Direct and quantitative monitoring of catalytic organic reactions under heterogeneous conditions using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

This new method overcomes problems of conventional analytical methodologies such as light scattering and sampling reproducibility issues. We used this method for mechanistic studies of catalytic reactions under heterogeneous conditions. Direct-type hydroxymethylation reactions and Mukaiyama-type hydroxymethylation reactions both catalyzed by a scandium–bipyridine ligand complex under micellar conditions were employed as examples of heterogeneous reactions. For direct-type hydroxymethylation reactions, initial reaction rate assays revealed first-order dependency on both substrate and catalyst. On the other hand, Mukaiyama-type hydroxymethylation reactions showed first-order rate dependency on substrate, zero-order on catalyst and saturation kinetics on formaldehyde.

A direct and quantitative method for monitoring heterogeneous organic reactions has been developed by using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) with an isotope-labeled reaction product as an internal standard.     

Development of a chemical vapor sensor using piezoelectric quartz crystals with coated unusual lipids

Piezoelectric quartz crystal sensors were developed using lipids with various properties for highly sensitive detection of chemical vapors. Lipids with varying lengths of alkyl chains were coated onto 10 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal resonators and the response of these modified crystals to chemical vapors were measured. It was shown that hydrophilic compounds, such as ethanol and methanol, could be recognized efficiently by lipids having shorter alkyl chains, whereas lipids with longer alkyl chains showed affinity to more hydrophobic vapors, such as toluene, hexane and cyclohexane. Frequency changes caused by adsorption of alcohols could be enhanced when cholesterol was co-immobilized in the lipid layer. To confirm the assumption that the sensor-response might be affected by the properties of lipids derived from acyl chains, we have examined the effects of two types of newly synthesized unusual lipids on sensor response. When lipids having one triple bond each at different positions on their alkyl chains were coated onto quartz crystals separately, lower responses were observed compared to responses obtained for a sensor with immobilized, saturated phosphatidylcholine. Lipids containing -branched acyl chains, however, showed good affinity for organic vapors, and sensor responses improved 4–5-fold. Moreover, these sensors were shown to have sensitivity of the same order as the humans' sense of smell (10⁻⁵–10⁻⁶ w/w in liquid paraffin) when measured using standard odorants (isovaleric acid, skatole, etc.) for an olfactometry established in Japan.     

Self-assembly patterning of silica colloidal crystals

We developed a self-assembly process of silica particles to fabricate desired patterns of colloidal crystals having high feature edge acuity and high regularity. A micropattern of colloidal methanol prepared on a self-assembled monolayer in hexane was used as a mold for particle patterning, and slow dissolution of methanol into hexane caused shrinkage of molds to form micropatterns of close-packed SiO2 particle assemblies. This result is a step toward the realization ofnano/micro periodic structures for next-generation photonic devices by a self-assembly process.     

Molecular structure of glucopyranosylamide lipid and nanotube morphology

A series of glucopyranosylamide lipids, N-(X-octadecenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine [X = 13-cis (1), 11-cis (2), 9-cis (3), 6-cis (4), and 9-cis,12-cis (5)] and their saturated homologue N-octadecanoyl-beta-d-glucopyranosylamine (6), which differ in the position of a cis double bond in the C18 hydrocarbon chains, have been synthesized. The effect of the cis double bond position on the chiral self-assembly of each glycolipid has been examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV, and circular dichroism (CD). The 11-cis derivative 2 was observed to self-assemble in water to form a uniform hollow cylinder structure with about 200-nm outer diameters in >98% yields. The obtained nanotubes from 2 showed the narrowest distribution of outer diameters and also gave a negative CD band around 234-236 nm, showing the largest CD intensity among the glycolipids investigated. Thus, we found that the position of a cis double bond significantly influences the homogeneity of the outer diameters as well as growth behavior of the self-assembled nanotube structures. Chiral molecular packing driven by a possible bending structure of the unsaturated glycolipids is playing a critical role in determining tubular morphology through molecular self-assembly.     

Application of microcalorimetry to the formulation study

Isothermal microcalorimetry was used to evaluate excipient compatibility of solid dosage form. Oxybutynin hydrochloride and cefaclor were used as model drugs for compatibility test with excipients. The calorimetric data for compatibility test were compared with those of HPLC data. Evaluation of compatibility between drug and excipient of solid dosage form might be possible to use isothermal microcalorimetry instead of conventional method. By using microcalorimetric method, the evaluation of the compatibility between drug and excipient could be successfully performed with a simple operation in a short time. The application of the isothermal microcalorimetry would be useful for the screening test of the drug compatibility with excipients.     

Diastereoselective imino-aldol condensation of chiral 3-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)-2-furaldimine and ester enolates

(Ss)-3-(p-Tolylsufinyl)-2-furaldimine was synthesized, and condensation of the chiral furaldimine with lithium ester enolates has been examined. The product distribution of the reaction is dependent upon reaction conditions and on the kind of the substituent placed on the esters. Disubstituted ester enolate resulted in the exclusive formation of (4R)-beta-lactam, while unsubstituted, tert-butyl ester enolate preferentially gave (3R)-beta-amino ester. With the monosubstituted ester enolates, the condensation afforded (4R)-beta-lactams and/or (3R)-beta-amino esters as major products. This method has been applied to an efficient route to chiral furyl beta-lactams.     

Thermal decompositions of formates. Part VI. Thermal dehydration reaction of copper(II) formate dihydrate

The thermal dehydration reactions of two kinds of copper(II) formate dihydrate, which differ in origin and preparation history, have been investigated by means of TG, DTA and DSC. The kinetics of isothermal dehydration were studied by weight loss, and the difference in kinetic behavior between these two samples was related to the difference in origin and preparation history. On the whole, the dehydration mechanisms of these two samples were found to be phase boundary controlled contracting interface reactions.     

Thermal decomposition of formates. Part VIII. Thermal dehydration of Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) formate dihydrates

The thermal dehydration of some rare earth metal formate dihydrates were studied by means of thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.The dehydration took place successively as a one step reaction for all of the formate dihydrates examined. The reaction order of dehydration was found to be $\text{2}\text{3}$ for all of the salts examined, which indicated that the rate of dehydration was controlled by a chemical process at a phase boundary.The values of the activation energy, frequency factor and the enthalpy change of dehydration for all of the dihydrates were 108–142 kJ mole^?1, 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ min^?1 and 109–147 kJ mole^?1, respectively.Both the temperature at which the dehydration occurred and the enthalpy change increased as the reciprocal of the radius of the metallic ion increased.     

Synthesis of aryltriethoxysilanes via rhodium(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl electrophiles with triethoxysilane

The general and efficient silylation of aryl halides has been developed utilizing triethoxysilane and a rhodium catalyst. The substrate scope is broad and includes ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted electron-rich and -deficient aryl iodides. In addition, the silylation of aryl bromides and fluoroalkanesulfonates proceeded in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide.     

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile with β-propiolactone

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile (monomer 1) with β-propiolactone (monomer 2) and the structures of the resulting copolymers were studied. The copolymerization with sodium cyanide in N,N-dimethylformamide gave copolymers of the structure I containing acid anhydride linkage in the molecular chains, with the monomer reactivity ratios, r₁ = 1.20, r₂ = 0.00. The copolymerization with potassium hydroxide gave either copolymers of the structure II (r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 3.64 at 30°C; r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 5.00 at 40°C) in N,N-dimethylformamide or only β-propiolactone homopolymer in toluene.