Solvent extraction of permanganates (Na, K) by 18-crown-6 ether from water into 1,2-dichloroethane: elucidation of an extraction equilibrium based on component equilibria

Ion-pair formation constants (K_MLA mol⁻¹ dm³) of Na⁺– and K⁺–18-crown-6 ether (18C6) complexes with MnO₄⁻ in water (w) were determined potentiometrically at 25 °C. Simultaneously, extraction constants (K_ex mol⁻² dm⁶) of the permanganates with 18C6 from w into 1,2-dichloroethane at 25 °C were obtained from the spectrophotometric determination of distribution ratios of the permanganates. These K_ex values were divided into K_MLA and other three component equilibrium constants and thereby extraction-selectivity and -ability were discussed in comparison with corresponding metal picrate–18C6 extraction systems reported before.     

Development of a regenerable cell culture system that senses and releases dead cells

We developed a rapidly regenerable cell culture system in which the cell culture substrate detects cell death and selectively releases the dead cells. This culture material was achieved by combining a detector that responds to the signal from the dead cells and an actuator to release the dead cells. Benzo-18-crown-6-acrylamide (BCAm) with a pendant crown ether receptor was used as the sensor to recognize cellular signals and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was used as the actuator. This copolymer of NIPAM and BCAm can respond to potassium ions and change its nature from hydrophobic to hydrophilic at the culture temperature of 37 degrees C. Living cells concentrate potassium ion internally; when cells die, potassium ions are released. The polymer surface recognizes the potassium ions released from the dead cells, the NIPAM hydrates, and the dead cells are selectively detached. This in vitro culture system is a novel one in which artificial culture materials work cooperatively with cellular metabolism by responding to this signal from the cells, thereby realizing in vitro tissue regeneration partly mimicking the mechanisms of in vivo homeostasis.     

PEGylated polyplex micelles from triblock catiomers with spatially ordered layering of condensed pDNA and buffering units for enhanced intracellular gene delivery

An A-B-C type triblock copolymer, tandemly aligning two types of polycations with different pKa values in a single polymer strand, was developed for the construction of novel polyplex micelles, satisfying a high DNA condensing ability as well as a proton buffering activity directed to elevating gene transfection. The micelle might feature the distinctive three-layered structure, where an inner polyplex layer of condensed pDNA with poly(l-lysine) (pKa approximately 9.4) as the C segment is successively wrapped with an intermediate layer of poly[(3-morpholinopropyl)aspartamide] (B segment) with a comparatively low pKa of approximately 6.2, to provide a buffering effect, and an outer PEG layer (A segment) as a biocompatible palisade.     

Electronic polarizability and crystallization of K2O-TiO2-GeO2 glasses with high TiO2 contents

Some K₂O-TiO₂-GeO₂ glasses with a large amount of TiO₂ contents (15-25 mol%) such as 25K₂O-25TiO₂-50GeO₂ have been prepared, and their electronic polarizability, Raman scattering spectra, and crystallization behavior are examined to clarify thermal properties and structure of the glasses and to develop new nonlinear optical crystallized glasses. It is proposed that the glasses consist of the network of TiO₆ and GeO₄ polyhedra. The glasses show large optical basicities of Λ=0.88-0.92, indicating the high polarizabity of TiO_n (n=4-6) polyhedra in the glasses. K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals are formed through crystallization in all glasses prepared in the present study. In particular, 20K₂O-20TiO₂-60GeO₂ glass shows bulk crystallization and 18K₂O-18TiO₂-64GeO₂ glass exhibits surface crystallization giving the c-axis orientation. The crystallized glasses show second harmonic generations (SHGs), and it is suggested that the distortion of TiO₆ octahedra in K₂TiGe₃O₉ crystals induces SHGs.     

Novel and efficient method for esterification, amidation between carboxylic acids and equimolar amounts of alcohols, and amines utilizing Me2NSO2Cl and N,N-dimethylamines; its application to the synthesis of coumaperine, a natural chemopreventive dieneamide

Various carboxylic esters or amides were prepared in good to excellent yield between carboxylic acids and equimolar amounts of alcohols or amines under very mild conditions (0-45°C; within 3 h) using dimethylsulfamoyl chloride (Me₂NSO₂Cl; 1) combined with N,N-dimethylamines (Me₂NR: 2a; R=Me, 2b; R=Bu). The choice of the sulfamoyl chloride and the amine is crucial for the reaction; that is, sterically uncrowded amines accelerated the present esterification and amidation. This agent had some advantages over methanesulfonyl chloride (3)/amines as for the atom-economy, avoidance of side reactions, and had very high chemoselectivity toward the carboxyl group vs the hydroxyl group; the experiment was performed by the addition of 1 to the mixture of carboxylic acids and alcohols. Application of this method to the synthesis of coumaperine, a chemopreventive natural product, was performed using the present amidation as a key step.     

Rapid analysis of intact phospholipids from whole bacterial cells by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry combined with on-probe sample pretreatment

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), utilizing an on-probe sample pretreatment, was applied to the rapid and direct detection of intact phospholipids from whole bacterial cells. The sample preparation procedure involved depositing growing bacterial colonies from culture dishes directly onto the MALDI probe followed by treatment of the sample spot with a 3 micro L aliquot of an aqueous 0.05 M solution of sodium iodide prior to the addition of a 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix solution (ca. 8 mg dissolved in 70% acetonitrile/30% H(2)O containing 0.1% of trifluoroacetic acid). The MALDI spectra obtained from whole bacteria cells showed a series of ions generated from bacterial phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanol-amines (PEs) and phosphatidylglycerols (PGs), which were clearly observed as well-resolved peaks. The ranges of the observed total carbon numbers in two acyl groups for PEs and PGs (30-36 and 33-36, respectively) were in good agreement with those reported previously. Furthermore, the distinct discrimination of four species of the Enterobacteriaceae family cultured identically was achieved by using principal components analysis (PCA) conducted on the relative peak intensities of phospholipids observed from the MALDI spectra.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction and cycloisomerization of allenynes: selective preparation of monocyclic, bicyclo[m.3.0], and bicyclo[5.2.0] ring systems

[reaction: see text] Rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was found to be applicable for constructing azabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone as well as oxabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone frameworks. In addition, a reliable procedure for constructing a 10-monosubstituted bicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-one ring system by the rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was developed under the condition of 10 atm of CO. Investigation of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 4-phenylsulfonylnona-2,3-dien-8-ynes under nitrogen atmosphere gave the corresponding cyclohexene derivatives, whereas the C1-homologated allenynes produced cycloheptene derivatives and/or bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene skeletons depending on the substitution pattern at the allenic terminus. Thus, proper choice of the starting allenynes and reaction conditions led to the selective formation of 2-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-ones (Pauson-Khand-type product), 3-alkylidene-1-phenylsulfonyl-2-vinylcycloheptene derivatives, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene frameworks.     

Stereoblock poly(lactic acid): synthesis via solid-state polycondensation of a stereocomplexed mixture of poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid)

Stereoblock poly(lactic acid) consisting of D- and L-lactate stereosequences can be successfully synthesized by solid-state polycondensation of a 1:1 mixture of poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid). In the first step, melt-polycondensation of L- and D-lactic acids is conducted to synthesize poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) with a medium-molecular-weight, respectively. In the next step, these poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) are melt-blended in 1:1 ratio to allow formation of their stereocomplex. In the last step, this melt-blend is subjected to solid-state polycondensation at temperature where the dehydrative condensation is allowed to promote chain extension in the amorphous phase with the stereocomplex crystals preserved. Finally, stereoblock poly(lactic acid) having high-molecular-weight is obtained. The stereoblock poly(lactic acid) synthesized by this way shows a higher melting temperature in consequence of the controlled block lengths and the resulting higher-molecular-weight. The product characterization as well as the optimization of the polymerization conditions is described. Changes in M(w) of stereoblock poly(lactic acid) (sb-PLA) as a function of the reaction time.     

A novel and efficient oxidative biaryl coupling reaction of phenol ether derivatives using a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and heteropoly acid

A novel and efficient oxidative biaryl coupling reaction of phenol ether derivatives using a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), and heteropoly acid has been developed.