Stereoselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted (Z)-alkenes from aryl alkyl ketones utilizing the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction

Tetrasubstituted (Z)-alkenes were readily prepared through the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions of methyl 2-[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphono]propionate with aryl alkyl ketones by employing Sn(OSO(2)CF(3))(2) and N-ethylpiperidine.     

Enhanced indoor radon concentration by using radon-rich well water in a Japanese wooden house in Fukuoka, Japan

Summary Radon measurements were carried out in a Japanese wooden house built on granitic geology, where radon-rich well water is used. Atmospheric radon concentrations were measured over one year with passive integrated radon monitors. The monitors were distributed at several locations in the house and were replaced every two months. In order to confirm the diurnal variation and heterogeneous distribution of radon, short-term measurements were carried out accordingly. Radon, its decay products and terrestrial gamma-radiations were measured in this survey. From the long-term measurement, the radon concentration in the house ranged from 14 to 184 Bq^. m^-3with an arithmetic mean of 45 Bq^. m^-3. A radon concentration of 184 Bq^. m^-3was observed in the bathroom in spring (March-May) though the radon level was normal in the living room and bedroom. In order to characterize the house, similar measurements were conducted in several surrounding houses. There was a significant difference in radon concentration between the investigated houses. There was a spatial distribution of the radon concentration and the highest value was found in the bathroom. Radon and its decay products concentrations varied with time, which increased from midnight to morning whereas they decreased during daytime. Although the radon concentration in tap water was 1 Bq^. l^-1, a high level of 353 Bq^. l^-1was found in the well water.While well water was being used, the indoor radon concentration near the bathroom increased rapidly with a maximum value of 964 Bq^. m^-3. It is clear that the use of well water enhanced the radon level around the bathroom.     

Five new nortropane alkaloids and six new amino acids from the fruit of Morus alba LINNE growing in Turkey

Investigation of the constituents of the fruits of Morus alba LINNE (Moraceae) afforded five new nortropane alkaloids (1-5) along with nor-psi-tropine (6) and six new amino acids, morusimic acids A-F (7-12). The structures of the new compounds were determined to be 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (1), 2beta,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (2), 2alpha,3beta,6exo-trihydroxynortropane (3), 2alpha,3beta,4alpha-rihydroxynortropane (4), 3beta,6exo-dihydroxynortropane (5), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (8), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-1(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (10), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), and (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid (12) on the basis of spectral and chemical data.     

Fine Tunable,Redox Active Octapalladium Chains Supported by Linear Tetraphosphines,Leading to Dynamically 1D Self-Assembled Coordination Polymers

A series of the octapalladium chains supported by meso-Ph₂PCH₂P(Ph)CH₂P(Ph)CH₂PPh₂ (meso-dpmppm) ligands, [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(L)₂](BF₄)₄ (L=none ( 1 ), solvents: CH₃CN ( 2 a ), dmf ( 2 b ), dmso ( 2 c ), RN≡C: R=Xyl ( 3 a ), Mes ( 3 b ), Dip ( 3 c ), ^tBu ( 3 d ), Cy ( 3 e ), CH₃(CH₂)₇ ( 3 f ), CH₃(CH₂)₁₁ ( 3 g ), CH₃(CH₂)₁₇ ( 3 h )) and [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(X)₂](BF₄)₂ (X=Cl ( 4 a ), N₃ ( 4 b ), CN ( 4 c ), SCN ( 4 d )), were synthesized by using 2 a as a stable good precursor, and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR, UV-vis-NIR, ESI-MS) measurements and X-ray crystallographic analyses (for 1 , 2 a , b , 3 a , b , e , f , 4 a – d ). On the basis of DFT calculations on the X-ray determined structure of 2 b ( [2b-Pd₈]⁴⁺ ) and the optimized models [Pd₈(meso-Ph₂PCH₂P(H)CH₂P(H)CH₂PH₂)₄(CH₃CN)₂]⁴⁺ ( [Pd₈Ph₈]⁴⁺ ) and [Pd₈(meso-H₂PCH₂P(H)CH₂P(H)CH₂PH₂)₄(CH₃CN)₂]⁴⁺ ( [Pd₈H₈]⁴⁺ ), with and without empirically calculating dispersion force stabilization energy (B3LYP-D3, B3LYP), the formation energy between the two Pd₄ fragments is assumed to involve mainly noncovalent interactions (ca. −70 kcal/mol) with four sets of interligand C−H/π interactions and Pd⋅⋅⋅Pd metallophilic one, while electron shared covalent interactions are almost canceled out within the Pd₈ chain. All the compounds isolated are stable in solution and exhibit characteristic absorption at ∼900 nm, which is assignable to a spin allowed HOMO to LUMO transition, and shows temperature dependent intensity change with variable absorption coefficients presumably due to coupling with some thermal vibrations. The structures and electronic states of the Pd₈ chains are found finely tunable by varying the terminal capping ligands. In particular, theoretical calculations elucidated that the HOMO-LUMO energy gap is systematically related to the central Pd−Pd distance (2.7319(6)–2.7575(6) Å) by two ways with neutral ligands L ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and with anionic ligands X ( 4 ), which are reflected on the NIR absorption energy of 867–954 nm. The isocyanide terminated Pd₈ complexes ( 3 ) further reacted with excess of RNC (6 eq) to afford the Pd₄ complexes, [Pd₄(meso-dpmppm)₂(RNC)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 13 ), and the cyclic voltammograms of 2 a (L=CH₃CN), 3 , and 13 (R=Xyl, Mes, ^tBu, Cy) demonstrated wide range redox behaviors from 2{Pd₄}⁴⁺ to 2{Pd₄}⁰ through 2{Pd₄}²⁺↔{Pd₈}⁴⁺, {Pd₈}³⁺, and {Pd₈}²⁺ strings. The oxidized complexes, [Pd₄(meso-dpmppm)₂(RNC)₃](BF₄)₄ ( 16 ), were characterized by X-ray analyses, and the two-electron reduced chain of [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄](BF₄)₂ ( 7 ) was analyzed by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques and DFT calculations. Reactions of 2 a with 1 equiv. of aromatic linear bisisocyanide (BI) in CH₂Cl₂ deposited insoluble coordination polymers, {[Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(BI)](BF₄)₄}_n ( 5 ), and interestingly, they were soluble in acetonitrile, ³¹P{¹H} and ¹H DOSY NMR spectra as well as SAXS curves suggesting that the coordination polymers may exist in acetonitrile as dynamically 1D self-assembled coordination polymers comprising ca. 50 units of the Pd₈ rod averaged within the timescale.     

RAFT synthesis of an amphiphilic block copolymer bearing chlorin rings in the hydrophobic segment and its application in photodynamic therapy

RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) in the presence of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) was conducted using 4‐cyano‐4‐(thiobenzoyl)thiopentanoic acid as a chain‐transfer agent and azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator at 60 °C. The resulting polymer exhibited a chlorin‐like UV‐vis spectrum, which indicated that the polymer possessed a reduced TFPP structure. Furthermore, an SEC trace recorded using UV‐vis detector (λ = 410 nm), which selectively detected the TFPP‐incorporated polymer, shifted toward higher molecular mass as the polymerization progressed. This evidence indicated that TFPP acted as a vinylene‐type monomer, such as maleimide, to form a copolymer, namely, poly(St‐co‐TFPP). The mole fraction of TFPP units was estimated to be 0.74 × 10^?3, which was close to that in the feed (1 × 10^?3). Chain extension of poly(St‐co‐TFPP) with polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate (PEGA) was performed to afford the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(St‐co‐TFPP)‐b‐poly(PEGA). The degrees of polymerization of St and PEGA were determined to be 64 and 75, respectively. Poly(St‐co‐TFPP)‐b‐poly(PEGA) formed micelles following dialysis. The median diameter of the micelles in solution was determined to be 16 nm by DLS. The photocytotoxicity of the micelle solution was evaluated in a human glioblastoma cell line (U251) and an N‐methyl‐N'‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine‐induced mutant of a rat murine RGM‐1 gastric carcinoma mucosal cell line (RGK‐1). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3395–3403     

Radical polymerization of trifluoromethyl‐substituted methyl methacrylates and their application for use in pressure‐sensitive paint

Three CF₃‐substituted methyl methacrylates (MMAs), 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA), 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFIPMA) and nonafluoro‐tert‐butyl methacrylate (NFTBMA), were polymerized by conventional radical polymerization to give oxygen‐permeable polymers for application in pressure‐sensitive paint (PSP). The radical copolymerizations of styrene with TFEMA, HFIPMA, or NFTBMA were carried out to examine the effect of CF₃ groups on the polymerizability. The e values increased in the order of MMA (0.40) < TFEMA (0.76) < HFIPMA (1.19) < NFTBMA (1.31). The homopolymers of TFEMA, HFIPMA and NFTBMA (PTFEMA, PHFIPMA, and PNFTBM, respectively) were examined as polymers for use in PSP using 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato platinum(II) (PtTFPP). The PSP consisting of PNFTBMA and PtTFPP exerted very high pressure sensitivity and very low temperature sensitivity. In the absence of oxygen, the temperature sensitivity decreased in the order of PTFEMA > PHFIPMA > PNFTBMA = PMMA, which corresponds to the order of glass transition temperatures (T_g). However, the activation energies of the overall process of the luminescence quenching by oxygen were found to be 16.8 (PMMA), 13.0 (PTFEMA), 6.8 (PHFIPMA), and 4.3 kJ mol^?1 (PNFTBMA). Therefore, the low temperature sensitivity of PNFTBMA was attributed to its high degree of substitution with CF₃ groups and to its relatively high T_g value. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 963–972     

Investigation of radon and thoron concentrations in a landmark skyscraper in Tokyo

The temporal variation of the radon concentration, and the radon and thoron concentrations every 3 months for a year were measured using two types of devices in a landmark skyscraper, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Daiichi Building. In the measurement of temporal variation of the radon concentration using a pulse type ionization chamber, the average radon concentration was 21 ± 13 Bq m^?3 (2–68 Bq m^?3). The measured indoor radon concentration had a strong relationship with the operation of the mechanical ventilation system and the activities of the office workers. The radon concentration also increased together with temperature. Other environmental parameters, such as air pressure and relative humidity, were not related to the radon concentration. In the long-term measurements using a passive radon and thoron discriminative monitor, no seasonal variation was observed. The annual average concentrations of radon and thoron were 16 ± 8 and 16 ± 7 Bq m^?3, respectively. There was also no relationship between the two concentrations. The annual average effective dose for office workers in this skyscraper was estimated to be 0.08 mSv y^?1 for 2000 working hours per year. When considering the indoor radon exposure received from their residential dwellings using the annual mean radon concentration indoors in Japan (15.5 Bq m^?3), the annual average effective dose was estimated to be 0.37 mSv y^?1. This value was 31 % of the worldwide average annual effective dose.     

Enhanced collective optical response of vast numbers of silver nanoparticles assembled on a microbead

We investigated the optical response of a huge number of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) densely assembled on an organic microsphere, i.e., AgNP-fixed bead, under the collective phenomena of localized surface plasmons. For this purpose, various optical properties of such a AgNP-fixed bead were analyzed in aqueous solution by dark-field optical microscopy and laser Raman microscopy. In particular, in comparison with the optical spectrum of single AgNPs, significant spectral broadening and redshift were observed due to plasmonic superradiance with decreasing interparticle distance to the subnanoscale when using small binder molecules in the AgNP-fixed bead. Furthermore, we observed surface-enhanced Raman scattering and clarified the sensitivity of the signal intensity to the size of the binder molecules between the AgNPs, which can be explained based on optical response theory using a discrete integral with spherical cells. These results and discussion provide a guiding principle for broadband plasmonic light absorbers and for highly sensitive detection of small molecules and nanoscale biomaterials based on vast numbers of nanogaps produced by a bottom-up self-assembly process.     

Carbonyl orientation determines regio- and enantioselectivity in 1,2-/1,4-reduction of an NAD model compound

An optically active, axially chiral NAD model compound(1) with a quinoline ring system was reduced by the chiral NADH model compound (4), affording a mixture of 1,2- and 1,4-dihydroquinolines. The carbonyl orientation governs the molecular arrangement in the transition state of the reaction and determines the regio- and enantioselectivity of the product.