Fabrication of two-dimensional layered perovskite [NH3(CH2)12NH3]PbX4 thin films using a self-assembly method

Ultra-thin films of the two-dimensional layered perovskites [NH3(CH2)12NH3]PbX4 (X = Br, I) with the quantum confinement effect have been fabricated by a convenient self-assembly method.     

Glycosides of Atractylodes japonica

From the water-soluble portion of the methanol extract of the fresh rhizome of Atractylodes japonica, five new sesquiterpenoid glycosides, including a compound having a secoguaiane skeleton, and a new aromatic compound glycoside were isolated together with ten known compounds. Their structures were clarified by spectral investigation.     

Alkoxycarbene complexes of nickel(II)

Alkynylnickel complexes trans-C₆Cl₅Ni(PPhMe₂)₂CCR (IIIa, R  H; IIIb, R  Me; IIIc, R  Et; IIId, R  CH₂OH; IIIe, R  CH₂CH₂OH; IIIf, R  Ph; IIIg, R  C₆H₄OMe-p) have been prepared from trans-[C₆Cl₅Ni-(PPhMe₂)₂L]ClO₄ and monosubstituted acetylenes in the presence of triethylamine, and their reactions with alcohols in the presence of perchloric acid were studied. Complexes IIIa and IIIe afforded alkoxycarbene complexes trans-[C₆Cl₅Ni-(PPhMe₂)₂{C(OR′)Me}]ClO₄ (IVa, R′  Me; IVb, R′  Et; IVc, R′  n-Pr) or trans-C₆Cl₅Ni(PPhMe₂)₂{$\text{C(CH}{}_2\text{)}{}_3\text{O}$}]ClO₄(IVd), respectively, but IIIb either decomposed or afforded trans-C₆Cl₅Ni(PPhMe₂)₂CHC(OMe)Me, depending on the amount of acid used. Treatment of IVaIVd with amines resulted in deprotonation to give α-alkoxyvinyl complexes, trans-C₆Cl₅Ni(PPhMe₂)₂C(OR′)CH₂ (VIaVIc) or trans-C₆Cl₅Ni(PPhMe₂)₂$\text{CCHCH}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2\text{O}$ (VId), the reaction being reversible. A ¹H NMR study indicated: (i) that the carbene methyl and the vinyl protons IV or VI are D-exchangeable by MeOD without catalyst; (ii) that the basicity of VIa is comparable to those of amines; (iii) that the carbene complexes IVaIVc have two isomers due to hindered rotation about the C(carbene)O bond in solution, IVb existing in the Z-form in the solid state; (iv) that the rotationalbarriers (°G^≠) about the C(carbene)O bond in IVb and the NiC-(carbene) bond in IVd are 20 (or more) and 11.7 kcal/mol, respectively. These results are explained in term of double bond character of the carbene carbon and its surrounding atoms.     

A novel lophine-based fluorescence probe and its binding to human serum albumin

The binding of a lophine-based fluorescence probe, 4-[4-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl]benzoic acid methyl ester (DAPIM) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy under physiological conditions. While DAPIM shows extreme low fluorescence in aqueous solution, DAPIM binding with HSA emits strong fluorescence at 510 nm. The binding constant and binding number determined by Scatchard plot was 3.65 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ and 1.07, respectively. Competitive binding between DAPIM and other ligands such as warfarin, valproic acid, diazepam and oleic acid, were also studied fluorometrically. The results indicated that the primary binding site of DAPIM to HSA is site II at subdomain IIIA. DAPIM can be a useful fluorescence probe for the characterization of drug-binding sites. In addition to the interaction study, because the fluorescence intensity of DAPIM increased in proportion to HSA concentration, its potential in HSA assay for serum sample was also evaluated.     

A novel synthesis of (−)-callicarpenal

Callicarpenal, isolated from the leaves of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica), exhibits significant mosquito bite-deterring activity and repellent activity against ticks and fire ants. The mosquito bite-deterring activity level of callicarpenal was reported to be similar to that of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide. The novel synthesis of (?)-callicarpenal reported herein was accomplished by starting from (+)-pulegone. In our original approach, a novel Prins-type cyclization based on Meyer–Schuster rearrangement was featured as a key step.     

Photocurrent Generation through Charge‐Transfer Processes in Noncovalent Perylenediimide/DNA Complexes

The charge‐transfer process in noncovalent perylenediimide (PDI)/DNA complexes has been investigated by using nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) and photocurrent measurements. The PDI/DNA complexes were prepared by inclusion of cationic PDI molecules into the artificial cavities created inside DNA. The LFP experiments showed that placement of the PDI chromophore at a specific site and included within the base stack of DNA led to the efficient generation of a charge‐separated state with a long lifetime by photoexcitation. When two PDI chromophores were separately placed at different positions in DNA, the yield of the charge‐separated state with a long lifetime was dependent upon the number of A–T base pairs between the PDIs, which was explained by electron hopping from one PDI to another. Photocurrent generation of the DNA‐modified electrodes with the complex was also dependent upon the arrangement of the PDI chromophores. A good correlation was obtained between observed charge separation and photocurrent generation on the PDI/DNA‐modified electrodes, which demonstrated the importance of the defined arrangement and assembly of organic chromophores in DNA for efficient charge separation and transfer in multichromophore arrays.     

Preparation, characterization and catalytic behavior of Pt-Cu nanoparticles in methane combustion

Fine and well dispersed Pt-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles stabilized by polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were synthesized by alkaline polyol method. The molar ratio of Pt to Cu was 1 : 1. Further, the Pt-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were supported on alumina and their catalytic behavior in methane combustion was investigated. The as-prepared as well as the supported Pt-Cu nanoparticles were characterized by transmission elec-tron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fractal analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The dependence of methane combustion on the morphology and surface composition of Pt-Cu nanoparticles was analyzed based on the experimental results.