The catalytic cracking of n-hexane over ZSM-5 zeolite (MFI-type zeolite, Si/Al = 150 and 240) catalysts was examined at reaction temperatures ranging from 823 to 923 K under atmospheric pressure. The reaction rate constants and activation energies of n-hexane cracking over ZSM-5 zeolites with various crystal sizes and Si/Al ratios were evaluated. The catalytic cracking of n-hexane was first order with respect to the n-hexane concentration, and the activation energies of n-hexane cracking over ZSM-5 zeolites were found to be approximately 123-128 kJmol -1 . Compared with the macro-sized zeolite, the nano-sized zeolites exhibited high n-hexane conversion with stable activity for 50 h. This is because the cracking reaction with nano-sized zeolite proceeded under reaction-limiting conditions, whereas the reaction with macro-sized zeolite proceeded under transition conditions between reaction-and diffusion-limiting conditions. As a result, the application of nano-zeolite to the catalytic cracking of n-hexane was effective and gave light olefins with high yield and excellent stable activity.

The first total synthesis of quinaldopeptin (1) was accomplished. Our approach to the synthesis of 1 includes the solid-phase peptide synthesis of the linear decapeptide 4 followed by macrocyclization and introduction of the quinoline chromophores 2 at a late stage of the synthesis. As for the preparation of 4, a fragment coupling approach was applied considering the C2 symmetrical structure of 1. Chromophore analogues 22 and 23 and desmethyl analogue 27 were also prepared in a manner similar to the synthesis of 1. Synthetic 1 exhibits a strong cytotoxicity with the IC50 value of 3.2 nM. On the other hand, the activity of 23 and 27 was largely reduced.

Tanzawaic Acids A, B, C, and D: Inhibitors of Superoxide Anion Production from Penicillium citrinum -[isolation and structure isolation of the title carboxylic acids (I) and (II)]. -(KURAMOTO, M.; YAMADA, K.; SHIKANO, M.; YAZAWA, K.; ARIMOTO, H.; OKAMURA, T.; UEMURA, D.; Chem. Lett. (1997) 9, 885-886; Dep. Chem., Fac. Sci., Shizuoka Univ., Oya, Shizuoka 422, Japan; EN)

The second-generation total synthesis of quinaldopeptin (1) was established via a Staudinger/aza-Wittig/diastereoselective Ugi three-component reaction sequence and a racemization-free [5 + 5] coupling and macrolactamization. A single-crystal X-ray structure of the chromophore analogue 26 confirmed the structural and stereochemical assignments of the macrocycle. Synthetic 1 successfully unwound supercoiled DNA to form a relaxed DNA in a dose-dependent manner, the binding affinity of 1 to four dsODNs was within a similar range (K(b) = 1.45-2.53 × 10(7) M(-1)), and the sequence selectivity was subtle. It was suggested that 1 possesses biological behaviors similar to those of sandramycin (2) in terms of cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines (IC50 = 3.2-12 nM) and HIF-1 inhibitory activity.

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