A formal homo-Nazarov cyclization of enantioenriched donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and following transformations: asymmetric synthesis of multi-substituted dihydronaphthalenes.

Multi-substituted trans-dihydronaphthalenes were obtained in high enantiomeric excess from a TiCl4-mediated cyclization of enantioenriched donor-acceptor cyclopropanes, followed by a triflation of the hydroxy groups. The C-OTf bond in these multi-substituted trans-dihydronaphthalenes is susceptible to further Pd-catalyzed hydrogenations and coupling reactions, which afforded the corresponding C-H or C-C bonded products.

Asymmetric total synthesis of four bioactive lignans using donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and bioassay of (-)- and (+)-niranthin against hepatitis B and influenza viruses.

The asymmetric total synthesis of four lignans, dimethylmatairesinol, matairesinol, (-)-niranthin, and (+)-niranthin has been achieved using reductive ring-opening of cyclopropanes. Moreover, we performed bioassays of the synthesized (+)- and (-)-niranthins using hepatitis B and influenza viruses, which revealed the relationship between the enantiomeric structure and the anti-viral activity of niranthin.

Toward a chemiluminescent molecular device: metal ion-enhanced chemiluminescence of benzylidenacridan with 15-monoazacrown-5.

The benzylidenacridans (1a-d) with one or more methoxy groups emit light from the excited N-methylacridone (NMA) when treated with a solution of sodium hypochlorite and alkaline hydrogen peroxide, in which a Hammett relationship with a negative rho value was applied between the chemiluminescence quantum yields and the sigma values. However, the dimethylamino group drastically inhibited the chemiluminescence in spite of its low sigma value. While the compound (2) with 15-monoazacrown-5 also showed a very weak chemiluminescence upon treatment with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile, the chemiluminescence was enhanced up to 20 times in efficiency when divalent metal cations, such as magnesium and calcium ions, were added. The chemiluminescence inhibition is proved to be due to the shortening of the fluorescence lifetime of NMA due to energy dissipation by the amino substituents, but the incorporation of calcium ion into the cavity of the azacrown significantly prolonged the lifetime. Thus, the possibility of metal ion sensing by a chemiluminescent molecular device is suggested.

Chemiluminescence of 4-styrylphthal-hydrazides with crown ether as ionophore.

Two 4-styrylphthalhydrazides bearing crown ether moieties as ionophores were prepared and their chemiluminescence (CL) behaviour was investigated. Their aerobic oxidation in the presence of excess tert-BuOK in DMSO provided the CL with much shorter emission wavelengths than those of the corresponding phthalate dianions, indicating that the emission arose from the excited phthalates incorporated with potassium ions at the ionophore sites. Such incorporation of potassium ions with the crown sites also reduced the fluorescence intensities of the phthalate dianions which caused an energy transfer CL, resulting in the additional emissions of the phthalhydrazide monoanions in much longer wavelength regions. On the other hand, only the emission from the excited phthalate dianion was detected under aqueous conditions using aqueous hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile as the oxidant, but no meaningful difference in the CL intensity depending on the kind of metal cations was observed.

Fluorescence quenching of versatile fluorescent probes based on strongly electron-donating distyrylbenzenes responsive to aromatic chlorinated and nitro compounds, boronic acid and Ca(2+).

The fluorescence quenching behavior of two distyrylbenzenes (DSBs) newly prepared bearing strongly electron-donating groups was investigated. Several chlorinated and nitro compounds quench the fluorescence of both DSBs with various efficiencies depending on the electron-withdrawing properties; the strongly electron-withdrawing compound, such as 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, effectively diminish the fluorescence intensities of the DSBs. The fluorescence quenching was also detected in the interaction between the azacrown DSB and phenylboronic acid, while the fluorescence recovers by adding triethylamine. These quenching phenomena are attributed to the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. On the other hand, the azacrown DSB selectively interacts with Ca(2+) to decrease its fluorescence intensity, but the DSB with the dimethylamino groups did not. These results suggest a potential use of these types of compounds as sensors for strongly electron-withdrawing substances and a suitable metal cation.

Highly stereoselective radical carbonylations of gem-dihalocyclopropane derivatives with CO.

A couple of radical carbonylations of gem-dihalocyclopropanes 1 using CO and Bu3SnH (formylation) or Bu3Sn(CH2CH=CH2) (allylacylation) successfully proceeded to give trans and cis adducts (2 and 3) with good to excellent stereoselectivity (trans/cis = >99/1-75/25 or 17/83-1/99). The formylation of 2,3-cis-disubstituted 1,1-dihalocyclopropanes enhanced trans selectivity (trans/cis = >99/1-95/5), whereas both 2,3-cis-disubstituted and 2-monosubstituted 1,1-dihalocyclopropanes underwent allylacylation with nearly complete trans selectivity (trans/cis = >99/1). Inherently less reactive gem-dichloro- and bromochlorocyclopropanes than gem-dibromocyclopropanes served as favorable substrates. [reaction: see text].

Photochemical behavior of some p-styrylstilbenes and related compounds: spectral properties and photoisomerization in solution and in solid state.

The spectral properties and Z,E-photoisomerizations of three 4-styrylstilbenes, a 4,4'-bis(P-methylstyryl)benzene and a 4,4'-distyrylstilbene were investigated in solution and in the solid state. Some notable features of the absorption and fluorescence spectra due to the structures and the phases (solution or solid) were observed, especially the Stokes shifts. Interesting photochemical behaviors in solution and in the solid state were also found. While the (E,Z)-4-styrylstilbenes undergo a one-way photoisomerization to their E,E-isomers with almost equal rates in solution, their quantum yields in the solid state decrease with increasing substituent size at the terminal aromatic rings. On the other hand, the 4,4'-bis(beta-methylstyryl)benzene undergoes a mutual photoisomerization in solution, but its E,Z-isomer isomerizes in a one-way manner to the E,E-isomer in the solid state. Additionally, the (Z,E,Z)-4,4'-styrylstilbene was found to undergo a one-way photoisomerization to the E,E,E-isomer via the E,E,Z-isomer in solution and the crystalline E,E,Z-isomer to the E,E,E-isomer in the solid state.

Silazanes/catalytic bases: mild, powerful and chemoselective agents for the preparation of enol silyl ethers from ketones and aldehydes.

We have developed an efficient method for the preparation of enol silyl ethers using novel agents, silazanes together with NaH or DBU catalyst, wherein TMS and TBDMS groups were smoothly and chemoselectively introduced into ketones and aldehydes under mild conditions.

SmI2-promoted Reformatsky-type reaction and acylation of alkyl 1-chlorocyclopropanecarboxylates.

In the presence of HMPA in THF, highly stereoselective SmI(2)-promoted substitutions of alkyl 1-chlorocyclopropanecarboxylates 1 using various ketones, aldehydes (Reformatsky-type reaction), and acyl chlorides (acylation) proceeded to give trans-adducts (2 or 5) in good to high yield with excellent trans-stereoselectivity (trans-add/cis-add = > 99/1). The Reformatsky-type reaction of 1 with aldehydes and unsymmetrical ketones proceeded with moderate diastereoselectivity (re-face-adduct/si-face-adduct = 60/40-75/25).

Practical, general, and systematic method for optical resolution of gem-dihalo- and monohalocyclopropanecarboxylic acids utilizing chiral 1,1'-binaphtholmonomethyl ethers: application to the synthesis of three chiral pesticides.

We performed an efficient practical and systematic optical resolution method for gem-dihalo- and monohalocyclopropanecarboxylic acids and utilizing chiral 1,1'-binaphthol monomethyl ether (R)- as the key auxiliary. Direct esterification of with (R)- gave two 1R- and 1S-diastereomeric esters with marked different R(f) values, both of which were easily separated using simple column chromatography. Monodehalogenation of separated chiral esters using t-BuMgCl and cat. Co(dppe)(2)Cl(2) gave two 1,2-trans- and 1,2-cis-diastereomers with markedly different R(f) values, both of which were similarly separated using simple column chromatography. The obtained diastereomers and were easily hydrolyzed to the desired enantiopure acids (>99%) and (>99%), respectively, with recovery of (R)-, both in good to excellent yields. Utilizing the present method, important chiral agrochemicals, carpropamid and fencyclate , were readily synthesized. Pyrethroid with three asymmetric centers was efficiently synthesized in a much better yield compared with the reported method.

Unprecedented chemiluminescence behaviour during peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence of oxalates with fluorescent or electron-donating aryloxy groups.

A series of diaryl and bis(4-styrylphenyl) oxalates with electron-donating substituents or fluorescent moieties were subjected to the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) reaction, some of which were found to behave in a unprecedented manner. The reaction of bis(p-methyoxyphenyl) oxalate, as a representative example, emits light due not only to the emission from the externally added excited fluorophore, but also from the presumable excimer of p-methoxyphenol. Also, during the reaction of the bis(4-styrylphenyl) oxalates, the emission based on the fluorescence as well as the excimer of the eliminating group were observed. These experimental results suggest that such emitting species would be formed by an intra- and intermolecular electronic interaction with a high-energy intermediate, such as a dioxetanone.

Regiocontrolled benzannulation of diaryl(gem-dichlorocyclopropyl)methanols for the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted alpha-arylnaphthalenes: application to total synthesis of natural lignan lactones.

[reaction: see text] An efficient synthesis of highly substituted alpha-arylnaphthalene analogues has been developed utilizing Lewis acid-promoted regiocontrolled benzannulation of aryl(aryl')-2,2-dichlorocyclopropylmethanols (aryl not equal aryl'; abbreviated as AACMs). Both AACM diastereomers were easily prepared via highly stereoselective addition (>95/5) of ArLi to gem-dichlorocyclopropropyl aryl' ketones. The choice of Lewis acids determined the cyclization regioselectivity of the present benzannulation. TiCl4 and SnCl4 used the chelation pathway, whereas silyl triflates used a nonchelation pathway to give unsymmetrically substituted regioisomeric alpha-arylnaphthalenes in 40-91% yields with moderate to excellent regioselectivity (TiCl4 or SnCl4; >99/1-3/1, TBDMSOTf; >1/99-1/4). Thus, the alpha-aryl or alpha-aryl' moiety (accessory aryl group) was alternatively introduced to alpha-arylnaphthalenes by choosing either the order of the reaction sequences or the appropriate catalyst. Application of the present method to the total synthesis for unsymmetrically substituted natural lignan lactones, justicidin B, retrojusticidin B, dehydrodesoxypodophyllotoxin, and a related analogue, 5'-methoxyretrochinensin, was demonstrated. Lignan retrolactones (retrojusticidin B and 5'-methoxyretrochinensin) were synthesized by the conventional lactonization of the diol precursor, whereas a novel Bu2SnO-mediated monoacylation method was applied to the synthesis of normal lignan lactones (justicidin B and dehydrodesoxypodophyllotoxin).

Chirality exchange from sp3 central chirality to axial chirality: benzannulation of optically active diaryl-2,2-dichlorocyclopropylmethanols to axially chiral alpha-arylnaphthalenes.

Chirality exchange benzannulation of optically active (1S)-aryl(aryl')-2,2-dichlorocyclopropylmethanols (>99% ee) using TiCl4 successfully proceeded to give axially chiral (M)-alpha-arylnaphthalenes with excellent levels of stereo induction (>99% ee). This unique transformation involves the single-step chirality exchange from sp3 central chirality to axial chirality, that is, a type of excellent memory effect.