Stable liquid crystalline phases of colloidally dispersed exfoliated layered niobates

Colloidally dispersed niobium oxide nanosheets obtained by exfoliation of layered niobates HNb(3)O(8) and HTiNbO(5) formed stable liquid crystalline phases; their liquid crystallinity was dependent on the niobate species exfoliated.     

Oxidation reaction of [Ni(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)(2)](2+) by [Fe(o-phenanthroline)(3)](3+) in aqueous acidic solution at elevated pressures: determination of the activation and reaction volumes for the Ni(iii)/(ii) couple

The reaction volume corresponding to the self-exchange process of the [Ni(tacn)(2)](3+/2+) couple was determined in aqueous acidic solution. Theoretical equations on the basis of the Mean Spherical Approximation were proposed for the estimation of reaction volumes for M(n+/(n- 1)+) couples in solution, and the calculated reaction volumes were compared with the experimentally estimated values. The activation volume for the [Ni(tacn)(2)](3+/2+) couple was determined in the acidic condition from the cross reaction of [Ni(tacn)(2)](2+) and [Fe(o-phen)(3)](3+) at elevated pressures. The agreement of the experimentally estimated activation volume for the [Ni(tacn)(2)](3+/2+) couple, -8.2 +/- 2.4 cm(3) mol(-1), with the theoretically calculated value, -7.5 cm(3) mol(-1), within the allowed uncertainty (+/-1 cm(3) mol(-1)) indicates that the electron self-exchange reaction of this redox couple obeys the Marcusian behavior in aqueous acidic solution.     

Free-flow electrophoresis in a microfabricated chamber with a micromodule fraction separator. Continuous separation of proteins

Continuous free flow electrophoresis of proteins was carried out in a microfabricated free flow electrophoresis (mFFE) module with the 30-μm thick slit of the separation. The newly developed micromodule fraction separator (MFS) was attached to the down-stream end site of the separation chamber of mFFE. By using the MFS, electrolyte solution from the separation chamber was introduced to the peristaltic pump without disturbing the electrolyte solution flow at the bottom side of the chamber. The separation of protein mixture samples was achieved by a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose pretreatment coating of the separation chamber. The pretreatment of the sample chamber effectively suppressed electroosmotic flow. All fractionated samples were collected using the MFS after continuous elecrophoresis and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC. From the results of HPLC analyses none of the cytochrome c fractions at the other ports revealed cross talk phenomena at adjacent ports. A similar result occurred for the myoglobin. This means that these proteins were completely separated from each other by continuous mFFE, and the MFS functioned efficiently during continuous electrophoresis.     

Solvolysis of (4,5)-anti-4-aryl-5-tosyloxy-2(E)-hexenoate derivatives

The solvolysis reaction of (4,5)-anti-4-aryl-5-tosyloxy-2(E)-hexenoates 4a-k gave (4,5)-anti-4-aryl-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoates 2a-k and (4,5)-anti-5-aryl-4-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoates 5a-k along with the complete inversion. This 1,2-aryl migration was induced by treatment with heating in water-saturated nitromethane. On the basis of the substituent effect on the aromatic ring, this 1,2-aryl migration is thought to proceed via the sigma-bridged phenonium ion. The product selectivity between 2a-k and 5a-k was found to be subtly governed by the substituent and substitution pattern in the aromatic ring of the substrates 4a-k.     

Properties of isocyanurate-type crosslinked polyurethanes

Polyurethane elastomers containing isocyanurate rings as crosslinking structure were prepared by crosslinking the prepolymers in N,N-dimethylformamide solution with sodium cyanide catalyst. Physical properties such as gel fraction, swelling ratio, density, glass transition temperature, Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break were measured. The effects of diisocyanate structure, the degree of crosslinking, and the crosslinking structure on the properties of polyurethanes were studied. The stress–strain curves of isocyanurate-type crosslinked polyurethanes prepared from poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol rose at lower extensions and gave higher tensile properties than those of triol-cured and diamine-cured polyurethanes. The observed high tensile properties were attributed to the rigid crosslinking structure of isocyanurate ring.     

Improved Synthesis of Chitosan -Bearing boldbeta-Cyclodextrin and Its Adsorption Behavior towards Bisphenol A and 4-Nonylphenol

The synthesis of chitosan-bearing -cyclodextrin (CDC) has been improved by use of an alternative condensing agent, 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT-MM). CDC was obtained by the reaction of succinyl chitosan with a small amount of mono-6-amino-mono-6-deoxy--cyclodextrin (ACD) within a shorter reaction time. Under optimal conditions, the CD yields reached to 50%, which were almost the same as those in the reactions using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). The gelation time suggests that the crosslinking of chitosan and the immobilization of the ACD occur competitively. To test the potential of CDC for selective removal of pollutants, the adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) from aqueous solution onto CDC was investigated. In the case of the equilibrium concentrations more than 10 mg/L, the amounts of both sorbents onto CDC were close to the estimated saturated value of the CDC (85 mg/g for BPA and 81 mg/g for NP).     

Determination of rare-earth elements in rock samples by neutron activation analysis with a lithium-drifted germanium detector after chemical group-separation

A lithium-drifted germanium detector combined with chemical group-separation has been utilized for the determination of rare-earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Yb and Lu) in rock samples by neutron activation. This procedure has the advantage of a low background level which cannot be attained in the non-destructive method. The combination of the Ge(Li) detector and chemical group-separation also offers a distinct simplification in the correction of contributions from other nuclides. For optimum utility of a Ge(Li) detector in neutron activation analysis, chemical group-separations are recommended.     

Removal of boron(III) by N-methylglucamine-type cellulose derivatives with higher adsorption rate

To obtain adsorbents for boron(III) derived from a natural polymer, two forms (powder and fiber) of N-methylglucamine-type cellulose derivatives were newly synthesized. After the graft polymerization of two forms of cellulose with vinyl monomer having epoxy groups, the N-methylglucamine-type cellulose derivatives were obtained by the reaction of the grafted cellulose with N-methylglucamine. The adsorption capacities of the cellulose derivatives for boron(III) were the same levels as that of a commercially available N-methylglucamine-type polystyrene resin. However, the cellulose derivatives adsorbed boron(III) more quickly than the polystyrene resin. The adsorption and desorption of boron(III) with a column method using the cellulose fiber were achieved at a higher flow rate than that using the polystyrene resin. In addition, the boron(III), adsorbed on the cellulose fiber column, was quantitatively recovered with dilute hydrochloric acid in 20- and 200-fold increased concentrations. Consequently, it was found that the cellulose derivatives were superior to the polystyrene resin as adsorbents for boron(III) for treatment of a large quantity of wastewater.     

On second order functional differential equations and inequalities with deviating arguments

A necessary and sufficient condition is established in order that (i) the retarded differential equation $$y''(t) = p_0 y(t) + f(y(t - \tau _1 ),...,y(t - \tau _N ))$$ has no bounded nonoscillatory solution and (ii) the advanced differential equation $$y''(t) = p_0 y(t) + f(y(t + \tau _1 ),...,y(t + \tau _N ))$$ has no unbounded nonoscillatory solution, wherep ₀≥0 and τ _j > 0,1 ?i ?N, are constants. Differential inequalities related to (^*) and (^**) are also studied. Finally, an oscillation criterion is given for a class of differential equations containing both retarded and advanced arguments.     

N-cyclopropylation of indoles and cyclic amides with copper(II) reagent

Copper-mediated coupling reactions of cyclopropylboronic acid with indoles and cyclic amides are described. The process utilizes catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of copper(II) acetate, DMAP, and NaHMDS at 95 degrees C under an atmosphere containing oxygen. A variety of functional groups remain intact throughout the reaction.