Polymeric Electron Carriers

Polymers containing 1,4-dihydronicotinamide (P-NAH) alloxan (P-A), and viologen (P-V²⁺) moieties were synthesized and characterized. P-NAH reduced various organic substances such as lipoic acid, alloxan, and viologens and also immobilized quinone mediated by alloxan. P-A was reduced to the polymer-bearing alloxan radical and the dialuric acid structure without crosslinks by one- and two-electron reduction, respectively, and P-A also mediated the redox reaction occurring between aqueous and organic (water-immiscible) layers. P-V²⁺ was converted to the stable viologen radical reversibly by one-electron reduction. Electric potentials and currents on photo-reduction of P-V²⁺ and catalytic behavior of P-V²⁺ in the reduction of carbonyl compounds were examined.     

Thermal behavior and dismantlability of adhesives containing various inorganic salts

As a fundamental study on the development of dismantlable adhesives containing chemically reactive materials, the thermal behavior and dismantlability of an epoxy adhesive containing one of the twenty-seven inorganic salts (chlorides, perchlorates, and nitrates) were observed. In the thermal behavior measured by the differential scanning calorimetry, epoxy adhesives with inorganic salts containing iron, copper, zinc, and aluminum cations released heats of reaction at lower temperatures than the adhesive alone or the adhesives with other inorganic salts. Since such inorganic salts were considered to be effective candidates as fillers in dismantlable adhesives, the adhesion strengths of their mixtures with the adhesive were observed after heat aging at 270 °C for 30 min. The results showed that both chloride and perchlorate salts specifically decreased the adhesion strength after heating. On the other hand, the effect of nitrate salts on the decrease in adhesion strength was low in comparison with the chloride and perchlorate salts.     

Excess enthalpies of binary mixtures of butylamines + propanols at 298.15 K

The molar excess enthalpies of eight systems of butylamines + propanols were determined at 298.15 K using a twin-microcalorimeter. All excess enthalpies were exothermic and large. An equilibrium constant K ₁ expressed in terms of mole fractions and standard thermodynamic properties of formation (Δ_f H, Δ_f G, Δ_f S) of 1:1 complex were evaluated by ideal mixtures of monomeric molecules and their associated complexes. Concentration dependence of the FT-Raman spectrum showed systematic changes of bands. Spectroscopic considerations based on this and ab initio calculations on molecules were performed at the Mp2/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Interaction energies between butylamine and propanol were calculated by the supermolecular and NBO methods. The results were discussed with previous results to clarify the steric and positional effect of the amino and hydroxyl group.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of ruthenium(II) complexes based on 2,2′-bipyridines modified by a perylene chromophore

Five new 2,2′-bipyridines functionalized with a perylene or a perylenediimide moiety were synthesized and the corresponding heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes ([Ru(bpy)₂(L)](PF₆)₂; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl, L = perylene-substituted bpy ligand) were prepared. The UV–vis spectra of the ruthenium(II) complexes showed red-shifted and intense absorption bands derived from the conjugated structure of the new ligands.     

Induced production of novel prenyldepside and coumarins in endophytic fungi Pestalotiopsis acaciae

Concomitant supplementation of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, and a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-azacytidine, to the culture medium of a plant endophytic fungus, Pestalotiopsis acaciae, dramatically altered its metabolic profiles. As a result, three novel aromatic compounds, 2′-hydroxy-6′-hydroxymethyl-4′-methylphenyl-2,6-dihydroxy-3-(2-isopentenyl)benzoate (1), 4,6-dihydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-3-methylcoumarin (2) and 4,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethylcoumarin (3), were isolated, along with five known polyketides, endocrocin (4), pestalotiollide B (5), pestalotiopyrone G (6), scirpyrone A (7) and 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (8).     

Electro-optic effect,propagation loss,and switching speed in polymers containing nano-sized droplets of liquid crystal

Polymers containing droplets of liquid crystal smaller than 100 nm, which have good transparency and easily form films, were prepared under various conditions to evaluate their potential as electro-optic materials for waveguide-type devices. By varying the liquid crystal concentration and the strength of the UV irradiation causing photo-induced phase separation of the droplets, we were able to control the droplet size and density. We have clarified how the birefringence generated in an applied electric field, switching speed, and optical loss of light propagating in the film depend on droplet size and density. Polymer materials having a large electro-optic effect (δn = 0.001 at 8 V μm^-1), low propagation loss (~2.5 dB cm^-1), and fast response time (~10 μs) have been developed.     

Direct Synthesis of 1,4‐Diols from Alkenes by Iron‐Catalyzed Aerobic Hydration and C?H Hydroxylation

Various 1,4‐diols are easily accessible from alkenes through iron‐catalyzed aerobic hydration. The reaction system consists of a user‐friendly iron phthalocyanine complex, sodium borohydride, and molecular oxygen. Furthermore, the effect of additional ligands on the iron complex was examined for a model reaction. The second hydroxy group is installed by direct C(sp³) H oxygenation, which is based on a [1,5] hydrogen shift process of a transient alkoxy radical that is formed by formal hydration of the olefin.