Solvent Role of Ionic Liquids in Fundamental Chemical Reaction Dynamics Analyzed by Time-Resolved Spectroscopy

Ionic liquids (ILs), which are used as solvents for chemical reactions, are different from conventional organic solvents owing to their designability. Physicochemical parameters of the ILs, such as polarity and viscosity, that affect chemical equilibria and reaction kinetics can be tuned by changing the combination of anions and cations or by varying the lengths of the alkyl chains present in the cations. We were interested in knowing how these physicochemical parameters affect fundamental chemical reactions in ILs. Therefore, in this personal account, we investigate our recent work on two different photochemical reactions in ILs, namely excited-state intramolecular proton transfer of hydroxyflavone and photodissociation of aminodisulfide, using time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Interestingly, the roles of the ILs in these chemical reactions are quite different. The effect of the cationic species of the ILs (i. e., the head groups and number of alkyl carbons) on the solvation environment upon photoexcitation and reaction rate are discussed.     

Thermal unfolding of proteins probed by laser spray mass spectrometry

The stability and conformational changes of cytochrome c (cyt c) at different temperatures and pH have been well examined so far by using various analytical methods. We have found that laser spray mass spectrometry enables much faster and more convenient monitoring of those changes of cyt c compared with other methods. The results correlated well with circular dichroism (CD) experiments under relatively acidic conditions, which destabilize the protein. Laser spray mass spectra of cyt c at various pH were obtained at different levels of laser power. Bimodal charge-state distributions of the protein were observed in laser spray mass spectra, indicating the two-state model of structural change; the lower charges correspond to the folded state, the higher charges to the unfolded state. Based on this result, the presumed denaturation curve of the protein was plotted as a function of laser power, and laser power by which 50% of the protein was assumed to be denatured, E50%, as obtained at each pH. We also examined the melting temperatures, Tm, of cyt c at various values of pH by using CD spectroscopy. The correlation coefficient between E50% and Tm for cyt c was 0.999, demonstrating an excellent correlation. Furthermore, laser spray analysis of ubiquitin, which is found to be more thermally stable than cyt c, gave a higher E50% than cyt c. These results indicate that laser spray mass spectrometry can be an extremely convenient method for probing thermal stabilities and dynamic conformational changes of proteins with subtle structural differences caused by slight changes in pH.     

Improvement of protein-compound docking scores by using amino-acid sequence similarities of proteins

The low accuracy of predicted docking scores is critical at in silico drug screening. In order to improve the accuracy of docking scores, we approximated the protein-compound binding free energy as a linear combination of the raw docking scores of a target compound with many different protein pockets. The coefficients of the linear combination were estimated by the similarities among proteins, simply by using the amino-acid sequence similarities or identities of the proteins. This method was applied to in silico screening of the active compounds of five target proteins, and it increased the hit ratio by approximately four to five times compared to that given only by the raw docking scores in every case. The hit ratio also became robust against differences of target proteins.     

Enhanced fluorescence detection of metal ions using light-harvesting mesoporous organosilica

Enhanced fluorescence detection of metal ions was realized in a system consisting of a fluorescent 2,2′‐bipyridine (BPy) receptor and light‐harvesting periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). The fluorescent BPy receptor with two silyl groups was synthesized and covalently attached to the pore walls of biphenyl (Bp)‐bridged PMO powder. The fluorescence intensity from the BPy receptor was significantly enhanced by the light‐harvesting property of Bp‐PMO, that is, the energy funneling into the BPy receptor from a large number of Bp groups in the PMO framework which absorbed UV light effectively. The enhanced emission of the BPy receptor was quenched upon the addition of a low concentration of Cu²⁺ (0.15–1.2×10^?6 M ), resulting in the sensitive detection of Cu²⁺. Upon titration of Zn²⁺ (0.3–6.0×10^?6 M ), the fluorescence excitation spectrum was systematically changed with an isosbestic point at 375 nm through 1:1 complexation of BPy and Zn²⁺ similar to that observed in BPy‐based solutions, indicating almost complete preservation of the binding property of the BPy receptor despite covalent fixing on the solid surface. These results demonstrate that light‐harvesting PMOs have great potential as supporting materials for enhanced fluorescence chemosensors.     

Does decalcification alter the tissue sound speed of rabbit supraspinatus tendon insertion? In vitro measurement using scanning acoustic microscopy

Failure of the tendon or ligament insertions is one of the most common injuries in the Orthopaedic field. To elucidate the pathogenesis of those injuries, the authors had attempted to measure the tissue sound speed that could be correlated to its elasticity using scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). For the application of SAM to tendon or ligament insertions, it was necessary to determine the role of decalcification in SAM measurements since mineralized tissues including bone or mineralized fibrocartilage were present at the insertion site. To assess whether decalcification alters the tissue sound speed or not, supraspinatus tendon insertion of six Japanese white rabbits were measured with SAM operating in the frequency range of 50-150 MHz. Right supraspinatus tendons attached to the humeral head were cut into two pieces at the center of the tendon. Then, they were fixed with 10% neutralized formalin for 12 h. In each specimen, medial half was not decalcified, while lateral half was decalcified with ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA). After embedding in paraffin, 5 microm thick specimens were prepared for the measurement using SAM. The mean sound speed in each histologic zone was evaluated, and subsequently compared to that measured in the undecalcified and the decalcified specimens. Mean sound speed of non-mineralized fibrocartilage was 1544 m/s in the undecalcified specimens, while the value of 1541 m/s was determined in the decalcified ones. On the other hand, it decreased 2-3% after decalcification in the mineralized tissue including mineralized fibrocartilage and bone (mineralized fibrocartilage: undecalcified = 1648 m/s, decalcified = 1604 m/s; bone: undecalcified = 1716 m/s, decalcified = 1677 m/s). However, no significant differences were found between the undecalcified and the decalcified specimens (non-mineralized fibrocartilage: p = 0.84, mineralized fibrocartilage: p = 0.35, bone: p = 0.28). These results indicate that SAM could be applied to determine the properties of the tendon or the ligament insertions after decalcification with EDTA. Although SAM is applicable only for in vitro experimental study, it is expected that these data will contribute to better understanding concerning the biomechanics of tendon or ligament insertions as well as the pathogenesis of their failure at a microscopic level.     

Dimensional dependence of electronic structure of fullerene polymers

Fullerene polymers made of C(60) are systematically investigated by means of a first-principles pseudopotential approach within the local density approximation of the density functional theory. We assume 10 different structures of fullerene polymers. The first three are C(60) polymer networks cross-linked by [2+2] cycloadditional four-membered rings, and the other seven are composed of peanut-shaped fused C(60) polymer chains cross-linked by either seven-membered rings or eight-membered rings. Owing to the overlap of wave functions as well as the hybrid networks of sp(2)-like (3-fold coordinated) and sp(3)-like (4-fold coordinated) carbon atoms, the electronic structure is considerably different from each other. We find that the resulting electronic structure is either semiconductor or semimetal depending on the spatial dimensionality of materials.     

Biobased contents of biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composites polymerized and directly molded using aluminium triflate from caprolactone with cellulose and inorganic filler

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) composite samples were prepared by polymerization and direct molding. The starting compound was epsilon-caprolactone monomer liquid combined with cellulose and inorganic fillers, using aluminium triflate as a catalyst at 80 degrees C, for 6 or 24 h. Cylinder-shaped PCL composite samples with a homogeneously dispersed cellulose filler were prepared with (-)M(n) = 4 600 ((-)M(w)/(-)M(n) = 2.9). The mechanical properties of the PCL composite samples were studied using compression test methods. The strength of a PCL composite with 50 wt.-% cellulose filler (10.8 MPa) was found to be lower than the PCL sample without fillers (19.2 MPa). The biobased content of the PCL composite with 50 wt.-% cellulose filler (51.67%) measured using accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) was slightly higher than the carbon ratio of cellulose in the starting powder samples (41.3 mol-%). The biobased content of the polymer composite powders by AMS was found not to be affected by the presence of inorganic fillers, such as talc. The rate and extent of biodegradation, caused by Amano Lipase PS, of the PCL composite sample with cellulose filler (40% degradation in 4 d) was the same as that of a PCL sample without the cellulose filler.     

二维矩形腔体中混合流体行进波对流

Rayleigh-Benard模型是研究对流稳定性,时空结构和非线性特性的典型模型之一。本文的兴趣集中在二维矩形腔体中混合流体对流场的结构方面。利用SIMPLE算法数值求解流体力学方程组,模拟了充分发展的二维矩形腔体中混合流体对流。结果说明偏离传导失去稳定的系统经过亚临界分叉产生了振动对流。进一步,我们给出了分叉曲线及其沿分叉曲线的上部分支三个Rayleigh数对应的对流图案的垂直速度场,流线,温度场,浓度场和Shadowgraph强度的等值线图。所有场的结构分析表明浓度场及Shadowgraph强度的等值线图可以很好的特征行进波的运动特性。     

Near-Infrared-Absorbing Chiral Open [60]Fullerenes

Though [60]fullerene is an achiral molecular nanocarbon with I_h symmetry, it could attain an inherent chirality depending upon a functionalization pattern. The conventional chiral induction of C₆₀ relies mainly upon a multiple addition affording a mixture of achiral and chiral isomers while their chiral function would be largely offset by the existence of pseudo-mirror plane(s). These are major obstacles to proceed further study on fullerene chirality and yet leave its understanding elusive. Herein, we showcase a carbene-mediated synthesis of C₁-symmetric chiral open [60]fullerenes showing an intense far-red to near-infrared absorption. The large dissymmetry factor of |g_abs|=0.12 was achieved at λ=820 nm for circular dichroism in benzonitrile. This is, in general, unachievable by other small chiral organic molecules, demonstrating the potential usage of open [60]fullerenes as novel types of chiral chromophores.     

Living polymerization of propylene and 1-hexene using bis-Cp type metallocene catalysts

To check the possibility of living polymerization with a biscyclopentadienyl metallocene, propylene polymerization was conducted by Cp₂ZrMe₂ at –78°C or Cp₂HfMe₂ at –50°C using B(C₆F₅)₃ and AlOct₃ as a cocatalyst. The polymer yield increased linearly with polymerization time. The polypropylene obtained showed narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n 1.04–1.15). In addition, the number-average molecular weight increased in proportion to the polymerization time. It was, thus, found that living polymerization of propylene proceeds with the catalyst systems at a very low temperature. Isospecific living polymerization of 1-hexene also proceeded with the rac-(et)Ind₂ZrMe₂ catalyst at –78°C.