Backbone-rigidified oligo(m-phenylene ethynylenes)

Oligo(m-phenylene ethynylenes) (oligo(m-PE)) with backbones rigidified by intramolecular hydrogen bonds were found to fold into well-defined conformations. The localized intramolecular hydrogen bond involves a donor and an acceptor from two adjacent benzene rings, respectively, which enforces globally folded conformations on these oligomers. Oligomers with two to seven residues have been synthesized and characterized. The persistence of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the corresponding curved conformations were established by ab initio and molecular mechanics calculations, 1D and 2D (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and UV spectroscopy. Pentamer 5, hexamer 6, and heptamer 7 adopt well-defined helical conformations. Such a backbone-based conformational programming should lead to molecules whose conformations are resilient toward structural variation of the side groups. These m-PE oligomers have provided a new approach for achieving folded unnatural oligomers under conditions that are otherwise unfavorable for previously described, solvent-driven folding of m-PE foldamers. Stably folded structures based on the design principle described here can be developed and may find important applications.     

Novel antiviral fucoidan from sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida (Mekabu)

Structural characterization and antiviral activities of fucoidan from sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida (Mekabu) was examined. The fucoidan was composed of fucose and galactose with an approximately ratio of 1.0:1.1. Degree of substitution of sulfate was 0.72 and its apparent molecular weight was 9,000. Methylation analyses showed that fucoidan had various sugar linkages, and revealed that the fucoidan might have complicated structure. This fucoidan showed potent antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and human cytomegalovirus.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of fused quinoline derivatives

Some tetracyclic quinolines (9 and 14) with a [2-methoxy-4-[(methylsulfonyl)amino]phenyl]amino side chain were prepared and their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) intercalative properties, KB cytotoxicity, antitumor activity (P388 leukemia), and ability to induce topoisomerase II dependent DNA cleavage were investigated. The indoloquinoline derivative 9 exhibited the most potent activity (dose = 6.3 mg, T/C% = 300) in this series. The steric structural features of the chromophores of the compounds previously and newly synthesized were studied by a computer-associated molecular graphics technique. Relationships between the steric structural features of the chromophores and biological activities are also discussed.     

Determination of239,240Pu and241Am in environmental samples

An accurate and reliable method has been developed and routinely carried out for the sequential determination of^239,240Pu and²⁴¹Am in environmental samples. After suitable pretreatment.^239,240Pu and²⁴¹Am are separated from other elements by means of the anion exchange resin method. Americium-241 is purified by coprecipitation with calcium oxalate and then ion exchanged in mixed media of the mineral acid-methanol. In the analysis,²⁴²Pu (or²³⁶Pu) and²⁴⁴Cm are used as chemical yield monitors. The recoveries of the yield monitors in the analyses of some kinds of environmental samples were 7080% for plutonium and 7686% for curium. The concentration of^239,240Pu in the coastal sea water were 7.022 Bq/l and that of²⁴¹Am was 1.26.3 Bq/l. The mean concentrations of^239,240Pu in the edible parts of the marine products ranged from 0.22 to 7.4 mBq/kg · fresh and those of²⁴¹Am ranged from 0.11 to 2.6 mBq/kg · fresh.     

Ultrathin poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted layer on polystyrene surfaces for cell adhesion/detachment control

We investigated physicochemical properties of two types of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm)-grafted tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) surfaces, to elucidate the influential factors for thermally regulated cell adhesion and detachment to PIPAAm-grafted surfaces. The two types of PIPAAm-grafted surfaces were prepared by the electron beam polymerization method. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that amounts of the grafted polymers were 1.4 +/- 0.1 microg/cm2 for PIPAAm-1.4 and 2.9 +/- 0.1 microg/cm2 for PIPAAm-2.9. Both PIPAAm-grafted surfaces showed hydrophobic/hydrophilic property alterations in response to temperature. However, PIPAAm-1.4 surfaces were more hydrophobic (cos theta = 0.21 at 37 degrees C and cos theta = 0.35 at 20 degrees C) than PIPAAm-2.9 (cos theta = 0.42 at 37 degrees C and cos theta = 0.50 at 20 degrees C) both above and below the PIPAAm's transition temperature. Thicknesses of the grafted PIPAAm layers were estimated to be 15.5 +/- 7.2 nm for PIPAAm-1.4 and 29.5 +/- 8.4 nm for PIPAAm-2.9, by the use of UV excimer laser and atomic force microscope. Bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (ECs) adhere to the surfaces of PIPAAm-1.4 and proliferate to form confluent cell monolayers. The cell monolayers were harvested as single cell sheets by temperature decrease from 37 to 20 degrees C. On the contrary, ECs did not adhere to the surfaces of PIPAAm-2.9. This phenomenon was correlated with an adsorption of cell adhesion protein, fibronectin, onto surfaces ofPIPAAm-1.4 and -2.9. In the case of nano-ordered thin grafted surfaces, the surface chain mobility is strongly influenced by the thickness of PIPAAm grafted layers because dehydration of PIPAAm chains should be enhanced by the hydrophobic TCPS surfaces. PIPAAm graft amounts, that is, thickness of the PIPAAm grafted layers, play a crucial role in temperature-induced hydrophilic/hydrophobic property alterations and cell adhesion/detachment behavior.     

Micropatterned composite membranes of polymerized and fluid lipid bilayers

Micropatterned composite membranes of polymerized and fluid lipid bilayers were constructed on solid substrates. Lithographic photopolymerization of a diacetylene-containing phospholipid, 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DiynePC), and subsequent removal of nonreacted monomers by a detergent solution (0.1 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)) yielded a patterned polymeric bilayer matrix on the substrate. Fluid lipid bilayers of phosphatidylcholine from egg yolk (egg-PC) were incorporated into the lipid-free wells surrounded by the polymeric bilayers through the process of fusion and reorganization of suspended small unilamellar vesicles. Spatial distribution of the fluid bilayers in the patterned bilayer depended on the degree of photopolymerization that in turn could be modulated by varying the applied UV irradiation dose. The polymeric bilayer domains blocked lateral diffusion of the fluid lipid bilayers and confined them in the defined areas (corrals), if the polymerization was conducted with a sufficiently large UV dose. On the other hand, lipid molecules of the fluid bilayers penetrated into the polymeric bilayer domains, if the UV dose was relatively small. A direct correlation was observed between the applied UV dose and the lateral diffusion coefficient of fluorescent marker molecules in the fluid bilayers embedded within the polymeric bilayer domains. Artificial control of lateral diffusion by polymeric bilayers may lead to the creation of complex and versatile biomimetic model membrane arrays.     

A new ring-opening access to aeroplysinin-1, a secondary metabolite of Verongia aerophoba

An improved synthetic methodology of spiroisoxazolines by employing anodic oxidation of the corresponding phenol derivative has been established. An alternative efficient synthesis of aeroplysinin-1 1 has been achieved by employing the ring-opening reaction of spiroisoxazolines 10b, 10c as a key step.     

Studies on the syntheses of polymetalloxanes and their properties as a precursor for amorphous oxide. V. Preparation and properties of polytitanosiloxanes from silicic acid and bis(2,4-pentanedionato)titanium diisopropoxide

Preparation and properties of polytitanosiloxanes (PTS) as a preceramic polymer for SiO₂-TiO₂ fibers were investigated. The PTS was prepared by the reaction of bis(2,4-pentanedionato) titanium diisopropoxide (PTP) with silicic acid (SA), extracted with tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous solution, in methanol. They were soluble in methanol, ethanol, and THF. The molecular weight (M_n ) was 1500–4200 depending on the reaction molar ratio (SA/PTP). A Concentrated methanol solution of PTS showed an appreciable stability to self-condensation and good spinnability. Dry spinning of the solution provided golden yellow precursor fibers which can be subjected to thermal-treatment to give ceramic fibers. The PTS is considered to be a copolymer formed by the condensation of oligomeric silicic acid with PTP consisting of Si? O? Ti and Si? O? Si linkages in the molecular main chain with the ligand and hydroxy groups as pendants.     

Magnetic Alignment in Solid State and Temperature Hysteresis in Aqueous Tetrahydrofuran Solution for Tetrathiafulvaleno[18]annulenes

Tris(tetrathiafulvaleno)dodecadehydro[18]annulene‐hexaesters have a multi‐functionality that is very sensitive to small differences in the ester side‐chain. Self‐aggregation of the [18]annulenes in amphiphilic media such as THF–H₂O (v/v, 1:1) either produce a fibrous structure or result in temperature hysteresis of the color and ¹H NMR signals. This temperature hysteresis in solution is due to both strong self‐aggregation behavior and unique cluster formation in a binary solution of THF and water.     

Efficient oxidation of alcohols electrochemically mediated by azabicyclo-N-oxyls

Preparation of azabicyclo-N-oxyls and the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols using them as mediators have been exploited. This oxidation was applicable to a transformation of sterically hindered secondary alcohols into the corresponding ketones in high yields.