Organic solid photochromism by photoreduction mechanism: Viologen embedded in solid polar aprotic polymer matrix

Reversible photocolor developments of viologens embedded in poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) films, a typical polar aprotic solid matrix, were found to be affected by the kinds of viologen cation as well as the paired anion. The color developments in the corresponding low-molecular-weight solvents are connected closely to the solubility of viologens in these solvents; viologens are highly sensitive in the polar aprotic solvents in which they have poor solubilities, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and hexamethyl phosphoric triamide. These facts confirm the color-development mechanism consistings of electron transfer to the photoexcited viologen cation from the paired anion in polar aprotic solid matrices such as poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone).     

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.     

Lewis-acid promoted aromatic cyclization of α-chlorosulfides: Synthesis of ethyl isothiochroman-1-carboxylate and related compounds

A variety of ethyl isothiochroman-1-carboxylates and related compounds were synthesized by treatment of 2-chloro-2-[(2-arenyl)ethylthio]acetates with stannic chloride in methylene chloride. The same procedure was applied to the synthesis of ethyl 4-chloro-4-methyltetrahydrothiopyran-2-carboxylate. Some isothiochroman-1-carboxylic acids were prepared and evaluated for antiinflammatory activity. Among the compounds tested, 7-phenoxyisothiochroman-1-carboxylic acid showed weak activity.     

Micro patterning of active proteins with perforated PDMS sheets (PDMS sieve)

We propose a novel technique for patterning active proteins on a glass substrate using a perforated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet-sieve. The sieve, which has tapering holes, is fabricated by spin-coating PDMS on a pyramidal-shaped mold. By means of this sieve, FITC (fluorescent isothiocyanate, bovine)-albumin was successfully spotted in a 5 x 5 microm(2) area in an array. The patterned spots were perfectly isolated, which eliminates the problem of non-specific binding of proteins to undesired areas. To show that proteins maintained their activity after the patterning, we used F(1)-ATPase biomolecular motors; their activity can easily be verified by observing their rotary motion after patterning. Selective patterning with three kinds of fluorescent micro beads indicated the possibility of patterning of different proteins on the same substrate by using the sieve.     

Stark beats of Lyman-α emission of foil-excited hydrogen atom

The Stark beats of Lyman-α emission due ton=1 ? 2 transition of hydrogen atom have been studied by the beam-foil method. After passage through a thin carbon foil, the static electric field of 500 V/cm was applied to the beam in the direction either parallel to or anti-parallel to the the beam velocity. The linearly polarized emission was measured by using a toroidal mirror at a Brewster's angle reflection. When the direction of the applied electric field is reversed, an appreciable phase shift was observed. The analysis of the data leads to the complete determination of the density matrix of the H(n=2) atoms at the time of their production.