A novel derivatization reagent possessing a bromoquinolinium structure for biological carboxylic acids in HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS

A novel bromoquinolinium reagent, i.e. 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐3‐bromoquinolinium bromide (APBQ), was synthesized for the analysis of carboxylic acids. A simple and practical precolumn derivatization procedure using the APBQ in RP chromatography and MS (HPLC‐MS) has been developed using bile acids and free fatty acids, as the representative carboxylic acids in biological samples. The APBQ efficiently reacted with carboxylic acids at 60°C for 60 min in the presence of N,N‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and pyridine as the activation reagents. Because the APBQ possesses a bromine atom in the structure, the identification of a series of carboxylic acids was easily achieved due to the characteristic bromine isotope pattern in the mass spectra. The APBQ also has a quaternary amine structure, thus the positively charged derivatives are predominate for the highly sensitive detection of carboxylic acids. The APBQ was successfully applied to the selective determination of biological carboxylic acids in human plasma. The bile acids (chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid) and several saturated (stearic acid and palmitic acid) and unsaturated free fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) were reasonably determined by HPLC‐MS under the proposed procedure. Based on the results of analyses of human plasma and saliva, the proposed procedure using APBQ seems to be applicable for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of a series of carboxylic acids in biological samples.     

Adsorption and photochemical behaviors of the novel cationic xanthene derivative on the clay surface

Novel tetra-cationic xanthene derivative (Flu) was synthesized. Its adsorption and photochemical behaviors on the clay surface were investigated. Fluorescence quantum yield (?_f) and fluorescence lifetime were 0.50 and 2.9 ns for Flu/clay complex. ?_f of Flu was enough high (>0.1) even at high density conditions (0.080 molecules nm⁻²). It is supposed that the strong interaction between clay and Flu by the ‘Size-Matching Effect’ realizes the highly emissive clay complexes at high density adsorption condition by a suppression of a molecular aggregation, which tends to decrease the photochemical activity.     

Recent progress in bipolar electropolymerization methods toward one-dimensional conducting polymer structures

Recent studies on electropolymerization methods toward one-dimensional conducting polymer structures are summarized in this review. In particular, advanced techniques for templated electropolymerization of aromatic monomers, in which migration of monomers into nanopores of the template is highly enhanced by using electrophoretic effect, are described. For templateless approach, electric field–driven bipolar electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer is introduced as a strong tool to fabricate the corresponding conducting polymer fibers and films grown in the direction of an applied electric field.     

Electrochemical Fluorination of Dithiocarbonates Using a Triarylamine Mediator

Electrochemical oxidation of O-(4-chlorobenzyl) S-methyl dithiocarbonate using tris(2,4-dibromophenyl)amine as a redox mediator was studied by cyclic voltammetric measurements. The triarylamine mediated anodic fluorodesulfurization of O-(4-chlorobenzyl) and O-(4-bromobenzyl) S-methyl dithiocarbonates provided 4-chloro- and 4-bromobenzyl fluorides, respectively in moderate yields. On the other hand, similar anodic fluorination of O-(2-phenethyl) S-octyl dithiocarbonate and O-(4-bromophenyl) S-methyl dithiocarbonate afforded 2-phenethyl trifluoromethyl ether and difluoro(methylthio)methyl 4-bromophenyl ether, respectively. Mechanistic aspects are also discussed.     

Polymeric saturable-absorber mirror for passive Q-switching of a laser-diode-pumped Nd3+:YVO4 microchip laser

A polymeric multilayered mirror doped with a saturable dye worked as a passive Q-switch of a laser-diode-pumped Nd(3+):YVO4 microchip laser. The multilayered mirror consisted of alternately spin-coated layers of polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) and cellulose acetate on a glass substrate. A dye of bis-(dimethylaminodithiobenzil)-nickel was doped in one of the layers of PVK, providing the repetitively Q-switched pulses. The pulse width and repetition rate were 4 ns and 68 kHz, respectively, for a laser-cavity length of 5 mm, and the average and the peak power were 40 mW and 156 W, respectively, for the highest pump power of 435 mW. The dependence of the Q-switched characteristics on the pump power and on the concentration of the doped dye is described.     

Cross‐sectional structural characterization of the surface of exfoliated HOPG using HRTEM‐EELS

We analyzed the surface atomic structure of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrate exfoliated with adhesive tape, using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy‐electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (STEM‐EELS). The surface step height of the exfoliated HOPG substrate was determined using high‐angle annular dark‐field‐scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM) images and the depth profiles of the EELS spectra of a cross‐sectioned thin foil specimen prepared via focused ion beam milling. The exfoliated surface of the HOPG substrate presented disordered and curved graphene layers. The STEM‐EELS measurements indicated that upon exfoliation, the surface of the HOPG substrate reacted with atmospheric water and oxygen molecules.