Ethylene polymerization by chromium complexes with phosphorous‐bridged bisphenoxy ligand

Chromium catalysts combined with phosphorous‐bridged bisphenoxy ligands were found to be highly active for ethylene polymerization. The most efficient catalyst precursor among them, generated by combining bis[3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐hydroxyphenyl](phenyl)phosphine hydrochloride ( 1a ) and CrCl₃(THF)₃, was characterized. X‐ray analysis of (3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐phenoxy)(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐ 2‐hydroxyphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine bis(tetrahydrofuran)chromium dichloride ( 6 ), obtained by the reaction of 1a and CrCl₃(THF)₃ in the presence of NaH, revealed a unique structure in which one phenol moiety of the bisphenol did not coordinate to the chromium center. Complex 6 showed higher activities than those observed in the in situ catalyst system. Polyethylene of various molecular weights was obtained with differing activators. The highest activity (113.5 kg mmol (cat)^?1 h^?1) was observed when TIBA/TB was used as a cocatalyst. A medium molecular weight polymer with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w = 128,700, M_w/M_n = 1.8) was obtained using a 6 ‐TIBA/B(C₆F₅)₃ system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3668–3676, 2007     

Oxidation with Fremy's salt—VIII : Peri-effect of a group located at the C5 position of 1-naphthol and related compounds

It has been shown by a series of experiments on 5-alkyl, 5-halo-, and other 5-substituted 1-naphthol derivatives that the product ratio of the ortho- and para-naphthoquinones formed on oxidation with Fremy's salt is controlled by the bulkiness of the C₅-substituent.     

In Situ Immobilization of Ultrafine Particles Synthesized in a Water/Oil Microemulsion

We investigated the in situ immobilization of ultrafine particles synthesized in a water/oil (w/o) microemulsion to silica for its possible application to supported metal catalysts. ZnS particles immobilized to silica by the ME method were consistent with those synthesized in a w/o microemulsion. Therefore, ZnS particles in a w/o microemulsion could be immobilized to silica without aggregation by this method. The relationship between the method of synthesizing Rh ultrafine particles in a w/o microemulsion and the diameter and diameter distribution of Rh particles immobilized to silica was studied. Rh-SiO(2) catalysts with a sharp diameter distribution could be prepared by immobilizing Rh-hydrazine complex particles because these complex particles would be very stable in a w/o microemulsion. The Rh particle diameters of Rh-SiO(2) catalysts prepared by changing the amount of silica produced were almost identical. Accordingly, the Rh particle diameter of Rh-SiO(2) catalysts could be controlled independently of Rh content by the ME method. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Design of Photostable,Activatable Near‐Infrared Photoacoustic Probes Using Tautomeric Benziphthalocyanine as a Platform

Near‐infrared (NIR) imaging techniques have attracted significant attention for biological and medicinal applications due to the ability of NIR to penetrate deeply into tissues. However, there are very few stable, activatable molecular probes that can utilize NIR light in the wavelength range beyond 800 nm. Herein, we report a new activatable NIR system for photoacoustic imaging based on tautomeric benziphthalocyanines (BPcs). We found that the existence of a free hydroxyl group is crucial for NIR absorption of BPcs. Synthesized water‐soluble hydroxy BPcs exhibited high photostability and no fluorescence, which are desirable features for photoacoustic imaging. We synthesized BPcs in which the free hydroxyl group was masked by an esterase‐labile or an H₂O₂‐labile group. The photoacoustic signals of these hydroxy‐masked BPcs were increased upon NIR excitation at 880 nm in the presence of esterase or H₂O₂, respectively. These are rare examples of activatable probes utilizing NIR light at around 900 nm.     

Development of a zinc ion-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor for biological applications

Detection of chelatable zinc (Zn(2+)) in biological studies has attracted much attention recently, because chelatable Zn(2+) plays important roles in many biological systems. Lanthanide complexes (Eu(3+), Tb(3+), etc.) have excellent spectroscopic properties for biological applications, such as long luminescence lifetimes of the order of milliseconds, a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm, and high water solubility. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a novel lanthanide sensor molecule, [Eu-7], for detecting Zn(2+). This europium (Eu(3+)) complex employs a quinolyl ligand as both a chromophore and an acceptor for Zn(2+). Upon addition of Zn(2+) to a solution of [Eu-7], the luminescence of Eu(3+) is strongly enhanced, with high selectivity for Zn(2+) over other biologically relevant metal cations. One of the important advantages of [Eu-7] is that this complex can be excited with longer excitation wavelengths (around 340 nm) as compared with previously reported Zn(2+)-sensitive luminescent lamthanide sensors, whose excitation wavelength is at too high an energy level for biological applications. The usefulness of [Eu-7] for monitoring Zn(2+) changes in living HeLa cells was confirmed. This novel Zn(2+)-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor [Eu-7]should be an excellent lead compound for the development of a range of novel luminescent lanthanide chemosensors for biological applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of titanium and zirconium complexes with silicone-bridged phenoxycyclopentadienyl ligands

Dimethylsilyl(2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-phenoxy)titanium dichloride (1a), a useful catalyst precursor for olefin copolymerization, was synthesized at high yield starting from allyl-protected phenolic ligand 3a,which was first treated with 2 equiv. of n-BuLi to selectively give the dilithium salt of 3a along with 1-heptene, a coupling product of a protected allyl ether moiety and butyl anion. Addition of TiCl₄ to the resulting dilithium salt of 3a in toluene afforded 1a in 50% isolated yield. This methodology could be applied to the preparation of related titanium and zirconoium complexes 1b-1d, 8 with silicone-bridged Cp-phenoxy ligands, whereas the reaction starting from methyl-protected precursor 2a did not produce the zirconium complex 8. Copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene with the newly prepared complexes was also investigated.     

Inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis by gingerols and diarylheptanoids.

The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Alpinia officinarum contain potent inhibitors against prostaglandin biosynthesizing enzyme (PG synthetase). Gingerols and diarylhepatanoids were identified as active compounds. Their possible mechanism of action which was deduced from the structures of active compounds indicated that the inhibitors would also be active against arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme of leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis. This was verified by testing their inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase prepared from RBL-1 cells. A diarylheptanoid with catechol group was the most active compound against 5-lipoxygenase, while yakuchinone A was the most active against PG synthetase.