Mn(III)-based reaction of alkenes with quinolinones. Formation of peroxyquinolinones and quinoline-related derivatives

The reactions of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones under both Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation conditions at room temperature and Mn(III)-mediated oxidation conditions at reflux temperature are described. The Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation afforded bis(hydroperoxyethyl)quinolinones and azatrioxa[4.4.3]propellanes, while the oxidation with Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O produced furo[3,2-c]quinolin-4-one analogues. The existence of a substituent at the 3-position of the 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones prevented a double reaction with the alkenes, and (endoperoxy)quinolinones and/or (hydroperoxyethyl)quinolinones were obtained under the Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic conditions, while furo[3,2-c]quinolinone hemiacetals and vinylquinolinones were selectively produced under the Mn(III)-mediated oxidation conditions depending on the reaction temperature and times. Cyclic assembly of quinolinone-related 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as dihydropyridinones, pyranones, and dimedone derivatives was also examined under elevated temperature conditions.     

Reversible photoswitching in a cell-sized vesicle

A photosensitive amphiphilic molecule can switch the shape of an assembled vesicle as determined by microscopic observation. Photoisomerization induces a change in membrane fluctuation behavior or a morphological transition between ellipsoid and bud shapes, depending on the asymmetrical degree of the initial shape. The mechanism of this reversible photoswitching in the vesicle morphology is interpreted in terms of a change in the effective cross-sectional area of the photosensitive molecule.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of p-tert-Butylthiacalix[8]arene: A New Member of Thiacalixarenes

Even though it was obtained in poor yield, p-tert-butylthiacalix[8]arene (TC8A) has been synthesized as a new member of thiacalix[n]arenes by the terephthalate-induced cyclization of a mixture of acyclic oligomers, which was obtained by the reaction between p-tert-butylphenol and sulfur with CaO in ethylene glycol/diphenyl ether system. Slow evaporation of the chloroform solution of TC8A afforded guest-free crystals consisting of TC8A itself. The close-packed crystal structure of TC8A resembles that of p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (C8A) closely, containing a plated loop molecular structure.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates in aqueous media

Asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates with formaldehyde in aqueous media has been achieved using praseodymium triflate and a chiral crown ether. Formaldehyde aqueous solution can be directly used for the reactions, and a water/THF mixture was found to be the best solvent system. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates.     

The Raman and infrared spectrum of hexachloro-disilazane

The Raman and IR spectra of hexachlorodisilazane were measured, and the assignment carried out by comparison with those of the structurally related compounds, hexachlorodisiloxane, hexachlorodisilane and dimethylamine. The vibrational spectra of hexachlorodisilazane are very closely related to those of hexachlorodisiloxane, hexachlorodisilane and dimethylamine, and can be interpreted in terms of a non-rigid D_3d symmetry with an internal rotation.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some Heterocyclic Compounds from Salicylic Acid Hydrazide

Different heterocyclic compounds were prepared starting from 2‐hydroxy benzohydrazide; for example, cyclization of hydrazide hydrazone 3 derived from 2‐hydroxybenzohydrazide 2 with acetic anhydride or concentrated sulfuric acid gave 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 4 – 5 . On the other hand, direct cyclization of 2‐hydroxy benzohydrazide 2 with one carbon cyclizing agent gave a new derivative of 1,3,4‐oxadiazole 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 . Heating of hydrazide hydrazone 3 with thioglycolic acid in pyridine gave thiazolidinone 12 . When 2‐hydroxy benzohydrazide 2 reacted with aliphatic carboxylic acids such as formic acid or acetic acid, it gave the corresponding N‐formyl or N‐acetyl derivatives 6 . Subsequent cyclization of 6 using phosphorous pentasulphide in pyridine gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 13 . Cyclization of 2‐hydroxy benzohydrazide with ethyl acetoacetate gives pyrazolone derivative 14 . Finally, when an ethanolic solution of acid hydrazide 2 was treated with ammonium thiocyanate in 35% HCl, it gave the thiosemicarbazide 15 . Subsequent treatment of 15 with concentrated sulfuric acid or 10% sodium hydroxide gave 5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole 16 and 1,2,4‐triazole 17 , respectively. The structures of all newly isolated compounds were confirmed using ¹H NMR, IR spectra, and elemental analyses. The antimicrobial activities for all isolated compounds were examined against different microorganisms.     

Ion chromatography of nitrite at the ppb level with photometric measurement of iodine formed by post-column reaction of nitrite with iodide

The difficulty in ion-chromatographic determination of nitrite in aqueous solutions containing a high concentration of chloride arises mainly from incomplete resolution of the peaks for these anions on the separation column whose efficiency is not high. A photometric measurement of iodine formed by a reaction of nitrite with iodide has been found to make it possible to determine, chromatographically, trace amounts of nitrite without any interference from chloride; chloride does not oxidize iodide to produce iodine. The proposed method was based on the separation of nitrite from matrix anions on a silica-based anion-exchange column with a 1.5·10⁻³ M phthalate eluent (pH 5.0), followed by photometric measurement of the iodine (as triiodide) formed via a post-column reaction of the separated nitrite with iodide. The optimal conditions for the post-column reaction were established by varying the concentrations of iodide, copper(II) and nitric acid in a post-column-reaction solution and the length of a reaction tube. A calibration graph for nitrite, plotted as peak heights versus concentrations, was linear up to 1.50·10⁻⁵ M (690 ppb). The detection limit, defined at S/N=3, was 1.00·10⁻⁷ M (4.60 ppb) nitrite. The presence of chloride ions up to 0.01 M did not give any interference to the determination of nitrite. This method was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite in lake water, river water, sewage works water and snow samples without any pretreatment.     

Aggregation structure and mechanical properties of functionally graded polyurethane elastomers

Functionally graded polyurethane elastomers (FGPUEs) were prepared with two molds fixed at different temperatures (30 and 150 °C). The effects of the molar ratio of the curing agent (60/40, 75/25, or 97/3 1,4‐butane diol/1,1,1‐trimethylol propane) and the molecular weight of the polymer glycol (number‐average molecular weight = 2000 or 3000) on the molecular aggregation state and mechanical properties of the FGPUEs were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, dynamic viscoelastic measurements, and tensile tests. The aggregation state of the FGPUEs was changed continuously from the one side (lower temperature side) to the other side (higher temperature side); for example, the glass‐transition temperature gradually increased in this direction. Also, the number of spherulites formed in the FGPUEs increased in the same manner. In the mechanical tests, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the lower temperature side were higher than those of the higher temperature side. This was correlated with the strong phase separation of the lower temperature side. The poly(oxytetramethylene glycol)‐based FGPUE with a chain extender of 75 wt % showed the largest degree of the temperature gradient. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2355–2363, 2003     

Control system of stockers in radioisotopes storage room using a personal computer

This paper describes a control system of stockers for radioactive source in storage room at laboratory for tracer experiment. The system is composed of a personal computer, a locker controller, three card readers, a monitor TV, and a video tape recorder (VTR). The personal computer controls other equipment with a registered user's number. When a user inserts an identification card into the card reader, the computer memorizes assigned gate number, the user's number and the time; it processes those data and prints out a document. The locker controller releases the electric key of user's locker which is designated by the computer. The VTR records the person entering into the storage room to identity if he uses his card. This system proved to effectively prevent intrusion into the storage room of an unregistered person or to use carelessly other user's source; in addition it can record precisely the stock of radioactive source.