Ab initio studies of the allylic hydroxylation: DFT calculation on the reaction of 2-methyl-2-butene with selenium dioxide

The mechanism of the allylic oxidation of 2-methyl-2-butene with selenium dioxide has been investigated by ab initio quantum mechanics. Transition states for two major steps (an ene reaction and a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement) of this reaction have been optimized by the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) method. A comparison of the energies of the transition states shows that the anti-endo and syn-endo approaches are the efficient routes in the ene reaction and the methyl (C4) group is sited in a pseudo-equatorial environment in cyclic transition states during the [2,3]-rearrangement. Calculations also show the kind of the terminal alkyl (C4) substituents may control (E)-selectivity in the formation of the allylic alcohols.     

Electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel in a molten LiCl-Li2O system

Summary The Advanced Spent Conditioning Process (ACP) developed by the KAERI is based on pyrometallurgy and the electrolytic reduction plays a central role in transforming spent oxide fuels into metals. The constituents of the spent fuels are distributed between a salt and a reduced metal phase during electrolysis. Lithium metal is produced in a molten LiCl-Li₂O cell and then it reacts with the metal oxides of the spent fuel producing Li₂O and reduced metals. By focusing on the activity of Li₂O and the electric potential, the electrolytic reduction process of the ACP is discussed. Thermodynamic considerations are defined and operation conditions are proposed including Li₂O activity and cell potential.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of novel calix[4]azacrowns

A series of novel 1,3‐altemate calix[4]arene azacrowns having mono and bis crown ethers on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene framework were synthesized. Solid‐state structures confirmed the three dimensional conformation of compounds 1–3.     

Differential conductance switching of planar tunnel junctions mediated by oxidation/reduction of functionally protected ferrocene

Planar tunnel junctions were fabricated by self-assembling 1,1'- ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (FDCA) onto native oxides of thermally deposited aluminum films and subsequently depositing a second aluminum film. Junctions were characterized using Reflection-Absorption Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (RAIRS) and current-voltage (I-V) spectroscopy. Before deposition of the second aluminum film, RAIRS of FDCA and ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA) films revealed COO(-), C=O, and Fc ring stretching modes, indicating that both types of molecules can interact strongly with the oxide and remain intact. After deposition, systems exhibited prominent COO(-) modes and weakened C=O modes, indicating further reaction with aluminum/aluminum oxide. Fc ring modes persisted in FDCA systems but disappeared in FCA systems, suggesting that the second COOH group in the FDCA molecule can act as a protecting group for the ferrocene moiety. Cyclic I-V measurements of FDCA tunnel junction systems revealed very strong ( approximately 10-fold) hysteretic differential conductance switching that was both reversible and stable. Control measurements using as prepared junctions, as well as junctions containing 1,6-hexanedioic acid, 1,9-nonanedioic acid, 1,4-dibenzoic acid, or FCA revealed only very weak ( approximately 10%) differential conductance changes. We attribute FDCA junction switching to barrier profile modifications induced by oxidation/reduction of the functionally protected ferrocene moieties.     

Lupane-triterpene glycosides from the leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus

A novel lupane-triterpene glycoside, called wujiapioside B (1), was isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus (Araliaceae) together with three known lupane-triterpene glycosides, acankoreoside C (2), acantrifoside A (3) and 3-epibetulinic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4). Based on spectroscopic data, the chemical structure of 1 was determined as 3alpha,23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. Compounds 2-3 were obtained for the first time from this plant and compound 4 has not been isolated from Acanthopanax genus yet.     

Predicting adsorption isotherms of low-volatile compounds by temperature programmed desorption: iodine on carbon

Equilibrium adsorption isotherms for low-volatile compounds are extremely difficult to measure. A simple technique using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) is proposed. It is demonstrated that the two parameters needed for constructing the Langmuir isotherm can be derived with data from the TPD technique alone. Thus, the Langmuir isotherms of iodine on AX-21 super-activated carbon were obtained with this technique. A series of TPD experiments for samples with different initial loadings of iodine were carried out by varying the heating rates which resulted in different peak desorption temperatures. The peak desorption temperature decreased as the initial loading was increased because of the re-adsorption effect. The Langmuir constant was derived from kinetic theory with the activation energy for desorption obtained from the experiment. The activation energy for desorption was 12.3 kcal/mol. The Langmuir constants determined by this technique were in comparable order of magnitude to the reported values for iodine on activated carbon. The saturation capacity of AX-21 for iodine could also be determined from the TPD data obtained from samples with different initial loadings. The estimated saturation capacity from the TPD experiment was 2.96 g I(2)/g AX-21, which was close to the experimentally measured saturation capacity of 3.25 g I(2)/g AX-21 for the same system.     

The characteristics of integrins expression in decidualized human endometrial stromal cell induced by 8-Br-cAMP in in vitro

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoproteins that have been found to undergo dynamic temporal and spatial changes in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Specificity of integrins is known to be different in human endometrial stromal cells and decidual cells. These shifts of integrins suggested to play an important role in embryo implantation and can be modulated by progesterone, cAMP derivatives, and cytokines. The mechanisms of decidualization and its precise physiological role are still not clearly understood and in vitro systems could provide an alternative that overcomes limitations of studying such complex biological phenomena in vivo at the time of implantation. This study was undertaken to establish an in vitro model system for human decidualization using 8-bromo-cAMP and to investigate the characteristics of stromal integrin expression in vitro by 8-Br-cAMP. Endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured, and then were induced to decidualize by 0.5 mM 8-Br-cAMP for 15 days. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analyses of the integrin subunits (alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, beta1 and alphavbeta3) were performed at day 9. In the presence of 8-Br-cAMP, the staining intensity of alphavbeta3 was significantly higher than control and measurements for alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, and beta1 were similar. Immunofluorescent localization of the integrins reflected the differences obtained from the flow cytometric analyses described above. In summary, the expression of alphavbeta3 integrin increased in stromal cells in vitro decidualized by 8-Br-cAMP and this up-regulation of alphavbeta3 integrin expression during decidualization might influence on human implantation.