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The Gas Imaging Spectrometer (GIS) system on board ASCA is described. The experiment consists of 2 units of imaging gas scintillation proportional counters with a sealed-off gas cell equipped with an imaging phototube. The performance is characterized by the high X-ray sensitivity (from 0.7 keV to over 10 keV), good energy resolution (7.8% FWHM at 6 keV following E~0-5 as a function of X-ray energy E), moderate position resolution (0.5 mm FWHM at 6 keV with E~0-5 dependence), fast time resolution down to 61 /xs, and an effective area of 50 mm diameter. The on-board signal processing system and the data transmitted to the ground are also described. The background rejection efficiency of the GIS is reaching the level achieved by the non-imaging multi-cell proportional counters.

Various analogues of a new antidiabetic agent, pioglitazone (AD-4833, U-72107), were synthesized in order to study in more detail the structure-activity relationships of this class of drug. 5-(4-Pyridylalkylthiobenzyl)-2,4-thiazolidinediones (I), thia-analogues of pioglitazone, were prepared via Meerwein arylation of the alkylthioanilines (IV). 5-(4-Pyridylalkoxybenzylidene)-2,4-thiazolidinediones (IIa) and related heterocyclic analogues (IIb) were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of the aldehydes (VIII) with the corresponding azolidinones. Compounds I and II were evaluated for hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in genetically obese and diabetic yellow KK (KKAy) mice. Several 5-[4-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethoxy]-benzylidene]-2,4- thiazolidinediones (IIa) were equipotent to pioglitazone. However, the thia-analogues (I) and the benzylideneheterocycles (IIb) had decreased activity. Catalytic hydrogenation of the 5-benzylidene analogue (14) was found to be a convenient new synthetic method for pioglitazone. The configuration of 14 is also discussed.

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The pyridylethanols (I) are transformed into the p‐nitrophenyl ethers (III) which undergo coupling with the acrylate (IV) via reduction and diazotization to form the pyridylethoxyphenylpropionates (V).