Atomic-resolution structure analysis inside an adaptable porous framework.

We introduce a versatile metal-organic framework (MOF) for encapsulation and immobilization of various guests using highly ordered internal water network. The unique water-mediated entrapment mechanism is applied for structural elucidation of 14 bioactive compounds, including 3 natural product intermediates whose 3D structures are clarified. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that incorporated guests are surrounded by hydrogen-bonded water networks inside the pores, which uniquely adapt to each molecule, providing clearly defined crystallographic sites. The calculations of host-solvent-guest structures show that the guests are primarily interacting with the MOF through weak dispersion forces. In contrast, the coordination and hydrogen bonds contribute less to the total stabilization energy, however, they provide highly directional point interactions, which help align the guests inside the pore.

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Preussomerins: Control of Spiroacetal Stereogenicity by Photochemical Reaction of a Naphthoquinone through 1,6-Hydrogen Atom Transfer.

We report the enantioselective total syntheses of preussomerins EG1 , EG2 , and EG3 . The key transformation is a stereospecific photochemical reaction involving 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer to achieve retentive replacement of a C-H with a C-O bond, enabling otherwise-difficult control of the spiroacetal stereogenic center.

Total Synthesis and Structure Assignment of Saptomycin H.

We report herein the first total synthesis of saptomycin H (2), by which the unidentified absolute stereochemistry of the oxiranyl side chain has been determined as 14R,16S. The keys include (1) concise assembly of three units, anthrone, sugar and side chain, and (2) AZADOL-mediated 6-endo-selective pyranone (A-ring) formation.

Toward Pluramycins with Epoxy Side Chain: Syntheses of Kidamycinone and Epoxykidamycinone (Saptomycinone H).

For exploring general routes to the pluramycin-class of antibiotics, including congeners with epoxide-bearing side chains, syntheses of kidamycinone and its epoxide (epoxykidamycinone) have been achieved. At the stage of the A-ring cyclization with alkene-bearing side chain, the desired 6-endo product was obtained as a major compound, although the corresponding undesired 5-exo product was also formed.

Hydroxylamine-Mediated Anthrapyranone Formation, Solving 5-exo/6-endo Issue toward Synthesis of Pluramycin-Class Antibiotics.

In our synthetic study on pluramycin-class antibiotics, an unexpected issue arose, i.e., unfavorable regioselectivity of 5-exo rather than 6-endo cyclization to form the pyranone ring. The issue was solved by an addition-elimination process of a phenol-ynone substrate. AZADOL was specifically effective, enabling the first synthesis of saptomycinone H.

Stereochemical Dichotomy in Two Competing Cascade Processes: Total Syntheses of Both Enantiomers of Spiroxin†A.

The first total synthesis of the marine antibiotic spiroxin A has been achieved for both enantiomeric forms. The discovery of two competing cascade processes triggered by two orthogonal stimuli, photo-irradiation or acid/base treatment, enabled the divergent conversion of a single chiral, nonracemic bis-quinone into both enantiomers of an advanced intermediate en route to both (-)- and (+)-spiroxin A. The mechanism of the enantiodivergence is discussed.

Total Synthesis of Actinorhodin.

The enantioselective total synthesis of actinorhodin (1) is described. The synthesis features 1) dual benzyne reactions en route to the monomer, 2) the trans-selective installation of the side chain, and 3) a regioselective oxidative dimerization.

Model Reactions for the Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Rubromycin: Stereospecific Intramolecular Photoredox Cyclization of an ortho-Quinone Ether to a Spiroacetal.

A model study for the enantioselective total synthesis of γ-rubromycin has revealed a promising approach for constructing the chiral, nonracemic bicyclic spiroacetal via the stereospecific photoredox reaction of 1,2-naphthoquinone ether.

Intramolecular photoredox reactions of 1,2-naphthoquinone derivatives.

Photoirraditation of substituted 1,2-naphthoquinones gives the corresponding oxacycle via intramolecular redox reaction, which enabled net CH functionalization of the proximal position to the excited carbonyl group of the quinones. The substrate scope and mechanistic insights are described.

Photoredox Reactions of Quinones.

Photoredox reactions of quinones are reviewed, that enable C-H bond oxidation at the vicinity of the excited quinone carbonyl and concomitant reduction of the quinone under photoirradiation. Mechanistic insights on the benzo-, naphtho-, and anthraquinones are discussed. Also the potential utilities in organic synthesis are described.

Total Synthesis of Aryl C-Glycoside Natural Products: Strategies and Tactics.

The aryl C-glycoside structure is, among the plenty of biologically active natural products, one of the distinct motifs embedded. Because of the potential bioactivity as well as the synthetic challenges, these structures have attracted considerable interest, and extensive research toward the total synthesis has been performed. This Review focuses on the synthetic strategies and tactics employed in the total synthesis of this class of natural products. The Introduction describes the historical background, structural features, and synthetic problems associated with aryl C-glycoside natural products. Next the Review summarizes the methods for constructing the aryl C-glycoside bonds. Completed total syntheses-and, in some cases, selected examples of incomplete syntheses-of natural aryl C-glycosides are also summarized. Finally described are the strategies for constructing polycyclic structures, which were utilized in the total syntheses.

Stereospecificity in Intramolecular Photoredox Reactions of Naphthoquinones: Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Spiroxin†C.

Intramolecular photoredox reactions of naphthoquinone derivatives were found to proceed in a stereospecific manner. This method was used as a basis for the enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-spiroxin C.

Enantioselective Access to Bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienone Skeleton: Total Syntheses of (+)-Engelharquinone and Its Epoxide.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of engelharquinone (2) and its epoxide 3 have been achieved. The key steps include (1) catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of a naphthylboronic acid derivative to a masked naphthoquinone derivative by using a chiral Rh-complex and (2) thiolate-promoted stereospecific construction of the bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienone scaffold.

Biomarkers Differentiating Dementia with Lewy Bodies from Other Dementias: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several nuclear imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are under investigation, aimed at facilitating the differential diagnosis of dementias. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively synthesize data on test performance in differentiating dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from other dementias. METHODS: We searched PubMed (January 2000- March 2015) for English-language publications that assessed a selected set of five imaging and three CSF biomarkers for this purpose. We meta-analyzed measures of agreement between biomarker results and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Forty-five publications were eligible. The majority of evidence was based on studies that enrolled representative disease populations. For differentiating between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other dementias, metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and dopamine transporter (DAT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed, respectively, excellent (summary kappa = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.74-0.96) and good (summary kappa = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.43-0.99) agreement. Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy appeared superior to fluorodeoxyglucose- positron emission tomography (summary kappa = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36-0.69) and cerebral blood flow SPECT (summary kappa = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.33-0.47). For differentiating DLB from AD, CSF t-tau levels (summary kappa = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.82) performed comparably to metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and DAT SPECT. Sparse direct comparative evidence failed to corroborate these indirect comparisons. CONCLUSION: Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and DAT SPECT are highly concordant with clinical diagnosis in differentiating DLB from other dementias. However, given the limitations in the study design, the applicability of these results to real-world differential diagnosis remains unclear. Prospective studies targeting patients with atypical presentations that adopt gold standard tests would reliably estimate the true test performance of these promising biomarkers.

Synthetic Study on Naphthospironone A: Construction of Benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene Skeleton with Oxaspirocycle.

In connection with the total synthesis of naphthospironone A, a model study has revealed a promising approach to construct a benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene skeleton possessing an oxaspirocycle by employing an intramolecular aldol cyclization.

Toward Naphthocyclinones: Doubly Connected Octaketide Dimers with a Bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienone Core by Thiolate-Mediated Cyclization.

A viable method is reported for the synthesis of the bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienone scaffold in naturally occurring octaketide dimers. The procedure employs a reductive cyclization reaction mediated by an unusual ethanedithiol monosodium salt.

Clinical use of (11)C-methionine and (18)F-FDG-PET for germinoma in central nervous system.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the (11)C-methionine (MET) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) findings of central nervous system (CNS) germinoma and the diagnostic utility of these findings. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the cases of 10 patients who were diagnosed with CNS germinoma according to their histopathological or clinical findings. All the patients underwent pretreatment MET and/or FDG-PET scans, and the resultant images were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. In the qualitative assessments, we used 3- and 5-grade visual scoring systems for the MET- and FDG-PET images, respectively. In the quantitative assessments, the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and the ratio of the SUVmax of the tumor (T) divided by the mean SUV for the normal white or gray matter [T/N (WM), T/N (GM)], was calculated. RESULTS: The mean and SD values of SUVmax, T/N (WM), and T/N (GM) were 1.9 ± 1.4, 2.5 ± 1.3, and 1.7 ± 0.9 on MET-PET and 5.8 ± 2.2, 1.6 ± 0.5, and 0.8 ± 0.2 on FDG-PET, respectively. On MET-PET, only one lesion was not detected. On the other hand, on FDG-PET all of the lesions exhibited uptake values that were intermediate between those of the normal white matter and gray matter. CONCLUSION: In terms of its tumor-contouring ability, MET is a good tracer for diagnosing CNS germinomas; therefore, MET-PET is considered to be useful for planning biopsies or surgery. Although FDG-PET is capable of detecting CNS germinomas, it produced insufficient image contrast in the present study. Further studies are needed before FDG-PET can be used in clinical examinations of CNS germinoma.

Synthesis of the pluramycins 1: two designed anthrones as enabling platforms for flexible bis-C-glycosylation.

Two effective tricyclic platforms are reported for the installation of the two constituent sugars, L-vancosamine and D-angolosamine, in a regio- and stereoselective manner for the synthesis of the pluramycin class of bis-C-glycoside antitumor antibiotics. Two complementary protocols are now available that differ in the order in which the two sugar moieties are installed. Sc(OTf)3 was effective as the Lewis acid.

Synthesis of the pluramycins 2: total synthesis and structure assignment of saptomycin B.

A concise, highly convergent total synthesis of saptomycin B, a member of the pluramycin class of antitumor antibiotics, is reported. The target compound was assembled from four building blocks (a tricyclic platform, two sugars, and an alkynal) in 15% yield through 10 synthetic operations. The key steps included the regioselective installation of two amino sugars (L-vancosamine and D-angolosamine) on the tricycle and the efficient construction of the tetracyclic skeleton by an aldol reaction followed by formation of the pyranone. The unknown configuration at C14 was assigned as R.

Comparison of liquid crystal display monitors calibrated with gray-scale standard display function and with γ 2.2 and iPad: observer performance in detection of cerebral infarction on brain CT.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to compare observer performance in the detection of cerebral infarction on a brain CT using medical-grade liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors calibrated with the gray-scale standard display function and with γ 2.2 and using an iPad with a simulated screen setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We amassed 97 sample sets, from 47 patients with proven cerebral infarction and 50 healthy control subjects. Nine radiologists independently assessed brain CT on a gray-scale standard display function LCD, a γ 2.2 LCD, and an iPad in random order over 4-week intervals. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed by using the continuous scale, and the area under the ROC curve (A(z)) was calculated for each monitor. RESULTS: The A(z) values for gray-scale standard display function LCD, γ 2.2 LCD, and iPad were 0.875, 0.884, and 0.839, respectively. The difference among the three monitors was very small. There was no significant difference between gray-scale standard display function LCD and γ 2.2 LCD. However, the A(z) value was statistically significantly smaller for the iPad than the γ 2.2 LCD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Observer performance for detecting cerebral infarction on the LCD with γ 2.2 calibration was found to be similar to the LCD with gray-scale standard display function calibration. Although observer performance using the iPad was poorer than that using the other LCDs, the difference was small. Therefore, the iPad could not substitute for other LCD monitors. However, owing to the promising potential advantages of tablet PCs, such as portability, further examination is needed into the clinical use of tablet PCs.