Abnormal Michael Reaction: Condition-Dependent Product Distributions in the Michael Reaction of Monoalkyl-Substituted Malonates.

The abnormal Michael reaction reported by Thorpe and Michael in 1900, which involves the transfer of an activating group from a nucleophilic species to an α-carbon of the Michael acceptor in reaction with monosubstituted malonates, was revisited using prototypical substrates for both intramolecular and intermolecular reactions. In both reactions, condition-dependent product distributions were observed. Thus, under the conditions using NaHMDS or NaH in THF or EtO, no formation of the abnormal Michael product was observed, and the major product was an apparent retrograde Michael reaction in the abnormal Michael product resulting from an elimination of a malonate anion with the migrated acyl group as a part of it.

The mechanism of Atg15-mediated membrane disruption in autophagy.

Autophagy is a lysosomal/vacuolar delivery system that degrades cytoplasmic material. During autophagy, autophagosomes deliver cellular components to the vacuole, resulting in the release of a cargo-containing autophagic body (AB) into the vacuole. AB membranes must be disrupted for degradation of cargo to occur.

A method for the isolation and characterization of autophagic bodies from yeast provides a key tool to investigate cargos of autophagy.

Autophagy is a major cellular degradation pathway that is highly conserved among eukaryotes. The identification of cargos captured by autophagosomes is critical to our understanding of the physiological significance of autophagy in cells, but these studies can be challenging because autophagosomes disintegrate easily. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cells deficient in the vacuolar lipase Atg15 accumulate autophagic bodies (ABs) within the vacuole following the induction of autophagy.

A conductive polymer nanowire including functional quantum dots generated via pulsed laser irradiation for high-sensitivity sensor applications.

The fabrication of functional conductive polymer nanowires (CPNWs), including ultrahigh-sensitive flexible nanosensors has attracted considerable attention in field of the Internet of Things. However, the controllable and space-selective growth of CPNWs remains challenging, and a novel synthetic technique is required. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of space-selective CPNWs that include quantum dots (QDs) with changeable optical properties via single-pulse laser irradiation in air at atmospheric pressure.

Identifying Optimal Strain in Bismuth Telluride Thermoelectric Film by Combinatorial Gradient Thermal Annealing and Machine Learning.

The thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride thin film (BTTF) was tuned by inducing internal strain through a combination of combinatorial gradient thermal annealing (COGTAN) and machine learning. BTTFs were synthesized via magnetron sputter coating and then treated by COGTAN. The crystal structure and thermoelectric properties, namely Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity, of the treated samples were analyzed via micropoint X-ray diffraction and scanning thermal probe microimaging, respectively.

Combinatorial investigation of spin-orbit materials using spin Peltier effect.

Conversion between spin and charge currents is essential in spintronics, since it enables spin-orbit-torque magnetization switching, spin-current-driven thermoelectric generation, and nano-scale thermal energy control. To realize efficient spin-charge conversion, a variety of mechanisms, including spin Hall effects, Rashba-Edelstein effects, and spin-momentum locking in topological insulators, have been investigated and more comprehensive material exploration is necessary. Here we demonstrate high-throughput screening of spin-charge conversion materials by means of the spin Peltier effect (SPE).

Formal Bimolecular [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition Strategy for the Synthesis of Pyridines: Intramolecular Propargylic Ene Reaction/Aza Diels-Alder Reaction Cascades.

Two methods for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyridines are described. In each strategy, a highly reactive vinylallene is generated via an intramolecular propargylic ene reaction in the presence of an azadienophile. Reactions employing ethyl N-(tosyl)iminoacetate furnish an intermediate that undergoes elimination and isomerization upon the addition of DBU.

Zinc starvation induces autophagy in yeast.

Zinc is an essential nutrient for all forms of life. Within cells, most zinc is bound to protein. Because zinc serves as a catalytic or structural cofactor for many proteins, cells must maintain zinc homeostasis under severely zinc-deficient conditions.

Carbanion-Induced [3 + 2] Annulation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes.

The [3 + 2] annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and ylidenemalonates, in which an α-p-tosyl carbanion functions as a donor substituent, is described. A notable feature of the annulation is that the auxiliary p-tosylmethyl group can be removed via a cycloreversion during the tandem annulation sequence.

Spontaneous Oxygenation of Siloxy-N-silylketenimines to α-Ketoamides.

Siloxy-N-silylketenimines generated in situ from O-silyl cyanohydrins were converted to α-ketoamides by brief exposure to air or oxygen. Oxidation under extremely mild conditions can be explained by assuming the intermediacy of a 3-imino-1,2-dioxetane derivative generated via triplet-singlet intersystem crossing after the reaction of siloxy-N-silylketenimines with triplet oxygen.

Inhibitory effects of antibiofilm compound 1 against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

A novel benzimidazole molecule that was identified in a small-molecule screen and is known as antibiofilm compound 1 (ABC-1) has been found to prevent bacterial biofilm formation by multiple bacterial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, without affecting bacterial growth. Here, the biofilm inhibiting ability of 156 μM ABC-1 was tested in various biofilm-forming strains of S. aureus.

Stereochemical Course of Deprotonation-Acylation of N-Boc- and N-Carbamoyl-2-cyano-6-methylpiperidines.

The stereochemical course of electrophilic substitution of α-nitrile metallocarbanions generated by deprotonation from N-Boc- and N-carbamoyl-2-cyano-6-methylpiperidines was investigated. Deprotonation in the presence of an electrophile taking advantage of the high acidity of α-nitrile protons allowed examination of the effects of a chelating group on the nitrogen atom, a countercation, and the reactivity of an electrophile on the steric course. Analyses of reactions using aroyl chlorides and methyl iodide revealed the following: (1) the substitution reactions basically proceed with retention of configuration, (2) the extent of an inversion product increases with decreasing chelating ability of the N-substituent and with increasing leaving ability (ionic character) of a countercation (Li, Na, K) of the anionic species, and (3) the use of a more reactive electrophile results in an increase of the retention product.

Radiocesium leaching from contaminated litter in forest streams.

In Japanese forests suffering from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, litter fall provides a large amount of radiocesium from forests to streams. Submerged litter is processed to become a vital food resource for various stream organisms through initial leaching and subsequent decomposition. Although leaching from litter can detach radiocesium similarly to potassium, radiocesium leaching and its migration are poorly understood.

Enantioselective synthesis of allenylenol silyl ethers via chiral lithium amide mediated reduction of ynenoyl silanes and their Diels-Alder reactions.

An enantioselective Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-type reduction of ynenoylsilanes by a chiral lithium amide followed by a Brook rearrangement and anti-mode protonation across conjugated 1,3-enynes provides allene derivatives bearing a 2-siloxyvinyl moiety in high enantioselectivity. The E/Z geometry of enol silyl ethers is controlled by the geometry of the starting enyne moiety. Thus, (E)- and (Z)-enol silyl ethers are obtained from (Z)- and (E)-ynenoylsilans, respectively.

Formation of 2-Cyano-2-siloxyvinylallenes via Cyanide-Induced Brook Rearrangement in γ-Bromo-α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated Acylsilanes.

Reactions of γ-bromo-α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated acylsilanes with KCN under phase-transfer catalyst conditions using n-Bu4NBr afforded 2-cyano-2-siloxyvinylallenes via a tandem process that involves a nucleophilic attack of a cyanide ion and a Brook rearrangement induced conjugate vinylic 1,4-elimination. Use of a chiral cyanide ion source, derived from KCN and quaternary ammonium bromide derived from cinchona alkaloids, provided nonracemic allene derivatives. Based on this result and the reaction using a chiral hydride ion source, we propose a reaction pathway in which a Brook rearrangement mediated vinylic conjugate 1,4-elimination occurs in a syn alignment between the C-Br bond and C-Si bond in the silicate intermediate.

Distinct characteristics of mandibular bone collagen relative to long bone collagen: relevance to clinical dentistry.

Bone undergoes constant remodeling throughout life. The cellular and biochemical mechanisms of bone remodeling vary in a region-specific manner. There are a number of notable differences between the mandible and long bones, including developmental origin, osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells, and the rate of bone turnover.

Enantioselective synthesis of α-silylamines by Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-type reduction of α-silylimines by a chiral lithium amide.

Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-type reduction of N-tosylsilylimines with chiral lithium amide 2 affords α-silylamines in high enantioselectivity. Since the enantioselectivity observed was inconsistent with our previously proposed chairlike six-membered transition structure, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations on transition states leading to (S)- and (R)-7a and (S)- and (R)-7e using an N-phenylsulfonyl derivatives 12 and 13 as model systems. Results of the calculations showed that the structures are considerably deformed from the chairlike form with steric repulsions between the 1'-methylene group and the imine-carbon substituents playing an important role in the control of the enantioselectivity.

Characterization of the bone matrix and its contribution to tooth loss in human cadaveric mandibles.

Objective: It is uncertain as to what extent the major bone matrix constituents, mineral and collagen, show inter-individual variation and dependence on age and sex in jawbones. The purpose of this study was to clarify this uncertainty using cadaveric mandibles and investigate the association of bone matrix with the number of existing teeth.

Materials And Methods: Cortical bone samples (1 × 1 cm) collected from the mental of 48 cadaveric mandibles (27 men and 21 women; age range = 56-93 years and 63-103 years, respectively) were used to quantify three bone matrix indices: mineral content, collagen content and extent of lysine hydroxylation of collagen.

Enantiodivergent deprotonation/acylation of α-amino nitriles.

Back to 'base'ics: The title reaction of enantioenriched α-ureidonitriles was found to proceed in a highly enantiodivergent manner despite the intermediacy of stereolabile α-nitrile metallocarbanions. Enantiodivergence is dependent upon the base used. For the less basic hexamethyldisilazides (HMDS), deprotonation in which a metal (M) cation is precomplexed with an electrophile is proposed.

Enantioselective trapping of an α-chiral carbanion of acyclic nitrile by a carbon electrophile.

An α-chiral nitrile carbanion generated by deprotonation of enantioenriched O-carbamoyl cyanohydrin was trapped in situ with ethyl cyanoformate to give the corresponding ester derivative in 92% yield and 90 : 10 er, providing the first example of trapping of an α-chiral acyclic nitrile carbanion that has been considered to be very configurationally labile.

Persistent eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium in a child in complete remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and eosinophilia. Potential role in late cardiac disease?

This report describes the long-term (23 years) follow-up of a pediatric patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and eosinophilia who underwent multiple valve replacements. An 8-year-old boy with this complex disease was admitted in January 1984 and treated with 6-week course of vincristine, L-asparaginase, and prednisolone, which induced complete remission. He developed atrioventricular valvular insufficiency and infectious endocarditis at 13.

Formal total syntheses of (+)-prelaureatin and (+)-laurallene by diastereoselective brook rearrangement-mediated [3 + 4] annulation.

The formal syntheses of (+)-prelaureatin (1) and (+)-laurallene (2), halogenated eight-membered-ring ethers, are described. The key step of our strategy relies on diastereoselective construction of a trans-alpha,alpha'-disubstituted oxocene structure through a Brook rearrangement-mediated [3 + 4] annulation with acryloylsilane 9 and 6-oxa-2-cycloheptenone derivative 22'.

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of enantiomerically enriched 3-substituted 1-propenyloxy-1-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl carbanions: effect of heteroatoms and conjugating groups on planarization of an alpha-oxy-benzylcarbanion through a double bond.

Don't get trapped: The effect of conjugating electron-withdrawing groups and alpha-anion-stabilizing heteroatom substituents on configurational stability of chiral carbanions through a double bond was examined on the basis of extent of chirality transfer in intramolecular trapping in [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of chiral 3-substituted 1-propenyloxy-1-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl carbanions (see scheme).The effect of conjugating electron-withdrawing groups and alpha-anion-stabilizing heteroatom substituents on configurational stability of chiral carbanions through a double bond was examined on the basis of extent of chirality transfer in intramolecular trapping in [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of chiral 3-substituted 1-propenyloxy-1-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl carbanions.

Stereoselective S(E)2' protonation of alpha-hydroxyallylsilanes mediated by a Brook rearrangement.

Brooked up! Treatment of (R,Z)-3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-1-cyano-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl carbamate with a catalytic amount of a base afforded (S,E)-3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-1-cyanoallyl diisopropylcarbamate, showing that S(E)2'-type reaction of allylsilicates proceeds in an anti fashion. The overall process is equivalent to trapping of an enantioenriched C-chiral carbanion at the alpha-position of nitrile group in up to 77 % ee (see scheme).