Determination of localized states in porous silicon

We determined the density of state distribution near the Fermi level in porous silicon from the analysis of the current–voltage (J–V) and the current–thickness (J–T) characteristics in the space-charge-limited-current (SCLC) regime. The distribution exhibits a minimum density at the Fermi level, which is similar to the U-shape-trap-distribution observed in crystalline Si–SiO₂ interface or in amorphous Si. Theoretical analysis well explains both the J–V and the J–L characteristics, which implies that the current flow is entirely controlled by localized states situated at the quasi-Fermi level.     

Adsorption and biotransformation of 17β-estradiol in biological activated carbon adsorbers

As the first systematic study dealing with the adsorption of estrogens by granular activated carbon (GAC), the removal behavior of 17β-estradiol (E2) and its biotransformation product of estrone (E1) in fixed GAC columns was examined using four biological activated carbon (BAC) columns (BAC-1～BAC-4) generated by coating four GAC columns with detached microorganisms from the riverbed sediment of a representative drinking river water source containing lower content of natural organic matter (NOM). For comparison, parallel adsorption experiments were also performed using another four GAC columns (GAC-1～ GAC-4) packed by strictly following the configurations of four BAC columns. Adsorption experimental results obtained by intermittently spiking E2 over a total running period about 350 days into the river water mixed with or without a peaty water containing higher content of NOM showed that E2 was readily removed by adsorption and the combined adsorption/biodegradation. The vertical profiles of E2 and E1, which have great significance for better understanding and optimization of the adsorption process for removal of human estrogens, were also obtained.     

Tropone‐containing π‐conjugated polymers: Annulation of tropone onto benzene ring in the conjugated polymer

Tropone‐fused, various π‐conjugated polymers ( P2 – P5 ) were synthesized by the palladium‐catalyzed coupling reaction of 1,4‐dibromo‐6,8‐dimethyl‐7H‐benzocyclohepten‐7‐one with aromatic divinyl, diboronic acid, and diethynyl compounds. The molecular orbital calculation of the model compounds was performed to discuss effective conjugation length of the repeating unit of the polymers. The absorption spectra of phenylenevinylene‐type polymers shifted to longer wavelengths than the model compounds by about 60 nm. They exhibited green fluorescence [λ_max(em) = 544 and 561 nm]. The absorption spectrum of a phenylene‐type polymer blueshifted by 10 nm; however, that of a phenyleneethynylene‐type polymer redshifted by 83 nm as compared with their model compounds. They showed fluorescence with peak maxima at 457 and 489 nm, respectively. As a result, the absorption spectra of phenylene‐ and phenylenevinylene‐type polymers blueshifted, but that of a phenyleneethynylene‐type polymer redshifted by the annulation of tropone onto a benzene ring in the conjugated polymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1208–1215, 2004     

Recent Advances in Holey Fibers and Their Applications

Transmission loss of holey fiber is found to depend on its structure, and to be caused by Rayleigh scattering at glass surface. Under this loss dependence, most promising is optical wiring application, for which fiber designs to realize bend-insensitivity and single-modedness are presented.     

Synthesis and structure revision of litseaone A

Litseaone A, isolated from the stem barks of Litsea rubescens and Litsea pedunculata, is a chalcone derivative with a novel spiro-epoxide moiety. The structural revision of litseaone A was achieved by the racemic synthesis of the proposed structure and the asymmetric synthesis of the revised structure. The major tautomeric structure of litseaone A and the relative stereochemistry at the epoxide carbon center were also clarified.     

Noncanonical RNA Nucleosides as Molecular Fossils of an Early Earth—Generation by Prebiotic Methylations and Carbamoylations

The RNA‐world hypothesis assumes that life on Earth started with small RNA molecules that catalyzed their own formation. Vital to this hypothesis is the need for prebiotic routes towards RNA. Contemporary RNA, however, is not only constructed from the four canonical nucleobases (A, C, G, and U), it also contains many chemically modified (noncanonical) bases. A still open question is whether these noncanonical bases were formed in parallel to the canonical bases (chemical origin) or later, when life demanded higher functional diversity (biological origin). Here we show that isocyanates in combination with sodium nitrite establish methylating and carbamoylating reactivity compatible with early Earth conditions. These reactions lead to the formation of methylated and amino acid modified nucleosides that are still extant. Our data provide a plausible scenario for the chemical origin of certain noncanonical bases, which suggests that they are fossils of an early Earth.     

Anomalous binding profile of phenylboronic acid with N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in aqueous solution with varying pH

Borates are known to interact with carbohydrate moieties expressed on the surface of biological membranes of a variety of cells, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This study revealed the anomalous binding profile of borate in aqueous solution with N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, sialic acid) as a potential receptor site on the surfaces of biological membranes using (11)B, (1)H, (13)C, and (15)N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. 3-(Propionamido)phenylboronic acid (PAPBA) was chosen as the model borate compound. The equilibrium constant (K) for Neu5Ac binding to PAPBA was compared with those for glucose, mannose, and galactose, which are the major carbohydrate constituents of glycoproteins and glycolipids expressed on biological membranes. In the Neu5Ac/PAPBA system, the unusual pH dependency of the K values, a decrease in K with increasing pH, was observed, suggesting the formation of a trigonal-formed complex stabilized by the coordination of an amide group of Neu5Ac at the C-5 position to the boron atom, forming intramolecular B-N or B-O bonding. Furthermore, the anomalously high complexing ability at physiological pH 7.4 was confirmed for this system, with the K value 37.6 which is approximately 7 times higher than that for glucose. This exceptionally high value of K at physiological pH, compared to those of other sugars, strongly suggests that the boronic acid selectively recognizes the Neu5Ac residues of the glycosylated components including glycoproteins and gangliosides existing on the surface of the biological membranes.     

Structure and reactivity of a novel parallel thiosulfito (SSO2-S:S') rhodium dinuclear complex

The parallel thiosulfite ligand (SSO2) in a rhodium complex, which is formed by oxygenation of a bridging disulfide, is converted to a bridging hydrocarbyl thiolate ligand and sulfur dioxide gas by the reaction with hydrocarbyl halides.     

Selective oxygenation of amphiphilic thiacalix[3]pyridine Rh(I) diene complexes in both water and organic solvents

Thiacalix[3]pyridine (Py3S3) reacted with [Rh(diene)(mu-Cl)]2(diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), 2,5-norbornadiene (nbd)) to give amphiphilic trigonal bipyramidal complexes, [Rh(Py3S3)(diene)]Cl. Sulfur bridges of the Py3S3 ligand in these complexes were selectively oxygenated by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid in dichloromethane to give sulfinylcalix[3]pyridine complexes, [Rh(Py3(SO)3)(diene)]+, in which all three oxygen atoms of the SO groups occupy the equatorial positions. Structures of the complexes were analysed by X-ray crystallography and the oxidation reaction was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry showing that the oxygenation of the sulfur atoms in the ligand proceeded stepwise and further oxygenation of the SO moiety occurred only for the nbd complex having the smaller diene ligand resulting in [Rh(Py3(SO)2(SO2))(nbd)]+. On the other hand, the oxidation of [Rh(Py3S3)(cod)]+ by H2O2 in water did not result in oxygenation of the sulfur bridges but the cod ligand is hydroxygenated to give 1,4,5,6-eta4-2-hydroxycycloocta-4-ene-1,6-di-yl.