Raman Scattering and X-Ray Diffraction Studies on Alkali-Metal Intercalated Clays

Abstract

Vermiculite and fluor-tetrasilicic mica were intercalated with alkali metals (Na, K and Rb) by vapor transport. X-ray and Raman scattering experiments were conducted to study the structure and lattice dynamics of the new clay compounds. When Rb and K atoms were intercalated to the host materials, superlattices were formed. In Na intercalated compounds, however, no superlattice x-ray diffraction peaks were found. Raman spectra exhibited drastic changes after alkali-metal intercalation, reflecting the structural changes found by our x-ray diffraction.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation,derivatives of the fat-accumulation inhibitor ternatin: toward ternatin molecular probes

Ternatin, a cyclic heptapeptide derived from mushroom, strongly inhibits fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this Letter, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated its derivatives for use as molecular probes to isolate its target protein. Finally, we successfully established a pair of ternatin molecular probes.     

Problems in polarized light microscopy observation of birefringence of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals

To reconsider the problems arising from the use of the phase plate as a test plate inserted into a polarized light microscope system for the analysis of triclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (t-CPPD) crystals, or Ca₂P₂O₇·2H₂O in the synovial fluid of arthritis patients, we made the polarized light microscopy observations using a phase plate with a retardation of 530 nm for the synthesized t-CPPD crystals well-characterized by X-ray powder pattern indexing and single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The microscopy observations were made of crystals of different sizes, thicknesses and shapes. The retardation was assessed using the interference color chart at four extinction and diagonal positions both with and without the test plate. The addition and subtraction states produced by superimposing the retardations of two anisotropic materials, that is, the t-CPPD crystal and the 530 nm phase plate, were deduced from the interference color change by inserting the test plate at four diagonal positions. When the color change of a crystal at a diagonal position resulting from 90-degree rotation exhibits no clear birefringence, the interference color chart was shown to be useless. We suggested the use of a compensator whose retardation can be changed to obtain an accurate value for the retardation of the crystal.     

Improved Synthesis of Aliphatic Ketones by the Reaction of Alkylmercuric Bromides With Nickel Carbonyl in the Presence of Potassium Iodide

An improved and convenient procedure for symmetrical aliphatic ketone synthesis is described, which employs the reaction of alkylmercuric bromides with nickel carbonyl in the presence of potassium iodide.     

Use of silk protein, sericin, as a sustained-release material in the form of a gel, sponge and film

To evaluate the usability of silk protein (sericin, SC) as a sustained-release material, the physicochemical properties of SC and the release profiles of model drugs from SC gel, sponge and film were studied. Heat aids the dissolution of SC. The molecular weight of SC tended to decrease as the heating temperature and heating time increased. The gel and sponge formed by SC were moldable and consisted of high molecular weight SC polymers (250 kDa and about 400 kDa). SC film was easily broken and exhibited elastic distortion. The addition of moisture-retaining plasticizer (glycerin and sorbitol) improved the film-forming characteristics of SC. The results suggested that SC is practical as a moldable gel and sponge, and as a tensible film. To evaluate the release profiles of small molecules, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran ((1) FD4, 4 kDa and (2) FD70, 70 kDa) were used as two model drugs with significantly different molecular weights, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-albumin ((3) FA, 66 kDa) was used as a charged drug. Each was formulated in SC gel, sponge and film. In each preparation, the release rate of the model drugs tended to be FA相似文献   

A novel one-pot reaction involving organocopper-mediated reduction/transmetalation/asymmetric alkylation, leading to the diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres

By a novel one-pot reaction sequence involving consecutive organocopper-mediated reduction, transmetalation and asymmetric alkylation, a highly diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres was achieved in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a beauveriolide analogue library

Synthesis of beauveriolide III (1b), which is an inhibitor of lipid droplet accumulation in macrophages, was achieved by solid-phase assembly of linear depsipeptide using a 2-chlorotrityl linker followed by solution-phase cyclization. On the basis of this strategy, a combinatorial library of beauveriolide analogues was carried out by radio frequency-encoded combinatorial chemistry. After automated purification using preparative reversed-phase HPLC, the library was tested for inhibitory activity of CE synthesis in macrophages to determine structure-activity relationships of beauveriolides. Among them, we found that diphenyl derivative 7{9,1} is 10 times more potent than 1b.     

Three-dimensional structure-activity relationship analysis between motilin and motilide using conformational analysis and a novel molecular superposing method

Motilide, an erythromycin derivative, has been shown to equal activity to that of motilin as an agonist at the motilin receptor. However, there is little information on the three-dimensional (3D) structure-activity relationship between these two molecules, largely because they have quite different structures. In this study, we applied a rational computational procedure consisting of conformational analysis and a novel superposing method to investigate the 3D structure-activity relationship between motilide and motilin. We propose common 3D structural features between these molecules, which may be important for their similar activity.     

First total synthesis of the antitumor compound (-)-kazusamycin A and absolute structure determination

The first total synthesis of kazusamycin A, a potent antitumor compound from an actinomycete, has been achieved, and its absolute structure was determined. Paterson's stereoselective aldol reaction was successfully applied to construct the contiguous chiral centers by using an originally designed optically active 2-acyl-1,3-propanediol derivative.