Preparation of highly potent and selective non-peptide antagonists of the arginine vasopressin V1A receptor by introduction of a 2-ethyl-1H-1-imidazolyl group

To find a new series of arginine vasopressin (AVP) V1A receptor antagonists, the influence of the 2-phenyl group of 2-phenyl-4'-[(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-1-yl)carbonyl]benzanilide (7) was investigated. Replacement of the 2-phenyl group by a 2-ethyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl group was effective in yielding a V1A-selective compound. Moreover, this imidazolyl group was introduced in the same position in YM-35471 (6), and further studies of these compounds were performed. Consequently, we found that the (Z)-4'-({4,4-difluoro-5-[(N-cyclopropylcarbamoyl)methylene]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2-(2-ethyl-1H-1-imidazol-1-yl)benzanilide (9f) exhibited highly potent affinity and selectivity, and was the most potent antagonist for the V1A receptor among our compounds. The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of these compounds are described in this paper.     

Adjacent- versus remote-site electron injection in TiO2 surfaces modified with binuclear ruthenium complexes

Nanocrystalline thin films of TiO2 cast on an optically transparent indium tin oxide glass were sensitized with ruthenium homo- and heterobinuclear complexes, [LL'Ru(BL)RuLL']n+ (n = 2, 3), where L and L' are 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine (dcb) and/or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and BL is a rigid and linear heteroaromatic entity (tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3",2"-h:2'",3'"-j]phenazine (tpphz) or 1,4-bis([1,10]phenanthroline[5,6-d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene (bfimbz)). The photophysical behavior of the RuII-RuII diads in solution indicated the occurrence of intercomponent energy transfer from the upper-lying Ru --> bpy charge-transfer (CT) excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2) moiety to the lower-lying Ru --> dcb CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(dcb) (or Ru(dcb)(2)) subunit in the heterobinuclear complexes. These sensitizer diads adsorbed on nanostructured TiO2 surfaces in a perpendicular or parallel attachment mode. Adsorption was through the dcb ligands on one or both chromophoric subunits. The behavior of the adsorbed species was studied by nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption and emission spectroscopy, as well as by photocurrent measurements. In the TiO2-adsorbed samples where BL was bfimbz, the electron injection kinetics was very fast and could not be resolved because an electron is promoted from the metal center to the dcb ligand directly linked to the semiconductor. In the TiO2-adsorbed samples where BL was tpphz, for which, in the excited state, a BL localization of the lowest-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) is observed, slower injection rates (9.5 x 10(7) s(-1) in [(bpy)(2)Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(-))](3+)/TiO2 and 5.5 x 10(7) s(-1) in [(bpy)(dcb)Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(-))](3+)/TiO2) were obtained. Among the systems, the heterotriad assembly [(bpy)(2)Ru(bfimbz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(2-))](2+)/TiO2 gave the best photovoltaic performance. In the first case, this was attributed to a fast electron injection initiated from a dcb-localized MLCT; in the second case, this is attributed to improved molecular orientation on the surface, which was due to rigidity and, at the same time, linearity of the heterotriad system, resulting in a slower charge recombination between the injected electron and the hole.     

Assignment of the absolute configuration of blasticidin A and revision of that of aflastatin A

The absolute configuration of blasticidin A, a strong inhibitor of aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus, was assigned by adding the data of relative configurations at its diol and pentaol moieties to previously known stereochemistry. Similarity of the NMR data of blasticidin A to those of aflastatin A allowed us to revise the stereochemistry of the diol and pentaol moieties of aflastatin A.     

Transition-metal-mediated cascade reactions: C,C-dicyclopropylmethylamines by way of double C,C-sigma-bond insertion into bicyclobutanes

The organometallic multicomponent reaction of alkenyl zirconocene, alkynyl imine, and zinc carbenoid in the presence of dimethylzinc leads to novel C,C-dicyclopropylmethylamines. The formation of intermediate bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes represents the first synthetically useful example of a double C,C-sigma-bond insertion, and the increase in structural complexity from starting materials is highlighted by the formation of nine new C,C-bonds in the final product.     

Why do flavylium salts show so various colors in solution?: Effect of concentration and water on the flavylium’s color changes

When synthesized flavylium salts (FVs) were allowed to stand in an acetonitrile–water mixture, the color of the solutions changed from yellow to red via green. This color change in FV solution has been studied by observing the change in UV–VIS absorption spectra. In particular, change in the color from green to red depends on the concentration of FV and an amount of water. The solution color, however, changed from red to green on dehydration of the solution. It is concluded that water molecules are responsible for the change in solution color from green to red and the change is due to dimerization and/or aggregation of FVs.     

Spectrophotometric determination of carp vitellogenin using a sequential injection analysis technique equipped with a jet ring cell

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) technique, in which antibody-immobilized microbeads were transferred to a jet ring (JR) cell, was used in determination of carp vitellogenin (Vg). The determination is based on a sandwich immunoassay in which two types of reactions between anti carp Vg antibodies and carp Vg are used. Namely, the antibody for the first reaction step was immobilized on microbeads (Sephadex beads), and an antibody labeled with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used in the second step of the reaction. A mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) was used as the source of the chromophore in the reaction. The microbeads-immobilized antibody, Vg analyte, HRP-labeled anitbody and the color developing solution were introduced automatically into the JR cell of the SIA system in a programmed sequence, and the absorbance of the oxidized OPD product was used to determine the amount of Vg present. The optimal incubation times for the immuno-raction for the first and the second steps were determined at 120 and 60 min, respectively, taking into account the sensitivity to the Vg determination. Under these conditions, a good linear correlation was obtained between Vg concentration and the absorbance of the oxidized OPD. The lower detection limit for the determination of Vg was about 5 ng ml⁻¹ in this system. The method developed here represents a simple, accurate method for the determination method of Vg.     

Intramolecular charge-transfer fluorescence from 9,9′-bianthryl absorbed on porous glass

9,9′-bianthryl (BA) absorbed on porous glass exhibits both intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) and anthracene-like fluorescence. The CT fluorescence exhibits no temperature dependence, suggesting that orientational relaxation on the time scale of fluorescence decay is absent. Complex fluorescence decay characteristics from BA and 9,10-diphenyl anthracene (DA) absorbed on the glass are interpreted in terms of absorption on a variety of sites.     

EPR AND TREPR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF ANTIOXIDANT SESAMOLYL AND RELATED PHENOXYL RADICALS

Abstract Sesamolyl and related phenoxyl radicals were studied by conventional and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques. Continuous UV irradiation of sesamol in benzene produces two types of radicals. Based on the hyperfine coupling values obtained we determined that one is the neutral sesamolyl radical and the others are the dimer radicals. Comparison was made with related compounds, especially 3,4-dime-thoxyphenol. We found that the 3,4-dimethoxyphenoxyl radical had a shorter lifetime than the neutral sesamolyl radical. The EPR results obtained suggest that a near perpendicular orientation of the oxygen p -orbitals with respect to the benzene ring of sesamol makes the radical more stable. This stability may be important for the antioxidant properties.     

Pharmacokinetics in chimpanzees of recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator produced in mouse C127 and Chinese hamster ovary cells

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) produced in mouse C127 cells (t-PA(C127] and Chinese hamster ovary cells (t-PA(CHO] was investigated in chimpanzees. rt-PA was administered via a constant rate i.v. infusion for 60 min, and t-PA concentration and activity in plasma were measured during and after infusion. The noncompartmental parameters were calculated according to the moment analysis method, and a population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to obtain the mean and interindividual variability of the pharmacokinetic parameters. The mean residence time of t-PA(C127) was significantly longer and the total body clearance was significantly less than that of t-PA(CHO). t-PA(C127) has an alpha-galactosyl moiety in its carbohydrate chains, whereas such a structure is not found in t-PA(CHO). These results demonstrate that two preparations of rt-PA's with different carbohydrate structures show different pharmacokinetics, and suggest that the carbohydrate structure can affect the efficiency of hepatic uptake of t-PA. A possible mechanism is an interaction of t-PA(C127) with the natural anti-alpha-galactosyl antibody. The anti-alpha-galactosyl antibody level in plasma decreased in association with the plasma levels of t-PA(C127) but was unaffected by t-PA(CHO) levels.     

The Christiansen effect of brightly colored colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer

A novel coloration phenomenon in a colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer was found. The dispersion consists of tetrahydrofuran (THF), an aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate (Na(2)S(2)O(3).5H(2)O), and hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC). The dispersion was emulsified by HPC as an amphiphilic polymer, so that the aqueous phase was confined in droplets in the THF matrix. It typically appeared bluish violet at room temperature and turned into blue with increasing temperature. In this system, the refractive indices of the inside and outside of the droplet coincided at a certain wavelength at which the light passes through without scattering, which is called the Christiansen effect. The color observed was successfully simulated by Mie's scattering theory in combination with the Christiansen effect.