3+2] cross-coupling reactions of aziridines with isocyanates catalyzed by nickel(II) iodide

[reaction: see text]. Cycloaddition of aziridines with isocyanates proceeded smoothly in the presence of a nickel catalyst, and five iminooxazolidine derivatives were isolated in good yields. The best result was obtained when the reaction was carried out in the presence of NiI2, and a longer reaction time allowed the isomerization of the iminooxazolidine to the corresponding imidazolidinone derivatives.     

Anomalous heat evolution of deuteron implanted al upon electron bombardment III - try to observe the nuclear d-d reaction

In previous papers, one of the authors (K. K.) has observed the anomalous melting of the surface layer of deuteron implanted Al, containing so-called "tunnel structures", on the electron bombardment in transmission electron microscope. In the present paper, we intended to observe the evidence of the d-d nuclear reaction, expecting neutron emission, associated with the melting phenomenon. However, the result was rather unexpected. The melting phenomenon was certainly observed under the same experimental conditions as before. But, in spite of the melting, neutron emission associated with the nuclear reaction was not observed. And, more unexpectedly, X-ray emission of energy less than roughly 400 v keV was observed when specimens with a bubble structure, which never showed melting, were bombarded with electron beams. Several conceivable mechanisms are discussed which, however, are all not convincing to explain the melting. The melting is attributed to some excess energy generation. The error estimation of the radiation measurements was undertaken.     

Bifurcations and chaos in register transitions of excised larynx experiments

Experimental data from an excised larynx are analyzed in the light of nonlinear dynamics. The excised larynx provides an experimental framework that enables artificial control and direct observation of the vocal fold vibrations. Of particular interest in this experiment is the coexistence of two distinct vibration patterns, which closely resemble chest and falsetto registers of the human voice. Abrupt transitions between the two registers are typically accompanied by irregular vibrations. Two approaches are presented for the modeling of the excised larynx experiment; one is the nonlinear predictive modeling of the experimental time series and the other is the biomechanical modeling (three-mass model) that takes into account basic mechanisms of the vocal fold vibrations. The two approaches show that the chest and falsetto vibrations correspond to two coexisting limit cycles, which jump to each other with a change in the bifurcation parameter. Irregular vibrations observed at the register jumps are due to chaos that exists near the two limit cycles. This provides an alternative mechanism to generate chaotic vibrations in excised larynx experiment, which is different from the conventionally known mechanisms such as strong asymmetry between the left and right vocal folds or excessively high subglottal pressure.     

Structure and stability of a homologous series of tin oxides

The structures and stabilities of a series of nonstoichiometric SnO2-x compounds, which are yet unknown experimentally, are predicted using the cluster expansion technique combined with first-principles calculations. A homologous series of Sn(n+1)O(2n) in which oxygen vacancies are layered on (101) planes of the rutile lattice is discovered. The homologous crystals are composed of divalent and quadrivalent Sn atoms. No trivalent Sn atoms are formed.     

Shimalactone Biosynthesis Involves Spontaneous Double Bicyclo-Ring Formation with 8π-6π Electrocyclization

Shimalactones A and B are neuritogenic polyketides possessing characteristic oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene ring systems that are produced by the marine fungus Emericella variecolor GF10. We identified a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster and conducted heterologous expression analysis. Expression of ShmA polyketide synthase in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the production of preshimalactone. Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformants expressing ShmA and ShmB produced shimalactones A and B, thus suggesting that the double bicyclo-ring formation reactions proceed non-enzymatically from preshimalactone epoxide. DFT calculations strongly support the idea that oxabicyclo-ring formation and 8π-6π electrocyclization proceed spontaneously after opening of the preshimalactone epoxide ring through protonation. We confirmed the formation of preshimalactone epoxide in vitro, followed by its non-enzymatic conversion to shimalactones in the dark.     

Reactive regioregular oligothiophenes and polythiophenes with Zincke salt structure: Synthesis,reactions, and chemical properties

Polythiophenes with reactive Zincke salt structure, P4ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a and P5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a , were synthesized by the oxidation polymerization of oligothiophenes, such as 3'‐(4‐N‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)pyridinium chloride)?2,2':5',2'';5'',2'''‐quarterthiophene ( 4ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?) ) and 4''‐(4‐N‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)pyridinium chloride)?2,2';5',2'';5'',2''';5''',2''''‐quinquethiophene ( 5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?) ), with iron(III) chloride. The reaction of P5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a with R‐NH₂ [R = n‐hexyl (Hex) and phenyl (Ph)] substituted the 2,4‐dinitrophenyl group into the R group with the elimination of 2,4‐dinitroaniline to yield P5ThPy⁺R(Cl^?) . Similarly, model compounds, 4ThPy⁺R(Cl^?) and 5ThPy⁺R(Cl^?) (R = Hex and Ph), were also synthesized. In contrast to the photoluminescent 4ThPy and 5ThPy , the compounds P4ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a , P5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a , and P5ThPy⁺R(Cl^?) showed no photoluminescence because their internal pyridinium rings acted as quenchers. Cyclic voltammetry measurements suggested that P4ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a , P5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a , and P5ThPy⁺R(Cl^?) received an electrochemical reduction of the pyridinium and 2,4‐dinitrophenyl groups and oxidation of the polymer backbone. P4ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a and P5ThPy⁺DNP(Cl^?)‐a were electrically conductive (ρ = 3.0 × 10 ^{? 6} S cm ^{? 1} and 2.1 × 10 ^{? 6} S cm ^{? 1}, respectively) in the nondoped state. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 481–492     

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Proposed C79–C104 Fragment of Symbiodinolide

Stereoselective and streamlined synthesis of the proposed C79–C104 fragment 2 of symbiodinolide ( 1 ), a polyol marine natural product with a molecular weight of 2860, was achieved. In the synthetic route, the proposed C79–C104 fragment 2 was synthesized by utilizing a Julia–Kocienski olefination and subsequent Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key transformations in a convergent manner. Detailed comparison of the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts between the natural product and the synthetic C79–C104 fragment 2 revealed that the stereostructure at the C91–C99 carbon chain moiety of symbiodinolide ( 1 ) should be reinvestigated.     

Formal total synthesis of enigmazole A

A stereoselective formal total synthesis of enigmazole A, a marine macrolide isolated from Cinachyrella enigmatica, is described. Lewis acid mediated intramolecular allylation of an α-acetoxy ether, prepared from alcohol and carboxylic acid fragments was carried out to construct the methylene THP ring with high stereoselectivity. The late-stage macrolactonization of the corresponding seco-acid provided a known synthetic intermediate of enigmazole A.     

Melt crystallization and crystal transition of poly(butylene adipate) revealed by infrared spectroscopy

The structure evolution of poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) during isothermal melt crystallization and phase transition processes is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Detailed IR spectra analysis and band assignment are performed to disclose the bands sensitive to the alpha-form crystalline order of PBA. It is revealed from the in situ IR study that the functionalities within PBA chains alter simultaneously during the melt crystallization process. From the analysis of the spectral changes, it is found that band shifts take place during the phase transition process of PBA from its metastable beta-form crystal to the stable alpha-form. Notable band shifts in the 1300-1100 cm(-1) region indicate that the twist of polymer chains in the alpha-form is located in the C-O-C and C-O linkages. Moreover, the results elucidated that the different segments of molecular chains tune up their conformations synchronously during the beta to alpha crystal transition process of PBA. It is suggested that the betaalpha phase transition process proceeds randomly throughout the solid at a constant rate.     

Quantitative analysis of X-ray absorption spectra using a 2D map representation

A promising possibility for the quantitative analysis of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of nanosized electrode materials is demonstrated. We used a 2D map representation technique, which utilizes the values of the first derivatives of the absorbance with respect to the inserted Li(+) content plotted over the two-dimensional space defined by the inserted Li(+) content (mole) versus photon energy (eV) as a single map. The technique was applied to XANES spectra of the Li(y)CoO system in the first Li(+) insertion reaction for determining the structural and electronic variations associated with the change in Li(+) content. The obtained show that the intensities of two peaks at 7725 and 7711 eV increased with the Li(+) content and the difference of intensity change of these two peaks carried out for successive couples of spectra yielded the largest changes at 1.05 and 1.98 mol of Li content. This approach for quantitative analysis of XANES without using conventional simulation techniques enable us to interpret X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) as a quantitative analytical technique with greater confidence.