Disilanyl Double‐Pillared Bisternaphthyl (SiDPBT): Synthesis and Interfused Packing Structures with Herringbone and π‐Stack Motifs

A silacyclophane molecule with two disilanyl pillars and two oligoarylene units was synthesized. The molecule was packed in a single crystal with a new motif interfusing π‐stack and herringbone packing structures. The hole transporting ability of the solid was revealed by using the flash‐photolysis time‐resolved microwave conductivity method. The molecular structure, albeit a singly‐bonded arylene macrocycle, was rigidified by the unique packing array, which favorably contributed to the hole transporting ability of the solid via the small reorganization energy through the charge transport.     

Development of the field of structural physiology

Electron crystallography is especially useful for studying the structure and function of membrane proteins — key molecules with important functions in neural and other cells. Electron crystallography is now an established technique for analyzing the structures of membrane proteins in lipid bilayers that closely simulate their natural biological environment. Utilizing cryo-electron microscopes with helium-cooled specimen stages that were developed through a personal motivation to understand the functions of neural systems from a structural point of view, the structures of membrane proteins can be analyzed at a higher than 3 Å resolution. This review covers four objectives. First, I introduce the new research field of structural physiology. Second, I recount some of the struggles involved in developing cryo-electron microscopes. Third, I review the structural and functional analyses of membrane proteins mainly by electron crystallography using cryo-electron microscopes. Finally, I discuss multifunctional channels named “adhennels” based on structures analyzed using electron and X-ray crystallography.     

Linezolid and Vancomycin Decrease the Therapeutic Effect of Methylene Blue‐Photodynamic therapy in a Mouse Model of MRSA Bacterial Arthritis

We previously reported that photodynamic therapy (PDT) using intra‐articular methylene blue (MB) could be used to treat arthritis in mice caused by bioluminescent methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) either in a therapeutic or in a preventative mode. PDT accumulated neutrophils into the mouse knee via activation of chemoattractants such as inflammatory cytokines or chemokines. In this study, we asked whether PDT combined with antibiotics used for MRSA could provide added benefit in controlling the infection. We compared MB‐PDT alone, systemic administration of either linezolid (LZD) alone or vancomycin (VCM) alone or the combination of PDT with either LZD or VCM. Real‐time noninvasive imaging was used to serially follow the progress of the infection. PDT alone was the most effective, whereas LZD alone was ineffective and VCM alone showed some benefit. Surprisingly the addition of LZD or VCM reduced the therapeutic effect of PDT alone (P < 0.05). Considering that PDT in this mouse model stimulates neutrophils to be antibacterial rather than actively killing the bacteria, we propose that LZD and VCM might inhibit the activation of inflammatory cytokines without eradicating the bacteria, and thereby reduce the therapeutic effect of PDT.     

Convenient Preparation of 1,4-Dibenzylbenzene using Zinc Chloride in the Presence of Polar Solvents

1,4-Dibenzylbenzene was successfully synthesized by the Friedel-Crafts benzylation of benzene with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene using zinc chloride in the presence of polar solvents. In particular, zinc chloride dissolved in primary alcohols or ketones with a molar ratio of 1 was a highly effective catalytic system in the reaction.     

Thermal crystallization kinetic and electrical properties of partly crystallized amorphous indium oxide thin films sputtering deposited in the presence or the absence of water vapor

Partly crystallized amorphous indium oxide thin films were deposited under water vapor atmosphere by magnetron sputtering. XRD analysis revealed that appropriate water vapor could suppress the film’s crystallinity. In situ thermal crystallization process was monitored by high-temperature XRD. The crystallization data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation. The kinetic exponent n is determined to be approx. 1/2 and 3/2 for film deposited in the absence and the presence of water vapor, respectively. The activation energy of crystallization for film deposited under 1 × 10^?5 Torr water vapor pressure was determined to be 30.7 kJ mol^?1, which is higher than 18.9 kJ mol^?1 for film deposited in the absence of water vapor. The increased activation energy caused by the chemically bonded hydrogen and embedded O–H bonds from the water vapor resulted in the suppression of crystallization. Introduction of appropriate water vapor during the deposition decreased the resistivity because of the increase of Hall mobility. The resistivity of the films after annealing increased due to the evaporation of water vapor resulted in crystal defects.     

Intermolecular Interactions in Li+‐glyme and Li+‐glyme–TFSA− Complexes: Relationship with Physicochemical Properties of [Li(glyme)][TFSA] Ionic Liquids

The stabilization energies (ΔE_form) calculated for the formation of the Li⁺ complexes with mono‐, di‐ tri‐ and tetra‐glyme (G1, G2, G3 and G4) at the MP2/6‐311G** level were ?61.0, ?79.5, ?95.6 and ?107.7 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The electrostatic and induction interactions are the major sources of the attraction in the complexes. Although the ΔE_form increases by the increase of the number of the O???Li contact, the ΔE_form per oxygen atom decreases. The negative charge on the oxygen atom that has contact with the Li⁺ weakens the attractive electrostatic and induction interactions of other oxygen atoms with the Li⁺. The binding energies calculated for the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complexes with TFSA^? anion (glyme=G1, G2, G3, and G4) were ?106.5, ?93.7, ?82.8, and ?70.0 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The binding energies for the complexes are significantly smaller than that for the Li⁺ with the TFSA^? anion. The binding energy decreases by the increase of the glyme chain length. The weak attraction between the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex (glyme=G3 and G4) and TFSA^? anion is one of the causes of the fast diffusion of the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex in the mixture of the glyme and the Li salt in spite of the large size of the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex. The HOMO energy level of glyme in the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex is significantly lower than that of isolated glyme, which shows that the interaction of the Li⁺ with the oxygen atoms of glyme increases the oxidative stability of the glyme.     

Binary Phase Behavior of 1,3-Distearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol (SOS) and Trilaurin (LLL)

This paper reports the precise analysis of the eutectic mixing behavior of 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol (SOS) and trilaurin (LLL), as a typical model case of the mixture of cocoa butter (CB) and cocoa butter substitute (CBS). SOS was mixed with LLL at several mass fractions of LLL (w_LLL); the mixtures obtained were analyzed for polymorphic phase behavior using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffractometry (SR-XRD). In melt crystallization with constant-rate cooling, SOS and LLL formed eutectics in their metastable polymorphs, allowing the occurrence of a compatible solid solution at w_LLL ≥ 0.925. With subsequent heating, the resultant crystals transformed toward more stable polymorphs, then melted in a eutectic manner. For mixtures aged at 25 °C after melt crystallization, eutectics were found in the extended w_LLL region, even at w_LLL = 0.975. These results indicate that phase separation between SOS and LLL progressed in their solid solution under stabilization. The crystal growth of the separated SOS fraction may cause fat-bloom formation in compound chocolate containing CB and CBS. To solve this problem, the development of retardation techniques against phase separation is expected.     

Formation of periodic structures by the space-selective precipitation of Ge nanoparticles in channel waveguides

Thermally stabilized channel waveguides with Bragg gratings were fabricated by the space-selective precipitation technique of crystalline Ge nanoparticles using KrF excimer laser irradiation. The periodic structures consisting of Ge nanoparticles were formed in Ge-B-SiO₂ thin glass films after exposure to an interference pattern of the laser followed by annealing at 600 °C. The channel waveguides with the periodic structures were fabricated by the cladding of the patterned Cr layers on the films. The diffraction peak for the TE-like mode of 11.8 dB depth was observed clearly at a wavelength of 1526.4 nm, indicating that the periodic structure also served as the optical band-pass filter in optical communication wavelength. The spectral shape, diffraction efficiency, and diffraction wavelength remained unchanged even after annealing at 400 °C. Furthermore, a low temperature dependence of the diffraction wavelength - as low as 8.1 pm/°C - was achieved. The diffraction efficiency was further enhanced after subsequent annealing at 600 °C. The space-selective precipitation technique is expected to be useful for the fabrication of highly reliable optical filters or durable sensing devices operating at high temperature.     

An air-stable chiral Hf-based catalyst for asymmetric Mannich-type reactions

A new class of isolable, air-stable, storable, and Hf-based catalyst has been developed. In the presence of 10 mol % of the powdered Hf catalyst, the asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of imines with silicon enolates derived from esters proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding Mannich-type adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivities. Hafnium single crystals for X-ray analysis were obtained, and the crystals also showed high performance in the asymmetric Mannich-type reactions.     

Rhodium-catalyzed silylation of ortho-functionalized aryl halides with hydrosilanes

The silylation of ortho-functionalized aryl iodide with trialkylsilanes in the presence of RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ or [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ and K₃PO₄ provides the corresponding arylalkylsilane in good to high yield. This catalytic system showed a dramatically different activity when Pd(t-Bu₃P)₂ was used as a catalyst.