Magnetic and electrical properties of amorphous Ge1−xCrx thin films grown by low temperature vapor deposition

Amorphous Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are deposited on (1 0 0)Si by using a thermal evaporator. Amorphous phase is obtained when Cr concentration is lower than 30.7 at%. The electrical resistivities are 1.89×10⁻³–0.96×10² Ω cm at 300 K, and decrease with Cr concentration. The Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are p-type. The hole concentrations are 5×10¹⁶–7×10²¹ cm⁻³ at 300 K, and increase with Cr concentration. Magnetizations are 7.60–1.57 emu/cm³ at 5 K in the applied field of 2 T. The magnetizations decrease with Cr concentration and temperature. Magnetization characteristics show that the Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are paramagnetic.     

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic characterizations of cyanide-bridged Fe(III)Mn(III) chains constructed by mer-Fe(III)tricyanide and Mn(III) Schiff bases: magnetostructural relationship

Five Fe(III)Mn(III) bimetallic compounds [Fe(iqc)(CN)(3)][Mn(5-Xsalen)]·pMeOH·qMeCN·rH(2)O [Hiqc = N-(quinolin-8-yl)isoquinoline-1-carboxamide; salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato) dianion; X = H(2), F(3, 3a), Cl(4), Br(5)] were prepared by assembling a newly designed mer-Fe tricyanide (Ph(4)P)[Fe(iqc)(CN)(3)]·0.5H(2)O (1) and the respective Mn Schiff bases Mn(5-Xsalen)(+). Compounds 2-4 show linear chain structures in which trans-positioned cyanides of the Fe precursor bridge neighbouring Mn atoms, while 5 is a zigzag chain coordination polymer where two cyanide groups of the precursor in the cis mode act as bridges. The structural change from linear to zigzag may arise from the size effect of the halogens. The reversible structural transformation occurs between 3 and 3a upon the solvation-desolvation protocol and the corresponding magnetic behaviours are affected. Furthermore, in 4 and 5, the helical chains are established through hydrogen bonding of solvent molecules. From a magnetostructural point of view, within the linear chain system, the ferromagnetic coupling in 2, contrary to antiferromagnetic interactions in 3-4, is associated with the large torsion angle of C(eq)-Fe-Mn-N(O)(eq) (eq = equatorial) as well as almost the linear Mn-N≡C angle.     

Rh-catalyzed [5+1] and [4+1] cycloaddition reactions of 1,4-enyne esters with CO: a shortcut to functionalized resorcinols and cyclopentenones

We have developed novel Rh-catalyzed [n+1]-type cycloadditions of 1,4-enyne esters, which involve an acyloxy migration as a key step. The efficient preparation of functionalized resorcinols, including biaryl derivatives, from readily available 1,4-enyne esters and CO was achieved by Rh-catalyzed [5+1] cycloaddition accompanied by 1,2-acyloxy migration. When enyne esters had an internal alkyne moiety, the reaction proceeded by a [4+1]-type cycloaddition involving 1,3-acyloxy migration, leading to cyclopentenones.     

Pd/light-accelerated atom-transfer carbonylation of alkyl iodides: applications in multicomponent coupling processes leading to functionalized carboxylic acid derivatives

The atom-transfer carbonylation reaction of various alkyl iodides thereby leading to carboxylic acid esters was effectively accelerated by the addition of transition-metal catalysts under photoirradiation conditions. By using a combined Pd/hν reaction system, vicinal C-functionalization of alkenes was attained in which α-substituted iodoalkanes, alkenes, carbon monoxide, and alcohols were coupled to give functionalized esters. When alkenyl alcohols were used as acceptor alkenes, three-component coupling reactions, which were accompanied by intramolecular esterification, proceeded to give lactones. Pd-dimer complex [Pd(2)(CNMe)(6)][PF(6)](2), which is known to undergo homolysis under photoirradiation conditions, worked quite well as a catalyst in these three- or four-component coupling reactions. In this metal/radical hybrid system, both Pd radicals and acyl radicals are key players and a stereochemical study confirmed the carbonylation step proceeded through a radical carbonylation mechanism.     

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) enhances the anti-atherogenic effect of cilostazol by inhibiting ROS generation

In this study, the synergistic effect of 6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl) butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H )-quinolinone (cilostazol) and Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) was examined in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) null mice. Co-treatment with GbE and cilostazol synergistically decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ApoE null mice fed a high-fat diet. Co-treatment resulted in a significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion area compared to untreated ApoE mice. The inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules such as monocyte chemoattractant-1 (MCP-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and VCAM-1 which can initiate atherosclerosis were significantly reduced by the co-treatment of cilostazol with GbE. Further, the infiltration of macrophages into the intima was decreased by co-treatment. These results suggest that co-treatment of GbE with cilostazol has a more potent anti-atherosclerotic effect than treatment with cilostazol alone in hyperlipidemic ApoE null mice and could be a valuable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Control of peptide assembly through directional interactions

We demonstrate the self-assembly of tripeptide amphiphiles into spherical hollow capsules from linear nanoribbons via control of the molecular packing. We achieved a transition of arrangement from anisotropic to isotropic by an elaborate design of the molecular architecture.     

Total synthesis and structural revision of hericerin

The total synthesis of hericerin, a pollen growth inhibitor from Hericium erinaceum, was achieved. We found that the reported structure of hericerin should be revised to be the carbonyl regioisomer.     

Quencher-free linear beacon systems containing 2-ethynylfluorenone-labeled 2′-deoxyuridine units

In this study we synthesized the 2-ethynylfluorenone-containing deoxyuridine derivative U^FO and incorporated it at the central positions of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) in an attempt to develop a new type of quencher-free linear beacon probe and to understand the effect of functionalization of the fluorene scaffold on the photophysical properties of the fluorescent ODNs. Herein, we describe our photophysical studies of U^FO DNA probes and their application to single-nucleotide polymorphism typing.