Mean-field gauge interactions in five dimensions II. The orbifold

We study Gauge–Higgs Unification in five dimensions on the lattice by means of the mean-field expansion. We formulate it for the case of an SU(2)$\mathit{SU}(2)$ pure gauge theory and orbifold boundary conditions along the extra dimension, which explicitly break the gauge symmetry to U(1)$U(1)$ on the boundaries. Our main result is that the gauge boson mass computed from the static potential along four-dimensional hyperplanes is non-zero implying spontaneous symmetry breaking. This observation supports earlier data from Monte Carlo simulations in Irges and Knechtli (2007) [12].     

Sesquiterpene lactone glycosides from the roots of Ferula varia

Seven new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides (1-7) were isolated from the H2O-soluble fraction from the MeOH extract of the roots of Ferula varia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by modified Mosher's method.     

Rapid additions of bulky tert-butyldimethylsilyl cyanide to hindered ketones promoted by heterogeneous tin ion-exchanged montmorillonite catalyst

Tin ion-exchanged montmorillonite (Sn-Mont) was found to be a powerful heterogeneous catalyst for the cyanosilylation of various ketones including congested ones with a bulky cyanide source, tert-butyldimethylsilyl cyanide (TBDMSCN), giving the corresponding cyanohydrin tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers in good (85%) to excellent (>98%) yields at room temperature. Compared to the previously reported catalysts, Sn-Mont is easy to prepare, environmentally benign, nontoxic, noncorrosive, and recyclable.     

Photoassisted NO reduction with NH3 over TiO2 photocatalyst

Photoassisted selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (photo-SCR) at low temperature over irradiated TiO2 in a flow reactor was confirmed to proceed efficiently and the adsorbed ammonia reacted with NO under irradiation of TiO2.     

Quantitative estimation of interaction between carbohydrates and concanavalin A by surface plasmon resonance biosensor

We measured the affinity of more than 20 sugars with concanavalin A (ConA) by an optical biosensor (surface plasmon resonance sensor) using asialofetuin (ASF) as an immobilized binding partner of ConA. We determined kinetic parameters of the effects of sugars on the dissociation of ConA from ASF quantitatively, and the structural requirements of the functional groups of sugars for binding with ConA. We found that the affinity of ConA for sugars is dependent on its conformation induced by interaction with the binding partner. In addition, the results showed that optical biosensor system is well mimics the interaction of ConA with sugars in biomembrane.     

Effect of TRX-liposomes size on their prolonged circulation in rats

Newly formulated cationic liposomes (TRX-liposomes) with four different mean diameters were injected into twelve male rats via the lateral tail vein in order to evaluate the effect of liposomal size on pharmacokinetic parameters. TRX-liposomes disappeared from the blood according to the one-compartment model and demonstrated maximum and minimum half-lives of ca. 14 h (mean diameter of 114.3 nm) and ca. 5 h (mean diameter of 285.9 nm), respectively. This prolonged half-life tended to decrease at the boundary of 114.3 nm mean diameter. The optimal size (114.3 nm) for prolonged circulation of TRX-liposomes was consistent with that of pegylated liposomes such as Doxil((R)), however, the half-life was different among these liposomes. The electric charge of the TRX-liposomal surface is assumed to be responsible for this difference. The results of the present study will be very useful in the design of long-circulating cationic liposomes.     

Cyanide-Free One-Pot Synthesis of Methacrylic Esters from Acetone

Methacrylic esters, represented by methyl methacrylate (MMA), are widely used as commodity chemicals. Here, the one-pot synthesis of methacrylic esters from acetone, a haloform and alcohols in the presence of an organic base is described. Using DBU as the organic base for the reaction of acetone, chloroform and methanol in acetonitrile afforded MMA in 66 % yield. When the solvent was replaced by benzonitrile, the product MMA was successfully purified by distillation. Applicability of this process to various alcohols was also investigated to show ethyl, phenyl, CF₃CH₂, and n-C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂ esters were obtained in moderate yields. The use of bromoform instead of chloroform resulted in the improvement of the yield, for example, methyl and n-C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂ esters up to 81 and 70 %, respectively. The reaction with deuterated starting materials acetone-d₆ and MeOH-d₄, with DBU in acetonitrile afforded deuterated MMA (MMA-d₈) in 70 % yield.     

Palladium complexes bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene–sulfonamide ligand for cooligomerization of ethylene and polar monomers

Herein, we report the synthesis of palladium complexes bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐sulfonamide bidentate ligand and their application in ethylene oligomerization and ethylene/polar monomer cooligomerization. These catalysts could smoothly catalyze ethylene oligomerization and ethylene/methyl acrylate cooligomerization albeit the performance was lower compared to that of a NHC–phenoxide catalyst. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 474–477     

NMR and MO Studies on the Molecular Structure of a Fluoranthene-Benzene Complex

Summary. Fluoranthene (FA) forms a 1:1 van der Waals complex with benzene in cyclohexane. The ¹H NMR spectrum of this complex shows that the FA moiety in the complex state has five kinds of hydrogen atoms and that the ¹H NMR peaks assigned to the protons attached to the naphthalene skeleton are largely shifted to higher magnetic field on complex formation with benzene. These observations indicate that the complex takes the structure of C_S symmetry, in which the benzene molecule mainly interacts with the electronic system localized on the naphthalene moiety of FA. The present ab initio calculations reproduce well the ¹H NMR spectral shifts mentioned above and the experimentally predicted C_S structure of the complex. According to the PPP calculations for the electronic absorption spectral changes on the complex formation, the FA-benzene complex is considered to take a sandwich type structure.     

Asymmetric polymerization using C1 resources

Two examples of asymmetric alternating copolymerization, (1) the alternating copolymerization of α‐olefins (monosubstituted ethenes) with carbon monoxide and (2) the alternating copolymerization of meso‐epoxide with carbon dioxide, are described, and the meaning of chirality in polymer synthesis is emphasized. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 215–221, 2004