Supramolecular reactor from self-assembly of rod-coil molecule in aqueous environment

We synthesized an amphiphilic coil-rod-coil triblock molecule consisting of hexa-p-phenylene as a rod block and poly(ethylene oxide) with the number of repeating units of 17 as coil blocks and investigated aggregation behavior in aqueous environment. The rod-coil molecule was observed to aggregate into discrete micelles consisting of hydrophobic disklike rod bundles encapsulated by hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) coils. The aromatic bundles of the micelles were demonstrated to be used as an efficient supramolecular reactor for the room temperature Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of a wide range of aryl halides, including even aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acids in aqueous environment. These results demonstrate that self-assembly of amphiphilic rod-coil molecules can provide a useful strategy to construct an efficient supramolecular reactor for aromatic coupling reaction.     

Chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric identification of positional isomers of polyethylene glycol-modified growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)

A one-step chromatographic method capable of separating all isomers of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (1-29) conjugates was developed. The unmodified GRF (1-29) and seven different isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were separated by using a simple reversed-phase HPLC method depending on the differences of hydrophobicity due to the number and site of PEG attachment. The PEGylation sites of all isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were identified by determining the molecular masses of the Lys-C digested fragments with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This study is a first report for the separation of all PEG-conjugate isomers and would be useful for further studies to find the promising conjugate by evaluating biological activity and stability of each isomer.     

Efficient oxidation of benzylic alcohols with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene under microwave irradiation

An efficient method for the oxidation of benzylic alcohols with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions is described.     

Rheological properties of multisticker associative polyelectrolytes in semidilute aqueous solutions

Multisticker associative polyelectrolytes of acrylamide (≈86 mol %) and sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate (≈12 mol %), hydrophobically modified with N,N‐dihexylacrylamide groups (≈2 mol %), were prepared with a micellar radical polymerization technique. This process led to multiblock polymers in which the length of the hydrophobic blocks could be controlled through variations in the surfactant‐to‐hydrophobe molar ratio, that is, the number of hydrophobes per micelle (N_H). The rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of polymers with the same molecular weight and the same composition but with two different hydrophobic block lengths (N_H = 7 or 3 monomer units per block) was investigated as a function of the polymer concentration with steady‐flow, creep, and oscillatory experiments. The critical concentration at the onset of the viscosity enhancement decreased as the length of the hydrophobic segments in the polymers increased. Also, an increase in the N_H value significantly enhanced the thickening ability of the polymers and affected the structure of the transient network. In the semidilute unentangled regime, the behavior of the polymer with long hydrophobic segments (N_H = 7) was studied in detail. The results were well explained by the sticky Rouse theory of associative polymer dynamics. Finally, the viscosity decreased with an increase in the temperature, mainly because of a lowering of the sample relaxation time. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1640–1655, 2004     

Independent exponential feeding of glycerol and methanol for fed-batch culture of recombinant Hansenula polymorpha DL-1

As a novel feeding strategy for aptomizing human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) production with a recombinant Hansenula polymorpha DL-1 using the methanol oxidase (MOX) promoter in H. polymorpha DL-1, independent exponential feeding of two substrates was used. A simple kinetic model considering the cell growth on two substrates was established and used to calculate the respective feeding rates of glycerol and methanol. In the fedbatch culture with methanol-only feeding, the optimal set point of specific growth rate on methanol was found to be 0.10 h⁻¹. When the fed-batch cultures were conducted by the independent feeding of glycerol and methanol, the actual specific growth rate on glycerol and methanol was slightly lower than the set point of specific growth rate. By the uncoupled feeding of glycerol and methanol the volumetric productivity of hEGF increased from 6.4 to 8.0 mg/(L·h), compared with methanol-only feeding.     

Polysulfonylamine. CLX [1] Kristallstrukturen von Metall‐di(methansulfonyl)amiden. 10 [2] Die dreidimensionalen Koordinationspolymere M[(CH3SO2)2N] mit M = Kalium,Rubidium, Caesium (isotype Strukturen für M = K,Rb)

Polysulfonylamines. CLX. Crystal Structures of Metal Di(methanesulfonyl)amides. 10. The Three‐Dimensional Coordination Polymers M[(CH₃SO₂)₂N], where M is Potassium, Rubidium, Cesium (Isotypic Structures for M = K, Rb) Low‐temperature X‐ray crystal structures are reported for KA (monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, Z′ = 1), RbA (isotypic and isostructural with KA), and CsA (monoclinic, P2₁/n, Z′ = 1), where A^— denotes the anion obtained by deprotonation of the strong nitrogen acid (MeSO₂)₂NH. In KA and RbA, the anion is distorted into a rare C₁ conformation, whereas the standard C₂ conformation is retained in the cesium complex. The structures consist of three‐dimensional coordination networks, in which each cation adopts an irregular (O₆N)‐heptacoordination by forming close contacts to one (O, N)‐chelating, one (O, O)‐chelating and three κ¹O‐bonding ligands; however, the coordination number for Cs⁺ is effectively increased to 8 by a very short Cs···Cs contact distance of 422.5 pm. The crystal packings of the isotypic compounds KA and RbA display lamellar layer substructures that involve six independent ligand‐metal bonds and comprise an internal cation lamella and peripheral regions built up from anion monolayers; the 3D framework is completed by one independent M—O bond cross‐linking the layer substructures. In contrast, CsA features anion monolayers that intercalate planar zigzag chains of cations (Cs···Cs alternatingly 422.5 and 487.5 pm, Cs···Cs···Cs 135.7°), whereby each chain is surrounded and coordinated by four anion stacks and each anion stack connects two cation chains. All structures exhibit close C—H···A interanion contacts consistent with weak hydrogen bonding.     

Synthese und thermische Eigenschaften von molekularen Clusterverbindungen zusammengesetzt aus Elementen der Gruppen 11‐13‐16

Syntheses and Thermal Properties of Cluster Molecules, formed from Groups 11‐13‐16 Elements In the presence of PPh₃, CuX (X = Cl, CH₃COO) or AgOC(O)C₆H₅ and GaCl₃ react in THF with S(SiMe₃)₂ or Se(SiMe₃)₂ to yield [Cu₆Ga₈Cl₄S₁₃(PPh₃)₆] ( 1 ), [Cu₆Ga₈Cl₄Se₁₃(PPh₃)₆] ( 2 ), [Ag₆Ga₈Cl₄S₁₃(PPh₃)₆] ( 4 ) and [Ag₆Ga₈Cl₄Se₁₃(PPh₃)₆] ( 5 ). The use of PⁿPr₂Ph instead of PPh₃ and subsequent layering with n‐hexane leads to the formation of the cluster [Cu₆Ga₈Cl₄Se₁₃(PⁿPr₂Ph)₁₂] ( 3a , 3b ). Reaction of CuCl, GaCl₃ and PⁿPr₃ with Se(SiMe₃)₂ in THF results in the crystallisation of the ionic cluster (HPⁿPr₃)₂[Cu₂Ga₄Cl₄Se₆(PⁿPr₃)₄] ( 6 ). The structures of 1 — 6 were determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis. Thermogravimetric measurements of the cluster molecules and powder diffraction patterns of the remaining powders reveal the potential use of them as single source precursor compounds for the synthesis of the related ternary solid state materials.     

Studies on the Electrochemical Characteristics of K2FeO4 Electrode

Discharge performance of K2FeO4 electrode under different conditions was studied by the constant electric current discharge method. The electrochemical characteristics of K2FeO4 electrode were investigated for the first time by means of cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the K2FeO4 electrode made at moderate pressure (20MPa) and discharged at lower current has better discharge performance. It is also found that K2FeO4 electrode is significantly rechargeable.     

Fabrication of solid thin film electrolyte and LiCoO2 by aerosol flame pyrolysis deposition

Aerosol flame pyrolysis deposition method was applied to deposit the oxide glass electrolyte film and LiCoO₂ cathode for thin film type Li-ion secondary battery. The thicknesses of as-deposited porous LiCoO₂ and Li₂O–B₂O₃–P₂O₅ electrolyte film were about 6 μm and 15 μm, respectively. The deposited LiCoO₂ was sintered for 2 min at 700 °C to make partially densified cathode layer, and the deposited Li₂O–P₂O₅–B₂O₃ glass film completely densified by the sintering at 700 °C for 1 h. After solid state sintering process the thicknesses were reduced to approximately 4 μm and 6 μm, respectively. The cathode and electrolyte layers were deposited by continuous deposition process and integrated into a layer by co-sintering. It was demonstrated that Aerosol flame deposition is one of the good candidates for the fabrication of thin film battery.     

Hierarchical Structure‐Within‐Structure Morphologies in A2‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) Molecules

We employ dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to examine the self‐assembly behavior of A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) molecules. We successfully observe various types of hierarchical structure‐within‐structures, such as A‐formed spheres in the matrix formed by B and C alternating layers, hexagonally packed A‐formed cylinders in the matrix with B and C segregated layers, B and C alternating layers‐within‐lamellae, coaxial B and C alternating domains within hexagonally packed BC‐formed cylinders in the A‐matrix, and co‐centric BC‐alternating domains within BC‐formed spheres in the A‐matrix, by increasing the A composition. Generally speaking, the small length‐scale B and C segregated domains are in parallel to the large length‐scale structures. This hierarchical periodicity along the same axis as well as the various characteristic structures, that the A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) copolymers display, are quite different from those in A‐block‐(B‐graft‐C) coil‐comb copolymers. Moreover, it is interesting to find that when the copolymer chain length increases, though the hierarchical structure type is maintained, the number of small length‐scale lamellae that can form within the large length‐scale structure increases. These hierarchical structures under various compositions are reported theoretically for the first time in the copolymer systems consisting of the alternating blocks, and are in good agreement with the most recent experimental work by Matsushita and co‐workers (Macromolecules 2007 , 40, 4023).