Addition of carboxyalkyl radicals to alkenes through a catalytic process,using a Mn(II)/Co(II)/O2 redox system

A novel strategy for production of mono- and dicarboxylic acids by the addition of carboxyalkyl radicals to alkenes and dienes, respectively, was successfully developed through a catalytic process with use of Mn(II)/Co(II)/O(2) system. Thus, a variety of carboxylic acids were prepared by the reaction of alkenes and dienes with acid anhydrides in the presence of a very small amount of Mn(OAc)(2) (0.5 mol %) and Co(OAc)(2) (0.1 mol %) under dilute dioxygen.     

The Effect of Cold Stress on UVB Injury in Mouse Skin and Cultured Keratinocytes

Abstract— The effect of cold stress on skin damage caused by UVB irradiation was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Ear skin of mice that had been exposed to cold stress at 0°C for 20 min and at 5°C for 24 h was exposed to UVB radiation. Sunburn cell production was less in mice exposed to the lower temperature. In addition, the effect of cold stress on the survival rate of UVB-irradiated rat keratinocytes was examined in a cytotoxicity test, with the results showing that keratinocytes exposed to cold stress of 0°C had a higher survival rate than control cells. To pursue a promising clue for explaining the result, we examined metallothionein (MT) production in rat keratinocytes that had been exposed to cold stress at 0°C. Microfluorometric quantification showed a positive correlation between the time course and the intensity of immunofluorescence for MT, indicating that the molecule is inducible by exposure to cold stress in our experimental system. These results suggest that epidermal cells that have been exposed to cold stress maintain a higher resistance to UV radiation than nonexposed controls in vivo and in vitro , and that MT with radical-scavenging activity might contribute, at least in part, to photoprotection against UVB-induced oxidative damage in mammalian skin.     

Acylation of Alcohols and Amines with Vinyl Acetates Catalyzed by Cp(2)Sm(thf)(2)

Cp(2)Sm(thf)(2) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the acylation of alcohols and amines with esters under mild conditions. In the present acylation, vinyl and isopropenyl acetates served as good acylating agents. Thus, a variety of alcohols and amines underwent acylation with vinyl and isopropenyl acetates in the presence of Cp(2)Sm(thf)(2) to give the corresponding esters and amides in good to excellent yields. This catalytic acylation of alcohols and amines offers an additional useful method by the use of various esters, instead of acid anhydrides and acid chlorides, as acylating agents under very mild conditions.     

Theory of chemical bonds in metalloenzymes IV: Hybrid‐DFT study of Rieske‐type [2Fe?2S] clusters

The Rieske‐type [2Fe? 2S] cores of electron‐transfer (ET) proteins in the mitochondrial respiratory chain have unusual properties, such as redox potentials and spectroscopy. In this study, part IV of a series, the inherent molecular structures and characteristic electronic structures of the Rieske‐type [2Fe? 2S] clusters are investigated using broken‐symmetry hybrid density functional theory (BS‐HDFT). Geometry optimizations for the oxidized and reduced states were performed and their characteristic vibrational modes are assigned. Magnetic properties are investigated using model Hamiltonians to describe the electron delocalization and the unsymmetric property. The parameters of the model Hamiltonian, such as exchange coupling J, valence delocalization B, and potential energy difference Δ, are evaluated from the BS‐HDFT calculations. The valence localization and excitation energy (ΔE) of the Rieske‐type [2Fe? 2S] cluster are discussed. The chemical bond nature is characterized by chemical indices from natural orbital analysis. Our theoretical results are reasonably consistent with experimental results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Fluorescence-based assay with enzyme amplification on a micro-flow immunosensor chip for monitoring coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls

Detection of pollutants is of significant importance for environmental protection. However, conventional monitoring methods are often time-consuming, and require expensive equipments. Biosensors based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) provide an alternative method to conventional ones. In this research, the reduction in the size of ELISA utilizing micro-chemical reaction is described in a micro-flow immunosensor chip. The immunosensor chips were fabricated by micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology. The quantitative determination of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) was performed by using a micro-flow immunosensor chip. Polystyrene beads were used as the solid substrate for the immobilization of Co-PCB antibody. The antibody-immobilized beads were introduced into the flow channel. As a competitive ELISA, sample solution mixed with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated antigen, and non-HRP conjugated antigen was allowed to react in the flow channel. After the antigen-antibody reaction, addition of phosphate buffer solution containing hydrogen peroxide and the fluorogenic substrate produced a fluorescent dye, which was monitored with the resulting change in the fluorescence intensity. By using our micro-flow immunosensor chip, it was possible to determine the sensing range of Co-PCB derivatives up to 0.1 ppt in 30 s. This immunosensor chip had a wide linear range for Co-PCB detection from 0.1 pg/ml to 1.0 μg/ml. The regression analysis provided the correlation coefficients of r = 0.982−0.964 with good reproducibility and precision. In a series of five measurements with immunosensor chips prepared with a new batch of antibody-immobilized polystyrene beads, a relative standard deviation of 21.3% was obtained. Our immunosensor chip design reported here has the potential to be implemented to several different detection methodologies for numerous analytes.     

Cyclic isothioureido compounds. II. Reaction of trans-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydronaphth[1,2-d]-imidazoline-2-thiones with α-bromoketones

The reaction of trans-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydronaphth[1,2-d]imidazoline-2-thiones ( 8 ) with α-bromoketones gave, depending upon the structure of the α-bromoketones, reaction solvent and reaction temperature, the hydrobromides of tetrahydronaphth[1,2-d]imidazolin-2-ylthiomethyl ketone ( 10 ), hexahydro-8-hydroxynaphth[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles ( 5, 11, 19 and 20 ) or tetrahydronaphth[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]-thiazoles ( 12 and 16 ). Structural determinations based on ir and nmr spectroscopies are discussed.     

On Galois representations arising from towers of coverings of P1\{0, 1, ∞}

Summary We propose a new way to describe, universally, thel-adic Galois representations associated to each almost pro-l tower of etale coverings ofP ¹\{0, 1, }. This generalizes our universal power series for Jacobi sums (cf. [I]) which arises from the tower of Fermat curves of degreel ⁿ (n), and contains the case of the tower of modular curves of level 2ml ⁿ (m: fixed,n) as another important special case. As a fundamental tool, we shall establish and use an almost pro-l version of the theorems of Blanchfield and of Lyndon in Fox free differential calculus.     

Control of chemical reaction involving dissolved oxygen using magnetic field gradient

This study investigated the control of dissolved oxygen concentration using magnetic forces from gradient magnetic fields near a Nd–Fe–B permanent magnet. Maximum values of magnetic flux density and the product of the magnetic flux density and its gradient were 0.63 T and 44 T²/m, respectively. The magnet was placed under a Petri dish filled with 15 ml of 10% ammonia water. The Petri dish had a copper sheet in the center. Absorbance of tetraamminecopper(II) complex produced by the reaction in oxygen was measured using a spectrophotometer to observe oxygen concentration. Results showed that the magnetic field quantitatively enhanced tetraamminecopper(II) complex production. Moreover, remarkable enhancement of the copper complex production occurred in the magnetic field at less than 2 mm depth. The calculated magnetic force increase near the magnet surface supports this result. These results show that greater enhancement of the reaction rate occurs when the stronger magnetic force acts on oxygen molecules.     

Cationic graft copolymerization of styrene onto natural rubber

The polymerization of styrene was carried out in a cyclohexane solution of natural rubber with stannic chloride. It was found that the grafting copolymerizations of styrene took place as well as the cyclization of rubber. The rate of polymerization of styrene was proportional to the second power of the concentration of styrene and to the concentrations of stannic chloride and natural rubber, respectively. The overall activation energy was about 6 kcal./mole. The percentage grafting increased with increasing concentration of rubber. On the other hand, the grafting efficiency showed the reverse tendency. The percentage grafting could be increased to 150% by the addition of nitrobenzene, a polar solvent.     

Catalytic effect of nanoparticle 3d-transition metals on hydrogen storage properties in magnesium hydride MgH2 prepared by mechanical milling

We examined the catalytic effect of nanoparticle 3d-transition metals on hydrogen desorption (HD) properties of MgH(2) prepared by mechanical ball milling method. All the MgH(2) composites prepared by adding a small amount of nanoparticle Fe(nano), Co(nano), Ni(nano), and Cu(nano) metals and by ball milling for 2 h showed much better HD properties than the pure ball-milled MgH(2) itself. In particular, the 2 mol % Ni(nano)-doped MgH(2) composite prepared by soft milling for a short milling time of 15 min under a slow milling revolution speed of 200 rpm shows the most superior hydrogen storage properties: A large amount of hydrogen ( approximately 6.5 wt %) is desorbed in the temperature range from 150 to 250 degrees C at a heating rate of 5 degrees C/min under He gas flow with no partial pressure of hydrogen. The EDX micrographs corresponding to Mg and Ni elemental profiles indicated that nanoparticle Ni metals as catalyst homogeneously dispersed on the surface of MgH(2). In addition, it was confirmed that the product revealed good reversible hydriding/dehydriding cycles even at 150 degrees C. The hydrogen desorption kinetics of catalyzed and noncatalyzed MgH(2) could be understood by a modified first-order reaction model, in which the surface condition was taken into account.