Synthesis and characterization of soluble aromatic polyazomethines from 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-3,4-diphenylthiophene and aromatic dialdehydes

New soluble aromatic polyazomethines with inherent viscosities of 0.4–0.8 dL/g were prepared by the solution polycondensation of 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-3,4-diphenylthiophene, bis(4-aminophenyl) ether, and aromatic dialdehydes in o-chlorophenol at 20°C. The copolyazomethines are generally soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons, amide-type or phenolic solvents. The thermal stability of the polymers, which showed no weight loss up to 400°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres.     

Photocrosslinking of poly(2,3-epithiopropyl methacrylate) by the oxidation of pendant episulfide groups

In the photocrosslinking of poly(2,3-epithiopropyl methacrylate) (PETMA) films the effect of the pendant episulfide group's oxidation on the crosslinking of PETMA was investigated. Thermal crosslinking of PETMA is promoted by peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. IR spectrum of the crosslinked PETMA showed that the reaction proceeded through the oxidation of episulfide groups by the peroxides. The anthracene (An) sensitized photocrosslinking of PETMA films also proceeded via the oxidation of episulfide groups by singlet oxygen. It was found that residual tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the films remarkably increased the rate of the photocrosslinking and/or reduced the induction period. From the further investigation concerning casting solvents it was found that residual CS₂, CCl₄, and CHCl₃ in films increased the rate of the photocrosslinking and/or reduced the induction period of the photocrosslinking. The disappearance rate of An in the films was also increased by the presence of residual CS₂, CCl₄, and CHCl₃, differring from the result of THF. These results were explained by a difference in lifetime of singlet oxygen in the films. From the results were explained by a difference in lifetime of singlet oxygen in the films. From the results concerning the effects of hydroperoxides such as THF hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide on the photocrosslinking of PETMA films the acceleration effect of the residual THF was deduced to be due to the promotion of singlet oxygen-oxidation of sulfide groups by protic compounds such as THF hydroperoxide and H₂O in the THF.     

Development of hydrophilic fluorogenic derivatization reagents for thiols: 4-(N-acetylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and 4-(N-trichloroacetylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole

Sensitive, reactive, and hydrophilic fluorogenic reagents for thiols with the benzofurazan skeleton, 4-(N-acetylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (AcABD-F) and 4-(N-trichloroacetylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (TCAcABD-F) have been developed. These reagents reacted with thiols within 10 min at 60 degrees C. AcABD-F and TCAcABD-F themselves do not fluoresce but are strongly fluorescent after the reaction with thiol compounds. The generated derivatives were highly water-soluble, since they dissociated a proton and ionized in the neutral pH region. The derivatives with four biologically important thiol compounds were separated on a reversed-phase HPLC column and detected fluorometrically at 504 nm with excitation at 388 nm. The detection limit attained for homocysteine with AcABD-F was 25 fmol on column (11 nM) (signal-to-noise ratio = 3), and that for glutathione with TCAcABD-F was 45 fmol on column (20 nM).     

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-oligophenyl)benzenes: Amorphous Electron-Transport Materials with High-Glass-Transition Temperature and High Electron Mobility

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quaterphenyl)benzene (PF-13Y) and perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quinquephenyl)benzene (PF-16Y) have been synthesized and characterized. They showed higher glass transition temperatures compared with perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-terphenyl)benzene (PF-10Y). Organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated using these materials as the electron-transport layers. PF-13Y and -16Y are better electron transporters than PF-10Y. The electron mobilities of PF-10Y and Alq₃ were measured by the time-of-flight technique. PF-10Y showed higher electron mobilities (10⁻⁴ cm²/V s) and weaker electric field dependence compared with Alq₃.     

A method for the measurement of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity using norepinephrine, an endogenous substrate

We propose a highly sensitive method for the measurement of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity with norepinephrine (NE), an endogenous native substrate. The product, normetanephrine, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction detection or, if required, less sensitive fluorescence detection. For the measurement of membrane-bound (MB)-COMT activity in the rat erythrocyte, the HPLC-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction detection was employed. Soluble (S)- and MB-COMT activities in the rat erythrocyte were 22.9 +/- 2.5 and 4.62 +/- 1.23 pmol min-1 (mg protein)-1, respectively (n = 5). The Km values obtained for S- and MB-COMT were 366 +/- 31 mumol l-1 and 12.0 +/- 1.1 mumol l-1, respectively (n = 5), suggesting that the use of NE as a substrate would give more precise information on the role of both isoenzymes. However, with dihydroxybenzoic acid as an artificial substrate, the Km values for S- and MB-COMT were similar, with values of 69.2 +/- 11.4 mumol l-1 and 72.2 +/- 9.2 mumol l-1, respectively. The proposed method is thought to be useful for the measurement of both S-COMT and MB-COMT activities, and would give us critical information on the role of metabolism of catecholamines in rat tissues.     

Kinetic pathway to double-gyroid structure

We have investigated the structural development during order-order transitions to the double-gyroid (DG) phase of nonionic surfactant/water systems based on two-dimensional small-angle x-ray scattering patterns from highly oriented ordered mesophases. The lamellar (L) to DG transition proceeds through two intermediate structures, a fluctuating perforated layer structure having ABAB stacking and a hexagonal perforated lamellar structure with ABCABC stacking (HPLABC). For a hexagonally packed cylinder (H) to DG transition, we also observed the HPLABC structure as the intermediate phase, thus the HPLABC is an entrance structure for the DG phase. The hexagonal perforated lamellar (HPL) structure consists of hexagonally packed holes surrounded by the planar tripods, and the transition from HPL structure to the DG phase proceeds by rotation of the dihedral angle of connected tripods. A geometrical consideration shows that large deformations of HPL planes are necessary to form the DG structure from the HPLABC structure, whereas the transition from a HPL structure with ABAB stacking (HPLAB) to the DG structure is straightforward. In spite of the topological constraints, the HPLABC structure is observed in the kinetic pathway to the DG structure.     

Preparation and properties of high transition temperature aromatic polyphosphonates by phase-transfer-catalyzed polycondensation of phenylphosphonic dichloride with bisphenols

Aromatic polyphosphonates of high molecular weights were prepared from phenylphosphonic dichloride and bisphenols having rigid ring structures by the two-phase polycondensation in organic solvent–aqueous alkaline solution system with phase-transfer catalyst at 0°C or below. The effects of reaction solvent and catalyst on the inherent viscosities of the polymers formed are studied. The glass transition temperatures of the polyphosphonates with biphenyl, phenylindane, and diphenylfluorene units are 120, 124, and 188°C, respectively. These polymers are self-extinguishing and are readily soluble in solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform. They began to lose weight above 300°C in air. Copolyphosphonates from combinations of bisphenols and phenylphosphonic dichloride are also prepared and characterized.     

Photochemical valence tautomerization of berberinephenolbetaines to 8,14-cycloberbines,versatile aziridine derivatives for spirobenzylisoquinolines

Irradiation of the berberinephenolbetaines ($\text{8}$$\text{a}$, $\text{8}$$\text{b}$, and $\text{8}$$\text{c}$) effected valence tautomerization to give the 8,14-cycloberbines ($\text{9}$$\text{a}$, $\text{9}$$\text{b}$, and $\text{9}$$\text{c}$), the aziridine derivatives, in high yield. The 8,14-cycloberbines were efficiently converted to the spirobenzylisoquinolines by regioselective C bond cleavage.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 2,2′‐Diethynyl‐ biphenyls Involving Cleavage of a Carbon–Carbon Triple Bond

A ruthenium complex catalyzes a new cycloisomerization reaction of 2,2′‐diethynylbiphenyls to form 9‐ethynylphenanthrenes, thereby cleaving the carbon–carbon triple bond of the original ethynyl group. A metal–vinylidene complex is generated from one of the two ethynyl groups, and its carbon–carbon double bond undergoes a [2+2] cycloaddition with the other ethynyl group to form a cyclobutene. The phenanthrene skeleton is constructed by the subsequent electrocyclic ring opening of the cyclobutene moiety.     

Single-Round DNA Aptamer Selection by Combined Use of Capillary Electrophoresis and Next Generation Sequencing: An Aptaomics Approach for Identifying Unique Functional Protein-Binding DNA Aptamers

In DNA aptamer selection, existing methods do not discriminate aptamer sequences based on their binding affinity and function and the reproducibility of the selection is often poor, even for the selection of well-known aptamers like those that bind the commonly used model protein thrombin. In the present study, a novel single-round selection method (SR-CE selection) was developed by combining capillary electrophoresis (CE) with next generation sequencing. Using SR-CE selection, a successful semi-quantitative and semi-comprehensive aptamer selection for thrombin was demonstrated with high reproducibility for the first time. Selection rules based on dissociation equilibria and kinetics were devised to obtain families of analogous sequences. Selected sequences of the same family were shown to bind thrombin with high affinity. Furthermore, data acquired from SR-CE selection was mined by creating sub-libraries that were categorized by the functionality of the aptamers (e. g., pre-organized aptamers versus structure-induced aptamers). Using this approach, a novel fluorescent molecular recognition sensor for thrombin with nanomolar detection limits was discovered. Thus, in this proof-of-concept report, we have demonstrated the potential of a “DNA Aptaomics” approach to systematically design functional aptamers as well as to obtain high affinity aptamers.