Selective generation of organic aggregates included within metal-organic micropores through vapor adsorption

The ethanol vapor adsorption behavior and the inclusion crystal structure of a 1D-transformable coordination polymer host were characterized. The adsorption jump was observed during phase transition or two-phase equilibrium with abnormal adsorption enthalpy caused by the nature of "mass induced phase transition." The included ethanol guests selectively form O-H...O hydrogen bonded pairs inside channels, suggesting selective construction of a specific cluster/aggregate in pores under control of thermodynamic factors and cooperative intermolecular interactions among the guest and channel surface.     

High resolution FTIR study on NH2Br molecule: amino wagging band

The amino wagging band of NH₂Br molecule has been observed in the region from 800 to 1200 cm⁻¹ with the resolution of 0.006 cm⁻¹ by a Fourier transform spectrometer. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants have been determined which reproduce the rotational structures of K^′_a<6 for both isotopomers of ⁷⁹Br and ⁸¹Br. The spectral splittings as much as 0.07 cm⁻¹ due to the amino inversion motion have been observed and some discussions on the inversion potential have been made.     

SOLVENT EFFECTS ON TRIPLET-STATE BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLL a AS DETECTED BY TRANSIENT RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY AND THE ENVIRONMENT OF BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLL a IN THE LIGHT-HARVESTING COMPLEX OF Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26

The frequency of BChl that was bound to the light-harvesting complex (LHC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 was found to be 1598 cm^-1, a result which suggests that a pair of BChl molecules form a dimer in the LHC in the T₁ state.     

Zirconium-catalyzed allylalumination and benzylalumination of alkynes

Allylalanes or benzylalanes react with either terminal or internal alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cl₂ZrCp₂ to produce in high yields cis-carboalumination products.     

Fully reagent-controlled asymmetric synthesis of (-)-spongidepsin via the Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes (ZACA reaction)

The ZACA reaction has been shown to proceed satisfactorily with internally OH-substituted 1-alkenes, provided that the OH group is unprotected and non-allylic. This reaction was used for reagent-controlled asymmetric construction of 3. Allylic alcohol was converted to 2 in seven steps via iterative ZACA processes and simple chromatography. (-)-Spongidepsin (1) was synthesized by using 2 and 3 through application of the esterification-amidation-ring-closing metathesis protocol previously reported.     

Development of Novel Nanocarrier-Based Near-Infrared Optical Probes for In Vivo Tumor Imaging

Optical imaging with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes is a useful diagnostic technology for in vivo tumor detection. Our plan was to develop novel NIR fluorophore-micelle complex probes. IC7-1 and IC7-2 were synthesized as novel lipophilic NIR fluorophores, which were encapsulated in an amphiphilic polydepsipeptide micelle “lactosome”. The fluorophore-micelle complexes IC7-1 lactosome and IC7-2 lactosome were evaluated as NIR fluorescent probes for in vivo tumor imaging. IC7-1 and IC7-2 were synthesized and then encapsulated in lactosomes. The optical properties of IC7-1, IC7-2, IC7-1 lactosome and IC7-2 lactosome were measured. IC7-1 lactosome and IC7-2 lactosome were administered to tumor-bearing mice, and fluorescence images were acquired for 48 h. IC7-1 and IC7-2 were successfully synthesized in 12% and 6.3% overall yield, and maximum emission wavelengths in chloroform were observed at 858 nm and 897 nm, respectively. Aqueous buffered solutions of IC7-1 lactosome and IC7-2 lactosome showed similar fluorescence spectra in chloroform and higher or comparable quantum yields and higher photostability compared with ICG. Both lactosome probes specifically visualized tumor tissue 6 h post-administration. IC7-1 lactosome and IC7-2 lactosome could be promising NIR probes for in vivo tumor imaging.     

Strictly Regiocontrolled α-Monosubstitution of Cyclic Carbonyl Compounds with Alkynyl and Alkyl Groups via Pd-Catalyzed Coupling of Cyclic α-Iodoenones with Organozincs[]

The conditions for the Pd-catalyzed cross coupling of cyclic α-iodoenones, such as 2-iodo-2-cyclohexenone, with alkynylzincs have been optimized. The use of tris(o-furyl)phosphine (TFP) as a ligand and DMF as a solvent has led to the formation of α-alkynylenones in excellent yields. This optimized procedure has been applied to the synthesis of (±)-harveynone and (±)-tricholomenyn A in high yields. Investigation of related α-alkylation reactions using alkylzincs has revealed the following. Methylzinc and primary alkylzinc derivatives readily undergo Pd-catalyzed cross coupling with α-iodoenones. Although (s-Bu)₂Zn also undergoes Pd-catalyzed cross coupling, only the n-Bu-substituted products were obtained. α-Benzylation and α-homobenzylation can proceed satisfactorily, whereas allylzinc and propargylzinc derivatives undergo only addition to the carbonyl group. Although some promising results have been obtained in α-homoallylation and α-homopropargylation, these reactions need to be further improved.