Geometrical isomerization of fac/mer-Mo(CO)3(phosphite)3 and cis/trans-Mo(CO)4(phosphite)2 catalyzed by Me3SiOSO2CF3

Geometrical isomerization of fac-Mo(CO)₃L₃ (L = P(OPh)₃, P(OMe)₃, P(OEt)₃) to the mer form and that of cis-Mo(CO)₄L₂ (L = P(OPh)₃, P(OMe)₃, PPh₂(OMe)) to the trans form were observed in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of Me₃SiOSO₂CF₃ (TMSOTf). Crossover experiments suggest that a ligand dissociation is not involved in the isomerization. A catalytic cycle involving an interaction of the silicon atom in Me₃Si⁺ with one oxygen in P(OR)₃ ligands has been proposed. The first isolation and the X-ray structure analysis were attained for mer-Mo(CO)₃{P(OPh)₃}₃ through the TSMOTf-assisted isomerization of fac-Mo(CO)₃{P(OPh)₃}₃.     

Selective isolation of N-terminal peptides from proteins and their de novo sequencing by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry without regard to unblocking or blocking of N-terminal amino acids

We have developed a new method to determine the N-terminal amino acid sequences of proteins, regardless of whether their N-termini are modified. This method consists of the following five steps: (1) reduction, S-alkylation and guanidination for targeted proteins; (2) coupling of sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin to N(alpha)-amino groups of proteins; (3) digestion of the modified proteins by an appropriate protease followed by oxidation with performic acid; (4) specific isolation of N-terminal peptides from digests using DITC resins; (5) de novo sequence analysis of the N-terminal peptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using the CAF (chemically assisted fragmentation) method or tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis according to unblocked or blocked peptides, respectively. By employing DITC resins instead of avidin resins used in our previous method (Yamaguchi et al., Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2007; 21: 3329), it has been possible to isolate selectively N-terminal peptides from proteins regardless of modification of N-terminal amino acids. Here we propose a universal method for N-terminal sequence analysis of proteins.     

Ti-mediated direct and highly stereoselective Mannich reactions between esters and oxime ethers

The first general method of direct and highly stereoselective Ti-mediated Mannich reaction between three types of simpleesters and E and Z mixtures of oxime ethers (aliphatic and aromatic) is accomplished.     

A Non-Heme Iron(III) Complex with Porphyrin-like Properties That Catalyzes Asymmetric Epoxidation

In this report, we describe an iron(III) complex containing a carbazole-based tridentate ligand that catalyzes highly enantioselective asymmetric epoxidation of (E)-alkenes at room temperature. The non-heme iron(III) complex has a five-coordinated trigonal-bipyramidal structure, and its two-electron oxidized state has the similar electronic structure as that of iron porphyrins.     

C-Terminal sequencing of protein by MALDI mass spectrometry through the specific derivatization of the α-carboxyl group with 3-aminopropyltris-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium bromide

We present here an approach to C-terminal sequencing of proteins by the procedure consisting of the following: (1) derivatization of the C-terminal α-carboxyl group with 3-aminopropyltris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)-phosphonium bromide (TMPP-propylamine) through oxazolone chemistry, (2) enzymatic proteolysis of the TMPP-derivatized protein, and (3) MALDI-MS/MS analysis of the peptide mixture, in which the C-terminal peptide incorporating the TMPP group is preferably detected. In this protocol, it is possible to choose any endoproteinase such as trypsin, GluC, and AspN for digestion so that a C-terminal peptide with length appropriate for mass spectrometric sequencing could be generated. The peptide labeled with TMPP-propylamine at the C terminus tends to exhibit y-type ions in MS/MS spectra, allowing manual sequence interpretation with the simplified fragmentation pattern. The efficacy of the method was verified with five proteins, which demonstrated that the C-terminal peptides were readily distinguishable by their peak intensity and characteristic mass signature peak in MALDI-PSD analysis.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of nemorosone

The highly stereoselective total synthesis of nemorosone via a new approach to the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,4,9-trione core which features intramolecular cyclopropanation of an α-diazo ketone, stereoselective alkylation at the C8 position, and regioselective ring-opening of cyclopropane is described. The total synthesis of nemorosone includes chemo- and stereoselective hydrogenation directed by the internal alkene.     

Photoluminescence properties, molecular structures, and theoretical study of heteroleptic silver(I) complexes containing diphosphine ligands

The homoleptic complex [Ag(L)(2)]PF(6) (1) and heteroleptic complexes [Ag(L)(L(Me))]BF(4) (2) and [Ag(L)(L(Et))]BF(4) (3) [L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene, L(Me) = 1,2-bis[bis(2-methylphenyl)phosphino]benzene, and L(Et) = 1,2-bis[bis(2-ethylphenyl)phosphino]benzene] were synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystallography demonstrated that 1-3 possess tetrahedral structures. Photophysical studies and time-dependent density functional theory calculations of 1-3 revealed that alkyl substituents at the ortho positions of peripheral phenyl groups in the diphosphine ligands have a significant influence on the energy and intensity of phosphorescence of the complex in solution at room temperature. The results can be interpreted in terms of the geometric preferences of each complex in the ground and excited states. The homoleptic complex 1 exhibits weak orange phosphorescence in solution arising from its flat structure in the triplet state, while heteroleptic complexes 2 and 3 show strong green phosphorescence from triplet states with tetrahedral structure. Larger interligand steric interactions in 2 and 3 caused by their bulkier ligands probably inhibit geometric relaxation within the excited-state lifetimes, leading to higher energy phosphorescence than that observed for 1. NMR experiments revealed that 2 and 3 in solution possess structures that are much more immobilized than that of 1; fluxional motion is completely suppressed in 2 and 3. Accordingly, conformational changes of 2 and 3 are expected to be suppressed by the alkyl substituents not only in the ground state but also in excited states. Consequently, nonradiative decay of the excited states of 2 and 3 occurs less efficiently than in 1. As a result, the quantum yields of phosphorescence for 2 and 3 are 6 times larger than that for the homoleptic complex 1.     

Discrete complexes immobilized onto click-SBA-15 silica: controllable loadings and the impact of surface coverage on catalysis

Azidopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 were prepared with variable azide loadings of 0.03-0.7 mmol g(-1) (~2-50% of maximal surface coverage) through a direct synthesis, co-condensation approach. These materials are functionalized selectively with ethynylated organic moieties through a copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) or "click" reaction. Specific loading within a material can be regulated by either the azide loading or limiting the alkyne reagent relative to the azide loading. The immobilization of ferrocene, pyrene, tris(pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA), and iron porphyrin (FeTPP) demonstrates the robust nature and reproducibility of this two-step synthetic attachment strategy. Loading-sensitive pyrene fluorescence correlates with a theoretically random surface distribution, rather than a uniform one; site-isolation of tethered moieties ~15 ? in length occurs at loadings less than 0.02 mmol g(-1). The effect of surface loading on reactivity is observed in the oxygenation of SBA-15-[Cu(I)(TPA)]. SBA-15-[Mn(II)(TPA)]-catalyzed epoxidation exhibits a systematic dependence on surface loading. A comparison of homogeneous, site-isolated and site-dense complexes provides insight into catalyst speciation and ligand activity.     

Fractionation of hydrogen isotopes between crystalline hydrates and saturated solution of cobalt dichloride

The hydrogen isotopic fractionation factors between the crystal water (CW) in crystalline hydrates and the saturated aqueous solution of cobalt dichloride, alphaCW-st.sol, were experimentally determined in the temperature range from 10 to 55 degrees C under equilibrium condition: alphaCW-st.sol in cobalt dichloride hexahydrate, CoCl2 x 6H2O, from 10 to 43 degrees C, and in cobalt dichloride dihydrate, CoCl2 x 2H2O, at 50 and 55 degrees C. The empirical relationship between ln alphaC.W.-st.sol and (1/T2) on the CW of CoCl2 x 6H2O in the temperature range from 10 to 43 degrees C was obtained as: 10(3)ln alphaCW-st.sol=-2.46(10(6)/T2)+17.6. The CW of dihydrate of cobalt dichloride exhibits larger depletion of deuterium than that of hexahydrate. The values of alphaCW-st.sol in CoCl2 x 2H2O are similar to that of CuCl2 x 2H2O and BaCl2 x 2H2O at 25 degrees C. This fact indicates that the hydrogen fractionation factor between the CW and the saturated aqueous solution of cobalt dichloride strongly depends on the structure of crystalline hydrate rather than the chemical species of cation and/or the crystallized temperature.     

Hollow polycarbonate fiber for Er:YAG laser light delivery

We developed hollow fibers with polycarbonate (PC) capillaries for use as a supporting tube. The PC capillaries were prepared by using a glass-drawing technique. Hollow PC fibers are safer and more flexible than hollow glass fibers because no fragments are released when the fibers are broken in various applications. Inner coating layers of silver and cyclic olefin polymer (COP) enhanced the reflection rate at the Er:YAG laser light wavelength. Using these fibers, we attained low loss for Er:YAG laser light transmission. By adjusting the drawing temperature in the fabrication of the PC capillaries, we created a smooth inner surface and uniform PC capillaries. We also demonstrated low-loss properties for visible pilot beams.