Enzyme and Nonenzyme Hydrolyses of End Ester Group in Polyethylene Glycol Esters

The enzyme and nonenzyme hydrolyses of the end ester group in polyethylene glycol (PEG) esters were studied. The end monoester in PEG ester is known to be easily hydrolyzed by alkaline or acidic solution. 2-Methyl-ω-benzoyloxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(Bz-PEG) and 2-methyl-ω-4-nitrobenzoyloxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) were found to be hydrolyzed by lipase and esterase in Tris buffer solution (pH 7.7) but 2-methyl-ω-acetoxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) was not. The parameters of enzyme reaction in the hydrolysis of ester bonds in Bz-PEG by esterase were estimated to be as follows: V_max = 6.09 × 10^?7 mol/dm^3.s, K_m = 7.63 × 10^?4 mol/dm³.     

Acyclic stereocontrol via asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement with high enantio- and erythro-selectivity and its use in the chiral synthesis of insect pheromones

Such an asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig variant that is both highly enantio- and erythro-selective is described within the context of the chiral synthesis of the insect pheromones, (3$\text{S}$, 4$\text{S}$)-4-methyl-3-heptanol and ($\text{S}$)-4-methyl-3-heptanone.     

High performance n- and p-type field-effect transistors based on tetrathiafulvalene derivatives

The first n-type FET based on TTF derivatives was prepared. TTF derivatives with halogeno-substituted quinoxaline rings showed excellent n- or p-type performances with high carrier mobilities. Introduction of halogen groups determined the FET polarity by controlling the HOMO and LUMO levels of the molecules. The pi-stacking structures were observed in the single crystals of tetrahalogeno-TTFs.     

Effect of pressure on the vibrational structure of insensitive energetic material 5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazole-3-one

The Raman spectra of alpha form 5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazole-3-one (alpha-NTO, space group P) were measured in a high-pressure vessel diamond anvil cell (DAC). The pressure was increased to 27.6 GPa. In general, Raman bands show a blue shift because of the nature of the molecule packing as a high-pressure effect, but some particular bands exhibited a red shift, disappearance, split, or slight shifting in our experiments. Those red-shifting bands concerning hydrogen bonds, i.e., carbonyl and amino groups, are likely to work as a stabilizer against stimuli to the molecule or crystal. This stabilizing nature might characterize the insensitivity of NTO. Molecular dynamic (MD) calculations were performed to reveal the high-pressure effect of the alpha-NTO crystal. The coordinates of individual atoms in the crystal structure were obtained using X-ray diffraction analysis. The pressure dependence of the power spectra of the correlation functions of the C=O bond length in NTO was calculated. A unique high-pressure effect of the alpha-NTO crystal was found on the power spectra. The peak frequency in the power spectrum of the C=O stretching vibration exhibited a red shift with an increase in pressure to 10.0 GPa, while the peak intensity considerably decreased under the same pressure process, because this bond length increased with an increase in pressure to 10.0 GPa. At a pressure of >20.0 GPa, a blue shift appeared. These results of the MD calculations are in good agreement with our experimental data.     

Thermal splitting of Bis-Cu(II) octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) into two Cu(II) porphyrins

When heated, bis-Cu(II) octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) is quantitatively split into two Cu(II) porphyrins both in solution and film states, which is accompanied by large absorption spectral changes.     

Selective growth of ZnO nanodots prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on focused-ion beam-nanopatterned substrates

Selective formation of ZnO nanodots grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was achieved on focused-ion beam (FIB)-nanopatterned SiO₂ and Si substrates. The selective formation characteristics, dimension, and density of ZnO nanodots on FIB-nanopatterned substrates strongly depended on the FIB-patterning and MOCVD-growth conditions. The mechanism of the selective formation of ZnO nanodots on FIB-nanopatterned SiO₂ substrates is attributed to a surfactant effect of the implanted Ga which leads to the formation of the preferred nucleation sites for the growth of ZnO nanodots, while that of ZnO nanodots on nanopatterned Si substrates is mainly considered in terms of the generation of surface atomic steps and kinks, which are created by Ga⁺ ion sputtering, on the patterned Si areas.     

Reorientation Response of Magnetic Microspheres Attached to Gold Electrodes Under an Applied Magnetic Field

In this work, we report the mechanical reorientation of thiolated ferromagnetic microspheres bridging a pair of gold electrodes under an external magnetic field. When an external magnetic field (7 kG) is applied during the measurement of the current–voltage characteristics of a carboxyl ferromagnetic microsphere (4 μm diameter) attached to two gold electrodes by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of octane dithiol (C₈H₁₈S₂), the current signal is distorted. Rather than due to magnetoresistance, this effect is caused by a mechanical reorientation of the ferromagnetic sphere, which alters the number of SAMs between the sphere and the electrodes and therefore affects conduction. To study the physical reorientation of the ferromagnetic particles, we measure their hysteresis loops while suspended in a liquid solution.     

Gaussian Estimates of Order α and L p -Spectral Independence of Generators of C 0-Semigroups

We prove L^p-spectral independence for generators of C₀-semigroups estimated by the positive C₀-semigroup . In the preliminary process of the proof, we obtain the asymptotic expansion formula for the integral kernel of the C₀-semigroup .