Hydriodic Acid‐Mediated Cyclization of α‐Substituted Secondary 2‐Ethenylbenzamides: Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 2,3‐Dihydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐ones and 3,3‐Disubstituted (E)‐1‐(Arylimino)‐1,3‐dihydroisobenzofurans

A new and facile method for the preparation of 2‐substituted 2,3‐dihydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐ones 3 and 3,3‐disubstituted (E)‐1‐(arylimino)‐1,3‐dihydroisobenzofurans 6 has been developed. Thus, treatment of N‐alkyl(or aryl)‐2‐(1‐methylethen‐1‐yl)benzamides 2 with concentrated hydriodic acid (HI) in MeCN at room temperature afforded 3 . Similar treatment of N‐aryl‐2‐(1‐phenylethen‐1‐yl)benzamide 5 with concentrated HI at 0° afforded 6 .     

Spatial-carrier phase-shifting digital holography utilizing spatial frequency analysis for the correction of the phase-shift error

We propose a single-shot digital holography in which the complex amplitude distribution is obtained by spatial-carrier phase-shifting (SCPS) interferometry and the correction of the inherent phase-shift error occurred in this interferometry. The 0th order diffraction wave and the conjugate image are removed by phase-shifting interferometry and Fourier transform technique, respectively. The inherent error is corrected in the spatial frequency domain. The proposed technique does not require an iteration process to remove the unwanted images and has an advantage in the field of view in comparison to a conventional SCPS technique.     

Improved performance in dye-sensitized solar cells employing TiO2 photoelectrodes coated with metal hydroxides

The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was compared before and after processing the TiO(2) electrodes by minute-order electrochemical reactions with metal nitrates, where the metals were Mg, Zn, Al, and La, in 2-propanol. An overcoating of metal hydroxide was formed without the need for a sintering process, and magnesium hydroxide was found to give the largest improvement in photovoltage, fill factor, and eventually overall conversion efficiency of the DSCs. To analyze the nature of the improvement, the diffusion coefficient (D) and electron lifetime (tau) were determined. While little influence of overcoating on D was seen, a correlation between the increase in tau and V(oc) was observed for the metals examined here. The remarkable improvement in the electron lifetime of the DSCs suggests that an overcoating with magnesium hydroxide species function as the blocking layers at the fluorine-doped tin oxide and TiO(2) interfaces, thus contributing to the suppression of electron leakage, i.e., recombination processes between unidirectional transporting electrons and poly-iodides such as tri-iodide in the processed TiO(2) photoelectrode systems. The increase in V(oc) can be explained by the increased electron density caused by the increase in electron lifetime.     

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds using amidines as their ene‐1,1‐diamine tautomers. II. Synthesis of 2,3‐dihydropyridine, 3,4‐dihydropyridine and 3,4‐dihydropyrrol‐2‐one derivatives by the reaction of amidines with α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds

N‐t‐Butylacetamidines 1 on heating with methyl vinyl ketone, acrolein or crotonaldehyde gave the 2,3‐dihydropyridine derivatives 4,5 or 6 via N‐alkylation of the acetamidines 1 . Reaction of amidines 1 with phenyl 1‐propenyl ketone, benzalacetone or chalcone gave 3,4‐dihydropyridine derivatives 8, 9 or 10 . These were obtained by C‐alkylation, achieved by Michael addition of the acetamidines 1 as their N,C‐tautomers ene‐1,1‐diamines 1 ′ to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and subsequent cyclodehydration of adducts. Reaction of 1 with ethyl 3‐benzoylacrylate gave 3,4‐dihydropyrrol‐2‐one derivatives 13 .     

Synthesis of Heterocyclic Compounds Using Amidines as Their Ene-1,1-diamine Tautomers,IV: Synthesis of N-Bridged Heterocycles 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6-ones and Methyl 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-7-ylideneacetates

2-Benzyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines 1 (as ene-1,1-diamine N,C-tautomers) in diglyme reacted with ethyl benzoylacetate at 160 °C in an oil bath to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6-ones 3 and with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in methanol at room temperature, leading to methyl 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-7-ylideneacetates 5, respectively.      

Optical anisotropy in solution-cast film of cellulose triacetate

The out-of-plane birefringence and its wavelength dispersion are studied employing solution-cast films of cellulose triacetate (CTA). In solution-cast process, CTA molecules are induced to align in the film plane. Although refractive index is the lowest in the oriented direction for the CTA films stretched more than 110 %, refractive index is found to be the lowest in the normal direction for the unstretched cast film. Attenuated total reflection measurements reveal that in-plane alignment of the acetyl group which provides strong polarizability anisotropy is responsible for the phenomenon. Furthermore, the out-of-plane birefringence is found to increase with increasing wavelength, i.e. extraordinary wavelength dispersion, whereas a stretched CTA film shows ordinary wavelength dispersion. The level of the out-of-plane birefringence in cast films depends on the preparation conditions, which is predictable considering the evaporation rate. Moreover, it is demonstrated for the first time that the out-of-plane birefringence and its wavelength dispersion can be modified by addition of a certain plasticizer such as tricresyl phosphate (TCP). During the evaporation, TCP molecules orient in the film plane accompanying the orientation of CTA chains by intermolecular orientation correlation, called nematic interaction. This technique will widen the scope of material design of retardation films because there are numerous liquid compounds having strong polarizability anisotropy.     

A distribution map for the one-median location problem on a network

In this paper we consider the Weber (one-median) location problem on a network. The weights at the nodes are drawn from a multivariate normal distribution. We find the probability that the optimal location is at each of the nodes. This set of probabilities is the distribution map. The methodology is illustrated on two networks of 20 nodes each.     

Determination of multielements in a typical Japanese diet certified reference material by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Multielements in a typical Japanese diet certified reference material prepared at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) of Japan, in collaboration with the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) of Japan were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Five samples (ca. 510-1000 mg) and comparative standards were irradiated for a short time (10 s) at a thermal neutron flux of 1.5 x 10(12) n cm(-2) s(-1) (pneumatic transfer) and for a long time (6 h) at a thermal neutron flux of 3.7 x 10(12) n cm(-2) s(-1) (central thimble) in the Rikkyo University Research Reactor (TRIGA Mark-II, 100 kW). The irradiated samples were measured by conventional gama-ray spectrometry using a coaxial Ge detector, and by anti-coincidence and coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry with a coaxial Ge detector and a well-type NaI(Tl) detector. The concentrations of 38 elements were determined by these methods.     

Discovery of a potent and orally available acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor as an anti-atherosclerotic agent: (4-phenylcoumarin)acetanilide derivatives

Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes cholesterol esterification. ACAT inhibitors are expected to be potent therapeutic agents for the treatment of atherosclerosis. A series of potent ACAT inhibitors based on an (4-phenylcoumarin)acetanilide scaffold was identified. Evaluation of the structure-activity relationships of a substituent on this scaffold, with an emphasis on improving the pharmacokinetic profile led to the discovery of 2-[7-chloro-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl]-N-[4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetamide (23), which exhibited potent ACAT inhibitory activity (IC50=12 nM) and good pharmacokinetic profile in mice. Compound 23 also showed regressive effects on atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein (apo)E knock out (KO) mice at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg per os (p.o.).