Optical coupling characteristics of graded-index type photonic crystal fiber collimator depending on air hole diameter ratio to pitch

Optical Review - A graded-index type photonic crystal fiber (GI-PCF) has a graded effective index distribution that can be realized by an α-power air hole diameter distribution in radial...     

Diisobutylaluminum hydride-promoted cyclization of silylated 1,3-dien-5-ynes: Application to total synthesis of a 20-norabietane derivative

The diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H)-promoted benzocyclization, recently developed by this group, was adopted for the synthesis of a natural product containing a 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene skeleton to demonstrate its synthetic utility. One of the extracts from the roots of Salvia hydrangea DC. ex Bentham (Lamiaceae), a 20-norabietane derivative, was selected as the target molecule. The key step forming the 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene skeleton was achieved by the DIBAL-H-promoted cyclization of a silylated 1,3-dien-5-yne easily accessible from a substituted α-tetralone.     

Dehydration‐fragmentation mechanism of cathinones and their metabolites in ESI‐CID

Various cathinone‐derived designer drugs (CATs) have recently appeared on the drug market. This study examined the mechanism for the generation of dehydrated ions for CATs during electrospray ionization collision‐induced dissociation (ESI‐CID). The generation mechanism of dehydrated ions is dependent on the amine classification in the cathinone skeleton, which is used in the identification of CATs. The two hydrogen atoms eliminated during the dehydration of cathinone (primary amine) and methcathinone (secondary amine) were determined, and the reaction mechanism was elucidated through the deuterium labeling experiments. The hydrogen atom bonded to the amine nitrogen was eliminated with the proton added during ESI, in both of the tested compounds. This provided evidence that CATs with tertiary amine structures (such as dimethylcathinone and α‐pyrrolidinophenones [α‐PPs]) do not undergo dehydration. However, it was shown that the two major tertiary amine metabolites (1‐OH and 2″‐oxo) of CATs generate dehydrated ions in ESI‐CID. The dehydration mechanisms of the metabolites of α‐pyrrolidinobutiophenone (α‐PBP) belongs to α‐PPs were also investigated. Stable‐isotope labeling showed the dehydration of the 1‐OH metabolite following a simple mechanism where the hydroxy group was eliminated together with the proton added during ESI. In contrast, the dehydration mechanism of the 2″‐oxo metabolite involved hydrogen atoms in three or more locations along with the carbonyl group oxygen, indicating that dehydration occurred via multiple mechanisms likely including the rearrangement reaction of hydrogen atoms. These findings presented herein indicate that the dehydrated ions in ESI‐CID can be used for the structural identification of CATs.     

Layered silicate‐polyamide‐6 nanocomposites: Influence of silicate species on morphology and properties

The effect of two different species of layered silicates on the morphology, mechanical properties, and methanol vapor barrier properties of polyamide‐6 (PA6) nanocomposites was examined using identical experimental conditions for both species. The layered silicate species used were natural montmorillonite (MMT) and synthetic expandable fluoro‐mica (FM), the chemical compositions of which were Na_0.43(Al_1.56Mg_0.31Fe²⁺ _0.09)(Si_3.95Al_0.05)O₁₀(OH)₂ and Na_0.66Mg_2.68(Si_3.98Al_0.02)O₁₀F₂, respectively. The layered silicates were modified with a dodecylammonium salt (DDA) using an ion‐exchange method. The resulting organically modified layered silicates were melt‐kneaded with PA6 in a twin‐screw kneader at 260 °C. By quantitative analysis of the silicate layers dispersed in the PA6, the number‐average aspect ratio was estimated to be 76 for DDAMMT‐PA6 and 85 for DDAFM‐PA6. This confirmed that the primary particle size of the initial silicate did affect the aspect ratio. The rigidity and gas barrier properties of the nanocomposites appeared to depend upon the morphology of the nanocomposite. On the other hand, the elongation at break of the nanocomposites decreased as the amount of silicate increased. This reduction in ductility was ascribed to the difference in morphology of the nanocomposites, that is, distribution of silicate nanolayers in the polymer matrix. The homogeneity of the particle fraction of exfoliated nanolayers was clearly an important factor affecting the properties of the nanocomposites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 583–595, 2009     

Potential-modulated fluorescence spectroscopy of the membrane potential-sensitive dye di-4-ANEPPS at the 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface

The spectrofluorometric behavior of a membrane potential-sensitive dye, 1-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-[β-{2-(di-N-butylamino)-6-naphthyl}vinyl]pyridinium betaine (di-4-ANEPPS), at the polarized 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface was studied by means of potential-modulated fluorescence (PMF) spectroscopy. The results, combined with those from cyclic and alternating current voltammetry, clearly suggested that the dye adsorbed at the interface underwent a reorientation with increasing the interfacial potential, giving a well-developed PMF response as well as a voltammetric response. In addition to the PMF response, another PMF response was observed by addition of dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC). This additional response was well explained in terms of a reorientation of di-4-ANEPPS at the interface, which would be induced by the potential-dependent desorption of DLPC from the interface. Thus, the present study supported the reorientation/solvatochromic mechanism for the membrane potential-sensitive dye rather than the electrochromic mechanism.     

Laser Trimming for Adjustment of Grating Offset in Phase-Shifted Fiber Grating Coupler for All-Optical Switching Application

We theoretically investigated laser trimming to adjust grating offset in phase-shifted fiber grating coupler (FGC) for all-optical switching application. It was clarified that the trimming made the extinction ratio higher in all-optical FGC switch.