Electron spin resonance studies on the oxidation mechanism of sterically hindered cyclic amines in TiO2 photocatalytic systems

A sterically hindered cyclic amine, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (HTMP), is converted to the corresponding aminoxyl radical (nitroxide radical), 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL radical) as a result of a photocatalytic reaction in TiO2 aqueous suspension. The time profile of the radical formation and the effect of additives, such as SCN-, I-, methanol, and H2O2, on the initial formation rate were measured in order to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The experimental observations indicated that the direct photocatalytic oxidation of HTMP followed by reaction with O2 is the dominant process in the formation of TEMPOL radicals. Electrochemical measurements showed that HTMP is oxidized at 0.7 V (vs NHE), which is consistent with the proposed mechanism. The possibility of other processes, involving reactions with singlet molecular oxygen, superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical, were excluded from the reaction mechanism.     

Total Synthesis of Gambierol by Using Oxiranyl Anions

Gambierol was isolated as a neurotoxin from the cultured cells of the ciguatera causative dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus and classified as a member of the polycyclic ether family of marine toxins. The structure consists of a ladder‐shaped trans‐fused octacyclic ring system that includes 18 stereogenic centers, two 1,3‐diaxial dimethyl‐substituted tetrahydropyranyl rings, and a partially conjugated triene side chain. The total synthesis of gambierol has been achieved by utilizing an oxiranyl anion strategy in an iterative manner. Synthetic highlights of this route include direct carbon–carbon formation on epoxides, sulfonyl‐assisted 6‐endo cyclization, and an expansion reaction of the tetrahydropyranyl rings to oxepanes to forge the polycyclic architecture of the target molecule.     

Formulation of unrestricted and restricted Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov equations

The Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (HFB) method, dealing with Bogoliubov orbitals, which consist of particle and hole part, can provide states with pair correlations associated with Cooper pairs. The dimension of HFB Fock matrices can be reduced by restrictions of spin states of Bogoliubov orbitals similarly to ordinary Hartree–Fock (HF) equations such as restricted HF (RHF), unrestricted HF (UHF), and generalized HF (GHF). However, there are few studies of moderate restricted HFB equations such as UHF‐based HFB equations. In this article, formulation and calculations of restricted HFB equations are described. The solutions of general and restricted HFB equations are compared. Pair correlations taking account of restricted and general HFB equations are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Thermo-responsive mending of polymers crosslinked by thermally reversible covalent bond: Polymers from bisfuranic terminated poly(ethylene adipate) and tris-maleimide

Remending properties of a network polymer with reversible reactivity are described. The network structure is constructed by a Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between furyl-telechelic poly(ethylene adipate) (PEAF₂) and a tris-maleimide, M₃. When a film sample was cut into two pieces and the cut surfaces were kept in contact with each other at 60 °C, rejoining of the cut pieces was observed. This mending was induced by the reversible cross-linking reaction bridging the cut surfaces. At the cut front, the “weak” DA adducts are selectively dissociated sacrificially to release the stress so as to protect the chemical structure of the prepolymer and the linker against the scission or degradation. The dissociated furan and maleimide readily reconnect by forward DA reaction to mend the material. The remending was also observed for the samples kept at room temperature after melting at 60 °C. So, the PEAF₂ network polymer is a thermo-responsive mendable material in which crack healing is induced by a prompt thermal stimulus.     

Supramolecular dioxygen receptors composed of an anionic water-soluble porphinatoiron(II) and cyclodextrin dimers

Three types of per-O-methylated β-cyclodextrin dimers, Im2CD, Im3NHCD and Py3NHCD, were prepared as globin models. Im2CD was synthesized by the condensation reaction of mono(2(A)-amino)-per-O-methylated β-cyclodextrin with 3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pentanedioic acid. Im3NHCD and Py3NHCD were obtained through the S(N)2 reactions of mono(2(A),3(A)-epoxy)-per-O-methylated β-cyclodextrin with 3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pentane-1,5-diamine and 3,5-bis(aminomethyl)pyridine, respectively. These cyclodextrin dimers formed 1:1 supramolecular inclusion complexes of tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(II) (Fe(II)TPPS) in aqueous solution. The supramolecular complexes bound dioxygen (O(2)), with the O(2) affinity of the Fe(II)TPPS/Im3NHCD complex (P(1/2)(O2) = 1.5 ± 0.1 Torr) being much higher than those of the Fe(II)TPPS/Im2CD (36 ± 2 Torr) and Fe(II)TPPS/Py3NHCD complexes (70 ± 5 Torr). On the basis of the results of the present study and previous results, it is concluded that the imidazole axial ligand at the linker attached at the 3- and 3'-positions of the cyclodextrin units causes higher O(2) affinity as compared with the imidazole ligand at the 2- and 2'-positions and the pyridine ligand at the 2,2'- or 3,3'-positions. The electron donating ability and orientation of the axial ligand may control the O(2) affinity of a supramolecular receptor.     

Highly efficient asymmetric aldol reaction in brine using a fluorous sulfonamide organocatalyst

A fluorous organocatalyst promotes direct asymmetric aldol reactions of aromatic aldehydes with ketones in brine to afford the corresponding anti-aldol products in high yield with up to 96% ee. Fluorous organocatalyst can be readily recovered by solid phase extraction using fluorous silica gel and reused without purification.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of a pentacyclic lycopodium alkaloid: huperzine-q

Right on Q: The first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-huperzine-Q, which possesses six stereogenic centers and a spiroaminal moiety, has been achieved in 19 steps and 16.4?% overall yield. This synthesis involved a novel stereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction, a vinyl Claisen rearrangement, and a biomimetic spiroaminal formation. TBDPS=tert-butyldiphenylsilyl.     

Evidence of instantaneous electron correlation from Compton profiles of crystalline silicon

The combination of new experimental and theoretical techniques provides evidence of instantaneous electron correlation effects in directional Compton profiles of crystalline silicon, which cannot be reproduced when reference is made to a density matrix obtained from a single-determinantal wavefunction. These effects are instead accounted for by a recently implemented post-Hartree-Fock periodic scheme, which gives results in quite good agreement with the high-quality experimental data.     

THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH-INHIBITING TREATMENTS ON PHOTOREPAIR IN CULTURED FISH CELLS

Abstract Goldfish cells (RBCF-1) cultured at different cell densities were harvested and their photorepair (PR) abilities were examined in terms of survival. Photorepair ability gradually increased during the phase of logarithmic growth, reaching a maximum in cells at the confluent state. This enhancement of PR ability disappeared 12 h after replating of cells in fresh medium. A number of growth-inhibiting treatments (serum depletion, UVC, hydroxyurea [HU], change in incubation temperature) were tested for their ability to induce PR. The treatment of cells with HU and serum depletion induced PR while the other treatments did not. The increase in the ability to perform PR after treatment with HU or serum depletion returned to normal levels more rapidly than that after fluorescent light treatment.     

Stability of two-dimensional crystalline aggregates of a protein studied by molecular dynamics

Two-dimensional protein (ferritin) aggregates with a square lattice symmetry, which were formed within a thin liquid layer on a mercury surface, were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. For the simulation, the ferritin molecule was modeled by an assembly of 49 spheres, and the intermolecular interactions were given by simple formulae. During the simulation, molecules were confined within a layer, which corresponds to the thin liquid layer. An annealing MD simulation was done starting from a random molecular configuration within the layer, and aggregates with the square lattice symmetry were also obtained. To study the stability of aggregates, dissociation processes of the aggregates were analyzed using MD simulations at room temperature. Interactions between the nearest-neighbor molecules were regarded as bonds. Mean bond energies and correlation coefficients between the bond energies were calculated from the MD trajectories. A decay profile according to the dissociation was obtained, yielding a dissociation rate constant. Buried bonds were stronger than peripheral bonds. The larger the aggregate size, the stronger the bond for each of the buried and peripheral bonds. A simple theoretical account, which is applicable to a general bonded network, was introduced to analyze the dynamics of the aggregates. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.