Structural Transitions from Triangular to Square Molecular Arrangements in the Quasi-One-Dimensional Molecular Conductors (DMEDO-TTF)(2)XF(6) (X = P, As, and Sb)

A series of quasi-one-dimensional molecular conductors (DMEDO-TTF)(2)XF(6) (X = P, As, and Sb), where DMEDO-TTF is dimethyl(ethylenedioxy)tetrathiafulvalene, undergo characteristic structural transitions in the range of 130-195 K for the PF(6) salt and 222-242 K for the AsF(6) salt. The dramatic structural transition is induced by the order of the ethylenedioxy moiety, and the resulting anion rotation leads to the reconstruction of the H···F interaction between the methyl groups and the anions. The unique hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in the transition. As a result, the molecular packing is rearranged entirely; the high-temperature molecular stacks with an ordinary quasi-triangular molecular network transforms to a quasi-square-like network, which has never been observed among organic conductors. Nonetheless, the low-temperature phase exhibits a good metallic conductivity as well, so the transition is a metal-metal (MM) transition. The resistivity measured along the perpendicular direction to the conducting ac-plane (ρ(⊥)) and the calculation of the Fermi surface demonstrate that the high-temperature metal phase is a one-dimensional metal, whereas the low-temperature metal phase has considerable interchain interaction. In the SbF(6) salt, a similar structural transition takes place around 370 K, so that the quasi-square-like lattice is realized even at room temperature. Despite the largely different MM transition temperatures, all these salts undergo metal-insulator (MI) transitions approximately at the same temperature of 50 K. The low-temperature insulator phase is nonmagnetic, and the reflectance spectra suggest the presence of charge disproportionation with small charge difference (0.14).     

Polyelectrolyte complex films derived from polyethyleneoxide-maleic acid copolymer and chitosan: preparation and characterization

Polyelectrolyte complex films were prepared with polyethyleneoxide-maleic acid copolymer and chitosan using a casting/solvent evaporation method. The films were examined in terms of their IR spectra, surface and cross-section morphologies, cytotoxicity, and swelling behavior at different pH levels. To assess the potential of these films as a biomedical device, the profiles of the release of model drug from the CS/PEOMA films were examined at pH 4.8. The surface morphology of the films was quite smooth and uniform, and the cross-sectional morphology was dense and homogeneous. The swelling behaviors of CS/PEOMA films were found to depend on the pH of the solution as well as on the CS/PEOMA composition. Drug release from different CS/PEOMA films at pH 4.8 was found to be dependent on film composition. The results showed the potential applicability of CS/PEOMA film as a drug delivery vehicle.     

Photoinduced amino-imino tautomerism: an infrared study of 2-amino-5-methylpyridine in a low-temperature argon matrix

The photoreaction of 2-amino-5-methylpyridine was investigated by matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculation. Photoinduced reversible amino (N=C-NH(2))-imino (NH-C=NH) tautomerism was found between 2-amino-5-methylpyridine and 5-methyl-2(1H)-pyridinimine; the amino tautomer changes to the imino tautomer by UV irradiation (340>lambda>or= 300 nm) and the reverse change occurs by longer-wavelength light irradiation (420>lambda>or= 340 nm). The results of the CASSCF calculation revealed that the amino-imino tautomerism proceeds in vibrational relaxation process from electronic excited state to the ground state. The IR spectra of 2-amino-5-methylpyridine in the T(1) state and 5-methyl-2-pyridinamino radical were also obtained by UV irradiation (lambda>or= 300 nm).     

Static magnetic-field-induced phase lag in the magnetization response of tris(dipicolinato)lanthanides

Alternating-current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements for tris(dipicolinato) complexes with a trivalent heavy lanthanide ion, [N(C2H5)4]3[Ln(dipic)(3)] x nH2O (dipic = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate; Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, or Yb) are reported. While none of the six complexes showed a magnetization lag from the ac magnetic field of 10-10(3) Hz above 1.8 K, the Dy, Er, and Yb complexes with odd numbers of 4f electrons exhibited the magnetization lag in a static magnetic field. This phenomenon is explained to be caused by the elimination of a fast relaxation path, which is only effective for the Kramers doublet ground states in near zero field. At higher static fields, the remaining paths such as Orbach and/or direct processes govern the dynamics of the two-level systems comprised of spin-up and spin-down states. The non-Kramers complexes were found to have a nondegenerate ground state with large energy gaps from higher states, which is consistent with their fast magnetization relaxation.     

Probing the metal-insulator phase transition in the (DMEDO-EBDT)2PF6 single crystal by optical measurements

The temperature and polarization dependence of the optical reflectivity spectra of a quasi-one-dimensional 1/4-filled band system, (DMEDO-EBDT)(2)PF(6), have been investigated. We observed clear anisotropy in the electronic structures corresponding to the anisotropic transport properties. The appearance of a charge gap (E(g)?>?0.1?eV) and transfer of the spectral weight accompanied by the metal-insulator phase transition were clearly observed. In addition, a split of the intramolecular vibrational modes was observed, which strongly suggested the existence of charge disproportionation in the low temperature phase. We also observed a photoinduced reflectivity change, which implied the occurrence of a photoinduced phase transition from the low temperature insulating phase to the high temperature metallic phase.     

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides: efficient synthesis of beta-aryl alpha-hydroxy amides using a one-pot tandem catalytic asymmetric epoxidation-Pd-catalyzed epoxide opening process

The catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides using Sm-BINOL-Ph3As=O complex was succeeded. Using 5-10 mol % of the asymmetric catalyst, a variety of amides were epoxidized efficiently, yielding the corresponding alpha,beta-epoxy amides in up to 99% yield and in more than 99% ee. Moreover, the novel one-pot tandem process, one-pot tandem catalytic asymmetric epoxidation-Pd-catalyzed epoxide opening process, was developed. This method was successfully utilized for the efficient synthesis of beta-aryl alpha-hydroxy amides, including beta-aryllactyl-leucine methyl esters. Interestingly, it was found that beneficial modifications on the Pd catalyst were achieved by the constituents of the first epoxidation, producing a more suitable catalyst for the Pd-catalyzed epoxide opening reaction in terms of chemoselectivity.