Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity of Transparent Anatase Nanocrystals-Dispersed Silica Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process with Hot Water Treatment

Anatase nanocrystals were precipitated mainly at the surface of the silica-titania gel films with hot water treatment, whereas the addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the films led to the dispersion of anatase nanocrystals in the whole of the films after the treatment. Both films with and without PEG showed high photocatalytic activities for acetaldehyde, NO _x and stearic acid in the gas-solid system, and for methylene blue and potassium iodide in the liquid-solid system. The addition of PEG improved the photocatalytic activities of the resultant films due to the smaller anatase crystallites and the porous film structure. The residual silica under-layer of the superficially anatase-precipitated films is expected to act as a protective one for an organic polymer substrate against the photocatalytic degradation.     

Two novel aromatic glycosides,pueroside-A and -B,from puerariae radix

Two novel aromatic glycosides were obtained from Puerariae Radix and their chemical structures were characterized.     

Ru(II)-catalyzed chemo- and regioselective cyclotrimerization of three unsymmetrical alkynes through boron temporary tether. One-pot four-component coupling via cyclotrimerization/Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

The Ru(II)-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of alkynylboronates, propargyl alcohol, and terminal alkynes proceeded chemo- and regioselectively to give rise to arylboronates, which were subjected to Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with aryliodides to afford highly substituted biaryls in 53-76% yields.     

Preparation of Titania Nanosheet-Precipitated Coatings on Glass Substrates by Treating SiO2-TiO2 Gel Films with Hot Water Under Vibrations

Titania nanosheet-precipitated coatings have been prepared by treating SiO₂-TiO₂ gel films on glass substrates with hot water at 90°C under vibration. Longitudinal vibrations at about 6 Hz during the treatment enhanced the formation of titania nanosheet. The titania nanosheet consisted of several layers with a spacing of about 0.6 nm and was identified as hydrated titania with a lepidocrocite-type structure. The morphology of the titania nanosheet-precipitated coatings is probably achieved by lowering of the concentration of hydrolyzed titania species at the surface due to rapid water flow driven by the vibrations. The coatings were transparent in the visible range and showed high photocatalytic activity and antifogging property.     

Medium-sized cyclophanes—XVII : Tetra-, hexa-, octa- and decahydropyrenes from [2.2]metacyclophane. Transannular dehydrogenation,isomerization, and disproportionation reactions by means of benzoyl peroxide,metal salts and sulfuric acids

[2.2]Metacyclophane (1) undergoes a variety of reactions according to the reagents and conditions. These include (1) substitution (path a), (2) transannular dehydrogenation (path b and c), (3) cycloisomerization (path d) and (4) transannular hydrogenation. A brief summary of these reactions is presented.The diversity of the reactions of 1 is further explored using benzoyl peroxide (BPO), cupric chloride, aluminum chloride, other metal salts, H₂SO₄ and FSO₃H. With BPO or cupric chloride, one-electron transfer mechanism is postulated. This involves a tautomeric ion pair formed by the intramolecular arylation with an aryl cation radical. A supporting evidence in favor of the mechanism is presented from experiments using various metal salts in different solvents.On the contrary, the reaction with aluminum chloride gives decahydropyrene (8) and octahydropyrene (11) together with cycloisomerization product 5 and dehydrogenation products 2, 3 and 4. When treated with AlCl₃HCl 1 gives similar products as above but the product ratios are quite different. The major product is 5 but only a trace amount of 8 is formed. The reaction with H₂SO₄ or FSO₃H also produce 2, 4, 5 and 11. Some mechanistic evidence in favor of the disproportionation reaction is presented.     

Synthesis of asymmetric cyclopropyl acids and amines

(+) (S)- and (?) (R)-trans-1,2-cyclopropanedicarboxylic acids (C3A), (+) (S)- and (?) (R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclopropanes (C3B), (+) (S)- and (?) (R)-trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamines (øC3B), (+) (S)- and (?) (R)-trans-1,2-bis(methylamino)-cyclopropanes (C3MB), and (+) (S)- and (?) (R)-trans-(2-phenylcyclopropyl)-methylamines (øC3MB) were prepared.     

Optimal laser control of ultrafast photodissociation of I2- in water: mixed quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulation

A linearized optimal control method in combination with mixed quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulation is used for numerically investigating the possibility of controlling photodissociation wave packets of I(2)(-) in water. Optimal pulses are designed using an ensemble of photodissociation samples, aiming at the creation of localized dissociation wave packets. Numerical results clearly show the effectiveness of the control although the control achievement is reduced with an increase in the internuclear distance associated with a target region. We introduce effective optimal pulses that are designed using a statistically averaged effective dissociation potential, and show that they semiquantitatively reproduce the control achievements calculated by using optimal pulses. The control mechanisms are interpreted from the time- and frequency-resolved spectra of the effective optimal pulses.     

Highly sensitive determination of haloperidol in human serum by capillary gas chromatography using a surface ionization detector

A method has been developed for highly sensitive determination of haloperidol in human serum involving a simple extraction procedure followed by gas chromatographic separation. Target components were separated from the extracting solvents with a Van den Berg type solventless sample injector before introduction Into a DB-1 capillary separation column. A surface ionization detector (SID), which has highly selective sensitivity for Substituted amines, was employed for quantitation using bromperidol as an internal standard. Chloroform proved to be the best extracting solvent, yielding a quantitative detection limit of 5 ng/ml (S/N = 2). Comparison of the response to target compounds obtained by the SID, FTD (flame thermionic detector), and FID (flame ionization detector) showed the SID to be superior.     

Determination of meropenem by capillary electrophoresis using direct injection of serum

Concentration determination of meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, using a capillary electrophoresis method by direct injection of serum samples without any pretreatment is described herein. Sodium tetraborate (25 mM)-sodium hydroxide (0.1 M) containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (90 mM) is used as a run buffer (pH 10.0). Meropenem is detected at its absorption maximum at 297 nm. Migration time of meropenem is approximately 7.2 min, and the detection limit of the assay is 2.0 mg/L at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.0. The relative standard deviations of intra- and interassay accuracies are 3.43-8.87% and 4.28-8.54%, respectively, at a nominal concentration of 6.3-100.0 mg/L, and their recovery rates are 94-111% and 92-105%, respectively.