Evaluation of mass transfer rate during Ziegler-Natta propylene polymerization

Mass transfer which affects the rate of propylene polymerization with titanium trichloride–triethylaluminum, has been evaluated by use of a new method developed for this heterogeneous reaction. The polymerization was carried out with the usual flask reactor equipped with a paddle stirrer; the rate of gas absorption into the polymerization slurry was proportional to stirring speed and the reciprocal of the total amount of polymers produced. It has been confirmed that the polymerization rate separated from the absorption rate is purely kinetic (propagation), and an effective physical process, such as monomer transfer through a polymer film covering the catalyst surface, no longer exists.     

Efficient deanilidation of phosphoranilidates by the use of nitrites and acetic anhydride

Reagent systems of sodium– and tetrabutylammonium nitrite–acetic anhydride were proved to be extremely efficient for the deanilidation of nucleoside 3′-phosphoranilidates, whose reactions were rapid with the former and instant with the latter. It was further found that the reagent system is applicable to oligonucleotide synthesis provided that the exocyclic amino groups of 2′-deoxyadenosine, 2′-deoxyguanosine, and 2′-deoxycytidine were protected by succinylation.     

XAFS spectra from X-ray fluorescence Kβ line using conventional energy-discriminating detector

X-ray fluorescence spectra of copper (Cu) metal, copper monoxide (CuO), and potassium chromate (K₂CrO₄) were recorded as a function of incident X-ray energy near the Cu K-edge and chromium (Cr) K-edge, respectively, using a conventional silicon drift detector. The spectra contained components due to elastic, inelastic, and multiple scattering, in addition to the Kα and Kβ lines. Cu and Cr K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectra of Cu, CuO, and K₂CrO₄ were obtained by an intensity analysis of the Kα and Kβ lines. The intensity of the Kβ line for the different incident photon energies was obtained by numerically removing the additional scattering components using the MUSCAT program. These spectra exhibited a jump near the K absorption edges, which reproduced the spectral features obtained in transmission mode for both Cu, CuO, and K₂CrO₄. A chemical shift was also clearly identified in the X-ray absorption near edges structure using the X-ray fluorescence Kβ line. In addition, the Cr K-edge extended XAFS spectrum of K₂CrO₄ was clearly observed using the Cr Kβ fluorescent line. The XAFS measurements on the Kα and Kβ lines are possible, and they carry equally valuable information.     

TEMPO/NaIO4-SiO2: a catalytic oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols to beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The novel catalytic method for the oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols to beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is described. TEMPO/NaIO4-SiO2 causes facile and efficient oxidative rearrangement of various acyclic substrates as well as medium-sized and macrocyclic substrates.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of microparticulate drug delivery systems composed of macromolecular prodrugs

Macromolecular prodrugs are very useful systems for achieving controlled drug release and drug targeting. In particular, various macromolecule-antitumor drug conjugates enhance the effectiveness and improve the toxic side effects. Also, polymeric micro- and nanoparticles have been actively examined and their in vivo behaviors elucidated, and it has been realized that their particle characteristics are very useful to control drug behavior. Recently, researches based on the combination of the concepts of macromolecular prodrugs and micro- or nanoparticles have been reported, although they are limited. Macromolecular prodrugs enable drugs to be released at a certain controlled release rate based on the features of the macromolecule-drug linkage. Micro- and nanoparticles can control in vivo behavior based on their size, surface charge and surface structure. These merits are expected for systems produced by the combination of each concept. In this review, several micro- or nanoparticles composed of macromolecule-drug conjugates are described for their preparation, in vitro properties and/or in vivo behavior.     

Fluorescence studies on phenylene moieties embedded in a framework of periodic mesoporous organosilica

The excited state characteristics of phenylene (Ph)-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) powders with crystal-like and amorphous wall structures are investigated. Crystal-like Ph-PMO has a molecular ordering of the bridging organic moieties with intervals of 0.76 and 0.44 nm parallel and perpendicular to the mesochannel direction, respectively, whereas amorphous Ph-PMO has no molecular-level periodicity in the wall. Fluorescence from the exciton and excimer of the Ph moieties and the defect center in the silicate network were detected at room temperature, but fluorescence from the excimer and the defect center were not detected at 77 K for crystal-like Ph-PMO dispersed in a methanol/ethanol mixed solvent. The decay curve of the exciton fluorescence of crystal-like Ph-PMO at room temperature was analyzed successfully using a one-dimensional diffusion model quenched by the defect center and the excimer site. The results were discussed in comparison with those for the crystal-like biphenylene-bridged PMO reported in the preceding paper (Yamanaka et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 11688-11696). The existence of excited states with various conformations including ground state dimers or aggregates of the Ph moieties was suggested for amorphous Ph-PMO. It was clearly apparent that the differences in the excited state dynamics reflected the differences in the molecular-level structure in the wall.     

The inclusion complex of piromidic acid with dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution and in the solid state

Inclusion complex formation of piromidic acid (PA) with dimethyl--cyclodextrin (DM--CD) in aqueous solution and in the solid state was confirmed by the solubility method, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. The apparent stability constant,K _c , of the complex was estimated to be 244 M^–1. The stoichiometry of the complex was given as the ratio 1:2 of PA to DM--CD. The dissolution rate of the PA/DM--CD complex was much greater than that of intact PA.Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Inclusion Phenomena and the Third International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Lancaster, U.K., 20–25 July 1986.     

Enantioselective addition of ketene silyl acetals to nitrones catalyzed by chiral titanium complexes. Synthesis of optically active beta-amino acids

A chiral titanium complex, Ti(O-i-Pr)(4)/BINOL/tert-butylcatechol, catalyzes enantioselective addition reaction of ketene silyl acetals to nitrones to give optically active beta-amino acid derivatives which are biologically active compounds and useful synthetic intermediates of natural products and pharmaceuticals such as beta-lactam antibiotics. The combined process of catalytic oxidation of secondary amines and enantioselective carbon-carbon bond formation of nitrones thus obtained with ketene silyl acetals provides a useful two-step method for the synthesis of optically active beta-amino acid derivatives and related nitrogen compounds.     

Lembehsterols A and B,novel sulfated sterols inhibiting thymidine phosphorylase,from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata

Lembehsterols A (1) and B (2), two novel sulfated sterols, were isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata. Both sterols showed inhibitory activity against thymidine phosphorylase, which is an enzyme related to angiogenesis in solid tumors. The structures of these sulfated sterols were established on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.