Catalytic enantioselective Hosomi-Sakurai reaction of α-ketoesters promoted by chiral copper(ii) complexes

A catalytic enantioselective Hosomi–Sakurai reaction of α-ketoesters has been developed. A copper(II) complex with a chiral bis(oxazoline) ligand bearing methanesulfonamide groups shows excellent catalytic activity to give α,α-disubstituted α-hydroxyesters in high yields with high enantioselectivities. This is the first successful method for the catalytic enantioselective 1,2-addition of α-ketoesters with allylic silanes

Characterization of the channel-pores formed by Bacillus thuringiensis Cry46Ab toxin in planar lipid bilayers

Cry46Ab from Bacillus thuringiensis TK-E6 is a new mosquitocidal toxin with aerolysin-type architecture, and has been shown that co-administration of Cry46Ab with other mosquitocidal Cry toxins results in synergistic toxicity against Culex pipiens Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito larvae. Cry46Ab, therefore, is expected to find use in improving the insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis-based bioinsecticides. In the present study, the mode of action of Cry46Ab was explored by single-channel measurements of Cry46Ab channel-pores. The single-channel conductances of channel-pores formed in planar lipid bilayers by Cry46Ab were determined to be 31.8 +/- 2.7 pS in 150 mM NaCl and 24.2 +/- 0.7 pS in 150 mM CaCl2. Ion-selectivity measurements revealed that the channel-pores formed by Cry46Ab were cation selective. The permeability ratio of K+ to Cl-was approximately 4, and the preferences for cations were K+ > Na+, K+ > Ca2+, and Ca2+ > Na+. A calcein release assay using liposomes suggested that Cry46Ab influences the integrity of membrane vesicles. Formation of cation-selective channel-pores has been observed with other insecticidal Cry toxins that have structures distinct from those of Cry46Ab; the capability of forming such pores may be a property required of insecticidal toxins