Enantiomer discrimination using terahertz spectroscopy via formation of a diastereomer salt

This paper presents a new recognition method using terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. By forming a guest–host diastereomer with an optically active compound (host) as a chiral recogniser, the chirality of the enantiomer (guest) can be clearly discriminated according to its absorption spectra. In this proof-of-concept study, we examined a pair of host–guest (h–g) complexes made of (R)- or (S)-α-methylbenzylamine (guest) and cholic acid (host).     

Structures of beta-FeOOH particles formed in the presence of Ti(IV), Cr(III), and Cu(II) ions

beta-FeOOH particles were prepared by aging aqueous FeCl3 solutions containing Ti(IV), Cr(III), and Cu(II) at room temperature for 360 days. The structures of the formed particles were investigated by various techniques including TEM, XRD, XAFS, and adsorption of N2 and H2O. Ti(IV) markedly impeded the crystallization and particle growth of beta-FeOOH by coprecipitation with Fe(III) and disturbing the short-range structure of beta-FeOOH particles. In the presence of a large amount of Ti(IV), it was pronounced that the hydrolysis of Ti(IV) impeded beta-FeOOH formation by reducing the solution pH, whereas Cr(III) and Cu(II), which were hardly involved in the products, gave rise to no noticeable effects on the formation of beta-FeOOH particles. The knowledge obtained in this study can be available for interpretation of the anti-corroding function of Ti alloyed with steels in a Cl- -containing environment.     

Influence of hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed Ti,Cr, and Al ions on the formation of beta-FeOOH particles

Beta-FeOOH particles were synthesized in the presence of Ti(IV), Al(III), and Cr(III) at metal/Fe atomic ratios of 0-0.1 by the following two methods: hydrolysis of aqueous FeCl3 solutions added to the hydrolysis products of these metal ions (subsequent hydrolysis, SH) and hydrolysis of aqueous FeCl3 solutions dissolving these metal ions (combined hydrolysis, CH). On increasing Al/Fe the particle size of the products with AlCl3 by SH method steeply rose at a low Al/Fe and then fell. The similar increase of particle size was seen in SH method with Ti(SO4)2 though the addition of TiCl4 decreased the particle size. In CH method, Ti(IV) markedly impeded the beta-FeOOH formation but Al(III) and Cr(III) showed no influence. The particles prepared by CH and SH methods contained a large amount of Ti(IV) but a few Al(III) and Cr(III). The large spindle-shaped and rod-shaped particles produced by SH method with AlCl3 and Ti(SO4)2 were highly microporous and poorly crystallized, indicating that the particles consist of fine primary particles and the aggregation of fine particles would be promoted by SO4(2-). The different influences of the metal ions on the beta-FeOOH formation were explained by their hydrolysis characteristics.     

Synthesis of the Pluramycins 2: Total Synthesis and Structure Assignment of Saptomycin B

A concise, highly convergent total synthesis of saptomycin B, a member of the pluramycin class of antitumor antibiotics, is reported. The target compound was assembled from four building blocks (a tricyclic platform, two sugars, and an alkynal) in 15% yield through 10 synthetic operations. The key steps included the regioselective installation of two amino sugars (L ‐vancosamine and D ‐angolosamine) on the tricycle and the efficient construction of the tetracyclic skeleton by an aldol reaction followed by formation of the pyranone. The unknown configuration at C14 was assigned as R.     

GaP Raman Terahertz high accuracy spectrometer and its application to detect organic and inorganic crystalline defects

One of the most important uses of THz spectrometry is to detect defects in molecular structure or in crystals efficiently. We applied GaP Raman THz (GRT) spectrometer to detect and evaluate defects in inorganic and organic materials. High THz-wave absorption due to high defect density of GaSe crystal lowered the efficiency of THz wave generation, when the crystal is used as nonlinear material for DFG (Difference Frequency Generation). Defects in organic molecules could be observed as changes in frequency, intensities of the absorption, and broadenings of the spectra.     

Biobased Polymers via Radical Homopolymerization and Copolymerization of a Series of Terpenoid-Derived Conjugated Dienes with exo-Methylene and 6-Membered Ring

A series of exo-methylene 6-membered ring conjugated dienes, which are directly or indirectly obtained from terpenoids, such as β-phellandrene, carvone, piperitone, and verbenone, were radically polymerized. Although their radical homopolymerizations were very slow, radical copolymerizations proceeded well with various common vinyl monomers, such as methyl acrylate (MA), acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and styrene (St), resulting in copolymers with comparable incorporation ratios of bio-based cyclic conjugated monomer units ranging from 40 to 60 mol% at a 1:1 feed ratio. The monomer reactivity ratios when using AN as a comonomer were close to 0, whereas those with St were approximately 0.5 to 1, indicating that these diene monomers can be considered electron-rich monomers. Reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) copolymerizations with MA, AN, MMA, and St were all successful when using S-cumyl-S’-butyl trithiocarbonate (CBTC) as the RAFT agent resulting in copolymers with controlled molecular weights. The copolymers obtained with AN, MMA, or St showed glass transition temperatures (T_g) similar to those of common vinyl polymers (T_g ~ 100 °C), indicating that biobased cyclic structures were successfully incorporated into commodity polymers without losing good thermal properties.     

Molecular dynamics study on helium nanobubbles in water

Interfacial properties of helium nanobubbles in water at normal conditions have been investigated using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations for systems including over one million atoms. The surface tension of a helium nanobubble is a convex function with respect to the bubble radius, and is estimated to vanish at a critical radius of approximately 1 nm.     

Biotinylated and enzyme-immobilized carrier prepared by hetero-bifunctional latex beads

Biotinylated and pyruvate kinase immobilized nano-bio element have been prepared using hetero-bifunctional latex beads, where the enzyme activity is roughly half of the free enzyme.     

High‐Resolution Crystal Structure of a Silver(I)–RNA Hybrid Duplex Containing Watson–Crick‐like C?Silver(I)?C Metallo‐Base Pairs

Metallo‐base pairs have been extensively studied for applications in nucleic acid‐based nanodevices and genetic code expansion. Metallo‐base pairs composed of natural nucleobases are attractive because nanodevices containing natural metallo‐base pairs can be easily prepared from commercially available sources. Previously, we have reported a crystal structure of a DNA duplex containing T Hg^II T base pairs. Herein, we have determined a high‐resolution crystal structure of the second natural metallo‐base pair between pyrimidine bases C Ag^I C formed in an RNA duplex. One Ag^I occupies the center between two cytosines and forms a C Ag^I C base pair through N3 Ag^I N3 linear coordination. The C Ag^I C base pair formation does not disturb the standard A‐form conformation of RNA. Since the C Ag^I C base pair is structurally similar to the canonical Watson–Crick base pairs, it can be a useful building block for structure‐based design and fabrication of nucleic acid‐based nanodevices.