Asymmetric synthesis of dihydro-1,3-dioxepines by Rh(ii)/Sm(iii) relay catalytic three-component tandem [4 + 3]-cycloaddition

Heterocycles have been widely used in organic synthesis, agrochemical, pharmaceutical and materials science industries. Catalytic three-component ylide formation/cycloaddition enables the assembly of complex heterocycles from simple starting materials in a highly efficient manner. However, asymmetric versions remain a yet-unsolved task. Here, we present a new bimetallic catalytic system for tackling this challenge. A combined system of Rh(ii) salt and chiral N,N′-dioxide–Sm(iii) complex was established for promoting the unprecedented tandem carbonyl ylide formation/asymmetric [4 + 3]-cycloaddition of aldehydes and α-diazoacetates with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters smoothly, affording various chiral 4,5-dihydro-1,3-dioxepines in up to 97% yield, with 99% ee. The utility of the current method was demonstrated by conversion of products to optically active multi-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives. A possible reaction mechanism was provided to elucidate the origin of chiral induction based on experimental studies and X-ray structures of catalysts and products.

Catalytic asymmetric tandem carbonyl ylide formation/[4 + 3]-cycloaddition of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters, aldehydes and α-diazoacetates was achieved by using a bimetallic rhodium(ii)/chiral N,N′-dioxide–Sm(iii) complex catalyst.     

Preparation and study on the novel solid inclusion complex of ciprofloxacin with HP-beta-cyclodextrin

The interaction of ciprofloxacin with HP-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) has been studied by several analytical techniques, including 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, fluorescence spectra, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analyzer and scanning electron microscope. In this paper, solid inclusion complex of ciprofloxacin with HP-beta-CD was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. In addition, the characterization of the inclusion complex has been proved by fluorimetry, infrared, differential scanning calorimetry and one-dimensional (1D), 2D NMR. The experimental results confirmed the existence of 1:1 inclusion complex of ciprofloxacin with HP-beta-CD. The formation constant of complex was determined by fluorescence method and 1H NMR. Spacial configuration of complex has been proposed on two-dimensional NMR technique.     

1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile oxides to prop‐1‐ene‐1,3‐sultone

The reaction of prop‐1‐ene‐1,3‐sultone 1 with a variety of nitrile oxides 3 afforded novel [3+2] cycloaddition products 4 in good yield. The cycloaddition reaction achieved excellent regioselectivity.     

Mesoscopic simulation of the aggregation behavior of fluorinated surfactant in aqueous solution

The aggregation behavior of fluorinated surfactant in aqueous solution was investigated using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation method. Simulation results show that fluorinated surfactants behave mainly as their hydrocarbon analogues, having similar sequences of phases and aggregate structures, which are capable of building micelle, hexagonal phase and lamellar phase. But fluorinated surfactants also show interesting differences from hydrocarbon analogues, which can easily form hexagonal and lamellar structures with comparative little curvature. They can also form ellipsoid or rod-like micelles even in very low concentrations instead of spheroid ones. The dynamic aggregation behavior of fluorinated surfactants, as well as the comparison with hydrogenated ones, was also investigated.     

Colloidal forces between bitumen surfaces in aqueous solutions measured with atomic force microscope

Colloidal forces between bitumen surfaces in aqueous solutions were measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The results showed a significant impact of solution pH, salinity, calcium and montmorillonite clay addition on both long-range (non-contact) and adhesion (pull-off) forces. Weaker long-range repulsive forces were observed under conditions of lower solution pH, higher salinity and higher calcium concentration. Lower solution pH, salinity and calcium concentration resulted in a stronger adhesion forces. The addition of montmorillonite clays increased long-range repulsive forces and decreased adhesion forces, particularly when co-added with calcium ions. The measured force profiles were fitted with extended DLVO theory to show the repulsive electrostatic double layer and attractive hydrophobic forces being the dominant components in the long-range forces between the bitumen surfaces. At a very short separation distance (less than 4–6 nm), a strong repulsion of steric origin was observed. The findings provide a fundamental understanding of bitumen emulsion stability and a mechanism of bitumen “aeration” in bitumen recovery processes from oil sands.     

Identification of differentially expressed proteins between human hepatoma and normal liver cell lines by two-dimensional electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

In the previous study, the proteomes of the human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404 and the normal human liver cell line L-02 were separated by high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Image analysis revealed that 99 protein spots showed quantitative and qualitative variations that were significant (P < 0.01) and reproducible. Here we report the identification results of some of these protein spots. Protein spots excised from 2-D gels were subjected to in-gel digestion with trypsin, and the resulting peptides were measured by microbore high performance liquid chromatography - ion trap - mass spectrometry (LC-IT-MS) to obtain the tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra. Twelve protein spots were identified with high confidence using SEQUEST with uninterpreted MS/MS raw data. Besides inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2, heat shock 27 kDa protein, calreticulin and calmodulin, whose expression was elevated in hepatoma cells, glutathione-S-transferase P was identified from hepatoma cells in which its level was 18-fold higher compared to human liver cells. Two spots were identified as the homologs of reticulocalbin for the first time in hepatoma cells and their expression increased compared to liver cells. However, tubulin beta-1 chain and natural killer cell enhancing factor B were downregulated in hepatoma cells. A tumor suppressing serpin, maspin precursor, was identified from one spot whose quantity was much higher in the normal liver cell line. More interestingly, epidermal fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) and fatty acid-binding protein, adipocyte-type (A-FABP), were detected in liver cells but not in hepatoma cells. The functional implication of the identified proteins was discussed.     

Development of a new reaction system for the synthesis of highly optically active alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones

A highly useful method for the synthesis of optically active alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones has been developed. The SmI(2)-induced reductive coupling of chiral 2-alkyl acrylates derived from isosorbide with ketones in the presence of (1S)-(-)-2,10-camphorsultam as a proton source give the chiral alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones in good yields and high enantiomeric purities (up to >99% ee for trans and 75% ee for cis). The reaction system has been investigated with various ketones, and it is demonstrated that this system is very effective for trans-alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones. Both the chiral auxiliary and the hindered proton source in this system are necessary for the observed excellent ee values of the products. The absolute configuration of the trans products is assigned on the basis of the X-ray crystal structure.     

The fragmentation reaction of 16R-bromopregnane-3S,20S-diol

16R-Bromopregnane-3S,20S-diol reacted with potassium t-butoxide to afford androst-16-en-3S-ol in a moderate yield via fragmentation reaction. The latter is a key intermediate for the synthesis of 5α-androst-16-en-3-one, as boar sex pheromone, and other steroidal drugs. In addition, 16R,20S-epoxypregnane-3S-ol was also obtained as a major product by changing the reaction solvent.     

An unusual chain cadmium(II) coordination polymer: catena‐poly[[(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐κ2N,N′)cadmium(II)]‐di‐μ‐chlorido‐[(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐κ2N,N′)cadmium(II)]‐di‐μ‐thiocyanato‐κ2N:S;κ2S:N]

The title complex, [CdCl(NCS)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n, represents an unusual Cd^II coordination polymer constructed by two types of anionic bridges and 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bipy) terminal ligands. These two types of bridges are arranged around inversion centers. The distorted octahedral coordination of the Cd^II center is provided by two chloride ions, one N‐ and one S‐donor atom from two thiocyanate ions, and a pair of N atoms from the chelating bipy ligand. Interestingly, adjacent Cd^II ions are interconnected alternately by paired chloride [Cd...Cd = 3.916 (1) Å] and thiocyanate bridges [Cd...Cd = 5.936 (1) Å] to generate an infinite one‐dimensional coordination chain. Furthermore, weak interchain C—H...S interactions between the bipy components and thiocyanate ions lead to the formation of a layered supramolecular structure.     

Preparative isolation and purification of lutein from the microalga chlorella vulgaris by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was applied to the isolation and purification of lutein from microalgae. Analytical HSCCC was used for the preliminary selection of a suitable solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethanol-water (4:3:1, v/v). Using the above solvent system, preparative HSCCC was successfully performed yielding lutein at 98% purity from 200 mg of the crude extract in a one-step separation.