Phase-ordering kinetics of the liquid-liquid transition in single-component molecular liquids

Recently it has been revealed that even a single-component liquid can have more than two liquid states. The transition between these liquid states is called the "liquid-liquid transition." Most known liquid-liquid transitions occur at temperatures and pressures which are difficult to access experimentally, so the physical nature of the transition, particularly the kinetics, has remained elusive. However, the recent discovery of liquid-liquid transitions in molecular liquids opens up a possibility to study the kinetics in detail. Here, we report the first phase field simulation on the kinetics of a liquid-liquid transition and its direct comparison with experimental results of the molecular liquids. Both nucleation-growth-type and spinodal-decomposition-type liquid-liquid transformation observed experimentally are well reproduced by numerical simulation based on a two-order-parameter model of liquid that regards the liquid-liquid transition as the cooperative formation of locally favored structures. Thus, phase field calculations may allow us to predict the kinetics of liquid-liquid transitions and the resulting spatiotemporal change of various physical properties of the liquid, such as density and refractive index.     

Rhodium-katalysierte Addition von Diphenylacetylen an Azobenzol: ein neuer Weg zu Indolderivaten

Zusammenfassung RhCl(PPh₃)₃ katalysiert die Bildung von N-Anilino-2,3-diphenylindol (1) und kleiner Mengen 2,3-Diphenylindol (2) aus Azobenzol und Diphenylacetylen. Schwache Säuren und Kieselgel beschleunigen die Reaktion und fürhren zu einer nahezu quantitativen Bildung von1. Andere Rhodium(I)-Komplexe sind weniger aktiv und Rh(III)-Verbindungen wirken inhibierend. Die Strukturen zweier Schlüsselintermediate des postulierten Katalysezyklus werden durchab initio MO-Rechnungen bestätigt..

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Rhodium(I)-catalyzed addition of tolane to azobenzene: A new route to indole derivatives

Summary RhCl(PPh₃)₃ catalyzes the formation of N-anilino-2,3-diphenylindole (1) and small amounts of 2,3-diphenylindole (2) from azobenzene and diphenylacetylene. Weak acids or silica gel accelerate the reaction and induce an almost quantitative conversion to1. Other rhodium(I) complexes are less active while rhodium(III) compounds inhibit the reaction. A preliminary reaction mechanism of the homogeneous catalysis is proposed and the structure of two key intermediates is substantiated byab initio MO calculations.

Herrn Prof. Dr. K. Schlögl Zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Simple construction of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane,bicyclo[3.3.0]octane,and related benzo derivatives by palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation

[reaction: see text] Bicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes (hydrindanes) and bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes (octahydropentalenes) are easily synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylations. Additionally, benzo-fused bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes are prepared for the first time through intramolecular coupling between silyl enol ethers and aromatic rings in the presence of catalytic palladium acetate.     

Crystalline 2π Aromatic Azadiboriridinylium: A BN Analogue of Cyclopropenylium Cation

N-Substitution of a thermally unstable diboratriazole 1 with a trimethylsilyl group affords a remarkably stable diboratriazole derivative 2 . Ring contraction of 2 with an N-heterocyclic carbene accompanied by the release of N₂ as well as 1,4-hydrogen shift affords a carbene-stabilized azadiboriridine 3 . Abstraction of the H−B_3mem hydride in 3 with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate leads to the isolation of a hitherto unknown azadiboriridinylium 4 , the first BN analogue of cyclopropenylium cation. X-ray diffraction analysis and computational studies confirmed the delocalization of π electrons over the B₂N three-membered ring, indicating the 2π aromatic feature. Compound 4 undergoes ring expansion reactions with azobenzene and pyridazine to furnish triazadiborolidinylium species 5 and 6 , the latter of which possesses a cationic B₂N₃ ring with a pronounced 6π aromatic property. Moreover, the reaction of 4 with a diazo compound produces a cationic B₂N₃C pentafulvene derivative 7 .     

Hypervalent Iodine(III) Sulfonate Reagent Mediated Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐2‐Phenyloxazoles in Ionic Liquid

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of 4‐aryl‐2‐phenyloxazoles is described which is based upon the reaction of α‐[(2,4‐dinitrobenzene)sulfonyl]oxy ketone intermediates with benzamide in ionic liquid.     

Studies on the constituents of Gueldenstaedtia multiflora

From the whole plants and the roots of Gueldenstaedtia multiflora, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, five new oleanane glycosides and one lupane glycoside were isolated together with eight known oleanane glycosides and a medicarpin derivative. These structures were determined based on MS and 2D-NMR spectra.     

Natural Sphingomonas glycolipids vary greatly in their ability to activate natural killer T cells

Mouse natural killer T (NKT) cells expressing an invariant T cell antigen receptor (TCR) recognize glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from Sphingomonas bacteria. The synthetic antigens previously tested, however, were designed to closely resemble the potent synthetic agonist alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alphaGalCer), which contains a monosaccharide and a C18:0 sphingosine lipid. Some Sphingomonas bacteria, however, also have oligosaccharide-containing GSLs, and they normally synthesize several GSLs with different sphingosine chains including one with a cyclopropyl ring-containing C21:0 (C21cycl) sphingosine. Here we studied the stimulation of NKT cells with synthetic GSL antigens containing natural tetrasaccharide sugars, or the C21cycl sphingosine. Our results indicate that there is a great degree of variability in the antigenic potency of different natural Sphingomonas glycolipids, with the C21cycl sphingosine having intermediate potency and the oligosaccharide-containing antigens exhibiting limited or no stimulatory capacity.     

Chiral Symmetry Breaking of Spiropyrans and Spirooxazines by Dynamic Enantioselective Crystallization

Dynamic enantioselective crystallization enabled the chiral symmetry breaking of two spiropyrans and one spirooxazine. The three spiro compounds afforded racemic conglomerate crystals, and easily racemized in alcoholic solution without irradiation. Optically pure enantiomorphic crystals were obtained by vapor-diffusion crystallization or attrition-enhanced deracemization (Viedma ripening). Their absolute configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis and each enantiomorphic crystal was correlated with its solid-state circular dichroism (CD) spectrum.     

Comparison between quantitative and subjective assessments of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients: A prospective cohort study

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse event experienced by cancer patients. In general, CIPN is evaluated subjectively based on patient self-assessment or clinician-reported scales; evidence supporting the utility and validity of quantitative sensory tests (QST) is lacking in this patient population. The aim of this study was to objectively assess CIPN of lower extremities by QSTs, and to evaluate the concordance between QSTs and subjective assessments. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, outpatients with cancer receiving chemotherapy were recruited at a single university hospital. We assessed CIPN at the lower extremities at baseline and three months after baseline. The QSTs were performed by applying a monofilament and a tuning fork to determine touch and vibration thresholds, respectively, at the affected site. Subjective assessments were performed based on the visual analog scale (VAS) and the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) toxicity grade. Kappa coefficients were calculated to evaluate the concordance between QSTs and subjective assessments. Results: After exclusion and drop-outs during follow-up, nineteen patients were included in the analysis. The prevalence of patients with abnormal sensation was 37% based on QSTs, 32% based on the VAS, and 14% based on CTCAE grading, respectively. Kappa coefficients were 0.32 between QSTs and VAS, and 0.28 between QSTs and CTCAE. Conclusions: The concordance rates between quantitative and subjective assessments were low. CIPN should be assessed using both quantitative and subjective assessments.