A novel mediator-polymer-modified anode for microbial fuel cells

A high-performance anode system based on a combination of mediator-polymer-modified graphite felt and bacteria capable of reducing extracellular materials shows significant potential for practical use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs).     

Modification of the luminescence spectra of chloro(tetrapyridylcyclotetramine)europium complexes by fine tuning of the Eu-Cl distance with outer-sphere counterions in the solid state, in a polymer matrix and in solution

Controlling the coordination environments and the luminescence properties of Eu(3+) complexes with outer-sphere counterions was achieved in the solid state, in a polymer matrix and in solution.     

New synthetic routes to optically active alpha-quaternary alpha-aryl amino acid derivatives via the diastereoselective Stevens and Sommelet-Hauser rearrangements

The Stevens rearrangement of N-allylic alpha-aryl amino acid-derived ammonium salts and the Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement of N-benzylic alpha-alkyl amino acid-derived ammonium salts are shown to proceed with remarkably high levels of diastereoselectivity. The methods presented in this work provide new routes to optically active alpha-quaternary alpha-aryl amino acid derivatives.     

Coadsorbed H and CO interaction on platinum

The behavior of hydrogen near a platinum-surface-adsorbed carbon monoxide molecule is described using a potential energy term constructed from density functional theory. A clear nonattractive interaction of hydrogen with CO is confirmed, most notably with oxygen, which retains its strong H-repulsive traits in the Pt-bound CO case. Inhibiting effects of CO greater than what is expected from simple adsorption site exclusion are discussed with regard to adsorption/desorption and mobility on platinum, as well as possibilities of COH and HCO formation.     

Efficient total syntheses of natural pterin glycosides: limipterin and tepidopterin

The key, versatile precursors N²-(N,N-dimethylaminomethylene)-1′-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]biopterin (29a) and its ciliapterin analog (29b) were prepared, respectively, from d-xylose (in 14 steps) and l-xylose (in 11 steps). Treatment of 29a and 29b with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl bromide in the presence of silver triflate and tetramethylurea, followed by removal of the protecting groups, led to the first selective syntheses of limipterin (3) and tepidopterin (5), respectively.