Two-dimensional structure control by molecular width variation with metal coordination

The self-assembled monolayer of bipyridine derivative 1, which has two alkyl chains on each end, at the HOPG/1-phenyloctane interface was studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The detailed mechanism of a spontaneous change in the monolayer packing pattern by Pd coordination was studied. Uncomplexed 1 existed in a bent form in the monolayer, and the alkyl chains were interdigitated, whereas Pd-complexed 1 was in a straight form and the alkyl chains were not interdigitated. An intermediate state of 1 was successfully observed during metal coordination. The structure was the bent form with noninterdigitated alkyl chains. Equilibrium intermolecular distances reported from ab initio calculations indicate that the molecular width of the central aromatic part of uncomplexed 1 (7.5 A) is substantially smaller than that of the peripheral alkyl chain part (9.2 A). The bent form was suitable for covering up the surface to maximize the packing density. However, the molecular width of the aromatic unit of Pd-complexed 1 (9.1 A) was almost identical to that of the alkyl chain unit (9.2 A). Therefore, Pd-complexed 1 took the straight form in the monolayer. The observation of surface coverage by STM suggests that the bent form increases the packing density by as much as 16% compared with that of the straight form. These results indicate that the control of molecular width can be used to design molecular templates for nanostructure formation.     

Mean-field gauge interactions in five dimensions II. The orbifold

We study Gauge–Higgs Unification in five dimensions on the lattice by means of the mean-field expansion. We formulate it for the case of an SU(2)$\mathit{SU}(2)$ pure gauge theory and orbifold boundary conditions along the extra dimension, which explicitly break the gauge symmetry to U(1)$U(1)$ on the boundaries. Our main result is that the gauge boson mass computed from the static potential along four-dimensional hyperplanes is non-zero implying spontaneous symmetry breaking. This observation supports earlier data from Monte Carlo simulations in Irges and Knechtli (2007) [12].     

Sesquiterpene lactone glycosides from the roots of Ferula varia

Seven new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides (1-7) were isolated from the H2O-soluble fraction from the MeOH extract of the roots of Ferula varia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by modified Mosher's method.     

Biosynthesis of phytoecdysteroids in Ajuga hairy roots: clerosterol as a precursor of cyasterone, isocyasterone and 29-norcyasterone

Feeding studies of six ¹³C-labeled sterols, including clerosterol, to hairy roots of Ajugareptans var. atropurpurea have established that clerosterol is a precursor of three phytoecdysteroids, cyasterone, isocyasterone and 29-norcyasterone.     

A Cell‐Targeted Non‐Cytotoxic Fluorescent Nanogel Thermometer Created with an Imidazolium‐Containing Cationic Radical Initiator

A cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer based on thermo‐responsive N‐isopropylacrylamide and environment‐sensitive benzothiadiazole was developed with a new azo compound bearing imidazolium rings as the first cationic radical initiator. This cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer showed an excellent ability to enter live mammalian cells in a short incubation period (10 min), a high sensitivity to temperature variations in live cells (temperature resolution of 0.02–0.84 °C in the range 20–40 °C), and remarkable non‐cytotoxicity, which permitted ordinary cell proliferation and even differentiation of primary cultured cells.     

Reversible PtII–CH3 deuteration without methane loss: metal–ligand cooperation vs. ligand-assisted PtII-protonation

Di(2-pyridyl)ketone dimethylplatinum(ii), (dpk)Pt^II(CH₃)₂, reacts with CD₃OD at 25 °C to undergo complete deuteration of Pt–CH₃ fragments in ∼5 h without loss of methane to form (dpk)Pt^II(CD₃)₂ in virtually quantitative yield. The deuteration can be reversed by dissolution in CH₃OH or CD₃OH. Kinetic analysis and isotope effects, together with support from density functional theory calculations indicate a metal–ligand cooperative mechanism wherein DPK enables Pt–CH₃ deuteration by allowing non-rate-limiting protonation of Pt^II by CD₃OD. In contrast, other model di(2-pyridyl) ligands enable rate-limiting protonation of Pt^II, resulting in non-rate-limiting C–H(D) reductive coupling. Owing to its electron-poor nature, following complete deuteration, DPK can be dissociated from the Pt^II-centre, furnishing [(CD₃)₂Pt^II(μ-SMe₂)]₂ as the perdeutero analogue of [(CH₃)₂Pt^II(μ-SMe₂)]₂, a commonly used Pt^II-precursor.

Di(2-pyridyl)ketone dimethylplatinum(ii), (dpk)Pt^II(CH₃)₂, reacts with CD₃OD at 25 °C to undergo complete deuteration of Pt–CH₃ fragments in ∼5 h without loss of methane to form (dpk)Pt^II(CD₃)₂ in virtually quantitative yield.     

Organometallic polymers containing tricarbonyl(η4-diene)-ruthenium(0) and -iron(0) as pendant groups

Vinyl ethers containing tricarbonyl(14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)-ruthenium(0) and -iron(0) species were prepared utilizing selective dienylation with penta-dienylpotassium and were polymerized with cationic initiators to give high molecular weight polymers. The diene-metal moieties were converted into tricarbonyl(13-η³-allyl)metal species by protonation with dry HCl. Tricarbonyl(3-allyl-14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)iron(0) also undergoes cationic polymerization but the presence of its isomer, tricarbonyl(3-propenyl-14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)iron(0) inhibits the polymerization.     

Laser isotope separation of 13C by an elimination method

An elimination method is presented for laser isotope separation. It consists of flow cycles of feed molecules, in which an isotope component of non-interest, instead of the one of interest, is photolyzed to be eliminated, and the residue is recycled for photlysis. An isotope can be enriched as much as desired even if the isotope selectivity in the photolysis is low. The separation of ¹³C is demonstrated by employing multiphoton dissociation using a TEA CO₂ laser.     

Alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide with an alumina supported diethylzinc catalyst

Diethylzinc was allowed to react with γ-alumina in n-heptane at 50°C, and the copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide was investigated in some detail at 30–90°C by using the reaction product as a catalyst. From an analysis of the catalyst it was found that diethylzinc reacted with the surface hydroxyl groups of γ-alumina mainly to give the following A-type species by evolving ethane: The catalyst showed considerably high activity for the copolymerization. The polymer obtained was a white solid with a high molecular weight soluble in benzene, acetone, dioxane, and methylene chloride and insoluble in diethyl ether and water. It was confirmed as an alternate copolymer of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide. The copolymerization was also conducted with a reaction mixture of the catalyst and catechol in which the molar ratio of catechol to the A-type species was varied. The copolymerization activity decreased linearly with an increase in the molar ratio and disappeared completely at the molar ratio of unity. On the basis of these results it has been concluded that the A-type is the true active species for the copolymerization.