Glutamate is effective in decreasing opacity formed in galactose-induced cataract model.

Although cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, the detailed pathogenesis of cataract remains unclear, and clinically useful drug treatments are still lacking. In this study, we examined the effects of glutamate using an ex vivo model in which rat lens is cultured in a galactose-containing medium to induce opacity formation. After inducing lens opacity formation in galactose medium, glutamate was added, and the opacity decreased when the culture was continued.

Regioselective double hydrophosphination of terminal arylacetylenes catalyzed by an iron complex.

The first catalytic double hydrophosphination of alkynes was achieved by reaction with diarylphosphines in the presence of an iron catalyst. The double hydrophosphination proceeded regioselectively and effectively for various secondary arylphosphines and terminal alkynes to give 1,2-bisphosphinoethane derivatives.