Potential-modulated fluorescence spectroscopy of the membrane potential-sensitive dye di-4-ANEPPS at the 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface

The spectrofluorometric behavior of a membrane potential-sensitive dye, 1-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-[β-{2-(di-N-butylamino)-6-naphthyl}vinyl]pyridinium betaine (di-4-ANEPPS), at the polarized 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface was studied by means of potential-modulated fluorescence (PMF) spectroscopy. The results, combined with those from cyclic and alternating current voltammetry, clearly suggested that the dye adsorbed at the interface underwent a reorientation with increasing the interfacial potential, giving a well-developed PMF response as well as a voltammetric response. In addition to the PMF response, another PMF response was observed by addition of dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC). This additional response was well explained in terms of a reorientation of di-4-ANEPPS at the interface, which would be induced by the potential-dependent desorption of DLPC from the interface. Thus, the present study supported the reorientation/solvatochromic mechanism for the membrane potential-sensitive dye rather than the electrochromic mechanism.     

Total synthesis of lamellarins D, L, and N

Total synthesis of cytotoxic marine alkaloids, lamellarins D, L, and N, has been achieved by using Hinsberg-type pyrrole synthesis and palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the 3,4-dihydroxypyrrole bistriflate 6 as the key reactions. The total yields of lamellarins D, L, and N from the common intermediate 6 are 54, 58, and 50%, respectively.     

Properties of hadron and quark matter studied with molecular dynamics

We study the hadron-quark phase transition in a molecular dynamics (MD) of quark degrees of freedom. The hadron state at low density and temperature, and the deconfined quark state at high density and temperature are observed in our model. We investigate the equations of state and draw the phase diagram at wide baryon density and temperature range. We also discuss the transport property, e.g. viscosity, of $q\bar q$ matter. It is found that the ratio of the shear viscosity to the entropy density is less than one for quark matter.     

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis, crystal structures, and photophysical properties of helically chiral 1,1'-bitriphenylenes

The highly enantioselective synthesis of helically chiral 1,1'-bitriphenylenes has been achieved via rhodium-catalyzed double [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of biaryl-linked tetraynes with 1,4-diynes (up to 93% ee). Crystal structures and photophysical properties of these helically chiral 1,1'-bitriphenylenes have also been studied.     

Coulombic aggregations of Mn(III) salen-type complexes and Keggin-type polyoxometalates: isolation of Mn2 single-molecule magnets

The reaction of Mn(III) salen-type complexes with di- and tetraanionic α-Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs) was performed, and three types of Coulombic aggregations containing Mn(III) out-of-plane dimeric units (abbreviated as [Mn(2)](2+)) that are potentially single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with an S(T) = 4 ground state were synthesized: [Mn(2)(5-MeOsaltmen)(2)(acetone)(2)][SW(12)O(40)] (1), [Mn(2)(salen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)[SiW(12)O(40)] (2), and [Mn(5-Brsaltmen)(H(2)O)(acetone)](2)[{Mn(2)(5-Brsaltmen)(2)}(SiW(12)O(40))] (3), where 5-Rsaltmen(2-) = N,N'-(1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene)bis(5-R-salicylideneiminate) with R = MeO (methoxy), Br (bromo) and salen(2-) = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate). Compound 1 with a dianionic POM, [SW(12)O(40)](2-), is composed of a 1:1 aggregating set of [Mn(2)](2+)/POM, and 2, with a tetraanionic POM, [SiW(12)O(40)](4-), is a 2:1 set. Compound 3 with [SiW(12)O(40)](4-) forms a unique 1D coordinating chain with a [-{Mn(2)}-POM-](2-) repeating unit, for which a hydrogen-bonded dimeric unit ([Mn(5-Brsaltmen)(H(2)O)(acetone)](2)(2+)) is present as a countercation. Independent of the formula ratio of [Mn(2)](2+)/POM, Mn(III) dimers and POM units in 1-3 form respective segregated columns along a direction of the unit cell, which make an alternate packing to separate evenly identical species in a crystal. The nearest intermolecular Mn···Mn distance is found in the order 2 < 3 < 1. The segregation of the [Mn(2)](2+) dimer resulted in interdimer distances long enough to effectively reduce the intermolecular magnetic interaction, in particular in 1 and 3. Consequently, an intrinsic property, SMM behavior, of Mn(III) dimers has been characterized in this system, even though the interdimer interactions are still crucial in the case of 2, where a long-range magnetic order competitively affects slow relaxation of the magnetization at low ac frequencies.     

In‐plane birefringence and elongation behavior of uniaxially drawn aromatic polyimide films

Six kinds of aromatic poly(amic acid) films, the precursor of polyimides, were uniaxially drawn by constant loads during thermal curing with varying the final curing temperature and the load. The in‐plane birefringence (Δn) generated by uniaxial orientation of polyimide molecules in the film plane was investigated in relation with their molecular structures and the elongation behavior of polyimide films. The polyimides derived from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) showed much larger values of Δn than the polyimides derived from dianhydrides having rotatable diphenyl linkages. The Δn of the former polyimides increases with increasing the final curing temperature and the elongation between the most shrunken and the most elongated states during curing. In particular, the polyimides having rod‐like structures show the largest value of Δn. In contrast, the latter polyimides take maximal values of Δn at much lower temperatures. The introduction of hexafluroisopropiridene (? C(CF₃)₂? ) group into the main chain effectively lowers the values of Δn. This result can be related to the inherent low polarizability anisotropy and the decreased molecular packing constant that are characteristic of highly fluorinated groups. These experimental results are qualitatively explained by the calculations of polarizability anisotropies of model compounds using FPT‐MNDO‐PM3 theory. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4-(Benzoylindolizinyl)butyric acids; novel nonsteroidal inhibitors of steroid 5alpha-reductase. III.

A novel series of indolizinebutyric acids with various benzoyl substituents was synthesized to develop nonsteroidal inhibitors of steroid 5alpha-reductase, and the structure-activity relationships in this series were studied. We previously reported the structure-activity relationships in a series of indolebutyric acids as well as the discovery of the novel nonsteroidal 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, FK143. We have now made other modifications to this compound to improve in vivo inhibitory activity. By altering the heterocyclic nucleus and changing the benzoyl substituent we have succeeded in identifying the strongly active compound, FK687, (S)-4-[1-[4-[[1-(4-isobutylphenyl)butyl]oxy]benzoyl]indolizin-3-yl]butyric acid, which displays strong in vitro inhibitory activity against the human enzyme and in vivo inhibitory activity against the castrated young rat model. This compound should be a useful agent for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.