Synthesis and properties of tricyclo[6.4.1.0]trideca-1,3(6),7,9,11-pentaene

A new cyclobutene-fused 1,6-methano[10]annulene was synthesized by pyrolysis of the sulfone and sulfinate adducts of 3,4-bis(methylene)-1,6-methano[10]annulene and its physical and chemical properties were disclosed.     

10B quantitative determination in ppb range by particle tracks reading for boron neutron capture therapy

Quantitative determination of ppb-order ¹⁰B was carried out in a small number of cultured tumor cells by particle tracks by the ₁₀B(n,)⁷Li reactions using solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) for boron neutron capture therapy research. The detection limit of ¹⁰B concentration in tumor cells is less than 1·10^-3 ppm under our experimental conditions which permits the quantitative determination of ¹⁰B in a small number of boronated tumor cells (10⁵/ml = ca. 0.1 mg). Boron quantities in tumor cells determined were well compatible with the tumor cell killing effects of boron neutron capture therapy.     

Synthesis of poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene

Poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) was prepared by oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidizing agent. The reaction proceeded efficiently under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. The polymer formed had a high melting temperature and linear structure which was confirmed by spectroscopies. The effects of reaction time, solvent, temperature and oxidizing agent on polymerization are also discussed.     

Snowballs of radioactive ions — nuclear spin polarization of core ions

Short-lived ions¹²B (beta-radioactive, T_1/2=20.3 ms) sustaining nuclear spin polarization were introduced into superfluid helium at 1.7 K. It was found that the¹²B ions were transported as charged entities under a static electric field and that the nuclear polarization was maintained throughout the lifetime of¹²B nuclei. Polarization of¹²B was determined through beta-NMR method. Snowball, a singly charged microcluster of helium atoms formed around an impurity ion, is responsible for the behaviour and thus constitutes a suitable environment for preserving nuclear polarization of the core ions¹²B. In a separate experiment snowballs were produced by implanting⁸Li (T_1/2=830 ms) into liquid helium and detected by means of alpha particles from the core ions to guarantee that the snowballs survive longer than the lifetime of¹²B.     

Analysis of the release process of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride from ethylcellulose matrix granules

The release properties of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) from ethylcellulose (EC, ethylcellulose 10 cps (EC#10) and/or 100 cps (EC#100)) matrix granules prepared by the extrusion granulation method were examined. The release process could be divided into two parts, and was well analyzed by applying square-root time law and cube root law equations, respectively. The validity of the treatments was confirmed by the fitness of the simulation curve with the measured curve. At the initial stage, PPA was released from the gel layer of swollen EC in the matrix granules. At the second stage, the drug existing below the gel layer dissolved, and was released through the gel layer. Also, the time and release ratio at the connection point of the simulation curves was examined to determine the validity of the analysis. Comparing the release properties of PPA from the two types of EC matrix granules, EC#100 showed more effective sustained release than EC#10. On the other hand, changes in the release property of the EC#10 matrix granule were relatively more clear than that of the EC#100 matrix granule. Thus, it was supposed that EC#10 is more available for controlled and sustained release formulations than EC#100.     

A molecular-beam study of the collision dynamics of methane and ethane upon a graphitic monolayer on Pt(111)

Utilizing a supersonic molecular-beam scattering technique, the angular intensity distributions of alkane molecules (CH4 and C2H6) have been measured, which are scattered from a chemically inert and highly oriented monolayer graphite (MG) on Pt(111). A MG which covers the Pt(111) surface with a full monolayer is found to induce a large energy loss of alkanes during collision with the surface by phonon creation due to the large mass ratio of an alkane molecule with respect to MG. Based on the classical cube model, only applicable to the molecules without internal mode excitation, the effective masses of MG of 76 (six atoms of carbon) and Pt(111) of 585 (three atoms of platinum) are determined from rare-gas atom scattering data. Despite the difference in the degree of freedom between CH4 and rare-gas atoms, CH4 scattering is found to be well described by the simple hard-cube model as a result of the high symmetry of the CH4 structure. With the recently developed ellipsoid-washboard model, an extension of the hard-cube model to include some internal mode excitation of impinging molecules in addition to the surface corrugation, it is found that unlike CH4 the cartwheel rotation mode of C2H6 is significantly excited during collision, while the helicopter mode excitation is negligible on a flat MG surface.     

Effect of ammonium groups on the properties and alkaline stability of poly(arylene ether)‐based anion exchange membranes

Five kinds of ammonium groups functionalized partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether) block copolymer membranes were prepared for investigating the structure–property relationship as anion exchange membranes (AEMs). Consequently, the pyridine (PYR)‐modified membrane showed the highest alkaline and hydrazine stability in terms of the conductivity, water uptake, and dry weight. The chloromethylated precursor block copolymers were reacted with amines, such as trimethylamine, N‐butyldimethylamine, 1‐methylimidazole, 1,2‐dimethylimidazole, and PYR to provide the target quaternized poly(arylene ether)s. The structures of the polymers, as well as model compounds and oligomers were well characterized by ¹H NMR spectra. The obtained AEMs were subjected to water uptake and hydroxide ion conductivity measurements and stabilities in aqueous alkaline and hydrazine media. The pyridinium‐functionalized quaternized polymers membrane showed the highest alkaline and hydrazine stability with minor losses in the conductivity, water uptake, and dry weight. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 383–389