An improved two-step synthetic route to functionalized cyclic carbonate monomers that features a novel cyclic carbonate intermediate with an active pentafluorophenyl ester group (MTC-OPhF(5)) has been developed. The versatile pentafluorophenyl ester intermediate can be synthesized on the gram to kilogram scale in one high-yielding step and is easy to store and handle on the benchtop. The active pentafluorophenyl ester of MTC-OPhF(5) is amenable to further substitution with suitable nucleophiles such as alcohols and amines to generate functionalized cyclic carbonates in high yields. The substitution reaction is tolerant of a wide variety of functionalities, including various hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, reactive functionalities (via thiol-ene click chemistry or alkyl halides), and protected acids, alcohols, thiols, and amines. In view of the ever-increasing need for biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, this new methodology provides a simple and versatile platform for the synthesis of new and innovative materials.

Numerical simulations and experimental studies are carried out to understand the deformation process of thin polymer film in nanoimprint lithography. Deformation of a thin polymer above its glass transition temperature is studied for various imprinting conditions such as the aspect ratios of a mold pattern, initial thickness of the polymer, and imprinting pressure. Cross-sectional profiles of the deformed polymers are simulated by the finite element method based on a rubber elastic model. The results are compared with experimental data. The areal penetration ratio of the polymer into the recessed groove of the mold and residual thickness underneath the mold are quantitatively evaluated. The simulations and the experimental results agree well with each other.

Extant literature suggests that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are risk factors for internet addiction (IA). The present cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of IA among 132 adolescents with ASD and/or ADHD in a Japanese psychiatric clinic using Young's Internet Addiction Test. The prevalence of IA among adolescents with ASD alone, with ADHD alone and with comorbid ASD and ADHD were 10.8, 12.5, and 20.0%, respectively. Our results emphasize the clinical importance of screening and intervention for IA when mental health professionals see adolescents with ASD and/or ADHD in psychiatric services.

The disfavored 5-endo-trig cyclizations have been accomplished for 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes with nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and carbon nucleophiles by taking advantage of the properties of fluorine. b,b-Difluorostyrenes bearing tosylamido, hydroxy, or methylsulfinyl group at the o-position undergo intramolecular nucleophilic substitution with a loss of the vinylic fluorine, leading to 2-fluorinated indole, benzo[b]furan, and benzo[b]thiophene in high yields. 1,1-Difluoro-1-butenes bearing homoallylic tosylamido, hydroxy, mercapto, or iodomethyl group also successfully cyclize via a 5-endo-trig process with the in situ generated intramolecular nucleophiles to afford 2-fluoro-2-pyrroline, 5-fluoro-2,3-dihydrofuran, 5-fluoro-2,3-dihydrothiophene, and 1-fluorocyclopentene. The two vinylic fluorines proved to be essential and play a critical role in these 'anti-Baldwin' cyclizations.

Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the vacuolar protein sorting 13 homolog A (VPS13A) gene that encodes chorein. It is characterized by adult-onset chorea, peripheral acanthocytes, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive mutation screen, including sequencing and copy number variation (CNV) analysis, of the VPS13A gene in ChAc patients. All 73 exons and flanking regions of VPS13A were sequenced in 35 patients diagnosed with ChAc. To detect CNVs, we also performed real-time quantitative PCR and long-range PCR analyses for the VPS13A gene on patients in whom only a single heterozygous mutation was detected. We identified 36 pathogenic mutations, 20 of which were previously unreported, including two novel CNVs. In addition, we investigated the expression of chorein in 16 patients by Western blotting of erythrocyte ghosts. This demonstrated the complete absence of chorein in patients with pathogenic mutations. This comprehensive screen provides an accurate and useful method for the molecular diagnosis of ChAc.

Nanoparticle-mediated targeting of pioglitazone to inflammatory monocytes protected the heart from IR injury and cardiac remodeling by antagonizing monocyte/macrophage-mediated acute inflammation and promoting cardiac healing after AMI.

The reaction of dodec-11-ene-1,6-diynes or their heteroatom congeners with a hydrosilane catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)2 at ambient temperature and pressure of CO gives the corresponding fused 5-7-5 tricyclic products, 5-oxo-1,3a,4,5,7,9-hexahydro-3H-cyclopenta[e]azulenes or their heteroatom congeners, in excellent yields through a unique silicon-initiated cascade carbonylative carbotricyclization (CO-SiCaT) process. It has also been found that the 5-7-5 fused tricyclic products can be obtained from the same type of enediynes and CO through a novel intramolecular [2+2+2+1] cycloaddition process. The characteristics of these two tricyclization processes and the fundamental differences in their reaction mechanisms are discussed. This novel higher-order cycloaddition reaction has also been successfully applied to the tricyclization of undeca-5,10-diyn-1-als, affording the corresponding 5-7-5 fused-ring products bearing a seven-membered lactone moiety. Related [2+2+2] tricyclizations of enediyne and diynal substrates are also discussed. These newly discovered reactions can construct multiple bonds all at once, converting linear starting materials to polycyclic compounds in a single step. Thus, these new processes provide innovative routes to functionalized polycyclic compounds that are useful for the syntheses of natural and unnatural products.

The reaction of a 1,6-enyne with a hydrosilane catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)(2), Rh(4)(CO)(12), or Rh(2)Co(2)(CO)(12) under ambient CO atmosphere or N(2) gives 2-methyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentane or its heteroatom congener in excellent yield through silylcarbocycization (SiCaC) process. The same reaction, but in the presence of a phosphite such as P(OEt)(3) and P(OPh)(3) under 20 atm of CO, affords the corresponding 2-formylmethyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentane or its heteroatom congener with excellent selectivity through carbonylative silylcarbocycization (CO-SiCaC) process. The SiCaC reaction has also been applied to a 1,6-enyne bearing a cyclohexenyl group as the alkene moiety and a 1,7-enyne system. The functionalized five- and six-membered ring systems obtained by these novel cyclization reactions serve as useful and versatile intermediates for the syntheses of natural and unnatural heterocyclic and carbocyclic compounds. Possible mechanisms for the SiCaC and CO-SiCaC reactions as well as unique features of these processes are discussed.