Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene‐b‐poly (1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups

Polystyrene‐b‐poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were synthesized by the esterification of azobenzene acid chloride with polystyrene‐b‐hydroxylated poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isopenre) block copolymers for creating new photochromic materials. The resulting block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were characterized for structural, thermal, and morphological properties. IR and NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the polymers obtained had the expected structures. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements by heating runs clearly showed the glass transitions of polystyrene and polyisoprene main chains and two distinct first‐order transitions at temperatures of azobenzene side groups around 48 and 83 °C. The microstructure of these block copolymer films was investigated using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and near‐field optical microscopy (NOM). TEM images revealed typical microphase‐separated morphologies such as sphere, cylinder, and lamellar structures. The domain spacing of microphase‐separated cylindrical morphology in the NOM image agreed with that of the TEM results. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2406–2414, 2002     

Role of the special pair in the charge-separating event in photosynthesis

We synthesized special-pair/electron-acceptor systems consisting of a complementary slipped cofacial dimer of imidazolyl-substituted zinc porphyrin, bearing pyromellitdiimide as the electron acceptor. In the case of the dimer, the first and second oxidation potentials were split into a total of four peaks in the differential pulse voltammetry measurement. Furthermore, the shift values of the first oxidation potentials obtained by changing the solvent polarity for the dimer were almost half of those observed for the monomer. These results indicate that the radical cation is delocalized over the whole pi system of the dimer. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed that, relative to the corresponding monomer, the dimer accelerated the charge separation rate, but decelerated the charge recombination rate. The smaller reorganization energy of the slipped cofacial dimer relative to that of the monomeric system demonstrates the significance of the special-pair arrangement for efficient charge separation in photosynthesis.     

Synthetic studies on (+)-aplasmomycin. 1. Stereoselective synthesis of the C-12˜C-17 segment

The C-12˜C-17 segment of (+)-aplasmomycin ( ) was synthesized stereoselectively starting from (−)-malic acid based on the stereoselective ketone reduction.     

Synthesis of Optically Active Vasicinone Based on Intramolecular Aza-Wittig Reaction and Asymmetric Oxidation(1)

Both optical isomers of a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicinone, were synthesized by two different methods. The first method used (3S)-3-hydroxy-gamma-lactam as a chiral synthon, which was, after O-TBDMS protection, o-azidobenzoylated followed by treatment with tri-n-butylphosphine to afford (S)-(-)-vasicinone via the tandem Staudinger/intramolecualr aza-Wittig reaction. The second method utilized asymmetric oxygenation of deoxyvasicinone with (1S)-(+)- or (1R)-(-)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine (the Davis reagent), respectively. The aza-enolate anion of deoxyvasicinone was treated with (S)-(+)-reagent to afford (R)-(+)-vasicinone in 71% ee, while the reaction with (R)-(-)-reagent gave (S)-(-)-vasicinone in 62% ee. The optical purity was analyzed by HPLC on specially modified cellulose as a stationary phase. These results provided a facile method to prepare both optical isomers of vasicinone and confirmed the recently reversed stereochemistry of natural (-)-vasicinone.     

A new synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of spiro[4.n]alkenones from three components: cyclic ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile; and a formal total synthesis of racemic acorone

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from several kinds of cyclic ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in good yields. Treatment of the 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with cyanomethyllithium at −78°C to room temperature gave spirocyclic enaminonitriles in high yields. Acidic treatment of the enaminonitriles afforded spiro[4.n]alkenones in good yields. By using an unsymmetrical cyclic ketone, α-tetralone, and optically active chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, this procedure afforded enantiomerically pure spiro[4.5]decenone in good yield with excellent asymmetric induction from the sulfoxide chiral center. By using this method a formal total synthesis of a racemic spirocyclic sesquiterpene, acorone, was realized.     

Radiation-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto 1,2-polybutadiene

The γ-ray-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene film and liquid 1,2-polybutadiene was carried out at room temperature. In the film gelation was pronounced and the rate of addition increased as the crystallinity of the polymer decreased. In the liquid gelation, which makes the polymer insoluble in carbon tetrachloride, did not take place, although a definite crosslinking reaction was noticed. In this case the appearance of the product changed from a viscous liquid to a white powder as the reaction proceeded. Its structure was compared with that of chlorinated 1,2-polybutadiene. The addition of carbon tetrachloride to the vinyl group in liquid 1,2-polybutadiene caused an anti-Markownikoff-type reaction and was accompanied by an unexpectedly large vinyl depletion in the polymer. The total decrease in the vinyl group was found to be much larger than that brought about by the addition of carbon tetrachloride. This discrepancy was attributed to a cyclization and crosslinking reaction ascribed to the vinyl group bound by the main chain. Cyclization and crosslinking were less noticeable in the chlorination than in the carbon tetrachloride.     

Selective determination of microbial cells by graphite electrode modified with adsorbed 4,4′-bipyridine

The concentrations of microbial cells in suspensions can be measured with a graphite electrode modifed with adsorbed 4,4′-bipyridine, by using cyclic volummetry or differential pulse volummetry. The relationship between the peak current and the cell concentration for Saccharomyces cerevisiae is linear over the range 0.03 × 10⁸—2.0 × 10⁸ cells ml^?1. Yeast, gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria gave different peak potentials, which may be useful for classification purposes. Electron transfer between the microbial cells and the 4,4′-bipyridine-modified electrode is mediated by coenzyme A in the cell wall.     

Parametrization of the equations-of-motion method for conjugated hydrocarbons

The equations-of-motion (EOM ) method has been parametrized for the evaluation of the “π → π*” transition energies and moments of conjugated hydrocarbons. In this new semiempirical scheme, the effect of the dynamical screening by σ electrons is explicitly included.     

Effect of the mobility of ligands in polyrotaxanes on order structure of water clusters

The effect of the mobility of ligands (maltose groups) in the polyrotaxanes (pRXs) on the structure of the surrounding water molecules was investigated. Raman spectra of collective OH stretching vibration of water molecules in aqueous solutions of maltose-pRX conjugates with different alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) threading on a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain was measured. The mobility of maltose groups was estimated by measuring the relaxation time T2 of the C1 protons in maltose groups bound on alpha-CD by NMR experiment. A positive correlation between the Raman intensity of the collective band and the relaxation time T2 was obtained. This result indicates that the degree of order of the water clusters is higher as the mobility of maltose groups increases in these conjugate solutions. It is suggested that rapid motion of maltose groups in the pRX conjugate can contribute to preserving ordered structure of the bulk water clusters.     

Profiling and comprehensive expression analysis of ABC transporter solute-binding proteins of Bacillus subtilis membrane based on a proteomic approach

We analyzed ABC transporter solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of the Bacillus subtilis membrane using a proteomic approach. We prepared a washed cell membrane fraction that was insoluble in 134 mM nondetergent sulfobetaine and then extracted proteins using mixtures of detergents in a stepwise manner. The membrane proteins were resolved by three two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) or two one-dimensional (1-D) PAGE procedures, electroblotted, and digested in the presence of 5% or 80% acetonitrile. Thereafter, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified 637 proteins corresponding to 15.9% of the total cellular proteins. We predicted that among these, 256 were membrane proteins, 101 were lipoproteins or secretory proteins and 280 were soluble proteins containing peripheral proteins that function in both the cytoplasm and the cell membrane such as SecA and FtsY. Among the 637 proteins, we identified 30 SBPs among 38 importers predicted by a bioinformatic search of the genome. We confirmed expression of the genes for the 30 SBPs using DNA microarray analysis. We compared the 2-D gel separation profiles of submembrane fractions solubilized by 1% n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside from cells cultured on Luria Bertani (LB), S7, and S7 medium without glutamate as well as DNA microarray data on LB and S7. The results suggested that YcdH, YtmK and YurO are binding proteins for Mn(++), glutamate and glucose, respectively, and that YqiX and YxeM are binding proteins for amino acids (tryptophan in S7 medium).