Multiple Ca(2+) environments in silicate glasses by high-resolution (43)Ca MQMAS NMR technique at high and ultra-high (21.8 T) magnetic fields

We here show the (43)Ca 5QMAS NMR spectra at high field (16.4 T) and the first 7QMAS spectrum at ultra-high field (21.8 T) for geologically important Ca-containing glasses. The high-resolution MQMAS spectra present a clear evidence of multiple Ca sites in the amorphous structures that have never been identified by other analytical methods. The present study suggests that the Ca(2+) ions are mainly in 7- and 8-fold coordination sites. This will offer valuable insights for dynamic properties of magmatic liquids. The MQMAS NMR technique at high magnetic field is a unique tool to understand the detailed structural information on a specific element in solids including organic and inorganic compounds.     

Exciton transfer between localized states in ZnO quantum well structures

The dynamics of photocreated excitons in a CdZnO/MgZnO quantum well (QW) was studied by comparing the experimental photoluminescence (PL) data with the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the exciton hopping. The temperature-dependent PL linewidth was found to be in reasonable agreement with the model of exciton hopping, with an additional inhomogeneous broadening (Γ) accounted for. The simulation analysis revealed fluctuations of the band potential to be 20 meV with an additional inhomogeneous broadening of , and a crossover from a non-thermalized to thermalized exciton energy distribution at about 100 K. In addition, a Bose–Einstein distribution like temperature dependence of the exciton energy in the wells was extracted using the data on the PL peak position.     

Quantitative Detection for Porphyromonas gingivalis in Tooth Pocket and Saliva by Portable Electrochemical DNA Sensor Linked with PCR

Here, a quantitative electrochemical analysis of periodontal bacteria in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is presented. The electrochemical measurement was performed by mixing with PCR products and electrochemical indicator (bisbenzimidazole trihydrochloride). The peak current of indicator is reduced due to slower diffusion when the dye intercalates into the amplified DNA, and the degree of reduction in the peak current is correlates with the quantity of amplified DNA. Therefore, a quantitative analysis is possible by using our electrochemical method at the end point of PCR. In the GCF testing, The number of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) detected by our electrochemical method at the end point of PCR were almost same compared with that were calculated by the conventional method of quantitative real? time PCR. In the saliva testing, the relationship between number of Pg in saliva and average pocket depth, and age‐dependence were also clearly observed. Since the saliva sample is obtained in a non‐invasive manner, this method is useful for the primary screening of periodontal disease. Moreover, our detection method is simple and uses a hand‐held potentiostat making it suitable for development of an on‐site periodontal diagnosis system.     

Preparation of hybrid microcapsules and application to self‐healing agent

It was tried to prepare hybrid microcapsules composed of porous inorganic particles and epoxy resin shell and to apply to the self‐healing agent. A water soluble imidazole of gelation promoting agent as the core material was microencapsulated in the porous inorganic particles, which were coated with epoxy resin. The porous inorganic particles were prepared with the interfacial reaction between sodium silicate and calcium ion in the (W/O) dispersion. In the experiment, the concentration of sodium silicate and the mixing speed to form the (W/O) dispersion were mainly changed. The porous inorganic particles were immersed in the aqueous solution dissolving imidazole and then, added in the corn oil dissolving epoxy resin to be microencapsulated with gelated epoxy resin. The hybrid microcapsules containing imidazole with the mean diameters from 200 to 400 µm were able to be prepared and to induce the gelation reaction of epoxy resin by breaking the hybrid microcapsule shell due to heating. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis, π‐Face‐Selective Aggregation,and π‐Face Chiral Recognition of Configurationally Stable C3‐Symmetric Propeller‐Chiral Molecules with a π‐Core

The C₃‐symmetric propeller‐chiral compounds (P,P,P)‐ 1 and (M,M,M)‐ 1 with planar π‐cores perpendicular to the C₃‐axis were synthesized in optically pure states. (P,P,P)‐ 1 possesses two distinguishable propeller‐chiral π‐faces with rims of different heights named the (P/L)‐face and (P/H)‐face. Each face is configurationally stable because of the rigid structure of the helicenes contained in the π‐core. (P,P,P)‐ 1 formed dimeric aggregates in organic solutions as indicated by the results of ¹H NMR, CD, and UV/Vis spectroscopy and vapor pressure osmometry analyses. The (P/L)/(P/L) interactions were observed in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and they were also predominant over the (P/H)/(P/H) and (P/L)/(P/H) interactions in solution, as indicated by the results of ¹H and 2D NMR spectroscopy analyses. The dimerization constant was obtained for a racemic mixture, which showed that the heterochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(M,M,M)‐ 1 interactions were much weaker than the homochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(P,P,P)‐ 1 interactions. The results indicated that the propeller‐chiral (P/L)‐face interacts with the (P/L)‐face more strongly than with the (P/H)‐face, (M/L)‐face, and (M/H)‐face. The study showed the π‐face‐selective aggregation and π‐face chiral recognition of the configurationally stable propeller‐chiral molecules.     

Chiral Phosphoric‐Acid‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Ethyl Ketimine Derivatives by Using Benzothiazoline

Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of ketimines derived from propiophenone derivatives and reductive amination of alkyl ethyl ketone derivatives were extensively examined in the presence of two representative hydrogen donors. The excellent enantioselective transfer hydrogenation was achieved by use of benzothiazoline as a hydrogen donor. The theoretical studies elucidated that the unsymmetrical structure of benzothiazoline plays an important role in high enantioselective hydrogenation.     

Direct Enantioselective Three‐Component Synthesis of Optically Active Propargylamines in Water

An enantioselective three‐component reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water by using a bis(imidazoline)–Cu^I catalysts having a hydrophobic substituent and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant was developed. The reaction was applied to a broad range of aldehydes and alkynes to give optically active propargylamines with excellent yields (up to 99 %) and enantiomeric excesses (up to 99 % ee).     

Facile Synthesis of Dibenzopentalene Dianions and Their Application as New π‐Extended Ligands

Reduction of phenyl(silyl)ethynes with potassium followed by quenching with iodine gave dibenzopentalenes in moderate yields. The intermediates of the reactions, dipotassium dibenzopentalenides, were isolated. The first dibenzopentalene–transition‐metal complex was successfully synthesized. The ruthenium atoms are located above the six‐membered rings. However, X‐ray diffraction analysis and theoretical calculations revealed that the aromatic nature of the five‐membered rings was retained. The cyclic voltammetry of the Ru complex revealed two oxidation waves with relatively large separation.     

Plasma-Induced Synthesis of CuO Nanofibers and ZnO Nanoflowers in Water

Fiber-shaped cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and flower-shaped ZnO nanoparticles were facilely synthesized by plasma-induced technique directly from copper and zinc electrode pair in water, respectively. The phase composition, morphologies and optical property of nanoparticles have been investigated by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis. The in situ analysis by an optical emission spectroscopy clarified the formation mechanism. Plasma was generated from the discharge between a metal electrode pair in water by a pulse direct current power. CuO and ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via almost the same formation mechanism, which were prepared via the rapid energetic radicals’ bombardment to electrodes’ surface, atom vapour diffusion, plasma expansion, solution medium condensation, and in situ oxygen reaction and further growth. This novel plasma-induced technique will become a potential application in nanomaterials synthesis.     

Intense Red-Blue Luminescence Based on Superfine Control of Metal–Metal Interactions for Self-Assembled Platinum(II) Complexes

A series of assembled Pt^II complexes comprising N-heterocyclic carbene and cyanide ligands was constructed using different substituent groups, [Pt(CN)₂(R-impy)] (R-impyH⁺=1-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazolium, R=Me ( Pt-Me ), Et ( Pt-Et ), ⁱPr ( Pt- ⁱ Pr ), and ^tBu ( Pt- ^t Bu )). All the complexes exhibited highly efficient photoluminescence with an emission quantum yield of 0.51–0.81 in the solid state at room temperature, originating from the triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) state. Their emission colors cover the entire visible region from red for Pt-Me to blue for Pt- ^t Bu . Importantly, Pt- ^t Bu is the first example that exhibits blue ³MMLCT emission. The ³MMLCT emission was proved and characterized based on the temperature dependences of the crystal structures and emission properties. The wide-range color tuning of luminescence using the ³MMLCT emission presents a new strategy of superfine control of the emission color.