Ruthenium‐catalyzed synthesis of quinolines via reductive heteroannulation of nitroarenes with 3‐amino‐1‐propanols

Nitroarenes are reductively cyclized with 3‐amino‐1‐propanols in dioxane/H₂O in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst and tin(II) chloride dihydrate together with isopropanol to afford the corresponding quinolines. A reaction pathway involving initial reduction of nitroarenes to anilines, propanol group transfer from 3‐amino‐1‐propanols to anilines, N‐alkylation of anilines by 3‐anilino‐1‐propanols and heteroannulation of 1,3‐dianilinopropanes is proposed.     

Synthesis, structure and heterogeneous catalytic activities of Cu-containing polymeric compounds: anion effect and comparison of homogeneous vs. heterogeneous catalytic activity

The structures of new polymeric compounds containing Cu(II) ions and btp (2,6-bis(N'-1,2,4-triazolyl)pyridine) ligands have been determined. The btp ligands bridge Cu(II) ions to form double zigzag chains, [Cu(ClO4)2(btp)2] 3 with perchlorate anions, and form single zigzag chains, [Cu(btp)(H2O)4](SO4).2H2O 4 with sulfate anions. The polymeric compound 3 was found to effectively catalyze the epoxide ring-opening reaction with methanol, while polymeric compound 4 was almost inactive with epoxides under the same conditions. The polymeric compound 3 showed an efficient catalytic activity and regioselective reactivity in the ring opening of epoxides and allowed reuse without a significant loss of activity through three runs with epoxides.     

Influence of extended π-conjugation units on carrier mobilities in conducting polymers

Carrier mobilities in thin films of copolymers with repeat units consisting of oligothiophenes bridged by Si atoms are measured over a range of doping levels, where the numbers of thienylenes in the repeat unit are 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14. The mobilities for these polymer films increased with the increase in doping level and the mobility enhancement followed an increasing order of the π-conjugation length. The magnitude of the mobility increase for the Si polymer comprising 14 thiophene units reached ca. 10⁴, implying that this π-conjugation length is almost sufficient to reproduce transport properties of polythiophenes.     

Comparative resin kinetics using in situ fluorescence measurements

The aminolysis of a novel activated ester resin was utilized for kinetic study via continuous in situ fluorescence measurements. A variety of resin compositions (polystyrene, JandaJel, ArgoPore, TentaGel, NovaGel, and PEGA) and solvents (dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dichlorethane, and toluene) were tested to compare their effects on the reaction rate. A linear relationship between the reaction rate and (solvent polarity x swelling of resin) was elucidated for the aminolysis reaction.     

Synthesis of 5,6,8,9,14,14a-hexahydroisoquino[1,2-b][3]benzazepines

Syntheses of 5,6,8,9,14,14a-hexahydroisoquino[1,2-b][3]benzazepine-2,3,11,12-tetrol and related compounds are described. Key steps involve an initial construction of the isoquinoline ring under the Bischler-Napieralski conditions, which is followed by the building of the azepine ring via an intramolecular lactam formation on to the isoquinoline nucleus.     

Dissolution nature of the lithium hydroxide by water molecules

The structures, stabilities, thermodynamic quantities, dissociation energies, infrared spectra, and electronic properties of LiOH hydrated by up to seven water molecules are investigated by using the density-functional theory and the M?ller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2). Further accurate analysis based on the coupled-cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples excitations agrees with the MP2 results. The Li-OH stretch mode significantly shifts with the increase of water molecules, and it eventually disappears upon dissociation. It is revealed that seven water molecules are needed for the stable dissociation of LiOH (as a completely dissociated conformation), in contrast to the cases of RbOH and CsOH which require four and three water molecules, respectively.     

Microphase separation of PEG-modified urethane acrylate and the swelling behavior of its gels

The viscosity of PEG-modified urethane acrylate (PMUA) showed peculiar behavior in the course of soap-free emulsification. Moreover, the viscosity change with added amounts of water was influenced by the reaction molar ratio of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The rate of increase in viscosity slowed and the ratio of increase in viscosity increased as the reaction molar ratio of PEG increased. This peculiar viscosity behavior was due to the microphase separation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of PMUA, and the orientation of polyoxyethylene groups at O/W interface which influenced droplet size of the soap-free PMUA emulsion. The location of polyoxyethylene groups of this resin at O/W interface was confirmed using the adsorption isotherm measurement of PMUA molecules containing polyoxyethylene groups at water/benzene interface. The microphase separation behavior of PMUA between hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments could apply to the preparation of the PMUA gels containing peculiar structure. PMUA gels were prepared using dioxane (UAG) and the swelling behavior of these gels were compared to that of gels prepared using water (UAHG) in the same medium. In the same medium, the swelling behavior of UAHG gels differed from that of UAG gels because of the difference in the microstructure of gel due to the microphase separation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. This phase separation in the course of gelation in water could be confirmed using contact angle measurement.     

Clinical significance of molecular genetic changes in sporadic invasive pituitary adenomas

Several molecular and genetic changes have been found in pituitary adenomas. We looked for correlations between these changes and the degree of invasiveness of the tumors. The invasiveness of 11 pituitary adenomas was graded by Hardy classification. We examined the retinoblastoma gene (RB1.20 on chromosome 13q) and the region around the MEN1 locus (chromosome 11q13.1-5) for loss of heterozygosity. Also examined are p53 mutations using single strain conformation polymorphism, p53 protein overexpression using immuno cytochemistry, homozygous deletions of p15 and p16 by polymerase chain reaction, and cellular proliferative activity using MIB-1 antibody. Six tumors (54.5%) had an LOH at either RB1.20 or the MEN1 locus. LOHs were found more frequently in Grade 4 and stage E tumors (72% and 67%) than in Grade 3 and stage D tumors (25% and 40%). However, no mutation or overexpression of p53 was found. No homozygous deletions of p15 or p16 were identified. The cell proliferative index ranged from 0 to 3%. LOH at 11q13 and 13q may be valuable in predicting the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas.     

Hetero-calix[4]pyrroles: incorporation of furans, thiophenes, thiazoles or fluorenes as a part of the macrocycle

Furans, thiazoles, fluorene or thiophene incorporated calix[4]pyrrole analogues were synthesized and characterized. The synthesis was achieved by utilization of various building blocks such as 7, 13, 14, 18 and 21. Acid catalyzed condensation of those building blocks with acetone or meso-disubstituted dipyrromethanes afforded desired macrocycles.     

Molecular variations in Th1-specific cell surface gene Tim-3

The family of T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain (TIM) proteins is identified to be expressed on T cells. A member of Tim family, Tim-3 (T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3) is selectively expressed on the surface of differentiated Th1 cells. Tim-3 might have an important role in the induction of autoimmune diseases by regulating macrophage activation and interacts with Tim-3 ligand to regulate Th1 responses. To determine the variation sites in the coding and promoter region of human Tim-3 gene, we performed variation scanning by direct sequencing using the genomic DNA isolated from the patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis and healthy controls without asthma and allergic rhinitis. We identified four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including one novel SNPs (-1541C>T) and two variation sites (-1292_-1289delTAAA and -1282_-1278dupTAAAA) in the coding and promoter region of human Tim-3 gene in both the patients and healthy groups.