Selective Propargylation of Carbonyl Compounds and Imines with Barium Reagents

A Barbier‐type regioselective propargylation of aldehydes and ketones with (3‐bromobut‐1‐ynyl)trimethylsilane has been achieved using reactive barium as a low‐valent metal in THF. Especially in the case of ketones, the corresponding homopropargylic alcohols form almost exclusively. In the reaction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds, only 1,2‐adducts have been observed. This method is also applicable to propargylation of imines, and the corresponding homopropargylic amines are obtained regiospecifically in good yields with diastereomeric ratios of up to 87:13.     

Isomorphic electron orbitals for vibronic flexibility in a cyclopropenyl radical molecular device

Summary The vibronic character of this molecular device has been studied using isomorphic electron orbitals. The leading role of the softest vibrational mode for the electron transport process is stressed by the quantum mechanical treatment of the rearrangement operator. The theory was used to investigate the possible function of the soliton valve, which has been suggested as a switching tip. The electronic flexibility of the cyclopropenyl radical with respect to molecular vibrations, which is important for the function of the molecular device, is well characterized by the hardness and softness of the electron structure in terms of the orbital energy-occupation number correlation diagram.     

Synthesis of the new chiral tridentate ligand bis(pyrid-2-ylethyl) menthylphosphine and its use in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations

We describe the synthesis of a new asymmetric P,N,N′-tridentate ligand (bis(pyrid-2-ylethyl) menthylphosphine, BPEMP), containing two pyridyl rings and (1S,2R,5S)-menthylphosphino group. The ligand is obtained in five steps from natural abundant l-menthol. The coordination behavior of the ligand toward cationic (allylic)Pd(II) moiety and its first application in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation are presented. Crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses reveal that [(η³-allylic)Pd(BPEMP)]⁺ complex forms only one isomer in the solid state as well as in solution.     

Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

An anthracene-based Cd fluorescent chemosensor with a 4,7-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-9-hydroxy-1,4,7-triazanonyl group as a highly selective chelator to Cd over Zn

We have developed a Cd²⁺ fluorescent chemosensor with high selectivity as well as sensitivity by tethering a 4,7-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-9-hydroxy-1,4,7-triazanonyl chelator to anthracene. This sensor features the ability to discriminate Cd²⁺ from Zn²⁺ to a high degree (K_dZn/K_dCd = 560) in a pH 7.2 buffer.     

Dissipative structure for symmetric hyperbolic systems with memory

We study symmetric hyperbolic systems with memory-type dissipation and investigate their dissipative structures. We treat two cases: memory-type diffusion and memory-type relaxation, and observe that the dissipative structures of these two cases are essentially different. Namely, we show that the dissipative structure of the system with memory-type diffusion is of the standard type, while that of the system with memory-type relaxation is of the regularity-loss type.     

An evaluation method for measuring SPL and mode shape of tire cavity resonance by using multi-microphone system

This paper presents an evaluation method for measuring the sound pressure level and mode shapes of tire cavity resonance by using a multi-microphone system. Two commercial tires were evaluated to compare abilities of noise suppression by means of this method in the range of the first resonance from 200 to 260 Hz. One tire was a special tire that suppresses tire cavity resonance with polyurethane foam mounted on the tire’s inner liner. The other tire was a normal tire with no polyurethane foam. The mode shape change from vertical to horizontal direction in both tires. However, the sound pressure level of the special tire was lower than the normal tire at all frequencies.     

Improvement of TiO2/Dye/Electrolyte Interface Conditions by Positional Change of Alkyl Chains in Modified Panchromatic Ru Complex Dyes

A series of panchromatic ruthenium sensitizers ( MJ sensitizers) with attached thiophene and phenyl units bearing alkyl chains was synthesized. A new synthetic route was used to examine all possible positions for the alkyl chains. The absorption spectra showed the sum of a ruthenium complex and peripheral organic chromophore units. The hypochromic effect and blueshift of the metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer band observed in the modified ruthenium sensitizers were suppressed by changing the positions of the alkyl chains on the attached thiophene ring. Changing only one alkyl chain also influenced the performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells. Ruthenium sensitizer MJ‐10 with bulky substituent harvests visible and near‐infrared light, and solar cells sensitized by MJ‐10 exhibit an efficiency of 9.1 % under 1 sun irradiation.