Dramatic improvement of catalyst life by rhodium and cerium additives for Ni-based reforming catalysts

Rhodium and cerium were found to be suitable additives for improving the sulfur-tolerance of Ni-based gasoline reforming catalysts. In these cases, the Rh content was only 0.1 wt.% with 5 wt.% of Ce. The lifetime of Rh-Ce-modified Ni-based catalyst is found to be above 600 hours at 1023K, which is over a ten times longer lifetime than that of the unmodified catalysts, when premium gasoline was used.     

Redox reaction characteristics of ferritin-immobilized onto poly(l-lysine)-modified indium oxide electrodes

Ferritin-immobilized poly(l-lysine)-modified electrodes showed well-defined redox waves representing ferritin. Cathodic and anodic peak currents obtained from cyclic voltammograms were proportional to potential sweep rates. From charge flow values during oxidation or reduction reactions calculated by peak areas in cyclic voltammograms, and the surface coverage of ferritin, reacted iron atoms per ferritin molecule were calculated. Obtained numbers of reacted iron atoms were significantly smaller than expected values from iron atoms at ferrihydrite core surfaces of ferritin, which would be caused by the rate-determining ion flow through ion channels of ferritin to compensate for charges in the ferritin cavity. Anodic and cathodic peak potentials in cyclic voltammograms were significantly dependent on cationic species in the solution, though voltammetric shapes and peak currents were independent of cations. From the obtained results that structural changes in ferritin were not detected by fluorescent spectra, it is thought that the cationic dependence on ferritin redox peak potentials is caused by ferritin cores.     

Switchable antenna: a star-shaped ruthenium/osmium tetranuclear complex with azobis(bipyridine) bridging ligands

A star-shaped Ru/Os tetranuclear complex, in which a central Os unit is linked to three peripheral Ru units by 4,4'-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (azobpy) bridging ligands, was prepared to examine the unique photodynamics regulated by its redox state. The Ru/Os tetranuclear complex exhibits Ru-based luminescence at 77 K, whereas the three-electron reduction (one for each azobpy) of the Ru/Os complex results in luminescence from the Os unit. The photoexcited state of the Ru/Os complex rapidly decays into low energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states, in which the excited electron is localized in the azobpy ligand in the form of azobpy(.-). Upon the one-electron reduction of the azobpy ligands, the above-mentioned low-energy states become unavailable to the photoexcited complex. As a result, an energy transfer from the Ru-based excited state to the Os-based excited state becomes possible. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements revealed that the energy transfer process consists of two steps; intramolecular electron transfer from the terminal bipyridine ligand (bpy(.-)) to form azobpy(2-) followed by a metal-to-metal electron transfer. Thus, the Ru/Os tetranuclear complex collects light energy into the central Os unit depending on the redox state of the bridging ligands, qualifying as a switchable antenna.     

Polymer-like polyphenols of black tea and their lipase and amylase inhibitory activities

Lipase and amylase inhibitory activities of black tea were examined. After solvent partitioning of a black tea extract with the ethyl acetate and n-butanol, the two soluble fractions showed comparable inhibitory activities. Activity in the ethyl acetate fraction was mainly attributable to polyphenols with low-molecular weights, such as theaflavin gallates. On the other hand, the active substance in the n-butanol layer was ascertained to be a polymer-like substance. 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra showed signals arising from the flavan A-ring and galloyl groups, although signals due to flavan B-rings were not detected, suggesting that the polymer-like substances were generated by oxidative condensation of flavan B-rings, a result which was previously deduced from our results of in vitro catechin oxidation experiments. Enzymatic oxidation of epicatechin 3-O-gallate produced a similar polymer-like substance and suggested that condensation between a B-ring and galloyl groups was involved in the polymerization reaction.     

Immobilization of the Gas Signaling Molecule H2S by Radioisotopes: Detection,Quantification, and In Vivo Imaging

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has multifunctional roles as a gas signaling molecule in living systems. However, the efficient detection and imaging of H₂S in live animals is very challenging. Herein, we report the first radioisotope‐based immobilization technique for the detection, quantification, and in vivo imaging of endogenous H₂S. Macrocyclic ⁶⁴Cu complexes that instantly reacted with gaseous H₂S to form insoluble ⁶⁴CuS in a highly sensitive and selective manner were prepared. The H₂S concentration in biological samples was measured by a thin‐layer radiochromatography method. When ⁶⁴Cu–cyclen was injected into mice, an elevated H₂S concentration in the inflamed paw was clearly visualized and quantified by Cerenkov luminescence and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. PET imaging was also able to pinpoint increased H₂S levels in a millimeter‐sized infarcted lesion of the rat heart.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Stabilization of electronic properties of (1R)-(−)-10-camphorsulfonic acid doped polyaniline by UV irradiation

Stability of electronic parameters of conducting polymers affects the overall performance of organic electronics. We show that UV light (254 nm) treatment of polyaniline (PANI) films, containing camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as a dopant and cast from formic acid, decreases the film resistance and keeps their improved resistance stable for at least 4 months. It has been found that due to the different origins of these electronic properties, the resistance and work function of the PANI·CSA films are affected differently by the UV treatment. The long-term stability of the resistance is governed by morphological changes of the material. On the other hand the stability of the threshold voltage of the field-effect transistor (FET) which is an indirect measure of the work function, originates from the charge density equilibration at the PANI·CSA film/insulator interface. The FT-IR, UV-vis and circular dichroism data provide the evidence that after the UV treatment the polymer molecular structure remains intact, but some secondary structural re-arrangements of the PANI·CSA take place. These re-arrangements are resulting from the strong donor-acceptor interactions between the imine and/or amine groups of the PANI chains and the CO and SO₃⁻ groups of the doping CSA-anion. These interactions enhance significantly the mechanical rigidity of the PANI matrix. The increasing broad absorption band of the “free-carrier tail” in the FT-IR spectra correlates with the conductivity increase of the UV treated PANI·CSA film.     

Brønsted acid catalyzed formal insertion of isocyanides into a C-O bond of acetals

The Br?nsted acid catalyzed formal insertion of an isocyanide into a C-O bond of an acetal is described. A diverse array of acyclic and cyclic acetals can be applied to the catalytic insertion to form alpha-alkoxy imidates. Functional groups, such as nitro, cyano, halogen, ester, and alkoxy groups, are tolerant to the reaction conditions employed. The course of the reaction is highly dependent on the structure of the isocyanide. The use of an electron-deficient aryl isocyanide, such as 2c and 2d, is required to selectively obtain the monoinsertion product. When aryl isocyanides containing alkyl substituents, such as 2a and 2b, are employed, two molecules of the isocyanide are incorporated, and the double-insertion product is obtained. The reaction of tert-octyl isocyanide also induces a double incorporation, but the subsequent acid-mediated fragmentation leads to the 2-alkoxy imidoyl cyanide. The monoinsertion products, alpha-alkoxy imidates, can readily be hydrolyzed to alpha-alkoxy esters, realizing the formal carbonylation of an acetal.     

Dual-labeled oligonucleotide probe for sensing adenosine via FRET: a novel alternative to SNPs genotyping

A novel FRET based strategy for DNA sequence analysis utilising base-discriminating fluorescence (BDF) nucleoside, (Py)U/(2-Ant)U, as donor in the dual-labelled oligonucleotide probe is reported; a selective/specific emission from acceptor, was observed upon excitation at the donor, only when the opposite base of the "smart" fluorescently labeled BDF nucleoside, (Py)U/(2-Ant)U, is adenine on the complementary target sequence.