BiScO3: centrosymmetric BiMnO3-type oxide

With neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction, and second-harmonic generation, we have shown that BiScO3 has a structure closely related to that of multiferroic BiMnO3, but BiScO3 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group of C2/c. These results bring up a question about the origin of ferroelectricity in BiMnO3. BiScO3 may serve as a model system to understand the role of Mn3+ ions in the ferroelectricity of BiMnO3.     

Sugar-dependent aggregation of glycoconjugated chlorins and its effect on photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells

In order to explore the influence of the sugar moieties of glycoconjugated chlorins on the photocytotoxicity, we studied the photochemical properties of four glycoconjugated chlorins in aqueous media such as cytoplasm and the concentration dependence of photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells. In phosphate-buffered saline, the fluorescence intensities of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1a) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1b), i.e., chlorins having hexose groups, were about 2-fold greater than those of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-d-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1c) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-d-arabinopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1d), i.e., chlorins having pentose groups, owing to a sugar-dependent difference of aggregation behavior. While no cytotoxicity was found in the dark, the highest photocytotoxicity was shown by m-1a (82% inhibition) in HeLa cells. This was higher than those of m-1b, m-1c, m-1d and tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid. The glycoconjugated chlorins except for m-1b appeared to be distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm. Among the four photosensitizers, m-1a showed the highest intensity in confocal fluorescence images, in agreement with the in vitro photocytotoxicity results. For m-1c, no photocytotoxicity was found at drug concentrations from 0.2 to 0.04 microM. Hence, sugar-dependent aggregation is not the major reason for the unexpected lack of efficacy of m-1c, which is uptaken efficiently by HeLa cells. For the glycoconjugated chlorins, these results suggest the biological aspects of sugar moiety play much crucial role rather than chemical aspects.     

X-ray illumination induced Fe(II) spin crossover in the Prussian blue analogue cesium iron hexacyanochromate

The effect of X-ray illumination on the structural properties of the mixed valence Prussian blue analogue CsFe(II)[Cr(III)(CN)6] has been studied by time-dependent high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Abrupt isosymmetric phase transitions, accompanied by dramatic volume collapse, were found in the temperature range 245-265 K, induced by sudden Fe(II) spin transitions from the high spin (HS) (4t(2g)2e(g), S = 2) to the low spin (LS) (6t(2g)0e(g), S = 0) configuration. Absorption of X-ray photons generates photoexcited Fe(II)(LS) domains whose size rapidly grows with time until the percolation threshold is reached and the structure collapse is triggered. The persistent character of the optically excited spin crossover states derives from the strong electron-phonon coupling, associated with the large lattice relaxations, which accompany the internal spin rearrangements. It is thus possible to use X-ray light in a controllable and efficient way to induce photoswitching between the ground and hidden or inaccessible excited states in suitably selected multistable materials in the bulk.     

Generation of three-primary-color Raman comb in the continuous-wave regime

We demonstrate the generation of continuous-wave Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman sidebands including the three-primary-color (683, 532, and 436 nm) components. The Raman sidebands are generated through both stimulated and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering in a broadband high-finesse optical cavity filled with gas-phase hydrogen as a Raman-active medium and covering the entire visible spectral range (420–680 nm). The blue emission is considerably enhanced by matching the frequency with one of the longitudinal modes of the optical cavity, and high conversion efficiencies are observed when the coherent length corresponds to an integral multiple of the round-trip length of the optical cavity. This indicates that phase-matching plays a critical role in determining the efficiency of the Raman comb generation.     

Measurement of the solubility of metal complexes in supercritical carbon dioxide using a UV–vis spectrometer

A new apparatus based on the circulation method was developed to measure the solubility of metal complexes in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) at a wide range of temperatures and pressures. A UV–vis spectrometer, which was connected to a small saturation cell through optical fibers, was used to determine solubility. The solubilities of cobalt(III) acetylacetonate (Co(acac)₃) and chromium(III) acetylacetonate (Cr(acac)₃) in scCO₂ were measured to check the validity of both the apparatus and the method and to accumulate new solubility data. The solubility data for Cr(acac)₃ obtained in this study were in good agreement with the data reported in the literature.The measured solubilities of Co(acac)₃ and Cr(acac)₃ were also correlated with the empirical equation including the three adjustable parameters, based on the equation proposed by Chrastil. The parameters were determined by fitting the equation to the experimental data for each metal complex and the calculated results closely replicated the experimental data.     

Modular synthesis of the ClickFerrophos ligand family and their use in rhodium- and ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A series of diphosphine ClickFerrophos ligands (CF), based on a triazoleferrocene backbone, was synthesized in a four-step sequence via click chemistry methodology. In addition to the four previously synthesized ligands CF1, CF4, CF7 and CF10, six novel CF ligands CF2–3 and CF5–8 were prepared. Hydrogenation reactions of alkenes and ketones were significantly improved upon by using CF ligands as rhodium- or ruthenium-complexes in which the % ee values can be optimized by choosing the appropriate CF ligand depending on the substrate.     

Adsorption behavior of VII group elements on tertiary pyridine resin in hydrochloric acid solution

We investigated the adsorption behaviors of technetium and rhenium on tertiary pyridine resin in hydrochloric acid solution. Technetium has a little larger distribution coefficient in higher concentration of hydrochloric acid region than rhenium. However, the tendency of adsorption behavior of technetium and rhenium is similar. We concluded that the rhenium can be used as the substitute for technetium. Adsorption behaviors of platinum group elements were also investigated. The separation of technetium from platinum group elements is discussed.     

Development of a high-sensitivity chromatographic separation system for pyridylaminated aldopentoses and aldohexoses

A rare sugar is considered to be a monosaccharide rarely found in nature. To investigate their natural distribution and biological roles, a robust analytical system must be used to isolate, identify, and quantify them. Herein, we report the development of such a system that can specifically quantify and chromatographically separate four aldopentoses and eight aldohexoses tagged with 2-aminopyridine. Purified monosaccharides derivatized with a pyridylamino moiety (PA–monosaccharides) are first chromatographed over a high-performance anion-exchange resin. But, because two of the PA–aldohexoses used in this study, PA–talose and PA–idose, co-elute with the common saccharides, PA–glucose and PA–mannose, respectively, a second chromatographic step, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, is used to completely separate them. Thus, as shown by the results of this study, chromatographic separation of PA–monosaccharides is achievable and provides a quantitative measurement of common and rare isomeric aldopentoses and aldohexoses.