Synthesis of (1s,5r)-karahana ether and (1s,5r)-karahana lactone,the optically active forms of unique monoterpenes wit

(1$\text{S}$,5$\text{R}$)-(-)-Karahana ether (8,8-dimethyl-2-methylene-6-oxabi-cyclo[ 3.2.1]octane) and (1$\text{S}$,5$\text{R}$)-(-)-karahana lactone (8,8-dimethyl-2-methylene-6-oxabicyclo [3.2.1]octan-7-one) were synthesized from ($\text{S}$)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylcyclo-hexanone. The natural karahana lactone was shown to be almost racemic ($\text{ca}$. 1.3 % e.e.).     

NOVEL SYNTHESIS OF POLYARYLENESULFONIUM CATIONS THROUGH A MULTI-ELECTRON TRANSFER PROCESS

The oxidative polymerization of aryl sulfoxides provides a novel polysulfo-nium compound, poly(methylsulfonio-1,4-phenylenethio-1,4-phenylene cation) in quantita-tive yield. The polymerization proceeds efficiently in an acidic solution under atmosphericconditions. Oxygen, chemical and electrochemical oxidations are available. Vanadyl acety-lacetonate and cerium ammonium nitrate act as an effective catalyst for the oxygen ox-idative polymerization. The polymerization mechanism involves multielectron oxidation ofthe sulfides followed by successive electrophilic substitution. The resulting polyarylenesul-fonium cations are useful as a soluble precursor for the synthesis of high molecular weight(M_w>10~5) poly(thio arylne)s.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel pyrimidinyl pyrazole derivatives. III. Synthesis and antitumor activity of 3-phenylpiperazinyl-1-trans-propenes

A series of novel 3-[4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl]-1-[5-methyl-1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-4-pyrazolyl]-1-trans-propenes and related compounds were synthesized and evaluated by their cytotoxic activity against several tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against some tumor models when administered both intraperitoneally and orally. Compounds with the 3-chloropyridin-2-yl group (9g) and the 3-fluoro-5-substituted phenylpiperazinyl group (29b, c, and e) showed significantly potent cytotoxicity by in vitro testing. Among them, the 3-cyano-5-fluorophenyl derivative (29b) exhibited potent antitumor activity against several tumor cells including human carcinoma without causing undesirable effects in mice.     

Separation of copolymers using high-performance liquid chromatography with polymeric stationary phase and liquefied carbon dioxide as adsorption promoting solvent

Chromatographic separation of copolymers depending on the chemical composition was studied by a solvent gradient method using liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) as an adsorption promoting solvent. As the high polar stationary phase, non-bonded silica gel, crosslinked acrylamide (AA) gel and crosslinked acrylonitrile (AN) gel were utilized. All columns showed the typical normal phase type of adsorption. Polymeric stationary phases showed the higher sample recovery for styrene-methyl methacrylate (St-MMAs) copolymers, indicating suitability for quantitative analyses. The separations of butyl methacrylate (BMA)-methyl methacrylate, and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl methacrylate (FBMA)-methy methacrylate copolymers were also carried out, and the latter copolymers were separated based on the CO2-philicity with acrylonitrile column.     

Classification of 3-3 transitions in neonlike germanium in laser-produced plasma

Classification of 3-3 transitions in neonlike germanium in laser-produced plasma has been made. The spectra have been observed in the range of 185–290 Å using a high resolving power (λ/Δλ ～ 13000) grazing-incidence spectrometer in XUV laser experiment. A total of 21 lines (including five lasing lines) have been classified as transitions between the 2s ²2p ⁵3s, 3p, 3d or 2s2p ⁶3p, 3d and sodiumlike germanium configurations. The identified transitions have been used to derive energy levels of 2s ²2p ⁵3l in neonlike germanium. The experimental results have been compared with theoretical predictions from Dirac-Fock (MCDF) calculations.     

Nanometer-sized gelatin particles prepared by means of gamma-ray irradiation

Nanometer-sized gelatin particles have been prepared by means of gamma-ray irradiation and characterized by static and dynamic light scattering combined with circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The molecular weight of the nanoparticles was much larger than that of the original gelatin molecules, whereas the hydrodynamic radius was much smaller. Radius of gyration evaluated from the angular dependence of the static light scattering intensity decreased with increasing irradiation dose. CD spectra of the gelatin nanoparticles were independent of temperature, and it is suggested that the nanoparticles consist of highly and randomly packed gelatin and their conformation is stable against the temperature change.     

Synthesis and properties of rhodium(III) porphyrin cyclic tetramer and cofacial dimer

Rhodium(III) porphyrin complexes, [Rh(4-PyT(3)P)Cl](4) (1) and [Rh(2-PytB(3)P)Cl](2) (2) (4-PyT(3)P = 5-(4-pyridyl)-10,15,20-tritolylporphyrinato dianion, 2-PytB(3)P = 5-(2-pyridyl)-10,15,20-tri(4-tert-butyl)phenylporphyrinato dianion), were self-assembled and characterized by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and electron spray ionization-mass spectroscopy methods. The spectroscopic results certified that the rhodium porphyrin complexes 1 and 2 have a cyclic tetrameric structure and a cofacial dimeric structure, respectively. The X-ray structure analysis of 1 confirmed the cyclic structure of the complex. The Soret bands of both oligomers were significantly broadened by excitonic interactions between the porphyrin units, compared to those observed for a corresponding analogue of Rh(TTP)(Py)Cl (TTP = 5,10,15,20-tetratolylporphyrinato dianion, Py = pyridine). Stepwise oxidation of the porphyrin rings in the oligomers was observed by cyclic voltammetry. The oligomers 1 and 2 are very stable in solution, and they slowly undergo reactions with pyridine to give corresponding monomer complexes only at high temperatures (approximately 80 degrees C).     

Electronic spectrum of a photochromic diarylethene derivative in a supersonic free jet. Internal conversion from S2(1B) to S1(2A)

The fluorescence excitation and dispersed fluorescence spectra of the open-ring isomer of 1,2-bis(3-methyl-2-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene have been measured in a supersonic free jet. No vibronic structure has been observed in the excitation spectrum. The intensity of fluorescence gradually increases with the excitation energy in the 25,500–28,700 cm⁻¹ region, indicating that the geometry of the molecule substantially changes upon photoexcitation. The dispersed fluorescence spectrum is anomaly Stokes-shifted with respect to the excitation energy, suggesting that the S₂(1B) state is initially excited followed by rapid internal conversion from the S₂(1B) to S₁(2A) state. The fluorescence is due to the S₁(2A)–S₀(1A) transition. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G^** level have been carried out to investigate stable conformations responsible for the observed spectra.     

Crystal structure, thermal behavior and enzymatic degradation of poly(tetramethylene adipate) solution-grown chain-folded lamellar crystals

Solution-grown chain-folded lamellar single crystals of poly(tetramethylene adipate) (PTMA) were prepared from a dilute solution of 2-methyl-1-propanol by isothermal crystallization. PTMA crystals were hexagonal-shaped and polyethylene decoration of the crystals resulted in a "six cross-sector" surface morphology and showed that the average direction of chain folding is parallel to the crystal growth planes of [110] and [010]. Chain-folded lamellar crystals gave well-resolved electron diffraction diagrams corresponding to all the equatorial reflections of the X-ray fiber diagram obtained from stretched PTMA melt-quenched film (beta structure). The unit cell parameters of the beta structure of PTMA were determined as a = 0.503 nm, b = 0.732 nm and c (fiber axis) = 1.442 nm with an orthorhombic crystal system. The fiber repeat distance is appropriate for an all-trans backbone conformation for the straight stems. The setting angle, with respect to the a axis, is +/-46 degrees for the corner and center chains. Thermal behavior of lamellar crystals has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lamellar thickness at the edges of the crystal increased after thermal treatment with taking the molecular chains into recrystallization parts; the holes then opened up at the thickening front of the crystal. The morphological changes of lamellar crystals after enzymatic degradation by Lipase type XIII from Pseudomonas sp. and water-soluble products were characterized by TEM, AFM, gel permeation chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The degradation progressed mainly from the edges of the lamellar crystals without decreasing the molecular weights and the lamellar thicknesses. The central portion of single crystals was often degraded by enzymatic attacks. This result combined with thermal behavior indicates that the loosely chain-packing region exists inside the single crystal, and that molecular chains in this region have higher mobility against thermal and enzymatic treatments.     

STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF BROWN MEMBRANE BY X-RAY DIFFRACTION, CIRCULAR DICHROISM AND ABSORPTION SPECTRA

Abstract— Time course of formation and crystallization of bacteriorhodopsin upon the addition of retinal to brown apo-membrane has been studied by X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism (CD) spectra and absorption spectra. The rate of formation of bacteriorhodopsin decreases markedly at low pH (4.8) and low temperature (5°C). Furthermore, the formation of bacteriorhodopsin does not proceed in fully dried membranes. The half-time of the increase of exciton CD band is about 70s at 17°C and pH 7.0, and is comparable to that of the formation of bacteriorhodopsins (∼48s). The crystallization of bacteriorhodopsin proceeds to a large extent within 30 min at pH 7.0 and 5°C.
The bilobed CD band of the brown holo-membrane attributed to exciton coupling of bacteriorhodopsin molecules becomes negligibly small at pH 4.8, even though X-ray diffraction pattern indicates the lattice structure to be similar to that of the native purple membrane.