Thermal and palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] synthesis of cyclopentadienone acetals from cyclopropenone acetals and acetylenes

[reaction: see text] Substituted cyclopentadienone acetals (CPDAs) were synthesized by a thermal or palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of a substituted cyclopropenone acetal to an electron-deficient acetylene. The synthesis afforded di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted CPDAs of considerable structural varieties that undergo Diels-Alder reaction to produce bicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes.     

Numerical analysis of the behavior of hydrogen added into a free-burning arc

The objective of the present work is to investigate the behavior of hydrogen in an atmospheric-pressure free-burning argon are when a small amount of hydrogen is added into the arc. A two-dimensional model calculation is carried out under the assumption that the ionization reaction of argon is in equilibrium and the reactions among hydrogen molecules, atoms, ions, and electrons are not necessarily in equilibrium. This calculation gives the following conclusion. The hydrogen mass fraction of 0.001 is too small to affect the flow and temperature fields markedly, and the concentration ratios among the hydrogen species are in equilibrium in the greater part of the arc region except for same parts with a steep temperature gradient. The hydrogen mass Junction, however, is not uniform in the me and, especially in the high-temperature region near the cathodes, over three dynes mass fraction of the hydrogen accumulates and flows downstream to cause a high flux of hydrogen atom toward the anode. This phenomena can be explained by the large difference between the diffusivity of hydrogen atom and that of hydrogen ion in argon ion.     

Evaluation of homogeneity of binary blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(L-lactic acid) studied by near infrared chemical imaging (NIRCI).

The homogeneity of blends of poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was evaluated by the near infrared chemical imaging (NIRCI) technique. NIRCI can nondestructively investigate a sample over a wide field of view within a few minutes to acquire a large number of spatially resolved NIR spectral data. NIRCI may be combined with multivariate analysis not only for qualitative analysis but also for statistically based quantitative analysis. The score images derived from the partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis directly show that PHB/PLLA blends are highly homogeneous. The standard deviations (STD) of the histograms, indicating the distribution of the score values, show small values for the blends. These results qualitatively and quantitatively show the high level of homogeneity of PHB/PLLA blends. The predictions of the spatially averaged concentrations of the blend components obtained from PLSR results show values similar to the actual contents for the blends. The small errors of the predictions are also explained by STD values.     

Double tracer whole body autoradiography using a short-lived positron emitter and a long-lived beta emitter

We investigated glucose and amino acid metabolism in tumors and other organs using whole body autoradiography with a short-lived positron emitter and a long-lived beta emitter. The radioactive compounds used were 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) with a half life of 109.8 min and L-[methyl-14C]-methionine (14C-MET) with a half life of 5,730 years. A Donryu rat weighing about 150 g was subcutaneously inoculated at the back with experimental tumors of AH109A and AH272. 74 MBq (2 mCi) of 18F-FDG and 740 kBq (20 microCi) of 14C-MET was administered and after 30 min, the rat was sacrificed. Whole body frozen sections were obtained using autocryotome. For the 18F-FDG autoradiogram, the frozen sections were exposed to an X-ray film for 6 h. After seven days, these frozen sections were again exposed to 14C-MET for a week. Cross-contamination was minimized by adjusting the exposure time, the interval of exposures and the administered dose. The accumulation of the tracers was represented as the optical density ratio of the tissue of interest to the muscle. The tumor ratios were 12.5 for 18F-FDG and 8.6 for 14C-MET showing the highest accumulation in the whole body autoradiogram. In contrast the inflammatory tissue ratios were 1.27 for 18F-FDG and 0.77 for 14C-MET showing very low amino acid metabolism. With the present double tracer whole body autoradiogram, 18F-FDG accumulation was seen in the brain and the heart but not to the liver as against 14C-MET accumulation which was seen to the liver but not to the brain and the heart.     

Spreading of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine on the surface of sodium deoxycholate aqueous solution

The surface pressure vs. mokcular surface area relations for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) insoluble monolayer and sodium deoxycholate (SDC) adsorbed monolayer,L and D1, respectively, were obtained from the analyses of surface tensions measured by the Wilhelmy glass plate. Also, D1 was obtained by a drop-weight method. Next, the surface pressure time course,(t), of the SDC aq. was measured by the Wilhelmy plate before and after DPPC was spread on the liquid surface. At DPPC spreading,(t) jumped to a maximum,, and decreased along an exponential curve. The values of with various surface amounts of DPPC and bulk concentrations of SDC were analyzed using a dual surface-region model. The model enabled the estimation of. For better fitting, modified relations were constructed in place of D1. The exponential decrease of(t) was also observed on the SDC adsorbed monolayer which was rapidly compressed by a moving barrier. The(t) relaxation rate constants of the SDC monolayers which were compressed by DPPC spreading and the moving barrier agreed with each other, suggesting a desorption of SDC from the surface.     

Selective chemical vapor deposition synthesis of double-wall carbon nanotubes on mesoporous silica

Double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) have been selectively synthesized over Fe/Co loaded mesoporous silica by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of alcohol. Several silica materials with desired pore diameter and morphology have been investigated for the DWNT growth. The diameter distribution and selectivity of the DWNT are found to depend on the reaction temperature, pore size, and thermal stability of the support material. A high-yield synthesis of DWNTs has been achieved at 900 degrees C over high-temperature stable mesoporous silica. The outer diameter of DWNTs is found to be in the range of 1.5-5.4 nm with a "d" spacing of 0.38 +/- 0.02 nm between inner and outer layers, which is much larger than those of multiwall carbon nanotubes.     

Comparative studies on 99mTc-pyrophosphate and 85Sr-chloride for skeletal imaging

In order to know the potential merits of 99mTc-pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) skeletal imaging, a comparative study was carried out by administering to the rabbit 85Sr-chloride (85Sr), classical bone-seeking agent, and 99mTc-PY simultaneously. Radioisotopic distribution was investigated as regards their deposition in the pelvic bones, and sharpness of the skeletal scintigrams, too. Both agents were remarkably affinitive to the skeletal system and there were remarkably differences in their temporal deposition pattern. Marked deposition was observed of either agent in the metaphyses. With 99mTc-PYP, the vertebral and costal systems were delineated symmetrically and each vertebral body was distinctly depicted as such 99mTc-PYP many possess the following merits over 85Sr; (1) owing to its physical properties, sufficiently large radioactivity of 99mTc-can be administered; (2) body burden of radiation absorption is reduced; (3) skeletal scintigrams of high quality are obtainable in a short period of time.     

Electrodeposition of manganese and molybdenum mixed oxide thin films and their charge storage properties

Manganese and molybdenum mixed oxides in a thin film form were deposited anodically on a platinum substrate by cycling the electrode potential between 0 and +1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl in aqueous manganese(II) solutions containing molybdate anion (MoO(4)2-). A possible mechanism for the film formation is as follows. First, electrooxidation of Mn2+ ions with H2O yields Mn oxide and protons. Then, the protons being accumulated near the electrode surface react with MoO(4)2- to form polyoxomolybdate through a dehydrated condensation reaction (by protonation and dehydration). The condensed product coprecipitates with the Mn oxide. Cyclic voltammetry of the Mn/Mo oxide film-coated electrode in aqueous 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution exhibited a pseudocapacitive behavior with higher capacitance and better rate capability than that of the pure Mn oxide prepared similarly, most likely as a result of an increase in electrical conductivity of the film. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy clearly demonstrated that the observed pseudocapacitive behavior results from reversible extraction/insertion of hydrated protons to balance the charge upon oxidation/reduction of Mn3+/Mn4+ in the film.     

A novel boron-rich quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc3.67−xB41.4−y−zC0.67+zSi0.33−w

A novel quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc_3.67−xB_41.4−y−zC_0.67+zSi_0.33−w was found. Single crystallites were obtained as an intergrowth phase in the float-zoned single crystal of Sc_0.83−xB_10.0−yC_0.17+ySi_0.083−z that has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Single crystal structure analysis revealed that the compound has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants a = b = 1.43055(8) nm and c = 2.37477(13) nm and space group (No. 187). The crystal composition calculated from the structure analysis for the crystal with x = 0.52, y = 1.42, z = 1.17, and w = 0.02 was ScB_12.3C_0.58Si_0.10 and that agreed rather well with the composition of ScB_11.5C_0.61Si_0.04 measured by EPMA. In the crystal structure that is a new structure type of boron-rich borides, there are 79 structurally independent atomic sites, 69 boron and/or carbon sites, two silicon sites and eight scandium sites. Boron and carbon form seven structurally independent B₁₂ icosahedra, one B₉ polyhedron, one B₁₀ polyhedron, one irregularly shaped B₁₆ polyhedron in which only 10.7 boron atoms are available because of partial occupancies and 10 bridging sites. All polyhedron units and bridging site atoms interconnect each other forming a three-dimensional boron framework structure. Sc atoms reside in the open spaces in the boron framework structure.     

Oligothiophene-containing coumarin dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

We have developed oligothiophene-containing coumarin dyes fully functionalized for dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO(2) solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs based on the dyes gave good performance in terms of incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) in the range of 400-800 nm. A solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (eta) of 7.4% was obtained with a DSSC based on 2-cyano-3-[5'-(1,1,6,6-tetramethyl-10-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-1H,4H,10H-11-oxa-3a-aza-benzo[de]anthracen-9-yl)-[2,2']bithiophenyl-5-yl]acrylic acid (NKX-2677) under simulated AM 1.5G irradiation (100 mW cm(-2)) with a mask: short-circuit current density (J(sc)) = 13.5 mA cm(-2); open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) = 0.71 V; fill factor (FF) = 0.77. Transient absorption spectroscopy measurements indicated that electron injection from NKX-2677 to the conduction band of TiO(2) is very rapid (<100 fs), which is much faster than the emission lifetime of the dye (1.0 ns), giving a highly efficient electron injection yield of near unity.