Cp2TiCl2-catalyzed regio- and chemoselective one-step synthesis of gamma-substituted allylsilanes from terminal alkenes using dianion-type zincate (SiSiNOL-Zn-ate)

A regio-/chemoselective silylation reaction of various functionalized terminal alkenes in the presence of titanocene dichloride, based on a newly designed dianion-type zincate, was developed. The present silylation of terminal alkenes is a powerful tool for the one-pot generation of regiocontrolled functionalized allysilanes, which are available for various transformation reactions, such as hydroxyalkylation, epoxidation, and hydroboration.     

Inductive effect-assisted chain-growth polycondensation. synthetic development from para- to meta-substituted aromatic polyamides with low polydispersities

The polycondensation of m-(octylamino)benzoic acid esters (1) with base was investigated in order to extend the synthesis of well-defined condensation polymers from para-substituted polymers to meta-substituted ones. We expected that the aminyl anion of 2 would deactivate the ester moiety at the meta position of 2 owing to the strong inductive effect of the anion, resulting in, not self-polycondensation, but chain-growth polycondensation. The methyl ester monomer 1a polymerized with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) in the presence of phenyl benzoate (3a) as an initiator at 0 degrees C to afford a polymer with a low polydispersity, but the product contained a small amount of self-condensation polymer. On the other hand, the polymerization of the ethyl ester monomer (1b) with phenyl 4-methylbenzoate (3b) proceeded through chain polymerization without self-polycondensation. The Mn values of the polymers increased linearly in proportion to the [1b]0/[3b]0 ratio, and the Mw/Mn ratios remained narrow over the entire [1b]0/[3b]0 range. Furthermore, a block copolymer of N-alkylated poly(m-benzamide) and poly(p-benzamide) with a low polydispersity was synthesized by the monomer addition method under this polymerization condition.     

Synthesis of a lignan skeleton via nickel- and palladium-phosphine complex catalyzed grignard coupling reaction of halothiophenes

A lignan skeleton is prepared in good yield through desulfurization of 3,4-dibenzyl-thiophene or 2,5-diaryl-3,4-dimethylthiophenes which are obtained by the nickel- or palladium-phosphine complex catalyzed Grignard cross-coupling reaction of halothiophenes.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of optically active α-curcumene

(R)-(?)-α-Curcumene has been prepared in 66% optical yield and in 34% overall yield in five steps by means of asymmetric Grignard cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by a nickel complex of chiral (aminoalkylferrocenyl)phosphine as a key carbon-carbon bond forming step.     

Photocatalytic activity of R3MO7 and R2Ti2O7 (R=Y, Gd, La; M=Nb, Ta) for water splitting into H2 and O2

The photocatalytic activities of R3MO7 and R2Ti2O7 (R=Y, Gd, La; M=Nb, Ta) strongly depended on the crystal structure. Overall, photocatalytic water splitting into H2 and O2 proceeded over La3TaO7 and La3NbO7, which have an orthorhombic weberite structure, Y2Ti2O7 and Gd2Ti2O7, which have a cubic pyrochlore structure, and La2Ti2O7, which has a monoclinic perovskite structure. All of these materials are composed of a network of corner-shared octahedral units of metal cations (TaO6, NbO6, or TiO6); materials without such a network were inactive. The octahedral network certainly increased the mobility of electrons and holes, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity.     

Regiocontrolled intramolecular cyclizations of carboxylic acids to carbon-carbon triple bonds promoted by acid or base catalyst

We systematically investigated, for the first time, the relationship between regioselectivity and acid/base effects in the cyclization reactions between carboxylic acids and carbon-carbon triple bonds. We found novel acid- and base-promoted cyclizations to selectively give isocoumarin or pyran-2(2H)-one and phthalide or furan-2(5H)-one skeletons, respectively, and established a catalytic version of regioselective heterocyclic ring synthesis. Density functional theory calculations and application to a short route to thunberginol A were also described. [reaction: see text].     

Design of Photostable,Activatable Near‐Infrared Photoacoustic Probes Using Tautomeric Benziphthalocyanine as a Platform

Near‐infrared (NIR) imaging techniques have attracted significant attention for biological and medicinal applications due to the ability of NIR to penetrate deeply into tissues. However, there are very few stable, activatable molecular probes that can utilize NIR light in the wavelength range beyond 800 nm. Herein, we report a new activatable NIR system for photoacoustic imaging based on tautomeric benziphthalocyanines (BPcs). We found that the existence of a free hydroxyl group is crucial for NIR absorption of BPcs. Synthesized water‐soluble hydroxy BPcs exhibited high photostability and no fluorescence, which are desirable features for photoacoustic imaging. We synthesized BPcs in which the free hydroxyl group was masked by an esterase‐labile or an H₂O₂‐labile group. The photoacoustic signals of these hydroxy‐masked BPcs were increased upon NIR excitation at 880 nm in the presence of esterase or H₂O₂, respectively. These are rare examples of activatable probes utilizing NIR light at around 900 nm.     

Shimalactone Biosynthesis Involves Spontaneous Double Bicyclo-Ring Formation with 8π-6π Electrocyclization

Shimalactones A and B are neuritogenic polyketides possessing characteristic oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene ring systems that are produced by the marine fungus Emericella variecolor GF10. We identified a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster and conducted heterologous expression analysis. Expression of ShmA polyketide synthase in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the production of preshimalactone. Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformants expressing ShmA and ShmB produced shimalactones A and B, thus suggesting that the double bicyclo-ring formation reactions proceed non-enzymatically from preshimalactone epoxide. DFT calculations strongly support the idea that oxabicyclo-ring formation and 8π-6π electrocyclization proceed spontaneously after opening of the preshimalactone epoxide ring through protonation. We confirmed the formation of preshimalactone epoxide in vitro, followed by its non-enzymatic conversion to shimalactones in the dark.