Study of Strangeness Photoproduction on the Neutron in the Threshold Region

Photoproduction of the neutral kaon on the deuteron has been investigated at the Research Center for Electron Photon Science, Tohoku University. We constructed the Neutral Kaon Spectrometer-2 for the detection of charged particles from the decay of the neutral kaon and the hyperon. We obtained a momentum distribution of K ⁰ with the inclusive measurement. It was consistent with the previous measurement. The total cross section of γ + d → K ⁰ + Λ + p was estimated from the measured integral cross section of γ + d → Λ + X. The total cross section with respect to the photon energy was compared with the theoretical calculations. It favored the Saclay-Lyon A model calculation with the ratio of the neutral to charged coupling constants of the axial-vector meson, K ₁, as ~ ?1.5. The energy dependence and the magnitude of the total cross section were similar to the total cross section of γ + p → K ⁺ Λ.     

Bending modulus of lipid bilayers in a liquid-crystalline phase including an anomalous swelling regime estimated by neutron spin echo experiments

Membrane fluctuations of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were investigated by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. The intermediate structure factor was analyzed in terms of the model proposed by Zilman and Granek (Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4788 (1996)), and the bending modulus of lipid bilayers was derived. The hardening of a lipid bilayer upon approaching the main transition point in the anomalous swelling regime was observed, which naturally connects the bending modulus in the gel phase below the main transition temperature.     

Effects of a lysophosphatidylcholine and a phosphatidylcholine on the morphology of taurocholic acid-based mixed micelles as determined by small-angle X-ray scattering

We previously showed that Caco-2 cell absorption of β-carotene from taurocholic acid (TA)-based mixed micelles differed depending on the composition of the micelles. In this study, the shapes and sizes of TA-based mixed micelles, that is, mixed micelles of TA, 1-oleoyl-rac-glycerol (MG), oleic acid (OLA), and either 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (MPPC; i.e., a lysophospholipid) or 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC; i.e., a phospholipid) (60:3:1:0.75–12) were determined by using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We found that increasing the ratio of MPPC in mixed micelles of TA, MG, OLA, and MPPC was responsible for the previously observed enhanced β-carotene absorption by Caco-2 cells and changed the micelle shape from core–shell spherical to core–shell ellipsoidal. In contrast, increasing the ratio of POPC in mixed micelles of TA, MG, OLA, and POPC was responsible for the suppressed β-carotene absorption by the cells, changed the micelle shape from core–shell spherical to core–shell ellipsoidal to core–shell cylindrical, and caused a rapid increase in micelle volume. These results will be useful for understanding the mechanisms that mediate β-carotene absorption by cells and for developing technologies to improve the intestinal absorption of lipophilic components of drugs and nutrients.     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed anti‐Carboboration of Alkynoates with 9‐BBN‐Based 1,1‐Diborylalkanes: Synthesis and Use of Multisubstituted γ‐Borylallylboranes

Trialkylphosphine organocatalysis has enabled the regioselective anti‐carboboration of alkynoates with 9‐BBN‐based 1,1‐diborylalkanes to produce secondary allylboranes with β‐alkoxycarbonyl and γ‐boryl substituents. The utility of the densely functionalized allylboranes was demonstrated by the highly diastereoselective allylation of N‐(trimethylsilyl)aldimines to produce homoallylamines containing tertiary allylborane and acrylate moieties.     

Hydrogenated tetraazaporphyrins--old but new core-modified phthalocyanine analogues

The synthesis, and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of hydrogenated tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs), namely tetraazachlorins (TACs), tetraazabacteriochlorins (TABCs) and tetraazaisobacteriochlorins (TAiBCs), have been reviewed. While the first synthesis of this type of hydrogenated aromatic macrocycle was achieved as early as 1958 by Linstead et al. (G. E. Ficken, R. P. Linstead, E. Stephen and M. Whalley, J. Chem. Soc., 1958, 3879), the development of modern synthetic strategies enables us to isolate stable forms of the hydrogenated TAP derivatives. Benzo-, 2,3-naphtho- and 1,2-naphtho-fused derivatives were synthesized extensively, and all structural isomers have been elucidated. The chemical structures have been characterized using a variety of techniques, including mass spectrometry, (1)H and (13)C NMR, X-ray crystallography and IR spectroscopy. The spectroscopic properties (e.g., electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and fluorescence) of these compounds differ significantly from those of the original TAPs, or phthalocyanines (Pcs), due to the symmetry-lowering effects of the core aromatic macrocycles. The experimentally observed properties have been rationalized on the basis of electrochemical studies and quantum chemical calculations. As an application of the TAC skeleton, the synthesis and electronic structures of tribenzo TAC (TBTAC)-C(60) conjugates, in which both components are covalently connected directly and thus show remarkable molecular orbital (MO) mixing between the constituting moieties, have also been reviewed.     

Optical resolution, absolute configuration, and chiroptical properties of three-layered [3.3]paracyclophane

A racemic mixture of three-layered [3.3]paracyclophane ([3.3]PCP), 1, has been resolved into two enantiomers, and their absolute configuration was determined from a comparison of experimental chiroptical properties and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A simple model comprising two p-xylenes and 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene) was used to explain the origin of the chiroptical properties of the three-layered cyclophane system.     

A new homostilbene and two new homoisoflavones from the bulbs of Scilla scilloides

A new homostilbene, named scillabene A (2), and two new homoisoflavones, named scillavones A (3) and B (4), were isolated from the bulbs of Scilla scilloides DRUCE (Liliaceae) along with 13 known compounds comprising a homostilbene, seven homoisoflavones, a xanthone, a lignan, and three nortriterpenes. The structures of 2-4 were characterized as 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxy-4-methyl-trans-stilbene, (3R)-5,7,2'-trihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyspiro{2H-1-benzopyran-7'-bicyclo[4,2,0]octa[1,3,5]-trien}-4-one and (3S)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxychroman-4-one, respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

NMR spectra of some reduced symmetry peripheral fused-ring-substituted phthalocyanines: density functional calculations

Chemical shifts of some reduced symmetry peripheral fused-ring-substituted phthalocyanines, namely Zn3B1N, Zncis2B2N, Zntrans2B2N, Zn1B3N and Zn3B0N, have been calculated at density functional B3LYP level using the gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. The geometries were optimized using the 6-31G(d) basis set and the following NMR calculations were performed using 6-31G(d) and 6-311G(d,p) basis sets, respectively. The calculated NMR shielding tensors and chemical shifts are compared with previous experimental results. The chemical shifts are assigned according to the calculated data and satisfying results are obtained. The NMR shielding tensor simulation of Zn3B0N has been raised as a significant theoretical topic.