Distribution pattern of rare earth ions between water and montmorillonite and its relation to the sorbed species of the ions.

REE (rare earth element) distribution coefficients (Kd) between the aqueous phase and montmorillonite surface were obtained to investigate the relation between the REE distribution patterns and the species of REE sorbed on the solid-water interface. It was shown that the features in the REE patterns, such as the slope of the REE patterns, the tetrad effect, and the Y/Ho ratio, were closely related to the REE species at the montmorillonite-water interface. In a binary system (REE-montmorillonite) below pH 5, three features (a larger Kd value for a lighter REE, the absence of the tetrad effect, and the Y/Ho ratio being unchanged from its initial value) suggest that hydrated REE are directly sorbed as an outer-sphere complex at the montmorillonite-water interface. Above pH 5.5, the features in the REE patterns, the larger Kd value for heavier REE, the M-type tetrad effect, and the reduced Y/Ho ratio, showed the formation of an inner-sphere complex of REE with -OH group at the montmorillonite surface. In addition, the REE patterns in the presence of humic acid at pH 5.9 were also studied, where the REE patterns became flat, suggesting that the humate complex is dominant as both dissolved and sorbed species of REE in the ternary system. All of these results were consistent with the spectroscopic data (laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy) showing the local structure of Eu(III) conducted in the same experimental system. The present results suggest that the features in the REE distribution patterns include information on the REE species at the solid-water interface.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and related natural product (-)-1893A: application of one-pot ring-opening/cross/ring-closing metathesis to construct their 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene skeleton

The total syntheses of (+)-mycoepoxydiene and (-)-1893A have been completed. The present synthetic strategy features the use of one-pot ring-opening/cross metathesis (ROM/CM) followed by a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction, allowing for the concise construction of the 9-oxabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene framework from a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivative and 1,3-butadiene. The sequential metathesis product was converted into (+)-mycoepoxydiene through the oxidative rearrangement of a furfuryl alcohol to a pyranone, thereby establishing its absolute stereochemistry. From the common intermediate, a structurally related natural product (-)-1893A was also synthesized via the vinylogous aldol reaction.     

Synthesis of poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) through oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene

Poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene sulfide) was prepared by oxidative polymerization of sulfur chloride with p-xylene using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidizing agent. The reaction proceeded efficiently under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. The polymer formed had a high melting temperature and linear structure which was confirmed by spectroscopies. The effects of reaction time, solvent, temperature and oxidizing agent on polymerization are also discussed.     

Binding of metal ions by polyethylenimine and its derivatives

Measurements have been made of the binding of divalent metal ions, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions, by polyethylenimine (PEI) and its acetyl or alkyl derivatives by the equilibriumdialysis technique. These metal ions, in particular the Cu²⁺ ion, exhibited tremendously remarkable binding affinity toward PEI. The extent of complexation of the polymer with the metal ions was decreased markedly by acetylation or alkylation of the polymer. PEI with no primary amine showed an appreciable decrease in its affinity for the metal ion. These results indicate the participation of the primary amine of the polymer in the formation of the complex. A cooperative binding isotherm was observed in PEI–metal ion complex formation, suggesting swelling or conformational change of the polymer induced by this coordination process. Binding of the Cu²⁺ ion by PEI was found to be essentially independent of temperature over the range 5–35°C.     

Liquid crystalline gel with refractive index gradient of curdlan

Curdlan dissolved in aqueous sodium hydroxide was dialyzed to aqueous calcium chloride to form a gel. Transparent and turbid concentric layers observed in the gel cross section perpendicular to the long axis of the dialysis tube were identified as liquid crystalline gels with refractive index gradient and amorphous gels, respectively. The thickness of each layer was proportional to the diameter of the dialysis tube, and the gelation proceeded in proportion to the root of time. The unique pattern formation was attributed to the change of curdlan conformation and calcium-induced cross-linking resulting from a diffusion of calcium cations and hydroxide anions through the dialysis tube. It is suggested that the orderedness of the curdlan molecules decreases by the increase of the curvature of the concentric liquid crystal layers as the layer comes toward the center of the dialysis tube.     

Evaluation of molecular structure in Langmuir monolayers of zinc stearate and zinc 12-hydroxystearate by IR external reflection spectroscopy

 In situ polarized Fourier transform IR external reflection spectra of Langmuir monolayers of zinc stearate and zinc 12-hydroxystearate on a water surface were recorded for various surface areas, and their molecular structures were estimated. In the zinc stearate monolayer, the wavenumbers and the absorbances of the antisymmetric and symmetric methylene stretching bands did not change during monolayer compression, which means that orientational and conformational changes of the hydrocarbon chain did not occur. However, wavenumber changes of the antisymmetric and symmetric carboxylate stretching bands were observed during surface compression. The change in the binding nature of the zinc cation to the carboxylate group was speculated. Moreover, it was elucidated that the structure of the hydrocarbon chain in the zinc 12-hydroxystearate monolayer was different from that in the zinc stearate monolayer. Received: 21 March 2001 Accepted: 6 July 2001     

An analytical expression for the approximate dependence of the degree of counterion binding on the composition of ionic-nonionic mixed micelles

A simple analytical expression is presented to describe the dependence of the degree of counterion binding beta of ionic-nonionic mixed micelles on the composition x(I) (the micelle mole fraction of the ionic species): 1/(1-beta)=1-x(I)+x(I)/[1-beta(x(I)=1)]. In the application of the relation, the value of beta for the pure ionic micelle, beta(x(I)=1), should be known in advance. An equivalent expression was first proposed by Hall et al. on purely empirical grounds but in the present study the relation is derived on the basis of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation of the plate model of micelles in a salt-free medium. The insensitive nature of beta toward a change in micelle concentration as well as to the addition of a salt is also derived under reasonable approximations. When the relation was applied to 12 mixed micelles both with and without added salt, it described quite well the observed composition dependencies of all examples examined. Two other simple analytical expressions are also derived, but they are much less satisfactory in describing the experimental data.     

Site-directed 13C solid-state NMR studies on membrane proteins: strategy and goals toward revealing conformation and dynamics as illustrated for bacteriorhodopsin labeled with [1-13C]amino acid residues

We have so far demonstrated that well-resolved and site-specifically assigned (13)C peaks as recorded by site-directed NMR study on (13)C-labeled membrane proteins can serve as a convenient probe to reveal their local conformation and dynamics. We attempted here to clarify the extent to which (13)C NMR spectra of (13)C-labeled fully hydrated bacteriorhodopsin (bR) as a typical membrane protein are visible or well resolved in the presence of inherent fluctuation motions with frequency of 10(2)-10(8) Hz, especially at the membrane surfaces. Accordingly, we estimated the relative proportion of (13)C NMR signals from the surface areas with and without peak suppression by the accelerated transverse relaxation effect by surface-bound Mn(2+) ions, which could be effective for residues within 8.7 angstroms of the membrane surface. It turned out that the experimental findings are consistent with the predicted amount of amino acid residues under consideration located within 8.7 angstroms of the surface for [1-(13)C]Val- and Ile-labeled bR and also [3-(13)C]Ala-bR. In contrast, (13)C NMR peaks from such surfaces area are almost completely or partially suppressed for [1-(13)C]Gly-, Ala-, Leu-, Phe- and Trp-labeled bR, as a result of plausible interference of the fluctuation frequency with frequency of magic angle spinning (10(4) Hz). We further assigned several (13)C NMR signals of [1-(13)C] Val-, Trp- and Ile-labeled bR on the basis of a variety of site-directed mutants with reference to those of the wild type. Further, we recorded the (13)C NMR of bR in lipid bilayers to search for the optimal conditions to be able to obtain signals with the highest peak intensities and spectral resolution. Backbone dynamics turn out to be essential for recording (13)C NMR spectra so as to escape from motional frequencies of the order of 10(4)-10(5) Hz, either in the direction of accelerated fluctuation or slowed motions in the direction of forming the 2D array.     

Contracted polarization functions for B to Ar

Using optimal exponents for B through Ne given by Dunning and those for Al through Ar by Woon and Dunning, d-type contracted polarization functions (2d/1d), (3d/1d), and (3d/2d) are generated from natural orbitals of atomic single and double excitation configuration interaction (SDCI) calculations, where the numbers before and after the slash are those of the primitive and contracted Gaussian type functions. The resulting contracted functions are tested on N₂ and P₂ molecules by self-consistent field and SDCI calculations, which clarify characteristics of the present polarization functions. Received: 5 June 1997 / Accepted: 20 August 1997     

The effects of epimerization at the 3(1)-position of bacteriochlorophylls c on their aggregation in chlorosomes of green sulfur bacteria. Control of the ratio of 3(1) epimers by light intensity

R- and S-epimerization at the 3(1) position of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c and the formation of rod-like aggregates in chlorosomes of green sulfur bacteria were markedly affected in Chlorobium (Cb.) tepidum and Cb. limicola by cultivation under various light intensities (photon fluence rate). The stronger the light, the higher the ratio of the S-epimer to the R-epimer for each homolog of BChl c in the bacteria. S[P,E] BChl cF and S[I,E] BChl cF were found to be the major S-epimers in Cb. tepidum and Cb. limicola, respectively. R[P,E] BChl cF decreased markedly compared to R[E,E] BChl cF in Cb. tepidum, whereas no observable change in the ratio of R[P,E]/R[E,E] was detected for Cb. limicola. With increase in light intensity the Qy absorption maximum of the bacteria shifted to shorter wavelengths. In vitro spectroscopic studies of the aggregates showed a marked difference in the formation of aggregates from R- and S-epimers of BChl c; the S-epimers formed aggregates much more slowly than did the R-epimers. These results suggest that the ratio of the epimers of BChl c might significantly affect the aggregation of BChl in the chlorosome. We propose different roles for the R- and S-epimers in chlorosomes of Cb. limicola and Cb. tepidum.