The Synthesis of Damascenone and β-Damascone and the possible mechanism of their formation from carotenoids

A brief synthesis of damascenone ( 5 ) from the acetylenic diol 2 and also that of β-damascone ( 8 ) from β-ionol, resembling the biogenetic synthesis, are described. A possible mechanism for the formation of damascenone from neoxanthin is proposed.     

Synthesis of new crown ethers and their metal complexes: 1H and 13C NMR study

A new type of crown ethers containing a diphenyl ether unit has been prepared, the ring size ranging from 12 to 36. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of both free ligands and their metal-ion complexes have been recorded. For 18- and 21-membered compounds a general downfield shift was observed for both methylene and aromatic proton resonances on metal-ion complexation. The stoichiometry of K⁺ and Na⁺ complexes was deduced from chemical shift dependence on metal-ion concentration. The K⁺ and Na⁺ complexes of 18- and 21-membered rings have a guest to host ratio of 1:1, whereas the K⁺ salt of the 15-membered ring exists as a 1:2 complex in solution. The ¹H shift observed on salt formation was attributed to electric-field and conformational effects. The ¹³C resonances for the aryl carbons, C-1, C-2 and C-3, and the α-methylene carbon in 15- and 18-membered rings were shifted upfield when an equivalent amount of KSCN was added in CDCI_3?DMSO-d₆. The shift changes were independent of the anion, and similar results were obtained for SCN^?, Br^?, and I^? salts. The upfield shift is explained by conformational factors. The spectral changes were slight for 12- and 36-membered rings. In 15- and 18-membered rings, complexation induces conformational changes which force the C-α carbon into the plane of the benzene ring. The solution conformation of these molecules is discussed.     

Third-order potential constants and dipole moment of SeO2 by microwave spectroscopy

The third-order potential constants of SeO₂ have been recalculated using the vibrational frequencies reported for matrix-isolated SeO₂. General trends of the constants are in good accord with the results obtained for other triatomic molecules, such as SO₂, O₃, and OF₂. The dipole moment was measured more accurately to be 2.62 ± 0.05 D.     

A numerical method for the solution of multi-point problems for ordinary differential equations with integral constraints

We propose a method for the solution of a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with integral constraints, by transforming to multi-point boundary value problems. Examples are given.     

Improvements in Carrier-to-Noise-Ratio (CNR) of Lightwave Amplitude Modulated Vestigial-Sideband (AM-VSB) Transmission Systems by the Use of Optical Isolators

In lightwave community antena television (CATV) systems as well as other optical fiber communication networks, a transmitted optical signal is known to be degraded by an intensity noise produced within the fiber due to the interference between the signal and doubly reflected light. We report on the improvements to the signal degradation due to the double Rayleigh backscattering by inserting optical isolators in the trunk lines of the systems. A carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) has been calculated as a function of the number and the insertion loss of the isolators. The calculated results indicate that there is an optimum number of isolators, and if the insertion loss is less than 0.3 dB, the CNR degradation can be restored by more than 60%. To test the calculated results, we conducted experiments for the specific case of employing one isolator, and obtained good agreements between the two.     

Bidirectional and colorimetric recognition of sodium and potassium ions

Host 1 based on the phenolphthalein skeleton and two crown ether moieties demonstrated opposite behaviors toward sodium and potassium cations caused by bidirectional complexation. [reaction: see text]     

An Unprecedented Cyclization Mechanism in the Biosynthesis of Carbazole Alkaloids in Streptomyces

Carquinostatin A (CQS), a potent neuroprotective substance, is a unique carbazole alkaloid with both an ortho‐quinone function and an isoprenoid moiety. We identified the entire gene cluster responsible for CQS biosynthesis in Streptomyces exfoliatus through heterologous production of CQS and gene deletion. Biochemical characterization of seven CQS biosynthetic gene products (CqsB1–7) established the total biosynthetic pathway of CQS. Reconstitution of CqsB1 and CqsB2 showed that the synthesis of the carbazole skeleton involves CqsB1‐catalyzed decarboxylative condensation of an α‐hydroxyl‐β‐keto acid intermediate with 3‐hydroxybutyryl‐ACP followed by CqsB2‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization. Based on crystal structures and mutagenesis‐based biochemical assays, a detailed mechanism for the unique deprotonation‐initiated cyclization catalyzed by CqsB2 is proposed. Finally, analysis of the substrate specificity of the biosynthetic enzymes led to the production of novel carbazoles.     

Ozone electrogeneration on Pt-TaO_y sol-gel film modified titanium electrode: Effect of electrode composition on the electrocatalytic activity

This work examines the ozone electrogeneration(OE) at a binary coating of different nominal compositions(Pt)x-(TaOy)(100-x), where x(percentage in the precursor solution) varied between 1% and 100%, coated on titanium substrate prepared by a sol-gel technique. TheOE is performed in an artificial tap water at room temperature(25C). The percentages of Pt and TaOy in the coating significantly affect the electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen evolution. The oxygen evolution was retarded to a different extent based on the electrode composition. The largest retardation was obtained at the(Pt)10-(TaOy)90 electrode(ca. 480 m V positive shift) as compared with the(Pt)100-(TaOy)0 electrode.This was reflected in a high current efficiency(CE) ofOE(ca. 19.3%) at the former electrode. This value is considered to be among the highest values reported forOE at 25C in neutral media. The composite electrodes were characterized by voltammetric and surface techniques. A plausible explanation for the change of the efficiency ofOE with the electrode composition is given based on the electrochemical results.     

A practical approach to non-natural or N-unsubstituted α-arylglycine derivatives: Hf(OTf)4-doped Me3SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich arenes with a new type of N,O-acetal

The authors have demonstrated the Hf(OTf)₄-doped Me₃SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich aromatic compounds, such as indoles and anilines, with new types of N,O-acetals having a variety of functional groups, such as cyano, ester, bis(trimethylsilyl)amino, diallylamino, and cyclic amino moieties, for the preparation of non-natural aromatic amino acid derivatives. Aminomethylation using an N,O-acetal with a bis(trimethylsilyl)amino group was particularly successful in the direct preparation of an N-unsubstituted α-indolylglycine derivative, which required only a standard aqueous workup.     

Analysis of Cu segregation to oxide–metal interface of Ni‐based alloy in a metal‐dusting environment

Hard X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HX‐PES) has been realized using high‐brilliance synchrotron radiation. High‐energy photon excitation enables us to probe photoelectrons with larger escape depth compared to conventional PES. This allows us to conduct, without destruction, a study of the embedded interface of materials as the oxide‐ metal interface. We apply HX‐PES to investigate for Cu segregation in the oxide–metal interface during metal‐dusting corrosion. The effective concentration of Cu in the segregation was estimated a few times higher than the bulk concentration. These results on the interface layer can explain the variation in the corrosion resistance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.