Three-in-One: Miniature Models of Natural Acyl-Transfer Systems Enable Vector-Selective Reaction on the Primary Side of Cyclodextrins.

Miniature models of acyl-transfer systems in cells, which were composed by replacing the protein, coenzyme, and substrate with CD, functional group, and CD, respectively, and combining them all together in one, displayed definite role-sharing and exact cooperation of the functional groups and hydrophobic cavity, and thus enabled the regio-specific reaction.

Constituents of Rhodiola rosea showing inhibitory effect on lipase activity in mouse plasma and alimentary canal.

As a methanol extract of the rhizome of Rhodiola rosea inhibits the activity of lipase in isolated mouse plasma in vitro and in the mouse gastrointestinal tube in vivo, the active components in this plant were investigated. After fractionation and separation processes, rhodionin and rhodiosin were isolated as active ingredients. Their IC50 values were 0.093 mM and 0.133 mM in vitro, respectively. Both compounds significantly suppressed the elevation of the postprandial blood triglyceride level, e.g., by 45.6 % (150 mg/kg, 60 min after oral administration) and 57.6 % (200 mg/kg, 180 min after oral administration), respectively. Consequently, we anticipate the application of this plant and its constituents to the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and exogeneous obesity and to health foods.

Selective modification of beta-cyclodextrin: an unexpected tandem reaction enables the cross-linking of C2(A) and C2(B) via a sulfur atom.

2(A),3(A)-Alloepithio-2(B)-sulfonyl-beta-cyclodextrin undergoes a tandem reaction to generate an unprecedented C2(A)-S-C2(B)-bridged glucosyl-3(A),6(A)-anhydroglucoside segment.

The first topologically controlled synthesis of doubly bridged beta-cyclodextrin dimers.

Reaction 6(A),6(B)-di(O-tosyl)-beta-cyclodextrin with Na(2)S in DMF gave the cis-dimer of beta-cyclodextrin in 21% isolated yield while the trans-dimer was not detected.

Fluorophore-capped cyclodextrins as efficient chemical-to-light energy converters.

Bisbenzimidazole-capped cyclodextrins, capable of forming supramolecules, harvest chemical energy from the oxidation reaction of a bis(aryl)oxalate and emit light two orders of magnitude more efficiently than fluorescein does.