Anomalous fluorescence from the azaxanthone ketyl radical in the excited state

The time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectra of the azaxanthone (AX) ketyl radical (AXH.) in the excited state (AXH.(Dn) (n = 1 or 2)) were observed during the nanosecond-picosecond two-color two-laser flash photolysis. AXH. showed dual fluorescence peaks at 460 and 645 nm, which were assigned to the D2 --> D0 and D1 --> D0 transitions, respectively. It was found that the lifetime of the D2 --> D0 fluorescence (1.0 ns) was longer than that of the D1 --> D0 fluorescence (0.4 ns). The fluorescent quantum yields of the D1 --> D0 and D2 --> D0 fluorescence were estimated to be 0.0008 +/- 0.0002 and 0.05 +/- 0.02, respectively. These anomalous emitting properties can be attributed to the pyridine ring in AX. AXH. is a new example of a neutral radical which violates Kasha's rule.     

Permeation and separation characteristics for benzene/cyclohexane mixtures through tosylcellulose membranes in pervaporation

Tosylcelluloses (TosCells) with different degrees of tosylation were synthesized as membrane materials for the separation of benzene/cyclohexane (Bz/Chx) mixtures. TosCell membranes showed a high benzenepermselectivity for the Bz/Chx mixtures in pervaporation (PV). An increase in the benzene concentration in the feed mixtures increased permeation rate but decreased the benzenepermselectivity of the TosCell membranes. The increase in the permeation rate was attributed to the increase of the degree of swelling of the TosCell membranes by the feed mixtures and the decrease in the benzenepermselectivity was mainly caused by the decrease of sorption selectivity. With low benzene concentrations in the Bz/Chx mixtures, the permeation rate of a TosCell membrane with a higher degree of tosylation was greater than that with a lower degree of tosylation, but was vice versa with a high benzene concentration. The benzenepermselectivity of the former TosCell membrane was higher than that of the latter membrane. Differences of the permeation rate and benzenepermselectivity with changes in the benzene concentration in the feed mixture and degree of tosylation of the TosCell membrane were significantly influenced by the degree of swelling of the TosCell membrane and the benzene concentration sorbed into the TosCell membrane. Mechanism of separation for the Bz/Chx mixtures through the TosCell membranes is discussed by the solution–diffusion model.     

Synthesis of benzofurazan derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids and its application to analysis of fatty acids in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The derivatization regents for carboxylic acids, DAABD-AE (4-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethylaminosulfonyl]7-(2-aminoethylamino)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole), MePZBD-AE ([4-(4-N-methyl)piperazinosulfonyl]-7-(2-aminoethylamino)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole) and APZBD-NHMe ([4-(4-N-aminoethyl)piperazinosulfonyl]-7-methylamino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole) were developed for electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The derivatization reaction with fatty acids was completed at 60 degrees C within 30 min. The derivatives of fatty acids were separated on a reversed-phase column and detected with ESI-MS. The detection limits attained for fatty acids were femtomol range and the calibration curves were linear over the range from 0.1 to 100 pmol (r2 > 0.992) for DAABD-AE and MePZBD-AE. DAABD-NHMe was applied to the analysis of fatty acids in rat plasma samples.     

Design and mobility evaluation of tracked lunar vehicle

Past lunar vehicles have had difficulty traveling through soft sand areas due to the thick, soft and dry regolith. This paper describes the design and evaluation results of a tracked lunar vehicle which aims at achieving greater mobility, particularly improved climbing ability on pure sand slopes, by reducing contact pressure with a crawler link. The tracked vehicle uses mesh crawler links to reduce complexity, weight and parts count. Single-crawler tests on simulated lunar soil revealed that the crawler’s slip ratio was lower than that of a rigid wheel at any slope angle, and that its power consumption was lower than that of a wheel on slopes of 10° or more. Furthermore, the crawler’s slip ratio was stable or decreasing along the traveling distance on steep slopes, contrary to the wheel. Our tracked lunar vehicle, the “Light Crawler”, is equipped with four such mesh-crawlers, each of which is independently driven and steered. It is intended to realize high climbing ability, a small turning circle, and an obstacle-crossing capability using a unique suspension system. The vehicle’s climbing and obstacle-crossing capabilities were tested on both simulated lunar soil and a rock-scattered field, and its mobility performance was successfully confirmed.     

Chemo‐Enzymatic Synthesis of Degradable PTMC‐b‐PECA‐b‐PTMC Triblock Copolymers and their Micelle Formation for pH‐Dependent Controlled Release

A series of degradable triblock copolymers, poly(trimethylene carbonate)‐block‐poly[poly(ethylene glycol)‐co‐cyclic acetal]‐block‐poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC‐b‐PECA‐b‐PTMC), were chemo‐enzymatically synthesized. Cyclic acetal was introduced into a poly(ethylene glycol) segment as a degradable segment to impart a pH‐dependent degradation nature and to prevent the production of acidic degradation products. Amphiphilic polymeric micelles were successfully prepared, and the properties of the micelles were significantly affected by their chemical compositions and the molecular weights. A drug release study showed that the release rate increased as the pH of the buffer decreased due to the degradation of the cyclic acetal segments, indicating its high utility for pH‐sensitive controlled release.

     

One-electron oxidation pathways during beta-cyclodextrin-modified TiO2 photocatalytic reactions

The photocatalytic one-electron oxidation reactions of aromatic sulfides using the carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CM-beta-CD)-modified TiO(2) nanoparticles (TiO(2)/CM-beta-CD) were investigated by using nano- and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopies. The one-electron oxidation processes of the substrate (S) by the valence band hole (h(VB) (+)) at the TiO(2) surface and the trapped hole at the adsorption site of the CM-beta-CD (h(CD) (+)) were examined. The transient absorption spectra and time traces observed for the charge carriers and the radical cation of S (S(.+)) revealed that the one-electron oxidation reaction of S during the nano- and femtosecond laser flash photolyses of TiO(2)/CM-beta-CD is significantly enhanced relative to bare TiO(2). The kinetics of the decay and the dimerization processes between S(.+)s are discussed on the basis of the results obtained by the pulse radiolysis technique.     

S-S bond mesolysis in alpha,alpha'-dinaphthyl disulfide radical anion generated during gamma-radiolysis and pulse radiolysis in organic solution

A dissociation mechanism of the S-S bond in the alpha,alpha'-dinaphthyl disulfide radical anion (NpSSNp*-) in organic solution was investigated on the basis of transient absorption measurements and DFT calculations. NpSSNp*- generated during gamma-radiolysis of NpSSNp in MTHF at 77 K showed the absorption band at 430 nm, which shifted to 560 nm with an increase of the ambient temperature up to room temperature. With the aid of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, the shift of the absorption band was interpreted in terms of molecular conformational changes of NpSSNp*- due to the elongation of the S-S bond. It was observed that NpSSNp*- dissociates into naphthylthiyl radical and thionaphtholate anion in organic solution with a first-order rate constant in the magnitude of 10(6) s-1. From Arrhenius plots of the decay rate constants of NpSSNp*- in a temperature range of 160-293 K, an activation energy for the S-S bond cleavage in NpSSNp*- in solution was determined along with a frequency factor. Based on the state energies of NpSSNp*- calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, a Morse-like energy potential for the S-S bond cleavage of NpSSNp*- is depicted as a function of the S-S bond distance.     

Effect of octabromination of a tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine derivative bound to silica gels on HPLC retention behaviors of polyaromatic hydrocarbons

The effect of bromination of Cu-porphyrin-derivative-immobilized silica gels (Cu-TCPP_D) was examined by comparing the retention behaviors of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Cu-TCPP_D and Cu-octabromotetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine-derivative-immobilized silica gels (Cu-OBTCPP_D) columns. It was revealed that bromination affects strongly the π–π electron interactions caused from hydration energy in a polar eluent (80% methanol) possibly as a result of a destruction of planar structure of porphine-ring by bromination. It was also revealed that bromination enhances π–d interactions as well as the π–π electron interactions in a broad sense (e.g., dispersion forces) in a non-polar eluent (n-hexane). However, the bromination did not exert much influence on electrostatic interactions caused from polarization of mono-halogenated benzenes.     

Crown bowl: metallocyclophane by self-assembly of 4'-pyridylmethyl-armed 12-crown-4 ethers with Ag+ ions

New 3'-pyridylmethyl- and 4'-pyridylmethyl-armed monoaza-12-crown-4 ethers were prepared by the reductive amination of monoaza-12-crown-4 with the appropriate pyridinecarbaldehyde in the presence of NaBH(OAc)3. X-ray crystallography, cold electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR titration experiments show that Ag+ complexes with 3'-pyridylmethyl- and 4'-pyridylmethyl-armed monoaza-12-crown-4 ethers are dimetallo[3.3]metacyclophane and trimetallo[3.3.3]paracyclophane, respectively (crown bowl). The structure of the metallocyclophanes can be controlled by the positions of the N atoms in the pyridine side arms and the ring size of the crown moiety.