Supramolecular chirogenesis in zinc porphyrins: interaction with bidentate ligands,formation of tweezer structures,and the origin of enhanced optical activity

The complexation behavior, binding properties, and spectral parameters of supramolecular chirality induction in the achiral host molecule, syn (face-to-face conformation) ethane-bridged bis(zinc porphyrin), upon interaction with chiral bidentate guests (diamines and amino alcohols) have been studied by means of UV-vis, CD, fluorescence, (1)H NMR, and ESI MS techniques. It was found that the guest structure plays a decisive role in the chirogenesis pathway. The majority of bidentate ligands (except those geometrically unsuitable) exhibit two major equilibria steps: the first guest ligation leading to formation of the 1:1 host-guest tweezer structure (K(1)) and the second guest molecule ligation (K(2)) forming the anti bis-ligated species (1:2). The second ligation is much weaker (K(1) > K(2)) due to the optimal geometry and stability of the 1:1 tweezer complex. The enhanced conformational stability of the tweezer complex ensures an efficient chirality transfer from the chiral guest to the achiral host, consequently inducing a remarkably high optical activity in the bis-porphyrin.     

Discussion on the mechanism of photodoping

The photo-enhanced reaction between metallic silver and vitreous chalcogenides is known as “photodoping”. Based on a series of experimental results, a model for photodoping was proposed. It was assumed in this model, that a junction barrier at the silver-chalcogenide interface worked for separating photocarriers. Holes are captured by metallic silver, and electrons are trapped by active or loosely bound chalcogen atoms after travel toward the interior of a glass layer. The Coulomb attraction field between ions thus formed is large enough to overcome the kinetic barrier in the process of silver diffusion. The square root dependence for the growth of the photodoped depth with exposure time has been explained in the light of this proposed model.     

Development of a stable isotope dilution UPLC‐MS/MS method for quantification of dexmedetomidine in a small amount of human plasma

Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is a selective central α2‐agonist with anesthetic properties and has been used in clinical practice for sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU) after operations. In this study, an analytical assay for the determination of Dex in a small amount of plasma was developed for the application to pediatric ICU trials. The quantification of Dex was constructed using the original stable isotope Dex‐d₃ for electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) in the selected reaction monitoring mode. A rapid ultra‐performance liquid chromatography technique was adopted using ESI‐MS/MS with a runtime of 3 min. Efficacious concentration levels (50 pg/mL to 5 ng/mL) could be evaluated using a very small amount of plasma (10 μL) from patients. The lower limit of the quantification was 5 pg/mL in the plasma (100 µL). For sample preparation, a solid‐phase extraction was used along with the OASIS‐HLB cartridge type. Recovery values ranged from 98.8 to 100.3% for the intra‐ [relative standard deviation (RSD), 0.9–1.3%] and inter‐ (RSD, 0.9–1.5%) day assays. A stable test had recovery values that ranged from 97.8 to 99.7% with an RSD of 1.0–1.9% for the process/wet extract, bench‐top, freeze–thaw and long‐term tests. This method was used to measure the Dex levels in plasma from pediatric ICU patients. In the clinical ICU trial, the small amount of blood (approximate plasma volume, 200 μL) remaining from blood gas analysis was reused and targeted for the clinical analysis of Dex in plasma. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Epoxidation of Allylic Alcohols with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by [PMO12O40]3-[C5H5N+(CH2)15CH3]3

Applicatims a Mo- and W-based heteropoly acids (HPA) as a catalyst in the oxidation of olefins have extensively been investigated¹. However, a patent work is only attempted concerning the evoxidatim of olefins with H₂0₂ by HPA²⁾ since the oxirane ring is cleaved because of a strong acidity of HPA itself. Herein, an effective epoxidatim of some allylic alcohols with H₂0₂ by a new Mo-species (MPCP), which was prepared from 12-molybdatophosphoric acid (H₃PMo₁₂0₄₀) and cetylpyridinium chloride (C₅H₅N (CH₂), ₁₅CH₃- C1^-) under two-phase conditions using chloroform as an organic solvent, is described.     

Internal radiocesium contamination of adults and children in Fukushima 7 to 20 months after the Fukushima NPP accident as measured by extensive whole-body-counter surveys

The Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident contaminated the soil of densely-populated regions in Fukushima Prefecture with radioactive cesium, which poses significant risks of internal and external exposure to the residents. If we apply the knowledge of post-Chernobyl accident studies, internal exposures in excess of a few mSv/y would be expected to be frequent in Fukushima.Extensive whole-body-counter surveys (n = 32,811) carried out at the Hirata Central Hospital between October, 2011 and November, 2012, however show that the internal exposure levels of residents are much lower than estimated. In particular, the first sampling-bias-free assessment of the internal exposure of children in the town of Miharu, Fukushima, shows that the ¹³⁷Cs body burdens of all children (n = 1,383, ages 6–15, covering 95% of children enrolled in town-operated schools) were below the detection limit of 300 Bq/body in the fall of 2012. These results are not conclusive for the prefecture as a whole, but are consistent with results obtained from other municipalities in the prefecture, and with prefectural data.     

Improvement of spatial homogeneity in GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor

Recent process optimization allows improving homogeneity and a significant increase of J_c in GdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ deposited on ion-beam assisted deposited MgO template (GdBCO/IBAD-MgO). We applied low-temperature laser scanning microscopy and laser scanning thermo-electric microscopy (LSTEM) to investigate local dissipation and defects simultaneously in recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor. By using high-resolution LSTEM, we could detect current blocking obstacles which are responsible for the large scale local dissipation. Data on the present GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors point out a significant reduction of current blocking obstacles compared to the previous process. We have shown the improvement of spatial homogeneity in the recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors. Current blocking obstacles are much less densely distributed as compared to previous YBCO/IBAD-GZO coated conductor. Obstacles larger than several micrometer significantly increase local dissipation whereas smaller defects do not influence it noticeably. 2D map of the phase delay component of the thermoelectric voltage lock-in signal is effective to analyze current blocking obstacles having action upon local dissipation.     

Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Epoxide: Functionality of the Copolymer

Carbon dioxide and epoxide copolymerize in the presence of some organometallic catalyst systems under moderate conditions to give aliphatic polycarbonates of high molecular weight. Some metalloporphyrins of aluminum and zinc were found to act as novel catalysts for the polymerization of epoxide and for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide, though not alternating. The polymers are characterized by the narrow molecular weight distribution and the unusual stereoregularity. Starting from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and trimethylsilyl glycidyl ether with diethylzinc-water catalyst system, a readily degradable polycarbonate having hydroxyl group was obtained.     

From Living to “Immortal” Polymerization

Aluminum porphyrin is an excellent initiator for the living polymerizations of a wide variety of monomers such as epoxide, β-lactone, δ-lactone, ε-lactone, and lactide, and also for the alternating copolymerization of epoxide and cyclic acid anhydride or carbon dioxide, to give polymers and copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution. Aluminum porphyrin was recently found to initiate also the living polymerization of methacrylic ester. In the polymerizations of epoxides and lactones initiated with aluminum porphyrin in the presence of an appropriate protic compound, polymers with narrow molecular weight can be obtained with the number of the polymer molecules more than those of the initiator. This fact demonstrates the “immortal” nature of the polymerization due to unusual reactivities of aluminum prophyrin.