A Compact Narrow-Band Tunable Optical Transversal Filter

We present a compact narrow-band tunable optical transversal filter with phase-variable taps. A transmission bandwidth of the comb filter is less than 0.2nm and can be continuously tuned in the entire FSR.     

A novel method for preparation of 2-(methyl- or phehnylthio)alkanoic esters

Ethyl 2-acetylalkanoate gave ethyl 2-(methyl- or phenylthio)alkanoate in high yield on treatment wiht CH₃SSO₂CH₃, PhSSO₂Ph, or PhSSPh in the presence of small excess of EtONa in EtOH. Application of the present method to synthesis of pellitorine and the queen substance is also described.     

Di(triptycyl)carbene: a fairly persistent triplet dialkylcarbene

The title carbene was generated and characterized by matrix spectroscopy (ESR and UV/vis) and laser flash photolysis along with theoretical calculations, which revealed interesting effects of triptycyl groups on structure and reactivities of carbenes.     

Synthesis of directly linked zinc(II) porphyrin-imide dyads and energy gap dependence of intramolecular electron transfer reactions

A series of zinc(II) porphyrin-imide dyads (ZP-Im), in which an electron donating ZP moiety is directly connected to an electron accepting imide moiety in the meso position, have been prepared for the examination of energy gap dependence of intramolecular electron transfer reactions with large electronic coupling. The nearly perpendicular conformation of the imide moiety towards the porphyrin plane has been revealed by Xray crystal structures. The energy gap for charge separation, 1ZP* - Im --> ZP+ - Im-, is varied by changing the electron accepting imide moiety to cover a range of about 0.8 eV in DMF. Definitive evidence for electron transfer has been obtained in three solvents (toluene, THF, and DMF) through picosecond-femtosecond transient absorption studies, which have allowed us to determine the rates of photoinduced charge separation, 1ZP* - Im --> ZP+ - Im-, and subsequent thermal charge recombination ZP+ - Im- --> ZP - Im. The free-energy gap dependence (energy gap law) has been probed from the normal to the nearly top region for the charge separation rate alone, and only the inverted region for the charge recombination rate. Although both of the energy gap dependencies can be approximately reproduced by means of the simplified semiclassical equation, when we take into consideration the effect of the high frequency vibrations replaced by one mode of averaged frequency, many features, including the effects of solvent polarity and the electron tunneling matrix element on the energy gap law, differ considerably from those of the previously studied porphyrin-quinone systems, which have weaker interchromophore electronic interactions.     

Molecular hexagonal perovskite: a new type of organic-inorganic hybrid conductor

An organic charge-transfer (CT) salt (BEDT-TTF)₃(MnCl₃)₂(C₂H₅OH)₂ has been synthesized by a standard electrochemical method. The crystal data are monoclinic, C2/c (#15), a=38.863(4)Å, b=6.716(1) Å, c=23.608(3) Å, β=115.007(3)°, V=5584(1) Å³, and Z=4. The structure consists of one-dimensional (1D) infinite {[MnCl₃]⁻}_∞ magnetic chains and two-dimensional (2D) organic conduction pathways. The former consists of face-sharing octahedra of manganese chloride complex ions, and dominates the magnetic properties of this compound. Such a feature of the crystal structure closely relates to transition metal hexagonal perovskite compounds, all of which are known for frustrated triangular lattices comprised of weakly interacting 1D magnetic chains. The new compound exhibits a high conductivity down to 4 K.     

Novel gas chromatography-mass spectrometry database for automatic identification and quantification of micropollutants

A novel gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) database for identification and quantification of micropollutants in environmental and food samples is reported. GC retention times, calibration curves, and mass spectra of nearly 700 chemicals were registered in the database, and the GC retention times of registered chemicals in actual samples were predicted from the retention times of n-alkanes measured before sample analysis. Differences between predicted and actual retention times were less than 3 s, an accuracy that is nearly identical to that obtained by analysis of standard substances. After the retention times were predicted, a calibration file for the GC-MS instrument was created from the predicted retention times, calibration curves, and mass spectra of the registered chemicals. With the resulting calibration file, automated identification of all the chemicals in actual samples was possible without the use of standards, and the identification method was as reliable as conventional methods. When the GC inlet, column, and tuning conditions were adjusted using GC-MS performance check standards, relative standard deviations of 20% or less for determination values could be obtained. More than 90% of the chemicals in the database could be detected at a sensitivity sufficient for all practical purposes (100 pg or less). Because each chemical in the database, to which new substances can easily be added, can be determined in 1 h, micropollutants in samples can be analyzed efficiently and inexpensively.     

A SYNTHETIC ROUTE TO 3-METHYLTHIO-2-ALKANONES STARTING FROM 3-ALKYL-2,4-PENTANEDIONES

Abstract

An efficient preparation of a 3-methylthio-2-alkanone (1) has been realized by the reaction of a 3-alkyl-2,4-pentanedione (8) with one mol-equiv of S-methyl methanethiosulfonate (4) in the presence of excess EtONa in EtOH. Furthermore, treatment of 8 with 4 and K₂CO₃ in refluxing acetone, followed by addition of MeOH and heating the resulting mixture, gave 1 in a high yield. These methods were applied to synthesis of pseudoionone.     

Inclusion of Poly(ethylene glycol)s by Crystalline (R)-(1-Naphthyl)glycyl-(R)-phenylglycine

Abstract

Crystallization of (R)-(1-naphthyl)glycyl-(R)-phenyl-glycine [(R,R)-1] in the presence of oligo(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ethers 2(n) or poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs, 3(M_n )) afforded inclusion compounds. The ratio of (R,R)-1/the guest polymer (2 or 3) was proportional to the length of the polymer chain. The crystal structure of a hepta(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether-included compound was disclosed by X-ray crystallography which showed that (R,R)-1 molecules form a sheet and the guest molecule penetrates the crystal lattice of (R,R)-1 through a one-dimensional channel on the sheet. Powder X-ray analysis revealed that, regardless of the length of the guest polymer, the distance between the neighboring sheets remains unchanged (12.0–12.3 Å) in these inclusion crystals. By thermal analysis, it was shown that the decomposition points of these inclusion compounds became higher with the longer PEG included. The inclusion phenomenon enabled the fractionation of PEGs with various molecular weights, among which longer PEG was preferably included.