Synthesis of [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and 2'-deoxy[5'-13C]ribonucleosides

The present efficient synthesis of [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and 2'-deoxy[5'-13C]ribonucleosides is characterized by the synthesis of the D-[5-13C]ribose derivative as an intermediate via the Wittig reaction of 4-aldehydo-D-erythrose dialkyl acetals with Ph3P13CH3I-BuLi to introduce the 13C label at the 5-position of a pentose. This was followed by the highly diastereoselective osmium dihydroxylation for the preparation of 2,3-di-O-benzyl-D-[5-13C]ribose dialkyl acetal and the cyclization from D-[5-13C]ribose dialkyl acetal derivatives to the alkyl D-[5-13C]ribofuranoside derivative by the use of LiBF(4). The obtained D-[5-13C]ribose derivative was converted into [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and subsequently into the corresponding 2'-deoxynucleosides.     

Kinetic-catalytic determination of traces of iron by the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N,N-dimethylaniline

A new kinetic-catalytic method by the initial rate procedure for the determination of nanogram level of iron(III) is developed, which is based on its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) with N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) to form an indamine dye (λ_max=590 nm) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Iron(II) is also determined, being oxidized to iron(III) by hydrogen peroxide. Calibration graphs obtained by the initial rate method are linear in the range 1–1000 ng ml⁻¹ Fe and as low as 10⁻⁸ M Fe(II, III) can easily be determined. The relative standard deviations are 6.6, 2.5 and 1.5% for ten determinations of 1, 20 and 60 ng ml⁻¹ of Fe(III), respectively. The method is applicable to the determination of iron in natural waters without preconcentration and separation.     

Theoretical studies on the alkaline hydrolysis of N-Methylcarbamates

The reaction mechanisms of the alkaline hydrolysis of N-methylcarbamates were studied using the AM1 method by assuming two possible pathways: (1) nucleophilic attack of hydroxide ion on the carbonyl carbon to give a tetrahedral complex followed by its breakdown to carbamic acid (B_AC2); and (2) proton abstraction by hydroxide ion at the nitrogen atom followed by elimination of the alkoxide ion to form N-methyl isocyanate (E1cB). Reaction coordinate analysis showed that the reaction mechanism is determined by both the stability of an intermediate and the energy barrier for elimination.     

Liquid-Crystalline copolymers and polymer blends containing electron donor and acceptor groups: Effects of mesogenic structures on the smectic phase and the miscibility

Side-chain liquid-crystalline copolymers and polymer blends containing an electron-donating (carbazolylmethylene)aniline group and electron-accepting nitrophenyl groups with various central linking groups between aromatic groups in the mesogenic units, i.e., N?CH, CH?CH, N?N, and COO, were prepared to examine effects of the mesogenic structure on thermal behaviours. The most remarkable effects of the central linking group on the thermal properties and the miscibility were observed for the polymer blends. The 1:1 miscible polymer blends were prepared from the electron-donating polymer containing (carbazolylmethylene)aniline group (PM6C_z) and the electron-accepting polymers with similar central linking groups, i.e., N?CH, CH?CH, and N?N. For example, the 1: 1 polymer blend of PM6C_z and the electron-accepting polymer containing the nitrostilbene group induced a smectic phase from 73 to 207°C. This isotropic temperature was 46°C higher than the calculated value (161°C) based on the composition without the electron donor-acceptor interaction. On the other hand, the 1: 1 polymer blend of PM6C_z and the electron-accepting polymer containing the nitrophenylbenzoate group showed phase separation. Thus, the remarkable thermal stability and the miscibility of the polymer blends containing the electron donor and acceptor groups might be caused by planar structures between the mesogenic side groups which have similar central linking groups through the electron donor-acceptor interaction. A similar tendency was seen for copolymers and binary mixtures of both low-molecular-weight compounds containing the same mesogenic groups. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio study of small acetonitrile cluster anions

Ab initio electronic structure calculations have been performed for (CH(3)CN)(2) (-) and (CH(3)CN)(3) (-) cluster anions using a diffuse basis set. We found both the dipole-bound structures and internal structures, where in the former structure an excess electron is mainly distributed on the surface of the cluster while an excess electron is internally trapped in the latter configuration. The optimized structures found for cluster anions were compared to those for neutral clusters. Potential-energy surfaces were also plotted as a function of appropriate internal coordinates in order to understand the interconversions of the optimized structures of clusters. The relative stabilities of the optimized confirmers have been discussed on the basis of the characteristics of these potential surfaces, relative energies, and electron vertical detachment energies.     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of cyanomethyl methacrylate

The kinetics of cyanomethyl methacrylate (CyMA) homopolymerization was investigated in acetonitrile with azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The rate of polymerization R_p was expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.49[CyMA]^1.2 and the overall activation energy was calculated as 72.3 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for CyMA polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k = 0.10 L^1/2s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 1.57 × 10^?5s^?. The relative reactivity ratios of CyMA(M₂) copolymerization with styrene (r₁ = 0.15, r₂ = 0.29) and methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 0.43, r₂ = 0.75) in acetonitrile were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme (in styrene copolymerization) led to Q = 1.64 and e = 0.98. The glass transition temperature T_g of poly(CyMA) was observed to be 91°C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetry of poly(CyMA) showed a 10% weight loss at 265°C in air.     

Combined analysis of microwave and infrared spectra of methyl iodide: rotational and l-type doubling constants of the v5, v3+v6 and v2 states

The rotational constant B and the l-type doubling constant q were determined for the v₅, v₃+v₆ and v₂, states of CH₂I from the microwave transition frequencies, in combination with the infrared data previously reported. Since these vibrational states were coupled through the Fermi resonance and the xy-type E-E and A₁-E Coriolis resonances, the analysis was made by setting up and solving the complete form of the secular determinants of the energy matrices. The rotational and l-type doubling constants were determined as B₅, = 0.250 173 cm^?1, B₃₆ = 0.247 600 cm^?1, B₂ = 0.249 369 cm^?1, q₅ = ?0.000 027 cm^?1 and q₃₆ = ?0.000 179 cm^?1, which are unperturbed by Fermi and Coriolis interactions. Other band constants for v₅ and v₃+v₆ were also refined in accordance with the new values of B₅ and B₃₆. The present study indicated that the combined analysis of microwave and infrared spectral data was useful for the precise determination of vibration-rotation, levels in the perturbed system.     

Polymeric arylsulfonylnitromethane: A novel polymer reagent

p-Vinylphenylsulfonylnitromethane ( 3 ) was synthesized by the reaction of sodium p-styrenesulfinate with nitromethane. Free radical copolymerizations of 3 with styrene and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone provided soluble copolymers. Conversions of RCH₂X (X = Br, OAc) with the copolymers as reagents proceeded in a different manner from the corresponding lowmolecular-weight compound, phenylsulfonylnitromethane, to afford RCOOH in addition to the expected RCH₂CH₂NO₂ and RCH₂COOH; no nitriles were formed.     

Influence of nano-structure on electrolytic properties in CeO2 based system

Doped ceria (CeO₂) compounds are fluorite type oxides that show oxygen ionic conductivity higher than yttria stabilized zirconia, in oxidizing atmosphere. In order to improve the conductivity, the effective index was suggested to maximize the oxygen ionic conductivity in doped CeO₂ based oxides. In addition, the true microstructure of doped CeO₂ was observed at atomic scale for conclusion of conduction mechanism. Doped CeO₂ had small domains (10-50 nm) with ordered structure in a grain. It is found that the electrolytic properties strongly depended on the nano-structural feature at atomic scale in doped CeO₂ electrolyte. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Saccharide-branched Cyclodextrins as Targeting Drug Carriers

A synthetic series of heptakis-galactose-branched cyclodextrins (termed CDs) having a longer spacer arm using two amino-caproic acids as an enlarging unit were prepared. Starting with heptakis-amino-β-CD or heptakis-amino-caproic-amide-β-CD, treated with galactosyl-glucono-amide-caproic acid, the new compounds heptakis (Gal-cap1)-CD (4) or heptakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (5) were obtained. The longer galactose spacer arm extremely favors the PNA association. The effect of branch length on K with PNA was enhanced up to 138-fold 3 as well as with DXR enhanced up to 81-fold. Hexakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (6) was prepared and the association constants with rat liver cells were observed to be 2.5 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹. A multi-high mannose type oligosaccharide branched CD (7) showed a large association constant with DXR up to 1.1 × 10⁹ M⁻¹. The two-dimensional map for the association constants of newly synthesized oligosaccharide-branched CDs toward lectin or liver cells versus the association constants toward a drug (doxorubicin) suggested a method of finding a better targeting drug carrier. The structural effect of the oligosaccharide-CDs showed that the number and length of the branch were dominant factors in designing for enhanced dual recognition.