Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by tri-n-butylborane–organic halide systems

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by tri-n-butylborane (TBB) was studied in the presence of various organic halides (R′X). It was found that R′X accelerated the polymerization of MMA. Aliphatic halides were more effective than aromatic halides. Cocatalytic effects of butyl halides decreased in the order: n -BuI > n -BuBr > n -BuCl; n -BuBr ? sec-BuBr > i-BuBr > tert-BuBr. In the polymerization of MMA by TBB- n -BuI, the initial rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the concentration of MMA and to the square root of the concentration of TBB-n-BuI. The apparent activation energy was 5.3 kcal/mole. From this and other results, it was assumed that the polymerization of MMA by this initiator system proceeds by a radical mechanism via a weak complex between TBB and R′X; alkyl radicals are formed by the interaction of R′X with TBB. The TBB–R′X system can initiate the polymerization of MMA and AN, but is ineffective in the polymerization of styrene.     

Synthesis and alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting activity of a new alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylmoranoline and its N-substituted derivatives

Various N-substituted derivatives of 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylmoranoline have been synthesized, and their inhibitory activities against rabbit sucrase and maltase have been measured, as well as their effects on postprandial hyperglycemia in the sucrose-loaded rat, 4-O-alpha-D-Glucopyranosylmoranoline was also shown to have potent hypoglycemic activity in starch-loaded dogs.     

Grazing-exit and micro X-ray fluorescence analyses for chemical microchips.

Grazing-exit x-ray fluorescence (GE-XRF) and micro x-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) methods were applied to chemical microchips as a detection method. Since an energy-dispersive x-ray detector was used, the simultaneous detection of multiple elements was possible. An analyzing region was especially designed on the microchip so that a sample solution could be dried and concentrated in a suitable area corresponding to the size of the primary x-ray beam. Finally, it was confirmed that both analytical methods could be combined well for use with a microchip. In GE-XRF, the background intensity in the XRF spectrum was reduced at grazing-exit angles. In addition, a good relationship between the x-ray fluorescence intensities and the concentrations of standard solutions that were introduced into the microchip was obtained. This indicates that the GE-XRF method is feasible for trace elemental analysis in chemical microchip systems. In micro-XRF, an attempt was made to concentrate and dry the analyte within a small analyzing region. The preliminary results indicated that the micro-XRF method could be applied for the analysis of microchips.     

Strain distribution and electronic states in stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots with dot spacing 0–

We have calculated the strain distribution and electronic structures in stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) with the dot spacing 6–. We used the elastic continuum theory for the strain distribution, and the 8-band k·p theory for the electronic structures. For the triply stacked QDs, the light-hole (LH) component of the hole ground state increases with decreasing the dot spacing. The LH component in the columnar QD (dot spacing ) reaches 21.1% which is 4.8 times larger than that in the single QD due to the reduction of the biaxial strain. Further increase of the LH component (up to 28.6%) is obtained in the fivefold-stacked columnar QD. This result suggests a possibility of increase in the TM-mode transition in the columnar QDs.     

Determination of midodrine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A simple and sensitive fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of midodrine in human plasma. After liquid-liquid extraction from plasma, the drug and 2-phenylglycinol (internal standard) were convened into the corresponding fluorescent derivatives by reaction with 3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy-4-methyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carbonyl chloride, a fluorescence derivatization reagent for amines. The derivatives were separated within 30 min on a reversed-phase column using isocratic elution with acetonitrile-methanol-water (10:30:60, v/v) and were detected spectrofluorometrically at 485 nm with excitation at 400 nm. The detection limit for midodrine was 0.3 pmol (76 pg) per mL plasma at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.     

Structure and synthesis of a new hypotensive vasodilator isolated from Streptomyces aureofaciens

The structure elucidation and synthesis of WS-1228 A, produced by $\text{Streptomyces aureofaciens}$, were described.     

Design of a widely tunable laser with a chirped ladder filter

We theoretically investigated a digitally tunable laser with a chirped ladder filter and a ring resonator to obtain a wide wavelength tuning range covering the whole C- or L- band. The clear relation between the tuning range and laser structure, especially the ladder filter, is described analytically. The introduction of a chirped structure into a ladder filter is effective in achieving both wide tunability and a stable lasing mode. A numerical simulation based on multimode rate equations shows that a tuning range of over 40 nm and a mode suppression ratio over 40 dB can be achieved by introducing a chirped ladder filter.     

Photon-echo profile in the ultrashort time region for pentacene molecules in crystals

Photon-echo behavior in the ultrashort time region is studied for pentacene molecules in p-terphenyl crystals at 1.7 K by means of the accumulated three-pulse echo. We show highly resolved echo spectra with a parameter of time separation and also time behavior of echo intensity as a function of pulse separation measured at various frequencies near the peak position of the absorption line of the S₀–S₁ transition. We demonstrate various features of echo profile in both time and frequency domains, which are dependent on the time region of observation.