Epoxyquinol A, a highly functionalized pentaketide dimer with antiangiogenic activity isolated from fungal metabolites

A unique pentaketide dimer structure of a novel fungal metabolite with antiangiogenic activity, designated as epoxyquinol A (1), was determined on the basis of NMR spectral data as well as the X-ray crystallographic analysis. 1 inhibits the endothelial migration induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (ED100 = 3 mug/mL).