Affinity purification and affinity characterization of carbohydrate-binding proteins in bovine kidney.

Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-binding proteins were purified from bovine kidney by two-step affinity chromatography on fetuin and heparin columns and subsequent anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. On sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified fraction gave two protein bands corresponding to proteins of relative molecular mass 33,000 (p33) and 41,000 (p41), respectively. Although the proteins had no haemogglutinating activities towards human and rabbit erythrocytes, their carbohydrate-binding activity was examined by a newly developed method using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and/or biotin-labelled glycoconjugates as affinity probes. They could bind in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner to labelled fetuin and heparin in a specific and dose-dependent manner by solid-phase assay after immobilization on plastic plate surface. Inhibition assay of the binding revealed that N-acetylneuraminic acid is the most potent inhibitor of the proteins among the monosaccharides tested. Fucoidin and heparan sulphate most strongly inhibited the binding of the proteins to labelled heparin. Direct binding assay to acidic glycolipids prepared from bovine kidney showed that the proteins react with the ganglioside fraction but not with sulphatide [Gal(3-SO4) beta 1-1Cer]. These results indicated that the purified proteins have a significant affinity to charged oligosaccharides linking to glycoproteins, glycolipids and charged polysaccharides in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.     

Validation of intermolecular pair potential model of SiH4: molecular-dynamics simulation for saturated liquid density and thermal transport properties

We demonstrate a validation of the intermolecular pair potential model of SiH(4), which is constructed from ab initio molecular-orbital calculations and expressed as the sum of the exponential and the London dispersion terms. The saturated liquid densities of SiH(4) are calculated for temperatures from 100 to 225 K by molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation. The average deviation between the experiment and the MD simulation using the present potential model is 3.9%, while the deviations exceed 10% for other well-known potential models such as the five-center Lennard-Jones (LJ) model. Subsequently, the shear viscosity, the thermal conductivity, and the self-diffusion coefficient of liquid SiH(4) are calculated by an equilibrium MD simulation with the Green-Kubo formula from 100 to 225 K. The average deviations from experiment are 11.8% and 13.7% for the shear viscosity and the thermal conductivity, respectively. Comparing the present model with an empirical one-center LJ model, it turns out that the rotational energy transfer through the intermolecular potential energy, which comes from the anisotropic potential energy, plays an important role in the thermal conductivity of liquid SiH(4). These results indicate that the present intermolecular potential model has an ability to give realistic pictures for liquid SiH(4) through molecular simulations.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with alkenes: formation of cyclohexenedicarboxylates via isomerization of alkynes and successive Diels-Alder reaction

Formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with electron-deficient alkenes, which affords 3,6-dialkyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylates, was achieved using Ru(η⁶-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)(η²-dimethyl fumarate)₂ as a catalyst. The reaction mechanism consists of two steps, isomerization of an alkyne to conjugated dienes and successive Diels-Alder reaction of the generated dienes with an electron-deficient alkene.     

Synthesis of 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives and their effects as piracetam-like nootropics

A useful pharmaceutical intermediate, 5-nitromethyl-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (1), was prepared in one step from 1,7-dichloro-4-heptanone (4) under mild conditions. Catalytic hydrogenation of 1 over Raney Ni in the presence of sodium hydroxide afforded 5-aminomethyl-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (2) in high yield. Piracetam analogues 20-23, which were pyrrolidine derivatives involving a 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring, were synthesized. Pharmacological tests showed that N-[(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)methyl]-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamid e (20) improves cerebral function.     

Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of tri- and dinuclear copper(II)-gadolinium(III) complexes of linear oligooxime ligands

We have designed and synthesized a new Cu2Gd heterotrinuclear complex, [LCu2Gd(OAc)3] (1), where H4L is a bis(salen)-type tetraoxime ligand useful in the synthesis of discrete (3d)2(4f) complexes. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 12.442(4) A, b = 13.397(3) A, c = 13.966(4) A, alpha = 77.052(8) degrees, beta = 88.656(10) degrees, gamma = 77.761(8) degrees, and Z = 2. In the crystal structure of 1, Cu-Gd distances are 3.3-3.5 A, whereas the two Cu atoms are separated by 6.08 A. The corresponding dinuclear CuGd complexes, 2 and 3, with mono(salen)-type chelate 3-MeOsalamo were also synthesized. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with unit cell parameters a = 13.869(8) A, b = 13.688(7) A, c = 18.728(10) A, beta = 92.861(8) degrees, and Z = 4, and complex 3 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 12.319(4) A, b = 13.989(4) A, c = 16.774(5) A, alpha = 64.699(14) degrees, beta = 66.672(13) degrees, gamma = 76.891(17) degrees, and Z = 4. Interaction between Cu(II) and Gd(III) in the dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 is ferromagnetic (J = 4.5 and 7.6 cm(-1), respectively, using spin Hamiltonian H = -JS(Cu) x S(Gd)) as observed in the previously prepared [LCuGdX3] complexes, where L is a salen-type chelate. Magnetic data for the Cu2Gd trinuclear complex can be reasonably interpreted with the use of a spin Hamiltonian H = -J(CuGd)S(Cu1) x S(Gd) - J(CuGd)S(Cu2) x S(Gd) - J(CuCu)S(Cu1) x S(Cu2) with J(CuGd) = 5.0 cm(-1) and J(CuCu) = 0 cm(-1). The S = 9/2 ground state resulted from the ferromagnetic interaction among the Cu(II)-Gd(III)-Cu(II) triad was also supported by the saturation magnetization at 1.8 K.     

Regio- and chemoselective direct generation of functionalized aromatic aluminum compounds using aluminum ate base

A regio- and chemoselective direct method for generation of functionalized aromatic aluminum compounds through deprotonative directed ortho-alumination using triisobutyl(tetramethylpiperidino)aluminate (iBu3Al(TMP)Li), prepared by mixing of triisobutylaluminum (iBu3Al) and lithium tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP) in THF, has been developed. Deprotonative alumination of various functionalized benzenes with the use of iBu3Al(TMP)Li proved effective for the direct generation of various ortho-functionalized aluminum aromatic and heteroaromatic derivatives, particularly those with electrophilic functional groups such as cyano, amide, and halogen. Direct alumination, followed by electrophilic trapping (with I2), provided a convenient preparative method for 1,2- or 1,2,3-multisubstituted aromatic compounds. The functionalized aromatic aluminate intermediate also was found to undergo copper- and palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions very efficiently and highly regio- and chemoselectively.     

Studies in the pinacol rearrangement—V The rearrangements of cis- and trans-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ditolylethylene oxides

The intermediate formation of the two epoxides was observed in the perchloric acid-catalysed rearrangement of meso-2,2′-dimethylbenzpinacol (P_meso) to 2-methylbenzoyl tolyl diphenyl methane (K) Two kinds of epoxides were separated with preparative TLC and the configuration (cis and trans) of these epoxides was inferred in the light of UV, NMR and IR spectra, dipole moment and kinetic data. The rearrangement rates of these epoxides were measured in HClO₄-anhydrous acetic acid. Linear correlations of logarithm of the rate constants (log k) with the Hammett acidity function of the medium (H₀) were obtained, which supports the A-1 mechanism, together with the large positive values of the entropy of activation. It is shown that the perchloric acid-catalysed rearrangement of meso-2,2′-dimethylbenzpinacol (P_meso) occurs via such many kinetically distinguishable routes as the following where C and T are cis- and trans-epoxide respectively. The mechanisms of the rearrangements were discussed from the data of kinetics.     

Synthesis and properties of optically active 1,3-diols and their derivatives as chiral dopants for ferroelectric liquid crystals

New chiral dopants β-hydroxy ketones 1, 1,3-diols 2, 1,3-dioxanes 3 and 1,3-dioxan-2-ones 4 were designed and synthesized. Reaction of (R)-1,2-epoxyoctane with carbanions derived from 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-1,3-dithianes followed by hydrolysis of the resulting hydroxy dithianes afforded 1. Reduction of 1 gave the diols 2, which yielded 3 upon acetalization and 4 upon carbonation. The syn isomers of 2, 3, and 4 exhibited larger spontaneous polarizations, when applied as chiral dopants, than the anti isomers or hydroxy ketones 1.     

Visible light photoelectrochemical activity of K4Nb6O17 intercalated with photoactive complexes by electrostatic self-assembly deposition

Electrostatic self-assembly deposition (ESD) results in the intercalation of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ or methylene blue (MB) into the niobate layered oxide right after the cations come into contact with [Nb₆O₁₇]⁴⁻ nanosheets. Monolayers can be obtained by the exfoliation of proton exchanged K₄Nb₆O₁₇ (KNbO) in an aqueous tetrabutylammonium (TBA) solution as revealed by the atomic force microscopy micrographs. UV-vis spectra show that intercalated films are able to absorb in the visible light range. Heat-treatment of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ resulted in the red-shift in the absorption spectra, which was assigned to the enhancement in the interaction between the complex molecules and [Nb₆O₁₇]⁴⁻ host layer. Intercalated niobate layered oxides are able to produce photocurrent as a result of the electron transfer from the excited guest molecule to the host layer under visible light illumination. Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ intercalated niobate layered oxide shows photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination to produce H₂ from water-methanol solution.     

Ruthenium complexes of easily accessible tridentate ligands based on the 2-aryl-4,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine motif: absorption spectra, luminescence properties, and redox behavior

A family of tridendate ligands 1 a-e, based on the 2-aryl-4,6-di(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine motif, was prepared along with their hetero- and homoleptic Ru(II) complexes 2 a-e ([Ru(tpy)(1 a-e)](2+); tpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) and 3 a-e ([(Ru(1 a-e)(2)](2+)), respectively. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, ES-MS, and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of 2 a and 2 e demonstrated that the triazine core is nearly coplanar with the non-coordinating ring, with dihedral angles of 1.2 and 18.6 degrees, respectively. The redox behavior and electronic absorption and luminescence properties (both at room temperature in liquid acetonitrile and at 77 K in butyronitrile rigid matrix) were investigated. Each species undergoes one oxidation process centered on the metal ion, and several (three for 2 a-e and four for 3 a-e) reduction processes centered on the ligand orbitals. All compounds exhibit intense absorption bands in the UV region, assigned to spin-allowed ligand-centered (LC) transitions, and moderately intense spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption bands in the visible region. The compounds exhibit relatively intense emissions, originating from triplet MLCT levels, both at 77 K and at room temperature. The incorporation of triazine rings and the near planarity of the noncoordinating ring increase the luminescence lifetimes of the complexes by lowering the energy of the (3)MLCT state and creating a large energy gap to the dd state.