Concentrated reverse micelles in a random graft block copolymer system: structure and in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles

The structure and rheological properties of a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(oxyethylene) copolymer at high concentrations in block-selective solvents were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheometry. Analysis of SAXS data indicates that quasispherical, reverse micellar aggregates (with no ordered packing) are present in concentrated solutions of the copolymer in nonpolar solvents, and that upon addition of water, the size of such aggregates increases due to the solubilization inside the micellar cores. The viscosity of concentrated polymer solutions increases exponentially as water is added, and finally, viscoelastic, gel-like behavior is found in the vicinity of the phase separation limit. It was found that small silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of ≈3 nm can be synthesized inside the copolymer aggregates without the need of a reducing agent; namely, particles embedded in a viscoelastic matrix are obtained. The synthesis seems to follow first-order kinetics. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Synthesis of the enantiomers of cis-2-methyl-5-hexanolide,the major component of the sex pheromone of the carpenter bee

(2R,5S)-2-Methyl-5-hexanolide and its antipode were synthesized in highly optically pure state (?98–99% e.e.) starting from ethyl (S)-lactate and the enantiomers of methyl β-hydroxyisobutyrate. The specific rotations of our samples were [α]_D±91.0-93.5° (CHCl₃), while the reported values of the samples prepared by resolution or asymmetric synthesis were ±64.5–65.6°.     

Pheromone synthesis—63 Synthesis of both the enantiomers of 2,3-dihydro-2- isopropyl-2,5-dimethylfuran,a sex specific compound in females of the beetle hylecoetus dermestoidesL

Both the enantiomers of 2,3-dihydro-2-isopropyl-2,5-dimethylfuran were synthesized employing the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation reaction. The (R)-(—)-enantiomer of this cyclic enol ether was also synthesized starting from (R)-(—)-linalool.     

N-Arylation of 4-fluoro-5-trimethylsilyl-1H-pyrazole

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of fluoro(trimethylsilyl)acetylene prepared in situ with an excess of diazomethane smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding 4-fluoro-5-trimethylsilyl-1H-pyrazole in 84% yield. The copper iodide-catalyzed N-arylation of the fluorinated pyrazole with a variety of aryl iodides afforded N-aryl-4-fluoropyrazoles as desilylation products in good to excellent yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

Polycyclic N-heterocyclic compounds. XLI. Synthesis of 4-substituted 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines and their related compounds as a series of potential blood platelet aggregation inhibitors

As a series of polyheterocyclic compounds for exploitation as anti-platelet agents, tricyclic heterocyclic compounds, 4-substituted 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines 3–6, 9, 12–14 , and 16–26 , having nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur containing functional groups at the 4-position, were prepared. In addition, tetra-cyclic heterocyclic compounds, 3-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzaze-pinium chloride ( 7 ), 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepines 10a-e , 2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H 5H-pyrimido[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepine ( 11 ), and 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo-[3′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepinium chloride ( 15 ) via ring closure of 4-(hydroxyalkylamino)- 6, 9a-e , and 3c , and 4-(2-hydroxyethylthio)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepine ( 14 ) with phosphoryl chloride or thionyl chloride, respectively, were also prepared. Their inhibitory activities against collagen-induced aggregation of rabbit blood platelets in vitro were investigated. Among them, compound 5 having a morpholino group at the 4-position on the tricyclic nucleus, which enhanced the activity more than 14-fold as compared with aspirin, was found to have the most satisfactory in inhibitory activity.     

Incorporating tritiated water into a 14C-sampling system for quantitative estimation of 14C activity in airborne effluent

The effects of incorporating tritiated water into a ¹⁴C-sampling system in sample preparation and ¹⁴C activity measurement by liquid scintillation counting were investigated. Experiments derived the limit of water content in the prepared sample, and also demonstrated that ¹⁴C activity can be determined without any interference from ³H contamination for a clear-sample solution. The results enabled us to estimate the permissible relative humidity of air required for accomplishing sample preparation and ¹⁴C activity measurement. These showed that for sampling of air with less than the permissible relative humidity, total ¹⁴C activity in airborne effluent can be evaluated accurately without dehumidification of air.The authors would like to thank T. Kozawa, K. Isaka and Y. Adachi of Inspection Development Company Ltd., Y. Hiyama of Zuihou Sangyou Company Ltd., and T. Mizutani, H. Watanabe, M. Takeishi and K. Shinohara of Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute for their valuable assistance.     

Kinetics of γ-ray polymerization of formaldehyde in the presence of carbon dioxide

A kinetic study of the γ-ray polymerization of formaldehyde in toluene solution in the presence of carbon dioxide was carried out at temperatures of + 13 to ?17°C. Two modes of the polymerization, spontaneous and γ-ray polymerization, occur in this system. The γ-ray polymerization, experimentally separated from the spontaneous polymerization, was investigated. The rate of γ-ray polymerization increased slightly with the square root of carbon dioxide concentration. The rate of polymerization was also found to be proportional to the dose rate and the square of monomer concentration. The molecular weight of polymer formed was independent of the reaction condition. The apparent activation energy was estimated to be 10.3 kcal./mole. The kinetics of the γ-ray polymerization in the presence of carbon dioxide are explained quantitatively by a cationic mechanism, and the role of carbon dioxide is as an action of retardation for neutralization of the cationic initiating species, which was produced by γ-radiation, by means of a reverse reaction with an electron. Physical and mechanical properties of the polymer obtained by γ-ray polymerization were also investigated.     

Slipping of a histidine improved the peroxidase activity of a de novo designed polypeptide packing an iron porphyrin

Polypeptides with two histidines and an iron porphyrin (1H⁴⁰-7H⁴⁶) were synthesized with a variety of positions of a histidine. In 4H⁴³, histidine (H⁴³) was in the hydrophobic region of an α-helix. The other polypeptides were of slightly or substantially distorted conformation. In the pH 7.2 buffer solution, two histidines of the polypeptide coordinated the iron porphyrin regardless of their positions. Some polypeptides (1H⁴⁰, 3H⁴², and 5H⁴⁴) showed an enhanced catalytic activity in the peroxidase reaction using cumene hydroperoxide compared to that of 4H⁴³, whereas some polypeptides (2H⁴¹ and 6H⁴⁵) were ineffective catalysts. The distortion of the peptide conformation by the addition of MeOH was also effective for the peroxidase reaction.