Breakage of λ-DNA by inorganic tin and organotin compounds as environmental pollutants

In proportion to the environmental pollution problems caused by organotin compounds, the genotoxicities of tin compounds in the environments have become of interest so as to estimate their safety in recent years. In this work, isolated λ-DNA (double-strand DNA) was incubated with inorganic tin(II) and tin(IV) and five organotin compounds [n-butyltin trichloride, di(n-butyltin) dichloride, methyltin trichloride, dimethyltin dichloride and trimethyltin chloride] in reaction systems both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content. The tin compounds tested in this study did not induce DNA breakage in the absence of hydrogen peroxide. Divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) and tetravalent inorganic tin (SnCl₄) caused DNA breakage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (10 mM), and the DNA damage activity of inorganic tin was much more potent in divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) than in tetravalent inorganic tin (SnCl₄). Divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) induced DNA breakage in a concentration-dependent fashion at concentrations greater than 0.1 mM of SnCl₂ in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (10 mM). DNA breakage was not caused by n-butyltin compounds and methyltin compounds either in the presence or in the absence of hydrogen peroxide.     

Stereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted aziridines by Lewis acid-mediated aziridination of aldimines with diazoacetates

Treatment of trifluoroacetaldehyde N,O-acetal with diazoacetate in the presence of a Lewis acid furnished CF₃-substituted aziridinecarboxylates in good yields. Both cis and trans isomers were obtained stereoselectively by the proper choice of the ester substituents. Use of a chiral diazoacetate derived from (R)-pantolactone led to highly diastereoselective aziridination (94% de).     

Rapid synthesis of oligosaccharide moieties of globotriaosylceramide using fluorous protective group

The use of the Bfp (bisfluorous chain type propanoyl) group as a fluorous protective group made it possible to rapidly synthesize galabiose and the Gb3 oligosaccharide derivatives by a simple fluorous-organic extraction purification. The fluorous oligosaccharide synthesis using the Bfp group is an excellent strategic alternative to solid phase oligosaccharide synthesis, and removes some of the disadvantages of the solid phase method.     

Catalytic transformation of methane over in-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite in the presence of ethene

Methane is shown to react with ethene over In-loaded ZSM-5 to higher hydrocarbons such as propene and toluene at around 673 K. Such methane conversion is not catalyzed by proton-exchanged ZSM-5 (H-ZSM-5) under the same conditions, only C2H4 being converted to higher hydrocarbons. By using 13C-labeled methane (13CH4) as a reactant, the reaction paths for the formation of propene, benzene and toluene were examined. 13C-labeled propene (13CC2H6) is formed by the reaction of 13CH4 with C2H4. The lack of 13C-labeled benzene revealed that propene is not transformed to benzene, which instead originates entirely from C2H4. The 13C atom is inserted both into the methyl group and benzene ring in the toluene formed. This indicates that toluene is formed by two reaction paths; the reaction of 13CC2H6 with butenes formed by the dimerization of C2H4 and the reaction of benzene with 13CH4. The existence of the latter path was proved by the direct reaction of 13CH4 with benzene. The reaction of methane with benzene was also carried out in a continuous flow system over In-loaded ZSM-5. The reaction afforded 7.6% and 0.9% yields of toluene and xylenes, respectively, at 623 K.     

Thermal behavior of ternary Sm2Fe17Nx magnets

The Mössbauer spectra of Sm₂Fe₁₇N_x, prepared by the nitrogenation of Sm₂Fe₁₇ powders in an ammonia and hydrogen atmosphere, were observed at elevated temperatures to shed light on the thermal behavior of nitrogen in the compounds Sm₂Fe₁₇N_x. It was found that there were large differences in thermal behavior between the starting Sm₂Fe₁₇, crystalline Sm₂Fe₁₇N_x (x≈1.7) and amorphous Sm₂Fe₁₇N_x(x～7). The thermal decomposition behavior of Sm₂Fe₁₇N_3.2, developed as one of the most promising hard magnetic materials, was found to be different under different atmospheres.     

Spinel, YbFe2O4, and Yb2Fe3O7 types of structures for compounds in the In2O3 and Sc2O3---A2O3---BO systems [A: Fe, Ga, or Al; B: Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn] at temperatures over 1000°C

In the Sc₂O₃---Ga₂O₃---CuO, Sc₂O₃---Ga₂O₃---ZnO, and Sc₂O₃---Al₂O₃---CuO systems, ScGaCuO₄, ScGaZnO₄, and ScAlCuO₄ with the YbFe₂O₄-type structure and Sc₂Ga₂CuO₇ with the Yb₂Fe₃O₇-type structure were obtained. In the In₂O₃---A₂O₃---BO systems (A: Fe, Ga, or Al; B: Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, or Zn), InGaFeO₄, InGaNiO₄, and InFe³⁺MgO₄ with the spinel structure, InGaZnO₄, InGaMgO₄, and InAlCuO₄ with the YbFe₂O₄-type structure, and In₂Ga₂MnO₇ and In₂Ga₂ZnO₇ with the Yb₂Fe₃O₇-type structure were obtained. InGaMnO₄ and InFe₂O₄ had both the YbFe₂O₄-type and spinel-type structures. The revised classification for the crystal structures of AB₂O₄ compounds is presented, based upon the coordination numbers of constituent A and B cations.     

The Biological Effects of Forsythia Leaves Containing the Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Phillyrin

Forsythia fruit (Forsythia suspensa Vahl (Oleaceae)) is a common component of Kampo medicines for treating the common cold, influenza, and allergies. The main polyphenolic compounds in the leaves of F. suspensa are pinoresinol β-d-glucoside, phillyrin and forsythiaside, and their levels are higher in the leaves of the plant than in the fruit. It is known that polyphenolic compounds stimulate lipid catabolism in the liver and suppress dyslipidemia, thereby attenuating diet-induced obesity and polyphenolic anti-oxidants might attenuate obesity in animals consuming high-fat diets. Recently, phillyrin was reported as a novel cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor derived from forsythia fruit. It was expected that the leaves of F. suspensa might display anti-obesity effects and serve as a health food material. In this review, we summarized our studies on the biological effects of forsythia leaves containing phillyrin and other polyphenolic compounds, particularly against obesity, atopic dermatitis, and influenza A virus infection, and its potential as a phytoestrogen.     

Saccharide-branched Cyclodextrins as Targeting Drug Carriers

A synthetic series of heptakis-galactose-branched cyclodextrins (termed CDs) having a longer spacer arm using two amino-caproic acids as an enlarging unit were prepared. Starting with heptakis-amino-β-CD or heptakis-amino-caproic-amide-β-CD, treated with galactosyl-glucono-amide-caproic acid, the new compounds heptakis (Gal-cap1)-CD (4) or heptakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (5) were obtained. The longer galactose spacer arm extremely favors the PNA association. The effect of branch length on K with PNA was enhanced up to 138-fold 3 as well as with DXR enhanced up to 81-fold. Hexakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (6) was prepared and the association constants with rat liver cells were observed to be 2.5 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹. A multi-high mannose type oligosaccharide branched CD (7) showed a large association constant with DXR up to 1.1 × 10⁹ M⁻¹. The two-dimensional map for the association constants of newly synthesized oligosaccharide-branched CDs toward lectin or liver cells versus the association constants toward a drug (doxorubicin) suggested a method of finding a better targeting drug carrier. The structural effect of the oligosaccharide-CDs showed that the number and length of the branch were dominant factors in designing for enhanced dual recognition.