Femtosecond intermolecular electron transfer in condensed systems

We have investigated the ultrafast intermolecular electron transfer (ET) from an electron-donating solvent (aniline (AN) or N, N-dimethylaniline (DMA)) to an excited dye molecule (oxazines (Nile blue and oxazine 1) or coumarins). A non-exponential time dependence was observed in AN and can be explained by solvent reorientation and nuclear motion of the reactants. However, in DMA, a single exponential process was observed for Nile blue (160 fs) and oxazine 1 (280 fs), which can be explained by assuming that the rate of ET is limited mainly by ultrafast nuclear motion. A clear substituent effect on intermolecular ET was observed for the 7-aminocoumarins. When the alkyl chain on the 7-amino group is extended and a hexagonal ring with the benzene moiety is formed, the rate of ET is reduced by three orders of magnitude. This effect can be explained by a change in the free energy difference of the reaction and by the vibrational motion of the amino group.     

Growth Mechanism of Large Monodispersed Silica Particles Prepared from Tetraethoxysilane in the Presence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Monodispersed silica particles up to ca. 1.2 μm in diameter were prepared by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The particle size was increased with an increase of SDS added. The geometrical standard deviation of the particles was decreased with an increase of SDS. In the earlier reaction stage, double spherical particles by the coalescence of the particles were frequently observed when large amounts of SDS were added. Particle size was gradually increased after the coalescence occurred and spherical particles were finally obtained. The results of Nielsen’s chronomal analysis suggest that the polynuclear layer growth took place after the coalescence of the particles in the presence of larger amount of SDS.     

An efficient conversion of 1-abietic acid to (+)−3-deoxyaphidicolin

The first total synthesis of (+)?3-deoxyaphidicolin, a selective inhibitor of eukaryotic DNA polymerase α, has been completed efficiently and stereoselectively starting from 1-abietic acid.     

Regiospecific cycloaddition reactions using functionalized isoprenylsilane and related compounds

1-Alkoxy-3-trimethylsilylmethyl- and 1-alkoxy-3-trimethylsilyl-l,3-butadienes ($\text{1}$) were newly prepared. The cycloaddition reactions of $\text{1}$ with various dienophiles including heterodienophiles were found to proceed very smoothly in a perfectly regiospecific mode.     

Synthesis and application of chiral bisphosphines through lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization of chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxide

Upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide achiral and chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxides underwent lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization to afford the corresponding endo-alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic bisphosphine oxides; sequential stereoselective reduction of the cyclized bisphosphine oxide gave the corresponding trans- and cis-bisphosphines that were successfully applicable in a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation as chiral bisphosphine ligands.     

A quantum chemical study of interchain hopping model of negatively charged solitons in polyacetylene

Phonon-assisted interchain hopping of negatively charged solitons in polyacetylene has been studied using a local chemical reaction model CH + CH₄ → CH₄ + CH. Quantum chemical characteristics of the electron transfer process have been analyzed in terms of the dynamic electron density and the mutual polarization moment. The CH stretching vibrational motion of CH₄, which is a local model of the sp³ defect, has been found to play a significant role for the electron transfer. The excitation of the corresponding vibrational mode of the sp³ defect would promote the interchain hopping of the charged soliton. The electron transfer process has also been studied in terms of the “regional” density functional theory. It has been shown that the driving force of the electron transfer is represented by the regional chemical potentials.     

The study of electron beam flue gas treatment for coal-fired thermal plant in Japan

The fundamental research work with simulated coal-fired flue gas was performed in JAERI to get basic data for electron beam treatment of flue gas from thermal power plants in Japan. The standard condition of the experiments was set to be the same as that of next large scale pilot test in Nagoya. The concentrations of NO_x and SO_x were 225 ppm and 800 ppm, respectively. The temperature of the system was 65°C. The effect of multiple irradiation was observed for NO_x removal. The target SO_x and NO_x removals (94% and 80%, respectively) with low NH₃ leakage (less than 10 ppm) were achieved at 9 kGy irradiation with 0.9 NH₃ stoichiometry during 7 hours continuous operation. The facility for the pilot plant (12,000 Nm³/hr) has just built at the site of Shin-Nagoya power plant of Chubu Electric Power Company and will be started in full operation in November 1992.     

Simultaneous polymerization and formation of polyacetylene film on the surface of concentrated soluble Ziegler-type catalyst solution

A direct method of simultaneously polymerizing and forming acetylene monomer to produce uniformly thin films of polyacetylene was investigated in terms of catalyst system, catalyst concentration, and polymerization temperature. The best catalyst was a Ti(OC₄H₉)₄–Al(C₂H₅)₃ system (Al/Ti = 3–4) and the critical concentration was 3 mmole/l. of Ti(OC₄H₉)₄. Below the critical concentration, only a solid or a powder was obtained. The configuration of the polymers obtained depends strongly upon the polymerization temperature. Thus an all-cis polymer was obtained at temperatures lower than ?78°C, whereas an all-trans polymer resulted at temperatures higher than 150°C. Observations either in an electron microscope by direct transmission or in a scanning electron microscope showed that the film is composed of an accumulation of fibrils about 200–300 Å in width and of indefinite length.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic and benzylic Grignard reagents and their application to tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Details of cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic Grignard reagents are disclosed. A combination of cobalt(II) chloride and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) is suitable as a precatalyst and allows secondary and tertiary alkyl halides--as well as primary ones--to be employed as coupling partners for allyl Grignard reagents. The reaction offers a facile synthesis of quaternary carbon centers, which has practically never been possible with palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts. Benzyl, methallyl, and crotyl Grignard reagents can all couple with alkyl halides. The benzylation definitely requires DPPE or DPPP as a ligand. The reaction mechanism should include the generation of an alkyl radical from the parent alkyl halide. The mechanism can be interpreted in terms of a tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reaction. In addition, serendipitous tandem radical cyclization/cyclopropanation/carbonyl allylation of 5-alkoxy-6-halo-4-oxa-1-hexene derivatives is also described. The intermediacy of a carbon-centered radical results in the loss of the original stereochemistry of the parent alkyl halides, creating the potential for asymmetric cross-coupling of racemic alkyl halides.     

α-Carboxylation reaction of carbonyl compounds with bromomagnesium ureide-carbon dioxide adducts

Bromomagnesium ureide-carbon dioxide adducts, models of the carboxylated biotin complex, undergo caboxylation of a variety of carbonyl compounds in good yield.