One-Step Synthesis of Cyclobutene-Annulated Fullerenes through a Cascade Reaction

The physicochemical properties of fullerene-based materials typically vary depending on the type and mode of addition of functional groups; therefore, developing fullerene derivatives with novel structures is imperative for further progress in materials science. In this study, we develop an efficient one-step strategy for synthesizing cyclobutene-annulated fullerene derivatives (cyclobutenofullerenes) and characterize their electronic properties. Despite the steric strain, cyclobutenofullerenes can be easily prepared via a one-step reaction of C₆₀ with a secondary propargylic phosphate. Structural analysis of the reaction intermediates suggests that the cascade reaction proceeds through a formal [2+2] cycloaddition of C₆₀ with an allene, caused by the 1,3-migration of the propargylic phosphate, followed by an additional 1,3-migration and the subsequent 1,2-elimination of the phosphodiester moiety.     

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Antibiotic Lysocin E and Its Enantiomeric,Epimeric, and N‐Demethylated Analogues

Lysocin E, a macrocyclic peptide, exhibits potent antibacterial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through a novel mechanism. The first total synthesis of lysocin E was achieved by applying a full solid‐phase strategy. The developed approach also provides rapid access to the enantiomeric, epimeric, and N‐demethylated analogues of lysocin E. Significantly, the antibacterial activity of the unnatural enantiomer was comparable to that of the natural isomer, suggesting the absence of chiral recognition in its mode of action.     

Entire Solutions with Merging Fronts to Reaction–Diffusion Equations

We deal with a reaction–diffusion equation u _t = u _xx + f(u) which has two stable constant equilibria, u = 0, 1 and a monotone increasing traveling front solution u = φ(x + ct) (c > 0) connecting those equilibria. Suppose that u = a (0 < a < 1) is an unstable equilibrium and that the equation allows monotone increasing traveling front solutions u = ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) (c ₁ < 0) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) (c ₂ > 0) connecting u = 0 with u = a and u = a with u = 1, respectively. We call by an entire solution a classical solution which is defined for all . We prove that there exists an entire solution such that for t≈ − ∞ it behaves as two fronts ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) on the left and right x-axes, respectively, while it converges to φ(x + ct) as t→∞. In addition, if c > − c ₁, we show the existence of an entire solution which behaves as ψ₁( − x + c ₁ t) in and φ(x + ct) in for t≈ − ∞.     

Numerical study on trapping and guiding of nanoparticles in a flow using scattering field of laser light

Optical trapping and guiding using laser have been proven to be useful for non-contact and non-invasive manipulation of small objects such as biological cells, organelles within cells, and dielectric particles. We have numerically investigated so far the motion of a Brownian particle suspended in still water under the illumination of a speckle pattern generated by the interference of coherent light scattered by a rough object. In the present study, we investigate numerically the motion of a particle in a water flow under the illumination of a speckle pattern that is at rest or in motion. Trajectory of the particle is simulated in relation with its size, flow velocity, maximum irradiance, and moving velocity of the speckle pattern to confirm the feasibility of the present method for performing optical trapping and guiding of the particle in the flow.     

Preparation of dibromopyridines having -(CH2)m-SO3Na groups as monomers for new polypyridines

Dibromopyridines or dibromopyridone with -(CH₂)_m-SO₃Na group(s) has been prepared via the reactions of the corresponding dibromopyridines with -OH and -NH₂ groups with sultone. These compounds were converted into polymers with the -(CH₂)_m-SO₃H groups via organometallic polycondensation. The polymer showed proton conducting properties and high stability toward oxidation.     

Polycationic‐Shelled Capsular and Tubular Nanostructures and Their Anionic–Guest Binding Properties

For the development of novel nanospace with unique electrostatic character, we prepared new capsular and tubular nanostructures by the quantitative assembly of metal ions and bent bisacridinium ligands. The capsule and tube have closed spherical and open cylindrical cavities, respectively, with diameters of around 1 nm surrounded by cationic polyaromatic panels. Thanks to the facile synthetic protocol (three steps), another polycationic capsule with an elliptical nanocavity was also prepared by using an elongated ligand. In spite of the absence of pendant hydrophilic groups, the spherical polyaromatic capsule shows sufficient water solubility due to the polycationic shell. Moreover, the highly cationic cavity (12+) can selectively encapsulate anionic organic compounds in water.     

Color adjustment algorithm adapted to the spectral reflectance estimation method

We are developing a daily health monitoring system that uses mobile phones with cameras and analyzes physiological conditions from R, G, and B intensity levels. However, since it is affected by various imaging conditions of the image input, color correction is required for accurate health monitoring. Therefore, we developed and validated a colorcorrection algorithm to derive reliable color information by correcting the spectral reflectance using the Wiener estimation and a color chart.     

Quinolone Analogs 14: Synthesis of Antimalarial 1‐Aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas and Related Compounds

The 4‐quinolone‐2‐carbohydrazide 6a was converted into 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones 9a , 9b , and N‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)carbamates 10a , 10b via 4‐quinolone‐2‐carbonylazide 7a . The 4‐methoxyquinoline‐2‐carbohydrazide 6b was also transformed into 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)ureas 11a , 11b , 11c , 11d , 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones 12a , 12b , and N‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)carbamates 13a , 13b via 4‐methoxyquinoline‐2‐carbonylazide 7b . Some of the 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e showed the in vitro antimalarial activity to chloroquine‐resistant Plasmodium falciparum, wherein IC₅₀ was 0.93 to 4.00 μM.     

A Doping Technique that Suppresses Undesirable H2 Evolution Derived from Overall Water Splitting in the Highly Selective Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 in and by Water

Photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to reduction products, such as CO, HCOOH, HCHO, CH₃OH, and CH₄, is one of the most attractive propositions for producing green energy by artificial photosynthesis. Herein, we found that Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts exhibit high conversion of CO₂. Doping of Zn species into Ga₂O₃ suppresses the H₂ evolution derived from overall water splitting and, consequently, Zn‐doped, Ag‐modified Ga₂O₃ exhibits higher selectivity toward CO evolution than bare, Ag‐modified Ga₂O₃. We observed stoichiometric amounts of evolved O₂ together with CO. Mass spectrometry clarified that the carbon source of the evolved CO is not the residual carbon species on the photocatalyst surface, but the CO₂ introduced in the gas phase. Doping of the photocatalyst with Zn is expected to ease the adsorption of CO₂ on the catalyst surface.