Effect of the substituents on radical copolymerization of dialkyl fumarates with some vinyl monomers

Radical copolymerization of dialkyl fumarates (DRF) with various vinyl monomers was carried out in benzene at 60°C. The monomer reactivity ratios, r₁ and r₂, were determined from the comonomer-copolymer composition curves. The relative reactivity of DRFs with various ester substituents toward a polystyryl radical was revealed to depend on both steric and polar effects of the ester groups. It has also been clarified that α-substituents of the polymer radical have a significant role in addition of DRF, from the comparison of the monomer reactivity ratios determined in copolymerizations with monosubstituted and 1,1-disubstituted ethylenes. The absolute cross-propagation rate constants were also evaluated and discussed. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Evolutionary Algorithm Directed Synthesis of Mixed Anion Compounds LaF2X (X=Br,I) and LaFI2

Mixed-anion compounds have attracted growing attentions, but their synthesis is challenging, making a rational search desirable. Here, we explored LaF₃-LaX₃ (X=Cl, Br, I) system using ab initio structure searches based on evolutionary algorithms, and predicted LaF₂X and LaFX₂ (X=Br, I), which are respectively isostructural with LaHBr₂ and YH₂I, consisting of layered La-F blocks with single and double ordered honeycomb lattices, separated by van der Waals gaps. We successfully synthesized these compounds: LaF₂Br and LaFI₂ crystallize in the predicted structure, while LaF₂I is similar to the predicted one but with different layer stacking. LaF₂I exhibits fluoride ion conductivity comparable to that of non-doped LaF₃, and has the potential to show better ionic conductivity upon appropriate doping, given the theoretically lower diffusion energy barrier and the presence of soft iodine anions. This study shows the structure prediction using evolutionary algorithms will accelerate the discovery of mixed-anion compounds in future, in particular those with an ordered anion arrangement.     

Polymer design for thermally stable polyimides with low dielectric constant

We successfully prepared a series of thermally stable polyimides (PIs) with low dielectric constant (k) by introducing bulky diphenyl fluorenylidene moieties in backbone. The lowest k was found to be 2.77 among non-fluorinated PIs and 2.35 among fluorinated ones. In order to prove the lowest limit of k in PIs, we prepared soluble and thermally stable polyarylenes (PArs) without polar imide linkage with the same aromatic moieties by coupling polymerization. The lowest k was 2.7 without fluorine (F) and 2.2 with F atom, which showed also promising for low k materials. From these results, PIs we prepared were estimated to the lowest k values among PIs. On the basis of statistics on these results, we could express contour lines of k as a function of imide concentration and F content with high correlation factor (r= 0.96) in PIs and PArs.     

Development of a Versatile Protein Labeling Tool for Live-Cell Imaging Using Fluorescent β-Lactamase Inhibitors

To understand the function of protein in live cells, real-time monitoring of protein dynamics and sensing of their surrounding environment are important methods. Fluorescent labeling tools are thus needed that possess fast labeling kinetics, high efficiency, and long-term stability. We developed a versatile chemical protein-labeling tool based on fluorophore-conjugated diazabicyclooctane β-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) and wild-type TEM-1 β-lactamase protein tag. The fluorescent probes efficiently formed a stable carbamoylated complex with β-lactamase, and the labeled proteins were visualized over a long period of time in live cells. Moreover, use of an α-fluorinated carboxylate ester-based BLI prodrug enabled the probe to permeate cell membranes and stably label intracellular proteins after unexpected spontaneous ester hydrolysis. Lastly, combining the labeling tool with a pH-activatable fluorescent probe allowed visual monitoring of lysosomal protein translocation during autophagy.