Unsaturated selenacrown ethers: synthesis, structure, and formation of silver complexes

The unsaturated selenacrown ethers, (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaselenacyclopentadeca-2,5,8,11,14-pentaene (15-US-5) (2), (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaselenacyclooctadeca-2,5,8,11,14,17-hexaene (18-US-6) (3), (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-1,4,7,10,13,16,19-heptaselenacycloheneicosa-2,5,8,11,14,17,20-heptaene (21-US-7) (4), (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22-octaselenacyclotetracosa-2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23-octaene (24-US-8) (5), and (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25-nonaselenacycloheptacosa-2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26-nonaene (27-US-9) (6), were obtained together with 1,4-diselenin (1) by reacting sodium selenide with cis-dichloroethene in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst. The crystal structures of 2-5 were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The UV spectra of the selenacrown ethers showed absorption maximums in the range of 251-262 nm, which were assigned to n-->pi transitions. The cyclic voltammograms indicated that the large unsaturated selenacrown ethers were oxidized more easily than the small ones. The thermal reactions of the unsaturated selenacrown ethers afforded 1,4-diselenin (1) along with polymeric materials, whereas 1 was thermally stable even at 100 degrees C. The reactions of 1 or unsaturated selenacrown ethers 2-5 with silver ion yielded various novel silver complexes, Ag(C(4)H(4)Se(2))(CF(3)COO) (7), Ag(C(4)H(4)Se(2))(2)(CF(3)COO) (8), Ag(15-US-5)(CF(3)COO) (9), Ag(5)(18-US-6)(3)(CF(3)COO)(5) (10), Ag(7)(21-US-7)(CF(3)COO)(5) (11), Ag(24-US-8)(2)(CF(3)COO) (12), Ag(2)(24-US-8)(CF(3)COO)(2) (13), Ag(3)(24-US-8)(2)(CF(3)COO)(3) (14), Ag(15-US-5)NO(3) (15), and Ag(21-US-7)BF(4) (16). The stoichiometry for the complexation with silver trifluoroacetate in solution was examined by (1)H NMR measurement. The titration plots of 2 and 5 under the dilution conditions showed a distinct inflection point at the 1/1 metal/macrocycle ratio, whereas the plots of 1 and 3 showed gradual change.     

Fabrication and characterization of smooth high aspect ratio zirconia nanotubes

In the present work, we report formation of high aspect ratio zirconia nanotubes by electrochemical anodization of zirconium in a 1 M (NH₄)₂SO₄ electrolyte containing 0.5 wt% NH₄F. Highly self-organized zirconia nanotubes can be formed with a diameter of ≈50 nm and a length of ≈17 μm, i.e. with an aspect ratio of more than 300. The nanotubes show a distinct smooth and straight morphology. XRD investigation reveals that the nanotubes have a cubic crystalline structure directly after anodization, that is, without any further annealing.     

Asymmetric conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters with chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) catalysts

New asymmetric conjugate reduction of beta,beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters was accomplished with alkoxylhydrosilanes in the presence of chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) complexes in high yields and high enantioselectivity. (E)-4-Phenyl-3-penten-2-one and (E)-4-phenyl-4-isopropyl-3-penten-2-one were readily reduced at 60 degrees C in 95 % ee and 98 % ee, respectively, by 1 mol % of catalyst loading. (EtO)2MeSiH proved to be the best hydrogen donor of choice. tert-Butyl (E)-beta-methylcinnamate and beta-isopropylcinnamate could also be reduced to the corresponding dihydrocinnamate derivatives up to 98 % ee.     

A novel calamitic mesophase semiconductor with the fastest mobility of charged carriers: 1,4-di(5'-octyl-2'-thienyl)benzene

The carrier mobility of highly ordered lamellar mesophases was evaluated by a Time-of-Flight (TOF) method for mesogenic 1,4-di(5'-octyl-2'-thienyl)benzene (8-TPT-8) to reveal the fastest drift mobility (0.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for the lowest temperature mesophase) in calamitic liquid crystals reported to date.     

A method to circumvent the lot number of activated carbon affecting the performance of activated carbon silica gel columns used for cleanup of blood samples for analysis of 29 hazardous organochlorine compounds

We have previously described the use of a tandem simplified multilayer silica gel-activated carbon dispersed silica gel (TS-ML-AC) column for the cleanup of blood samples for the analysis of 29 hazardous organochlorine compounds (OCs)--the 17 major polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) and 4 non-ortho- and 8 mono-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We noted that the performance of the activated carbon-silica gel (ACS) column (lower column) varied with the lot number of the ACS. In this study, we compared the elution profiles of OCs eluted on 5 ACS columns, each with a different ACS lot number, and found that only mono-ortho-PCBs #114 and #123 were affected by lot number. The problem was that the 50 ml of n-hexane required to elute all the OCs from the simplified multilayer silica gel (MLS) column (upper column) into the AC column (lower column) also eluted varying amounts of PCBs #114 and #123 from the ACS column by ACS lot number. Although we could prevent PCBs #114 and #123 from being eluted from the ACS column by reducing the n-hexane volume to 10 ml, this volume was not sufficient to elute all the OCs from the MLS column. We solved this by separating the two columns; the sample solution was eluted with 50 ml of n-hexane from the MLS column, this eluate was concentrated to about 0.3 ml using a rotary evaporator, and then the concentrated solution was cleaned up on the ACS column. The recovery rates of #114 and #123 from blood samples were above 70% and the relative standard deviations of their concentration were below 10%, irrespective of the lot number, compared with recovery rates of 45-79% for #114 and 59-89% for #123, and relative standard deviations of their concentration above 15% when 50 ml of n-hexane was run through the tandem column. Our modified method affords reliable and reproducible cleanup of blood samples for analysis of 29 OCs, irrespective of the ACS lot number.     

Deoxygenation of sugar trifluoromethanesulfonates by sodium metal in liquid ammonia and by photolysis

Several trifluoromethanesulfonyl(TFMS) derivatives of sugars were prepared and treated with sodium in liquid ammonia or subjected to ultraviolet irradiation. Three 3-$\text{O}$-TFMS derivatives gave the corresponding 3-deoxy compounds, but a 2-$\text{O}$-TFMS derivative gave a branched-chain sugar.     

Synthesis of a Tricyclic Bisguanidine Compound Structurally Related to Saxitoxin and its Identification in Paralytic Shellfish Toxin‐Producing Microorganisms

We recently reported the chemical synthesis and identification of the genetically predicted biosynthetic intermediates of saxitoxin (STX), including a 2‐aminoimidazole‐bearing monoguanidine compound (Int‐C′2) in two paralytic shellfish toxin (PST)‐producing microorganisms. In this study, we achieved the direct conversion of Int‐C′2 into a tricyclic bisguanidine compound (called Cyclic‐C′), which is structurally related to STX, through oxidative intramolecular guanidine transfer to 2‐aminoimidazole catalyzed by Pd/C under basic conditions in air. By using HPLC‐MS analysis, Cyclic‐C′ was also identified in the PST‐producing microorganisms, suggesting that Cyclic‐C′ is either another biosynthetic intermediate or a shunt product of PSTs. In addition, a weak inhibitory activity of Cyclic‐C′ to the voltage‐gated sodium channels was detected by using a cell‐based assay.