Homolytic carbostannylation of alkenes and alkynes with tributylstannyl enolates.

In the presence of AIBN, tributylstannyl enolates derived from aromatic ketones reacted with electron-deficient alkenes and a variety of alkynes to give the corresponding carbostannylated adducts. The reactions with methyl acrylate gave alpha-tributylstannylmethyl-gamma-ketoesters, unlike the known Michael-type reaction of stannyl enolates forming delta-ketoesters. The carbostannylation of alkynes proceeded in an anti addition mode to afford beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones. The reactivity of stannyl enolates as radical transfer agents could be utilized for radical cyclization of 1,6-enynes.

Synthetic utility of stannyl enolates as radical alkylating agents.

[reaction: see text] The radical-initiated beta-ketoalkylation of haloalkanes with tributylstannyl enolates is described. Stannyl enolates derived from aromatic ketones are reactive toward the homolytic beta-ketoalkylation of simple haloalkanes as well as those activated by an electron-withdrawing group. The reactivity of stannyl enolates as radical alkylating agents can be utilized for an efficient three-component coupling reaction among stannyl enolates, haloalkanes, and electron-deficient alkenes.

Allylstannylation of carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen unsaturated bonds via a radical chain process.

In the presence of a radical initiator, allyltributylstannanes bearing an electron-withdrawing group at the beta-position smoothly reacted with electron-deficient terminal alkenes to give allylstannylated products in good yields. The stannyl group was introduced into the terminal carbon with high regioselectivity. The allylstannylation of homochiral 8-phenylmenthyl acrylate proceeded with moderate to good diastereoselectivity. Terminal and electron-deficient internal alkynes as well efficiently underwent the radical-initiated allylstannylation in an anti addition mode. The reaction of terminal alkynes showed the same regioselectivity as that of terminal alkenes. The present radical reaction was applicable to allylation of aromatic aldehydes and ketones.

Acid-catalyzed cyclization of vinylsilanes bearing an amino group. Stereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidines

[reaction: see text] In the presence of an acid catalyst, vinylsilanes 1 bearing an amino group protected by an electron-withdrawing group were smoothly cyclized to 2-(silylmethyl)pyrrolidines 2. This cyclization was utilized for the stereoselective synthesis of 2,n-disubstituted pyrrolidines (n = 3-5). The cyclized products could be converted to the corresponding alcohols by oxidative cleavage of the carbon-silicon bond with TBAF and H2O2.

Localization of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in rat brain.

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is transported by plasma lipoproteins in the body. Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP), which was identified as a product of the causative gene for familial isolated vitamin E (FIVE) deficiency, is a cytosolic liver protein which plays an important role in the efficient circulation of plasma vitamin E in the body. In the present study, we detected the message for alpha-TTP at low levels in some rat tissues including brain, spleen, lung and kidney. In the brain, the alpha-TTP transcript was detected predominantly in the cerebellar cortex, as revealed by in situ hybridization histochemistry. In the cerebellar cortex, clusters of the hybridization signal were aligned with the Purkinje cell layer, although the signal was not detected in the Purkinje cells, but in the small cells around the Purkinje cells. This distribution pattern strongly suggests that the message for alpha-TTP is expressed in the Bergmann glial cells. Combined with the previous observation that there was severe Purkinje cell loss in patients with FIVE deficiency, the present data suggest that vitamin E is supplied to the Purkinje cells from the surrounding Bergmann glial cells with the help of alpha-TTP.

Affinity for alpha-tocopherol transfer protein as a determinant of the biological activities of vitamin E analogs.

alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein (alphaTTP), a product of the gene which causes familial isolated vitamin E deficiency, plays an important role in determining the plasma vitamin E level. We examined the structural characteristics of vitamin E analogs required for recognition by alphaTTP. Ligand specificity was assessed by evaluating the competition of non-labeled vitamin E analogs and alpha-[3H]tocopherol for transfer between membranes in vitro. Relative affinities (RRR-alpha-tocopherol = 100%) calculated from the degree of competition were as follows: beta-tocopherol, 38%; gamma-tocopherol, 9%; delta-tocopherol, 2%; alpha-tocopherol acetate, 2%; alpha-tocopherol quinone, 2%; SRR-alpha-tocopherol, 11%; alpha-tocotrienol, 12%; trolox, 9%. Interestingly, there was a linear relationship between the relative affinity and the known biological activity obtained from the rat resorption-gestation assay. From these observations, we conclude that the affinity of vitamin E analogs for alphaTTP is one of the critical determinants of their biological activity.