Asymmetric synthesis of spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidine]s through organocatalytic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cycloreversion of precursor isatinimine homodimers.

The chiral amine catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition between isatin-derived azomethine ylides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was successfully carried out to afford spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidine]s. It was anticipated that the formation of azomethine ylides occurred the cycloreversion of dispirooxindole-imidazolidines, which are precursor imine homodimers, in aqueous solvents.

Chemo-enzymatic production of fuel ethanol from cellulosic materials utilizing yeast expressing beta-glucosidases.

Ethanol was produced in a considerably high yield by fermenting hydrolyzates from cellulosic materials by means of a recombinant laboratory yeast expressing beta-glucosidases. Tissue paper, cotton, and sawdust were hydrolyzed by two-step sulfuric acid hydrolysis to give mixtures containing glucose, cellobiose, and higher cello-oligosaccharides. After the cellulosic material was partially hydrolyzed with 80% sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis was continued with 5% sulfuric acid.