Origin of enhancement in open-circuit voltage by adding ZnO to nanocrystalline SnO2 in dye-sensitized solar cells

SnO2 + ZnO working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells were made by mixing a nanocrystalline SnO2 colloidal dispersion with ZnO or Zn(CH3COO)2. Addition of ZnO or Zn(CH3COO)2 enhanced the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of the cells with respect to cells containing only SnO2. Dependence of the electron lifetime in the electrodes on short-circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) gave evidence against the assumption that the suppression of back electron transfer to the electrolyte is the origin for the V(oc) enhancement by addition of Zn. V(oc) dependence on temperatures indicated a decrease in the combined capacitance of the mixed electrode. The slope of the V(oc) dependence versus the logarithm of J(sc) indicated that the contribution of unpinning of the band to the enhancement of V(oc) could be neglected. From the cyclic voltammograms of the electrodes, the combined capacitance of the mixed electrode was 1 order of magnitude smaller than that of SnO2. The decrease in the combined capacitance in the mixed electrode could be explained by the decrease in the chemical capacitance of SnO2, thus the shift of the conduction band position toward the vacuum level. X-ray photoelectron spectra of Sn 3d(5/2) peaks showed a shift toward lower binding energy with an increasing amount of added Zn. This was attributed to an increase in the surface potential toward the negative direction, which might have resulted from a dipole moment formed by Zn on the surface of SnO2.     

The 1,4-addition of singlet oxygen to 2,6-dimethoxy-1-(2-methoxyethenyl) benzene and 2-methoxy-1-(2-methoxyethenyl)naphthalene. The 1,4-endoperoxides as equivalents of 6-oxo-2,4-cyclohexadienylidenacetates.

The sensitized photooxygenation of vinylarenes $\text{1}$ and $\text{2}$ gave the corresponding 1,4-endoperoxides which were decomposed under mild conditions into quinone methides bearing ester function at the exocyclic carbon.     

Symbiodinolide, a novel polyol macrolide that activates N-type Ca channel, from the symbiotic marine dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp.

A 62-membered novel polyol macrolide with a molecular weight of 2859 mu, symbiodinolide, was isolated from the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. Symbiodinolide exhibited a potent voltage-dependent N-type Ca²⁺ channel-opening activity at 7 nM and immediately ruptured the tissue surface of the acoel flatworm Amphiscolops sp. at 2.5 μM. The planar structure of symbiodinolide was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradations including hydrolysis and ethenolysis using the second-generation Grubbs' catalyst. Symbiodinolide was found to be a structural congener of zooxanthellatoxins. The relative stereochemistries of C26-C32, C44-C51, and C64-C66 parts, and the absolute stereochemistries of C69-73, C83-C103, and C3′-C18′ parts in symbiodinolide were established.     

Peptide synthesis in water IV. Preparation of N-ethanesulfonylethoxycarbonyl (Esc) amino acids and their application to solid phase peptide synthesis

A new N-protecting group, ethanesulfonylethoxycarbonyl (Esc), was designed to perform peptide synthesis in both aqueous and organic solvents. Esc-amino acids were prepared by the reaction of Esc-Cl and amino acids. Although Esc-Cl was a highly reactive reagent, it was not stable and decomposed during the purification procedure. A more stable reagent, ethanesulfonylethyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (Esc-ONp), was designed for preparation of Esc-amino acids. Esc-ONp was a stable reagent and could be purified by silica gel column chromatography or recrystallization. Esc-amino acids were prepared by the reaction of Esc-ONp and amino acids in good yield. To evaluate Esc-amino acids, Leu-enkephalin amide was synthesized using Esc-amino acids by the solid phase method in water. Removal of the Esc group was performed with 0.025 mol/l NaOH in 50% aqueous ethanol. Leu-enkephalin amide was successfully synthesized on a poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted polystyrene resin. Esc-amino acids have moderate solubility in organic solvents (such as dimethylformamide and acetonitrile). Leu-enkephalin amide was synthesized using Esc-amino acids by the solid phase method in dimethylformamide. Removal of the Esc group was performed with 0.05 mol/l tetrabutylammonium fluoride in dimethylformamide. Synthesis of Leu-enkephalin amide using Esc-amino acids in dimethylformamide was also successful. The yields of synthesis of Leu-enkephalin amide in water and dimethylformamide were 71% and 67%, respectively.     

Synthesis and radical copolymerization of new type pyridinum monomer and redox behavior of its polymers

A new type pyridinium salt monomer, 1-vinyl-4-carbamidopyridinium perchlorate, was prepared, and then homopolymerized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), styrene, and acrylonitrile. Redox potentials of these pyridinium salt monomer and polymers were more positive than that of the model compound (1-methyl-4-carbamidopyridinium salt). The copolymer with MMA showed an interesting redox behavior.     

Side chain-dependent binding of antitumor indoloquinoxaline derivatives to DNA: comparative spectroscopic and viscometric measurements

NCA0424 (1) and its side chain positional isomer, NCA0465 (2), are indoloquinoxaline derivatives with potent antitumor activity. To investigate the effect of side chain position for binding with DNA, the interactions of 2 with various B-form DNAs were studied by spectroscopic (circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and UV) and viscosity measurements and were compared with those of 1. The binding preference for the base sequence was different in each case. The CD spectra showed that 2 formed an asymmetric binding of indoloquinoxaline ring with adenine in DNA, whereas such a base selectivity was not found with 1. The binding features are discussed based on association constants and thermodynamic parameters, indicating the importance of the side chain position for binding specificity for DNA.     

Reaction of α-ethoxyarolein with diethyl malonate

The reaction of α-ethoxyacrolein with diethyl malonate in the presence of EtONa, lithium diisopropylamide, or the Na₂CO₃−benzene−Et₃(PhCH₂)NCl catalytic system proceeds as the Michael addition. In the presence of an equimolar amount of triethylamine, selective 1,2-addition followed by dehydration of the 1,2-adduct occurs. Owing to the strong +M effect of the EtO group, α-ethoxyacrolein is a substantially less active Michael acceptor than acrolein. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2508–2510, December, 1998.     

Emission and metal- and ligand-centered-redox characteristics of the hexarhenium(III) clusters trans- and cis-[Re6(mu 3-S)8Cl4(L)2]2-, where L is a pyridine derivative or pyrazine

Preparations of a series of face-capped octahedral hexarhenium(III) clusters having two N-heterocyclic ligands, [Bu4N]2[trans-[Re6(mu 3-S)8Cl4(L)2]] (Bu4N+ = tetra-n-butylammonium cation; L = pyrazine (1a), 4,4'-bipyridine (3a), 4-methylpyridine (5a), 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (6a)) and their cis analogues (1b, 3b, 5b, and 6b, respectively), and their electrochemical and photophysical properties have been reported. An X-ray crystal structure determination has been carried out for 1a to confirm the trans configuration (C40H80N6S8Cl4Re6, orthorhombic, space group Cmca (No. 64), a = 19.560(5) A, b = 19.494(4) A, c = 18.592(4) A, beta = 115.76(2) degrees, Z = 4). The redox potential of the reversible ReIII6/ReIII5ReIV process of these complexes and previously reported [Bu4N]2[trans- and cis-[Re6(mu 3-S)8Cl4(4-cyanopyridine)2]] (2a and 2b, respectively) and [Bu4N]2[trans- and cis-[Re6(mu 3-S)8Cl4(pyridine)2]] (4a and 4b, respectively) in acetonitrile depends linearly on the pKa of the N-heterocyclic ligands, with the potentials being more negative with basic ligands. The ligand-centered-redox waves for 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b were observed as split waves (delta E1/2 = 90-140 mV), the extent of the splitting being larger for the cis isomer and largest for the pyrazine complexes. Electronic interaction between the two ligands through the [Re6(mu 3-S)8]2+ core has been suggested. The second ligand-reduction wave was also observed for 3a and 3b, the potential being shifted positively to coalesce with the first reduction wave on addition of the weak proton donor imidazole. This is accounted for by the proton-coupled redox reaction at the free pyridyl site of the 4,4'-bipyridine ligands. All of the complexes show luminescence in acetonitrile at room temperature. While the complexes of pyridine and 4-methylpyridine show photophysical characteristics (lambda em 740-750 nm, phi em 0.031-0.057, tau em 4.2-6.2 microseconds) similar to those (770 nm, 0.039, and 6.3 microseconds, respectively) of [Re6(mu 3-S)8Cl6]4-, emissions of other complexes are significantly weak with lambda em, phi em, and tau em values in the ranges 763-785 nm, 0.0010-0.0017, and 0.013-0.029 microsecond, respectively. Suggestions are given for the excited states localized on the cluster core and the ligand pi* orbitals.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening and ring-closing enyne metathesis

[reaction: see text]. When a CH2Cl2 solution of an enyne containing the cycloalkene moiety was stirred in the presence of ruthenium-carbene complex (10 mol %) at room temperature under ethylene gas (1 atm), ring-opening and ring-closing metathesis occurred to afford cyclized triene. The reaction was carried out under argon gas, and no cyclized product was obtained. Enynes with a terminal alkyne gave good results.     

Photocontrollable self-assembly

The incorporation of photoswitching molecules into molecular building blocks creates the possibility of photoresponsive self-assemblies in which the self-assembled architecture or self-assembling process can be controlled by external light stimulus. Among the photoswitching molecules, azobenzene has been used most widely by virtue of the large photoinduced changes in its molecular geometry and physical properties. This article reviews how azobenzene can be effectively used to construct the self-assemblies in which supramolecular structure and formation/dissociation can be altered by light.