New approaches to liquid interfaces through changes in the refractive index and nonlinear susceptibility utilizing ultrashort laser pulses.

Molecules in inhomogeneous liquid environments, such as air/liquid, liquid/liquid, solid/liquid interfaces interact with each other specifically, and sometimes form characteristic structures and emerge unique properties. Here, we introduce two newly developed spectroscopic techniques, the total-internal-reflection ultrafast transient lens method (TIR-UTL) and second harmonic generation-coherent vibrational spectroscopy (SHG-CVS), to investigate the characteristic behaviors of molecules in such inhomogeneous environments. TIR-UTL probes the refractive-index change with sub-picosecond resolution and provides information on ultrafast changes in the population, density, and thermal properties, such as temperature increase and energy transfer from the solute molecules to the surrounding solvent molecules. On the other hand, SHG-CVS probes nonlinear susceptibility changes at the interfacial areas, and is expected to provide spectroscopic information on the low-frequency vibrational modes that reflect the corrective motion of the molecules in such an inhomogeneous environment. These new approaches are based on pump-probe techniques utilizing (ultra) short laser pulses. They are expected to provide further information on inhomogeneous environments from the viewpoints of solute-solvent interactions, changes in the molecular orientation, and the corrective motion of molecules at liquid interfaces.     

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of hydroxylamine in fresh-water samples using hypochlorite followed by gas chromatography.

A new and simple method for the determination of hydroxylamine in environmental water, such as fresh rivers and lakes using hypochlorite, followed by its gas choromatographic detection, has been developed. A glass vial filled with sample water was sealed by a butyl-rubber stopper and aluminum cap without head-space, and then sodium hypochlorite solution was injected into the vial through a syringe to convert hydroxylamine to nitrous oxide. The head-space in the glass vial was prepared with 99.9% grade N2 using a gas-tight syringe. After the glass vial was shaken for a few minutes, nitrous oxide in the gas-phase was measured by a gas chromatograph with an electron-capture detector. The dissolved nitrous oxide in the liquid-phase was calculated according to the solubility formula. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of fresh-water samples taken from Iu river and Hii river, flowing into brackish Lakes Nakaumi and Shinji, respectively.     

Organoaluminum–cyclic ether-cyclic imide catalysts for the polymerization of epoxides

A catalyst for the polymerization of epoxides consisting of trialkylaluminums, cyclic ethers, and cyclic imides has been investigated. Various catalyst components were examined to reveal that the combination of triisobutylaluminum, dioxane, and succinimide gives the most active catalyst. The catalytic activity is greatly enhanced with aging in which the change in color from pale yellow to dark red takes place. The polymerization data show that the dioxane provides a pathway for the catalyst components to form an active species. The dioxane-containing catalyst is likely to be different in structure from that of the dioxane-free catalyst. It was shown that the catalyst solution is electrically conductive. A parallel correlation seems to exist between the electrical conductivity and the catalytic activity, suggesting that the catalytic species may be of an ionic character.     

A new convenient method for the synthesis of mixed-ligand β-diketonato Tc(III) complexes

A new convenient method has been proposed to synthesize mixed-ligand -diketonato Tc(III) complexes, using the ligand exchange reaction [Tc(acac)₂(CH₃CN)₂]⁺+L^–[Tc(acac)₂L]+ +2CH₃CN where L is bza, dpm or dbm. The yield was about 30–40%. UV-visible and IR spectra of these complexes were measured. Characteristic features of the compounds were compared with those of the corresponding complexes of ruthenium.     

New guanosine derivatives: facile O6-phosphorylation,thiophosphinylation sulfonylation and silylation of guanosine derivatives by 4-dimethylaminopyridine catalized reaction

Appropriately protected guanosine derivatives were successfully converted to the corresponding O⁶-substituted guanosine derivatives by treatment with dialkyl- or diaryl-phosphoryl halides, dialkyl- or diaryl-phosphinothioyl halides, arenesulfonyl chlorides, and trialkylsilyl chlorides.     

Solvent extraction of metal ions with mixed ligands: Extraction and separation of calcium and strontium with TTA and TBP in carbon tetrachloride

The solvent extraction of calcium(II) and strontium(II) by TTA has been studied using carbon tcetrachloride containing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), tributylphosphate (TBP), and methyl isobutyl ketone (hexone) as adduct-forming ligands. Stability constants for the systems are given. The separation of calcium and strontium can be effected by 0.1 M TTA +0.01 M TBP in carbon tetrachloride.     

Proteomic LC-MS systems using nanoscale liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Current nano-scale liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) approaches in proteome research are reviewed from an analytical perspective. For comprehensive analysis of cellular proteins, analytical methods with higher resolution, sensitivity, and wider dynamic range are required. Miniaturized LC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry is currently one of the most versatile techniques. In this review, the current status of nanoLC-MS/MS systems as well as data management systems is addressed. In addition, the future prospects for complete proteomics are discussed.