1,4,5-trigermabicyclo[2.1.0]pent-2-en-5-ylium: the isolable bishomocyclopropenylium ion containing a heavier group 14 element

The isolable bishomoaromatic cation containing a heavier Group 14 element, (2,3,5-deloc)-2-phenyl-1,4,5-tris(tri-tert-butylsilyl)-1,4,5-trigermabicyclo[2.1.0]pent-2-en-5-ylium TPFPB- (2+.TPFPB-; TPFPB- = tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate) was synthesized by the reaction of 5-bromo-2-phenyl-1,4,5-tris(tri-tert-butylsilyl)-1,4,5-trigermabicyclo[2.1.0]pent-2-ene (1) with [Et3Si(benzene)]+.TPFPB- in benzene at room temperature. The characteristic bishomoaromatic structure was unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. NMR measurements on 2+.TPFPB- confirmed the nonclassical germyl cation structure in solution and showed strong shielding of homoconjugative carbon atoms. The bishomoaromaticity in 2+ was also investigated by theoretical calculations.     

Nanostructured anisotropic ion-conductive films

A flexible self-standing film with layered nanostructures was obtained by in situ photopolymerization of a new smectic liquid-crystalline monomer containing a tetra(oxyethylene) moiety, which forms a macroscopically oriented complex with lithium salts. The resultant films show two-dimensional ionic conductivity.     

Diffusion of Li+ ions in concentrated solutions of LiNO3 in 1,3-diaminopropane

The temperature and composition dependences of the self-diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ions were investigated for concentrated solutions of LiNO₃ in 1,3-diaminopropane by means of the NMR spin-echo technique from 20 to 50°C. The composition dependence of the activation energy shows a bend around 30 mol % LiNO₃. This is consistent with the previous results obtained from the electrical conductivity and the correlation time of the rotational motion of the solvating ions, and suggests that solvent molecules may act as bridges between Li⁺ ions at higher concentrations of LiNO₃.     

Synthesis of 4, 8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene

The title compound having the same relative configurations as granaticin($\text{1}$) and U-58,431($\text{2}$) was prepared either by dehydrogenative cyclization of the precursor $\text{9a}$ or by pinacol cyclization of the dicarbonyl compound $\text{15}$.     

Proton and electron conductivity in hydrous ruthenium oxides evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: the origin of large capacitance

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was conducted on a series of hydrous ruthenium oxides, RuO(2).xH(2)O, (x = 0.5, 0.3, 0) and a layered ruthenic acid hydrate (H(0.2)RuO(2.1).nH(2)O) in order to evaluate their protonic and electronic conduction. The capacitor response frequency was observed at lower frequency for RuO(2).xH(2)O with higher water content, which was suggested to be due to electrolyte exhaustion within the film and/or utilization of hydrated interparticle micropores that have high ionic resistance. Analysis of the impedance data indicated that the charge-transfer resistance through the film is not significantly affected by the water content in RuO(2).xH(2)O, and the capacitor frequency response is dominated by the protonic conduction. The capacitor response frequency of layered H(0.2)RuO(2.1).nH(2)O was comparable to RuO(2).0.5H(2)O. The high specific capacitance at low frequency for layered H(0.2)RuO(2.1).nH(2)O is attributed to the utilization of the expandable hydrous interlayer, which accounts for the ionic conduction. The present results demonstrate the importance of hydrous regions (either interparticle or interlayer) to allow appreciable protonic conduction for high energy and high power electrochemical capacitors.     

Nanotubes of lepidocrocite titanates

Titanate nanotubes were synthesized in hydrothermal treatment of anatase titania powders and concentrated NaOH solution and their structure was investigated. It was suggested that the nanotubes might be constructed from lepidocrocite H_xTi_{2− x/4}□_x/4O₄ (x0.7, □: vacancy) sheets. The newly proposed lepidocrocite titanate nanotube model was supported by X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and thermogravimetry studies.     

Photochemical dechlorination of DDT catalyzed by a hydrophobic vitamin B12 and a photosensitizer under irradiation with visible light

Dechlorination of 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) was catalyzed by a hydrophobic vitamin B(12), heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate, with a visible light irradiation system containing a [Ru(ii)(bpy)(3)]Cl(2) photosensitizer, and the hydrophobic vitamin B(12) showed high catalytic efficiency and stability during the reaction.     

Immobilization of proteins on boron nitride nanotubes

We report for the first time that proteins are immobilized on boron nitride nanotubes. It is found that there is a natural affinity of a protein to BNNT; this means that it can be immobilized on BNNT directly, without usage of an additional coupling reagent. For the most effective immobilization, noncovalently functionalized BNNTs should be used. The effect of immobilization was studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectroscopy.     

Ionic diffusion and salt dissociation conditions of lithium liquid crystal electrolytes

Salt dissociation conditions and dynamic properties of ionic species in liquid crystal electrolytes of lithium were investigated by a combination of NMR spectra and diffusion coefficient estimations using the pulsed gradient spin-echo NMR techniques. Activation energies of diffusion (Ea) of ionic species changed with the phase transition of the electrolyte. That is, Ea of the nematic phase was lower than that of the isotropic phase. This indicates that the aligned liquid crystal molecules prepared efficient conduction pathways for migration of ionic species. The dissociation degree of the salt was lower compared with those of the conventional electrolyte solutions and polymer gel electrolytes. This is attributed to the low concentration of polar sites, which attract the dissolved salt and promote salt dissociation, on the liquid crystal molecules. Furthermore, motional restriction of the molecules due to high viscosity and molecular oriented configuration in the nematic phase caused inefficient attraction of the sites for the salt. With a decreased dissolved salt concentration of the liquid crystal electrolyte, salt dissociation proceeded, and two diffusion components attributed to the ion and ion pair were detected independently. This means that the exchange rate between the ion and the ion pair is fairly slow once the salt is dissociated in the liquid crystal electrolytes due to the low motility of the medium molecules that initiate salt dissociation.     

Formation and characterization of inclusion complexes of poly(butylene succinate) with alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrins

The inclusion complexes (ICs) of alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) with high-molecular-weight poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and solution 1H NMR spectroscopy. The resultant ICs were found to have channel structures. FT-IR data suggested that the ICs were stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the host CD molecules and the guest PBS chains. Through the formation of ICs, the PBS chain possibly adopts the kink conformation in the included state, as indicated by NMR analysis.