Synthetic Approach Toward the Partial Sequences of Betaglycan in the Linkage Region on Solid Support and in Solution Phase

We have synthesized, for the first time, the partial sequence of the betaglycan composed of the tetraosyl hexapeptide, which was directly usable as a probe for enzymatic glycosyl transfer. Stepwise elongation afforded the corresponding tetraosyl trichloroacetimidate. The common glycosyl dipeptide:[β‐d‐GlcA‐(1→3)‐β‐d‐Gal‐(1→3)‐β‐d‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐Xyl‐(1→O)‐Ser‐Gly] was synthesized by glycosylation of the corresponding tetraosyl trichloroacetimidate and Ser‐Gly moiety. The glycosyl dipeptide was coupled with other core peptide parts in solution phase and on a solid support. These glycosyl hexapeptides were then transformed into the desired target compounds.     

Vanadium-catalyzed green oxidation of benzylic alcohols in water under air atmosphere

The oxidation of alcohols using catalytic amounts of metal complexes is highly attractive from the viewpoint of green chemistry principles. However, examples of metal complex-catalyzed oxidations of alcohols with O₂ using water as the solvent are still rare, and precious metals, high-pressure O₂ or air, and a stoichiometric amount of base are often required. In this study, it was found that an oxovanadium-4,4′-t-Bubpy (4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridyl) complex exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzhydrols under an atmosphere of O₂ in water as the sole solvent. Interestingly, this catalytic oxidation method could be applied to the gram-scale aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water under the atmosphere.     

Intense Red-Blue Luminescence Based on Superfine Control of Metal–Metal Interactions for Self-Assembled Platinum(II) Complexes

A series of assembled Pt^II complexes comprising N-heterocyclic carbene and cyanide ligands was constructed using different substituent groups, [Pt(CN)₂(R-impy)] (R-impyH⁺=1-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazolium, R=Me ( Pt-Me ), Et ( Pt-Et ), ⁱPr ( Pt- ⁱ Pr ), and ^tBu ( Pt- ^t Bu )). All the complexes exhibited highly efficient photoluminescence with an emission quantum yield of 0.51–0.81 in the solid state at room temperature, originating from the triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) state. Their emission colors cover the entire visible region from red for Pt-Me to blue for Pt- ^t Bu . Importantly, Pt- ^t Bu is the first example that exhibits blue ³MMLCT emission. The ³MMLCT emission was proved and characterized based on the temperature dependences of the crystal structures and emission properties. The wide-range color tuning of luminescence using the ³MMLCT emission presents a new strategy of superfine control of the emission color.     

Infrared-A Irradiation-induced Inhibition of Human Keratinocyte Proliferation and Potential Mechanisms

Infrared-A (IRA), which can penetrate deeply into the human skin, is a major component of solar radiation and is recognized to promote photoaging of human dermis. To our knowledge, however, the cellular and molecular consequences of human epidermis exposure to IRA have not been clarified. Thus, we investigated whether IRA inhibits the proliferation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). IRA irradiation ed in cell cycle arrest at G1 and a dose-dependent reduction in the proliferation of NHEKs. We found that mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) was initially inactivated during IRA irradiation due to the formation of stress granules (SGs), and this inactivation was maintained for at least 6 h after irradiation due to Akt dephosphorylation. Furthermore, repeated exposure of human skin equivalents to IRA led to marked thinning of the epidermal cell layer. In conclusion, IRA irradiation inhibits mTORC1 activity possibly through two molecular mechanisms involving SG formation in the early-phase and subsequent Akt dephosphorylation. This sequential mechanism seems to cause G1 cell cycle arrest and a reduction in cell proliferation, supporting the hypothesis that the decreased proliferation of basal keratinocytes that occurs during skin aging might be partly attributable to IRA radiation.     

Involvement of Proton Transfer for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Coupled with Extracellular Electron Uptake in Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1

Microbial biosynthesis of hydrocarbon from CO₂ reduction driven by electron uptake process from the cathodic electrode has gained intensive attention in terms of potential industrial application. However, a lack of a model system for detailed studies on the mechanism of the CO₂ reduction hinders the improvement in efficiency for microbial electrosynthesis. Here, we examined the mechanism of microbial CO₂ reduction at the cathode by a well‐described microbe for extracellular electron uptake, Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, capable of reducing gaseous CO₂ to produce formic acid. Using whole‐cell electrochemical assay, we observed stable cathodic current production at ?0.65 V vs Ag/AgCl KCl sat. associated with the introduction of CO₂. The observed cathodic current was enhanced by the addition of 4 μM riboflavin, which specifically accelerates the electron uptake process of MR‐1 by the interaction to its outer‐membrane c‐type cytochromes. The significant impact of an uncoupler agent and a mutant strain of MR‐1 lacking sole F‐type ATPase suggested the importance of proton import to the cytoplasm for the cathodic CO₂ reduction. The present data suggest that MR‐1 potentially serves as a model system for microbial electrosynthesis from CO₂.     

Charge Transfer and Metastable Ion Dissociation of Multiply Charged Molecular Cations Observed by Using Reflectron Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A multiply charged molecule expands the range of a mass window and is utilized as a precursor to provide rich sequence coverage; however, reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer has not been well applied to the product ion analysis of multiply charged precursor ions. Here, we demonstrate that the range of the mass-to-charge ratio of measurable product ions is limited in the cases of multiply charged precursor ions. We choose C₆F₆ as a model molecule to investigate the reactions of multiply charged molecular cations formed in intense femtosecond laser fields. Measurements of the time-of-flight spectrum of C₆F₆ by changing the potential applied to the reflectron, combined with simulation of the ion trajectory, can identify the species detected behind the reflectron as the neutral species and/or ions formed by the collisional charge transfer. Moreover, the metastable ion dissociations of doubly and triply charged C₆F₆ are identified. The detection of product ions in this manner can diminish interference by the precursor ion. Moreover, it does not need precursor ion separation before product ion analysis. These advantages would expand the capability of mass spectrometry to obtain information about metastable ion dissociation of multiply charged species.     

Hydrothermal formation of tobermorite studied by in situ X‐ray diffraction under autoclave condition

Hydrothermal formation of tobermorite from a pre‐cured cake has been investigated by transmission X‐ray diffraction (XRD) using high‐energy X‐rays from a synchrotron radiation source in combination with a newly designed autoclave cell. The autoclave cell has a large and thin beryllium window for wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction; nevertheless, it withstands a steam pressure of more than 1.2 MPa, which enables in situ XRD measurements in a temperature range of 373 to 463 K under a saturated steam pressure. Formation and/or decomposition of several components has been successfully observed during 7.5 h of reaction time. From the intensity changes of the intermediate materials, namely non‐crystalline C–S–H and hydroxylellestadite, two pathways for tobermorite formation have been confirmed. Thus, the newly developed autoclave cell can be used for the analyses of reaction mechanisms under specific atmospheres and temperatures.     

9,10‐Diaminoanthracenes Revisited: The Influence of N‐Substituents on Their Electronic States

The electronic and molecular structures of 9,10‐diamino‐substituted anthracenes with different N‐substituents have been re‐examined. In particular, different N‐substituents influence both the electronic and molecular structures of the oxidized species of 9,10‐diaminoanthracenes. The anthrylene moiety of 9,10‐bis(N,N‐di(p‐anisyl)amino)anthracene retains its planarity during the course of two successive one‐electron oxidations, whereas 9,10‐bis(N,N‐dimethylamino)anthracene and 9,10‐bis(N‐p‐anisyl‐N‐methylamino)anthracene undergo a substantial structural change to a butterfly‐like structure through a two‐electron oxidation process. The structural changes observed for the oxidized states are ascribed to significant differences in the frontier molecular orbitals of the above‐mentioned three kinds of 9,10‐diaminoanthracenes due to different extents of mixing between the amine‐localized and anthrylene‐localized orbitals.     

Photocurrent generation system incorporated with antenna function

Porphyrin accumulation onto a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of imidazole-substituted porphyrins by a supramolecular method to form a chain structure leads to significant increase of light absorption in the visible light region and therefore photocurrents.