Calorimetric study of correlated disordering in [Hdamel]2[Cu(II)(tdpd)2] x 2 THF crystal

The heat capacity of [Hdamel]2[Cu(II)(tdpd)2] x 2 THF was measured from 6 to 250 K by adiabatic calorimetry. There are four heat anomalies around 150 K associated with disordering in the orientation of the uncoordinated THF molecules and in the conformation of the out-of-plane allyl groups of [Hdamel](+) units. The total entropy of transition was determined to be 19.8 J K(-1) mol(-1), less than the 4R ln 2 (R = gas constant) expected from the crystal structure at room temperature. The smallness of the total entropy change on phase transitions proves the presence of the strong motional correlation between the adjacent allyl groups. The calorimetric conclusion agreed with the crystal structure at 200 K re-examined in this study.     

Solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by supramolecular complexes of barbituric acid and triaminopyrimidines

In this letter, we report that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be dissolved in organic solvents through the formation of admixtures with barbituric acid.triaminopyrimidine (BA.TP) complexes using mechanochemical high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) and sonication methods. In contrast, neither BA nor TP alone were capable of solubilizing SWNTs. Moreover, the glutarimide (GI).TP complex was also found to be incapable of solubilizing SWNTs because the two carbonyl groups and one imino group of GI are located on only one side of the molecule such that the GI.TP complex cannot form the desired hydrogen-bonding network. These results strongly suggest that the formation of a hydrogen-bonding network makes possible the formation of multipoint interactions with the surfaces of the SWNTs.     

Azobenzene derivatives carrying a nitroxide radical

Several trans-azobenzene derivatives carrying a nitroxide (aminoxyl) radical (2a, 6a-12a) were prepared, and their photoisomerization reactions to the corresponding cis-isomers were investigated. Although no fruitful results could be obtained for the photoisomerizations of the derivatives with para-subsituents (9a-12a), the unsubstututed derivatives at the para-position (2a, 6a, 7a, 8a) were found to show photoisomerizations by irradiation to give the corresponding cis-isomers (2b, 6b, 7b, 8b), being isolated as relatively stable solid materials, and the change of the intermolecular magnetic interactions was apparently observed by the structural change for each photochromic couple.     

First total synthesis of vialinin A, a novel and extremely potent inhibitor of TNF-alpha production

Vialinin A, a powerful inhibitor (IC50 90 pM) of TNF-alpha production, was synthesized from sesamol in 11 steps with 28% overall yield. The key reactions include a double Suzuki coupling of electron-rich aryl triflate with phenylboronic acid and an oxidative deprotection of bis-MOM ether. In addition, the related synthetic studies also suggest the necessity for structural revision of ganbajunin C, a positional isomer of vialinin A.     

Vocal tract length perturbation and its application to male-female vocal tract shape conversion

An alternative and complete derivation of the vocal tract length sensitivity function, which is an equation for finding a change in formant frequency due to perturbation of the vocal tract length [Fant, Quarterly Progress and Status Rep. No. 4, Speech Transmission Laboratory, Kungliga Teknisha Hogskolan, Stockholm, 1975, pp. 1-14] is presented. It is based on the adiabatic invariance of the vocal tract as an acoustic resonator and on the radiation pressure on the wall and at the exit of the vocal tract. An algorithm for tuning the vocal tract shape to match the formant frequencies to target values, such as those of a recorded speech signal, which was proposed in Story [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 119, 715-718 (2006)], is extended so that the vocal tract length can also be changed. Numerical simulation of this extended algorithm shows that it can successfully convert between the vocal tract shapes of a male and a female for each of five Japanese vowels.     

Concentration-resolved 2D correlation gel permeation chromatography study of aggregate-aggregate interactions in the polymerization products of triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene silane-coupling agent

Concentration-resolved 2D correlation gel permeation chromatography (GPC) has been used to examine the intricate details of the HCl-catalyzed polymerization of a polymeric silane-coupling agent (SCA), triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene (TESiPS). The concentration-resolved 2D correlation GPC maps directly reflect the marked difference in the aggregate-aggregate interactions of dilute and concentrated monomeric units, which govern the differences in the polymerized products. There is an optimum concentration of SCA for the enhancement of interfacial strength and subsequent polymerization. Thus, the concentration-resolved 2D correlation GPC technique can be used as a powerful tool for elucidation of aggregate-aggregate interactions and reaction mechanisms in a surface- or interface-enhanced reaction system. It has been shown that the yield value of polymerization products can be improved to a marked extent by choosing a high initial monomer concentration, due to the increase in the production of oligomers. Multiple reaction processes are promoted by the self-assembly of the monomeric and oligomeric components.     

Microstructure and electrical-optical properties of cesium tungsten oxides synthesized by solvothermal reaction followed by ammonia annealing

Cesium tungsten oxides (Cs_xWO₃) were synthesized by solvothermal reactions using ethanol and 57.1 vol% ethanol aqueous solution at 200 °C for 12 h, and the effects of post annealing in ammonia atmosphere on the microstructure and electrical-optical properties were investigated. Agglomerated particles consisting of disk-like nanoparticles and nanorods of Cs_xWO₃ were formed in the pure ethanol and ethanol aqueous solutions, respectively. The samples retained the original morphology and crystallinity after annealing in ammonia atmosphere up to 500 °C, while a small amount of nitrogen ion were incorporated in the lattice. The as-prepared Cs_xWO₃ sample showed excellent near infrared (NIR) light shielding ability as well as high transparency in the visible light region. The electrical resistivity of the pressed pellets of the powders prepared in pure ethanol and 57.1 vol% ethanol aqueous solution greatly decreased after ammonia annealing at 500 °C, i.e., from 734 to 31.5 and 231 to 3.58 Ω cm, respectively.