Phase-death mode in two-coupled chemical oscillators studied with reactors of different volume and by simulation

The behavior of the phase-death mode (cessation of oscillations and transition to a steady state) in the two-coupled Belousov–Zhabotinsky reactions is studied in the asymmetric coupling. In an experiment, the types of synchronized modes and their regions were investigated as an extension of our previous study. This experiment is compared to a simulation using the two-coupled three-variable Oregonator models. The results confirm that the phase-death mode changes from “bistable” to “monostable” and reveal the stable region of the latter.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkenes directed to peptide isosteres: copper mediated reaction of trialkylaluminum with 4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivatives

Copper mediated alkyl-transfer reaction of trialkylaluminum (R₃Al) with (E)-4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivative smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding 2-alkylated 4-fluoro-5-hydroxyhomoallylic alcohol derivative with completely Z and 2,5-syn selective manner. Regio- and stereoselective conversion of the C5-hydroxyl group of the fluoroolefin thus obtained to amino group could be achieved through one-pot mesylation and azidation reaction.     

Determination of chemical form of antimony in contaminated soil around a smelter using X-ray absorption fine structure.

Only limited information is available about the behavior of antimony (Sb) in contaminated soils. However, understanding the behavior of Sb in contaminated soils is important, because the toxicity or solubility of this element depends on its chemical state. In this study, we investigated the levels of Sb and the chemical forms of Sb in the soil around a smelter using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectra. The highest Sb concentration in the contaminated soil was 2900 mg/kg dry soil. According to Sb-K edge X-ray absorption near edge (XANE) spectra, the Sb in the soil was in the form of Sb(V) compounds. The similarity of extended XAFS (EXAFS) spectra suggests that Sb speciation was independent of the sampling site, which indicates that Sb or Sb2O3 emitted from the smelter was converted into Sb(V) compounds in the soil.     

Photocyclization of n-[ω-(cycloalken-1-yl)alkyl]-and n-[ω-(inden-3-yl)alkyl]phthalimides : Synthesis of spiro-nitrogen multicyclic systems

Photolysis of the N-[ω-(cycloalken-1-yl)alkyl]phthalimides 6b-$\text{e}$ in each case gave a pair of stereoisomers of spiro-nitrogen multicyclic systems (9b-$\text{e}$) in moderate yields, whose stereochemistry was determined by means of chemical and spectroscopic analyses. Similarly, in N-[ω-(inden-3-yl)alkyl]-phthalimides (8), spiro-nitrogen macrocycles up to 13-membered 13a-$\text{c}$ were obtained in good yields     

Effect of urea addition on chiral separation of dansylamino acids by capillary zone electrophoresis with cyclodextrins

The chiral separation ability of unmodified and di- and trimethylated -, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors in capillary zone electrophoresis was investigated in the presence of urea derivatives using twelve dansylamino acids as model solutes. The addition of these urea derivatives (unsubstituted, methyl-, ethyl- and 1,3-dimethylureas) produced dramatic enhancement in the enantioselectivity of unmodified β-CD but also reduced the enantioselectivities of the other CDs.     

Interaction of Enzyme with Polymer Matrix in Immobilized Enzymes

Thermolysin was immobilized by radiation polymerization of hydroxyalkyl acrylate and tetradecaethylene glycol dimethacrylate monomers at low temperatures in the presence of the enzyme, and the degree of interaction of the enzyme with the polymer matrix was studied by measuring the thermal stability of the immobilized enzyme. The thermal stability was affected by the molecular structure of the monomer; the thermal stability of the immobilized enzyme from hydrophilic monofunctional monomers in the wet state was higher than that from hydrophobic bifunctional monomers. The thermal stability in polymers formed from hydroxy-alkyl acrylates decreased with an increase in the number of methylene units in the monomer, owing to a change of the state of the enzyme trapped in the porous polymer matrix. The enzyme molecule trapped in a hydrophilic porous polymer matrix appeared to be stabilized by interaction with the polymer chains.     

Simultaneous accumulation of both skeletal and appendage-based diversities on tandem Ugi/Diels-Alder products

Diversity-oriented organic synthesis (DOS) is a key concept for construction of skeletally diverse small molecule libraries to discover drug-like small molecules. Here, we describe a DOS class to transform a complex 7-oxanorbornene skeleton, which is readily accessible by a tandem Ugi/Diels-Alder reaction, into two heterotricycle skeletons selectively by using tandem ROM/CM/RCM reaction. In the present study, the mode of cyclization is pre-encoded by building blocks used in the complexity-generating tandem Ugi/Diels-Alder reaction. Since variable alkenes can be used in the CM reaction, our approach can be extended to construct both skeleton- and appendage-diverse small molecule libraries.     

Synthesis of [18,19,21,22‐13C4]‐Labeled Tautomycin as an NMR Probe of Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor

We have accomplished the synthesis of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin at the C18, C19, C21, and C22 positions starting from 100 % [¹³C]triethylphosphonoacetate for the purpose of elucidating the dynamics and conformation of the C17–C26 moiety. NMR spectroscopy of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin revealed strong binding with protein phosphatase type 1 and new features in the ¹³C NMR spectrum, such as the very small three‐bond coupling constants (²J).     

Resonance Raman spectra of tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III) and ruthenium(III) complexes and their solvent effect

The resonance Raman spectra of tris(acetylacetonatoiron(III)) and ruthenium(III) complexes in various solvents and in water-acetonitrile (W-AN) mixtures were measured. The resonance Raman spectra of both complexes indicated peaks near 460 and around 1580 cm^–1. Thev(C-O) peak (around 1580 cm^–1) is shifted to low frequency with an increase in the dielectric constant _T of the solvents, whereas thev(M-O) (M=Fe and Ru, near 460 cm^–1) are constant, independent of _T. It implies that the C-O bond in the acac^– ligand is lengthened by the polarizability effect of the solvents, while both the Fe-O and Ru-O bonds, which are located in the inside of the complexes, are not influenced by the solvents indicating that the interaction does not depend on the properties of individual solvent molecules but on those of the aggregate.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.