Silver nanoparticles dispersed within amphiphilic star-block copolymers as templates for plasmon band materials

Formation of silver nanoparticles has been developed based on a template technique. Amphiphilic star-block copolymers employed as single molecule template, utilizing the coordination of Ag⁺ ions with carboxyl groups in the core of the star-block copolymer. Silver nanoparticles have been prepared by the addition of chemical reductant, e.g., NaBH₄. The solution of the resultant nanosphere composites showed yellow due to the surface plasmon resonance. These composites were soluble in organic solvents, because hydrophobic corona of the star-block copolymer protected the fabricated silver nanoparticles from aggregation.     

Fullerenols revisited as stable radical anions

The first exhaustive purification and characterization of the much-studied "fullerenols", prepared by reaction of C(60) in toluene with an oxygenated, aqueous NaOH solution using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as a phase transfer catalyst, has been performed. The resulting fullerenol is not simply polyhydroxylated C(60) but rather is a structurally and electronically complex C(60) radical anion with a molecular formula of Na(+)(n)[C(60)O(x)(OH)(y)](n)(-) (where n = 2-3, x = 7-9, and y = 12-15) for three different, but identical, preparations. Surprisingly, Na(+)-fullerenol is paramagnetic, exhibiting mu(B) values in aqueous solution of 1.9-2.1 B.M. at 0.5 T and 300 K and R(1) proton relaxivities of 0.55-0.77 mM(-1)s(-1) at 20 MHz and 40 degrees C, values both slightly higher than those expected for a pure S = 1/2 spin system. ESR studies (ESE-FS and 2D nutation) of frozen aqueous solutions at 1.5 and 5.0 K establish that Na(+)-fullerenol is mainly S = 1/2 with a minor, but significant, component of S = 1. Thus, this is the first report to characterize these widely studied, water-soluble fullerenols as stable radical anions. The stability of the S = 1/2 Na(+)-fullerenol radical is likely due to a highly derivatized C(60) surface that protects a cyclopentadienyl radical center on the fullerene.     

Immobilization of chlorophyll derivatives into mesoporous silica and energy transfer between the chromophores in mesopores

Chlorophyll derivatives possessing triethoxysilyl groups have been synthesized for the first time and grafted on mesoporous silica to construct an efficient energy transfer system between the chromophores.     

Reaction of sulphoximides with diazomalonate in the presence of Cu-salt : A new synthesis and stereochemistry of optically active oxosulphonium ylides

Sulphoximides (Ia–Ie) were found to react with dimethyl diazomalonate (DDM) in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cu-salts affording the corresponding oxosulphonium ylides in moderate yields. The reaction did not proceed at all under irradiation of UV light. (?)-Methylphenyloxosulphonium bis(methoxycarbonyl)-methylide ((?)-IIb) was obtained from (+)-(S)-methylphenylsulphoximide ((+)-(S)-Ib) together with (?)-(S)-methyl phenyl sulphoxide ((?)-(S)-IIIb) by this reaction. Hydrolysis of (?)-IIb gave (+)-methylphenyloxosulphonium methoxycarbonylmethylide ((+)-IIf) which was converted to (?)-(S)-IIIb upon treatment with dibenzoylethylene. Stereochemical cycle starting from (+)-(S)-Ib to (?)-(S)-IIIb was established and the absolute configurations of both ylides, (?)-IIb and (+)-IIf were assigned as (R)-configuration. The stereochemical courses, namely from (+)-(S)-Ib or (?)-(S)-IIIb to (?)-(R)-IIb or (+)-(R)-IIf to (?)-(S)-IIIb were determined as retention processes. The optical purities of the oxosulphonium ylides obtained from both reactions, (+)-(S)-Ib→(?)-(R)-IIb and (?)-(S)-IIIb→(?)-(R)-IIb, were almost equal. These results indicate that the mechanism of the reaction of sulphoximides with carbenes (or carbenoids) involves the initial formation of the sulphoxides which react subsequently with carbenes to afford the final products.     

Binding of sulfonamides to erythrocyte proteins and possible drug-drug interaction

The mode of binding of sulfonamides to erythrocyte proteins and possible drug-drug interaction between those compounds in erythrocytes resulting in changes in tissue levels were studied in rats using zonisamide (a novel antiepileptic agent possessing a sulfonamide group), several other sulfonamides and some antiepileptics without a sulfonamide group. In Michaelis-Menten plottings, the sulfonamide was found to be concentrated into erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo in a saturable high-affinity mode and in a linear low-affinity mode at ordinary therapeutic plasma levels through a simple diffusion process. Concentration in erythrocytes was affected by the presence of albumin in the extracellular medium. The cellular sulfonamide was readily replaced by extracellular sulfonamides in vitro. Even in vivo, erythrocyte levels of zonisamide were lowered by administration of other sulfonamides, although the plasma and tissue levels were not significantly changed since the plasma and tissue compartments of zonisamide were large relative to the erythrocyte compartment at ordinary therapeutic dose levels of zonisamide in animals and man. Therefore, disposition of zonisamide was not significantly influenced by other sulfonamides, but it is suggested that drug-drug interaction affecting the tissue levels may occur for a combination of sulfonamides with extremely different affinities for erythrocytes and low therapeutic plasma levels.     

Vanadium uptake and an effect of vanadium treatment on 18 F-labeled water movement in a cowpea plant by positron emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS)

We present real time vanadate (V⁵⁺ ) uptake imaging in acowpea plant by positron emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS). Vanadium-48was produced by bombarding a Sc foil target with 50 MeV -particlesat Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA) AVFcyclotron. Then ⁴⁸ V was added to the culture solution to investigatethe V distribution in a cowpea plant. The real time uptake of the ⁴⁸V was monitored by PETIS. We measured the distribution of ⁴⁸Vin a whole plant after 3, 6 and 20 hours of V treatment by Bio-imaging AnalyzerSystem (BAS). After the 20 hour treatment, vanadate was detected at the up-groundpart of the plant. To know the effect of V uptake on plant activity, ¹⁸F-labeled water uptake was analyzed by PETIS. When a cowpea plantwas treated with V for 20 hours before ¹⁸ F-labeled water uptakeexperiment, the total amount of ¹⁸F-labeled water absorption wasdrastically decreased. Results suggest the inhibition of water uptake wasmainly caused by the vanadate already moved to the up-ground part of the plant.     

Heterometallic hexanuclear cluster with an S = 8 spin ground state: MnII[MnII(hfac)2]3[NiII(pao)3]2 (hfac- = hexafluoroacetylacetonate,pao- = pyridine-2-aldoximate)

The heterometallic Mn(II)(4)Ni(II)(2) title compound has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The compound consists of a Ni-Mn-Ni linear moiety, [[Ni-(mu-NO)(3)](2)-Mn], linked by oximate bridges and three Mn(II) hfac terminal units attached by oximate oxygens in a di-mu-oxo fashion, forming a novel heterometallic cluster: Mn[Mn(hfac)(2)](3)[Ni(pao)(3)](2) (1). Magnetic measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic nature of the oximate pathway between Mn(II) and Ni(II) metal ions, which imposes an unusual high-spin ground state (S = 8) for 1.     

Detection of varicocele by using 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid human serum albumin (99mTc-DTPA human serum albumin)

In order to detect the varicocele, scrotal scintigraphies by using 99mTc-HSA-D were performed in 14 patients with male infertile or palpable mass in left scrotum on physical examinations. Abnormal pooling of 99mTc-HSA-D, indicative of varicocele lesion, could be found in left scrotum in 9 cases, confirmed surgically or clinically. Compared with 99mTc-HSA, 99mTc-HSA-D was superior in high uptake ratio of varicocele to soft tissue and in nonvisualization of bladder. Thus, 99mTc-HSA-D scrotal scintigraphy seemed to be of a great use to detect the varicocele.     

π-Allyl nickel halide–oxygen system as a catalyst for polymerization of butadiene

The π-allyl nickel halide-oxygen system was found to be active as catalyst for stereospecific polymerization of butadiene. The catalyst from π-allyl nickel chloride or π-allyl nickel bromide yields the polymer of 90% cis-1,4 content with high activity, whereas the catalyst from π-allyl nickel iodide affords a polymer of 70% or less cis-1,4 content. The catalyst systems can be fractionated into two parts on the basis of solubility in benzene. It is concluded that the catalyst activity originates essentially from the benzene-insoluble nickel complex which is composed of oxygen, halogen, σ-allyl group, and nickel. The structure of growing polymer terminal is discussed in relation to the mechanism of the stereospecific polymerization.     

220-MHz NMR spectra of acrylic monomer–2-substituted 1,3-diolefin alternating copolymers

An investigation by 220-MHz NMR spectroscopy was carried out on the alternating copolymers of acrylic monomer with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefin. The chain structures were determined. The acrylic monomers used were methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylonitrile (AN), and methacrylonitrile (MAN); isoprene (IP) and chloroprene (CLP) were the 1,3-diolefins. In the MAN–IP alternating copolymer, the 1-position methylene protons of IP showed an AB quartet peak, confirming the α-1 linkage structure. Similarly, in the MMA–CLP and AN–CLP copolymers, the 1-position methylene protons of CLP showed and AB quartet and an ABX pattern, respectively, confirming the α-1 linkage structure in both these cases also. The α-1 linkage structure was also revealed by the decoupling technique in the MAN–CLP alternating copolymer. The AN–IP and MMA–IP alternating copolymers also possess a bond between the α-position of the acrylic monomer and the 1-position of IP. The monomeric units in the alternating copolymers of acrylic monomers with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefins were generally linked at the α-position of acrylic monomer and the 1-position of 1,3-diolefin. On the other hand, in the Diels-Alder adducts of acrylic monomer with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefin, the reaction takes place between the α-position of acrylic monomer and the 4-position of 1,3-diolefin. The regioselectivity of the alternating copolymers and the Diels-Alder adducts is quite compatible with the expectations from molecular orbital theory.