Physicochemical properties of a muramyldipeptide derivative (B30-MDP) related to membrane formation

We investigated the physicochemical properties of B30-MDP [6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine], a muramyldipeptide derivative having immunoadjuvant activity [1], using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Microscopic observations showed that B30-MDP molecules form myelin figures in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). It was revealed that B30-MDP forms membranous structure because of an increase in the hydrophobicity. In the DSC measurements, the B30-MDP membrane in PBS gave no endothermic peak between 5° to 50°C. Enthalpy change upon the phase transition from the gel to liquid crystalline state or dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane and its phase transition temperature decreased by the addition of B30-MDP. ESR measurements using 5 doxyl stearic acid showed that the fluidity of the B30-MDP membrane was almost comparable to that of DPPC membrane at the temperature below the phase transition temperature of DPPC, while it was lower than that of DPPC at the temperature higher than this point. The fluidity of DPPC membrane increased upon the addition of B30-MDP. These results indicate that B30-MDP forms membranous structure and that the bulky hydrophilic region of B30-MDP influences its membrane structures, thermal behavior, and membrane fluidity.     

Rate acceleration of organic reaction by immediate solvent evaporation

Several types of organic reactions were accelerated by immediate evaporation of solvents because of remarkable enhancement of molecule-to-molecule contacts between reactants.     

Rational modulation of the periodicity in linear hydrogen-bonded assemblies of trimesic acid on surfaces

We demonstrate a surprising cooperative adsorption process at the liquid-solid interface, involving self-assembly in which a three-fold hydrogen-bonding unit (trimesic acid, TMA) is forced into a linear pattern by noncovalent interaction with an alcohol. Our work shows that the unexpected linear pattern formed by coadsorption of TMA and alcohols can be modulated in size by choosing alcohols with different chain lengths.     

Simple, chemoselective, and diastereoselective Reformatsky-type synthesis of α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactams

The chemoselective and diastereoselective synthesis of syn-α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactams was achieved using the diethylzinc-mediated Reformatsky-type reaction of ethyl dibromofluoroacetate with imines. The reaction led to diastereomerically pure β-lactams in good to moderate yields (up to 78% yield) with only small amounts of aziridine derivatives. Noncyclized 3-amino-2-bromo-2-fluoro carboxylic esters, usual Reformatsky adducts, were not formed. In contrast, reactions carried out under typical Reformatsky conditions using zinc metal were poorly chemoselective, leading to mixtures of β-lactams and aziridine derivatives.     

A new method for installation of aryl and alkenyl groups onto a cyclopentene ring and synthesis of prostaglandins

To construct a new strategy for synthesis of cyclopentanoids, the transition metal-catalyzed coupling reaction of cis 4-cyclopentene-1,3-diol monoacetate 1 with hard nucleophiles, R(T)-m, was investigated (eq 1 in Chart 1). Although preliminary experiments using PhZnCl, PhSnMe(3), [Ph-B(Me)(OCH(Me)CH(Me)O)]-Li(+) (6a) (derived from boronate ester 4a (R(T) = Ph) and MeLi) in the presence of a palladium or a nickel catalyst resulted in production of unidentified compounds, enone 16, and/or ketone 17 or recovery of 1, a new borate 5a (derived from 4a and n-BuLi) in the presence of a nickel catalyst (NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)) in THF at room temperature furnished the trans coupling products 2a (R(T) = Ph) and 3a (R(T) = Ph) in high combined yield, but with a low product ratio of 0.9:1. The ratio was improved to 13:1 by addition of t-BuCN and NaI into the reaction mixture. This is the first successful example of the reaction of 1 with a hard nucleophile, and the increase in the ratio, realized with the additives, is unprecedented. This reagent system (borate 5 (1.2-1.8 equiv), NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) (5-10 mol %), t-BuCN (2-5 equiv), NaI (0.5-1 equiv), THF, room temp) was further investigated with aryl borates 5b-g and alkenyl borates 5h-n to afford 2b-n in moderate to good yields (52-89%) with practically acceptable levels of the regioselectivity (5 approximately 21:1), thus establishing the generality of the reaction (Table 2, eqs 6 and 7). Starting with the products of the coupling reaction, syntheses of the prostaglandin intermediates 13 and 14 (for 11-deoxy-PGE(2) and PGA(2)) and Delta(7)-PGA(1) methyl ester (15) were accomplished efficiently. During these investigations, LDA, LiCA, and LHMDS were found to be equally efficient bases for aldol reaction at the alpha' (alpha prime) position of cyclopentenones 39, 40, and 41 (Table 3).     

Microgravimetric and voltammetric study of Zn underpotential deposition on platinum in alkaline medium

The microgravimetric and voltammetric responses of a polycrystalline Pt electrode in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH solution in the presence and the absence of 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ Zn²⁺, at 0.1 V s⁻¹ were analyzed. During the positive potential sweep, the water molecules are progressively substituted by OH⁻ ions, prior to PtO formation. The voltammetric charges obtained under the Zn_ads dissolution peaks suggest that 0.7 monolayers are deposited, with each Zn ad-atom occupying one active site and transferring two electrons. The total loss of mass due to the dissolution of the Zn ad-layer was 136.6 ng cm⁻² and the mass increase due to PtO formation was found to be only 12 ng cm⁻² less than the theoretical ones, 157.5 and 37.4 ng cm⁻², respectively, indicating that both processes are overlapped. In this way it is proposed that an adsorbed by-layer of Zn and OH⁻ ions is formed.     

Retention behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase liquid chromatography with ion-exchange-induced stationary phases

Chromatographia - The retention behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons on anion-exchangers modified with alkylsulfate or alkanesulfonate has been examined by column liquid chromatography. Several...     

Facile synthesis of ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution nanoparticles for a color-adjustable luminophore

Nanoparticles of ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution (ZAIS) were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of (AgIn)xZn2(1-x)(S2CN(C2H5)2)4 precursors in a hot oleylamine solution. X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that the resulting nanoparticle powders were not a mixture of ZnS and AgInS2 but a ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution in which the fraction of ZnS was enlarged with a decrease in the value of x, that is, an increase in the content of Zn2+ in the precursors used. The energy gap of ZAIS nanoparticles could be controlled by the composition of solid solution. Intense emission was observed at room temperature, regardless of the kind of the particles, the peak wavelength of PL being blue-shifted from 720 to 540 nm with a decrease in the value of x. The highest quantum yield of ca. 24% was obtained for nanoparticles prepared with x = 0.86, which was much higher than the quantum yields reported for I-III-VI2-based semiconductor nanoparticles, such as CuInS2 and ZnS-CuInS2 solid solution.