An electrolytic system based on the anion exchange reaction between KCl and an anion exchange resin

We have developed a novel electrolytic system based on the anion exchange reaction between KCl and Amberlyst A26. It was demonstrated by preparative electrolysis experiments as well as cyclic voltammetry that the anion exchange reaction offers a unique electrolytic system for electroreduction of organic compounds. On the basis of the electrolytic system, electroreduction of aromatic carbonyl compounds was successfully achieved by using an undivided cell to provide the corresponding coupling products as pinacols in good to high yields with high diastereoselectivity.     

Acceleration effect of N‐allyl group on thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐benzoxazine

Thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of monofunctional N‐allyl‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1a was compared with that of N‐(n‐propyl)‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1b to clarify an unexpected effect of allyl group to promote the polymerization, that is, in spite of the comparable bulkiness of allyl group to n‐propyl group, the polymerization of 1a was much faster than that of 1b . Such a difference in polymerization rate was also observed similarly in the comparison of thermally induced polymerization of a bifunctional N‐allyl‐benzoxazine 2a with that of a bifunctional N‐(n‐propyl) analogue 2b . These observations implied a certain contribution of an electron‐rich C? C double bond of the N‐ally group to promotion of the ring‐opening reaction of 1,3‐benzoxazine into the corresponding zwitterionic species, which would involve a mechanism to stabilize the cationic part of the zwitterionic species based on “neighboring group participation” of the C? C double bond. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Asymmetric radical polymerization and copolymerization of N‐(1‐phenyldibenzosuberyl)methacrylamide and its derivative leading to optically active helical polymers

N‐(1‐Phenyldibenzosuberyl)methacrylamide (PDBSMAM) and its derivative N‐[(4‐butylphenyl)dibenzosuberyl]methacrylamide (BuPDBSMAM) were synthesized and polymerized in the presence of (+)‐ and (?)‐menthols at different temperatures. The tacticity of the polymers was estimated to be nearly 100% isotactic from the ¹H NMR spectra of polymethacrylamides derived in D₂SO₄. Poly(PDBSMAM) was not soluble in the common organic solvents, and its circular dichroism spectrum in the solid state was similar to that of the optically active poly(1‐phenyldibenzosuberyl methacrylate) (poly(PDBSMA)) with a prevailing one‐handed helicity, indicating that the poly(PDBSMAM) also has a similar helicity. Poly(BuPDBSMAM) was optically active and soluble in THF and chloroform. Its optical activity was much higher than that of the poly[N‐(triphenylmethayl)methacrylamide], suggesting that one‐handed helicity may be more efficiently induced on the poly(BuPDBSMAM). The copolymerization of BuPDBSMAM with a small amount of optically active N‐[(R)‐(+)‐1‐(1‐naphthyl)ethyl]methacrylamide, particularly in the presence of (?)‐menthol, produced a polymer with a high optical activity. The prevailing helicity may also be efficiently induced. The chiroptical properties of the obtained polymers were studied in detail. The chiral recognition by the polymers was also evaluated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1304–1315, 2007     

Novel analytical method for the crosslinking process: Infrared thermographic analysis of the thermally latent cationic polymerization of a spiroorthoester and a bifunctional oxetane for the construction of a low‐shrinkage curing system

Thermal behaviors were monitored by infrared thermographic analysis in the copolymerization of a spiroorthoester and a bifunctional oxetane with thermally latent initiators [benzyl tetrahydrothiophenium hexafluoroantimonate (BTHT) and benzyl 4‐hydroxyphenyl methyl sulfonium hexafluoroantimonate (BPMS)]. The copolymerization with BPMS increased the temperature during the copolymerization more than that with BTHT, whereas the exothermicities were lowered with the increase in the initial feed ratio of the spiroorthocarbonate monomer. The high exothermicity in the copolymerization with BPMS is ascribable to the faster propagation of the oxetane monomer with a high heat of polymerization, and this is supported by model reactions and computational calculation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2820–2826, 2007     

Preparation, Characterization and Catalysis of Intrazeolite Molybdenum, Cobalt and Cobalt–Molybdenum Sulfide Clusters: A Molecular Approach to Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts

Better understandings of the nature of Co–Mo sulfide catalysts are of great importance to a rational design of highly active hydrodesulfurization catalysts on a molecular level. Synthesis of uniform binary sulfide clusters well-defined in structure and thermally stabilized on a support is desirable for such purposes. In the present study, successful preparations, using metal carbonyls as precursors, of Mo, Co and Co–Mo sulfide clusters encaged in zeolite are reported. The structure, location and catalytic properties of the clusters are described on the basis of XPS, XAFS, XRD, XRF, IR, HREM and adsorptions of benzene and NO. Implications for the generation of catalytic synergy between Co and Mo sulfides are presented in brief. It is suggested that the host–guest interactions between zeolite framework oxygens and precursor molecules and product clusters are crucial to the size and structure of the intrazeolite clusters.     

Alternative methods of globotrioside production using Vero cells: a microcarrier system procedure

Background  

Glycolipids are one component of cell membranes, and are found most prevalently at the surface of the plasma membrane. Animal cells take in amphipathic glycosides, which are later glycosylated after assimilation in biosynthetic pathways. Gycosylated glycosides are released outside of cells to the surrounding culture medium. This represents an accessible method of obtaining complex glycosides.     

Study on liquid crystallinity in 2,9-dialkylpentacenes

A series of semiconducting and symmetrical 2,9-dialkylpentacenes was successfully synthesized via a five-step process and their structures confirmed by ¹H NMR, IR and elemental analyses. Their liquid crystallinity was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The introduction of alkyl chains also improved their solubility. For alkyl chains longer than butyl, focal conic or baton texture was observed, indicating the existence of an ordered smectic phase. Thermal analyses revealed that the both melting and smectic-isotropic transition temperatures show an odd-even effect when the alkyl chain is larger than heptyl or octyl. The synthesized compounds are promising candidates for semiconductors in organic field-effect transistors because their liquid crystallinity allows easy molecular alignment in the device fabrication process.     

Molecular design of flexible liquid crystal oligomers stabilising the chiral frustrated phases

ABSTRACT

Chirality induces structural frustration in liquid crystal systems, producing various kinds of chiral frustrated phases, for example, twist grain boundary (TGB) phases, blue phases (BPs) and dark conglomerate (DC) phases. Almost all molecules exhibiting these frustrated phases have a rigid shape. Especially, a bent–core unit is regarded as a key structure for BPs and DC phases. This paper describes that some flexible liquid crystal oligomers being far from a rigid bent–core molecule stabilise these phases. The LC oligomers have a supermolecular structure in which mesogenic units are connected via flexible spacers. By designing intermolecular interactions, they can exhibit various molecular packing structures in the liquid-crystalline phases as follows: chiral dimers inducing TGB phases, U-shaped and T-shaped oligomers stabilising BPs and achiral liquid crystal trimers exhibiting DC phases. I discuss how the designed liquid crystal oligomers produce the chiral frustrated phases.