High-temperature phases of poly(p-xylylene)

The crystal structure of poly(p-xylylene), as polymerized, is the α form. This transforms irreversibly to the β from by annealing or drawing. To clarify the mechanism of this transition, structural changes of the α and β crystals were examined with a high-temperature stage in the electron microscope. Two high-temperature phases, β₁ and β₂, were found and their structures were analyzed. In these structures lattice distortions due to rotational and translational motions of chains are in troduced, especially in the β₂ form. The α → β transition is induced through such a disordered phase. The statistical arrangement of a molecule in the β-form unit cell results from freezing the disorder in the high-temperature phases.     

Oxidative cyclization of amino alcohols catalyzed by a CpIr complex. Synthesis of indoles, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines,and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-benzazepine

[reaction: see text] A new iridium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of amino alcohols has been revealed. Indole derivatives are synthesized in good to excellent yields from 2-aminophenethyl alcohols by means of a [CpIrCl(2)](2)/K(2)CO(3) catalytic system. The present catalytic system is also effective for syntheses of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines from 3-(2-aminophenyl)propanols and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-benzazepine from 4-(2-aminophenyl)butanol.     

Rational principles for modulating fluorescence properties of fluorescein

Rational design strategies based on practical fluorescence modulation mechanisms would enable us to rapidly develop novel fluorescence probes for target molecules. Here, we present a practical and general principle for modulating the fluorescence properties of fluorescein. We hypothesized that (a) the fluorescein molecule can be divided into two moieties, i.e., the xanthene moiety as a fluorophore and the benzene moiety as a fluorescence-controlling moiety, even though there is no obvious linker structure between them, and (b) the fluorescence properties can be modulated via a photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) process from the excited fluorophore to a reducible benzene moiety (donor-excited PeT; d-PeT). To evaluate the relationship between the reduction potential of the benzene moiety and the fluorescence properties, we designed and synthesized various derivatives in which the reduction potential of the benzene moiety was fine tuned by introducing electron-withdrawing groups onto the benzene moiety. Our results clearly show that the fluorescence properties of fluorescein derivatives were indeed finely modulated depending upon the reduction potential of the benzene moiety. This information provides a basis for a practical strategy for rational design of novel functional fluorescence probes.     

A novel tetranuclear copper(II) complex with alternating mu 1,1-azido and phenoxo bridges: synthesis,structure, and magnetic properties of [Cu4(mu-salen)2(mu 1,1-N3)2(N3)2

A novel tetranuclear copper(II) complex containing alternating mu(1,1)-azido and monophenoxo bridges has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray single-crystal analysis, and variable-temperature magnetic measurements. The magnetic behavior, investigated in the temperature range 2-300 K, indicates that the interactions between copper ions are antiferromagnetic in nature for both azido and phenoxo bridges. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was fitted with J(1) = -12.8 cm(-1), J(2) = -10 cm(-1), g = 2.171, 2.1% paramagnetic component, and negligible temperature-independent paramagnetism (5 x 10(-8)). At variance with the earlier reports of these types of complexes containing a mu(1,1)-azido group, the end-on double-azido-bridged copper(II) center in this complex shows an antiferromagnetic interaction.     

Thiol-catalyzed acyl radical cyclization of alkenals

Thiol-catalyzed direct generation of acyl radicals and their intramolecular addition to olefins of alkenals gave 2-substituted five- and six-membered cyclic ketones in reasonably good yields. The combination of odorless tert-dodecanthiol and AIBN or V-40 was the initiator of choice among surveyed radical generators for the cyclization of alkenals. Aldehydes having electron-deficient olefins cyclized more easily than those having unactivated olefins.     

Chemical Reconstruction of Pt-Rh(100) Alloy and Pt/Rh(100), Rh/Pt(100) Bimetallic Surfaces

When Cu(110), Ni(l 10), Ag(110) surfaces are exposed to O₂ at room temperature, one dimensional metal-oxygen strings grow in the < 001 > direction of the (110) surfaces. A similar phenomenon occurs in the adsorption of H₂ on Ni( 110) surface at room temperature, where the one dimensional strings grow along the < 110 > direction. These phenomena are undoubtedly different from the adsorption induced reconstruction but are explained by the chemical reconstruction involving the formation of quasi-compounds and their self-ordering on the metal surfaces. The chemical reconstruction is indispensablly important to understand the structure and catalysis of alloy and bimetallic surfaces. Pt_0.25Rh_0.75(100) alloy surface being active for the reaction of NO with H₂ is an interesting example. When the Pt-Rh(100) alloy surface is exposed to NO or O₂ at arround 500 K, a p(3 × 1) ordered Rh-O over-layer is obtained on a Pt-enriched 2nd layer by the chemical reconstruction. Ordering of Rh-0 in the p(3 × 1) structure on the Pt(100) surface was reproduced by heating a Rh/Pt(100) bimetallic surface in O₂, and the chemical reconstruction making the p(3 × 1) Rh-O overlayer on a Pt enriched 2nd layer was also proved by heating a Pt/Rh(100) bimetallic surface in O₂ or NO. The activation mechanism of the Pt-Rh alloy and the Pt/Rh bimetallic surfaces by the chemical reconstruction was evidently shown by using a Pt deposited Rh(100), Pt/Rh(100), surface. That is, the Pt/Rh(100) is not so active for the reaction of NO with H₂, but the reconstructed p(3 × 1)Rh-O/Pt-layer/Rh(100) surface is very active for the reaction. Therefore, it was concluded that the chemical reconstruction of the Pt-Rh catalyst makes the active surface which is composed of Rh-O and a Pt layer.     

Portable system for near-real time measurement of gaseous formaldehyde by means of parallel scrubber stopped-flow absorptiometry

Formaldehyde, HCHO, is one of the important causal agents of sick-building syndrome. It is also an important product of ambient air photochemistry. We report here a portable instrument capable of a 0.08 ppbv limit of detection (LOD) and a time resolution of 5 min that is useful for both indoor and ambient air applications. The detection is based on efficient gas collection and chromogenic reaction with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone (MBTH) through a pair of alternately sampling small-bore porous-membrane tube diffusion scrubbers (DS). The chemistry is well established, requires no special reagent preparation or elevated reaction temperatures and permits the use of inexpensive light emitting diode (LED)-based detectors without need for long path cells. Stopped flow alternate sampling allows an HCHO collection performance, an order of magnitude better than any previous system with high throughput and high sensitivity. Results for indoor and ambient air analyses are presented.     

Fluorimetric determination of kynurenine in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with post-column photochemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method involving post-column photochemical reaction and fluorimetric detection has been developed for the determination of kynurenine in serum. Kynurenine was separated on a column of Capcell Pak C18 (resistant to pH 10). The mobile phase consisted of 0.05 M Na2B4O7-0.1 M KH2PO4 buffer (pH 8.5)-ethanol (97:3, v/v) containing 60 mM hydrogen peroxide. The post-column reagent, containing 60% (v/v) ethanol, was mixed with the mobile phase, which was irradiated with ultraviolet light to induce fluorescence. The recovery of kynurenine was 95.9 +/- 5.0% (n = 6). The method allows the determination of as little as 2 pmol of kynurenine.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(arylene ether imide ketone)s

Poly(arylene ether ketone)s containing imide units were prepared by the aromatic nucleophilic displacement reaction of the potassium salts of bisphenols with bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)phthalimides in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at elevated temperature. The polymers having inherent viscosities of 0.34–0.77 dL/g were obtained in 2 h. The polymers exhibited glass transition temperatures ranging from 216 to 268°C and decomposition temperatures (5% weight loss under air atmosphere) ranging from 450–570°C mainly depending on the bisphenols used in the polymer synthesis. The isothermal TGA measurements (400°C under air or nitrogen atmosphere) revealed that the 4,4'-biphenol- and hydroquinone-based poly(arylene ether ketone imide)s belong to a superior class of heat resistant polymers. The mechanical properties of these polymers are also described. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Total synthesis of macquarimicins using an intramolecular Diels-Alder approach inspired by a biosynthetic pathway

A total synthesis of the macquarimicins A-C (1-3), novel natural products with intriguing tetra- or pentacyclic frameworks, has been achieved. The synthesis features an extensive investigation of the biosynthesis-based intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of (E,Z,E)-1,6,8-nonatrienes. Considering possible biosynthetic sequences, four types of substrates were synthesized, and their IMDA reactions were examined. From one of the four substrates, the total synthesis was achieved via a transannular Diels-Alder reaction, which led to the stereoselective construction of the unique molecular framework. The convergent and efficient synthetic pathway afforded (+)-1 in 27 linear steps with 4.3% and 9.9% overall yields from readily available ethyl (2E,4S)-4,5-(isopropylidene)dioxy-2-pentenoate (22) and (R)-epichlorohydrin (30), respectively. Furthermore, efficient syntheses of 2, 3, and the 9-epi-cochleamycins A (57) and B (58) were accomplished. Additionally, the present work established the absolute stereochemistry of macquarimicins and revised the C(2)--C(3) geometry of 1.