Barotropic phase transition between the lamellar liquid crystal phase and the inverted hexagonal phase of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine

The phase transition between the lamellar liquid crystal (Lalpha) phase and the inverted hexagonal (H(II)) phase of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in aqueous NaCl solutions was observed by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under ambient pressure and light-transmittance technique under high pressure. The pressure dependence of the transition temperature (dT/dp) and the thermodynamic quantities for the Lalpha/H(II) transition were compared with those of another phase transition found in the DOPE bilayer membrane, which is the transition from the lamellar crystal (Lc) phase to the Lalpha phase. The dT/dp value of the Lalpha/H(II) transition was about 3.5 times as large as that of the Lc/Lalpha transition while the thermodynamic quantities were significantly smaller than those of the latter to the contrary. Comparing the enthalpy and volume behavior of the Lalpha/H(II) transition with that of the Lc/Lalpha transition, we concluded that the Lalpha/H(II) transition can be regarded as the volume-controlled transition for the reconstruction of molecular packing.     

Infrared spectroscopy of hydrogen-bonded 2-fluoropyridine-water clusters in supersonic jets

The hydrogen-bonded clusters of 2-fluoropyridine with water were studied experimentally in a supersonic free jet and analyzed with molecular orbital calculations. The IR spectra of 2-fluoropyridine-(H2O)(n) (n = 1 to 3) clusters were observed with a fluorescence detected infrared depletion (FDIR) technique in the OH and CH stretching vibrational regions. The frequencies of OH stretching vibrations show that water molecules bond to the nitrogen atom of 2-fluoropyridine in the clusters. The hydrogen-bond formation between aromatic CH and O was evidenced in the 1:2 and 1:3 clusters from the experimental and calculated results. The overtone vibrations of the OH bending mode in hydrogen-bonded water molecules appear in the IR spectra, and these frequencies become higher with the increase of the number of water molecules in the clusters. The band structure of the IR spectra in the CH stretching region changes depending on the number of coordinating water molecules.     

2D-grid layered Pd-based cationic infinite coordination polymer/polyoxometalate crystal with hydrophilic sorption

The inorganic-organic hybrid compound composed of the novel infinite-chain Pd(II) complex and the polyoxometalate ({[(en)Pd(p-bpy)]2[alpha-SiW12O40].8DMSO.4DMF}infinity (1a:1 with 8DMSO.4DMF; monoclinic P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 15.0188(3) A, b = 15.6962(3) A, c = 26.9793(6) A, beta = 106.3580(10) degrees , V = 6102.6(2) A(3)) has been successfully synthesized by the reaction of [(en)Pd(OH2)2]2[alpha-SiW12O40] (2) with 4,4'-bipyridine (p-bpy). The treatment in dry N(2) at 50 degrees C or evacuation at room temperature forms {[(en)Pd(p-bpy)](2)[alpha-SiW(12)O(40)].6.0DMSO}(infinity) (1b:1 with 6DMSO) with a drastic reduction of the interlayer spacing, which is characterized by the powder diffraction analysis and the single-crystal analysis of 1c (1 with 4.5DMSO.3.5DMF; monoclinic P2(1)/a (No. 14), a = 14.200(9) A, b = 22.8865(8) A, c = 14.8558(5) A, beta = 114.7990(10) degrees , V = 4383.0(2) A(3)). Compound 1b reversibly sorbs the hydrophilic molecules with the maintenance of the intrinsic structure, which is much different from hydrophobic guest-inclusion properties reported in the other Pd-based supramolecular systems.     

Research on the vesicle-micelle transition by 1H NMR relaxation measurement

We have investigated how the dynamics of surfactant molecules changes with the vesicle-micelle transition by (1)H NMR relaxation studies on the sodium decyl sulfate (SDeS)-decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB)-deuterium oxide system. The study has been planned with reference to the phase diagram of the SDeS-DeTAB-water system deduced from thermodynamic analysis of the surface tension data. The spin-lattice relaxation time (T(1)) and the spin-spin relaxation time (T(2)) are measured at 90 and 400 MHz at various total molalities, m, and compositions, X(2), of the surfactants. The data were analyzed according to the "two-step" model developed by Wennerstr?m et al. and molecular dynamics of the surfactant is discussed from the viewpoint of correlation time tau(f) associated with the local fast motion of the surfactant molecule, correlation time tau(s) associated with the slow overall motions of the aggregate and surfactant molecules within it, and local order parameter S. We find tau(s) of vesicles is an order of magnitude larger than that of micelles signifying that the tumbling of vesicle particles and surfactant diffusion over the vesicle are much slower than those for micelle. Tau(f) and S for vesicles are also larger than those for micelles. Molecular environments of the surfactant are also discussed from the dependence of the chemical shifts on m at constant X(2) or from that on X(2) at constant m. When the chemical shifts in vesicle and micelle are compared at constant m, the chemical shifts in vesicle are displaced to a lower magnetic field than those in micelle, which implies that the surfactant molecules are arranged more closely to each other in the vesicle than in the micelle.     

Stereoselective synthesis of a fragment of mycobacterial arabinan

Strategies for the stereoselective synthesis of mycobacterial arabinan were explored. Arabinofuranosyl donors with various protective groups were screened in terms of suitability for beta-(1,2-cis)-selective glycosylation. The protective group was found to affect the stereoselectivity of arabinofuranosylation. Beta-selectivity was drastically enhanced by using donors protected with 3,5-TIDPS, possibly due to conformational constraints on the furanose ring. Synthesis of heptaarabinofuranoside was then performed to demonstrate the practicality of this methodology. [reaction: see text].     

High turnover frequency observed in catalytic enantioselective additions of enecarbamates and enamides to iminophosphonates

[Structure: see text] In addition reactions of enecarbamates and enamides, extremely high turnover frequency of the catalyst was observed in comparison with that of silicon enolate addition reactions. This is presumably due to fast transfer of the proton that locates on the nucleophiles.     

Photocatalytic formation of dimethyllepidopterene from 9,10-dimethylanthracene via electron-transfer oxidation

[Structure: see text] Photocatalytic carbon-carbon bond formation of 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA) in chloroform occurs efficiently via the electron-transfer oxidation of DMA with the photoinduced electron-transfer state of 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion (Acr+-Mes), followed by deprotonation from the methyl group of DMA radical cation and the radical coupling reaction between anthracenylmethyl radicals to produce dimethyllepidopterene.     

Host–guest complexation‐triggered chiroptical change of poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing binaphthocrown ether moieties on the main chain

Diacetylene monomers with respective lengths of the oxyethylene chains were cyclopolymerized with a rhodium catalyst to produce novel poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing a different cavity size of the chiral crown ether in the repeating units ( 2a – c ). In the circular dichroism spectra of the resulting polymers, characteristic Cotton effects were observed in the range from 350 to 500 nm corresponding to the absorption of the conjugated polymer backbone, indicating that the polymers possessed a helical structure with an excess single screw sense induced by the covalently bonded binaphthyl units. The host–guest complexation of 2a – c with achiral guests produced a chiroptical change based on the fluctuation in the main chain conformation. The behavior of the complexation‐induced chiroptical change was essentially dictated by the cavity size of the binaphthocrown ether units. Additionally, a chirality‐responsive helicity change was observed in the case of the complexation of 2a – c with chiral guests, which also depended on the crown ether size. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1197–1206, 2010