Photoluminescent properties and molecular structures of [NaphAu(PPh(3))] and [mu-Naph {Au(PPh(3))}(2)] ClO(4) (Naph = 2-naphthyl)

The complexes [NaphAu(PPh(3))], and [mu-Naph{Au(PPh(3))}(2)]ClO(4), having the Au-C (aromatic) bond have been synthesized and characterized. The unique structure of with two gold atoms bridged by a naphthyl group has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The intramolecular Au-Au separation in is 2.7731(4) A. Upon excitation at 266 nm, both complexes display intraligand phosphorescence at room temperature in solution and in solid state.     

Monochromatic and Heterochromatic Subgraphs in Edge-Colored Graphs - A Survey

Nowadays the term monochromatic and heterochromatic (or rainbow, multicolored) subgraphs of an edge-colored graph appeared frequently in literature, and many results on this topic have been obtained. In this paper, we survey results on this subject. We classify the results into the following categories: vertex-partitions by monochromatic subgraphs, such as cycles, paths, trees; vertex partition by some kinds of heterochromatic subgraphs; the computational complexity of these partition problems; some kinds of large monochromatic and heterochromatic subgraphs. We have to point out that there are a lot of results on Ramsey type problem of monochromatic and heterochromatic subgraphs. However, it is not our purpose to include them in this survey because this is slightly different from our topics and also contains too large amount of results to deal with together. There are also some interesting results on vertex-colored graphs, but we do not include them, either. Supported by NSFC, PCSIRT and the “973” program.     

Control of stripelike and hexagonal self-assembly of gold nanoparticles by the tuning of interactions between triphenylene ligands

We describe the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) protected with newly synthesized discotic liquid crystalline molecules of hexaalkoxy-substituted triphenylene (TP) in mixed toluene/methanol solvent. The stripelike (i.e., 2D consisting of linear 1D in stripe) self-assembly is realized successfully by the aid of pi-pi stacking of TP ligand on Au NPs. The smaller Au NPs with TP (AuTP) or the longer alkyl chain between TP and the gold core provide more free spaces among TP moieties. These spaces allow easy insertion of TP on adjacent AuTPs to lead an interparticle pi-pi interaction to form the stripelike arrangement. The solvent hydrophilicity can also serve as a controlled index to tune arrangement among stripelike, hexagonal close packed (hcp), or disorder. We have changed the solvent hydrophilicity by changing the ratio of methanol to toluene, which affects the balance of solution of AuTP (in toluene) and deposition (in methanol). The larger space between TPs and appropriate solvent hydrophilicity realize stripelike self-assembly caused by a strong pi-pi interaction between TPs, which was characterized by TEM, as well as fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and 1H NMR spectra.     

Preparation of single-crystalline platinum nanowires with small diameters under mild conditions

We report a convenient method to synthesize single-crystalline platinum nanowires with high aspect ratio of ca. 2.0 nm diameter by sophisticated and precise control of Pt(0) nuclei and their growth.     

Application of extraction chromatography to the separation of thorium and uranium dissolved in a solution of high salt concentration

Extraction chromatography with commercially available UTEVA resin (for uranium and tetravalent actinide) was applied for the separation of Th and U from control solutions prepared from a multi-element control solution and from sample solutions of solidified simulated waste. Thorium and U in control solutions with 1-5mol/dm(3) HNO(3) were extracted with UTEVA resin and recovered with a solution containing 0.1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) and 0.05mol/dm(3) oxalic acid to be separated from the other metallic elements. Extraction behavior of U in the sample solutions was similar to that in the control solutions, but extraction of Th was dependent on the concentration of HNO(3). Thorium was extracted from 5mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solutions but not from 1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solutions. We conjecture that thorium fluoride formation interferes with extraction of Th. Addition of Al(NO(3))(3) and Fe(NO(3))(3), which have higher stability constant with fluoride ion than Th, does improve extractability of Th from 1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solution.     

Development of the chromatographic partitioning of cesium and strontium utilizing two macroporous silica-based calix[4]arene-crown and amide impregnated polymeric composites: PREC partitioning process

To partition effectively Cs(I) and Sr(II), two harmful heat emitting nuclides, from a highly active liquid waste by extraction chromatography, two kinds of macroporous silica-based polymeric materials, Calix[4]arene-R14/SiO(2)-P and TODGA/SiO(2)-P, were synthesized. Two chelating agents, 1,3-[(2,4-diethyl-heptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-calix[4]arene (Calix[4]arene-R14), an excellent supramolecular compound having molecular recognition ability for Cs(I), and N,N,N',N'-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (TODGA) were impregnated and immobilized into the pores of SiO(2)-P particles support by a vacuum sucking technique. The loading and elution of 11 typical simulated fission and non-fission products from 4.0M or 2.0M HNO(3) were performed at 298K. It was found that in the first column packed with the Calix[4]arene-R14/SiO(2)-P, all of the simulated elements were separated effectively into two groups: (1) Na(I), K(I), Sr(II), Fe(III), Ba(II), Ru(III), Pd(II), Zr(IV), and Mo(VI) (noted as Sr-group); (2) Cs(I)-Rb(I) (Cs-group) by eluting with 4.0M HNO(3) and distilled water, respectively. The harmful element Cs(I) flowed into the second group along with Rb(I) because of their close sorption and elution properties towards Calix[4]arene-R14/SiO(2)-P, while Sr(II) showed no sorption and flowed into Sr-containing group. In the second column packed with TODGA/SiO(2)-P, the Sr-group was separated into (1) Ba(II), Ru(III), Na(I), K(I), Fe(III), and Mo(VI) (non-sorption group); (2) Sr(II); (3) Pd(II); and (4) Zr(IV) by eluting with 2.0M HNO(3), 0.01M HNO(3), 0.05M DTPA-pH 2.5, and 0.5M H(2)C(2)O(4), respectively. Sr(II) adsorbed towards TODGA/SiO(2)-P flowed into the second group and showed the excellent separation efficiency from others. Based on the elution behavior of the tested elements, an advanced PREC (Partitioning and Recovery of two heat generators from an acidic HLW (high activity liquid waste) by Extraction Chromatography) process was proposed.     

Array of aromatic amino acid side chains located near the chromophore of photoactive yellow protein

The role of the array of aromatic amino acid side chains located close to the chromophore binding loop of photoactive yellow protein (PYP) was studied using the alanine-substitution mutagenesis. Phe92, Tyr94, Phe96 and Tyr98 were replaced with alanine (F92A, Y94A, F96A and Y98A, respectively), then these mutants were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectra, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, thermal stability and photocycle kinetics. Absorption maxima of F92A, Y94A, F96A and Y98A were 444, 442, 439 and 447 nm, respectively, different to wild type (WT) at 446 nm. Far-UV CD spectra of mutants other than F92A were different from WT, indicating that Tyr94, Phe96 and Tyr98 maintain the native secondary structure of PYP. Mid-point temperatures of thermal denaturation of F92A, Y94A and F96A, estimated by the CD signal at 222 nm, were 5-10 degrees C lower than WT. Time constants of the photocycle estimated by flash-induced absorbance change were 0.36 s for WT and 1.4 s for Y98A, however, 100, 30 and 3000 times slower than WT for F92A, Y94A and F96A, respectively. Tyr98 is located in the loop region, whereas Phe92, Tyr94 and Phe96 are incorporated in the beta4 strand, showing that aromatic amino acid residues in the beta-sheet regulate the absorption spectrum, thermal stability and photocycle of PYP. Aromatic rings of Phe92, Tyr94 and Phe96 lie nearly perpendicular to the aromatic ring of Phe75 or chromophore. Possible weak hydrogen bonds between the aromatic ring hydrogen and pi-electrons of these residues are discussed.     

Synthesis and modification of new biodegradable copolymers: Serine/glycolic acid based copolymers

Serine/glycolic acid-based biodegradable polymers have been prepared by ring-opening homopolymerization of 3-(O-benzyl)-L -serinylmorpholine-2,5-dione, and ring-opening copolymerization of the morpholine-2,5-dione derivative and L -lactide/ϵ-caprolactone. The homopolymerization was carried out in the melt at 165°C for 3 min using stannous octanoate as the initiator and continued at lower reaction temperatures (130–150°C) for 48 h, using a molar ratio of monomer and initiator of 1000 yielded a polymer of M_n = 4000. The polymer prepared by homopolymerization of the morpholine-2,5-dione derivative was composed of alternating protected serine and glycolic acid residues. Random copolymers of serine and glycolic acid and L -lactic acid/ϵ-caprolactone were synthesized by copolymerization reaction of 3-(O-benzyl)-L -serinylmorpholine-2,5-dione and lactide or ϵ-caprolactone in the melt at 165°C for 3 min and further reaction at 130°C using stannous octanoate as an initiator. The polymers were deprotected and functionalized through the side chain hydroxyl group of serine residues with an acrylate moiety for applications in injectable drug delivery, cell encapsulation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1901–1907, 1997     

Contribution of Na counterions to H-AOT&Na-AOT-based W/O microemulsion formation using aqueous NaOH solutions as estimated by pyranine absorbance

The objective of this study is to estimate the contribution of Na⁺ as a counterion in the formation of H-AOT&Na-AOT-based W/O microemulsions using aqueous NaOH solution by pyranine absorbance measurements. A mixture of an aqueous NaOH solution containing pyranine/H-AOT&Na-AOT/isooctane was emulsified by changing the mixing ratio of Na-AOT (X_Na-AOT = 0–1) and the mole fraction of NaOH (X_NaOH = [NaOH]/the AOT⁻ concentration in the water pool = 0–1). The phase behavior of the emulsified mixture was evaluated from the absorbance of pyranine at the isosbestic point and by visual observations. W/O microelumsions are formed at the mid-range of X_Na-AOT, whereas the emulsified mixture separates into two phases at lower X_Na-AOT and higher X_Na-AOT. The two phase boundaries shift toward lower X_Na-AOT as with increasing X_NaOH. The phase behavior depends on the degree of screening of electrostatic repulsions between the polar headgroups of AOT⁻ by the Na⁺ counterion. Interestingly, nano-sized W/O microemulsions are formed without phase separation using a highly concentrated NaOH aqueous solution when the Na-AOT mixing ratio is appropriately adjusted. The phase behavior was plotted as X_NaOH versus X_Na-AOT, and the correlation equations for the two phase boundaries were obtained by fitting the points. The contribution of the Na⁺ counterion from NaOH to W/O microemulsion formation was estimated by the correlation equations. The absorbance of pyranine and the size of W/O microemulsions, as measured by DLS, were plotted as a function of X_Na⁺=(x[Na⁺   from   NaOH]+[Na⁺   from   Na-AOT])/[AOT⁻], in which x is the ratio contributed by NaOH. The absorbance and size correlates well with X_Na⁺, indicating that X_Na⁺ is a meaningful parameter for quantitatively estimating phase behavior and size variation.