Channel wall coating on a poly-(methyl methacrylate) CE microchip by thermal immobilization of a cellulose derivative for size-based protein separation

We demonstrate channel wall coating using a cellulose derivative on a poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) CE microchip to eliminate EOF disturbing protein separation. The channel walls were modified by preconditioning with a solution containing the cellulose derivative and then thermally evaporating the solution to produce hydrophilic channel walls which prevent adsorption of analytes via a hydrophobic interaction. When the PMMA substrate was coated with the cellulose derivative hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) 90SH, the water contact angle on the coated substrate was decreased (up to 15 degrees ) and EOF was significantly suppressed (up to 4.0 x 10(-6) cm2.V(-1)s(-1)). Three proteins (20.5, 68.0, and 114.6 kDa) were successfully separated on the 0.15% HPMC 90SH-coated channel walls with good reproducibility of migration time (RSD <1.75%) and high efficiency (theoretical plate number per meter: 2.62 x 10(5)).     

Synthesis and characterization of mononuclear ruthenium(III) pyridylamine complexes and mechanistic insights into their catalytic alkane functionalization with m-chloroperbenzoic acid

A series of mononuclear RuIII complexes [RuCl2(L)]+, where L is tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) or one of four TPA derivatives as tetradentate ligand, were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemical measurements. The geometry of a RuIII complex having a non-threefold-symmetric TPA ligand bearing one dimethylnicotinamide moiety was determined to show that the nicotine moiety resides trans to a pyridine group, but not to the chlorido ligand. The substituents of the TPA ligands were shown to regulate the redox potential of the ruthenium center, as indicated by a linear Hammett plot in the range of 200 mV for RuIII/RuIV couples with a relatively large rho value (+0.150). These complexes act as effective catalysts for alkane functionalization in acetonitrile with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) as terminal oxidant at room temperature. They exhibited fairly good reactivity for oxidation of cyclohexane (C--H bond energy 94 kcal mol(-1)), and the reactivity can be altered significantly by the electronic effects of substituents on TPA ligands in terms of initial rates and turnover numbers. Catalytic oxygenation of cyclohexane by a RuIII complex with 16O-mCPBA in the presence of H2 18O gave 18O-labeled cyclohexanol with 100% inclusion of the 18O atom from the water molecule. Resonance Raman spectra under catalytic conditions without the substrate indicate formation of a RuIV==O intermediate with lower bonding energy. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in the oxidation of cyclohexane suggest that hydrogen abstraction is the rate-determining step and the KIE values depend on the substituents of the TPA ligands. Thus, the reaction mechanism of catalytic cyclohexane oxygenation depends on the electronic effects of the ligands.     

An artificial molecular chaperone: poly-pseudo-rotaxane with an extensible axle

Poly-pseudo-rotaxanes CDs contains as a subset 1 (CDs; cyclodextrins, 1; poly(delta-valerolactone) having single beta-CD at the end of the polymer chain) initiate polymerization of delta-valerolactone (delta-VL) in the solid state when CDs (alpha-CD, beta-CD, and 2,6-di-O-methyl-beta-CD) are threaded onto the polymer chain. 1 without threaded CDs did not show any polymerization ability for delta-VL. An adamantane molecule (Ad) inhibited the polymerization ability of CDs contains as a subset 1 for delta-VL, indicating that beta-CD at the end of CDs contains as a subset 1 could not bind delta-VL because the beta-CD cavity was occupied by Ad. It should be noted that the insertion reaction and the polymerization took place inside the beta-CD cavity at the end of CDs contains as a subset 1 and that the formation of poly-pseudo-rotaxane is necessary for the initiation of delta-VL. The structures of beta-CD contains as a subset 1 and 1 were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction measurements and solid-state NMR spectroscopies. The polymer chain of beta-CD contains as a subset 1 was found to elongate in the solid state, whereas the polymer chain of 1 formed a random coil conformation. 1 was deactivated for the polymerization by blocking the active cavity of beta-CD with the polymer chain. CDs threaded onto 1 are immune to the initiation of delta-VL directly but have an essential role to fold the polymer chain in a proper way as an artificial chaperone.     

Magnetic interaction of tri- and di-oxytriphenylamine radical cation FeCl4 salts

The tetrachloroferrates of the 2,2':6',2':6',6-trioxytriphenylamine (TOT.+.FeCl4-) and 2,2':6',2'-dioxytriphenylamine (DOT.+.FeCl4-) radical cations were prepared, and their structures, magnetic properties, and the relationship between them were investigated. The TOT.+ moiety had a highly planar structure and packed as a dimer surrounded by tetrachroferrates, which also formed a dimer structure. The magnetic properties of TOT.+.FeCl4- were characterized by strong (2J/kB=approximately -1.3x10(3) K, H=-2JS1/2.S1/2) and weak (2J/kB=-1.76 K, H=-2JS5/2.S5/2) antiferromagnetic interactions due to the (TOT.+)2 and (FeCl4-)2 structures, respectively. DOT.+ had a twisted form and no dimer formation was observed between the DOT.+'s and FeCl4-'s. Instead, short contacts between the DOT.+ and chlorine atoms and between the DOT.+'s producing a DOT.+ chain were observed. The magnetic properties of DOT.+.FeCl4- were characterized by a 3D magnetic phase transition to an antiferromagnet with TN=approximately 8 K.     

Photophysical properties of highly luminescent copper(I) halide complexes chelated with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene

Studies on synthesis, structures, and photophysics have been carried out for a series of luminescent copper(I) halide complexes with the chelating ligand, 1,2-bis[diphenylphosphino]benzene (dppb). The complexes studied are halogen-bridged dinuclear complexes, [Cu(mu-X)dppb]2 (X = I (1), Br (2), Cl (3)), and a mononuclear complex, CuI(dppb)(PPh3) (4). These complexes in the solid state exhibit intense blue-green photoluminescence with microsecond lifetimes (emission peaks, lambdamax = 492-533 nm; quantum yields, Phi = 0.6-0.8; and lifetimes, tau = 4.0-10.4 mus) at 298 K. In 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2mTHF) solutions at 298 K, only 1 and 4 show weaker emission (Phi = 0.009) with shorter lifetimes (tau = 0.35 and 0.23 mus) and red-shifted spectra (lambdamax = 543 and 546 nm). The emission in the solid state originates from the (M + X)LCT excited state with a distorted-tetrahedral conformation, in which emissive excited states, 1(M + X)LCT and 3(M + X)LCT, are in equilibrium with an energy difference of approximately 2 kcal/mol. On the other hand, the complexes in the 2mTHF solutions emit from the MLCT excited state with an energetically favorable flattened conformation in the temperature range of 298-130 K. The flattened geometry with equilibrated 1MLCT and 3MLCT states has a nonradiative rate at least 2 orders of magnitude larger than that of the distorted-tetrahedral geometry, leading to a much smaller emission quantum yield (Phi = 0.009) at 298 K. Since the flattening motion is markedly suppressed below 130 K, the emission observed in 2mTHF below 130 K is considered to occur principally from the (M + X)LCT state with a distorted-tetrahedral geometry. To interpret the photophysics of 1 and 4 in both the solid and solution states, we have proposed the "2-conformations with 2-spin-states model (2C x 2S model)". The electroluminescence device using (1) as a green emissive dopant showed a moderate EL efficiency; luminous efficiency = 10.4 cd/A, power efficiency = 4.2 lm/W at 93 cd/m(2), and maximum external quantum efficiency = 4.8%.     

Colony-forming cell assay for human hematopoietic progenitor cells harvested by a novel continuous-flow cell separation method

In order to prove the functional potentiality of cells separated according to their densities by a novel continuous-flow cell separation method, the colony-forming cell (CFC) assay was performed on the harvested cells from peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. The number of colony-forming unit-granulocyte, erythroid, macrophage, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM), which are considered to be stem cells, was approximately 3% of colonies developed from the peripheral blood and approximately 4% of colonies from the umbilical cord blood. It appears that this new method could allow us for harvesting of hematopoietic progenitor cells without losing their native ability to proliferate.     

Simultaneous uptake of Ni2+, NH4+ and PO4(3-) by amorphous CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 compounds

Simultaneous uptake of Ni2+, NH4+, and PO4(3-) by amorphous CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (C-A-S) compounds was investigated using batch and column methods. Fifteen different C-A-S samples with systematically varied chemical compositions were prepared by coprecipitation from ethanol-water solutions containing Ca(NO3)2.4H2O, Al(NO3)3.9H2O, and Si(OC2H5)4, using NH4OH as the precipitating agent. The resulting precipitates were dried and heated at various temperatures to produce the C-A-S samples, which were then characterized by XRD, FTIR, solid state MAS NMR, DTA-TG, and N2 adsorption. All the C-A-S samples prepared at 600-900 degrees C were amorphous, apart from the CaO-rich samples. Simultaneous uptake of Ni2+, NH4+, and PO4(3-) was determined by a batch method using a solution with an initial concentration of 2 mM. In these experiments, the uptake abilities of the C-A-S samples for Ni2+ and PO4(3-) were high, but were relatively low for NH4+. The uptake abilities for Ni2+ and PO4(3-) increased but that for NH4+ decreased as the silica content in the C-A-S decreased, suggesting that similar uptake mechanisms (ion substitution and/or precipitation) are operating for Ni2+ and PO4(3-), but the uptake mechanism for NH4+ is different (physical adsorption). The column experiments indicate that the order of uptake ability of C-A-S for the three ions is NH4+ < PO4(3-) < Ni2+. Although the silica content of the C-A-S does not have the expected influence on the uptake of these three ions, for NH4+ it plays an important role in the formation of the amorphous phase and also in the suppression of Ca2+ and/or Al3+ release from the C-A-S during the uptake experiments. The optimum uptake properties of the C-A-S can thus be controlled by adjusting the chemical compositions and heating conditions under which the samples are prepared.     

N-carbonylation of lithium azaenolates of amides, formamides, ureas, and carbamates with carbon monoxide mediated by selenium

N-Carbonylation of less nucleophilic nitrogen compounds was achieved by the reaction of the lithium azaenolates with carbon monoxide and selenium. This reaction proceeds in the cases of amides, formamides, ureas, and carbamates, leading to the formation of the corresponding carbamoselenoates in good to high yields after trapping with BuI.     

A route to 2-substituted tetrahydroquinolines via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of anilino-alkynes

The cyclization of amino-alkynes 1 in which an amino group is attached to the aromatic ring, proceeded smoothly using a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 and benzoic acid in toluene at 120 degrees C, leading to the formation of the 2-substituted tetrahydroquinolines 2. An asymmetric variant of the reaction using the chiral palladium catalyst (prepared in situ by mixing Pd2(dba)3.CHCl3 and (R,R)-RENORPHOS) was also explored. The absolute configuration of the enantiomerically enriched tetrahydroquinolines, obtained in this way, was determined by converting them to the known compounds and was found to be R. The alkaloids such as (+/-)-galipinine, (+/-)-angustureine, and their optically active form were synthesized by using this reaction as a key step.     

Formation of Dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl Esters by Oxidative Coupling of Galloyl Esters in an Aqueous Medium Involved in Ellagitannin Biosynthesis

Hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) and dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl (DHHDP) groups are the major acyl components of ellagitannins, which are polyphenols whose biosynthesis have attracted considerable attention; however, the mechanisms of the production of HHDP and DHHDP in the ellagitannin biosynthesis have not been clarified. With the aim of elucidating such a mechanism, this study investigates the CuCl₂-mediated oxidation of simple galloyl derivatives in an aqueous medium. It is shown that the oxidation of methyl gallate affords a DHHDP-type dimer, whose reduction with Na₂S₂O₄ yields an HHDP-type dimer. However, the oxidation of the HHDP-type product over CuCl₂ does not afford the parent DHHDP ester. The oxidation of 1,4-butanediol digallate under the same conditions produces a DHHDP-type product via the intramolecular coupling of galloyl groups. These results strongly suggest that the DHHDP group is the initial product of the oxidative coupling of two galloyl groups in the ellagitannin biosynthesis, and subsequent reductive metabolism affords HHDP esters.