Direct Visualization of Electromagnetic Microfields by Superposition of Two Kinds of Electron Holograms

A new electron holographic method is presented to directly visualize pure phase objects such as electromagnetic microfields, which is achieved by superposition of two kinds of electron holograms. The method is very simple and is twice as sensitive as the conventional double-exposure electron holography and the four-electron-wave interference. Using this technique, an electric field around a charged latex sphere and a magnetic field around a barium ferrite particle have been directly observed.     

Dependence of molecular recognition of fullerene derivative on the adlayer structure of zinc octaethylporphyrin formed on Au(100) surface

Adlayers of ZnOEP were prepared on reconstructed Au(100)-(hex) and unreconstructed Au(100)-(1 x 1) surfaces by immersing into a benzene solution containing ZnOEP molecules, and the adlayer structures were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A hexagonally arranged ZnOEP array was formed on an Au(100)-(hex) surface, whereas a rectangularly arranged ZnOEP array was found on an Au(100)-(1 x 1) surface. The adlayer structure of ZnOEP was dependent upon the underlying Au atomic arrangements. Furthermore, an investigation of the spuramolecular assembly for these modified surfaces was carried out by using an open-cage C(60) derivative (opened C(60)). A supramolecular assembled adlayer with a 1:1 composition of opened C(60)/ZnOEP was formed on Au(100)-(hex), whereas aggregates of opened C(60) were found on the ZnOEP-modified Au(100)-(1 x 1) surface. Electrochemical responses of opened C(60) were significantly influenced by underlying ZnOEP arrays. This finding suggests that precise control of underlying ZnOEP adlayers with the Au atomic structure is important to recognize the opened C(60) on them.     

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.     

Interpretation of structure formation during the sol-gel transition of a resorcinol-formaldehyde solution by population balance

Growth of colloidal particles formed during the sol-gel transition of a resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) solution was simulated based on the population balance equation by using the discrete-sectional model (DSM). During the early stage of the sol-gel transition, the transient change of sizes of colloidal particles estimated by this method agreed well with the previous experimental observation by dynamic light scattering (DLS), which confirmed the influence of the catalyst concentration of a starting RF solution on the growth rate of the particles. From the size distribution of colloidal particles predicted at the gelation time, the surface area of a RF hydrogel after the completion of the sol-gel transition was estimated, which coincided with the BET surface area of a RF aerogel because the porous structure of a hydrogel was maintained and few micropores were formed during supercritical drying.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the hydronaphthalene moieties of mevinic acids

The hydronaphthalene moieties of mevinic acids are synthesized enantioselectively by using the asymmetric intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by a chiral titanium reagent.     

Stereoselective reduction of β hydroxyketones to 1,3-diols highly selective 1,3-asymmetric induction via boron chelates

Highly selective asymmetric induction can be achieved in the reduction of acyclic β-hydroxyketones via boron chelates. Treatment of β-hydroxyketones (1) with tributyl or tri-isobutylborane and successively with sodium borohydride afforded syn-1,3-diols (3) in highly stereo-selective manner, Syn -α-substituted-β -hydroxyketones (8) were also reduced to give syn, syn-1,3-diols (9) exclusively. The reaction was further applied to the convenient preparation of 3-deoxy-hexoses.     

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.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and related natural product (-)-1893A: application of one-pot ring-opening/cross/ring-closing metathesis to construct their 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene skeleton

The total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and (-)-1893A have been completed. The present synthetic strategy features the use of one-pot ring-opening/cross metathesis (ROM/CM) followed by a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction, allowing for the concise construction of the 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene framework from a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivative and 1,3-butadiene. The sequential metathesis product was converted into (+)-mycoepoxydiene through the oxidative rearrangement of a furfuryl alcohol to a pyranone, thereby establishing its absolute stereochemistry. From the common intermediate, a structurally related natural product (-)-1893A was also synthesized via the vinylogous aldol reaction.     

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.