Triethylborane as an efficient promoter for palladium-catalyzed allylation of active methylene compounds with allyl alcohols

Without prior activation of allyl alcohols, allylation of a variety of active methylene compounds with allyl alcohols proceeds smoothly at rt-50°C in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)₂ (1-10 mol%), Et₃B (30-240 mol%), a phosphine ligand (1-20 mol%), and a base (0 to 50-60 mol%).     

Evaluation of the adsorption affinity of proteins to calcium hydroxyapatites by desorption and pre-adsorption methods

The adsorption affinity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LSZ) to calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHAP) was evaluated by desorption and two step adsorption methods. These experiments were carried out at 15°C in a 1×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ KCl solution of pH 6.0. BSA molecules were scarcely desorbed, exhibiting an irreversible adsorption of BSA, though LSZ slightly desorbed. This result supports our previous findings that LSZ adsorbs weakly onto phosphate ions exposed on ac or bc faces of CaHAP while BSA adsorbs strongly onto positively charged sites on ac or bc faces of CaHAP. The amount of adsorbed LSZ was markedly increased by the pre-adsorption of BSA, where LSZ was adsorbed onto BSA-covered CaHAP. On the other hand, the amount of adsorbed BSA was not changed by the pre-adsorption of LSZ. In both pre-adsorption systems it was confirmed by an HPLC method that no protein molecule pre-adsorbed was desorbed after the post-adsorption procedure. Therefore, it was interpreted that the enhancement of adsorption of positively charged LSZ is induced by an electrostatic attractive force through pre-adsorption of negatively charged BSA molecules with a high coverage. However, since the coverage of LSZ onto CaHAP is considerably low, no stimulation of BSA adsorption occurred on the LSZ-covered surface. The formation of double protein adsorbed layers consisting of pre- and post-adsorbed proteins was proposed.     

Transformation of protoberberines into benzo[C]phenanthridines a novel and efficient synthesis of antitumor benzo[C]phenanthridine alkaloids,fagaronine and nitidine

Antileukemic benzo[C]phenanthridine alkaloids, fagaronine (1a) and nitidine (1c) were synthesized from the corresponding protoberberines through C₆-N bond fission and subsequent cyclization between C₆ and C₁₃ position of the protoberberines.     

One-dimensional ion transport in self-organized columnar ionic liquids

New fan-shaped ionic liquids forming columnar liquid crystalline phases have been prepared to obtain one-dimensional ion-transporting materials. The ionic liquids consist of two incompatible parts: an imidazolium-based ionic part as an ion-conducting part and tris(alkyloxy)phenyl parts as insulating parts. Two compounds having octyl and dodecyl chains have been synthesized. Self-assembly of these materials leads to the formation of thermotropic hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline states at room temperature. Anisotropic one-dimensional ionic conductivities have been successfully measured by the cells having comb-shaped gold electrodes. The self-organized columns have been aligned macroscopically in two directions by shearing perpendicular and parallel to the electrodes. The ionic conductivities parallel to the column axis are higher than those perpendicular to the axis. The incorporation of lithium salts in these columnar materials leads to the enhancement of the ionic conductivities and their anisotropy. These materials would be useful for anisotropic transportation of ions at the nanometer level.     

Preparation of rapidly disintegrating tablet using new types of microcrystalline cellulose (PH-M series) and low substituted-hydroxypropylcellulose or spherical sugar granules by direct compression method

To decrease the sensation of roughness when a tablet, which is rapidly disintegrated by saliva (rapidly disintegrating tablet), is orally taken, we prepared rapidly disintegrating tablets using microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH-M series), a new type of pharmaceutical excipient that is spherical and has a very small particle size (particle size, 7-32 microm), instead of conventional microcrystalline cellulose (PH-102) used in the formulation of tablets containing acetaminophen or ascorbic acid as model drugs for tableting study. Tablets (200 mg) prepared using spherical microcrystalline cellulose, PH-M-06, with the smallest particle size (mean value, 7 microm) had sufficient crushing tolerance (approximately, 8 kg) and were very rapidly, disintegrated (within 15 s) when the mixing ratio of PH-M-06 to low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) was 9:1. Sensory evaluation by volunteers showed that PH-M-06 was superior to PH-102 in terms of the feeling of roughness in the mouth. Consequently, it was found that particle size is an important factor for tablet preparation using microcrystalline cellulose. It is possible to prepare drugs such as acetaminophen and ascorbic acid (concentration of approximately 50%) in the tablet form using PH-NM-06 in combination with L-HPC as a good disintegrant at a low compression force (1-6 kN). To solve the problem of poor fluidity in the preparation of these tablets, we investigated the use of spherical sugar granules (Nonpareil, NP-101 (sucrose and starch, composition ratio of 7:3), NP-103 (purified sucrose), NP-107 (purified lactose) and NP-108 (purified D-mannitol)). Rapidly disintegrating tablets can be prepared by the direct compression method when suitable excipients such as fine microcrystalline cellulose (PH-M-06) and spherical sugar granules (NP) are used.     

Kinetic study of the quenching reaction of singlet oxygen by flavonoids in ethanol solution

The quenching rate of singlet oxygen (1O2) by seven kinds of flavonoids (flavone, flavonol, chrysin, apigenin, rutin, quercetin, and myricetin) with 2,3-double bonds has been measured spectrophotometrically in ethanol at 35 degrees C. The overall rate constants kQ (= kq + kr, physical quenching + chemical reaction) increased as the number of OH groups substituted to the flavone skeleton (that is, the total electron-donating capacity of flavonoids) increases. The existence of catechol or pyrogallol structure in the B-ring is essential for the 1O2 quenching of flavonoids. Log kQ was found to correlate with their peak oxidation potentials, E(P); the flavonoids that have smaller E(P) values show higher reactivities. Similarly, log kQ values of flavonoids correlate with the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (E(HOMO)), calculated by the PM3 MO method, and the longest wavelength pi pi* excitation energy (E(ex)). The contribution of the chemical reaction (kr) was found to be negligible in these flavonoids. The kQ values of rutin, quercetin, and myricetin [(1.21 approximately 5.12) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)] were found to be larger than those of lipids [(0.9 approximately 6.4) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)], amino acids (<3.7 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)), and DNA (5.1 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)). The result suggests that these flavonoids may contribute to the protection of oxidative damage in foods and plants, by quenching 1O2.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction and cycloisomerization of allenynes: selective preparation of monocyclic, bicyclo[m.3.0], and bicyclo[5.2.0] ring systems

[reaction: see text] Rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was found to be applicable for constructing azabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone as well as oxabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone frameworks. In addition, a reliable procedure for constructing a 10-monosubstituted bicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-one ring system by the rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was developed under the condition of 10 atm of CO. Investigation of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 4-phenylsulfonylnona-2,3-dien-8-ynes under nitrogen atmosphere gave the corresponding cyclohexene derivatives, whereas the C1-homologated allenynes produced cycloheptene derivatives and/or bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene skeletons depending on the substitution pattern at the allenic terminus. Thus, proper choice of the starting allenynes and reaction conditions led to the selective formation of 2-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-ones (Pauson-Khand-type product), 3-alkylidene-1-phenylsulfonyl-2-vinylcycloheptene derivatives, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene frameworks.     

Sequential pericyclic reaction of ene-diallenes: an efficient approach to the steroid skeleton

[reaction: see text] The one-pot construction of polycyclic aromatic systems from acyclic ene-bis(propargyl alcohols) was achieved through a tandem dual [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/6pi-electrocyclic reaction/intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition sequence. A steroidal compound was conveniently synthesized using the present method.     

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed intramolecular pauson-khand-type [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes

[reaction: see text] The novel [RhCl(CO)(2)](2)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes leading to the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one as well as the bicyclo[5.3.0]dec-1(10)-en-9-one skeletons has been developed. This method also provides a new procedure for the construction of the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one skeleton having an alkyl appendage at the ring juncture, which was hardly attained in a satisfactory yield by the Pauson-Khand reaction of the corresponding enynes.