Microscopic observation and in-situ Raman scattering studies on high-pressure phase transformations of Kr hydrate

Direct observations through a microscope and in-situ Raman scattering measurements of synthesized single-crystalline Kr hydrate have been performed at pressures up to 5.2 GPa and 296 K. We have observed that the initial cubic structure II (sII) of Kr hydrate successively transforms to a cubic structure I (sI), a hexagonal structure, and an orthorhombic structure (sO) called "filled ice" at 0.45, 0.75, and 1.8 GPa, respectively. The sO phase exists at least up to 5.2 GPa. In addition to these transformations, we have also found the new phase behavior at 1.0 GPa, which is most likely caused by the change of cage occupancy of host water cages by guest Kr atoms without structural change. Raman scattering measurements for observed phases have shown that the lattice vibrational peak at around 130 cm(-1) disappears in the pressure region of sI, which enables us to distinguish the sI phase from sII and sH phases.     

Adsorption and phase transition of alkanol and fluoroalkanol at electrified mercury/aqueous solution interface

The adsorption behavior and the phase transition of alkanol and fluoroalkanol at the electrified mercury/aqueous solution interface were investigated by the interfacial tension measurements and the thermodynamic analysis. In the alkanol system, it is found that the phase transitions in low interfacial densities occur: the ones from the zero adsorption to the gaseous or the expanded state and the gaseous to the expanded state at the electrified interface depending on the electrostatic nature as well as the concentration in the bulk phase. These phase transitions were verified by the thermodynamic equations derived by the assumption of coexistence of two phases at the electrified interface. Furthermore the distribution of ionic species in the interfacial region is discussed on the basis of dependence of the interfacial charge density of solution phase on an applied potential. Fluoroalkanol, on the other hand, was practically not adsorbed at the electrified interface within this experimental condition. The zero adsorption of fluoroalkanol molecules suggests the driving force of the adsorption may be the interaction hydrophobic group of alcohol molecule and mercury.     

Competitive photoinduced electron transfer by the complex formation of porphyrin with cyclodextrin bearing viologen

Photoinduced electron transfer between a porphyrin and a new guest cyclodextrin bearing viologen occurs by a supramolecular formation with conformational change of a guest molecule.     

Peroxidase activity of cationic metalloporphyrin-antibody complexes

Peroxidase activity of a complex of water-soluble cationic metalloporphyrin with anti-cationic porphyrin antibody is reported. Antibody 12E11G, which was prepared by immunization with a conjugate of 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(4-methylpyridyl)porphine iodide (3MPy1C), bound to tetramethylpyridylporphyrin iron complex (FeIII-TMPyP) with the dissociation constant of 2.6 x 10(-7) M. The complex of antibody 12E11G with FeIII-TMPyP catalyzed oxidation of pyrogallol, catechol, and guaiacol. A Lineweaver-Burk plot for the oxidation of pyrogallol catalyzed by the FeIII-TMPyP-antibody complex showed Km=8.6 mM and kcat=680 min(-1). Under the same conditions, Km and kcat for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were 0.8 mM and 1750 min(-1), respectively. Although the binding interaction of the antibody to the substrates was one order lower than that of native HRP, the peroxidase activity of this system was in the same order of magnitude as that of HRP.     

Participation of the alpha,alpha'-diiminopyridine ligand system in reduction of the metal center during alkylation

The reaction of [[2,6-(i-Pr)(2)PhN=C(Me)](2)(C(5)H(3)N)]MnCl(2) with alkylating agents formed a dinuclear Mn(I) derivative via ligand reductive coupling. In the case of the trivalent Cr analogue, a similar reaction afforded reduction toward Cr(II) but also alkylation at the pyridine ring para position followed by an unprecedented cycloaddition that generated a tricyclic system.     

Water-soluble zinc porphyrins as artificial receptors for amino acids

The binding of amino acids to water-soluble zinc porphyrins in basic aqueous solution was spectrophotometrically analyzed. The amino acids were bound to the porphyrins through the coordination of the N atom with the central zinc ion. Additional attractions arise due to Coulomb interactions between the -COO(-) anion of the amino acids and the -N(CH(3))(3)(+) cation of the porphyrin substituents and due to hydrophobic interactions between the porphyrin plane and the hydrophobic substituents of the amino acids. These attractions could be explained based on the binding data. The compensatory relationships of DeltaS and DeltaH were also discussed.     

Three-Step Spin State Transition and Hysteretic Proton Transfer in the Crystal of an Iron(II) Hydrazone Complex

A proton–electron coupling system, exhibiting unique bistability or multistability of the protonated state, is an attractive target for developing new switchable materials based on proton dynamics. Herein, we present an iron(II) hydrazone crystalline compound, which displays the stepwise transition and bistability of proton transfer at the crystal level. These phenomena are realized through the coupling with spin transition. Although the multi-step transition with hysteresis has been observed in various systems, the corresponding behavior of proton transfer has not been reported in crystalline systems; thus, the described iron(II) complex is the first example. Furthermore, because proton transfer occurs only in one of the two ligands and π electrons redistribute in it, the dipole moment of the iron(II) complexes changes with the proton transfer, wherein the total dipole moment in the crystal was canceled out owing to the antiferroelectric-like arrangement.     

Redox-responsive supramolecular polymeric networks having double-threaded inclusion complexes

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have attracted attention as soft actuators that act similarly to muscles. In this work, hydrogel actuators controlled by host–guest interactions have been developed. The introduction of a 1:1 inclusion complex into a hydrogel is a popular design for achieving a change in cross-linking density. To realize faster and larger deformation properties, the introduction of a 1:2 inclusion complex is effective because the alteration in cross-linking density in a hydrogel with 1:2 complexes is larger than that in a hydrogel with 1:1 complexes. A redox-responsive hydrogel actuator cross-linked with 1:2 inclusion complexes is designed, where γ-cyclodextrin (γCD) and viologens modified with an alkyl chain derivative (VC11) were employed as the host and guest units, respectively. γCD includes two VC11 molecules in its cavity. The obtained γCD–VC11 hydrogel cross-linked with the 1:2 complex showed faster and larger deformation behaviour than the αCD–VC11 and the βCD–VC11 hydrogels cross-linked with a 1:1 complex. The deformation ratio and response speed of the γCD–VC11 hydrogel, which forms a supramolecular cross-linking structure by stimuli, are 3 and 11 times larger, respectively, than those of our previous hydrogel consisting of a βCD/ferrocene 1:1 inclusion complex.

A hydrogel actuator with a 1:2 host–guest complex controlled by redox stimuli has been developed to realize faster and larger deformation.     

Dissolved states of ionene polymers in water-acetone and their relation to the ionic partial molar adiabatic compressibility and volume

Solution properties of water-soluble synthetic polymer, 3,3-ionene and 6,6-ionene chloride and bromide disolved in water-acetone mixtures up to acetone content 50 wt% were investigated. Their partial molar volumes V ₂ ^o and partial molar adiabatic compressibilities K _s ^o were determined. Ionic additivity of V ₂ ^o with respect to the cation of backbone polymer chain and the counter-anion was confirmed quantitatively. The ionic additivity of V ₂ ^o is discussed along with the K _s ^o in their relation to the counterion binding of ionene polymers. Effects of ionic sites on the ionene are strong but they don't break the solvation layer.