Synthesis of 3,3′-(1,6-hexanediyl)bis-pyrimidine derivatives and 3,4-dithia[6.6](1.3)pyrimidinophane

Several 3,3′-(1,6-hexanediyl)bis[6-methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione] derivatives ( 4a, 4b , and 4c ) were synthesized from 1,6-(hexanediyl)bis[6-methyl-2H-1,3-oxazine-2,4(3H)-dione] (3) . Compound 4c was converted to 6, which reacted with thiourea giving thiuronium salt 7 . 3,3′-(1,6-Hexanediyl)bis [1-(2-mercaptoethyl)-6-methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione] (9) was obtained by the hydrolysis of 7 , and then 9 was oxidized to 12,22-dimethyl-3,4-dithia[6.6] (1.3)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxopyrimidinophane (10) .     

Fullerenols revisited as stable radical anions

The first exhaustive purification and characterization of the much-studied "fullerenols", prepared by reaction of C(60) in toluene with an oxygenated, aqueous NaOH solution using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as a phase transfer catalyst, has been performed. The resulting fullerenol is not simply polyhydroxylated C(60) but rather is a structurally and electronically complex C(60) radical anion with a molecular formula of Na(+)(n)[C(60)O(x)(OH)(y)](n)(-) (where n = 2-3, x = 7-9, and y = 12-15) for three different, but identical, preparations. Surprisingly, Na(+)-fullerenol is paramagnetic, exhibiting mu(B) values in aqueous solution of 1.9-2.1 B.M. at 0.5 T and 300 K and R(1) proton relaxivities of 0.55-0.77 mM(-1)s(-1) at 20 MHz and 40 degrees C, values both slightly higher than those expected for a pure S = 1/2 spin system. ESR studies (ESE-FS and 2D nutation) of frozen aqueous solutions at 1.5 and 5.0 K establish that Na(+)-fullerenol is mainly S = 1/2 with a minor, but significant, component of S = 1. Thus, this is the first report to characterize these widely studied, water-soluble fullerenols as stable radical anions. The stability of the S = 1/2 Na(+)-fullerenol radical is likely due to a highly derivatized C(60) surface that protects a cyclopentadienyl radical center on the fullerene.     

Cu-mediated chemoselective trifluoromethylation of benzyl bromides using shelf-stable electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents

Copper-mediated chemoselective trifluoromethylation at the benzylic position by the use of shelf-stable electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents 3 in good to high yields under mild conditions is described for the first time. The generality of this trifluoromethylation for a wide variety of benzyl bromides facilitates the rapid creation of structural diversity of medicinal candidates in drug discovery.     

Light-driven phase transition in a cubic-phase-forming binary system composed of 4'-n-docosyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid and an azobenzene derivative

Binary mixtures were prepared from an azobenzene derivative and a liquid-crystal (LC) compound that exhibits smectic?C (SmC) and bicontinuous cubic (Cub(bi)) LC phases. Reversible switching between the two phases in response to UV-light irradiation was observed. This light-driven SmC-to-Cub(bi) transition is the first example showing the increased dimensionality of molecular ordering with isomerization of azobenzenes (see figure).     

Copolymerization of butadiene and styrene with a gadolinium tricarboxylate catalyst

Homo- and copolymerizations of butadiene (BD) and styrene (St) were carried out by gadolinium catalysts having various tricarboxylate ligands [Gd(OCOR)₃: R = CH₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, and CF₃], to investigate the effects of ligands and discuss the cis polymerization mechanism. Polymerization of BD with Gd(OCOR)₃—(i—Bu)₃Al—Et₂AlCl catalysts was carried out in hexane at 50°C. By each catalyst, poly(BD) having a high cis content (cis = 97–99%) in 22–85% yields for 2–24 h were obtained. The ligands with low pKa values increased the polymerization activity as follows: R of Gd(OCOR)₃: CF₃ > CCl₃ > CHCl₂ > CH₂Cl ～ CH₃. On the other hand, in the polymerization of St or copolymerization of BD and St under similar conditions, the highest activity was attained by a Gd(OCOCCI₃)₃- based catalyst. The difference in the optimum ligand among the homo- and copolymerization of BD and St was discussed on the basis of energy levels of the catalysts. In the copolymers of BD and St, the cis-1,4 content of the BD unit decreased with increasing St content. Furthermore, according to the diad analysis of copolymers (St content ～ 14.5 mol %) by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, the low cis value of the BD unit was observed in the St-BD diad (cis/trans/vinyl = 24/53/23), while the high cis value of the BD unit remained in the BD-BD diad (cis/trans/vinyl = 89/10/1). These results suggest that the terminal BD unit is controlled by the cis configuration by the coordination between the penultimate cis vinylene unit and the gadolinium metal catalyst, whereas the presence of the penultimate St unit interferes with cis polymerization of the terminal BD unit. The difference in the coordination mechanism in the course of polymerization between rare earth metal and transition metal catalysts such as the Ni(acac)₂ and Co(acac)₃-based catalyst was also discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A new geranylated aromatic compound from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum

A new geranylated aromatic compound, 5-[(2'E)-3',7'-dimethyl-2',6'-octadienyl]-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-isoindolinone (1), was isolated from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Hericium erinaceum (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Hericiaceae) together with three known sterols, 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-(22E)-ergosta-8(14),22-diene-3beta,7alpha-diol (2), (22E)-ergosta-7,9(11),22-triene-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol (3) and (22E)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3beta,5alpha,6alpha,9alpha-tetrol (4). The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectral data.     

Redox reaction in two-dimensional porous coordination polymers based on ferrocenedicarboxylates

A series of 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylate-based two-dimensional porous coordination polymers were synthesized by incorporating different diamine co-ligands. These compounds immobilized on electrodes, exhibited reversible redox reactions, arising from ferrocenyl moiety.     

Silver nanoparticles dispersed within amphiphilic star-block copolymers as templates for plasmon band materials

Formation of silver nanoparticles has been developed based on a template technique. Amphiphilic star-block copolymers employed as single molecule template, utilizing the coordination of Ag⁺ ions with carboxyl groups in the core of the star-block copolymer. Silver nanoparticles have been prepared by the addition of chemical reductant, e.g., NaBH₄. The solution of the resultant nanosphere composites showed yellow due to the surface plasmon resonance. These composites were soluble in organic solvents, because hydrophobic corona of the star-block copolymer protected the fabricated silver nanoparticles from aggregation.     

On the factors influencing the dispersion of radioiodines

Radioactivities dispersed from 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solutions of 123I, 125I, or 131I were measured, and the factors influencing dispersion of radioiodines were analyzed. The radioiodines dispersed were trapped by glass fiber filters, charcoal filters, and separable paint. The factors influencing the dispersion of radioiodines are discussed in terms of the dispersal rate, which defined as the ratio of total activity of three kinds of traps in a unit time to whole activity. In order to clarify the factors influencing the dispersal rate, we carried out the experiments; on the effect of reducing agent, that of radioactive concentration of radioiodine, that of mixing the 125I solution with 131I, and that of scavenging hydrated electrons and hydroxyl radicals. It could be concluded from experimental results that the principal factors influencing dispersion of radioiodines are the number of atoms of radioiodine per volume and the energy absorbed in solution from radioiodines. In regard to the absorbed energy, we thought that the dispersion of radioiodines is influenced mainly by hydrated electron, not markedly by hydroxyl radical.