Simple formylacetal (CH2) as a novel linker for saccharide synthesis on soluble-polymer support

Described herein is a new formylacetal (CH₂) linker for immobilization of small molecules onto a soluble-polymer support, poly(ethylene glycol) ω-monomethyl ether (MPEG), and its application to saccharide synthesis. This small linker allows immobilization of a hindered hydroxy group such as the 4-hydroxy group of glucose onto MPEG. The linker is stable under several reaction conditions including glycosylation. Removal of this support was found to be achieved through cleavage of the CH₂ linker either by a Lewis acid (TMSI or Ce(OTf)_x) or a Brønsted acid (trifluoroacetic acid) in moderate to good yields. In combination with solid acid catalyst, simpler operations became possible during the working-up and purification processes.     

Participation of the BC Loop in the Correct Folding of Bacteriorhodopsin as Revealed by Solid‐state NMR†

Structural changes in bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in two different processes of retinal reconstitutions were investigated by observing the ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid‐state NMR spectra of [1‐¹³C]Val‐ and [¹⁵N]Pro‐labeled bR. We found that NMR signals of the BC loop were sensitive to changes in protein structure and dynamics, from wild‐type (WT) bR to bacterio‐opsin (bO), regenerated bR and E1001 bR. Regenerated bR was prepared following the addition of retinal into bO obtained from photobleached WT‐bR. E1001 bR was cultured from a retinal‐deficient strain termed E1001 following the addition of retinal to growing cells. ¹⁵N NMR signal at Pro70 in the BC loop in WT‐bR was observed at 122.4 p.p.m., whereas signals were not apparent or partly suppressed in bO and regenerated bR, respectively. Similarly, the ¹³C NMR signal at Val69 in the BC loop at 172.0 p.p.m. that was observed in WT‐bR was significantly decreased in both regenerated bR and bO. These results suggest that the dynamic structure of the BC loop in bO was substantially altered following the removal of retinal. As a consequence, the correct protein structure failed to be recovered via the regenerating process of retinal to bO. On the other hand, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR signals at the BC loop in E1001 bR appeared at positions identical to those of WT‐bR. The results of the current study indicate that the BC loop may not always fold correctly in the regenerated bR, which leads to different properties in the regenerated bR compared to that of WT‐bR.     

Liquid crystal properties of new ionic liquid crystal compounds having a 1,3-dioxane ring

New pyridinium type chiral ionic liquid crystal materials having a 1,3-dioxane ring in the central core, (+)- N -2-methylbutyl-4-(5-alkyl-1,3-dioxan-2-yl)pyridinium bromides ( 6 ), were synthesized. Mixture A was made by adding 5.9 wt % of compound 6-3 to the ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture Merck 4655-100; its phase transitions and some liquid crystal properties were measured. In spite of a large decrease of P s for mixture A, its response time A was the same as that of Merck 4655-100. The dielectric constants perpendicular to the molecular axis for the smectic C* and smectic A phases were measured for the mixture and Merck 4655-100: in the smectic C phase, these dielectric constants were almost the same (4.5~5.5), but in the smectic A phase, the perpendicular dielectric constant of the mixture was 47.0 and that of Merck 4655-100 was 4.5.     

A chromium(III) bis-acetylide complex containing a trans-diethyl-ethylenedithio-substituted tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative: synthesis,crystal structures,and magnetic properties

A new Cr(III) bis-acetylide complex containing redox-active ethynyl-substituted 4-methyl-4′,5′-trans-diethyl-ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene, [Cr(III)cyclam(C≡C-MeEt₂EDT-TTF)₂]ⁿ⁺ ([1]ⁿ⁺) was synthesized. The crystal structures of two salts, [1][Ni(dmit)₂] (dmit?=?2-thioxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolate) and [1][Ni(mnt)₂]₃ (mnt?=?maleonitriledithiolate), were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the crystal of [1][Ni(dmit)₂], the trans-diethyl group of [1]⁺ is in the axial position and prevents π-stacking of the TTF units, resulting in a negligibly weak spin–spin interaction between Cr³⁺ and [Ni(dmit)₂]^?. In contrast, in [1][Ni(mnt)₂]_3, the trans-diethyl group is in the equatorial position in [1][Ni(mnt)₂]₃ owing to the strong attractive force between the π-stacked TTF⁺ units and the [Ni(mnt)₂]^? anions. This π-stacking has a significant effect on the magnetic property of [1] [Ni(mnt)₂]₃. The π-stacked TTF⁺ units and [Ni(mnt)₂]^? anions behave approximately as a one-dimensional S?=?1/2 antiferromagnetic chain connecting the spins of Cr³⁺ antiferromagnetically.

     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Addition of Organoboronic Acids to Aldehydes

Highly inert to ionic additions to aldehydes , aryl- and 1-alkenylboronic acids succumb to a catalytic variant mediated by a [Rh(acac)(CO)₂]–diphosphane complex in aqueous phase at 80–95°C to yield secondary alcohols [Eq. (a)]. A key step in the catalytic cycle is the transmetalation between the boron reagent and the rhodium complex. L_n=diphosphane (e.g. 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene); R=aryl, 1-alkenyl; R′=alkyl, aryl; acac=acetylacetonate.     

Design of unique titanium oxide photocatalysts by an advanced metal ion-implantation method and photocatalytic reactions under visible light irradiation

The metal ion-implantation of titanium oxide with various transition metal ions was carried out by applying by high voltage acceleration. The subsequent calcination of the implanted TiO₂ in oxygen at around 723 K resulted in a large shift in the absorption spectra of the TiO₂ toward visible light regions, its extent being dependent on the amount and the kind of metal ions implanted. Such metal ion-implanted titanium oxide catalysts were active in carrying out various photocatalytic reactions such as the decomposition of NO into N₂, O₂ and N₂O at 275 K under irradiation with visible light longer than 450 nm. The application of this advanced, high energy metal ion-implantation method enables the novel design of titanium oxide photocatalysts which can absorb and initiate vital reactions under visible light and will contribute to the development of catalytic systems utilizing solar energy.     

Subcellular localization of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid ω-hydroxylation activity in the brain, liver and colonic adenocarcinoma

A homogenate of rat brain, rat liver or human colonic well differentiated adenocarcinoma was prepared in 250 mM sucrose isoosmolaric buffer (pH 7.6) and fractionated by differential centrifugation at 10³, 10⁴ and 10⁵ g. Each precipitate or supernatant was incubated with NADPH and docosahexaenoic acid or arachidonic acid as a substrate for 30 min at 37°C under aerobic conditions. ω-Hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid or ω-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid from an incubation mixture was detected by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. ω-Hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids were characterized by high intensity of the molecular ion (MH⁺) although common hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids were characterized by high intensity of the MH⁺ - H₂O ion. For the rat brain, ω-hydroxylation activity (the amount of ω-hydroxy product produced in 30 min) was concentrated to a 103 g precipitate although the specific activity (the activity per 1 mg of protein) in the 10³ g precipitate did not indicate superiority over other fractions. However, the specific activity of the rat brain increased on addition of a 10⁴ or 10⁵ g precipitate. For the rat liver, although ω-hydroxylation activity was concentrated to a 10³ g precipitate, the specific activity was concentrated to a 10⁵ g precipitate and the Subcellular localization differed from that of rat brain. In the human colonic well differentiated adenocarcinoma, although ω-hydroxylation activity was relatively high in the 10³ g supernatant, the specific activity was relatively high in the 10³ and 10⁵ g precipitates. These results suggest that there is a difference regarding subcellular localization of the ω-hydroxylation activity depending on the species of the organs.     

Enhancement of the shape-selectivity in alkylation of methylnaphthalene over the ZSM-5 modified by chemical vapor deposition of SI(OCH3)4

Shape-selectivity of alkylation of 2-methylnaphthalene over the ZSM-5 zeolite has been improved by a method of chemical vapor deposition of silicon methoxide. The deposition of silica on ZSM-5 increased the β-selectivity, which was defined as the sum of distributions of 2,3-, 2,6-, and 2,7-dimethylnaphthalenes; however, it did not increase selectively the product distribution of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. From the characterization of two kinds of the silica-deposited ZSM-5, it was found that the β-selectivity was enhanced by the inactivation of the external surface as well as by the control of pore-opening size.     

C3‐Symmetric Trisimidazoline‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromolactonization of Internal Alkenoic Acids

A method for conducting enantioselective bromolactonization reactions of trisubstituted alkenoic acids, using the C₃‐symmetric trisimidazoline 1 and 1,3‐dibromo‐5,5‐dimethyl hydantoin as a bromine source, has been developed. The process generates chiral δ‐lactones that contain a quaternary carbon. The results of studies probing geometrically different olefins show that (Z)‐olefins rather than (E)‐olefins are favorable substrates for the process. The method is not only applicable to acyclic olefin reactants but can also be employed to transform cyclic trisubstituted olefins into chiral spirocyclic lactones. Finally, the synthetic utility of the newly developed process is demonstrated by its application to a concise synthesis of tanikolide, an antifungal marine natural product.     

Enantiodivergent syntheses of (−)- and (+)-dysibetaine CPa and N-desmethyl analog

The first total syntheses of (−)-dysibetaine CPa and the antipode have been achieved using enantioselective solvolysis of meso-cyclic anhydride mediated by quinine derivative as an organocatalyst. The synthesis features a demonstration of an enantiodivergent organic synthesis of both enantiomers of dysibetaine CPa whereby the absolute configurations of natural product were elucidated as (3R,4R). Application of the present methodology to an enantiomerically pure novel GABA analog is also reported.