Autorecycling oxidation of alcohol catalyzed by 1,3,7,9,11,12,14-heptazapentacene-2,4,8,10 (14H,3H,9H,12H)-tetraones (mixed flavins)

1,3,7,9,11,12,14-Heptazapentacene-2,4,8,10 (14$\text{H}$,3$\text{H}$,9$\text{H}$,12$\text{H}$)-tetraones (mixed flavins) were prepared by the cyclization of 1,5-dihydro-8-[N-alkyl-N-(5-nitrouracil-6-yl)-amino-5-deazaflavins with Vilsmeier reagent. The mixed flavins oxidized alcohol under neutral condition in sunlight and a remarkable autorecycling was observed.     

Pre-irradiation induced grafting of styrene into crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene films for polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications. II: Characterization of the styrene grafted films

Crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene films (RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films, respectively) were irradiated by γ-ray and then grafted with styrene in liquid phase. Microscope FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA, solid state ¹³C CP/MAS and high resolution HS/MAS NMR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) study were used to get the structural information of the styrene grafted RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films. From microscope FT-IR spectra of the grafted RX-PTFE films, the “grafting front mechanism” was proved. TGA analysis showed that the grafted films have a small degradation step and two main degradation steps. In the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra of the non-grafted films, there are no signal due to the absence of the hydrogen atom. While in the spectra of the grafted films, there are signals attributed to the polystyrene grafts. In the ¹³C HS/MAS NMR spectra of the grafted films, the relative intensity of the peaks attributed to the polystyrene grafts increased while the relative intensity of the peak attributed to PTFE matrix decreased with the increase in the DOG. From WAXD patterns, the intensity of the crystalline peak decrease with the increase in the DOG. The grafted films were sulfonated by chlorosulfonic acid and the results of highest IEC value exceeded 3.0. Those results will be reported in the near future.     

Improving the properties of the proton exchange membranes by introducing α-methylstyrene in the pre-irradiation induced graft polymerization

New proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of α-methylstyrene (AMS)/styrene (STY)/divinylbenzene (DVB) into the crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (RX-PTFE) films and successively sulfonated. The new PEMs showed the improved glass transition temperature and chemical stability as compared with the PEMs prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of STY/DVB. The balance of the cost, grafting kinetic, thermal properties and the properties of the resulted proton exchange membrane is the key point of this work.     

Chemistry of the neopolyoxins,pyrimidine and imidazoline nucleoside peptide antibiotics

New chitin synthetase inhibitors, neopolyoxins A, B, and C were isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptomyces cacaoi subsp. asoensis. Their absolute structures have been established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. They are structural analogs of the polyoxins. As a nucleobase, neopolyoxin C possesses uracil, while neopolyoxins A and B contain the imidazoline moiety. A ring contraction reaction of pyrimidine nucleoside into imidazoline nucleoside played a key role in the structure determination of the nucleoside moiety. A similar transformation was suggested for the biosynthesis of neopolyoxins A and B.     

Ultra-slow muon facility for advanced μSR studies

A concept, a construction and an account of commissioning experiments up to May 1993 are given for the recently completed ultra-slow positive muon facility at the pulsed muon facility of UT-MSL/KEK. The intense and ultra-slow ⁺ beam with an extremely small phase-space volume to be produced in this facility will open new muon sciences includingSR studies on material surfaces.     

Towards slow μ− production via muon catalyzed fusion

Slow ^– production via dd-CF using a two-layer arrangement is investigated. To determine its feasibility, experimental measurements are now in progress using the muonic X-ray detection method. The following experimental steps are being considered: (1) measurement of the number of ^– stopped inside a solid H₂/D₂ layer by detecting p K X-rays, (2) hot d emission detection by placing a secondary target at a distance of 10–30 mm from the layer and by detecting specific delayed X-rays, (3) measurement of the disappearance of d emission as the added D₂ layer is increased, (4) dd-CF measurement by detecting fusion protons, and (5) slow ^– emission detection. Results of the initial test experiment are presented.     

Ultra-slow muon facility for surface HFI studies

A concept, a design, a construction and an account of commissioning experiments are given for the recently completed ultra-slow muon facility at the pulsed muon facility of UT-MSL/KEK. The intense (more than 10³/s) slow ⁺ beam with an extremely narrow phase-space volume (0.2 eV×(3 cm)²) to be produced in this facility will open a new muon science including surface physics and chemistry and fundamental atomic physics.Post-doctoral fellow of Swiss National Science Foundation.