Synthesis of open-ended MoS2 nanotubes and the application as the catalyst of methanation

We report the synthesis of open-ended MoS2 nanotubes and their application as the catalyst for methanation of carbon monoxide with hydrogen. Because the catalysis of the methanation reaction occurs at relatively low temperatures, such nanotubes may provide new solutions toward harnessing the environmental load caused by CO emission.     

1,4‐Addition polymerization of 1,4‐bis(4‐benzylpyridinium)butadiyne triflate in a dipolar aprotic solvent

1,4‐Bis(4‐benzylpyridinium)butadiyne triflate was aggregated in dimethylformamide and spontaneously converted into the 1,4‐addition type of polydiacetylene. The polymerization took place in a dipolar aprotic solvent with a large dielectric constant that could enhance the aggregation of the ionic diacetylene salt through the electrostatic interaction. The molecular weight of the diacetylene was leveled off after 30 h at 80 °C to reach 1.5 × 10⁴ (number‐average molecular weight) that consisted of the 1,4‐addition type of polydiacetylene similar to polydiacetylenes obtained in the conventional solid‐state polymerization. Electron spin resonance spectra revealed that diradicals were generated at the earlier state aggregation to give rise to a solution polymerization. The UV spectra also suggested the presence of the activated aggregation associated with the polymerization as well as the eximer emission spectra. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3534–3541, 2002     

Interconversion behavior of the C-H bond in the CH4+ radical cation: ab initio molecular dynamics study

Thermal motion of CH4+ is investigated by performing an ab initio molecular dynamics method with the second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2)/6-311G** force field. In the trajectories obtained at 400 K, we have observed rapid interconversion behavior of the geometrical parameters of CH4+ with the frequency of 0.6/ps, where the C-H pair forming the small angle around 55 degrees is switched to another pair on subpicosecond time scale. The switching patterns are found to be classified into the following two types. Type 1: one C-H of the small angled C-H pair is switched to one C-H of the other C-H pair. Type 2: the small angled C-H pair is switched to the other C-H pair, which has been newly observed in the present ab initio MD calculation. The four C-H bonds of CH4+ are characterized by the long and short C-H bonds in a time region of the trajectories, and also for the time-evolution of C-H bonds such interconversion behavior is observed. The switching patterns of the geometrical parameters are compared with those in the interconversion scheme between six equivalent C2v symmetry structures of CH4+ [Paddon-Row, M. N. et al., J Am Chem Soc 1985, 107, 7696]. We have also investigated the electronic energy fluctuation due to thermal motion of CH4+. The standard deviation of total electronic energy at 400 K is evaluated to be 1.2 kcal/mol.     

Dioxo-molybdenum(VI) and mono-oxo-molybdenum(IV) complexes supported by new aliphatic dithiolene ligands: new models with weakened Mo=O bond characters for the arsenite oxidase active site

The cis-dioxo-molybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoO2(L(H))2]2- (1b), [MoO2(L(S))(2)]2- (2b), and [MoO2(L(O))2]2- (3b) (L(H) = cyclohexene-1,2-dithiolate, L(S) = 2,3-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4,5-dithiolate, and L(O) = 2,3-dihydro-2H-pyran-4,5-dithiolate), with new aliphatic dithiolene ligands were prepared and investigated by infrared (IR) and UV-vis spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The mono-oxo-molybdenum(IV) complexes, [MoO(L(H))2]2- (1a), [MoO(L(S))2]2- (2a), and [MoO(L(O))2]2- (3a), were further characterized by X-ray crystal structural determinations. The IR and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies suggested that these cis-dioxo molybdenum(VI) complexes (1b-3b) had weaker Mo=O bonds than the common Mo(VI)O2 complexes. Complexes 1b-3b also exhibited strong absorption bands in the visible regions assigned as charge-transfer bands from the dithiolene ligands to the cis-MoO2 cores. Because the oxygen atoms of the cis-Mo(VI)O2 cores are relatively nucleophilic, these complexes were unstable in protic solvents and protonation might occur to produce Mo(VI)O(OH), as observed with the oxidized state of arsenite oxidase.     

The cosmological term and a modified Brans-Dicke cosmology

Adding the cosmological term , which is assumed to be variable in this paper, to the Brans-Dicke Lagrangian, we try to understand the meaning of the term and to relate it to the mass of the universe. We also touch upon the Dirac large-number hypothesis, applying the results obtained from the application of our theory to a uniform cosmological model.     

Synthesis of novel chitosan resin derivatized with serine moiety for the column collection/concentration of uranium and the determination of uranium by ICP-MS

A chitosan resin derivatized with serine moiety (serine-type chitosan) was newly developed by using the cross-linked chitosan as a base material. The adsorption behavior of trace amounts of metal ions on the serine-type chitosan resin was systematically examined by packing it in a mini-column, passing a metal solution through it and measuring metal ions in the effluent by ICP-MS. The resin could adsorb a number of metal cations at pH from neutral to alkaline region, and several oxoanionic metals at acidic pH region by an anion exchange mechanism. Uranium and Cu could be adsorbed selectively at pH from acidic to alkaline region by a chelating mechanism; U could be adsorbed quantitatively even at pH 3–4. Uranium adsorbed on the resin was easily eluted with 1 M nitric acid: the preconcentration (5-, 10-, 50- and 100-fold) of U was possible. The column treatment method was used prior to the ICP-MS measurement of U in natural river, sea and tap waters; R.S.D. were 2.63, 1.13 and 1.37%, respectively. Uranium in tap water could be determined by 10-fold preconcentration: analytical result was 1.46±0.02 ppt. The resin also was applied to the recovery of U in sea water: the recovery tests for artificial and natural sea water were 97.1 and 93.0%, respectively.     

Antifungal activity of crown ethers

Some crown ethers were found to show significant antifungal activity against some wood-decay fungi, phytopathogenic fungi and eumycetes,Trichophytons for dermatomycosis. Their toxicity was evaluated by the paper disc method as well as by determining the values of ED₅₀, i.e., the concentration which inhibits the mycelium growth by 50%. The fungi examined areTyromyces palustris, Picnoporous coccineus, Coriolous versicolor, Pyricularia filamentosa, Fusarium sp., Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton sp., etc. Among the 26 crown ethers tested, 3,5-di-t-butyl-benzo-15-crown-5 showed relatively high activity, the highest ED₅₀ value of which being 8 M or 3 ppm. Other alkylbenzocrown ethers, dicyclohexyl crown ethers and Kryptofix 22DD also showed considerable activity. On the other hand, unsubstituted crown ethers, benzocrown ethers with a polar substituent, Kryptofix 222B and Kryptofix 221 were inactive.     

THE 'OPSIN SHIFT' IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN: STUDIES WITH ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS

Abstract— The difference (in cm⁻¹) in absorption maxima between the protonated Schiff base of retinals and the pigment derived therefrom has been defined as the opsin shift. It represents the influence of the opsin binding site on the chromophore. The analysis of the opsin shifts of a series of dihydrobacteriorhodopsins has led to the external point-charge model, which in addition to a counter anion near the Schiff base ammonium, carries another negative charge in the vicinity of the β-ionone ring. This is in striking contrast to the external point-charge model proposed earlier for the bovine visual pigment. The absorption maxima of rhodopsins formed from bromo- and phenyl retinals support the two models. A retinal carrying a photoaffinity label has yielded a nonbleachable bacteriorhodopsin.     

Emission of 2-phenylethanol from its β-d-glucopyranoside and the biogenesis of these compounds from [H8] l-phenylalanine in rose flowers

The hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was found to be partially inhibited by feeding with 2-phenyl-N-glucosyl-acetamidiumbromide (8), a β-glucosidase inhibitor, resulting in a decrease in the diurnal emission of 2-phenylethanol (2) from Rosa damascena Mill. flowers. Detection of [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₇]-2 from R. ‘Hoh-Jun’ flowers fed with [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 suggested that β-glucosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and reductase might be involved in scent emission. Comprehensive GC-SIM analyses revealed that [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 must be biosynthesized from [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′6′-²H₈] l-phenylalanine ([²H₈]-1) with a retention of the deuterium atom at α-position of [²H₈]-1.