An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-monomorine I

The synthesis of (+)-monomorine I, an indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Monomorium pharaonis, has been achieved. The 2,6-cis-piperidine ring moiety of (+)-monomorine I was constructed using diastereoselective aminopalladation. Chain elongation via cross-metathesis using Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd catalyst followed by deprotection of the Cbz group and cyclic reductive hydroamination afforded (+)-monomorine I.     

Construction of complex STO-NG basis sets by the method of least squares and their applications

The goals of electronic structure theory are to make quantitative predictions of molecular properties and to provide qualitative insight into bonding as well as features of potential energy surfaces. Oftentimes, the two goals are at odds as an accurate treatment requires a complicated wave function that obscures chemical insight. The multifacet graphically contracted function (MFGCF) method offers a new approach that allows both goals to be addressed simultaneously. The recursive product structure of the MFGCF wave function reduces the exponential scaling of the exact wave function and allows the computation of molecular properties with polynomial scaling with respect to system size. Additionally, the graph density concept provides an intuitive tool for visualizing and analyzing the qualitative features of the wave function. In this work, the graph densities for model systems are examined to demonstrate their utility in analyzing the changes in wave function character along potential energy surfaces and near avoided crossings. Finally, we demonstrate that the graph density exposes the structure of the exact wave function for a system of noninteracting molecules as a product of the fragment wave functions.     

n-Octyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside derivatives from the glandular trichome exudate of Geranium carolinianum

Chemical investigation of the glandular trichome exudate from Geranium carolinianum L. (Geraniaceae) led to the characterization of unique disaccharide derivatives, n-octyl 4-O-isobutyryl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-6-O-isobutyryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), n-octyl 4-O-isobutyryl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-6-O-(2-methylbutyryl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and n-octyl 4-O-(2-methylbutyryl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-6-O-isobutyryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), named caroliniasides A-C, respectively. These structures were determined by spectral means. n-Alkyl glycoside derivatives have been isolated from the glandular trichome exudates for the first time. This rare type of secondary metabolites could be applicable to chemotaxonomic perspective because they are found in glandular trichome exudates of plants belonging to the genus Geranium, according to our studies.     

Graft Polymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate onto Plasma Pretreated Cotton,Silk, and Polyester Fibers

Graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was made onto plasma pretreated fabrics of cotton, silk, and polyester. Homopolymerization also took place during the graft polymerization, but the percent of the homopolymer formation was comparatively small. Therefore, kinetic analyses of graft polymerization were undertaken based on the first-order reaction of the monomer. Through a comparison of the rate constants which were obtained from the rate equation of the graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, the dependence of plasma pretreatment on various factors and the resulting polymerization were clarified. Polymerizability was compared to that obtained with the Ce(IV) catalyst and without catalysts.     

Extra meridional reflections of drawn polyoxymethylene

Extra meridional reflections (00l: l = 3, 5, 13, 15, 21) were observed in drawn polyoxymethylene (POM). The 003, 0015, and 0021 x-ray diffraction intensities increase on annealing, while the 005 and 0013 intensities decrease. It is concluded that crystalline regions are of two kinds: in the first, which generates the 003, 0015, and 0021 reflections, the molecular conformation is slightly distorted from the uniform helix by intermolecular steric hindrance between the CH₂ groups; and in the second, which generates 005 and 0013 reflections, the molecular conformation is distorted in another way. The second form is converted into the first by annealing. The displacements in the c direction of the CH₂ groups and the oxygen atoms from the uniform helix in the first form are about 1.0% and 0.75% of the interval between a CH₂ group and an oxygen atom along helix axis of the POM crystal; thus the correct conformation in the stable state is known. The nature of distortion in the second region is not clarified but several characteristics are offered.     

A study on correlation between physical properties and interfacial characteristics in highly loaded graphite–polymer composites

Highly loaded graphite–polymer composites for a bipolar plate of polymer electrolyte fuel cell are studied. One of the composites contains of polypropylene (PP), and graphite powder and the other contains of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and the graphite, respectively. The electrical and physical properties for the composites are determined. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) measurements are carried out to characterize the surface of the graphite and the interface between the graphite and each polymer, following the Fowkes scheme. The IGC measurements show that the surface of graphite is nucleophilic and strongly attracts electrophiles by acid–base interaction. It is considered to be reasonable that the main chain carbon atoms to which electronegative fluorine atoms bond in PVDF are nucleophilic and has strong acid–base interaction with graphite. Such strong interaction causes high electric resistivity, high flexural properties, and high melt viscosity of the composite. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2568–2577, 2005