Magnetism in electron-doped copper oxides

We report muon spin relaxation/rotation measurements on sintered powder samples of Nd_2−x Ce _x CuO_4−y and a large single crystal of Nd₂CuO_4−y . We find an electronic phase diagram which is quite similar to that of hole-doped superconductors such as La_2−x Sr _x CuO_4−y , although the doping of electrons into the system is less efficient in destroying the static moments on the copper spins. Static magnetic order in Nd₂CuO_4−y appears below about 250 K, and two spin reorientations are seen atT=75 K andT=35 K. Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth have been unsuccessful due to the rare-earth paramagnetism of these materials.     

Construction of self-assembled monolayer terminated with N-heterocyclic carbene-rhodium(I) complex moiety

Functionalization of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of alkanethiolate with metal containing unit is one of the versatile methods to obtain functional surfaces such as heterogeneous catalysts. However, organic molecules that strongly bind to transition metals at SAM terminal are limited. Recently N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) such as cyclic diaminocarbenes have emerged as strongly σ-donating ligands forming a robust bond with broad spectrum of transition metals. In the present study, for the purpose of establishment of a new robust basement for heterogeneous metal catalysts, a SAM of the alkanethiolate terminated with NHC-rhodium(I) complex moiety was prepared by utilizing a newly designed disulfide molecule bearing NHC-metal complex terminals. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and angle resolved XPS measurement revealed successful formation of the Rh-complex-terminated SAM on a gold substrate. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) analysis suggested that the linker methylene chains connecting the rhodium complex moiety and the gold surface are in a loosely packed structure. This unique chemical species, NHC, would be a promising candidate as a basement for the construction of functional surface.     

On a certain move generating link-homology

Dedicated to Professor Kunio Murasugi on his sixtieth birthday     

Studies on cardiac ingredients of plants. VII: Chemical transformation of proscillaridin by means of the Diels-Alder reaction and biological activities of its derivatives.

The Diels-Alder reactions of a cardiac glycoside, proscillaridin (1), with some dienophiles were investigated. The reaction of 1 with alkenes such as methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate afforded 3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes (2-5) and para-substituted benzene derivatives (6 and 7), while 1 reacted with alkynes (3-butyn-2-one, methyl propiolate) to yield para- or meta-substituted benzene derivatives (6-9). The biological activities of the resulting derivatives were evaluated by the use of isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations and Na+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) preparation from dog kidney. Among the proscillaridin derivatives, compounds 4 and 7 moderately inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Furthermore, the concentration range of 7 over which its positive inotropic effect on guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations, increased from 5% to 95% of maximum was broader than that of 1, i.e., concentration dependency was maintained over a greater range of concentration.     

Lifetime measurement of the ((11/2)−) isomer in 125Cs

A new rotational band has been observed in ¹⁶⁷Lu by ¹⁵²Sm (¹⁹F,4n)reaction at the HI-13 tandem accelerator of CIAE in Beijing. The high spin transition energies of the new band are almost identical to the triaxial superdeformed bands recently discovered in ¹⁶³Lu and ¹⁶⁵Lu. This new band is predicted as a triaxial superdeformed band by total routhian surface calculations. Received: 6 October 1997     

Potential-dependent structure of the interfacial water on the gold electrode

Doubly tunable sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra demonstrate that the water molecules at gold/electrolyte interface change their orientation with applied potential. At negative potentials, water molecules in the double layer align with their oxygen atom pointing to the solution. As potential became positive to be close to the potential of zero charge (PZC), the SFG signal decreased, suggesting the OH groups of the water molecule are either in random orientation or parallel to the electrode. As potential became more positive than the PZC, the SFG signal increased again with the oxygen-up orientation as same as in the negative potential region, indicating that water molecules interact with the adsorbed sulfate anions. The peak position of the SFG spectra indicates a relatively disordered state of water molecules at the gold electrode surface, in contrast to the previously observed ice-like structure of water at electrolyte/oxide interfaces.     

An efficient synthesis of 5-diethoxymethylimidazole-4-carboxylate,a potential precursor for various imidazole derivatives

Anionic cycloaddition of methyl isocyanoacetate to diethoxyacetonitrile afforded methyl 5-diethoxymethylimidazole-4-carboxylate, a useful imidazole nucleus with two different functional groups.