Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)‐based hydrogels and their swelling/shrinking response to molecular recognition

To synthesize the novel molecular‐ and pH‐stimulus‐responsive hydrogel, we prepared poly(ethylene glycol)‐based hydrogel containing ionic groups. We evaluated the fundamental swelling/shrinking properties of the hydrogels synthesized by various conditions. Decreasing the molecular weight of a crosslinker provided the increasing of the equilibrium swelling ratio. Also, the equilibrium swelling ratio was changed by the introduction of functional ionic monomers and its compositions. Furthermore, the swelling/shrinking behaviors of the hydrogels were affected by the environmental condition of aqueous solution, in fact the hydrogels were considerably shrunk (to one‐fifth volume) using a di‐ionic solute in the aqueous solution through the ionic interactions between the hydrogel and the solutes. Additionally, the specific shrinking to diamine compounds was also observed in response to pH change. These results clearly show the swelling/shrinking responsibility of the hydrogels toward the molecular recognitions and its pH conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3153–3158     

Spectroscopic Analysis of Two Distinct Equilibrium States for the Exchange Reaction of Sodium Cholate and Oligo‐DNA on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Understanding the quantitative analysis of the transition adsorption structures of molecules on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is of importance from the point of view of both fundamental science and applications of nanotubes. Absorption spectroscopy reveals that two different equilibrium states are existent for the exchange reaction of sodium cholate (SC) and oligo‐DNA (single‐stranded 20‐mer cytosine) on SWNTs. This is derived from the transitions of the adsorption structures of different chirality‐types of SWNTs and SC/DNA at certain SC concentrations below the critical micelle concentration of SC.     

Installation of carbon chain onto 2-cyclohexene-1,4-diol monoacetate

Alkylation of cyclohexenyl monoacetate 1 with R₂Cu(CN)(MgCl)₂ or RMgBr/CuCN (cat.) in Et₂O produced trans 1,2-isomers 4, while arylation and alkenylation of 1 was accomplished with lithium borates 5 and a nickel cat. to afford trans 1,4-isomers 3 selectively. Furthermore, several transformations of the products were carried out to demonstrate synthetic advantages of the present reactions.     

Near-IR Luminescent YbIII Coordination Polymers Composed of Pyrene Derivatives for Thermostable Oxygen Sensors

Oxygen-sensitive and near-infrared (NIR) luminescent Yb^III coordination polymers incorporating ligands based on pyrene derivatives were synthesized: Yb^III–TBAPy and Yb^III–TIAPy (TBAPy: 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoate)pyrene; TIAPy: 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(3,5-isophthalic acid)pyrene). The coordination structures of these materials have been characterized by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Moreover, the porous structure of Yb^III–TIAPy has been evaluated by measuring its N₂ adsorption isotherm. The NIR luminescence properties of Yb^III–TBAPy and Yb^III–TIAPy have been examined by acquiring emission spectra and determining emission lifetimes under air or argon and in vacuo. Yb^III–TIAPy exhibited high thermal stability (with a decomposition temperature of 400 °C), intense luminescence (with an emission quantum yield under argon of 6.6 %), and effective oxygen-sensing characteristics. These results suggest that NIR luminescent Yb^III coordination polymers prepared using pyrene derivatives could have applications in novel thermo-stable oxygen sensors.     

Atomistic chemical computation of Olefin polymerization reaction catalyzed by (pyridylamido)hafnium(IV) complex: Application of Red Moon simulation

We have realized the microscopic simulation of olefin polymerization, that is, the simulation of the catalytic polymerization (CP) reaction system composed of (pyridylamido)hafnium(IV) complex as the catalyst. For this purpose, we adopted Red Moon (RM) method, a novel molecular simulation method to simulate the complex reaction system. First, according to the previous research, with the help of the QM calculation, we proposed a model system and elementary processes and explained the theoretical treatment of the simulation by the RM method (the RM simulation). In addition, we also proposed a macroscopic simulation based on chemical kinetics simulation. Then, we performed two simulations and compared them in terms of the effective time evolution of the three macroscopic physical quantities, the number-average molecular weight M_n , the mass-average molecular weight M_w , and the molar-mass dispersity Đ_M . The comparison showed that the two simulations are in quantitative or partially qualitative agreement with each other. Therefore, it is concluded that the RM simulation could not only simulate the CP reaction process microscopically, but also it is connected essentially to reproduce the time evolution of the macroscopic physical quantities on the basis of its microscopic simulation data. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The development of an automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of HCHO and CH3CHO in the atmosphere by using an annular diffusion scrubber coupled to HPLC

An automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of formaldehyde (HCHO) and acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) in the urban atmosphere was developed by using an annular diffusion scrubber in conjunction with a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). With this technique, atmospheric HCHO and CH₃CHO were effectively collected by the annular diffusion scrubber which consists of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube disposed concentrically within a Pyrex-glass tube and a scrubbing solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was selected as the scrubbing solution for collecting HCHO and CH₃CHO, which are derivatized to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-formaldehyde (DNPH-HCHO) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-acetaldehyde (DNPH-CH₃CHO), respectively. An aliquot of the sample solution was automatically injected into an HPLC equipped with a semi-micro ODS column and a UV-VIS detector for separating and determining DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO. All the operations are sequenced by a programmable controller, and automated continuous measurements are performed with a typical temporal resolution of 1 h. The collection efficiencies of HCHO and CH₃CHO were about 97% and 93%, respectively, at an air flow rate of 0.2 L/min. The lower detection limits (3σ of the blank hydrazones) of HCHO and CH₃CHO were 0.05 ppbv and 0.10 ppbv, respectively, in the case of 12-L air sample volume. Analytical response of a standard solution of DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO by the HPLC during a 10-day continuous measurement was unchanged and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 1.0%. Interferences from O₃ and NO₂ were insignificant in this annular diffusion scrubber method. Both for HCHO and CH₃CHO measurements, concentrations from this developed system well agreed with those measured by a DNPH Silica cartridge method.     

Copper(I) Complexes with a Proximal Aromatic Ring: Novel Copper–Indole Bonding

A unique bonding of indole to a metal ion has been established. Two new tridentate N ligands with a pendent indole ring gave Cu^I complexes 1 and 2 , the latter of which exhibits the new form of bonding between the Cu^I ion in a distorted tetrahedral geometry and the indole C(2)−C(3) moiety. The bond is dependent upon the length of the side chain and therefore the accessibility of the ring to the metal center.     

An intramolecular diels-alder approach to quassinoids—a stereoselective construction of a-aromatic klaineanone

Thermolysis of a benzocyclobutene derivative ($\text{20}$) prepared from norcamphor produced stereoselectively a tetracyclic compound ($\text{2}$), which was converted to a lactone ($\text{21}$) having correct stereochemistry at C₇, C₈, C₉, C₁₁, C₁₃, and C₁₄ positions of (±)-klaineanone.