Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Amines on a Mediator‐Modified Electrode by Electrochemical Copolymerization of Nitroxyl Radical Precursor Containing Pyrrole Side Chain and Bithiophene

This paper describes the electrocatalytic oxidation of amines on TEMPO (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl)‐modified electrodes prepared by electrochemical copolymerization of TEMPO precursor containing pyrrole side chain and 2,2′‐bithiophene. The modified electrode exhibits electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of primary and secondary amines. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed that the peak current of the cyclic voltammogram increased linearly with increasing concentration of amine in the sample solution.     

A Puckered Singlet Cyclopentane‐1,3‐diyl: Detection of the Third Isomer in Homolysis

In the photochemical denitrogenation of 1,4‐diaryl‐2,3‐diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( AZ6 ) bearing sterically hindered substituents, a curious new absorption band at about 450 nm was observed under low‐temperature matrix conditions, together with the previously well‐characterized planar singlet diradical pl‐¹ DR6 with λ_max=≈580 nm. The 450 nm species was electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)‐silent. Instead of generating the planar diradical pl‐¹ DR6 and the precursor azoalkane AZ6 upon warming, the ring‐closed bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane derivative SB6 , that is, the AZ6 denitrogenation product was identified. Based on product analysis, low‐temperature spectroscopic observations, high‐level quantum‐mechanical computations, viscosity effect, and laser‐flash photolysis, the puckered singlet diradicaloid puc‐¹ DR6 was assigned to the new 450 nm absorption. The latter was detected experimentally at the same time as the planar singlet diradical pl‐¹ DR6 . Sterically demanding substituents as well as viscosity impediments were essential for the detection of the experimentally hitherto unknown puckered singlet cyclopentane‐1,3‐diyl diradicaloid puc‐¹ DR6 , that is, the third isomer in homolysis. The present findings should stimulate future work on the mechanistically fascinating stereoselectivity documented in the formation of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes during the 2,3‐diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane denitrogenation.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of 3‐(Substituted arylmethyl)‐4‐acylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones and Derivatization to Symmetrical Twin‐Drug Type Molecules

In connection with our studies on antibacterial active compounds in the class of new oxazolidinones against Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) strains, some molecular modifications were attempted. In this study, molecular modifications of 4‐aminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones ( 3a ) to the corresponding 4‐acylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐one derivatives ( 3c–d ) and preparations of the represented twin‐drug type molecules ( 10–14 ) were investigated. Some additional 4‐dialkylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones ( 2 ) were also synthesized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity with Gram‐positive (S. aureus) and Gram‐negative (E. coli) strains.     

X-ray characterisation of local molecular orientation in the electroclinic effect of surface-stabilised SmA liquid crystals

The local molecular orientation in the electroclinic effect of the chiral smectic A phase in a surface-stabilised cell has been determined using a time-resolved synchrotron X-ray microbeam diffraction technique. Space- and time-resolved X-ray wide-angle halo scattering under an electric field reveals the static and dynamic intralayer molecular orientation. The molecular orientation varies spatially in accordance with the stripe texture and is dependent on the applied voltage. It has been found that the deviation of the molecular orientation from the rubbing direction depends strongly on the sample history. The relation between the apparent molecular orientation and the layer structure is discussed.     

Control of the Orientation and Photoinduced Phase Transitions of Macrocyclic Azobenzene

Photoinduced phase transitions caused by photochromic reactions bring about a change in the state of matter at constant temperature. Herein, we report the photoinduced phase transitions of crystals of a photoresponsive macrocyclic compound bearing two azobenzene groups ( 1 ) at room temperature on irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible (436 nm) light. The trans/trans isomer undergoes photoinduced phase transitions (crystal–isotropic phase–crystal) on UV light irradiation. The photochemically generated crystal exhibited reversible phase transitions between the crystal and the mesophase on UV and visible light irradiation. The molecular order of the randomly oriented crystals could be increased by irradiating with linearly polarized visible light, and the value of the order parameter was determined to be ?0.84. Heating enhances the thermal cis‐to‐trans isomerization and subsequent cooling returned crystals of the trans/trans isomer.     

Selective hydrogen peroxide oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones with MWW-type titanosilicate zeolite catalyst under organic solvent-free conditions

Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones with hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent-free conditions was demonstrated by the MWW-type titanosilicate zeolite catalyst. Sulfides were oxidized smoothly to give sulfoxides with good selectivities at ambient temperature using 1.0–1.2 equiv of hydrogen peroxide with the MWW-type titanosilicate zeolite catalyst. Especially, the Ti-MWW with an interlayer-expanded structure (Ti-IEZ-MWW) catalyst showed high activity with good chemoselectivity for the oxidation of various sulfides. The catalyst is recyclable for at least five cycles, and the only byproduct is water. Sulfides were directly oxidized to give sulfones in high yields by 2.5 equiv of hydrogen peroxide with the MWW-type titanosilicate zeolite catalyst under organic solvent-free conditions.     

Enantioresolution of 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphtyl)propionic acid using diastereomeric salt formation with chiral phenylethylamine

An enantioresolution of 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphtyl)propionic acid (MαNP acid) using the diastereomeric salt with chiral (R)-phenylethylamine was achieved to give enantiopure (R)-MαNP acid in 29% yield with >99% ee based on rac-MαNP acid. X-ray crystallographic analysis of diastereomeric salt revealed that (R)-MαNP acid was tightly arranged by four independent hydrogen bonds and one CH–π interaction with (R)-phenylethylamine.     

Effects of post-deposition annealing on chemical composition of SiNx film in SiO2/SiNx/SiO2/Si stacked structure

To systematically evaluate the quality of SiN_x films in multi-stacked structures, we investigated the effects of post-deposition annealing (PDA) on the film properties of SiN_x within the SiO₂/SiN_x/SiO₂/Si stacked structure by performing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscope–electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) analyses. The XPS results showed that PDA induces the oxidation of the SiN_x layer. In particular, new finding is that Si-rich SiN_x in the SiN_x layer is preferentially oxidized by PDA even in multi-stacked structure. The XRR results showed that the SiN_x layer becomes thinner, whereas the interface layer between the SiN_x layer and Si becomes thicker. It is concluded by STEM-EELS and XPS that this interface layer is SiON layer. The density of N–H and Si–H bonding within the stacked structure strongly depends on the PDA temperature. Our study helps elucidate the properties of SiN_x films in stacked structures from various perspectives.     

Development of variable‐magnification X‐ray Bragg optics

A novel X‐ray Bragg optics is proposed for variable‐magnification of an X‐ray beam. This X‐ray Bragg optics is composed of two magnifiers in a crossed arrangement, and the magnification factor, M, is controlled through the azimuth angle of each magnifier. The basic properties of the X‐ray optics such as the magnification factor, image transformation matrix and intrinsic acceptance angle are described based on the dynamical theory of X‐ray diffraction. The feasibility of the variable‐magnification X‐ray Bragg optics was verified at the vertical‐wiggler beamline BL‐14B of the Photon Factory. For X‐ray Bragg magnifiers, Si(220) crystals with an asymmetric angle of 14° were used. The magnification factor was calculated to be tunable between 0.1 and 10.0 at a wavelength of 0.112 nm. At various magnification factors (M≥ 1.0), X‐ray images of a nylon mesh were observed with an air‐cooled X‐ray CCD camera. Image deformation caused by the optics could be corrected by using a 2 × 2 transformation matrix and bilinear interpolation method. Not only absorption‐contrast but also edge‐contrast due to Fresnel diffraction was observed in the magnified images.