Determination of Enantiomeric Excess in Amine Derivatives with Molecular Self‐Assemblies

We report the first fluorescence‐based assay for the rapid determination of the ee value of amines, amino alcohols, and amino acid esters. The method uses the self‐assembly of 2‐formylphenylboronic acid with a chiral diol and a chiral amine or derivatives (of unknown chirality) to produce two diastereomeric iminoboronates that differ in their fluorescence intensity and polarization. The approach allows for the accurate determination of the ee value of chiral amines with errors of just 1–2 %. We believe that this application of orthogonal dynamic covalent self‐assembly in the determination of the enantioselectivity will lead to the development of high‐throughput procedures for the determination of chirality.     

Photon‐Quantitative 6π‐Electrocyclization of a Diarylbenzo[b]thiophene in Polar Medium

The high reactivity of 6π‐electrocyclization in polar solvents has remained one of the important challenges for diarylethenes because of the emergence of a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state at the excited state in such polar media, which usually quenches the photocyclization reaction. Herein we report on the preparation and highly efficient photocyclization of 2,3‐diarylbenzo[b]thiophenes with nonsymmetric side‐aryl units in a polar solvent. While the dithiazolylbenzo[b]thiophene showed a suppressed quantum yield of 6π‐electrocyclization of 54 % in methanol, the replacement of a thiazole unit with a thiophene ring led to a photon‐quantitative 6π‐cyclization reaction. The nonsymmetrical modification into the side‐aryl units was considered to enhance the CH/π interactions between side‐aryl units to support a photoreactive conformation in methanol. The stabilization of the photochromic reactive conformation is expected to suppress the formation of the TICT state at the excited state, leading to highly efficient photoreactivity.     

A new mathematical formula to link near equilibrium relaxation kinetics and conformational selection steps in enzymatic reactions

A new mathematical formula was derived for near equilibrium relaxation processes of enzyme reactions including the conformational selection (CS) modes. CS is one of the most accepted molecular recognition mechanisms, in which protein conformers (CS conformers) are in an equilibrium with varying degrees of ligand binding affinity so that ligands select a particular conformer among them to bind. Using computer simulation techniques, our previous study (Egawa and Callender in Math Biosci 313: 61–70, 2019) predicted that the rate constant for the near equilibrium relaxation processes (k_NER) and the concentration-sum of substrate and product (C_L^t) of enzyme reactions uniquely related to the presence of CS steps in a manner that 1/k_NER versus C_L^t plot transformed from linear to quadratic as the elementary rate constants of inter-conversions among the CS conformers were becoming smaller relative to the rate constants at other steps of the enzymatic reaction system. Thus our previous work could provide a potential tool to detect the presence of CS steps in an enzyme reaction simply by assays using only trace amount of enzyme samples, although logical basis to have the quadratic deformation in the 1/k_NER versus C_L^t plot in response to the presence of CS steps could not be clarified. Employing mathematical approaches that were alternative to those in our previous study, this study succeeded in deriving a theoretical equation that fully explained why and how the CS modes caused the quadratic characters in the 1/k_NER versus C_L^t plot.

     

Enhanced Photocurrent Generation in Self-Assembled Monolayers Formed at Plasmonic Gold Nanostructures

The effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) appearing at the surfaces of gold nanoparticles (AuPs) was successfully applied for the enhancement of photocurrents from porphyrin ( Po ) immobilized on AuPs. The electrode consisting of AuPs with different sizes (∼15 or ∼35 nm) was prepared using the AuP film formed at the liquid/liquid interface, and then Po was self-assembled on the gold surface. The SPR effect for the AuP film was verified from the attenuated total reflection SPR and absorption measurements. Photocurrents from the modified electrodes were compared with the corresponding planar electrode. Appreciable enhancement of photocurrents was observed.     

Separation of yttrium(III) from iron(III) through liquid membrane impregnated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid

The selective transport of yttrium(III) in the presence of iron(III) through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) has been investigated by using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) as a mobile carrier. Yttrium(III) with fast kinetics was preferentially transported from the feed solution of dilute acid into the product solution of 1M H₂SO₄, while most of iron(III) with slow kinetics remained in the feed solution. The effective separation of yttrium(III) from a large amount of iron(III) was accomplished by the selective transport of yttrium(III) through the SLM.     

Extraction of Alkali Metal (Na—Cs) Picrates with Dibenzo-18-crown-6 into Various Organic Solvents. Elucidation of Fundamental Equilibria which Govern the Extraction-Ability and -Selectivity

In order to quantitatively investigate effects of the size, the structuralrigidity, and the lipophilicity of dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) on itsextraction-ability and -selectivity for alkali metal ions, constants of theoverall extraction (Kex), the distribution for various diluents of lowdielectric constants (K_D,MLA), and the aqueous ion-pairformation (K_MLA) of DB18C6-alkali metal (Na-—Cs) picrate 1:1:1 complexes were determined at 25°C; the partition constants of DB18C6 itself were also measured at 25°C. The log K_MLA of Na, K, Rb, and Cs are -0.14 ± 0.11, 1.30 ± 0.10, 1.00 ± 0.09, and 0.24 ± 0.11, respectively. The partition behavior of DB18C6 and its1:1:1 complexes with the alkali metal picrates can be clearly explained byregular solution theory, except for chloroform. The molar volumes andsolubility parameters of DB18C6 and the 1:1:1 complexes were determined.A relation between molar volumes of the complexes and K_MLAis discussed. The magnitude of Kex is largely determined by that ofK_D,MLA. For every diluent, the extraction selectivity of DB18C6increases in the order Na > Cs > Rb > K. The K extraction-selectivity of DB18C6 over Na is the highest among all the combinations of the two neighboring alkali metals in the periodic table. The extraction-ability and -selectivity for the alkalimetal picrates and their change with the diluent of DB18C6 were completely elucidated by the four fundamental equilibria and regular solution theory.     

Nambu Mechanics in the Lagrangian Formalism

A Lagrangian formulation is presented as the counterpart of the Hamiltonian onefor Nambu mechanics which is a natural generalization of Hamiltonian mechanics.If we postulate the existence of plural Lagrangians corresponding to the existenceof plural Hamiltonians, we can formulate the Lagrangian formalism in Nambumechanics as well as in Hamiltonian mechanics. Here, in terms of exteriordifferentiation, Nambu mechanics can be formulated in a completely parallel wayto ordinary analytical mechanics, including generalized Legendre transformations.     

Separation of Americium from Europium Using Liquid Membrane Impregnated with Organodithiophosphinic Acid

The selective transport of Am across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) has been investigated by using bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 301) as a mobile carrier. This extractant containing soft donor atoms exhibits strong affinity for actinoids, giving a large separation factor between trivalent Am and Eu. Separation of Am from Eu was achieved by an SLM containing highly purified Cyanex 301. Americium was preferentially transported across the SLM and concentrated in the product solution, while most of Eu remained in the feed solution.     

Gelation Rate Modulation of an α‐Cyclodextrin and Poly(ethylene glycol)‐Grafted Hyaluronic Acid Solution System by Inclusion Complexation of a Microphase‐Separated Structure

Summary: The gelation rate of a poly(ethylene glycol)‐grafted hyaluronic acid (PEG‐graft‐HA) solution with adding α‐CD was investigated in term of the microphase separation between the grafted PEG and HA. The gelation rate of PEG‐graft‐HA exhibiting the microphase‐separated structure was two times higher than that of PEG‐graft‐HA showing a homogeneous miscible state.

The formation of microphases by PEG‐graft‐HA contributes to its rapid gelation upon the addition of α‐CDs.     

A Peptide‐Cyclodextrin Hybrid System Capable of Detecting Guest Molecules Utilizing Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

Summary: A cyclodextrin‐peptide hybrid bearing coumarin and fluorescein on the peptide side chain has been designed and synthesized as a novel chemosensor molecule utilizing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Inclusion of coumarin into β‐cyclodextrin protects this system against fluorescent quenching, so that FRET occurs though donor and acceptor moieties nearby. FRET is diminished upon the addition of various guest compounds, suggesting that this system is useful for detecting molecules in aqueous solution.

A cyclodextrin‐peptide hybrid bearing coumarin and fluorescein on the peptide side chain.