Linearity condition for orbital energies in density functional theory: construction of orbital-specific hybrid functional

This study proposes a novel approach to construct the orbital-specific (OS) hybrid exchange-correlation functional by imposing the linearity condition: ?(2)E/?f(i)(2)|(0≤f(i)≤1) = ??(i)/?f(i)|(0≤f(i)≤1) = 0, where E, ε(i), and f(i) represent the total energy, orbital energy, and occupation number of the ith orbital. The OS hybrid exchange-correlation functional, of which the OS Hartree-Fock exchange (HFx) portion is determined by the linearity condition, reasonably reproduces the ionization potentials not only from valence orbitals but also from core ones in a sense of Koopmans' theorem. The obtained short-range HFx portions are consistent with the parameters empirically determined in core-valence-Rydberg-Becke-3-parameter-Lee-Yang-Parr hybrid functional [Nakata et al., J. Chem. Phys., 124, 094105 (2006); ibid, 125, 064109 (2006)].     

Development of quality assessment method for optically active food flavor chemicals

A quality assessment method for commercially available, optically active flavor compounds, namely, menthol, menthyl acetate, borneol, perillaldehyde, and 1,8-cineol, was developed. A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector and a DB-5ms capillary column was used for the chemical purity test. A GC/MS with a beta-DEX cyclodextrin column was used for the optical purity test, by which the enantiomeric separation of each flavor compound was achieved. Enantiomeric excess was calculated as an expression of optical purity. Of the 25 standard samples subjected to the chemical purity test, six were found to have lower purity than the data provided by the manufacturers. When the same samples were subjected to the optical purity test, 11 were found to have lower purity than that indicated on the reagent labels. These results suggest that there is a need to conduct an optical purity test, in addition to a chemical purity test, for the quality assessment of flavor standards.     

Determination of proline enantiomers in honey and royal jelly by LC-UV

The chiral separation and quantification of D-proline and L-proline in honey and royal jelly were examined by LC with UV detection. Most of the endogenous compounds existing in honey, such as sugars, were removed by using SPE cartridges containing C18 and strong cation-exchange sorbent. Other components, such as primary amino acids, were also removed by two-step derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-CI). The components that were derivatized with OPA were separated from proline with a C18 cartridge. Proline was then converted into an FMOC derivative that could be subsequently measured by LC-UV. Sufficient chiral separation of D-proline and L-proline was achieved with an LC chiral column made of a beta-cyclodextrin phase in the polar organic-phase mode. The average recoveries of D-proline and L-proline from honey and royal jelly were in the range of 81.3-98.6% (RSD of < 1.8%). When this method was applied to commercial honey and royal jelly samples, L-proline was detected at concentrations of 369-1930 microg/g, whereas D-proline was not detected.     

(S)-stereoisomer of telomestatin as a potent G-quadruplex binder and telomerase inhibitor

Total synthesis of the (S)-stereoisomer of telomestatin (1) was accomplished. (S)-Telomestatin exhibited potency four times that of the natural product, (R)-telomestatin, which was the most potent telomerase inhibitor previously reported. In the circular dichroism spectral analysis of the complexes possessing randomly structured single-stranded d[TTAGGG](4) oligonucleotide, (S)-telomestatin, like (R)-telomestatin, induced an antiparallel G-quadruplex structure. The melting temperature (T(m)) value of the (S)-isomer complex was greater than that of the (R)-telomestatin complex. Therefore, it is concluded that the stereochemistry of the thiazoline of telomestatin is important to the binding ability of a G-quadruplex binder, and (S)-telomestatin as a G-quadruplex binder is more potent than the natural product.     

Synthesis, reactivity, and properties of N-fused porphyrin manganese(I) tricarbonyl complexes

The reactions of N-fused tetraphenylporphyrin (NFTPP, 1a) and its 21-substituted derivatives, 21-Br-NFTPP (1b), 21-NO(2)-NFTPP (1c), and 21-Bz-NFTPP (1d), with Mn(CO)(5)Br gave the manganese(I) tricarbonyl complexes bearing N-fused tetraphenylporphyrinato ligands (2a-d), respectively, in 46-99% yields. The complexes were characterized by mass, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the final structural proof was evident from the X-ray crystallographic analysis for 2a. The crystals of 2a·CH(2)Cl(2) belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (#14), with a = 15.007(2) ?, b = 12.5455(19) ?, c = 21.150(3) ?, β = 102.227(4)°, and Z = 4. The lengths (?) of three manganese-nitrogen and three manganese-carbon bonds are inequivalent respectively [Mn-N(2), 2.007(2); Mn-N(23), 2.033(2); Mn-N(24), 1.988(3); and Mn-CO, 1.798(4), 1.804(4), 1.841(3)], reflecting the asymmetric structure of the NFp ligand. The aromatic substitution reactions of 2a, such as nitration, formylation, and chlorination, proceeded without a loss of center metal to give the corresponding 21-nitro (2c), 21-formyl (2e), and 21-chloro (2f) derivatives, regioselectively. In the electrochemical measurements of 2, one reversible oxidation and two reversible reduction waves were observed. The redox potentials of 2 indicate the narrow energy gaps between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) being consistent with the electronic absorption spectra that display the absorption edges over 1000 nm. Protonation occurred at the inner core nitrogen of 2a upon the addition of acids, which is inferred from the (1)H NMR spectra as well as theoretical calculations. By a treatment with amine N-oxides, demetalation of 2 proceeded to afford the corresponding NFP free-bases (1).     

Transformation of peptide nanotubes into a vesicle via fusion driven by stereo-complex formation

Two types of peptide nanotubes, one is prepared from an amphiphilic peptide having a right-handed helix segment and the other from that having a left-handed helix segment, are shown to transform the morphology into a vesicle by membrane fusion due to stereo-complex formation between these helical segments.     

Laser-induced periodic surface structures formed on the sidewalls of microholes trepanned by a femtosecond laser

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) were observed on the sidewalls of 300-μm-diameter holes trepanned on cemented tungsten carbide using femtosecond laser pulses at a wavelength of 800 nm. For a circularly polarized beam, LIPSSs were formed at a period of 300 nm and oriented perpendicularly to the plane of incidence on the sidewalls. For a linearly polarized beam, LIPSS formation was dependent on the relative angle α between the polarization direction and the plane of incidence. For relative angles α from 0° to 70° and from 110° to 180°, LIPSS spacing was 300 nm. However, there were two types of LIPSSs coexisting from 70° to 110°. One had a spacing of 120 nm and the other had a spacing that varied from 500 to 760 nm. It was found that the orientation angle of LIPSSs measured between the LIPSS orientation and the plane of incidence had a nonlinear dependence on α. To understand this dependence, a model was proposed in which LIPSSs are assumed to align perpendicularly to the direction of the absorbed electric field lying in the tangent plane of the sidewall of a drilled hole. The calculated results from this model showed good agreement with the experimental results.     

The nitroalkene showing dual behaviors in the same reaction system

The nitroalkene moiety of 1-methyl-3,6,8-trinitro-2-quinolone showed dual behaviors in the same reaction system, namely electron-poor heterodiene and dienophile, and affording polycyclic products.     

Blood volume measurement of newborn using stable isotope 50Cr

A technique for the blood volume measurement of newborns was established in which nonradioactive 50Cr was used in patients for whom radioactive labels were not advisable. The red blood cells (RBC) in the newborn's blood withdrawn from umbilical cord after birth were tagged with enriched stable isotope 50Cr (96%, normal abundance 4.3%) and reinjected into the newborn. Blood samples (0.5 ml) were withdrawn at 30 min and thereafter at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours old. Samples were centrifugalized and portion of RBC was then freeze-dried, weighed and sealed into polyethylene sheet bag together with 50Cr standard. Neutron irradiation was performed in the reactors of the JAERI with thermal neutron flux 5 X 10(13), 2 X 10(13), 8 X 10(13) cm-2s-1 at JRR-2, -3 and -4 respectively for 20 min and samples were left for about two weeks after irradiation. Induced radioactivity (51Cr, 59Fe) of the sample was measured with a Ge(Li) gamma-ray detector system and 4096 channels pulse height analyzer. Analysis of activity data was carried out by BOB-76 code. The RBC and total blood volume of the newborn was calculated using an isotopic dilution technique. We have investigated on tagging efficiency of 50Cr to RBC, washing effect and dilution rate by 50Cr content or 51Cr/59Fe ratio. Significant difference was observed in the total blood volume of newborns depending on the delivery style and in addition, it changed dynamically along the time elapsed after birth.     

Reactions of bis(μ-diphenylamino)tetramethyldialuminum and μ-diphenylamino-μ-methyltetramethyldialuminum with trimethylamine,diethyl ether and dimethyl sulfide

The reactions of (μ-NPh₂)₂Al₂Me₄ and of μ-NPh₂ -μ-MeAl₂Me₄ with trimethylamine, diethyl ether and dimethyl sulfide have been investigated. These studies establish that the bases cleave the nitrogen bridged system (μ-NPh₂)₂ Al₂Me₄ to give adducts of formula Me₂Al(NPh₂) · B. The relative stabilities of the adducts formed appear to be in the order NMe > OEt₂ >SMe₂, with thesulfide adduct apparently dissociated even at ?74°. μ-NPh₂-μ-MeAl₂Me₄ reacts with a limited supply of base to give Me₃Al · B and (μ-NPh₂)₂ Al₂ Me₄, and additional base cleaves (μ-NPh₂)₂Al₂Me₄ as before.