Insulinomimetic Zn(II) complexes as evaluated by both glucose-uptake activity and inhibition of free fatty acids release in isolated rat adipocytes

We prepared 4 new Zn(II) complexes with Zn(O4), Zn(N(2)O(2)), and Zn(S2O2) coordination modes and evaluated their insulinomimetic activities in an in vitro study. The insulinomimetic activities of bis(pyrrole-2-carboxylato)zinc (Zn(pc)2), bis(alpha-furonic acidato)zinc (Zn(fa)2), bis(thiophene-2-carboxylato)zinc (Zn(tc)2), and bis(thiophene-2-acetato)zinc (Zn(ta)2) complexes were found to be higher than that of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). Zn(ta)2 showed the highest insulinomimetic activity among the Zn(II) complexes because of its high lipophilicity.     

Polymerization and photoinitiation behavior in the light-cured dental composite resins

The polymerization behavior and photoinitiation process in the visible light-cured dental composite resins were studied using ESR and IR spectroscopies. The concentration of methacryl propagating radical corresponded to the transmittance of irradiated light. While the radical was stable and long-lived in the cured resin, its concentration quickly decreased in the oral cavity due to the ventilation of atmospheric oxygen accompanied by respiration. Camphorquinone radical in the presence of tertiary amine easily initiated the radical polymerization. A decrease in monomer consumption was explained by the inhibition effect of oxygen in the photoinitiation process. Post-curing by the residual radical proceeded effectively in the deeper part of the resin.     

Preparation of poly(1,4-phenylene)s by electro-oxidative polymerization

The effect of substituents on the electropolymerization of benzene derivatives and the redox properrties of the corresponding polymers were determined using Brown's substituent constants (σ⁺). Electron-donating groups lower the oxidation potential by which increase in the current efficiency was observed. However, stabilization of the produced cation radicals by the electron-donating groups resulted in a decrease in the polymerization efficiency. The appropriate values of σ⁺ for the efficient polymerization ranged near ?1.5.     

Synthesis and electrochemical and electroluminescent properties of N‐phenylcarbazole‐substituted poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)

An N‐phenylcarbazole‐containing poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV), poly[(2‐(4′‐carbazol‐9‐yl‐phenyl)‐5‐octyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐5‐methoxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] (Cz‐PPV), was synthesized, and its optical, electrochemical, and electroluminescent properties were studied. The molecular structures of the key intermediates, the carbazole‐containing boronic ester and the dialdehyde monomer, were crystallographically characterized. The polymer was soluble in common organic solvents and exhibited good thermal stability with a 5% weight loss at temperatures above 420 °C in nitrogen. A cyclic voltammogram showed the oxidation peak potentials of both the pendant carbazole group and the PPV main chain, indicating that the hole‐injection ability of the polymer would be improved by the introduction of the carbazole‐functional group. A single‐layer light‐emitting diode (LED) with a simple configuration of indium tin oxide (ITO)/Cz‐PPV (80 nm)/Ca/Al exhibited a bright yellow emission with a brightness of 1560 cd/m² at a bias of 11 V and a current density of 565 mA/cm². A double‐layer LED device with the configuration of ITO/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxy‐2,5‐thiophene):poly (styrenesulfonic acid) (60 nm)/Cz‐PPV (80 nm)/Ca/Al gave a low turn‐on voltage at 3 V and a maximum brightness of 6600 cd/m² at a bias of 8 V. The maximum electroluminescent efficiency corresponding to the double‐layer device was 1.15 cd/A, 0.42 lm/W, and 0.5%. The desired electroluminescence results demonstrated that the incorporation of hole‐transporting functional groups into the PPVs was effective for enhancing the electroluminescent performance. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5765–5773, 2005     

Total synthesis of (±)-α,γ-onoceradienedione and lansic acid

Unsymmetrical onoceranoid triterpenes,α,γ-onoceradienedione and lansic acid, have been synthesized effectively by means of mercury(II) triflate/amine complex-induced olefin cyclization.