Eiji Yamaguchi

Synthesis of Fluorescent 1,3-Diarylated Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines: Oxidative Condensation−Cyclization of Aryl-2-Pyridylmethylamines and Aldehydes with Elemental Sulfur as an Oxidant

Oxidative condensation-cyclization of aldehydes and aryl-2-pyridylmethylamines proceeded in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of elemental sulfur as an oxidant in the absence of catalyst. The reaction gave a variety of 1,3-diarylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines in good to high yields. The products showed fluorescence emission in a wavelength range of 454-524 nm. The quantum yields of 1,3-diarylated imidazopyridines were greatly improved compared to those of the parent 3-monosubstituted compounds.

Sequential Photo-oxidative [3 + 2] Cycloaddition/Oxidative Aromatization Reactions for the Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines Using Molecular Oxygen as the Terminal Oxidant

We report an efficient method for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives using sequential [3 + 2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization reactions catalyzed by methylene blue with fluorescent light irradiation under an oxygen atmosphere. The products were obtained in moderate to good yields.

Cross-Dehydrogenative C-H Amination of Indoles under Aerobic Photo-oxidative Conditions

A novel cross-dehydrogenative C(sp2)-H amination catalyzed by an organic photocatalyst is reported. The reaction is mediated by 2-tert-butylanthraquinone as a photocatalyst, harmless visible light, and aerobic oxygen as the sole oxidant without a transition-metal catalyst and or external oxidant.

Magnesium iodide-catalyzed synthesis of 2-substituted quinazolines using molecular oxygen and visible light

A novel and efficient approach for the synthesis of quinazolines by aerobic photooxidation with an iodine reagent at room temperature is reported. This method uses harmless visible light from compact fluorescent lamps and molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant without the need for a transition-metal catalyst or harsh reaction conditions.

Metal-free synthesis of imidazopyridine from nitroalkene and 2-aminopyridine in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodine and aqueous hydrogen peroxide

We have developed a metal-free synthetic method for 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from nitroalkenes and 2-aminopyridines using catalytic amounts of iodine and aqueous hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant.

Intermolecular Cyclopropanation of Styrenes Using Iodine and Visible Light via Carbon–Iodine Bond Cleavage

The intermolecular cyclopropanation of aromatic olefins with activated methylene compounds using iodine and visible light irradiation was described. This reaction proceeds under rare-metal-free conditions. Styrenes with various substituted groups (alkyl and electron-withdrawing groups) provided corresponding cyclopropanes in moderate to good yields.

Royal Jelly Constituents Increase the Expression of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase through Histone Acetylation in Monocytic THP-1 Cells

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is one of the main SOD isozymes and plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases by accelerating the dismutation reaction of superoxide. Royal jelly includes 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA, 2), which regulates the expression of various types of genes in epigenetics through the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) antagonism. The expression of EC-SOD was previously reported to be regulated epigenetically through histone acetylation in THP-1 cells. Therefore, we herein evaluated the effects of the royal jelly constituents 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10HDA, 1), sebacic acid (SA, 3), and 4-hydroperoxy-2-decenoic acid ethyl ester (4-HPO-DAEE, 4), which is a derivative of 2, on the expression of EC-SOD in THP-1 cells. The treatment with 1 mM 1, 2, or 3 or 100 μM 4 increased EC-SOD expression and histone H3 and H4 acetylation levels. Moreover, the enrichment of acetylated histone H4 was observed in the proximal promoter region of EC-SOD and was caused by the partial promotion of ERK phosphorylation (only 4) and inhibition of HDAC activities, but not by the expression of HDACs. Overall, 4 exerted stronger effects than 1, 2, or 3 and has potential as a candidate or lead compound against atherosclerosis.

Aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reactions of benzyl alcohols using water as the solvent

We report an aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reaction using water as the solvent. In this reaction, primary benzyl alcohols are oxidized into benzaldehydes under an oxygen atmosphere using anthraquinone-2-sodium sulfonate monohydrate as an organophotocatalyst. Stereoselective aldol reactions then proceed using a proline-type organocatalyst.

Photo-oxidative Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling-Type Reaction of Thiophenes with α-Position of Carbonyls Using a Catalytic Amount of Molecular Iodine

A metal-free photo-oxidative intermolecular C-H/C-H coupling reaction of thiophenes is demonstrated with carbonyls using a catalytic amount of molecular iodine. In this system, molecular oxygen in the air acted as a terminal oxidant to regenerate molecular iodine. A mechanistic study was also performed.

Photoinduced Generation of Acyl Radicals from Simple Aldehydes, Access to 3-Acyl-4-arylcoumarin Derivatives, and Evaluation of Their Antiandrogenic Activities

A novel photocatalysis to construct the 3-acyl-4-arylcoumarin framework from simple aldehyde with ynoate is described. The reaction proceeded through an acyl radical intermediate generated by hydrogen atom abstraction from aldehyde, followed by reaction with ynoate and then cyclization to afford coumarins. This valuable radical cyclization reaction gave over 20 coumarin derivatives in moderate to good yields with inexpensive 2-tBu-anthraquinone as a catalyst. In addition, synthetic coumarins were investigated for 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and cell proliferation of androgen-dependent CWR22Rv1 cells.