1064-nm laser fragmentation of thin Au and Ag flakes in acetone for highly productive pathway to stable metal nanoparticles

The laser-induced fragmentation of thin Au and Ag flakes in acetone by 1064-nm nanosecond laser (with the fluence typically ∼2 J/cm²) potentially offers a highly productive pathway to stable metal nanoparticles in liquid. Acetone serves as a superior liquid medium that keeps fine metal nanoparticles free from precipitation even in such concentrated nanoparticle solutions exceeding ∼0.1 M. Thin metal flakes have good capability to absorb the 1064-nm laser energy as efficiently as in the visible region. A part of the thus laser-heated molten flakes explosively split into submicroparticles, and some other significant part directly into fine nanoparticles. Both kinds of product particles have minor absorption cross-sections for subsequent laser pulses at 1064 nm, and thus no longer fragment further. One of the two kinds of Ag flakes studied in this work yielded fine Ag nanoparticles at a remarkable high production rate of 1.1 mg/min for the input laser power of only ∼0.65 W.     

Total Synthesis,Stereochemical Reassignment,and Biological Evaluation of (−)‐Lyngbyaloside B

(?)‐Lyngbyaloside B is a 14‐membered macrolide glycoside isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya sp. as a cytotoxic substance by Moore and co‐workers. The first total synthesis of (?)‐lyngbyaloside B and the reassignment of its stereostructure is described. The synthesis features an Abiko–Masamune aldol reaction, a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a macrocyclization involving an acyl ketene intermediate for the construction of the macrocyclic backbone, which contains an acylated tertiary alcohol. The antiproliferative activity of selected compounds against a small panel of human cancer cell lines is also reported.     

A plasmonic photocatalyst consisting of silver nanoparticles embedded in titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) displays photocatalytic behavior under near-ultraviolet (UV) illumination. In another scientific field, it is well understood that the excitation of localized plasmon polaritons on the surface of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) causes a tremendous increase of the near-field amplitude at well-defined wavelengths in the near UV. The exact resonance wavelength depends on the shape and the dielectric environment of the NPs. We expected that the photocatalytic behavior of TiO2 would be greatly boosted if it gets assisted by the enhanced near-field amplitudes of localized surface plasmon (LSP). Here we show that this is true indeed. We named this new phenomenon "plasmonic photocatalysis". The key to enable plasmonic photocatalysis is to deposit TiO2 on a NP comprising an Ag core covered with a silica (SiO2) shell to prevent oxidation of Ag by direct contact with TiO2. The most appropriate diameter for Ag NPs and thickness for the SiO2 shell giving rise to LSP in the near UV were estimated from Mie scattering theory. Upon implementing a device that took these design considerations into account, the measured photocatalytic activity under near UV illumination of such a plasmonic photocatalyst, monitored by decomposition of methylene blue, was enhanced by a factor of 7. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity increases with a decreased thickness of the SiO2 shell. The plasmonic photocatalysis will be of use as a high performance photocatalyst in nearly all current applications but will be of particular importance for applications in locations of minimal light exposure.     

Quantum-chemical investigation of the electroabsorption spectra of directly meso-meso-linked porphyrin arrays: essential role of charge-transfer excited states accidentally overlapping with soret bands

The electroabsorption (EA) spectra of directly meso-meso-linked porphyrin arrays (Zn, n = 1-3) have been investigated by means of the sum-over-states (SOS) approach at the INDO/S-SCI level theory. The experimental EA spectra of Zn (n > or = 2) exhibit an unusual second-derivative line shape at the exciton split low-energy B(x) band in contrast to the first-derivative spectrum of Z1, which is readily ascribed to a quadratic Stark shift of the B (Soret) band. Although the second-derivative line shape is usually attributed to a difference in the permanent dipole moment (Deltamu) between the ground and excited states, it should be vanishing for Zn due to their essentially D(2)(d) or D(2)(h) symmetry. As pointed out in our previous studies, the interporphyrinic charge-transfer (CT) excited states are accidentally overlapping with the excitonic B bands and the present calculations reveal that the B(x) state is strongly coupled via a transition dipole moment with two such CT states. These situations give rise to a quadratic Stark effect on the B(x) band that is intermediate between Stark shift (first derivative) and Stark broadening (second derivative), and play a central role in establishing the anomalous second derivative nature of the EA spectrum. Moreover, based on the comparison between the theoretical and experimental spectra, there must be an additional factor that further enhances the second derivative nature of the EA spectrum of porphyrin arrays. Discussions on this issue including the preliminary investigations on the role of solvent (PMMA)-induced asymmetry are also presented.     

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection for the highly sensitive determination of fluorescence-labeled chlorpheniramine with Suzuki coupling reaction

A sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatography-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine (CPA) and monodesmethyl chlorpheniramine (MDCPA) in human serum. The method combines fluorescent labeling with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)phenyl boronic acid using Suzuki coupling reaction with PO-CL detection. CPA and MDCPA were extracted from human serum by liquid–liquid extraction with n-hexane. Excess labeling reagent, which interfered with trace level determination of analytes, was removed by solid-phase extraction using a C18 cartridge. Separation of derivatives of both analytes was achieved isocratically on a silica column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 60 mM imidazole-HNO₃ buffer (pH 7.2; 85:15, v/v) containing 0.015% triethylamine. The proposed method exhibited a good linearity with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 for CPA and MDCPA within the concentration range of 0.5–100 ng/mL. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.14 and 0.16 ng/mL for CPA and MDCPA, respectively. Using the proposed method, CPA could be selectively determined in human serum after oral administration.     

Structural,electrical, and magnetic properties of a series of molecular conductors based on BDT-TTP and lanthanoid nitrate complex anions (BDT-TTP = 2,5-Bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene)

The platelike crystals of a series of novel molecular conductors, which are based on the pi-donor molecules BDT-TTP (2,5-bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene) with a tetrathiapentalene skeleton and lanthanide nitrate complex anions [Ln(NO3)x](3-x)(Ln = La, Ce, (Pr), Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) with localized 4f magnetic moments, were synthesized. Except for the Ce complex, the salts were composed of (BDT-TTP)(5)[Ln(NO(3))(5)] and were isostructural. Even though the Ce crystal had a different composition, (BDT-TTP)(6)[Ce(NO(3))(6)](C(2)H(5)OH)(x)() (x approximately 3), the crystals all had the space group P(-)1. Although the X-ray examination of the Pr salts was insufficient, the existence of two modifications was suggested in these systems by preliminary X-ray examination. Previously, we reported the crystal structures and unique magnetic properties of (BDT-TTP)(5)[Ln(NO(3))(5)] (Ln = Sm, Eu, Nd, Gd). Thus, by combining the results of this work with previous one, we for the first time succeeded in obtaining a complete set of organic conductors composed of the identical pi-donors (BDT-TTP in this case) and all the lanthanide nitrate complex anions (except the complex with Pm(3+)). The crystals were all metallic down to 2 K. Electronic band structure calculations resulted in two-dimensional Fermi surfaces, which was consistent with their stable metallic states. Except for the Lu complex, which lacked paramagnetic moments, the magnetic susceptibilities were measured on the six heavy lanthanide ion complex salts by a SQUID magnetometer (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). The large paramagnetic susceptibilities, which were caused by the paramagnetic moments of the rare-earth ions, were obtained. The Curie-Weiss law fairly accurately reproduced the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities of (BDT-TTP)(5)[Ho(NO(3))(5)] in the experimental temperature range (2-300 K) and a comparatively large Weiss temperature (|THETAV;|) was obtained (THETAV;(Ho) = -15 K). A Weiss temperature (THETAV;(Tm) = -8 K) was also obtained for Tm. The |THETAV;| values of other (BDT-TTP)(5)[Ln(NO(3))(5)] salts and (BDT-TTP)(6)[Ce(NO(3))(6)](C(2)H(5)OH)x(x approximately 3) were as follows: |THETAV;|/K = 4 (Er), < or =2 (Ce, Tb, Dy, Yb). The comparatively strong intermolecular magnetic interaction between Ho(3+) ions, which was suggested by the |THETAV;| value, is inconsistent with the traditional image of strongly localized 4f orbitals shielded by the electrons in the outer 5s and 5p orbitals. The dipole interactions between Ln(3+) ions causing the Curie-Weiss behavior and the comparatively large THETAV; value of (BDT-TTP)(5)[Ho(NO(3))(5)] is inconsistent with the data, since the complexes exhibit isostructural properties and there is not a clear relationship between the magnitudes of THETAV; values and those of magnetic moments. Therefore, it is possible that the 4f orbitals of Ho atom are sensitive to the ligand field, which will have an effect on the orbital moment of the Ho(3+) ion and/or produce a small amount of mixing between 4f and ligand orbitals to give rise to "real" intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction through intermolecular overlapping between pi (BDT-TTP) and ligand orbitals of lanthanide nitrate complex anions.     

Matrix polycondensation through hydrogen bonding interaction

Polycondensation of diesters having hydroxyl or pyridine groups was carried out with hexamethylenediamine (HMD) in the presence of (vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate) copolymers as a matrix polymer. Apparent rates of the polycondensation of dimethyl tartrate (DMT) with HMD increased with increasing contents of PVA units in the copolymers and a strong entanglement between growing polyamide chains and PVA copolymers took place through the adsorption of HMD and DMT on the matrix copolymers. 2,6-Dimethyl pyridine dicarboxylate (2,6-DMP) reacted with HMD in the presence of the PVA copolymers or polysaccharide, while the rate enhancement effect of the matrix polymers was not significantly observed, as in the case of DMT. The effect of the matrix polymers on the polycondensation was discussed in terms of hydrogen bonding interactions.