Inclusion of cut and as-grown single-walled carbon nanotubes in the helical superstructure of schizophyllan and curdlan (beta-1,3-glucans)

We have found that single-chain schizophyllan and curdlan (s-SPG and s-curdlan, respectively) can dissolve as-grown and cut single-walled carbon nanotubes (ag-SWNTs and c-SWNTs, respectively) in aqueous solution. The vis-NIR spectra of the composites suggest that c-SWNTs are dissolved as a bundle, whereas ag-SWNTs exist as one or only a few pieces in the tubular hollow constructed by the helical structure inherent to these beta-1,3-glucans. EDX and CLSM measurements and TEM observation established that the distribution map of these polysaccharides overlaps well with the image of SWNTs, indicating that these two components form a composite. Very interestingly, when c-SWNTs were dissolved with the aid of s-SPG or s-curdlan in water, a clear periodical structure with inclined stripes, as detected by AFM, appeared on the fibrous composite surface. Because this periodical structure has never been recognized for the composites with other water-soluble polymers, one can regard that s-SPG or s-curdlan wraps c-SWNTs constructing a helically twined structure. High-resolution TEM observation of an ag-SWNTs/s-SPG composite gave a clearer image in that two s-SPG chains twine one ag-SWNT and the helical motif is right-handed. When this sample was subjected to the AFM measurement, the composite showed the 2-3 nm height. This height implies that one piece of ag-SWNT is included in the s-SPGs helical structure. As a summary, it has been established that beta-1,3-glucans such as s-SPG and s-curdlan not only dissolve SWNTs but also create a novel superstructure on the surface.     

Groove-spanning behavior of lipid membranes on microfabricated silicon substrates

We report on a spreading behavior of phospholipid membranes that arise from a lump of phospholipid (a lipid source) on topographically patterned substrates immersed in an aqueous solution. Microgrooves with well-defined shapes were prepared on Si111 surfaces by anisotropic etching in an alkaline solution. A spreading front that consists of membrane lobes and a single lipid bilayer was observed on the patterned silicon substrates by utilizing fluorescence interference contrast (FLIC) microscopy. FLIC images indicate that the membrane lobes span the microgrooves, while the underlying single lipid bilayer spread along the surface of the microgrooves. In fact, fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles could be encapsulated in the microgrooves that were completely covered with the membrane lobes. The groove-spanning behavior of membrane lobes is discussed in terms of a balance between adhesion and bending energies of lipid bilayers.     

Polymeric organosilicon systems. XVII. Synthesis and photochemical and conducting properties of poly[o-and m-(disilanylene)phenylene]s

Poly[o-(tetramethyldisilanylene)phenylene] ( 2a ), poly[o-(1,2-dimethyldiphenyldisilanylene)-phenylene] ( 2b ), poly[m-(tetramethyldisilanylene)phenylene] ( 2c ), and poly[m-(1,2-dimethyldiphenyldisilanylene)phenylene] ( 2d ) were prepared by the sodium condensation reaction of the corresponding 1,2-and 1,3-bis (chlorosilyl)benzenes in toluene. Irradiation of thin films of 2a-2d in air resulted in a rapid decrease of absorption maxima in the ultraviolet region. The photolysis of 2b and 2d in benzene afforded photodegradation products with low molecular weights. When thin films of 2b and 2d were doped with antimony pentafluoride vapor, films which have conductivities of semi-conductor level were obtained. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The practical synthesis of a uterine relaxant, bis(2-[[(2S)-2-([(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-[4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-phenyl]ethyl]amino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-7-yl]oxy]-N,N-dimethylacetamide) sulfate (KUR-1246)

The synthetic route for a uterine relaxant, bis(2-[[(2S)-2-([(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-[4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-phenyl]ethyl]amino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-7-yl]oxy]-N,N-dimethylacetamide) sulfate (KUR-1246), was established by the coupling of optically active components, the bromohydrin 14 and the amine 24. We now describe the practical synthesis of these two optically active components. Bromohydrin 14 was obtained by the asymmetric borane reduction of the prochiral phenacyl bromide 13 using a catalyst prepared from aluminum triethoxide and a chiral amino alcohol. The other optically active component 24 was prepared from (S)-AMT.     

Synthesis of all of the four possible stereoisomers of pestalotin,a gibberellin synergist isolated from pestalotia cryptomeriaecola sawada

(-)-Pestalotin [(6S, l'S)-6-(1'-hydroxypentyl)-4-methoxy-5,6-d dihydro-2-pyrone 1a]and its three other stereoisomers were synthesized either by utilizing the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation as the keystep or by derivation from D-(+)-glyceraldehyde acetonide.     

Recent progress of high-power negative ion beam development for fusion plasma heating

A negative-ion-based neutral beam injector (N-NBI) has been constructed for JT-60U. The N-NBI is designed to inject 500 keV, 10 MW neutral beams using two ion sources, each producing a 500 keV, 22 A D⁻ ion beam. In the preliminary experiment using one ion source, a D⁻ ion beam of 13.5 A has been successfully accelerated with an energy of 400 keV (5.4 MW) for 0.12 s at an operating pressure of 0.22 Pa. This is the highest D⁻ beam current and power in the world. Co-extracted electron current was effectively suppressed to the ratio of Ie/I_D⁻ < 1. The highest energy beam of 460 keV, 2.4 A, 0.44 s has also been obtained. To realize 1 MeV class NBI system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), demonstration of ampere class negative ion beam acceleration up to 1 MeV is an important mile stone. To achieve the mile stone, a prototype accelerator and a 1 MV, 1 A test facility called MeV Test Facility (MTF) were constructed. Up to now, an H⁻ ion beam was accelerated up to the energy of 805 keV with an acceleration drain current of 150 mA for 1 s in a five stage electrostatic multi-aperture accelerator.     

High pressure FTIR study of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and conformation of a small peptide in solution

Effect of pressure on conformational equilibria of a small peptide N-acetyl-l-Pro-l-Leu-Gly-NH₂ in a chloroform solution has been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Absorption in the NH stretching region was measured at pressures in the 1–1080 bar range and at 296 K, and decomposed into component bands by least-squares fitting. Intensity ratios of bands which were assigned to a hydrogen-bond-free conformer and intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded conformers with 10- and 13-membered hydrogen bonded rings, respectively, were examined as a function of pressure. It was found that the conformer with the 13-membered ring has definitely smaller partial molar volume than the other two conformers which have nearly the same volume with each other. On the basis of a simple dielectric model, we have shown that the conformer with the 13-membered hydrogen-bonded ring has a considerably large dipole moment which is consistent with the α-helical structure suggested by the previous variable-temperature FTIR study.     

Synthesis of poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene

Poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) was prepared by oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidizing agent. The reaction proceeded efficiently under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. The polymer formed had a high melting temperature and linear structure which was confirmed by spectroscopies. The effects of reaction time, solvent, temperature and oxidizing agent on polymerization are also discussed.     

A New Approach to the Construction of BEDT-TTF Derivatives Condensed with Heterocycles via BF3-promoted Reactions of Organotin Thiolates

The synthesis of BEDT-TTF derivatives fused with heterocycles (3–7) has been accomplished via the BF₃-promoted reaction of organotin thiolates (8 and 9) with electrophiles (10 and 11). Electrical conductivities of radical cation salts derived from some of them were also investigated.