Metal-Free Photoredox-Catalyzed Hydrodefluorination of Fluoroarenes Utilizing Amide Solvent as Reductant

A metal-free photoredox-catalyzed hydrodefluorination of fluoroarenes was achieved by using N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyl-para-phenylenediamine ( 1 ) as a strong photoreduction catalyst. This reaction was applicable not only to electron-rich monofluoroarenes but also to polyfluoroarenes to afford non-fluorinated arenes. The experimental mechanistic studies indicated that the amide solvent NMP plays an important role for regeneration of the photocatalyst, enabling additive-free photoreduction catalysis.     

Discovery of Key TIPS‐Naphthalene for Efficient Visible‐to‐UV Photon Upconversion under Sunlight and Room Light**

While many studies have been done on triplet–triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC) to produce visible light with high efficiency, the efficient TTA‐UC from visible to UV light, despite its importance for a variety of solar and indoor applications, remains a challenging task. Here, we report the highest visible‐to‐UV TTA‐UC efficiency of 20.5 % based on the discovery of an excellent UV emitter, 1,4‐bis((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)naphthalene (TIPS‐Nph). TIPS‐Nph is an acceptor with desirable features of high fluorescence quantum yield and high singlet generation efficiency by TTA. TIPS‐Nph has a low enough triplet energy level to be sensitized by Ir(C6)₂(acac), a superior donor that does not quench UV emission. The combination of TIPS‐Nph and Ir(C6)₂(acac) realizes the efficient UV light production even with weak light sources such as an AM 1.5 solar simulator and room LEDs.     

Optimisation of the analysis of anti-influenza drugs in wastewater and surface water

We optimised the simultaneous analysis of four analytes, namely three anti-influenza drugs (oseltamivir (OS), zanamivir (ZAN) and amantadine (AMN)) and one metabolite of OS (oseltamivir carboxylate (OC)), in sewage treatment plant (STP) influent and effluent by verifying the types and conditions of solid phase extraction (SPE) appropriate for LC-MS/MS analysis. In summary, these target analytes were extracted from aqueous samples (30–50 mL) by using strong cation-exchange SPE cartridges (500 mg adsorbent) under acidic conditions (pH 3–4). After washing of the cartridges with acidified water (pH 3.0, 3 mL) and methanol (3 mL), the analytes were eluted with a mixed solvent (2 mL) of 10% (v/v) triethylamine in a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of acetone and water. Application of this technique to the target compounds should yield a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and fate of anti-influenza drugs in the water environment.     

A nanocarbon film electrode as a platform for exploring DNA methylation

We describe the quantitative nonlabel electrochemical detection of both cytosine (C) and methylcytosine (mC) in oligonucleotides using newly developed nanocarbon film electrodes. The film consists of nanocrystalline sp2 and sp3 mixed bonds formed by employing the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) sputtering method. We successfully used this film to develop a simple electrochemical DNA methylation analysis technique based on the measurement of the differences between the oxidation currents of C and mC since our ECR nanocarbon film electrode can directly measure all DNA bases more quantitatively than conventional glassy carbon or boron-doped diamond electrodes. The excellent properties of ECR nanocarbon film electrodes result from the fact that they have a wide potential window while maintaining the high electrode activity needed to oxidize oligonucleotides electrochemically. Proof-of-concept experiments were performed with synthetic oligonucleotides including different numbers of C and mC. This film allowed us to perform both C- and mC-positive assays solely by using the electrochemical oxidation of oligonucleotides without bisulfite or labeling processes.     

Synthesis of CD-ring structure of cortistatin A, an anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from marine sponge

Stereoselective synthesis of the CD-ring structure of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from Indonesian marine sponge, was achieved. The stereogenic tertiary carbon center bearing the isoquinoline moiety was constructed by 1,3-chiral transfer method using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of the chiral allylic alcohol 5. Subsequent intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction afforded the targeted trans-hydrindane skeleton with moderate stereoselectivity.     

Thermal and ionic‐conductive behaviors of liquid crystalline polymers with alkali metal salt

In order to investigate the relationship between ionic conductivity and liquid crystallinity, we prepared the main‐chain type polyester having 1,4‐bisstyrylbenzene units and ethyleneoxide chain in the repeating unit. The main‐chain type polyester with lithium salt at the ratio of 0.04 per polymer repeating unit exhibited a smectic phase. However, the polyester with lithium salt (0.11) showed a nematic phase. The ionic conductivity of the polyester with lithium salt increased with increasing lithium salt concentration. The trans‐type polyester exhibited a liquid crystalline phase, while the cis‐type polyester did not show any mesophase. We found that the ionic conductivity of the trans‐type polyester with lithium salt (0.11) was larger than that of the cis‐type polyester with lithium salt (0.11). However, a liquid crystalline phase was found in the side‐chain type polyether with alkoxy chain length of below 12. A smectic phase was induced for the non‐mesomorphic polyethers with lithium salt. The layer spacing of the smectic A phase for the non‐mesomorphic polyether with lithium salt decreased from 55 to 41 Å with increasing temperature. The ionic conductivity of the polyether with lithium salt increased with decreasing the layer spacing. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Limit Theorem for Controlled Backward SDEs and Homogenization of Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman Equations

We prove a convergence theorem for a family of value functions associated with stochastic control problems whose cost functions are defined by backward stochastic differential equations. The limit function is characterized as a viscosity solution to a fully nonlinear partial differential equation of second order. The key assumption we use in our approach is shown to be a necessary and sufficient assumption for the homogenizability of the control problem. The results generalize partially homogenization problems for Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations treated recently by Alvarez and Bardi by viscosity solution methods. In contrast to their approach, we use mainly probabilistic arguments, and discuss a stochastic control interpretation for the limit equation.