Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral Coupling of α‐Trifluoromethylacrylic Acid with Benzamides through Directed C−H Bond Cleavage

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with bezamides proceeds smoothly accompanied by amide‐directed C?H bond cleavage to produce β‐[2‐(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]‐α‐trifluoromethylpropanoic acid derivatives. One of the products can be transformed to a trifluoromethyl substituted heterocyclic compound. In addition, the redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with related aromatic substrates possessing a nitrogen‐containing directing group can also be conducted under similar conditions.     

Amphoteric poly(vinyl alcohol) gel as a force generator: Observation of microporous gel formation with cryo-SEM

Amphoteric PVA hydrogels were made from mixed aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid), poly(allylamine) hydrochloride and poly(vinyl alcohol) by repetitive freezing and thawing. The hydrogen bond induced gelation produced an elastic and tough microporous hydrogel which generated tension as high as 0.3MPa corresponding to the solvent exchange from water to acetone. In this paper we show the microscopic structure of hydrogels determined by means of cryo-SEM technique and X-ray analysis.     

Techniques for realizing practical application of sulfur cathodes in future Li-ion batteries

The development of lithium-sulfur batteries is associated with many problems. These problems include polysulfide dissolution, the shuttle phenomenon, the low electric and ionic conductivity of S, and the volume change that occurs during charge and discharge. In this review, various elemental techniques for overcoming these problems are summarized from the standpoints of the supporting materials. These techniques include preventing polysulfide dissolution from the cathodes through physical and chemical adsorption on the supporting materials, the use of electrolytes that do not dissolve polysulfides via the coordination of Li⁺ and solvents, and the use of ion-exchange polymers to permeate Li⁺ selectively. The following approaches to enable practical applications of S cathodes in future Li-ion batteries are introduced: the utilization of Li-free anode materials, such as C and Si; the use of Li₂S cathodes, which are prepared via a pre-lithiation process; and increasing the areal capacity of the S cathode by using a suitable current collector such as Al foam, thus providing a large amount of space for Li⁺ to migrate and the electron-conductive path. The utilization of an Al foam current collector is one of the promising approaches to creating a cost-effective Li-ion battery owing to the established mass production of Al foam for use in NiMH batteries; such Li-ion battery can achieve an unprecedentedly high areal capacity of 21.9 mAh cm^?2. Owing to the resulting areal capacity, the possibility of developing a lithium-sulfur battery with an energy density greater than 200 Wh kg^?1 has been demonstrated. Consequently, the combination of these approaches, as introduced in this review, would help create a bright, sustainable society.     

Inter-atomic distance and temperature dependence of correlation effects among thermal displacements

Diffuse neutron scattering from a powder AgCl was measured from 10 to 260 K. The correlation effects among thermal displacements of atoms were obtained from the diffraction data. The values of the correlation effects decrease rapidly with the increase of the inter-atomic distance. The values also decrease with the decrease of temperature. The similar tendency was also obtained in AgBr and CuI. The temperature dependence of the values of correlation effects agrees with the result by a simple Debye model of lattice vibrations.     

Synthesis of lipophilic bisanthracene fluorophores: versatile building blocks toward the synthesis of new light-harvesting dendrimers

Lipophilic bisanthracene-based fluorophore and its derivatives were synthesized by the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of 9-anthrylboronic acid with a substituted dibromobenzene. In addition to desirable fluorescent properties, these molecular systems were demonstrated to serve as versatile building blocks toward the synthesis of two types of new light-harvesting dendrimers due to their chemical stability.     

Convenient green preparation of dipeptides using unprotected α-amino acids

Dipeptides and amides were obtained in high yields from N-carbobenzyloxy α-amino acids and 3-phenylpropanoic acid with unprotected α-amino acids via the corresponding mixed carbonic carboxylic anhydrides using ethyl chloroformate and triethylamine by an ecological and convenient method in which the protection of C-terminals is not needed.     

A practical synthesis of L-ribose

L-Ribose was synthesized by a simple four-step method with overall yield of 76.3% from a protected L-arabinose derivative, which is a compatible intermediate for the synthesis of L-deoxyribose. The key step of this strategy is the Swern oxidation and subsequent stereoselective reduction accompanied by inversion of the 2-hydroxy group of protected L-arabinose.     

Palladium-catalyzed multiple arylation of thiophenes

Secondary 2-thiophenecarboxamides efficiently undergo unique triarylation accompanied by formal decarbamoylation under palladium catalysis. 3-Substituted thiophenes, especially having an electron-withdrawing group, can also be triarylated.     

Crying and Behavioral Characteristics in Premature Infants

The aims of this study were to analyze 1) whether there was the relationship between the neonatal behavioral characteristics and amount of crying in premature infants at term age, and 2) what kind of difference between infants with high levels of crying and cry less on neonatal behavioral characteristics using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). The study participants consisted of 69 healthy low birth-weight infants who were admitted to the NICU at the Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan. This study analyzed the relationship between NBAS scores measured neonatal behavioral performance and crying at term age. This study results indicate that there was significant statistical negative correlation between the amount of total daily crying and Habituation, Range of state, Regulation of state, and Autonomic stability cluster scores and some individual items scores (Response decrement to light, Response decrement to tactile of foot, Alert responsiveness, Examiner persistence, Motor maturity, Irritability, General irritability, Cuddliness, Consolability, Self-quieting activity, and State regulation). The high levels crying group also showed higher responsivity than less crying group in the items of Peak of excitement, Rapidity of build-up, Irritability and General irritability. In conclusion, neonatal behavioral characteristics such as poor inhibit discrete stimuli while asleep, hyper-responsivity and poor state regulation abilities were risk factors of high levels of crying.