Molecular structure of phosgene as studied by gas electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy: The rs,rm, and re structures

The microwave spectra of eight isotopic species of COCl₂ have been observed, and the following rotational constants have been obtained: An analysis of the rotational constants has resulted in the r_s and r_m structures. The equilibrium structure, r_e, has been estimated by combining the r_m parameters derived according to Watson's method and the r_e bond distances estimated in our recent electron-diffraction and spectroscopic studies to be $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{(CO}\text{) = 1.1756 ± 0.0023}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{(CCl}\text{) = 1.7381 ± 0.0019}\text{A}\text{?}$, ∠_eClCCl = 111.79 ± 0.24°.     

Thin Pd membrane prepared on macroporous stainless steel tube filter by an in-situ multi-dimensional plating mechanism

The big surface pores of a porous stainless steel (PSS) tube filter with marked roughness were jammed with aluminium hydroxide gel by a combination of ultrasonic vibration and vacuum suction, then a thin dense Pd membrane (6 microm) was plated in-situ on this pre-jammed filter by a multi-dimensional plating mechanism; after recovering the substrate pores by high temperature treatment, higher H2 permeance and complete H2 selectivity were obtained.     

Microwave spectrum of monodeuterated diacetylene due to vibrationally induced dipole moment

Microwave spectrum of monodeuterated diacetylene (HCCCCD), which is nonpolar in the equilibrium configuration, was observed in various excited states of bending vibrations. Dipole moments in the ν₆, 2ν₆, and ν₆ + ν₉ vibrational states were determined from the Stark effect measurement to be 0.0907(6), 0.1681(14), and 0.0900(4) D with uncertainties in parentheses, where ν₆ and ν₉ denote respectively the CCH bending and lowest frequency bending vibrations. The l-type doubling constant in the ν₆ state is 2.1316(28) MHz. Rotational constants were determined in MHz; ν₆(Π), 4086.2165(44); 2ν₆(Δ), 4087.6963(58); ν₆ + ν₉(Δ), 4097.7537(50); 2ν₈(Δ), 4094.4786(103); ν₆ + ν₇(Δ), 4092.9074(176); ν₇ + ν₈(Δ), 4095.8925(354); 2ν₆ + ν₉(Φ), 4098.9505(339).     

Glass transition temperature of polyurethane foams derived from lignin by controlled reaction rate

Sodium ligninosulfonate (LS)-based polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared using three kinds of ethylene glycols, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. Two kinds of industrial NaLS, acid-based and alkaline-based NaLS, were mixed with various ratios, and foaming reactions were controlled. Mixing, cream, and rise time were used as an index of foaming reaction. Mixing time was defined as the time interval from adding isocyanate to detection of evolved heat under stirring, cream time as the time interval from termination of stirring to starting of foaming, and rise time as the time interval from starting to completion of foaming. The above reaction time increased with increasing amount of acid base NaLS content in polyols. Apparent density, compression strength and compression modulus of PU foams linearly increased with reaction time. Thermal decomposition temperature was measured by thermogravimetry and glass transition temperature by differential scanning calorimetry. Glass transition temperature can be controlled in a temperature range from 310 to 390 K by changing the mixing rate of two kinds of LS and molecular mass of ethylene glycols. It was found that mechanical and thermal properties of PU foams are controllable through the foaming reaction rate using two kinds of industrial lignin.     

1,4‐Bis[2‐(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)ethynyl]anthraquinone from synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction

The title compound, [Fe₂(C₅H₅)₂(C₄₀H₂₂O₂)] or 1,4‐(FcPh)₂Aq [where FcPh is 2‐(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)ethynyl and Aq is anthraquinone], was synthesized in an attempt to obtain a new solvent‐incorporating porous material with a large void space. Thermodynamic data for 1,4‐(FcPh)₂Aq show a phase transition at approximately 430 K. The crystal structure of solvent‐free 1,4‐(FcPh)₂Aq was determined at temperatures of 90, 300 and 500 K using synchrotron powder diffraction data. A direct‐space method using a genetic algorithm was employed for structure solution. Charge densities calculated from observed structure factors by the maximum entropy method were employed for model improvement. The final models were obtained through multistage Rietveld refinements. In both phases, the structures of which differ only subtly, the planar Aq fragments are stacked alternately in opposite orientations, forming a one‐dimensional column. The FcPh arms lie between the stacks and fill the remaining space, leaving no voids. C—H...π interactions between the Ph and Fc fragments mediate crystal packing and stabilization.     

Fabrication of nanofibers with uniform morphology by self-assembly of designed peptides

Fabrication of controlled peptide nanofibers with homogeneous morphology has been demonstrated. Amphiphilic beta-sheet peptides were designed as sequences of Pro-Lys-X(1)-Lys-X(2)-X(2)-Glu-X(1)-Glu-Pro. X(1) and X(2) were hydrophobic residues selected from Phe, Ile, Val, or Tyr. The peptide FI (X(1)=Phe; X(2)=Ile) self-assemble into straight fibers with 80-120 nm widths and clear edges, as examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The fiber formation is performed in a hierarchical manner: beta-sheet peptides form a protofibril, the protofibrils assemble side-by-side to form a ribbon, and the ribbons then coil in a left-handed fashion to make up a straight fiber. These type of fibers are formed from peptides possessing hydrophobic aromatic Phe residue(s). Furthermore, a peptide with Ala residues at both N and C termini does not form fibers (100 nm scale) with clear edges; this causes random aggregation of small pieces of fibers instead. Thus, the combination of unique amphiphilic sequences and terminal Pro residues determine the fiber morphology.     

One-step analysis of testis steroidogenesis from neonatal exposure to synthetic estrogen by normal-phase HPLC

Neonatal exposure to synthetic estrogen endocrine disruptors or estrogen-receptor inhibitors induces developmental abnormalities in the male reproductive system. To investigate whether neonatal exposure affects spermatogenesis in juvenile and pubertal testis, Sprague-Dawley rat pups were given synthetic estrogen endocrine disruptors or estrogen-receptor inhibitors by a single injection on the day of birth at concentrations ranging between 2 to 40 mm, and sacrificed on day 21 (juvenile), 35 (prepuberty) or 50 (puberty). The testes were weighed and examined histologically at each stage. Further, the metabolites of steroidogenesis were analyzed using normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Neonatal exposure significantly reduced testis weights and steroidogenesis to one- fifth to one-half of that of the juvenile control, and further suppressed irreversible steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis during puberty.     

Catalytic activity and regeneration property of a Pd nanoparticle encapsulated in a hollow porous carbon sphere for aerobic alcohol oxidation

A core-shell composite consisting of a palladium (Pd) nanoparticle and a hollow carbon shell (Pd@hmC) was employed as a catalyst for aerobic oxidation of various alcohols. The core-shell structure was synthesized by consecutive coatings of Pd nanoparticles with siliceous and carbon layers followed by removal of the intermediate siliceous layer. Structural characterizations using TEM and N(2) adsorption-desorption measurements revealed that Pd@hmC thus-obtained was composed of a Pd nanoparticle core of 3-6 nm in diameter and a hollow carbon shell with well-developed mesopore (ca. 2.5 nm in diameter) and micropore (ca. 0.4-0.8 nm in diameter) systems. When compared to some Pd-supported carbons, Pd@hmC showed a high level of catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde using atmospheric pressure of O(2) as an oxidant. The Pd@hmC composite also exhibited a high level of catalytic activity for aerobic oxidations of other primary benzylic and allylic alcohols into corresponding aldehydes. The presence of a well-developed pore system in the lateral carbon shell enabled efficient diffusion of both substrates and products to reach the central Pd nanoparticles, leading to such high catalytic activities. This core-shell structure also provided high thermal stability of Pd nanoparticles toward coalescence and/or aggregation due to the physical isolation of each Pd nanoparticle from neighboring particles by the carbon shell: this specific property of Pd@hmC resulted in possible regeneration of catalytic activity for these aerobic oxidations by a high-temperature heat treatment of the sample recovered after catalytic reactions.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐FR182877 through Tandem IMDA–IMHDA Reactions and Stereoselective Transition‐Metal‐Mediated Transformations

Intelligent design : The total synthesis of the cytotoxic (?)‐FR182877 relies on 1) tandem Diels–Alder reactions to close rings A–D (see scheme), 2) a palladium‐mediated 7‐exo‐trig reaction, and 3) an iridium‐mediated isomerization followed by epimerization and stereoselective reduction.