Synthesis of α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones from acrylates and 1,3-dioxolanes using N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as a key catalyst

A new route to α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones through three-component radical coupling of 1,3-dioxoranes, acrylates, and molecular oxygen using N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as a key catalyst has been developed. For example, the addition of 1,3-dioxarane to methyl acrylate under dioxygen by NHPI followed by catalytic hydrogenation of the resulting adduct on Pd/C afforded α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone in good yield. This method provides a facile approach to α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones, which are difficult to synthesize by conventional methods.     

Association behavior of a nitrilotriacetic-acid-modified dye in a poly(vinyl alcohol) film containing Ni(II)-adsorbed gold nanoparticles.

The association behavior of the dyes 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-modified 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (F-NTA) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) film and in a PVA film containing metal nanoparticles is investigated. Well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNps) and Ni(II)-adsorbed AuNps are formed in the PVA film using in situ photochemical fabrication method. 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and F-NTA are doped into the films. The F-NTA forms an H-aggregate in the PVA film containing Ni(II)-adsorbed AuNps. It is suggested that the interaction between NTA and Ni(II) adsorbed on the AuNps promotes the formation of the H-aggregate.     

Raman spectroscopic studies on methane + tetrafluoromethane mixed-gas hydrate system

Raman spectra of intramolecular vibration mode for each guest species in the methane + tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) mixed-gas hydrate crystal have been measured at 291.1 K. Both of pure guest species generate the structure-I hydrate in the present pressure ranges. Isothermal phase-equilibrium curve exhibits two discontinuous points around the equilibrium methane compositions (water-free) in the gas phase of 0.3 and 0.8. At the above points, the Raman spectra of both guest molecules have been drastically changed. One of the most important findings is that the crystal of methane + tetrafluoromethane mixed-gas hydrate shows the structural phase-transition (from the structure-I to the structure-II and back to the structure-I) caused by composition changes.     

Preparation of monodisperse SiO2 nanoparticles by membrane emulsification using ideally ordered anodic porous alumina

Monodisperse SiO2 particles of nanometer dimensions were fabricated by membrane emulsification using ideally ordered anodic porous alumina. For the preparation of monodisperse emulsion droplets, the dispersed phase was pressed through a porous alumina membrane into the continuous phase. After solidification treatment of the emulsion droplets, prepared spherical SiO2 nanoparticles with uniform sizes were obtained. From scanning electron microscope observation of the obtained particles, it was confirmed that the size distribution of SiO2 nanoparticles is relatively narrow.     

Supramolecular triangular and linear arrays of metal-radical solids using pyrazolato-silver(I) motifs

New chelating radical ligands pzNNH, pzINH, and pzbisINH (3-pyrazolyl nitronyl nitroxide, 3-pyrazolyl imino nitroxide, and pyrazole-3,5-diyl bis(imino nitroxide), respectively) were prepared. Complexation of these ligands with Ag+ gave [Ag(pzNN)]n, [Ag(pzIN)]6, and [Ag(pzbisIN)]n containing the corresponding anionic forms of the ligands. From the X-ray crystal structure analysis, [Ag(pzIN)]6 was characterized as a dimer of almost planar triangular moieties where the pyrazolate worked as a bridge, and metal-metal bonds brought about dimerization of triangles. [Ag(pzbisIN)]n was characterized as a uniform zigzag chain consisting of pyrazolate bridges and Ag ions with a cis-Npz-Ag-Npz coordination structure. Antiferromagnetic interactions observed could be analyzed based on the structures determined for both compounds. Ferromagnetic coupling was observed in [Ag(pzNN)]n, and a polymeric structure was assumed although the crystal structure could not be determined. Novel supramolecular architectures using pyrazolate-substituted imino nitroxides have been developed, using the unique coordinative versatility of the pyrazolate derivatives     

Partial molar volume of proteins studied by the three-dimensional reference interaction site model theory

The three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory is applied to the analysis of hydration effects on the partial molar volume of proteins. For the native structure of some proteins, the partial molar volume is decomposed into geometric and hydration contributions using the 3D-RISM theory combined with the geometric volume calculation. The hydration contributions are correlated with the surface properties of the protein. The thermal volume, which is the volume of voids around the protein induced by the thermal fluctuation of water molecules, is directly proportional to the accessible surface area of the protein. The interaction volume, which is the contribution of electrostatic interactions between the protein and water molecules, is apparently governed by the charged atomic groups on the protein surface. The polar atomic groups do not make any contribution to the interaction volume. The volume differences between low- and high-pressure structures of lysozyme are also analyzed by the present method.     

Synthesis of dehydroxy-trans-resorcylide by intramolecular alkylation of the protected cyanohydrin using a butadiene telomer as a building block

Dehydrroxy-trans-resorcylide ($\text{15}$) was synthesized by efficient intramolecular alkylation of the protected cyanohydrin. The butadiene telomer obtained by the palladium catalyzed reaction of butadiene with acetic acid was used as a suitable block of the carbocycle.     

Laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system using an optical parametric oscillator for tunable detection in microchip analysis

A laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system based on optical parametric oscillation has been constructed as a tunable detector for microchip analysis. The detection limit of sulforhodamine B (Ex. 520 nm, Em. 570 nm) was 0.2 mol, which was approximately eight orders of magnitude better than with a conventional fluorophotometer. The system was applied to the determination of fluorescence-labeled DNA (Ex. 494 nm, Em. 519 nm) in a microchannel and the detection limit reached a single molecule. These results showed the feasibility of this system as a highly sensitive and tunable fluorescence detector for microchip analysis.     

Direct targeting of human plasma for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and analysis of plasma proteins by time of flight-mass spectrometry

A method to analyze human plasma proteins without fractionation, directly applying a plasma-matrix mixture on the target plate of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS), has been described. Peaks of ionized plasma proteins could not be detected applying a mixture of an undiluted plasma sample and a matrix solution, but they appeared when the plasma was diluted before mixing with the matrix. Tenfold diluted plasma provided well-resolved protein peaks in the m/z range from 4000 to 30,000. The addition of a simple post-crystallization washing procedure performed on the target plate further improved the quality of mass spectra. We numbered 58 peaks in the range of 4-160 kDa and 32 out of which were assigned to the plasma protein species which have been reported. Especially high sensitivity and resolution were obtained in the region < 30 kDa, where multiple isoforms of apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, apolipoprotein C-I, apolipoprotein C-II, apolipoprotein C-III, and transthyretin could be assigned. Various post-translational modifications are involved in the isoforms, e.g., proteolytic cleavage, glycosylation and chemical modifications. This method will become complementary with the present electrophoretic techniques, especially for the analysis of low-molecular-mass proteins.     

Multipoint recognition of catecholamines by hydrindacene-based receptors accompanied by the complexation-induced conformational switching

The molecular recognition of catecholamines by hydrindacene-based receptors 1 and 2, as well as the durene-based receptor 3, and the guest-induced conformational changes are reported. These receptors selectively bind adrenaline and dopamine salts through the guests' ammonium group and 3-hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring. In the case of adrenaline, an additional hydrogen bond with a benzylic hydroxyl group is formed. In 2 % CD3CN/CDCl3, the association constants are of the order of 10(4) M(-1), which is much larger than with guests without the 3-hydroxyl groups (10(3) M(-1)). The two amide groups of receptor 1 can rotate freely around the C(aromatic)--C(amide) bond, whereas the tert-amide in 2 changes between two stable conformations at a slow enough rate to allow detection by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. In the absence of a guest molecule, the syn-conformer is less stable than the anti-conformer. On complex formation with adrenaline, the syn-conformer becomes dominant due to an intramolecular dipole-reversal effect in addition to multipoint hydrogen bonding.