Structure of aszonalenin,a new metabolite of aspergillus zonatus

Aszonalenin ($\text{1}$) has been isolated from $\text{Aspergillus zonatus}$ together with LL-S490β ($\text{2}$) and the structure of $\text{1}$ has been established by spectroscopic evidences and chemical transformation.     

SEC–MALLS analysis of cellulose using LiCl/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone as an eluent

The lithium chloride/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (LiCl/DMI) solvent system for cellulose was adopted as a mobile phase of size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) analysis of cellulose, and the applicability of this system was examined using multi-angle laser light scattering and ¹³C-NMR analysis. The results indicate that 8% (w/v) LiCl/DMI ID a true solvent for cellulose, and that cellulose molecules dissolving ID 1% (w/v) LiCl/DMI are separated orderly depending on their molecular mass (MM) or root-mean-square (RMS) radius by the SEC system. Practically, no aggregates were detected ID the dilute cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions. Furthermore, high stability of cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions has been demonstrated; only a few percent of decline ID average MM was observed even after storage for 6 months at room temperature. Relationships between RMS radius and MM for hardwood bleached kraft pulp ID 1% LiCl/DMI was estimated as the following equation: _g^0.59, corresponding to a Mark–Houwink–Sakurada exponent of 0.77.     

Studies on the biosynthesis of terrecyclic acid A II confirmation of the cyclization mechanism and hydrogen shifts using [2-2H3]acetate and [213C2H3]acetate

Feeding experiments with [2-³H₃]acetate and [2-¹³C²H₃]acetate in $\text{Aspergillus terreus}$ Thom No. 14 indicated that the hydrogen at C-2 in terrecyclic acid A is incorporated without migration from the precursor acetic acid; the results favour our group's earlier speculation for the cyclization to the tricyclic skeleton in the biosynthetic scheme.     

Fast and Robust Nanocellulose Width Estimation Using Turbidimetry

The dimensions of nanocelluloses are important factors in controlling their material properties. The present study reports a fast and robust method for estimating the widths of individual nanocellulose particles based on the turbidities of their water dispersions. Seven types of nanocellulose, including short and rigid cellulose nanocrystals and long and flexible cellulose nanofibers, are prepared via different processes. Their widths are calculated from the respective turbidity plots of their water dispersions, based on the theory of light scattering by thin and long particles. The turbidity‐derived widths of the seven nanocelluloses range from 2 to 10 nm, and show good correlations with the thicknesses of nanocellulose particles spread on flat mica surfaces determined using atomic force microscopy.

     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 95: Total Synthesis of Sulfated Glucuronyl Lactosaminyl Paraglobosides

ABSTRACT

3-O-Sulfo glucuronyl neolactohexanosyl ceramide derivatives (heptasaccharides) have been synthesized. Condensation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (2) with 4-O-acetyl-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1) gave the desired β-glycoside 3, which was converted into 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (4) via removal of the O-acetyl and N-phthaloyl groups, followed by N-acetylation. Glycosylation of 4 with O-(methyl 4-O-acetyl-2-O-benzoyl-3-O-levulinoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5) using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate gave the target tetrasaccharide 6, which was transformed via removal of the benzyl group, O-benzoylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group and imidate formation into the tetrasaccharide donor 9. Glycosylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (10) with the imidate donor 9 using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate gave the desired heptasaccharide 11, which was transformed into the heptasaccharide imidate donor 14. Glycosylation of (2S, 3R, 4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (15) with 14 gave β-glycoside 16, which was transformed into the four target compounds, via reduction of the azido group, coupling with octadecanoic acid or tetracosanoic acid, selective removal of the levulinoyl group, O-sulfation, hydrolysis of the methyl ester group and O-deacylation.     

Improvement of the Thermal Stability of TEMPO‐Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibrils by Heat‐Induced Conversion of Ionic Bonds to Amide Bonds

Improving thermal stability of TEMPO‐oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs) is a major challenge for the development and preparation of new nanocomposites. However, thermal degradation of TOCNs occurs at 220 °C. The present study reports a simple way to improve thermal stability of TOCNs by the heat‐induced conversion of ionic bonds to amide bonds. Coupling amine‐terminated polyethylene glycol to the TOCNs is performed through ionic bond formation. Films are produced from the dispersions by the casting method. Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis confirm conversion of ionic bonds to amide bonds for the modified TOCN samples after heating. As a result, improvement of TOCNs' thermal stability by up to 90 °C is successfully achieved.

     

Effect of substituent distribution on water solubility of O-methylcellulose

The effect of substituent distribution on the water solubility of O-methylcellulose (MC) was re-examined to elucidate the lower limit of the degree of substitution (DS) in water-soluble MC. To this end, a series of 2,3-MCs which are regioselectively substituted at the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups were prepared by homogeneous methylation. It was found that the lower limit for the DS value of water-soluble 2,3-MC was almost the same as that for MCs having even distributions of substituents along the cellulose chain as well as in the anhydroglucose units. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.