High-resolution proton magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formal) and its model compounds

High-resolution proton magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formal) were studied in comparison with those of the model formals obtained from stereoisomers of pentane-2,4-diol and heptane-2,4,6-triol in order to learn spectral changes due to differences of the steric structures of the polymer. In the NMR spectrum of transformal obtained from dl diol or dl,dl (syndiotactic) triol, all proton signals were well interpreted by assuming a rapid chair-chair inversion of the formal ring. On the other hand, no such inversion was observed spectroscopically in cis-formal obtained from the meso diol or meso,meso (isotactic) triol, and the cis-formal ring was supposed to take a diequatorial form preferentially. Consequently, dioxymethylene protons gave a single peak (equivalent) in trans-formal and an AB quartet (nonequivalent) in cis-formal. In the spectra of poly(vinyl formal), the dioxymethylene signal was an overlap of the singlet and quartet in dimethylsulfoxide solution. Observations of the spectra of various poly(vinyl formals) obtained from poly(vinyl alcohols) of different tacticities and study of temperature dependence of the signal have shown that the singlet and quartet are attributed to trans- and cis- formals, respectively, in the polymer spectrum also. In the infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formals), the 800 and 785 cm^-1 bands were found to be related to cis- and trans-formal rings respectively. A linear relationship was confirmed between D₇₈₅/D₈₀₀ and trans/cis ratios determined from the peak intensities of the dioxymethylene proton signals.     

Uptake of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions into electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon fibres by flow-through electrolysis

When glassy carbon fibres are used, alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are adsorbed in the micropores which are created or activated by oxidative treatment of the fibres. The average pore radius was estimated to be 2 nm by nitrogen adsorption experiments. Uptake was studied with a flow system consisting of a flow-through carbon-fibre electrode; a dropping mercury electrode at the end of the flow line monitored changes in the metal ion concentrations. The ions were taken up at negative potentials and released at positive potentials. The amount taken up increased in the sequence Na⁺ < Li⁺ < H⁺, suggesting that the ions were desolvated before entering the pore system.     

Three bits eight states photochromic recording and nondestructive readout by using IR light

A photochromic polymer film containing three different diarylethene derivatives, that is, 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1), 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2), and 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (3) was prepared. Upon UV irradiation, the three derivatives changed to their closed-ring isomers having different colors, yellow, red, and blue. They showed different spectra not only in UV/Vis region but also in the IR spectral region. Upon irradiation with visible light of appropriate wavelengths, each closed-ring isomer was selectively bleached, and three bits eight states recording was performed. The eight states could be read out nondestructively by using IR light of appropriate wavenumbers.     

Electrochemical analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of p53 gene

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cancer repression gene p53 were analyzed electrochemically with ferrocenyl naphthalene diimide (1) as a hybridization indicator. The SNPs studied were the transition to A from G in the codon for amino acid at positions 175, 248 or 273 and the transversion to C from G in the codon for the amino acid at position 72. Thus, 20-meric oligonucleotides carrying the SNP site were used both as a sample and a probe with the latter immobilized on an electrode. Even one base difference on the p53 gene resulted in a significant difference in the current response of 1 and the magnitude of the response correlated with the amount of the DNA hybrid on the electrode. Moreover, when PCR products of exon 4, on which the P72/R72 SNP resides, of the p53 gene were analyzed by this method, the heterozygote and homozygotes were discriminated with modest precision.     

Peroxotungstate immobilized on ionic liquid-modified silica as a heterogeneous epoxidation catalyst with hydrogen peroxide

Peroxotungstate immobilized on ionic liquid-modified SiO2 is capable of heterogeneously epoxidizing a wide range of olefins with the maintenance of the catalytic activity of homogeneous analogue. The epoxidation was immediately stopped by the removal of the catalyst, and no tungsten species could be found in the filtrate after the removal of the catalyst. These results can rule out any contribution to the observed catalysis from the tungsten species that leached into the reaction solution, and the observed catalysis is truly heterogeneous in nature. Furthermore, the catalyst was reusable without the loss of the catalytic performance.     

Partialsynthesen und Reaktionen von Abietanderivaten (Lanugonen) aus Plectranthus lanuginosus und verwandten Verbindungen

Partial Syntheses and Reactions of Abietanoid Derivatives (Lanugones) from Plectranthus lanuginosus and of Related Compounds Interconversions by partial syntheses of several lanugones establish their absolute configuration at C(15). Unexpected reactions exemplify the unique reactivity of these abietanoic diterpenes, - Lanugone O ( 4 ) was prepared in several steps from (15S)-coleon C ( 8a ; Scheme 2) thus establishing its (15S)-configuration. One of the intermediates, the 12-O-acetyl-6-oxoroyleanone 12 , through acetyl-migration sets up an equilibrium with the vinylogous quinone 13 (Scheme 3). - The chirality at C(15) in the dihydrofuran moiety of lanugone Q ( 16 ) was proven by acid-catalyzed conversion of lanugone O ( 4 ) to 16 . - Instead of the usual nucleophilic attack shown by quinomethanes, lanugone L (1 ) is electrophilically substituted at C(7) by acetic anhydride/pyridine (Scheme 1). - In a homosigmatropic [1,5]-H-shift, lanugone G ( 17 ) in solution is converted to the corresponding allyl substituted royleanone 18 (Scheme 4). - Methanolysis of lanugone J ( 19 ) leads to the expected royleanone 20 having the 2-methoxypropyl side chain ( Scheme 5 ). Similar reactions were found in acetolytic reactions. However, treatment-of spirocoleons with SOCl₂/DMF produces mainly 12-deoxyroyleanones with allyl- and 2-chloropropyl groups, i. e. 19 → 26 and 27 ; 28 → 29 . The possible natural occurrence of these compounds is emphasized.     

Effect of intercalation of metal ions on the colloidal and solid properties of vanadium pentaoxide hydrate,V2O5 nH2O

The colloidal stability of V₂O₅ nH₂O was studied on the basis of the measurements of critical flocculation concentration (CFC) by metal ions, amount of ions exchanged (or intercalated), and -potential. In total, the CFC values obeyed the Schulze Hardy law and strong Hofmeister's series was found in the systems including alkaline ions. The sequence of colloidal stability of V₂O₅ nH₂O in the electrolyte solutions was related to the intercalation of metal ions in the interlayer spaces of the solid. The largest CFC value for Li⁺ (87 mmol dm^–3) was explained by smaller affinity of Li⁺ to be intercalated in V₂O₅ nH₂O as well as smaller Hamaker constant of the intercalated solid compared to the other systems.Effect of intercalation of metal ions on the crystalline properties of the materials was measured by use of XRD and electron microscope. Under highly dehydrated condition the ions whose radii are smaller than 0.1 nm are captured in the structure of V₂O₅ nH₂O without changing interlayer distances, while those larger than 0.1 nm increase the interlayer distance. In a saturated H₂O vapor interlayer distances increased with increasing charge of intercalated ions. However, when intercalated with ions carrying the same valency the interlayer distances of the sample decreased with decrease in the hydration property of ions. Hydrolyzable Cr³⁺ gave exceptionally larger interlayer distances, both in a vacuum and in H₂O vapor.     

Surface graft polymerization of acrylamide onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) film by UV irradiation

To improve the low water wettability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) by UV irradiation was performed onto the surface of a PET film with the simultaneous irradiation method without using a photo sensitizer. The PET film immersed in a 10 wt % deaerated aqueous solution of AAm was found to become highly hydrophilic upon UV irradiation. Optical microscopy on cross sections of grafted films showed that localization of the graft polymerization was restricted to a thin surface region of the film. Both the low concentration of polymer radicals formed by UV irradiation and the monomer penetration limited to the film surface would be responsible for localization of the grafted layer to the film surface region. Pretreatment of the PET film with benzyl alcohol was effective for enhancement of the graft polymerization. Retention of high hydrophilicity of the surface even after rigorous extraction of homopolymer and a comparative study of polymerization without UV irradiation strongly suggested that UV irradiation of the PET film under immersion in the deaerated AAm aqueous solution would lead to formation of the true graft copolymer.     

A new Zn(II) coordination polymer with 4-pyridylthioacetate: assemblies of homo-chiral helices with sulfide sites

A coordination polymer [Zn(pyta)(OH)] (pyta = 4-pyridylthioacetate), was synthesized and structurally characterized; it is constructed by an alternating assembly of two types of homo-chiral helices, [Zn-OH] and [Zn-pyta], in which the sulfide moieties are fastened in the latter columns.