Cypridina bioluminescence—IX: Tautomeric structures of 2-methyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]-pyrazin-3-one, 2-methyl-3-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine and their derivatives in neutral and acidic media

Tautomeric structures of the title compounds in neutral and acidic media are discussed. In neutral solutions 3 and 4 exist as structure A and E, respectively. In weakly acidic methanol 3 exists as monocation H, whereas in aqueous solution as monocation G. In both strongly acidic aqueous and methanolic solutions 3 exists as dication K. On the other hand, 4 exists in weakly acidic and strongly acidic media as monocation L and dication M, respectively. The above conclusion can be extended to the 6-phenyl and 6-(3′-indolyl) derivatives of 3 as well as Cypridina luceferin (1) in aqueous and methanolic solutions.     

Comparisons of glow discharge polymerization between hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylsilyldimethylamine

Glow discharge polymerization between hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSZ) and trimethylsilyldimethylamine (TMSDMA) was compared by means of infrared spectroscopy and ESCA analysis. Infrared spectra pointed out differences in chemical structure between the polymers prepared from the two monomers, although the two polymers were mainly composed of resembling units such as Si? CH₃, Si? CH₂, Si? H, Si? O? Si, and Si? O? C groups: (i) The polymers prepared from TMSDMA contained N → O group, but the polymers from HMDSZ did not contain this group. (ii) Influences of the W/FM parameter (W is the input energy of rf power, F the flow rate of the monomer, and M the molecular weight of the monomer) appeared on decreasing the C? N group and increasing the C?O group in the TMSDMA system, but little influence appeared in the HMDSZ system. ESCA spectra (C_1s, Si_2p, and N_1s core levels) supported the differences between the two polymers elucidated by infrared spectroscopy, and pointed out differences in susceptibility of the Si? N bond to plasma: The N? Si sequence of TMSDMA was completely ruptured in discharge to yield polymers, and the Si? NH? Si sequence of HMDSZ remained in considerable amount.     

Preparation of novel,high‐modulus,swollen‐ or jungle‐gym‐type polyimide gels end‐crosslinked with 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenyl)benzene

A novel preparation approach for high‐performance polyimide gels that are swollen or have a jungle‐gym‐type structure is proposed. A new rigid and symmetric trifunctional amine, 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB), was synthesized as a crosslinker. Three different kinds of amic acid oligomers derived from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), p‐phenylenediamine (PDA), and 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) were end‐crosslinked with TAPB at a high temperature to make polyimide networks with different structures. Transparent polyimide gels were obtained from the ODPA–ODA/TAPB series with high compression moduli of about 1 MPa at their equilibrium swollen states in N‐methylpyrrolidone. Microscopic phase separation occurred during the gelation–imidization process when polyimide networks were generated from PMDA–PDA/TAPB and PMDA–ODA/TAPB. After these opaque polyimide networks were dried, a jungle‐gym‐like structure was obtained for the PMDA–PDA/TAPB and PMDA–ODA/TAPB series; that is, there was a high void content inside the networks (up to 70%) and little volume shrinkage. These polyimide networks did not expand but absorbed the solvent and showed moduli as high as those of solids. Therefore, using the highly rigid crosslinker TAPB combined with the flexible monomers ODPA and ODA and the rigid monomers PMDA and PDA, we prepared swollen, high‐performance polyimide gels and jungle‐gym‐type polyimide networks, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2501–2512, 2002     

Surface viscous flattening kinetics of soda-lime silicate glass by sinusoidal profile decay method

The kinetics of the flattening of surface corrugations of float glasses were investigated in dry nitrogen at 610 to 670°C. The amplitude of the sinusoidal surface profile decayed exponentially with time while its wavelength remained constant. The dependence of decay rate on wavelength indicated that the process is controlled by the viscous flow. From the obtained rate constant the viscosity was calculated using the surface energy value determined independently by the zero-creep method. The viscosity thus obtained reflects the mass transport property in the vicinity of the glass surface. It was several times larger than that determined by the fibre elongation or intrusion method which should reflect the bulk properties. No difference in the decay rate was observed on both the surfaces of float glass of which only one side had been exposed to molten tin during the glass manufacturing process.     

New Synthetic Method for Bicyclic Compounds Through a Sequence of Ene-Type Chlorination,Palladium Catalyzed Dehydrochlorination,and Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction

A sequence of ene-type chlorination, palladium catalyzed dehydrochlorination, and the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction afforded a new method for conversion of prenyl derivatives into bicyclic compounds.     

A Puckered Singlet Cyclopentane‐1,3‐diyl: Detection of the Third Isomer in Homolysis

In the photochemical denitrogenation of 1,4‐diaryl‐2,3‐diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( AZ6 ) bearing sterically hindered substituents, a curious new absorption band at about 450 nm was observed under low‐temperature matrix conditions, together with the previously well‐characterized planar singlet diradical pl‐¹ DR6 with λ_max=≈580 nm. The 450 nm species was electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)‐silent. Instead of generating the planar diradical pl‐¹ DR6 and the precursor azoalkane AZ6 upon warming, the ring‐closed bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane derivative SB6 , that is, the AZ6 denitrogenation product was identified. Based on product analysis, low‐temperature spectroscopic observations, high‐level quantum‐mechanical computations, viscosity effect, and laser‐flash photolysis, the puckered singlet diradicaloid puc‐¹ DR6 was assigned to the new 450 nm absorption. The latter was detected experimentally at the same time as the planar singlet diradical pl‐¹ DR6 . Sterically demanding substituents as well as viscosity impediments were essential for the detection of the experimentally hitherto unknown puckered singlet cyclopentane‐1,3‐diyl diradicaloid puc‐¹ DR6 , that is, the third isomer in homolysis. The present findings should stimulate future work on the mechanistically fascinating stereoselectivity documented in the formation of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes during the 2,3‐diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane denitrogenation.     

Biosynthesis of Indole Diterpene Lolitrems: Radical‐Induced Cyclization of an Epoxyalcohol Affording a Characteristic Lolitremane Skeleton

Lolitrems are tremorgenic indole diterpenes that exhibit a unique 5/6 bicyclic system of the indole moiety. Although genetic analysis has indicated that the prenyltransferase LtmE and the cytochrome P450 LtmJ are involved in the construction of this unique structure, the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we report the reconstitution of the biosynthetic pathway for lolitrems employing a recently established genome‐editing technique for the expression host Aspergillus oryzae. Heterologous expression and bioconversion of the various intermediates revealed that LtmJ catalyzes multistep oxidation to furnish the lolitrem core. We also isolated the key reaction intermediate with an epoxyalcohol moiety. This observation allowed us to establish the mechanism of radical‐induced cyclization, which was firmly supported by density functional theory calculations and a model experiment with a synthetic analogue.     

VLS Growth of ITO Whiskers Prepared by the Electron Shower Method

Indium tin oxide (ITO) whiskers were grown by VLS (vapour-liquid-solid) mechanism, using the electron shower method. The whiskers were grown above 200 °C, and the deposition rate was above 0.6 nm/s. The electron shower controlled the size of the whiskers, and the size was 30 nm in diameter and 600 nm in length. The whiskers grew along the substrate at t < 300 s, but grew in a direction perpendicular to the substrate at t > 300 s. When the ITO whiskers grown along the substrate were used as NO₂ gas sensor, the sensitivity was 340, and about 300 times higher than those of the whiskers grown in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and plate-like ITO crystallites.     

Thermal change of Alq3, tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum(III) studied by TG and XRD-DSC

The thermal change of the tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq₃) is currently investigated by XRD-DSC and TG. The phase transition of Alq₃ from α-phase to γ-phase takes place at 643–669 K. A very sharp peak with the peak temperature at approx. 709 K is ascribed to the melting of the Alq₃. The decomposition of the Alq₃ was observed accompanied with the melting and evaporation at >703K. The effect of the atmospheres on the mass loss procedure was studied by TG. It was found that thermal process of Alq₃ was strongly influenced by the partial pressure of water vapor in the atmosphere instead of oxygen.