Reinvestigation of the synthesis of isoliquiritigenin: application of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and Claisen-Schmidt condensation

Isoliquiritigenin [ILG, (E)-1] was readily prepared via the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions using β-ketophosphonates 5a, b. An improved protocol for the synthesis of (E)-1 via the Claisen-Schmidt condensation was also presented.     

Algorithm for determining pure pointedness of self-affine tilings

Overlap coincidence in a self-affine tiling in Rd is equivalent to pure point dynamical spectrum of the tiling dynamical system. We interpret the overlap coincidence in the setting of substitution Delone set in Rd and find an efficient algorithm to check the pure point dynamical spectrum. This algorithm is easy to implement into a computer program. We give the program and apply it to several examples. In the course of the proof of the algorithm, we show a variant of the conjecture of Urbański (Solomyak (2006) [40]) on the Hausdorff dimension of the boundaries of fractal tiles.     

Enzyme immunoelectrode for insulin incorporating a membrane partially treated with water vapour plasma

An enzyme immunoelectrode for the amperometric determination of serum insulin is described. The device consists of an immunoreactive membrane combined with a hydrogen peroxide electrode. The surface of a microporous hydrophobic polypropylene membrane is modified by water vapour plasma treatment to make it partially hydrophilic. Subsequent treatment with octamethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde enables the surface of this membrane to interact with various proteins. Anchoring of the antibody to Protein A immobilized on the membrane was effective for immunoreactivity.     

On the Small Time Asymptotics of Diffusion Processes on Path Groups

In this paper, we obtain the Varadhan type small time asymptotics for diffusion processes on path groups.     

Epitaxial strain effects on the metal-insulator transition in V2O3 thin films

Effects of epitaxial stress on the metal-insulator transition of V₂O₃ have been studied for in the form of epitaxial thin films grown on α-Al₂O₃ (0001) and LiTaO₃ (0001) substrates. A metallic phase is stabilized down to 2 K in the V₂O₃ thin film on α-Al₂O₃ (0001), where the a-axis is compressed by 4% owing to large epitaxial stress. On the other hand, the transition temperature T_MI is raised by 20 K from the value of 170 K in bulk samples in the film on LiTaO₃ (0001), where the a-axis is expanded. These results suggest an intimate relationship between the a-axis length and T_MI in V₂O₃. The conductivity of the metallic ultrathin films shows logarithmic temperature dependence below 20 K, probably due to the Anderson localization in two-dimensional systems.     

Nanoparticle Formation Mechanism in CVD Reactor with Ionization of Source Vapor

A new chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, called ionization CVD, was developed, to produce non-agglomerated nanoparticles in which reactant gases are charged. A sonic-jet corona discharger was used as an ionizer in the developed nanoparticle generator. For a tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)/O₂ chemical system, SiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared. All particles formed by the ionization CVD were charged unipolarly. SEM micrographs of particles showed that the repulsive Coulombic force between charged particles reduces their coagulation rate and produces non-agglomerated nanoparticles that have a relatively high number concentration and small size. An external field was used to collect the charged particles onto Si wafers. These collected samples indicated that the deposition of charged particles could be controlled by the external electric field. Particle concentration measurement with a condensation nucleus counter at various TEOS concentrations suggested the particle formation mechanism in the ionization CVD was an ion-induced nucleation.     

Oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,3‐dihydroxynaphthalene with dinuclear‐type copper(II) catalyst

The oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,3‐dihydroxynaphthalene with the novel dinuclear‐type copper(II) catalysts successfully produced poly(2,3‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐naphthylene). For example, the MeOH‐insoluble polymer with a number average molecular weight of 4.4 × 10³ from the polymerization using the complex of CuCl₂ and N,N′‐bis(2‐morpholinoethyl)‐p‐xylylenediamine ( p ‐ 1 ) at room temperature under an O₂ atmosphere followed by acetylation of the hydroxyl groups was obtained in 63% yield. The structures of the tetraamine ligands and the counter anion of the copper(II) salts significantly influenced the catalyst activity. The polymerization of 2,2′‐dimethoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐3,3′‐diol with the 2CuCl₂‐ p ‐ 1 catalyst, however, resulted in a lower yield. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1635–1640, 2005     

Dimethyl carbonate synthesis and other oxidative reactions using alkyl nitrites

The oxidative reactions using the alkyl nitrites (RONO) as an oxidant have been developed by Ube Industries, Ltd. In the alkyl nitrite reactions, substrates such as CO andyor unsaturated- andyor carbonyl-compounds are oxidized over the palladium catalysts in no direct contact with molecular oxygen. The dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dialkyl oxalates and other useful chemicals are synthesized efficiently under moderate conditions by the alkyl nitrite reactions.     

A new oxidation system using nitrite oxidants

The oxidative reactions using alkyl nitrites (RONO) as oxidant have been developed by Ube Industries, Ltd. The substrates such as CO and/or unsaturated-and/or carbonyl-compounds are oxidized by RONO over the palladium catalyst with no contact of molecular oxygen. Dialkyl carbonates, dialkyl oxalates and other useful chemicals are synthesized efficiently under moderate conditions by this alkyl nitrite technology.