Novel synthesis of N,N′‐dialkyl cyclic ureas using sulfur‐assisted carbonylation and oxidation

The first example of cyclic urea synthesis from secondary amines by the use of sulfur‐assisted carbonylation and oxidation was established. By combined sulfur‐assisted carbonylation of secondary α,ω‐diamines under an ambient pressure of carbon monoxide at 20°C with oxidation by molecular oxygen (0.1 MPa, 20°C), a facile synthetic method for N,N′‐dialkyl cyclic ureas including 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone was developed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:64–68, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20508     

Photochemistry of Flavins in Micelles: Specific Effects of Anionic Surfactants on the Monomerization of Thymine Cyclobutane Dimers Photosensitized by Tetra-O-acyl Riboflavins*

It was found that tetra-o-acyl riboflavins efficiently photosensitize the monomerization of the cis, syn-cyclobutane dimers of 1,3-dimethylthymine and 1,3-dimethyluracil in aqueous solution in the presence of such anionic surfactants as sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium hexadecyl sulfate at concentrations higher than their critical micelle concentration, while little monomerization of the dimers was photosensitized by the flavins in the absence of the surfactants and even in the presence of cationic and nonionic surfactants.     

Soluble and Planar 2,9-Diazaperopyrenes through Reductive Aromatization of Perylene Diimides: Tunable Emission and Aggregation Behaviors

Reductive aromatization of perylene diimides with acid anhydrides in the presence of Mn or Zn metals provides soluble and planar 2,9-diazaperopyrenes with ester groups at 1,3,8,10-positions. The pivaloxy groups at the peripheral positions can be transformed into a variety of aryl groups through nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of ester groups. Emission colors of diazaperopyrenes are tunable by the peripheral substituents. The peripheral substituents also affect the aggregation behaviors of 2,9-diazaperopyrenes in the solution and solid states.     

Synthesis of Distorted 1,8,13-Trisilyl-9-hydroxytriptycenes by Triple Cycloaddition of Ynolates to 3-Silylbenzynes

1,8,13-Trialkyl(aryl)silyl-9-hydroxytriptycenes (trisilyltriptycenes) were synthesized by the triple addition of ynolates and 3-silylbenzynes with high regioselectivity. Benzene rings in the resulting triptycenes were highly distorted where the dihedral angles between the substituents were as high as 35°. The distortion energy induced step-by-step halogenation reactions to yield halogenated triptycenes, including chiral triptycenes. The 1,8,13-trihalogenated triptycenes were then converted to 1,8,13-functionalized triptycenes.     

Is nitric oxide (NO) an antioxidant or a prooxidant for lipid peroxidation?

Antioxidant and prooxidant effects of nitric oxide (NO) on lipid peroxidation in aqueous and non-aqueous media were examined. In an aqueous solution, NO did not induce peroxidation of unoxidized methyl linoleate (ML) and suppressed the radical initiator-induced oxidation of ML. NO suppressed the Fe(II) ion-induced oxidation of mouse liver microsomes. NO reduced the O2 consumption during the radical initiator-induced oxidation of linoleic acid in an aqueous medium. NO conversion into NO2- in an aqueous medium was not affected by unoxidized ML and was slightly reduced by peroxidizing ML. On the other hand, as well as pure NO2, NO induced peroxidation of unoxidized ML in n-hexane in a dose-dependent fashion. NO did not suppress the radical initiator-induced oxidation of ML in n-hexane. Nitrogen oxide species (NO2 or N2O3) formed by autoxidation was dramatically lost in n-hexane in the presence of unoxidized ML. The results indicated that NO terminated lipid peroxidation in an aqueous medium, whereas NO induced lipid peroxidatiton in a non-aqueous medium. Hence, NO showed both antioxidant and prooxidant effects on lipid peroxidation depending on the solvents.     

Convenient synthesis of acetaminophen analogues containing α-amino acids and fatty acids via their mixed carbonic carboxylic anhydrides in aqueous organic solvent

Acetaminophen analogues containing α-amino acid and fatty acids were easily synthesized in 77–99% yields from the corresponding mixed carbonic carboxylic anhydrides of α-amino acid and fatty acids using aniline derivatives in aqueous MeCN.     

Asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of Meldrum's acid derived acceptors employing chiral phosphoramidite ligands

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of Et(2)Zn to Meldrum's acid derived acceptors, mediated by a catalyst formed from Cu(O(2)CCF(3))(2) and a phosphoramidite ligand, is reported. Adducts are obtained in useful yields and up to 94% ee.