WKB-like wave-functional for a string state and path-dependent phase factor

The variational calculation of the path-ordered phase factor is streamlined. We propose that the wave functional for a string state is approximately of the form

$\text{Ψ[x(σ)=}\text{Π}\text{σ′}\text{K(x(σ′))}\text{P exp}\text{ie∫}\text{A d}\text{x}$

.The real factor K is shown to be proportional to the square root of the dielectric permeability in the Kogut-Susskind-'t Hooft model of colour flux collimation.     

Synthesis of 1,8- and 2,8-dihydrocycloheptapyrazol-8-one derivatives by the reactions of 3-acetyltropolone and its methyl ethers with phenylhydrazine

3-Acetyltropolone ( 1 ) reacted with phenylhydrazine to give 3-acetyltropolone phenylhydrazone ( 3 ) and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1,8-dihydrocycloheptapyrazol-8-one ( 4 ). The former ( 3 ) cyclized to afford the latter ( 4 ). The reaction of 3-acetyl-2-methoxytropone ( 2a ) with phenylhydrazine gave 4 , 3-methyl-2-phenyl-2,8-dihydrocyclo-heptapyrazol-8-one ( 5 ), and 3-methyl-2-phenyl-2,8-dihydrocycloheptapyrazol-8-one phenylhydrazone ( 6 ). The compound ( 5 ) reacted with phenylhydrazine to afford 6 . The reaction of 7-acetyl-2-methoxytropone ( 2b ) with phenylhydrazone gave 7-acetyl-2-methoxytropone phenylhydrazone ( 7 ), 7-acetyl-2-(N′-phenylhydrazino)-tropone phenylhydrazone ( 8 ), 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1,8-dihydrocycloheptapyrazol-8-one phenylhydrazone ( 9 ), and 6 . The compound ( 7 ) was heated to afford 4 and reacted with phenylhydrazine to afford 8 and 9 . The compound ( 8 ) was also refluxed to give 9 .     

Magnetic microcapsules for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs

To achieve targeted distribution of anticancer drugs with sustained activity, ferromagnetic ethylcellulose microcapsules containing an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (FM-MMC-mc), were prepared by a method based on phase separation principles. Two prototypes of FM-MMC-mc were made: one with the drug as the core and zinc ferrite on its capsular surface (outer type); the other with both the drug and zinc ferrite as the core (inner type). Both preparations provided a sustained-release property and a sensitive response to conventional magnetic force, although certain differences in the release rate of drug, magnetic responsiveness, and particle size were found between the two dosage forms. Animal studies showed that the magnetic microcapsules could be magnetically controlled in the artery and urinary bladder. VX2 tumors in the rabbit hind limb and urinary bladder were successfully treated with magnetic control of FM-MMC-mc. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that the targeting of the microcapsules markedly enhanced the drug absorption into the surrounding tissues for a prolonged period of time. The results indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of the magnetic microcapsules as a targeted drug delivery system.     

Template-directed DNA photoligation via alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine

[reaction: see text] We describe an efficient template-directed photoligation of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) using alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine (alpha(C)U). An efficient photoligation was produced by photoirradiation of an ODN containing alpha(C)U at the 3' end with an ODN containing thymine at the 5' end in the presence of a template ODN. This photoligation method is a new and efficient way to synthesize branched ODNs.     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of cyanomethyl methacrylate

The kinetics of cyanomethyl methacrylate (CyMA) homopolymerization was investigated in acetonitrile with azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The rate of polymerization R_p was expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.49[CyMA]^1.2 and the overall activation energy was calculated as 72.3 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for CyMA polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k = 0.10 L^1/2s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 1.57 × 10^?5s^?. The relative reactivity ratios of CyMA(M₂) copolymerization with styrene (r₁ = 0.15, r₂ = 0.29) and methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 0.43, r₂ = 0.75) in acetonitrile were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme (in styrene copolymerization) led to Q = 1.64 and e = 0.98. The glass transition temperature T_g of poly(CyMA) was observed to be 91°C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetry of poly(CyMA) showed a 10% weight loss at 265°C in air.     

Presence of peroxyradicals in cigarette smoke and the scavenging effect of shikonin, a naphthoquinone pigment

Using a new method having been developed for the purpose of quantitative determination for peroxyradicals, the presence of peroxyradicals was proved in cigarette smoke. In brief, peroxyradicals in cigarette smoke were measured by ESR spectrometry coupled to non-reductive scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). As a result, peroxyradicals were found to be major reactive oxygen species (ROS) since the concentration of peroxyradicals recovered from cigarette smoke was much higher than that of any of other ROS (superoxide and hydroxyl radical) and nitric oxide. Furthermore, several antioxidants (ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, epigallocatechin gallate, shikonin) were examined for scavenging activity against peroxyradicals in the cigarette smoke. Among them shikonin alone exerted the scavenging activity, suggesting that shikonin is promising antioxidant for cigarette filters because of its effectiveness against broad range of ROS including peroxyradicals, heat resistance, nonvolatility and high affinity to the filter.     

Static and dynamic structures of spherical nonionic surfactant micelles during the disorder-order transition

We have investigated the static and dynamic structures of nonionic surfactant micelles, a C(12)E(8)/water binary system, during the disorder-order transition using small angle x-ray scattering, static light scattering, and dynamic light scattering techniques. In the disordered phase, the micelles have spherical shape and intermicellar interactions are governed by the hard core and weak long ranged attractive potentials. With increase of the micellar concentration, the disordered micelles transform to the three characteristic ordered micellar phases, a hexagonally close packed lattice, a body centered cubic lattice, and an A15 lattice having area-minimizing structure. The stability of these phases is well explained by balance of a close packing rule and a minimal-area rule proposed by Ziherl and Kamien [Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3528 (2000)]. The role of hydrodynamic interactions in surfactant micellar solutions was compared with that in hard sphere colloidal particle suspensions.     

Double-chelation-assisted Rh-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes and 1,4-penta- or 1,5-hexadienes

Intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes 1, 26-40 and 1,4-penta- or 1,5-hexadienes 4-13 by Rh-catalyst proceeded under mild reaction conditions to give a mixture of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products 14-25, 41-55, and 57-60. In the hydroacylation reaction, chelation of both salicylaldehyde and diene to the Rh-complex plays a crucial role. The ratio of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products could be regulated by the addition of salicylic acid or amines. The effects of various Rh-complexes, solvents, and additives were examined, and the plausible mechanisms of the catalytic cycle were proposed on the basis of the deuterium-labeling salicylaldehyde experiments.     

Convergent synthesis of polycyclic ethers via the intramolecular allylation of alpha-acetoxy ethers and subsequent ring-closing metathesis

The Lewis acid mediated reaction of alpha-acetoxy ethers 15-22 gave the corresponding cyclized products 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 34, and 36 in good yields with high stereoselectivities. Those cyclized products were subjected to ring-closing metathesis to afford the polycyclic ethers 38-42, 44, and 45 in good yields. The usefulness of the present methodology was demonstrated by the convergent synthesis of the CDEF ring system of brevetoxin B (1) and the CDEFG ring system of gambierol (2).