Active sites of silica-based quantum photocatalysts for non-oxidative reactions

Various photocatalytic reactions have been developed in recent years. Among them, non-oxidative reactions by silica-based quantum photocatalysts are quite unique. Pure silica materials, especially mesoporous silica evacuated at high temperature, were found to promote olefin metathesis upon photoirradiation at room temperature. A kind of surface defect on silica was generated through dehydroxylation at high temperature before the photoreaction, which can be photoexcited to form the first surface intermediate. On the other hand, non-oxidative direct methane coupling was revealed to proceed on silica materials and silica-based quantum photocatalysts. Also in these cases, evacuation at high temperature was required for the activation of catalyst before the reaction. The active sites and feature of silica-based quantum photocatalysts for these non-oxidative reaction systems are summarized and discussed.*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: h-yoshida@esi.nagoya-u.ac.jp     

Application of EXAFS and XANES Methods in Coordination Chemistry of Carbohydrates and Their Derivatives

A summary is presented of the results obtained on metal complexes of carbohydrates (aldoses, ketoses and mono-, di- and polysaccharides) and their derivatives (aldonic and alduronic acids, polyalcohols, amino sugars, and amino acid sugar adducts). The structural parameters (coordination number, bond distance, and Debye–Waller factor) measured by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy obtained earlier on transition metals [Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ag(I), Mn in different oxidation states and organotin(IV)] complexes are discussed. In addition we report here the preparation of Bu₂Sn(IV)²⁺ complexes of rutin {3-[6-O-(6-deoxy--L-mannopyranosyl)-(-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one} and quercetin (containing {O,O} donor atoms) in ligand to metal ratios of 1:1 and 1:2. The analytical data revealed the formation of well-defined complexes. The local structures of the complexes were determined by an EXAFS method. It was found that the Sn–O bond distances in the first coordination sphere are closed the values found in Et₂Sn(IV) complexes with nonprotected carbohydrates.     

High resolution adsorption isotherms of N2 and Ar for nonporous silicas and MFI zeolites

The high resolution adsorption isotherms of N₂ (77.4 K) and Ar (87.3 K) have been measured for two nonporous silicas with different silanol contents (3.3 and 0.35 OH/nm²) and for two MFI zeolite with different Al contents (Si/Al=12.5 and 500). Silanol groups and Al sites (acid sites) gives the significant effect on the N₂ isotherms at submonolayer, but the Ar isotherms are independent of silanols and Al sites. The Ar isotherms, therefore, are preferable in calculation of microporosity of zeolites. The N₂ and Ar isotherms for MFI zeolite (Si/Al=500) have been measured at temperatures of 77–94 K, from which the differential adsorption energies of N₂ and Ar are calculated. The interaction of N₂ with channel surface of MFI zeolite is greater than that of Ar in the range of α _s =0.1–0.7. The hystereses are detected for the N₂ isotherm in p/p ^o=0.1–0.3 at 77.4 K and for the Ar isotherm in p/p ^o=3×10⁻⁴–2×10⁻³ at 87.3 K. However, it is difficult to explain the hysteresis phenomenon using differential adsorption energy.     

Chiral sulfoxides as neutral coordinate-organocatalysts in asymmetric allylation of N-acylhydrazones using allyltrichlorosilanes

Sulfoxides were first introduced to the allylation of N-acylhydrazones with allyltrichlorosilanes as effective neutral coordinate-organocatalysts (NCOs). Both high diastereo- and enantioselectivity were attained when optically active chiral sulfoxides were used. Asymmetric crotylations using (Z)- and (E)-crotyltrichlorosilanes showed a high level of stereospecificity (Z --> anti and E --> syn) with high enantioselectivity.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc using axially chiral aminoethyloxy-phosphine ligands

New axially chiral P,O,N-type ligands bearing both a diphenylphosphino group and 2-(dialkylamino)ethyloxy (or 2-pyridylmethyloxy) groups were designed and prepared along with P,O,O-type ligands by employing an easily available chiral component, (R)-2-hydroxy-2′-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthyl. Among the ligands the simplest P,O,N-type one bearing a 2-(dimethylamino)ethyloxy group was found to be the most efficient in copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to a cyclic enone, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, providing high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee.     

Cyclophane porphyrins and their metal complexes: Biomimetic study on receptor site of hemoprotein oxygen binding

A new symmetric porphyrin, 7,8,17,18-tetraethyl-3,13-dimethylporphyrin-2, 12-dipropionic acid and its derivatives were synthesized by the a,c-biladiene route. Condensation of the dipropionic acid with diamine, [H₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂, n= 6,7,8,9,10,12, and14], afforded the corresponding cyclophane porphyrins. The bridged groups were characterized by the ¹H-NMR spectra of their zinc complexes. The spin state of the Fe(III) complexes of the cyclophane porphyrins was investigated by changing the size of the bridged chain or size of axial ligand. The cyclophane-porphyrinato (III) perchlorate complexes in a mixture of MeOH and CHCl₃, with 4-benzylpyridine provide a model for methemoproteins. Steric constraint between an axial ligand and the bridge group, [-CH₂CH₂CONH(CH₂)_nNHCOCH₂CH₂]at the bridged face determines the ratio of the penta- and hexa-coordinated ferric complexes. The rate of O-binding to the Co(II) cyclophane porphyrins is mar present result indicates that removal of a solvent molecule or sixth axial ligand from the near proximity of the Co(II) complex increases the rate of O- binding.     

Interaction of 5-fluorouracil with sodium poly-α,L-glutamate

The purpose of our research is to obtain an understanding of the binding mechanism and its correlations in terms of chemical structure and the potentiactive drug activity. The interaction of 5-fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil is used as an anticancer drug) with sodium poly-,L-glutamate in aqueous solution was studied with a spectral method and viscosity measurement. From the binding data, the molar change in enthalpy, entropy and the number of binding sites on the polymer were calculated. It is very interesting that the value ofH⁰ of the binding of 5-fluorouracil with sodium poly-,L-glutamate is smaller than that of 5-trifluoromethyluracil (although 5-trifluoromethyluracil is not used as an anticancer drug, the compound has a similar structure to 5-fluorouracil).     

Macroscopic-wetting anisotropy on the line-patterned surface of fluoroalkylsilane monolayers

Micropatterned fluoroalkylsilane monolayer surfaces with liquidphilic/liquidphobic area (line width 1-20 microm) were prepared with few defects by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolithography. The anisotropic wetting of a macroscopic droplet with a 0.5-5 mm diameter on the micropatterned surfaces was investigated. The strong anisotropy of the contact angle and the sliding angle and droplet distortion for fluoroalkylsilane/silanol patterned surfaces was attributed to the difference in the energy barrier of wetting between parallel and orthogonal lines. The wetting anisotropy decreased with decreases in the liquidphilic area. Fluoroalkylsilane/alkylsilane patterned surfaces with small differences in the surface free energies of the components showed anisotropic wetting only for the low-surface-tension liquids.     

Synthesis of eleven-membered carbocycles via a homo-Cope type of five-carbon ring expansion reaction utilized β-(hydroxymethyl)allylsilane

Eleven-membered carbocycles were synthesized from six-membered compounds fitted with a β-(hydroxymethyl)allylsilane unit via the title reaction. Namely, trans- and cis-(E)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)-3-(2-vinylcyclohex-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-ol were treated with Tf₂O in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of 2,6-lutidine to afford (1E)-3-methylenecycloundeca-1,6-diene in good yield. The geometry of the product was shown to depend upon the trans- and cis-substitution pattern on the cyclohexane ring of the substrates; i.e. trans-isomer afforded (6E)-product exclusively and cis-isomer afforded the mixture of (6E)- and (6Z)-product in 1:2 ratio. The (Z)-substrate with respect to allylsilane moiety afforded the same ring expansion product, however, the yield was lower than the reaction with the (E)-substrate. The substrates bearing t-butyl or benzyloxy substituents on the cyclohexane ring also afforded the product analogously, indicating that the reaction depends upon the conformation of the substrate. On the other hand, the substrate bearing isopropenyl group instead of a simple vinyl group did not afford the ring expansion product but produced bicyclo[5.4.0]undecane via the ene reaction.     

Some recent radiolysis works by means of a new picosecond pulse radiolysis system “Twin LINAC System”

A new picosecond pulse radiolysis Twin LINAC System has been constructed recently at Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. The time resolution of the system is 20 ps and the system has a versatile capability for pulse radiolysis study. The outline of the facility is introduced. Some research carried out using the facility is presented. The examples are radiolysis of CCl₄ and n-C₂₁H₄₄.