220-MHz NMR spectra of acrylic monomer–2-substituted 1,3-diolefin alternating copolymers

An investigation by 220-MHz NMR spectroscopy was carried out on the alternating copolymers of acrylic monomer with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefin. The chain structures were determined. The acrylic monomers used were methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylonitrile (AN), and methacrylonitrile (MAN); isoprene (IP) and chloroprene (CLP) were the 1,3-diolefins. In the MAN–IP alternating copolymer, the 1-position methylene protons of IP showed an AB quartet peak, confirming the α-1 linkage structure. Similarly, in the MMA–CLP and AN–CLP copolymers, the 1-position methylene protons of CLP showed and AB quartet and an ABX pattern, respectively, confirming the α-1 linkage structure in both these cases also. The α-1 linkage structure was also revealed by the decoupling technique in the MAN–CLP alternating copolymer. The AN–IP and MMA–IP alternating copolymers also possess a bond between the α-position of the acrylic monomer and the 1-position of IP. The monomeric units in the alternating copolymers of acrylic monomers with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefins were generally linked at the α-position of acrylic monomer and the 1-position of 1,3-diolefin. On the other hand, in the Diels-Alder adducts of acrylic monomer with 2-substituted 1,3-diolefin, the reaction takes place between the α-position of acrylic monomer and the 4-position of 1,3-diolefin. The regioselectivity of the alternating copolymers and the Diels-Alder adducts is quite compatible with the expectations from molecular orbital theory.     

Reduced viscosity polymer matrices for microchip electrophoresis of double-stranded DNA

On a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microchip, double-stranded DNA fragments with a wide size range from 50 bp to 20 kbp were separated by two polymer solutions. One was a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose-4000 (HPMC-4000) solution of 1.3% (w/v) to separate fragments below 590 bp, and another was a mixed four molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) solution at a total concentration of 0.1% to separate fragments above 520 bp. The widths at half height (wh) of the fragments had a good relationship with their migration times (tR) in both polymer solutions. Such a relationship was suitable for obtaining the wh values of unresolved peaks, calculating the resolution of two adjacent fragments, and optimizing microchip separation matrices. Based on the relativity, a low viscosity medium containing 2% HPMC-50 and 8% glucose was optimized for high-performance separation of a phiX174 HaeIII restriction fragment digest.     

Microchip electrophoretic protein separation using electroosmotic flow induced by dynamic sodium dodecyl sulfate-coating of uncoated plastic chips

Separation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-protein complexes is difficult on plastic microchips due to protein adsorption onto the wall. In this paper, we elucidated the reasons for the difficulties in separating SDS-protein complexes on plastic microchips, and we then demonstrated an effective method for separating proteins using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microchips. Separation difficulties were found to be dependent on adsorption of SDS onto the hydrophobic surface of the channel, by which cathodic electroosmotic flow (EOF; reversed flow) was generated. Our developed method effectively utilized the reversed flow from this cathodic EOF as a driving force for sample proteins using permanently uncoated but dynamic SDS-coated PMMA microchips. High-speed (6 s) separation of proteins and peptides up to 116 kDa was successfully achieved using this system.     

SEC–MALLS analysis of cellulose using LiCl/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone as an eluent

The lithium chloride/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (LiCl/DMI) solvent system for cellulose was adopted as a mobile phase of size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) analysis of cellulose, and the applicability of this system was examined using multi-angle laser light scattering and ¹³C-NMR analysis. The results indicate that 8% (w/v) LiCl/DMI ID a true solvent for cellulose, and that cellulose molecules dissolving ID 1% (w/v) LiCl/DMI are separated orderly depending on their molecular mass (MM) or root-mean-square (RMS) radius by the SEC system. Practically, no aggregates were detected ID the dilute cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions. Furthermore, high stability of cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions has been demonstrated; only a few percent of decline ID average MM was observed even after storage for 6 months at room temperature. Relationships between RMS radius and MM for hardwood bleached kraft pulp ID 1% LiCl/DMI was estimated as the following equation: _g^0.59, corresponding to a Mark–Houwink–Sakurada exponent of 0.77.     

Synthesis and complexing properties of bis-crown ethers incorporating benzo-15-crown-5 and metallocene

Bis-crown ethers in which the benzo-15-crown-5 units were linked to 1,1′-positions of metallocene (M = Fe or Ru) with amide, ester, or ? C? C? bonds were synthesized. Complexing ability of the compounds with alkali, alkali earth, and transition metal cations were measured by the solvent extraction method. The results showed that these crown ethers had high affinity toward alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺) and heavy-metal cations (Ag⁺ and Tl⁺). The difference of complexing ability for metal cations between ferrocene and ruthenocene derivatives could not be detected significantly. The extractability of metallocene-bis-crown ethers for metal cations was more larger than that of the corresponding mono-crown ethers, and irregular increments of extractability were explained by assuming the existence of a mixture of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes.     

Mechanisms and kinetics of trisodium 2-hydroxy-1,1'-azonaphthalene-3,4',6-trisulfonate adsorption onto chitosan

Chitosan, a naturally abundant biopolymer, has widely been studied for metal adsorption from various solutions, but the extension of chitosan as an adsorbent to remove organic substances from water and wastewater has seldom been explored. In this study, the adsorption of an azo dye, trisodium 2-hydroxy-1,1'-azonaphthalene-3,4',6-trisulfonate (1), from aqueous solution onto the various degrees of deacetylated chitosan has been investigated. Equilibrium studies have been carried out to determine the capacity of chitosan for dye. The experimental data were analyzed using two isotherm correlations, namely, Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The linear correlation coefficients were determined for each isotherm and the Langmuir provided the best fit. The experimental adsorption isotherms were perfectly reproduced in the simulated data obtained from numerical analysis on the basis of the Langmuir model and the isotherm constants. Adsorption of (1) onto the chitosan flakes was found to be strongly depending on degrees of deacetylation in chitosan and temperatures. Significant amounts of (1) were adsorbed by chitosan 8B (higher degree of deacetylated chitosan), but the adsorption capacity was reduced remarkably with increasing solution temperatures. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy (DeltaG), enthalpy (DeltaH), and entropy (DeltaS) were also determined. In addition, kinetic study indicated that the adsorption process mechanisms were both transport- and attachment-limited.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyran‐2‐ones by Domino Michael Addition and Lactonization with New Asymmetric Organocatalysts: Cinchona‐Alkaloid‐Derived Chiral Quaternary Ammonium Phenoxides

Chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides were readily prepared from commercially available cinchona alkaloids and proved to be useful new asymmetric organocatalysts. Among various chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides, a cinchonidine‐derived catalyst that bears both a sterically hindered N1‐9‐anthracenylmethyl group and a strongly electron withdrawing 9‐O‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl group were found to be highly effective for the Michael addition of ketene silyl acetals (derived from phenyl carboxylates) and α,β‐unsaturated ketones followed by lactonization. Optically active 3,4‐dihydropyran‐2‐one derivatives were obtained in high yields with excellent control of enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. This catalyst can be handled in air and stored at room temperature in a sealed bottle without decomposition for at least one month.     

Production and utilization of amino acids.

The amino acid industry has been steadily expanding since monosodium glutamate was first marketed as a flavoring material in 1909. Its production has recently reached almost the 1 billion dollar level. Amino acids are produced by extraction from protein hydrolyzates, by fermentation with the aid of microorganisms, by enzymatic processes, and by chemical synthesis. To obtain natural L-amino acid, chemical synthesis generally requires two additional steps, i.e. optical resolution and racemization of the D isomer. The most important applications of amino acids include the fortification of plant food and feeds by supplementation of the deficient essential amino acid(s). Apart from their uses in the food industry, medical applications of amino acids (nutritional preparations and therapeutic agents) are becoming increasingly important.     

Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of Hectorite/(Pt,TiO2) and H4Nb6O17/(Pt,TiO2) Nanocomposites

Abstract

TiO₂ and Pt have been intercalated in hectorite and H₄Nb₆O₁₇. The height of TiO₂ and Pt pillars was less than 0.8 nm and the band gap energy of TiO₂ pillars was ca. 3.3 eV. Both hectorite/TiO₂ and H₄Nb₆O₁₇(Pt, TiO₂) were capable of hydrogen evolution following irradiation from a high pressure mercury are (λ > 290 nm) in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial hole acceptor and the hydrogen evolution was enhanced by co-incorporation of Pt, although hectorite and hectorite/Pt did not show photocatalytic activity. Incorporation of Pt or Pt and TiO₂ in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ has resulted in enhanced photo evolution of hydrogen, however, TiO₂ alone in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ showed adverse photocatalytic activity.     

Superconducting Properties in Metallic Phase of NbS3

Metallic phase of NbS₃ was synthesized by heating the crystal of semiconducting NbS₃. Metallic NbS₃ undergoes superconducting transition around 2 K. The analysis of the angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field suggests that the effect of filmy or fibrous morphology plays an important role in the superconducting properties.