The first totalsynthesis of three echinodermatous sialyl inositol phosphosphingolipids, which exhibit unusual neuritogenic activity in the absence of nerve growth factor, are reported. Highlights of the syntheses include 9-O-methylation on sialic acid, inter-residual amide bond formation between sialic acid residues, and highly stereo- and regioselective sialylation of inositol. A key phosphodiester
Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Amphiphiles on Carbon Nanotubes: A Versatile Strategy for the Construction of CNT/Metal Nanohybrids, Application to Electrocatalysis
Homogenous coating of carbon nanotubes with metallic nanoparticles was achieved using supramolecular auto-organization of amphiphilic molecules as template. The resulting Pd nanoparticles/carbon nanotube nanohybrids were then evaluated in electrocatalysis experiments, showing superior activity in ethanol oxidation compared to analogous system.