Cyclopropanation Using Electrons Derived from Hydrogen: Reaction of Alkenes and Hydrogen without Hydrogenation

Have you ever imagined reactions of alkenes with hydrogen that result in anything other than hydrogenation or hydrogenative C-C coupling? We have long sought to develop not only hydrogenation catalysts that activate H2 as hydride ions but also electron transfer catalysts that activate H2 as a direct electron donor. Here, we report the reductive cyclopropanation of alkenes using an iridium electron storage catalyst with H2 as the electron source without releasing metal waste from the reductant. We discuss the catalytic mechanism with selectivity to give the trans-isomer. These findings are based on the isolation of three complexes and density functional theory calculations.

Storing electrons from H2 for transfer to CO2, all at room temperature

We present an Ir complex that extracts electrons from H2 at room temperature and stores them as a H2-derived energy carrier (H2EC) at room temperature. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this complex reduces CO2 to a metal-CO22- species at room temperature, and present the first electrospray ionisation mass spectrum for this compound.

Serological analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in children with Kawasaki disease

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) was reported as a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019; an infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and was suggested to be associated with Kawasaki disease (KD) in terms of severe systemic inflammation and mucocutaneous symptoms. Because severe gastrointestinal symptoms and systemic shock are more frequently observed with MIS-C, patients with mild MIS-C might have been diagnosed with KD. In this study, titers of IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 S (S-IgG) and N proteins (N-IgG) were measured in 99 serum samples collected from patients with KD treated between January 2020 and December 2021 to evaluate the relationship between KD and SARS-CoV-2 infection. S-IgG were detected in only one patient out of 99 patients. This patient had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 10 months before KD onset, and was unlikely MIS-C. According to characters of S-IgG and N-IgG, the patients was unlikely infected with SARS-CoV-2 just before the onset of KD. In addition to this study, the 26th Nationwide Survey and previous studies showed an association between KD and SARS-CoV-2 to be unlikely. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not observed in patients with KD until Delta predominance in Japan by the method of detecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Single-Step Synthesis of NiI from NiII with H2

Chemists have long sought to regulate the reactivity of H2 , to yield hydride ions, hydrogen atoms, or electrons on demand. One source of inspiration for achieving this control is [NiFe]hydrogenase ([NiFe]H2 ase), which reacts with H2 to form various hydrogen active species such as NiIII hydride species, NiII hydride species, and NiI low-valent species. Chemists have attempted to synthesize these hydrogen active species not only as models for the active species of [NiFe]H2 ase, but also as electron transfer catalysts. However, the synthesis of NiI complex directly from H2 has not been reported. This paper reports the first example of a single-step synthesis of a NiI complex, via reaction of a NiII complex with H2 , stable for over 3 months at room temperature and we further demonstrate a reductive coupling of acridinium ions as part of a reaction cycle.

A series of (E)-1,2-diaryldigermenes incorporating bulky Eind groups: structural characteristics and absorption properties

A series of (E)-1,2-diaryldigermenes, (Eind)ArGeGeAr(Eind) [Ar = phenyl (2), thiophen-2-yl (3), 9,9-dimethyl-2-fluorenyl (4) and 2,2'-bithiophen-5-yl (5)], supported by the fused-ring bulky 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octaethyl-s-hydrindacen-4-yl (Eind) groups, have been obtained as yellow-orange to red crystalline solids by the reaction of 1,2-dibromodigermene, (Eind)BrGeGeBr(Eind) (1), with ArLi. In the crystals of 2-5, the digermene cores show a flexible nature adopting a trans-bent geometry with the trans-bent angles (θ) between the Ge-Ge vector and the C_Eind-Ge-C_Ar plane of 34.04(12)° (2), 38.3(3)° and 38.8(3)° (3), 33.69(12)° (4) and 39.30(13)° (5). In the UV-vis spectra, strong π-π* absorptions have been observed with an absorption maximum at 451 nm (ε = 1.3 × 10⁴) (2), 455 nm (ε = 9.7 × 10³) (3), 480 nm (ε = 1.3 × 10⁴) (4) and 497 nm (ε = 1.4 × 10⁴) (5), retaining the GeGe double bond in solution. The absorption data and DFT calculations provide evidence for the intrinsic π-conjugation between the GeGe chromophore and aromatic rings involving the narrowing of the HOMO-LUMO gaps (ΔE) with the extension of the carbon π-electron systems.

Crystal polymorphism and crystalline-state photochromism of a rhodium dithionite complex with n-methoxypropyl moieties

The crystalline-state photochromism of 1MPro in the β-crystal was successfully disclosed by time-dependent X-ray diffraction experiments.

Unusual motion of the n-methoxypropyl moiety observed in the photochromic crystals of an organorhodium dithionite complex with n-methoxypropyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

The crystalline-state photochromism of a new organorhodium dinuclear complex having n-methoxypropyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl (η⁵-C₅Me₄n-C₃H₆OCH₃) and photoresponsive dithionite (μ-O₂SSO₂) ligands was investigated directly by performing single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments; a reversible conformational change of the n-methoxypropyl moiety was intriguingly observed during the course of a thermal back-reaction.

Reductive C(sp3)-C(sp3) homo-coupling of benzyl or allyl halides with H2 using a water-soluble electron storage catalyst

This paper reports the first example of a reductive C(sp³)-C(sp³) homo-coupling of benzyl/allyl halides in aqueous solution by using H₂ as an electron source {turnover numbers (TONs) = 0.5-2.3 for 12 h}. This homo-coupling reaction, promoted by visible light, is catalysed by a water-soluble electron storage catalyst (ESC). The reaction mechanism, and four requirements to make it possible, are also described.

Identifying patients with atrial fibrillation during sinus rhythm on ECG: confirming the utility of artificial intelligence algorithm in a small-scale cohort without structural heart diseases

Background

Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) out of electrocardiograph (ECG) on sinus rhythm (SR) using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm has been widely studied within recent couple of years. Generally, it is believed that a huge number of ECGs are necessary for developing an AI-enabled ECG to be adequate to correspond to a lot of minor variations of ECGs. For example, structural heart diseases have typical ECG characteristics, but they could be a noise for the purpose of detecting the small signs of electrocardiographic signature of AF. We hypothesized that when patients with structural heart diseases are excluded, AI-enabled ECG for identifying patients with AF can be developed with a small number of ECGs.

Methods

We developed an AI-enabled ECG using a convolutional neural network to detect the electrocardiographic signature of AF present during normal sinus rhythm (NSR) using a digital, standard 10-second, 12-lead ECGs. We included all patients who newly visited the Cardiovascular Institute with at least one NSR ECG between Feb 1, 2010, and March 31, 2018. We classified patients with at least one ECG with a rhythm of AF as positive for AF (AF label) and others as negative for AF (SR label). We allocated ECGs to the training, internal validation, and testing datasets in a 7:1:2 ratio. We calculated the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve for the internal validation dataset to select a probability threshold, which we applied to the testing dataset. We evaluated model performance on the testing dataset by calculating the AUC and the sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and accuracy with two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We totally included 19170 patients with 12-lead ECG. After excluding patients with structural heart diseases, 12825 patients with NSR ECGs at the initial visit were identified (1262 were clinically diagnosed as AF anytime during the time course and 11563 were never diagnosed as AF). Of 11563 non-AF patients, 1818 patients who were followed over 1095 days were selected for the analysis with the SR label, to secure the robustness for maintaining SR. Of 1262 AF patients, 251 patients were selected for the analysis with the AF label, of whom a NSR ECG within 31 days before or after the index AF ECG (the first AF ECG during the time course) could be obtained. In the patients with AF label, the NSR ECG of which the date was the nearest to the index AF ECG was selected for the analysis. The AI-enabled ECG showed an AUC of 0.88 (0.84–0.92) with sensitivity 81% (72–88), specificity 80% (77–83), F1 score 50% (43–57), and overall accuracy 80% (78–83).

Conclusion

An AI-enabled ECG acquired during NSR allowed identification of patients with AF in a small population without structural heart diseases.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

C-H Arylation of Benzene with Aryl Halides using H2 and a Water-Soluble Rh-Based Electron Storage Catalyst

This paper reports the first example of C-H arylation of benzene under mild conditions, using H₂ as an electron source {turnover numbers (TONs)=0.7-2.0 for 24 h}. The reaction depends on a Rh-based electron storage catalyst, and proceeds at room temperature and in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the H₂ is inactive during the radical transfer step, greatly reducing unwanted side reactions.

Molecular motion in organometallic crystals: photoinduced 2π/5 rotation of n-hexyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligand

Unusual rotation of the ligand (blue dotted circle) in organometallic crystals is disclosed by X-ray diffraction experiments.

Survival in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the modern management era

Background

The management of non-operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has recently evolved with the availability of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and pulmonary vasodilators. We launched BPA program since 2011. The aim was to analyze survival and treatment efficacy in the modern management era.

Method and result

We retrospectively reviewed data from 143 consecutive CTEPH patients diagnosed in our university from January 2011 (i.e. after the availability of BPA) to December 2019. Forty-one patients underwent PEA, in these 25 patients underwent additional BPA (Hybrid group) and other patients were treated with only PEA (PEA group). Ninety patients underwent BPA (BPA group), remaining 12 patients had not undergone any interventional treatments. The 1- and 5-year survival rates of operated patients (n=41) were 97.4% and 90.0%, compared to96.9% and 86.9% in not-operated patients (n=102), respectively (p=0.579) (Figure). There was no death in Hybrid group. Percent decrease of pulmonary vascular resistance in PEA group, Hybrid group, BPA group were −75.4±9.9%, −74.3±11.8%, −56.3±22.2%, respectively (p<0.01, one-way ANOVA). Absolute decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure in each groups were −20.3±9.5mmHg, −24.5±8.8mmHg, −16.4±9.2mmHg, respectively (p<0.01, one-way ANOVA).

Conclusion

There was no longer significant difference of long-term survival between operated and not-operated CTEPH. Moreover, Hybrid approach might have the potential to lead notable improvement in the prognosis of CTEPH. BPA and PEA would be mutually complementary therapies in the modern management era.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

A non-linear phenomenon observed in the photochromic crystals of a rhodium dithionite complex with n-propyl moieties

A non-linear relationship between the conformational change of an n-propyl moiety and photochromic reaction was observed by performing time-dependent X-ray diffraction experiments.

Next-generation sequencing for patients with non-obstructive azoospermia: implications for significant roles of monogenic/oligogenic mutations

Azoospermia affects up to 1% of adult men. Non-obstructive azoospermia is a multifactorial disorder whose molecular basis remains largely unknown. To date, mutations in several genes and multiple submicroscopic copy-number variations (CNVs) have been identified in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. The aim of this study was to clarify the contribution of nucleotide substitutions in known causative genes and submicroscopic CNVs in the genome to the development of non-obstructive azoospermia. To this end, we conducted sequence analysis of 25 known disease-associated genes using next-generation sequencing and genome-wide copy-number analysis using array-based comparative genomic hybridization. We studied 40 Japanese patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia. Functional significance of molecular alterations was assessed by in silico analyses. As a result, we identified four putative pathogenic mutations, four rare polymorphisms possibly associated with disease risk, and four probable neutral variants in 10 patients. These sequence alterations included a heterozygous splice site mutation in SOHLH1 and a hemizygous missense substitution in TEX11, which have been reported as causes of non-obstructive azoospermia. Copy-number analysis detected five X chromosomal or autosomal CNVs of unknown clinical significance, in addition to one known pathogenic Y chromosomal microduplication. Five patients carried multiple molecular alterations. The results indicate that monogenic and oligogenic mutations, including those in SOHLH1 and TEX11, account for more than 10% of cases of idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia. Furthermore, this study suggests possible contributions of substitutions in various genes as well as submicroscopic CNVs on the X chromosome and autosomes to non-obstructive azoospermia, which require further validation.

1,2-Dihalodigermenes bearing bulky Eind groups: synthesis, characterization, and conversion to halogermylenoids

We present the transformation of low-coordinate germanium(ii) compounds.

Electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia by surface proton hopping

Highly efficient ammonia synthesis at a low temperature is desirable for future energy and material sources. We accomplished efficient electrocatalytic low-temperature ammonia synthesis with the highest yield ever reported. The maximum ammonia synthesis rate was 30 099 μmol gcat-1 h-1 over a 9.9 wt% Cs/5.0 wt% Ru/SrZrO3 catalyst, which is a very high rate. Proton hopping on the surface of the heterogeneous catalyst played an important role in the reaction, revealed by in situ IR measurements. Hopping protons activate N2 even at low temperatures, and they moderate the harsh reaction condition requirements. Application of an electric field to the catalyst resulted in a drastic decrease in the apparent activation energy from 121 kJ mol-1 to 37 kJ mol-1. N2 dissociative adsorption is markedly promoted by the application of the electric field, as evidenced by DFT calculations. The process described herein opens the door for small-scale, on-demand ammonia synthesis.

Luminescent Tb(iii) and Sm(iii) complexes with a 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-based tris-aryloxide ligand for high-performance oxygen sensors

This paper presents (i) a high-performance Tb(iii)-based oxygen sensor (1^Tb/PS) and (ii) a lanthanide(iii)-based colorimetric luminescent oxygen sensor (1^TbSm/PS).

Engineering a gene silencing viral construct that targets the cat hypothalamus to induce permanent sterility: An update

The intent of this contribution is to provide an update of the progress we have made towards developing a method/treatment to permanently sterilize cats. Our approach employs two complementary methodologies: RNA interference (RNAi) to silence genes involved in the central control of reproduction and a virus-based gene therapy system intended to deliver RNAi selectively to the hypothalamus (where these genes are expressed) via the systemic administration of modified viruses. We selected the hypothalamus because it contains neurons expressing Kiss1 and Tac3, two genes essential for reproduction and fertility. We chose the non-pathogenic adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vector whose tropism could be modified to target the hypothalamus. The issues that must be overcome to utilize this vector as a delivery vehicle to induce sterility include modification of the wild-type AAV to target the hypothalamic region of the brain with a simultaneous reduction in targeting of peripheral tissues and non-hypothalamic brain regions, identification of RNAi targets that will effectively reduce the expression of Kiss1 and Tac3 without off-target effects, and determination if neutralizing antibodies to the AAV serotype of choice are present in cats. Successful resolution of these issues will pave the way for the development of a powerful tool to induce the permanent sterility in cats.

Determinant factors of postoperative recurrence of endometriosis: difference between endometrioma and pain

OBJECTIVE

Although the postoperative use of hormonal treatment for endometriosis is recommended in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology guidelines to prevent the recurrence of endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhoea, hormonal treatment may not be necessary for all patients who undergo surgical treatment for endometriosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the determinant factors that predict the recurrence of endometriosis after surgery in order to develop personalized hormonal treatment recommendations. Factors associated with the recurrence of endometrioma and pain were investigated independently to identify the likelihood of recurrence in each individual patient.

STUDY DESIGN

Between 2008 and 2013, 352 patients underwent surgery and were diagnosed with endometriosis based on pathological findings at the study hospital. Among these patients, 191 experienced a recurrence of endometrioma in the absence of pre- or postoperative hormonal treatment. Various clinical factors such as pre-operative pain, intra-operative findings and postoperative improvement of pain were compared between patients who experienced recurrence after surgery and those who did not.

RESULTS

The cumulative 5-year recurrence rate of endometrioma was 28.7% among the 191 patients who did not undergo pre- or postoperative hormonal treatment. Significant differences were detected in maximum tumour diameter, revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score (r-ASRM score), operative time and operative blood loss between patients in the recurrent endometrioma group and the non-recurrent endometrioma group; only the r-ASRM score was significantly correlated with recurrence of endometrioma in the multivariate analysis. The cumulative 5-year rate of persistent/recurrent pain was 33.4%. There were significant differences in the postoperative improvement of pain between the persistent/recurrent pain group and the non-recurrent pain group according to the univariate and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the risk factors for recurrence of endometrioma differ from the risk factors for recurrence of pain. The use of postoperative hormonal treatment should be considered based on the dominant risk factors and needs of each patient.