New naphthoquinone and monoterpenoid from Plumbago zeylanica

New naphthoquinone 2 and new monoterpenoid 3 were isolated from the stems of Plumbago zeylanica, and their structures were determined on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopy. Absolute configuration of 3 was established by synthesis of its enantiomer. The new naphthoquinone 2 showed potent inhibitory activity against nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), equivalent to that of parthenolide, a known potent inhibitor of NF-κB.     

New crystalline polymers: poly(2,5‐dialkyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)s

New heat‐reversibly crystalline poly‐(alkylated phenylene oxide)s are described. the oxidative polymerization of 2,5‐dimethylphenol catalyzed by (1,4,7‐triisopropyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) copper dichloride produced poly(2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide), which showed heat‐reversible crystallinity with a high melting point at ca. 300°C, although the isomeric polymer, poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide), never recrystallizes once melted. The polymerization of 2,5‐diethylphenol and 2,5‐dipropylphenol gave the polymers consisting of 1,4‐phenylene oxide units; the latter polymer possessed heat‐reversible crystallinity, however, the former one did not.