Effect of pressure on the solubility of naphthalene in water at 25°C

Solubility of naphthalene in water was measured at 25°C and pressures up to 200 MPa. The solubility decreased with increasing pressure. From the pressure coefficient of the solubility, the volume change V accompanying the dissolution was estimated as 13.8±0.4 cm ³ -mol ^–1 . Further we estimated the volume change V _CH accompanying hydrophobic hydration as –0.1±0.6 cm ³ -mol ^–1 using the V value, the molar volume of crystalline naphthalene, and the partial molar volume of naphthalene in n-heptane. This V _CH is much larger (i.e., less negative) than that for hydrophobic hydration of alkyl-chain compounds and suggests that the hydration structure of naphthalene differs from that of alkyl-chain compounds.     

Observation of the giant stark effect in boron-nitride nanotubes

Bias dependent scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy have been used to characterize the influence of transverse electric fields on the electronic properties of boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). We find experimental evidence for the theoretically predicted giant Stark effect. The observed giant Stark effect significantly reduces the band gap of BNNTs and thus greatly enhances the utility of BNNTs for nanoscale electronic, electromechanical, and optoelectronic applications.     

Vertex‐disjoint cycles of length at most four each of which contains a specified vertex*

We obtain a sharp minimum degree condition δ (G) ≥ of a graph G of order n ≥ 3k guaranteeing that, for any k distinct vertices, G contains k vertex‐disjoint cycles of length at most four each of which contains one of the k prescribed vertices. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 37: 37–47, 2001     

Effect of tea polyphenols on glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans

In the course of our studies on the development of anti-plaque agents for prevention of dental caries, we investigated effects of some of tea preparations and their individual components on the glucan synthesis catalyzed by glucosyltransferase (GTF) from Streptococcus mutans. Extracts of green tea and black tea, and polyphenol mixtures showed appreciable inhibition in the synthesis of insoluble glucan. Among the components isolated from tea infusions, theaflavin and its mono- and digallates had potent inhibitory activities at concentrations of 1-10 mM against GTF. (+)-Catechin, (-)-epicatechin and their enantiomers had moderate inhibitory activities at these concentrations, while galloyl esters of (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-gallocatechin had increased inhibitory activities.     

Enantioselective synthesis of phomallenic acid C, an inhibitor of FAS II pathway

Enantioselective synthesis of phomallenic acid C, an inhibitor of bacterial FAS II pathway, was successful. Allenyldiyne structure was constructed by a direct anti-S_N2′ coupling of propargyl mesylate with diynylindium in the presence of palladium catalyst. Enantiomeric purity was determined by Ohrui-Akasaka method to be 83%ee.     

In situ and real-time visualisation of oxygen distribution in DMFC using a porphyrin dye compound

A luminescent porphyrin dye film has been coated onto a transparent separator on the cathode side of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) to visualise clearly oxygen distribution under operating conditions by analysing emission from the dye.     

Total synthesis of (±)-lysidicin A

Lysidicin A, which has been isolated from Lisidicie rhodostegia possesses complicated structure. A total synthesis of lysidicin A has been achieved and is described herein. The key reaction is single and cascade Claisen rearrangements.